If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry.

You disappointed us during your service to the Dufus Dubya with your failed fiscal policies and fighting 2 wars on the Chinese dime!

This is going to be very, very interesting. The voters who are at the center of the political spectrum generally have decided the outcome of presidential elections. That a 53% popular vote is considered a landslide speaks to that fact. The Republicans have absolutely nothing to offer. Their candidates are simply too extreme, if not outright crazy, or simply stupid.

What is going to be interesting are the Congressional races. The Republicans have now made the destruction of Medicare their centerpiece. Either you support Ryan's budget, which will also increase the deficit, or you're toast. That's just a dumb idea.

Then you have the "culture warriors" who claim they want smaller government, but want government in your bedroom, in your vagina, and in your church.

The "true believers" in fiscal reform - whatever that is - is the Tea Party element, and they simply have no grasp of the pervasiveness AND the popularity of government programs. Their simplistic "just kill the government" mantra is ridiculous. The Tea Party will further fracture the G.O.P. with their demands for purity.

Add to those negatives the behavior of some of the new Republican governors and legislatures that clearly misrepresented their intentions, and you have a recipe for disaster.

The Puritans, Know-nothings, and Talibangelicals clearly dominate the G.O.P. I truly feel sorry for genuine conservatives who have nowhere to go. They almost certainly have to vote for President Obama and candidates who promise to gradually reduce debt and the deficit - OR they'll just stay home.

I think Daniels knows that.

David walker

The Dems really love low information voters such as you.

Medicare is failing. Social Security is failing. There is simply not enough taxpaying people to sustain entitlement programs.

One can participate in party politics and blame the other side all they want. It changes nothing. We need a fiscal conservative in the White House and not someone who just gives lip service.

Medicare is failing. Social Security is failing. There is simply not enough taxpaying people to sustain entitlement programs.

Doug Ponders

The GOP sure loves right wing propaganda voters such as yourself. A small tweak such a rescinding the Reagan tax cuts would solve most of the country's problems.

Minan

How? Like it or not we live in a global economy. Keep raising the cost of doing business in the U.S. and the Chinese will continue to benefit. That's not propaganda. That is reality.

BTW.....Medicare and SS is failing. Or don't you read the news? Why do you think they keep talking about "reform"? You could take the wealth of every American in our nation and it would not be enough. That's what the Iron Lady was talking about.

Doug Ponders:

As always with your type - long on criticism, no solutions.

Both Social Security and Medicare are in trouble. No one with a lick of sense is denying that. Both need attention. Means testing is a must, a number of SS programs must be completely reassessed and cut back. Medicare is going to require a complete overhaul, this time with more input from the actual providers of care and with far less input from the administrators.

Folks like you love to talk about "fiscal conservatives". Where are those guys? Nope, you low-grade intellect types are totally dependent on labels. The fact is - and this is totally borne out by the statistics - both parties spend with virtually no discipline. Where are these fiscal conservatives you and your ilk love to worship?

It's all about labels and ideology for you guys. Go eat your dogma food.

Propaganda from the right wing tries to scare people into believe Medicare and Social Security are failing. A small raise in the cap fixes Social Security indefinitely

Have you ever heard of a tariff? They can and should be used to make it more economically feasible to produce products in this country instead of overseas. There is nothing in the Constitution requiring foreign goods access to our markets.

BTW...We also need a major reduction in defense spending to help balance the budget.

But I do have a solution. It's your type who think the solution is punishment. Or that failure somehow equates success.

Means test? So punish those who have paid into it all their lives and achieved success. Forget the promise that was made it would be there when they retired.

Medicare will end in a total failure. Sooner than later. So end it now.

The solution is to end both programs. For a very simple and forward looking reason: our future generations cannot afford them.

It's all about labels and ideology for you guys

Typical leftie hypocrite. Don't you read your post? Pot meet kettle.

@Doug Ponders. Did Social Security and Medicare just start failing since Obama took office? The GOP loves to yell "FIRE" on issues that they create. Your position is that the democrats either caused the problem and/or are not doing enough to fix the problem. I believe that the Republicans exacerbated the problem with huge tax breaks for the wealthy. Rescinding these tax breaks and a few tweaks can begin to solve the problem. We can't and should'nt solve this on the backs of the poor.

Who?

"Have you ever heard of a tariff?"

Ever heard of the WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.....

Do you understand what they are about? Do you think it is as simple as "put a tariff on their goods?" Do you understand the concept of "a global economy"?

A small raise in the cap fixes Social Security indefinitely

Talk about propaganda. But every problem is solved for lefties by taking other people's money. Do you have any idea what the cost of these programs will be in the very near future?

@Doug Ponders. Did Social Security and Medicare just start failing since Obama took office

Look Ma! An Obot!

I didn't say it did. They have been talking about the challenges of continuing these programs for the last 30 years. Instead of fixing them (there is no "fix") they made the problems worse.

BTW......do you understand that there has always been a cap for wages taxed for SS? So your catch-all theory of "the evil rich" cannot apply.

Tax the rich, tax the rich, tax the rich, blah blah blah blah blah.

