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Political Hay
Thank You, CBO
The CBO’s report on the actual $352 million saved in this year’s budget is a blessing for conservatives.
Yesterday, despite the defection of 59 Republican votes, the House of Representatives passed the budget for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year as negotiated between John Boehner and Harry Reid. The Senate passed the bill 81-19 shortly thereafter. This after a Congressional Budget Office report suggested that only $352 million will be saved this year, versus the claimed $38.5 billion of savings in the budget. That CBO report is a blessing for fiscal conservatives.
My original reaction to the deal was that Tea Partiers should be pleased about the outcome; some fiscal hawks seem to have forgotten who controls the Senate and the White House.
The difference between the CBO’s report and John Boehner’s explanation is essentially due to arcane accounting methods and the difference between known spending and spending authority. Boehner’s point is that this government will spend everything it’s authorized to spend (and more) and that removing that authority is functionally equivalent to cutting immediate spending.
Boehner is right, but the game has been changed. The optics of the agreement after the CBO report are far different than before it. Losing 59 Republicans, of whom only 27 were freshmen, is a strong statement that these members of Congress think they may have been sold a bill of goods.
And for that reason, the CBO report is good news.
During the upcoming fight about the FY2012 budget, Tea Party-backed Republican members of the House will be more aggressive about cuts and more diligent about ensuring “real cuts” than they otherwise would have been.
President Obama will know that the House’s starting position will be much more aggressive, much more budget-cutting, and with absolutely zero room for even a discussion of tax increases. Or will he?
After all, you might point out, the House passed the bill by a vote of 260-167, leaving one to wonder whether “moderate” (a term I do not use as a compliment in this case) Republicans and Democrats will get together to pass a less fiscally responsible budget over the objections of the fiscal hawks.
Here’s why I think it won’t happen that way:
House Democrats went along with this bill because Obama had blessed it, because Harry Reid had negotiated it, and because Steny Hoyer told them to. (Hoyer put even more distance between himself and Nancy Pelosi, who voted against the measure). This bipartisan budget kumbaya won’t be the case with the FY2012 budget. Instead, even the most “moderate” (which is to say the least disciplined and the worst for our children’s futures) Republican budget will have entitlement and pro-growth tax reforms which few Democrats will support. Therefore, John Boehner will not be able to count on Democrat votes the way he could on Thursday.
And on the Republican side, each “moderate” Republican, especially those who are in fairly or very safe Republican districts, knows that a vote for a lily-livered budget is a vote for a primary challenge. They all saw what happened to former Senator Bob Bennett (RINO-UT), former Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC), former Governor Charlie Crist (RINO-FL), just to name a few ousted “moderates”. (To be fair, Inglis’ record was reasonably conservative but he made a few bad votes which cost him his seat in Congress.)
The left’s talking points of Republican “draconian cuts,” killing grandma, destroying Medicare, and so on, may or may not be effective in a general election — though I doubt their effectiveness in 2012 — but they fall on deaf ears, or on no ears at all, when it comes to Republican primaries.
To put it another way, you’d expect conservative freshmen Senators Mike Lee (UT) and Rand Paul (KY) to push for aggressive Social Security reform. And you’d expect conservative Jim DeMint to support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution (along with Lee and Paul, though not all Republican Senators agree on their preferred specifics). But when you see Lindsey Graham (R-SC), long a champion of “comprehensive immigration reform” (aka amnesty) and a believer in the hoax of man-made global warming, co-sponsor these things, you know he’s seeing the shadow of a primary challenger as he approaches his re-election campaign in 2012.
As if on cue, Senator Graham voted against the compromise budget on Thursday, proving that fear is a powerful motivator for a guy who’s often seemed too eager to go along to get along.
It is this fear that will keep “moderates” and RINOs from supporting the weak tea of budget reform that we’ve come to expect from them. If anything, they’ll have to play extra-hard ball to try to dissuade a Tea Party-backed primary challenge. Indeed, Graham need look no further than his own backyard for a reminder of his risk: Congresswoman Nikki Haley was a little-known member of the South Carolina House of Representatives who, with the endorsement of Sarah Palin, came from behind to win the Republican gubernatorial primary over several better-funded “establishment” candidates, including the state’s Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and a sitting Congressman.
About the Author
Ross Kaminsky is a self-employed trader and investor and is a senior fellow of the Heartland Institute. He is the host of The Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver’s NewsRadio 850 KOA at 11 AM on most Sundays. You can reach Ross by e-mail at rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com.
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Ken (Old Texican)| 4.15.11 @ 7:02AM
I read a chilling article over at American Thinker yesterday.
