[SkyPilot]

Out of curiosity, why is this viewed as the GOPs fault? Not being sarcastic.

No, that is a terrific question.

Obviously, when looking for villains in this, the Democrats are front and center. The idea for the Sequester came right out of the Obama White House (his OMB Director, Jack Lew).

Here is where the Republicans went off the tracks.

The not only agreed with the Sequester, they signed off on the formula that took the one agency that is Constitutional and represents the best of America (the military), and allowed it to bear the brunt of the cuts (it is 17% the budget and takes 50% of the cuts).

It gets better.

The Pentagon was already reeling from a $487 Billion cut that began in 2011. Those cuts are spread out over several years, but we are now 2 years into them. These were not "baseline budget" gimmick cuts either. The Army will have to cut 189,000 troops alone before sequestration - and that is just one small impact of what Obama and the Congress has allowed to happen.

These cuts go on for 10 years.

It gets even better.

During the "Fiscal Cliff" talks, the Republicans knew that they would have to raise taxes. But, that was all they concerned themselves with. The Sequester half of the Fiscal Cliff was "separated" from the deal, and even the Democrats were shocked that as midnight approached, it was they (not the Republicans) who addressed them.

This was the "old" Paul Ryan last May:

Military-Crippling Sequester Must Be Stopped

Here is the "new" Paul Ryan:

Paul Ryan insists Republicans are ready to let the sequester happen

Boehner and Cantor are the same - essentially "let it burn."

This is a new low even for the "Stupid Party."

They have chosen a path that:

1. Causes the loss of an estimated 2.1 million jobs and layoffs of hundreds of thousands

2. Harms the military and punished Constitutional national defense

3. Exempts the real cause of our explosion in debt - Entitlements

4. Hands Obama and the Democrats a political gift by allowing themselves (not the Republicans) to be seen as the defenders of the military

It is all incredibly shortsighted and wrong, but the GOP is determined to hold onto this rock as tightly as they can while they sink to the bottom of the lake.

The folks on this board who want to see it all happen are going to get their "wish." I read this morning that a GOP staffer said they will eventually agree to fund the government (read: Entitlements) ad infinitum come the end of March, but will again "separate" the Sequester from the talks and will ensure that they drastic cuts (which punish Defense the most) will happen.

Unfrickin believable.

[redgolum]

On my phone, so I will comment in full later. I suspect the plan is to loose the defense vote and shoot for the 47% entitlement vote. You can’t have social security and a strong defense, there isn’t enough money. Trouble is there isn’t enough money for that either.

Or the more cynical view is that the GOP e is more afraid of the military than the seniors.

[redgolum]

On my phone, so I will comment in full later. I suspect the plan is to loose the defense vote and shoot for the 47% entitlement vote. You can’t have social security and a strong defense, there isn’t enough money. Trouble is there isn’t enough money for that either.

Or the more cynical view is that the GOP e is more afraid of the military than the seniors.

[Cheerio]

The Pentagon was already reeling from a $487 Billion cut that began in 2011.

I don't remember the clown Admin or their lame stream media screaming and wailing like they are now. This is just more kabuki theater for the WH clown - BASH THE GOP.

[redgolum]

Thank you for the reply, and I will type this quickly.

The main issue is that there is no way to pay for everything without massive tax increases or cuts. The GOP is trying (to their credit) to hold to the “no new taxes” pledge, but that means a lot of pain.

I seem to remember that you are a DOD contractor. If so, I imagine your hours will get cut. That is unfortunate, but in the private sector it is very common. Many of us haven’t had a raise in six years, many more have had out right salary cuts. Heck, a great many have had to find other jobs because of layoffs. If the government workers expect sympathy from those who are not... Lets just say that isn’t wise.

Still, it does highlight a very dangerous thing for our country. The fact that furloughing some government workers is taken as a net drag on the economy means that we have a great deal of said workers. Looking at our deficits, we haven’t been paying them with “real” money, any more that we do the entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. That we are at the stage of the game where any cuts are paraded around as “The end of the WORLD!”, means that the shell game is nearing the end.

What bothers me on this board is that there are a great many fiscal conservatives, until it is their turn. I have seen people stating that we should sell Yellowstone to the Chinese in order to pay for “their” social security.

There is no money. Taxes will have to go up by at least 50% across the board, and massive cuts made to many programs, to keep the military and entitlements going. By the looks of it, the GOP and the rest of the elite, have chosen to end the military and keep social security. Sad thing is they didn’t buy themselves much time.