Okay, tax the rich. Take every penny from the top 2% of the earnings spectrum. It might pay off part of the debt, but then what?

http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/taxdistribution.cfm

If tax rates for just the wealthy - $250k plus - were reinstated to the Clinton rates, it would bring in another $70 billion a year.

The current deficit is $1,400 billion a year. What's the plan, Minan, for the other $1,330 billion in deficit spending - for JUST THIS YEAR, never mind the $14,300 billion in debt outstanding and the $1,000 billion plus deficits projected for the next decade?

If the Clinton tax rates were reinstated for everyone, that would increase revenue by about $370 billion a year, leaving a shortfall of $1,030 for JUST THIS YEAR. The average American family would be paying in about $3,000 MORE to the Federal government. We can't afford that, Minan. Can you?

THEN WRITE A CHECK TO THE GOVERNMENT, and leave the rest of us out of it. No one's stopping all the gimme, gimme liberals from all writing a check if they don't think they're paying enough.

I'll credit David Walker for admitting there's a huge and growing problem in the entitlements. And no, it didn't just start under Obama. It's been going on for decades, as Washington has taken money out of one pocket and put in the other then called it double.

So what was your reaction, David, to Ryan's plan for Medicare? Did you hyperbolize and demigogue, claiming Ryan was throwing seniors off a cliff? Or did you acknowledge the fact that no one over the age of 55 would even be impacted? Did you say, I don't agree with that plan and here's why? Or did you say, REPUBLICAN'S WANT TO KILL GRANDMA!!!!!!! While admitting that the current system is unsustainable, of course.

We have been lied to and stolen from by the Federal government for decades. They've made promises that cannot be kept, based on faulty math and smoke and mirrors.

And yet some of you seem to think that MORE government is the solution, that needs MORE money to keep screwing us.

Please explain this to me. I honestly do not understand that mentality.

Ponders:

You are truly an empty vessel. You write, "But I do have a solution." Yeah? Care to share? Reminds me of Nixon's secret plan to get out of Viet Nam. It's still a secret today.

On the one hand you talk about punishing those who paid in by introducing means testing, and on the other hand you say.......Hey just end the programs. But who need consistency when you're sucking up ideology, right? Perhaps you've forgotten the immortal words of Darth Cheney, "Deficits don't matter." What's it gonna be?

I didn't label you as anything more than "your type". Based on your objection, should I conclude you AREN'T "your type".

Just a couple questions: How do you get your money if it's not by taking other people's money? Do you just pull it out of the air? Do you print your own? Let me join you in the labels game for a moment. If your problem of needing cash for survival is solved by taking other people's money......then by your definition, YOU are a leftie.

Minan

I agree we should actively seek ways to cut defense spending. We can start by ending the wars, closing bases overseas, and cutting military aid to foreign countries. Slice it by 1/3 right off the bat.

It's a well known fact that the democrats are all about social programs. To them it's a sacred cow. It doesn't matter that the sacred cow is old, in poor health and dying. Our country cannot sustain continual payouts without consideration to the fact we can't afford them.

This is not a scare tactic... it is reality. How many times will adjustments be made at our expense? Each upward adjustment takes more out of our paychecks with little promise of the benefit being there when we retire.

Tell me dems - is $14 trillion in debt a scare tactic? You can't even imagine the magintude of that amount... let alone look at the reality of that amount as other than a number. Obama's contribution to that amount is $4.3 Trillion. it equates to a total of 32% of the entire debt in his 2 1/2 years. There is no end to the amount of spending he has created with little to no benefit at all... well, the unions are happy. BFD!

You democrats keep on praising Obama for his ability to handle mundane and irrelevant issues. The threshold issue he has completely failed at is the economy and he has no new ideas other than trying to spend us out of debt. It's NOT working and the American public knows and sees it.

We haven't hit bottom yet. Standard and Poor's credit worthiness rating was one of the worst blows a president could suffer... and it happened on Obama's watch. Is that a scare tactic? No. It's reality.

David

Reading comprehension eludes you. I gave my solution.

Most people get their money from the fruits of their labor. Money represents a medium of exchange. Some steal it. Others rely on the kindness of others.

The govt takes it from their citizens. Either voluntarily or by force. Which is why a govt must act in a manner as to not be burdensome or oppressive.

You are a typical leftie. You think money is an entitlement.

Amazing how an article about Mitch Daniels brings out all the mindless rhetoric about Obama!

I am neither a Deomcrat nor a Republican. I choose to vote for the quality and principles of the person and weigh that against their political platform and history. I am also a Hoosier and have probably a more in-depth awareness and understanding of Daniels' history than most of you posting your ignorance and emotional ugliness here for the world to see.

Like another Indiana politician, from the other side of the aisle, Lee Hamilton - a man respected by members of both parties back in the day when they cared about respect, Daniels is a man of rare conscience. He believes that honor and dignity still have a place in politics and the world at large. Despite Republican rhetoric of the past few years, Daniels is a relative moderate in the Republican party and I believe he would have made a good president. I would have had a really tough time deciding who to vote for in 2012 - Obama or Daniels. It's really too bad, too, because it's about time America had two conscientious, moral candidates with high integrity to choose from. But ... America's loss is Indiana's gain.

I now return you to your previously scheduled mud slinging.