Everyone needs to read it.
http://www.americanthinker.com.....e_cri.html
Pat Spooner| 4.15.11 @ 7:25AM
Ken, an excellent article which points out with great clarity why real people must strive to send conservatives to Washington.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 8:30AM
Excellent piece, Ken. Thanks for the link.
RGK
John Navratil| 4.15.11 @ 9:44AM
Ken,
In the article to which you link, Filizof wrote: 'Plato argued that democracy led to tyranny when the people rose up against the propertied class; the tyrant gained his power by first posing as a "defender of democracy" and a "man of the people" against the oligarchs.'
The tyrant lives and has since FDR. We do not have a single tyrant in the form of Obama (or Johnson, or FDR), the entire government is complicit, along with the crony capitalists with their rent seeking. We live by rules they exempt themselves from and they provide benefits for themselves which they deny to the general population.
The revolution against the U.S. government began years ago and I argue Gingrich's "Contract with America" was an early skirmish. Positions have become more solid and more people are energized by Tea Party ideals today. The 2010 election was a battle (largely won) against big government but as we see there is more to do. The primary challenge threat against soft Republicans is the whip hand. Those in Washington are the ones who have been elected and have the power to act. Our duty is to watch (loudly).
As I've said, the revolution is under way. The only question is how it will turn out. Wisconsin is illustrative.
skip| 4.15.11 @ 3:41PM
John Navratil
Awesome post. Stands out more than your posts usually do, which seems an impossibility, at least to me.
If it will help me to post even in poor imitation of you I will consider using emoticons exclusively.
:)
Thank you.
SC Mike| 4.15.11 @ 7:04AM
Lindsey Graham was first elected to the US Senate in 2002. He did face a more conservative but poorly financed challenger in the 2008 GOP primary, but was re-elected in the general election with 58% of the vote. He therefore won’t have to run again until 2014, not 2012. The Tea Party is watching.
Paul Hilsenrath| 4.15.11 @ 7:04AM
Have you ever been through a divorce?
As a CPA I have worked on a few and have learned that, in those instances where there is a substantial marital estate, from the moment the attorneys are hired the game is rigged and the outcome already determined.
You see, among divorce attorneys who handle the "bigger" divorce settlements there is a high degree of collegiality, that is they know each other very well after having dealt with each other in these matters many times over many years.
So, after a few telephone conferences they decide who gets what and they merely "manage" their clients to this conclusion. They even decide who's turn it is to write the settlement.
Don't believe me, ask around?
I think the same "process" is at work in the Congress. The "boys" get together, the Republican leadership is reminded of their minority status, the deal is struck and the remainder is mere theater.
What is needed is new leadership in the GOP. The Boehner/McConnell team needs to be replaced. In any enterprise when the management team consistently fails to live up to expectations they are replaced. The GOP should not be an exception.
Thats my opinion.
Paul H.
Fed Up| 4.15.11 @ 8:16AM
Well put, Mr. Hilsenrath. I think you are right on track with what they serve up to us as "theater" on many of their so-called deep personal deliberation votes.
It is all a sham. ALL OF IT.
Dems don't lose. The House Reps don't lose.
You, your kids, your community, my township, my family...we're the ones who lose -- EVERY TIME.
They are all bums. ALL.
Mitch Angoop| 4.16.11 @ 6:51PM
What we need is a way to initiate a class action lawsuit against EVERY member of the House and Senate who has been in office since 2006; and every member of comrad barry's regime....with about a million members of the class. The suit could be based on theft, as in the collaboration in the increases in the price of oil; or simply malfeasance of office for obvious reasons. I'll bet we could easily get a few hundred thousand Americans to pony up a few hundred bucks each for the chance to go after this human scum.
About the only alternative I can see on the horizon is a terribly bloody insurrection by several million armed American Patriots who will force our Military and Police to make the most terrible decision of their lives: Do they shoot their friends and families, or the bastards destroying our Country? That's the question...
ENOUGH ROPE| 4.15.11 @ 10:37AM
Thank you Mr. Hilsenrath for your revelation about betrayal of clients and constituents. Boehner and Cantor must be replaced by leaders who will fight to save America instead of themselves. We need remedies such as recall, term limits, and some other threats and inducements to make representatives and senators fear to dishonor their campaign promises.
Ned| 4.15.11 @ 11:18AM
I think you've hit the nail squarely, Paul... but I'd add one additional - disgusting - detail. Republicans may pretend that they are reformers, and in favor of small government, but in the end look who they are and where they work: power brokers in Big Government.
They ALL sold their souls to get there. They ALL get their jollies doling out favors to the peons and spending horrendous amounts of money. Within minutes of arriving in D.C. their egos are locked down in hyper-drive, and they lose all contact with the reality we all live with daily.
Ask yourself, why do we not have Sunset provisions on ANYTHING. Why do we never hear anyone in Congress EVER say, "That's none of our business.", or "We should leave things alone."?
