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Smoke and mirrors with the federal deficit
Wall Street Journal ^ | 7/20/2011 | Darrell Delamaide

Posted on 07/20/2011 8:57:45 AM PDT by tobyhill

Bring out the smoke and mirrors and let’s get us a bipartisan deficit deal.

The Gang of Six, breathless reporters told us this week, has found a solution that tons of senators in both parties are willing to go along with. It will cut $3.7 trillion from the deficit over the next 10 years while lowering taxes.

Wow! How did this group of Democratic and Republican senators do it? Well, for starters they’re going to save $500 billion just by changing the way inflation is calculated. And the rest will be put out to committee, you know, with six-month deadlines and specific targets and such.

Only in the U.S. Senate would this appear to be a real solution to anything. Congress now wants to substitute a magic show for the vaudeville that’s been going on so far.

The new Senate plan came as House Republicans were engaged in more posturing, passing a balanced budget amendment they knew in advance was going nowhere. Symbolic votes are mighty important to these freshmen congressmen, impressed as they are with the power they now have to legislate nothing.

The Gang of Six plan has now replaced the one proposed last week by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to simply abdicate responsibility for the debt ceiling as the favored way for Republicans to get out of the corner they painted themselves into.

(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 07/20/2011 8:57:46 AM PDT by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill

These “cuts to be named later” really bother me. Who will name them later? What if no one can agree on what to cut. Do these clowns really believe that we the people will put up with much more of these games?


2 posted on 07/20/2011 9:01:13 AM PDT by marstegreg
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To: tobyhill

Who are the Senate members of the Gang of Six? I thought Alexander(TN) and Coburn(OK) were in it, but who are the rest? Where is the accountability if they are a secret society?


3 posted on 07/20/2011 9:02:58 AM PDT by secret garden (Why procrastinate when you can perendinate?)
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To: marstegreg
These “cuts to be named later” really bother me.

Later means "never".

4 posted on 07/20/2011 9:03:33 AM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: tobyhill
I just heard that the government has not paid down the debt since 1960. That would make more than 50 years of mismanagement.
5 posted on 07/20/2011 9:04:24 AM PDT by mountainlion (AMERICA LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.)
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To: marstegreg

Politicians can do only one thing. They will Kick the can down the road for the next guy. They hope the economy will improve enough to generate more taxes that they can then buy votes with. Both parties practice this. The pubbies are only a little less bad.


6 posted on 07/20/2011 9:05:00 AM PDT by refermech
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To: tobyhill
From April...

How Did $38 Billion in Spending Cuts Turn into Only $352 Million?

Fool me once....

7 posted on 07/20/2011 9:05:48 AM PDT by mewzilla (Forget a third party. We need a second one.)
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To: EGPWS

It’s like Healthcare all over again. I can’t be more disappointed in our Senators than I am right now.


8 posted on 07/20/2011 9:06:00 AM PDT by marstegreg
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To: tobyhill

I think we in the Tea Party movement were a bit naive in thinking that the 2010 election, by itself, would change Washington.

As earth shaking as 2010 was, it needs to be replicated 2 or 3 more times in a row before we see a permanent change in the culture of DC.

Guys like McConnell, for instance, and other entrenched GOP professional politicians need to be dispatched.


9 posted on 07/20/2011 9:07:11 AM PDT by almcbean
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To: marstegreg

They couldn’t wait till the ink dried on the House plan, they had to go and undermine it.


10 posted on 07/20/2011 9:09:00 AM PDT by tobyhill (Real Spending Cuts Don't Require Increasing The Debt)
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To: refermech

We cleaned house in Congress. I think a new Senate is long overdue. These guys act as if they are looking down from Mt. Olympus or something. The framers of the Constitution gave the People the power, It’s time to use it.


11 posted on 07/20/2011 9:09:57 AM PDT by marstegreg
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To: marstegreg
It’s like Healthcare all over again.

GHWB more than healthcare.

Spend now and we PROMISE to cut spending down the road....

Photobucket

12 posted on 07/20/2011 9:10:04 AM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: marstegreg
It’s like Healthcare all over again. I can’t be more disappointed in our Senators than I am right now.

Well stated.

Even after the 2010 turnover.

We got some more turnin' over to do.

This may take a few cycles but can't give up. Hopefully it'll turn the ship in time.

But, my passport is in order and my funds accessible.

13 posted on 07/20/2011 9:10:51 AM PDT by Principled
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Boop His Nose But Don’t Get Burned!

Even This Tiny Baby Dragon
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Thank you, JoeProBono

14 posted on 07/20/2011 9:12:46 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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To: EGPWS; tobyhill

They really do believe we are stupid. I just cannot understand what they are doing. They are risking their political careers to make Bozo happy. Who are the stupid ones now?


15 posted on 07/20/2011 9:13:16 AM PDT by marstegreg
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To: tobyhill

You can count on the GOP to cave, just as they did during the Reagan tax hikes and the Bush I tax hikes. The phantom “spending cuts” never happen, but the Dems will have more cash to spread around to their special interest groups to turn out their vote in Nov. ‘12.

How terminally stupid can the Republicans be? Every GOP senator who votes for this Obama bailout and is up for re-election should be voted out in next year’s primaries.


16 posted on 07/20/2011 9:13:48 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: almcbean
Boehner is one of those Republicans. We shouldn't have to drag him kicking and screaming just to do what is right. Boehner planned on a surrender before even passing the bill last night.
17 posted on 07/20/2011 9:14:00 AM PDT by tobyhill (Real Spending Cuts Don't Require Increasing The Debt)
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To: Principled

This may take a few cycles but can’t give up. Hopefully it’ll turn the ship in time.

I would really love to get normal everyday citizens in the Senate. Wouldn’t that drive the elitists crazy? Look at what the Tea Party has done to the Congress. It has made them much more functional and shockingly representative of the general public. I finally feel like I have some representation.


18 posted on 07/20/2011 9:20:28 AM PDT by marstegreg
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To: tobyhill

The entire process is just one big joke. The corrupt politicians ( government) have no interest in doing anything meaningful.


19 posted on 07/20/2011 9:21:39 AM PDT by mulligan
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To: tobyhill

*shakes head*


20 posted on 07/20/2011 9:22:55 AM PDT by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
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