I agree we should actively seek ways to cut defense spending. We can start by ending the wars, closing bases overseas, and cutting military aid to foreign countries. Slice it by 1/3 right off the bat.

Lets go with 2/3rds right off the bat. It would still be more than any other nation on earth spends on defense.

The current deficit is $1,400 billion a year. What's the plan, Minan, for the other $1,330 billion in deficit spending - for JUST THIS YEAR, never mind the $14,300 billion in debt outstanding and the $1,000 billion plus deficits projected for the next decade?

Go back and do the math with the Reagan tax cuts rescinded for all Americans, then add in the elimination of all forms of corporate welfare/ subsidies. We would then be a lot closer to our fiscal objective.

Doug Ponders: #1.17 - Sun May 22, 2011 9:48 AM EDT
"You are a typical leftie. You think money is an entitlement"

David, you almost had me, right up to that last line. When you resort to insulting your opposition, you reduce yourself to the level at which you perceive them to be. It's alright to disagree. It's not alright to be disagreeable.

smith

If that is meant for me. It's not an insult. I believe it sums up today's leftist philosophy.

Doug,

Medicare probably does need reform, but that is NOT was needs worked on now, We need jobs, with Jobs medicare and SSI payments are paid into them. WIth JOBS, the ecomomy grows. With Jobs more taxes are paid, With JOBS the US is made stronger by the finiancial security that is given to the middle class to WORK, and buy: cars, homes, clothes, JOBS benefit all, Medicare and SSI have time to be SERIOUSLY looked at and revised for the BETTER, NOT TORN TO SHREDS. The GOP needs to work on what they PROMISED in 2010, JOBS, then they can seriously look at SSI & Medicare in the next 10-14 yrs, if they cut it now, in todays economy it will be even MORE devestating for middle class.

Doug- I agree. When you consider the large voting block the democrats have built up by giving entitlements to people, it's no wonder that the entitlement class thinks money is free. All they have to do is go beg the government for it and promise their democrat support. (sic).

When you consider how many of those on the government dole vote democrat it's no wonder the democrats are in favor of entitlements. They are simply buying votes with my tax money.

We need jobs. No argument there.

Creating a more business friendly environment will do that. What measures do you think will create a more business friendly environment?

The Dems really love low information voters such as you.

Medicare is failing. Social Security is failing. There is simply not enough taxpaying people to sustain entitlement programs.

One can participate in party politics and blame the other side all they want. It changes nothing. We need a fiscal conservative in the White House and not someone who just gives lip service

.>

Doug, let me understand this right....you seem like a smart guy....was GWB not a fiscal conservative?? Are you saying we need another president just like him in the White House again?

Really??

Blue Star - If I may - Bush wasn't a fiscal conservative. Most conservatives get that. We certainly don't want another Bush to run this country. What conservatives want is a president that knows how to promote business instead of being anti-capitalist like the current president. Common sense should win the day over emotionalism but currently it's not. We don't want a president to tear things down that make sense and build things up that don't make sense. Personally I believe unions have had enough government gimmes. It's time to change course and stop the boat before it goes over the falls.

Brianb-999431

Entitlements are not FREE<

Or don't you pay TAXES??????????????????????????

I PAY into Social Security, I PAY into Medicare, I PAY Taxes to help with Medicaid,

Doesn't bother me a bit if someone in need uses it.

But then , I am not a selfish type of person

GWB was a "compassionate conservative". His words. I don't recall him ever claiming the mantle of "fiscal conservative". But he may have. I'd have to review. If he did he certainly was wrong, wasn't he?

MJL3 - There may be a differing of opinion. I don't consider SS and Medicare to be entitlements since we do pay into them and should receive the "benefit" of them when we reach retirement age or God forbid a tragedy occurs.

There are other types of entitlements our tax dollars go to. Welfare, housing assistance, heating assistance, SNAP, free internet, free cell phones and the list goes on. Those are the entitlements that I was referring to when speaking about free money provided by the federal government to the entitlement class.

Minan -

Back to Reagan tax rates, really? Because NOTHING else has changed since Reagan was president?

What were the "reagan tax rates"? Or is that more moveon.org nonsense. Can YOU afford another $3-10k out of your pocket going to the government?

Better yet, I want you to link me to some evidence of what you're claiming. Until then, I'm going to assume you're just parroting.

We do NOT have a revenue problem, that can be solved by simply increasing revenue without cutting spending. The fact that you want to take all spending reductions out of defense and think that's going to solve the problem? LOL. I fully agree, we could spend significantly less on defense and be just fine. But we could cut 100% of the defense budget, and STILL not close the budget deficit much less pay down the debt - it's only 16% of the budget and we have a 40% deficit problem.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/us_budget_pie_chart

The Republicans have absolutely nothing to offer

Republicans are willing to offer their record of office. Republicans are willing to sacrifice their current job. Republicans are willing to face the heat pounded on them from the liberal press.

What republicans are not willing to do is sacrifice their children who will surely be used by liberals and the press to be debased, defiled and made a spectacle of. So if you are a republican and have a child that is as clean as Jesus, then please run for office.

Back to Reagan tax rates, really? Because NOTHING else has changed since Reagan was president?

Yes really, that is where the country's financial problems stem from. Reagan's "cut taxes and borrow" philosophy took us down the road to economic ruin.