The default solution for all of them, for every question, is "Write more law. Do something big." - when nearly every modern problem we face is a direct result of THEM doing the WRONG things, with no recourse for us. The only limitation that they see for themselves is the ability to come up with a new "problem" for them to "fix".
The only things WORSE are Democrats. Much worse.
CalMark| 4.15.11 @ 1:44PM
Well said!
You can't trust insiders. They have too much riding on the status quo.
darcy| 4.15.11 @ 4:01PM
From this moment forward, the only purpose of the federal government apparatus -- its elected members and its bureaucrats -- must be a commitment to downsizing the national government AND a stated goal.
What departments will you cut? How will you reform SS to faze it out over time and permit the inculcation of a nation of self-reliant individuals rather than as now, a nation of teat-sucking dependents? How will you dismantle the rent-seeking culture currently in place that steals money from producers (taxpayers) and passes it on to favored cronies -- who in return launder that money back to DC by way of campaign funding?
The only business anyone has these days to be in Washington DC is the business of returning America to Americans, enhancing our freedoms, not choking them off. I demand the freedom to fail just as much as I demand the freedom to succeed on my own effort -- and to reap the sorrow or the joy of an outcome based on my freedom to choose how I live my life. If I need help along the way I will appeal to my family -- who themselves will not jeopardize their own stability to enable me in destructive behaviors, but will choose to reward my efforts at self-sufficiency.
It is only a grossly immoral government that would act to perpetuate dependency among its citizenry. We have a grossly immoral government and a country of cry babies who refuse to grow up, who have convinced themselves that the world owes them a living and/or a cushy sinecure, or a palace financed by crony capitalism.
Boehner is a wimp; it's always manana with him. (Can anyone tell me how to place a tilde over my first n in manana?)
Arsen Darnay| 4.15.11 @ 7:05AM
The table you reference, indeed show, does not have $352 million on it anywhere, nor can you get there in any conceivable way. Just echoing someone else, are you? I cannot confirm this claim from anything on CBO's website.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 8:24AM
Arsen,
I don't have time to dig through the CBO web site right now, but try this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....story.html
Mitch Angoop| 4.16.11 @ 6:52PM
Ross;
Could you REALLY ask any of us to trust ANYTHING on the pages of the Washington Post?
Carol| 4.15.11 @ 7:23AM
Ross:
What bothers me most is that Boehner appears to think the American people want the GOP to compromise with Obama. CONSERVATIVES DO NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE WITH OBAMA.
Appearance is huge. After what the Democrats did to us the last 2 years without Republican involvement unless they really needed it, the Democrats have destroyed this nation. That Boehner thinks he needs the blessing of Obama and Reid makes me think he won't be able to stomach upcoming fights.
Boehner proved it last Friday. He threw his hand away when he refused to shut down the government. And he listened to the old hags on the left - including Reid - who said the GOP wants to kill grandma. NOBODY BUT A TOTAL MORON BELIEVES THAT BS!
You, my virtual conservative friend, have more optimism than do I.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 8:33AM
Carol,
I wouldn't exactly call myself optimistic at this point.
As Boehner pointed out repeatedly yesterday, what we're getting now is the result of divided government.
Hey, as long as Obama is already campaigning, might as well have Boehner get a word in for Republicans more generally.
No serious budget compromise for the long-term will be completed under this senate and this president.
That will be fodder for GOP victories in 201.
Dave | 4.15.11 @ 10:12AM
That classic Strother Martin line in the movie Cool Hand Luke went: "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
Ross's paraphrased quote: "What we have here is the result of divided government."
Meanwhile, for those of us watching that roundup from the back 40 while having access to the family calculator: "What we have here is gutless House of Republicans."
While having absolutely no credible effect, Farmer Dave occasionally mutters: "This is what happens when good ol' boys engage in CYA instead of TCB."
Dr. Laura often urges: "Now, go do the RIGHT thing."
Sorry, doc. It just ain't gonna happen with this outfit. At least not in what's left of my lifetime.
tick-tick-tick ...
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 8:49AM
Carol, check the short paragraph I added to the end of the article at your inspiration.
squalis| 4.15.11 @ 9:44AM
I don't think they are playing to conservatives. They are afraid of the so called moderates. I hope that will turn out to be a tactical mistake as I don't think there are too many moderates remaining over these budget issues.
big bob| 4.15.11 @ 11:23AM
I would love to know what transpired during the lunch meeting that took place between O'bama and Boehner a couple of weeks ago. I think Boehner got his marching orders in a manner only an Al Capone wannabe could deliver it. Boehner was never the same. We need someone who can go into the cave and come out without having sold his/her constituents down the river. This is a pattern that has gone on ever since we have had a king instead of a president. They get called to the White House and they immediately want to "cooperate". This is paramount to Lee calling Sherman in and changing his mind!! Would have never happened. And it shouldn't be happening now.