Can YOU afford another $3-10k out of your pocket going to the government?

If I have to pay more to help solve the country's economic problems then yes, but then again I did not buy a "Mcmansion" or get myself under water with credit card debt.

We have a revenue problem in this country whether conservatives want to admit the truth or not!

@..MJL-3 Preach on my friend!!

Brianb-999431

Those "intitlements" still are not FREE<

If I PAY TAXES that goes toward them and then I suffer a catrophy, Am I not intitled to apply, Since I PAID taxes that PAY for this??????????????????

NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE

Daryl B.-3168886

Are you being sarcastic? Not too sure how to take your comment

Minan, then WRITE A CHECK and leave the rest of us out of it.

The government, through the various taxing authorities on a federal, state and local level, already takes about 43% of our gross income. I cannot afford another 10%.

I see you've offered no proof, either, that what you claim would work would actually work. I'll assume this is more liberal, pie in the sky unicorn math that would do nothing but increase taxes, create more welfare recipients and spread the misery.

that's right minan, we have a revenue problem. We can't collect revenue fast enough to cover what the government spends.

If you want to live in the past, go for it. BTW - why isn't obama out stumping for tax increases, especially for FICA increases to pay for our increasing medicare and SS costs?

You also seem to forget that the taxes reagan cut his first years in office was mostly negated by tax increases he approved later on in his term.

Let's not forget that reagan and Oneil also put a fix in for SS. Golly, SS still has future problems as well as medicare. Maybe our seniors have just become to greedy, or perhaps our politicians have always kicked the can down the road.

I would love to see obama go on video telling us all that he wants to increase everyones taxes prior to the nominating convention in 2012. Its a cinch he will push fro tax increases after nov 2012 if he is relected.

Doug,

The whole business formula is what is screwed up in the U.S. I mean really, U.S. businesses pay more taxes doing business in foreign countries than they do here. Thats right, they pay in to that country's finances that supports their services and "entitlements". Then they get a tax break here for having to pay taxes there!

and I imagine the TeaBaggers could not be happier

or the 79% democrat controlled media could not be sadder.

Wow, DB, that one makes even less sense than you usually do, and that is saying something.

WTF are you trying to lie about now?

You hit the nail on the head. Despite all the Obama-hating, the fact is that no serious Republican candidate has emerged, except maybe Mitt Romney. He has the handicap of being Mormon. I've known several Mormons and every one of them was what I would call a "true Christian" who walks the walk. However, the foaming-at-the-mouth extreme right wingers tend to be intolerant of diversity, so being Mormon is a serious handicap in the current political environment. (or being "different" in any significant way)

The politics of hatred fails in the long run because it excludes too many good people. That's what I think is going on here.

Romney also has the misfortune of sponsoring RomneyCare in Massachusetts.

Unfortunately for him, trying to provide citizens with healthcare, rather then letting them die in the streets, is a criminal violation to the Party of No.

This is a very smart decision by Mitch Daniels. I'm sure his wife pleaded with him not to run. Their hypocrisy was about to be exposed. It would have been very embarrassing for his family. These Republicans are all hypocrites; their lives do not match their rhetoric.

I said he would drop out, next will be Santorum, or Newt, they won't stay in either and Cain won't stay in either.

They Might end up with Romney & Huntsman, but they WON"T win. With the stunts that the GOP have pulled, people are WIDE AWAKE TO THEM NOW>

Santorum is running? That's news to me. Please post the link where he said that.

Actually MJL, people are more aware of the stunts Obama has pulled. Diehard Obama supporters ignore those stunts. Everyone else sees them.

Liberals think that republicans are running away because of Obama. It's not Obama they are afraid of... it's the condition of the federal government in it's freefall state. Who in their right mind (other than a socialist wannabe) would want the problems facing this country. See, if Obama retains the White House and everything collapses around him, he becomes dictator de facto. I believe this is what he wants more than anything.

3rdpartyadvocate,

He is thinking about it, testing the waters

just type in Santoum for President and you can click on his site

Rick Santorum Exploratory Committee

Official website for the Rick Santorum Exploratory Committee. The formation of a
testing-the-waters effort. The Rick Santorum
Exploratory Committee has been established ...

Also Pawlenty is hopeless too, won't make it.

Who in their right mind (other than a socialist wannabe) would want the problems facing this country. See, if Obama retains the White House and everything collapses around him, he becomes dictator de facto. I believe this is what he wants more than anything.

And he will not need you anymore so when he begins to eat your lunch please do us all a favor and don't whine about it.

~~~

Thanks MJL, sort of hard to drop out of a race you are not in is all I was thinking.

My God what nonsense!

3rdpartyadvocate

How true,

But I think he will drop out of actually running, or I should say decide not to.

Brianb-999431

Sorry Brianb, but your right wing propaganda BS doesn't work with me or a lot of other people who can and do think for themselves.

Do you "SPIN" on someone else.

Liberals think that republicans are running away because of Obama.

That's exactly what they're doing. They know if they run and lose to a commie muslim they will be villified for life by the nutjobs. Keep trying to rationalize all you want. It won't change a thing. Daniels is smart not to risk his political career on a no win situation. I suspect 2016 will look much better.

Who in their right mind (other than a socialist wannabe) would want the problems facing this country.

That says tons about how much you really care about this country, doesn't it?

tonybeeerm

Liberals don't
think the GOP is running away, They just don't have an where to Run, they have
NO agenda planned except to fight Obama on every issue,

The GOP's that are in now, are just ridiculous. GOP's main agenda is saving
the rich at the cost of middle class. Won't happen.

We have had
Presidents of different faiths, Muslim is a FAITH, so
are you saying the only good president is an Atheist?

Here is someone who is running. And I love his ideas.

Meet a new black candidate: Herman Cain an epitome of the American Dream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZDkacOveF0

turdpartyadvocate

WHO the Hell dreams of flipping pizzas all their life?!?

Herman Cain must be the new black fascist Mussolini! - Duce! Duce! Duce!

At least he started on the bottom rung and WORKED his way up to the top.

If that isn't the American dream I don't know what is.

Pehaps you are joe wobblie? Please tell us all.

And it is obvious that you didn't bother to look at the video because you are doing EVERYTHING he predicted you would do.

The GOP candidates are scattering like scared little chicks.

In your wildest dreams. Eight have announce they are in, 9 have not formally announced and 6 of the 12 that have declinedwere not ones being pursued by the press as for their status.

We have had Presidents of different faiths - we have? Other than Christian, I can't think of any. And anyway, i'm on your side.

3urdparty advocate

Where is the vile rant I expected? You are too well mannered for a Teabag or Republican. I checked out your hero. He reminds me of a black friend of mine who also has masters degrees in science, math and computer technology (but HE is not a fascist).

Your hero is an accomplished speaker and sounds like a fine Southern Baptist Pastor but that is ALL. Herman is a dupe of the criminal insurance and oil barons. He is prejudiced against muslims and gays. He is an enemy of single-payer and supports the evil fascist judges on the supreme court. Do NOT trust him on Social Security or Medicare! In reality success and his own greed and ego have turned him into nothing but a picayune fascist Mussolini!

I would have more Hope for YOu as President! - your joe

any real contender would have started campaigning in 2010 and kept at it seriously. No con candidate has.

IMO it's because their policies and ideas are failures. they know it. To become a president and lead with failing positions is suicide.

This mess they left Obama via past republican failing policies and agenda is too hot for them to handle. Historically it has been Dems, liberals , who have cleaned up the elephants mess. this time they left quite a pile and they have to know that what they propose , as proven , doesn't work.

Tax cuts don't create jobs. Their biggest mistake.

Tax cuts don't create jobs.

True, they just increase the size of the federal debt.

Daniels has too much baggage to win against an incumbent. The baggage? They extreme right wing Republican Tea Party Taliban. His recent vote to end funding of Planned Parenthood is a slap at women's rights.

He's smart enough to know that 2016 has more possibilities. The Democrats need to get rid of Biden.

...the "baggage" is his wife and their not so private past personal life. He's wise to bail.

Mitch Daniels was a financial budget director for GW Bush, enough said.

Minan59:
"Tax cuts don't create jobs."

True, they just increase the size of the federal debt.

• #3.2 - Sun May 22, 2011 8:31 AM EDT

You know what else increases the size of the federal debt? (at least as much as tax cuts)

Politicians who vote themselves pay raises when the country is foundering. Politicians who continue to stay warm in the pockets of big business buddies when the man on the street can't get a job.
Big business that pays out massive bonuses to the upper echelon of their companies, raking in more and more profits after having laid off a multitude of workers in cutbacks, while refusing to hire people to now replace those same workers now that their companies are on more stable ground.

No. Tax cuts don't create jobs. But they do put a little extra in the pockets of 'average Americans' in the short term as they struggle to make ends meet until they can get back on their feet.

If people don't have money, they can't spend money. They will buy less, most especially luxury items. They will repair the family car over and over rather than buy a new one. Those with more than one 'family car', when they can no longer repair one, they will reduce the family car count or buy a used car rather than buy new. People without disposable income will not take family vacations to distant locations. DisneyWorld will be a place only the "upper crust" can go and most of those crusty folks will stay home, too, hoarding their money.

People without jobs will even buy less food for their families. Married children will move back home with parents so there will be more empty houses and apartments across the nation as "The Waltons" lifestyle becomes more necessary just for survival.

The causes and the effect are clear. Unlike some who seem to see the world in a clear-cut black and white scenario, I don't have a solution. I see all the shades of grey in-between. I am not privy to all of the facts of the issue - only what trickles down through biased media. Perhaps tax cuts for businesses tied to certain hiring and manpower growth stipulations might be one part of the solution. What I do know is there is no single, simple solution to this problem and it is not the responsibility or cause of one party or the other and name-calling and juvenile behavior will not resolve issues that have been decades in the making.

minan - and unfunded spending doesn't add to the debt as well?

There is always a time for tax cuts or spending increases. Unfortunately, the politicians and media are playing you.

No. Tax cuts don't create jobs. But they do put a little extra in the pockets of 'average Americans' in the short term as they struggle to make ends meet until they can get back on their feet.

See? This is where the disciples of Reagan have it wrong. Reagan pushed his program of New Federalism, which entailed tax cuts across the board. Any reasonable analysis of those cuts show that the largest percentage went to the top 5%. Almost everyone got a cut, so what's the big deal?

New Federalism slashed revenue sharing to the states; actually eliminated it. As a result, states and local governments had to institute increases to make up the shortfall. Many reputable studies showed that the net gain was a loss for the average taxpayer.

The second thing that took a hit, which was never made up at lower levels of government was infrastructure. The price of neglecting infrastructure is only now becoming clear. Remember I-35 in Minneapolis? There are literally thousands of bridges, and many more thousands of miles of roads, an antiquated electric grid, water and gas system as well as airports and seaport complexes that are in unacceptable condition.

It all comes back to the FACT that Americans have taken entirely for granted what we had, and we are now completely unwilling to pay for the solutions. And who would be surprised-- Tax cuts as a religion, deregulation as a religion, Global military hegemony and wars of choice-- ALL unfunded; it makes the solutions an economic impossibility!

The ideology wars are over, for all practical purposes. This empire is done, and the USA will be quite lucky to even remain a first world nation. Starve the Beast? Yeah.... to death. It worked.

@Disgusted - this is where folks don't understand the facts. After 1945, we were the only industrialized nation untouched by the bombs of the Second World War. It was our duty, as well as luxury, to rebuild and restock the world. For nearly 20 years we were unchallenged in that category. As a result, our economy grew to astronomical proportions. Wages were high and nearly everyone had a job unless they didn't want one. When the tables turned in the 1970's, we didn't adjust. Just kept going along like nothing happened. Now, were paying the price for that neglect.

thewordsmith

Yep, GW , first thing he did was give himself a raise

minan - and unfunded spending doesn't add to the debt as well?

You mean like the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? Yes they certainly do add to our debt. Only an idiot would think that tax cuts while borrowing money from China is a good thing.

3rdpartyadvocate-Cain , like Obama lived the American Dream

Joe Wobble is just saying that Cain will be USED by the GOP, Oh look, we have a BLACK guy too. Didn't work with Palin being a woman runing against Hillary, won't work this time. GOP USES people.

Leave Joe alone.

Your "American dream" is a fascist in black sheeps clothing!

Since Ronald Reagan, a majority of Republican politicians have gradually come to conclude, as Vice-President Dick Cheney famously told former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, that "deficits don't matter."

Now it seems, deficits do matter.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_52/b3914021_mz007.htm

Yup, deficits became the most important challenge facing our country, starting in late January, 2009.

The deficits prior to that were no problem.

JC, yeah, he sure did "underestimate" didn't he!

Well, only by a factor of 20 or 30, maybe. Hardly worth mentioning, I suppose.

[Daniels was also the one who estimated that the invasion of Iraq would only cost us $50 Billion, $60 Billion, tops.]

Daniels just "misunderestimated" the cost...

Oh, damn, Mickey, did Daniels come up with that term, too? I should have given him credit!

And the TP/Repubs don't even like him. I'm really liking Pres. Obama for 4 more years.

Sam, wall said! The one branch they do control now has less than 10 bills passed so far really closer to 5 and they are all about abortion, or related. No JOBs bills, anyone grounded in reality could go on and on about what they have not done. Daniels could have brought a bit of civility to the debate table, but now we are gonna see what it looks like when the real rats come into daylight. There use to be a time when all the old "JimCrow" laws or for you to young to remember, anti black people laws that the individual states passed back in the 60's, once forced by the Federal Government to change, left the roaches of bigotry running to hide their shame!

Now they have come out, with no shame or fear and are showing us all their open hatred and BIGOTRY and it is far time we tell this small minority to go crawling back under that rock in shame, and let us Adults still in the room that have strong disagreements to get on with some compromise! You know the kind that got us here as a Nation.

So it was fun, and you got all of our emotions high, but now it is time to get to work as adults, we have differences, we are all angry, lets act like we would expect our kids to act when an adult in the room finally speaks up and says ENOUGH! Time to stop playing and pick up the mess!

What is a "job's bill"? Do you think that Congress, Dem or Rep, can mandate companies to hire? They cannot. What they can do is create an environment that is business friendly. Until the Democrats recognize that business is not the bad guy or the piggy bank jobs will continue to decline.

Doug, they aren't listening. A "jobs bill' is the stimulis. Don't you remember? Look how well that worked. Employment offices are shutting down all over the country due to lack of job seekers. We aren't even going to get Recovery Summer II because last year was such a success.

The government cannot require a manufacturer to produce. It cannot require people to go to a particular store and buy a particular item. Yet.

Doug Ponders

Why don't you look it up.

Because such a thing does not exist. They can give it the title "Jobs Bill" but that means nothing other than the fact they are being disingenuous.

Doug, I see now why you MUST be a Republican, inablity to find FACTS

Let me help you

Senate passes job bill 2010

By Walter
Alarkon - 03/17/10 10:47 AM ET

The Senate sent an $18 billion
job-creation package to President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

The bill passed on a 68-29 vote, with
nearly all Democrats and 11 Republicans backing it.

The
main provision of the bill is a new tax
break for small businesses that hire new workers. The measure provides $13
billion to fund the tax break, which exempts small firms from paying the Social Security payroll tax on each new
worker and also provides a small
firm with a $1,000 tax credit for each new worker who stays on for a year.

"We have found a way to hire workers, help businesses that hire them with
tax cuts and keep it budget-neutral," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.),
who crafted the hiring tax break with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

The bill is fully paid for by increasing
enforcement of foreign account taxes, delaying the implementation of a tax
break on worldwide interest and raising the corporate estimate tax on large
corporations.

The bill also includes new low-cost
federal bonds for state and local government infrastructure programs, an extension of the highway trust fund for
federal transportation projects and an extension of a tax break allowing
companies to write off losses due to depreciating equipment.

Obama has said he will sign the bill.

Before passing the bill, Democrats and a handful of centrist Republicans voted
to waive a budget point of order against the bill raised by Sen. Judd Gregg
(R-N.H.). Gregg said the bill would raise spending levels above those set by
the budget resolution last year.

"It spends more than their own budget called for," Gregg said of the
bill.

The one Democrat to vote against the bill was Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.). The 11 Senate Republicans who voted
for it were Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Kit Bond (Mo.), Scott Brown (Mass.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), Jim Inhofe (Okla.), George LeMieux (Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and George Voinovich (Ohio).

Senate Democrats have said this is the first of a string of measures aimed at
cutting the 9.7 percent unemployment rate.

"It's not a panacea; this is a modest package,"
Schumer said. "It's a great start. It will move us to larger
packages."

Last week, the Senate
passed a roughly $140 billion measure extending expiring unemployment aid
through this year and expiring business tax breaks. The House extended the unemployment aid in a $154 billion jobs bill that also
included fiscal aid for states and local governments and funding for
infrastructure projects. Democratic leaders have yet to reconcile the
measures.

The next item Senate Democrats
will take up is measures to increase lending for small businesses, Schumer
said.

Other measures Senate Democrats
said they're considering are tax incentives to have property owners improve the
energy efficiency of homes and buildings, an advanced manufacturing tax credit
and a 6-year surface transportation reauthorization bill for road, rail and
highway projects.

-- This article was updated at 11:44 a.m.

They call it a "jobs bill".So what? One could argue for the DoT and the DoD. But it will be a weak one. I guess one could argue that govt is a business. But that would be inaccurate. One can say that the U.S. govt is the largest employer in the world and make that argument. That doesn't make it a good thing. Hiway jobs and tax cuts? All you did was prove my point.

Markets create jobs. Govt mandates burdens.

Doug, you didn't read it, try using an OPEN mind when you do.

I read it. Let me see if I've got it straight.

In your view you think letting businesses keep their money thru "tax breaks" or "tax incentives" equates to "job creation". Hence, "jobs bill".

Assuming you are correct; and one can argue you are and people do argue that point ALL the time, then my guess you are a conservative in favor of limited govt.

Open minded enough for you?

Doug

main provision of the bill is a new tax
break for small businesses that hire new workers.

exempts SMALL firms from paying the Social Security payroll tax on each new
worker and also provides a small
firm with a $1,000 tax credit for each new worker who stays on for a year.

enforcement of foreign account taxes, delaying the implementation of a tax
break on worldwide interest and raising the corporate estimate tax on large
corporations.

Doug it also has money in it for the Infastructure that WOULD create jobs, if the GOV of their state would ask for it, the GOP will not use this, Granstandt in Iowa didn't want the Amtrac which would boost jobs and tourism in Iowa, His bill to stop it was voted down.

Florida gave up theirs to, Illinois now has it, they and Iowa are working together,

There is much more on this if you BOTHER to look it up.

I am a Progressive DEMOCRATE<

Doug it also has money in it for the Infastructure that WOULD create jobs

This type of "job creation" is a negative for the majority of taxpayers. The people who actually pay for it. Now, one can argue about the quality of the project but that would require the considerations of many points of view. You see, "infrastructure jobs" are very subjective and beneficial to the few. What good does Amtrak do for me? The nearest depot is a couple of hundred miles away. Just to use your example. We can argue for the federal hiway system and even Amtrak, which, BTW loses money hand over fist, but most "infrastructure" projects belong in the realm of the states.

Which brings us back full circle.

Progressive Democrat? When did they adopt trickle down economics? Or the fact that giving tax breaks to "evil corporations" promotes job creation?

You should pass that on to the Big O Administration.

BTW

The "tax cut" for hiring "new employees" demonstrates a naivete which only people who have never ran anything can identify with.

No business hires anyone for a $1000 tax break.

Doug... then how come the House Reps ran on creating jobs. That was their #1 slogan. JOBS JOBS JOBS. Yet all we are geting is bills that define "rape" and "abortion".

They have tried to pass legislation to end crippling regulation in one of the biggest job creating industries and have been blocked. That would be energy.

I will agree with you to a point. Although it has been a part of the Republican's platform to address social issues they should abandon it like Daniels has advocated. Too many lost people to worry about. Just end public subsidies for them and after a generation or two they will figure it out.

Doug... oh you mean a bill to drill all over America. Yes lets do that so more oil can destory earth. After all, we humans and plants and animals don't need clean water and air.

Also one oil plan in 6 months. Where are the others.

Also tell me when the Reps told America that they were going to attack people rights during the campaign leading up to the voting in Nov 2010.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT JOBS AND SPENDING THAT REPS RAN ON

Laws to define RAPE. WOW

So.....tell me with facts to back up your assertion. Where has oil "destroyed earth"? What "rights" have been attacked?

You live in a dream world. When you reach voting age repost.

Until then, you're a bore.

Amen, fellow Hoosier, Amen! Daniels has destroyed Indiana in order to brag about a "so-called" balanced budget- balanced with federal stimulus money and debt-ridden public pension fund shortages. He has removed rights from workers, women, gays, and immigrants. What a guy!!!!!!

As another fellow Hoosier, I agree!! He has left his people behind in the northern half of the state, and the unemployment rate is down played (because they do not count people who are not receiving unemployment payments anymore) so the reality of unemployment is down played. He has cut social programs to the people who desperately need them because they have too many assets (a mortgage counts as an asset). Some of these people have used ALL of their savings and can not find a job even with marketable skills and education.

The people of Indiana are desperately in need of someone who will be honest and work for the people and not for a party.

(I am not a one party person, I actually voted for him the first run, and have had buyers remorse ever since.)

I wish Grassley and Branstadt would leave Iowa.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lipstick...pig. Hmmm....

Two Pigs in the Poke??

I'm not buying.

If he fails to convince his family to support/vote for him, how in the hell he can convince any body else to vote for him? weak! weak! it does not matter how he puts it! a normal family stands up for/by each other for better or worse!!

oh! ,no! not you too!

well i guess u r a obama lover ha

There are many of us who appreciate the job that the President is doing. And if the G Obstructionist P would stop the ankle biting and focus on helping the economy instead of sabotaging our future, we would all be better off. They need to stay out of the private lives of Americans.

OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dems WILL Rule

Demsu Akbar!

joe, what does that mean?

hatesobama

And education too I see by your spelling and grammar.

I can tell by your choice of words -- "he thinks he's better than all of us" and "white Americans" -- what your real problems happens to be. I've got no sympathy for the likes of you.

Change the channel when he comes on.

@hatesobama, then change your channel. The President has done a remarkable job especially when one considers the fact that he is attacked on an hourly basis by the hatemongers who are full of sour grapes.

hatesobama,

Sorry, but it is the GOP that has the Holier than Thou attitude and the Tea Party are filled with hate against the middleclass which really is iron since the inclues alot of them.

My God, I would hate to be you. Seriously, where do you come up with this nonsense?

Mike,

The GOP will slam and insult every person that they have a 'discussion" with, just as your comment shows,

You'd hate to be me?????????????

what did you think mr obama did ,put us more in a hole, like he siad spread the all the money to his people

That could be the most dis-jointed, worst spelled and pointless post I've ever seen on newsvine.

Hateboy is just another Fox/Limbaugh zombie. not one fact, just aimless hate for its own sake.

hatesobama:

His people are the MIDDLECLASS,

and opened our boarders to the threat of Invasion

Which "boarders" are those??? The "snow-boarders" or the 2 bedroom "boarders"?????

unrealistic education demands? You mean FINISH high school is unrealistic? And how affordable is health care now? And for once I wish one of you hate radio dittoheads would tell us which rights Obama has taken away from you.

Is there an actual FACT in your head?

Those folks from Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia?

Oh I see. Illegal immigration only began when President Obama took office.

What nonsense!

Fear, fear and more fear. Look what that took us? 8 years of fear mongering from W/Cheney wasn't enough for you Starman? You just want to continue the same old same old.

I happen to like the change and the healthcare reform. I really like bin Laden dead than alive. I got more in my 401k and savings account than I ever did during W's 8 years.

As for Mitch D, he'll always be remembered as the govenor who shut down Planned Parenthood in IN. It's never good to regulate virginas and uteruses unless you have the same law to regulate penises.

Starman:

Then why didn't GW do something????????? Not like this just started.

Real
message of the Bush
amnesty

... George Bush's
amnesty for between 8 million and 14 million illegal ... our borders or
enforce our immigration
laws. He is saying he will no longer send illegal ... street opens ...

www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36555

Illegal
Aliens Must Go!: G.W.
Bush:
U.S. President or Mexican Mole?

Apr 10, 2007
· Why Does GW
Bush
Favor Illegal
Aliens Over America... Want to Fix ... head north with little or no concern for
U.S. borders
or immigration
laws. George W. Bush
...

illegalaliensmustgo.blogspot.com/2007/04/gw-bush-us-president-or-mexican-mole.html

Here in West Virginia, we had the infamous Weston State Hospital (The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum); a mental institution. People were committed there for reasons that were summed up in over 100 topics. The place was closed in the '90's

In reviewing the list, Starman seems eligible based on:

Politics, Religious fervor, Parents were cousins, Exposure and quackery, Egotism, Opium habit, Heredity, Congestion of the brain, Desertion, Periodical fits, Vicious vices in early life, Gastritis, Moral depletion, Cerebral softening, Bad company, Imaginary female troubles, Disappointed affection, Dropsy and Political excitement.

He's been very, very busy. Cut him some slack.

Perhaps acting Governor Tomblin could reopen the facility for him.