Carol| 4.16.11 @ 10:18AM
big bob:
You are right. Everytime Obama DELIBERATELY invites someone to the White House they come out with their minds changed.
You remember Ron Bloom, Obama's Car Czar, praising Mao because he knew how to persuade people and that "Power comes from the barrel of a gun."
I think Obama and his goons are holding guns to the side of everyone heads who disagree with them. Kind of like The Godfather, "I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse."
Rush said earlier this week that Boehner should only go to the White House if someone is holding his hand.
big bob| 4.16.11 @ 4:40PM
I didn't hear that comment. But it's very true.
Oregon Anomaly| 4.16.11 @ 4:49PM
Reminds me of the plane ride he gave some malcontents and when they reached earth again everyone was in lock step. This nation really has sunk to new lows.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 4.15.11 @ 7:29AM
Capitol Hill is corrupt. The proof of that is the budget deal.
There is no sane way to defend it or promote it. The Republicans would have been better off letting the government shut down.
When a 38 billion dollar cut is heralded and then turns out to be a 3.3 billion dollar increase we've had a 41.3 billion dollar turnaround.
In fact, it's inconsequential which makes you wonder why the Republicans fought at all.
There have been so many compromises on Capitol Hill that the Republicans have forgotten how to fight. As a result they are no longer an organized force and they lost their will by desiring power or they simply want to look like the opposition to get the earmarks.
Either way, there is no valid reason to believe in the Republicans anymore. If they're all we have we haven't got much.
The article linked to by Ken (Old Texican) spells out clearly why we are in trouble as a nation.
Capitol Hill is a sewer full of deceit and there isn't much reason to hope for change anymore.
Lindsey Graham is a poster child for that deceit, crossing the aisle his entire career. Now, suddenly, the little phony wants everyone to forget his record.
In essence, the Republicans better go for all or none.
If they can't at least defund public broadcasting and Planned Parenthood, they don't have the political will to accomplish anything. Between the two of those that's only a billion.
Here's a link to that CBO evaluation of the deal. It's humorous in an odd sort of way.
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/121xx/d.....utions.pdf
JP| 4.15.11 @ 7:35AM
Both Ryan and the Speaker had to know what was going down behind closed doors. If they didn't both should resign thier leadership positions. I heard this morning that while the PR and talk show wars were going on last Friday, staffers from the House, Senate, and WH put together the "deal". The Speaker's meeting with the President in which he "demanded" that PP be defunded was all show. They had a deal by early evening. The staffers just found unspent money that was allocated to different programs and branches of the Executive (like the Census). These monies we already targeted for "reduction" (ie to be returned to Treasury). The actual cuts from the baseline 2011 budget came to $350 million. The con was on. This is the way the Beltway works; always has been, always will.
Funny how Ryan's reputation remains so high. Beware of the wonk carrying good intentions.
Fed Up| 4.15.11 @ 8:23AM
Ryan hasn't proven anything to anyone yet. That young man has a long, long way to go. Credibility has to be earned. And earned when everyone all around you is kicking the stuffing out of you.
I'm not saying he needs in any way to defer to the more senior dons (duffuses) on Capitol Hill. No way. He should tell 'em to get lost; he works for Ma & Pa Kettle out in Topeka and in Memphis and in Spartanburg and Dayton.
Maybe there is substance there. But yippy skippy presentations are NOT substance.
(And can he/they stop the "Go Badgers!" and "Go Packers!" nonsense? That is so childish. There won't be any teams anywhere in another 5-6 years.)
JP| 4.15.11 @ 10:52AM
You know you've arrived inside the Beltway when the MSM and political insiders from bothsides begin singing praises about you. For 2 weeks Ryan was the toast of the Beltway. Who cares what the DNC chair or the House Minority Speaker says when you have the likes of Wa Post, NyTimes, and Time telling the world how smart and wonkish you are. We should have sniffed out the set-up then. Ryan either got conned, or he was part of it. Either way, my estimation of him went way down this week. He and the GOP are now part of the problem.
CalMark| 4.15.11 @ 1:56PM
Ryan is a wonk who's spent most of his adult life as a Washington functionary. Two strikes.
Everyone (including Rush Limbaugh) burbles about Ryan's brilliance and immense hard work on a 10-year plan.
This requires brilliance and hard labor?
1. Reduce all deficits to ZERO;
2. Make up the money by eliminating a bunch of departments (Education, Labor, HUD, HHS) and programs;
3. Bingo--Surplus!
3a. Use Surplus to pay off national debt.
Budget balanced, national debt paid. I'm more brillianter than Paul Ryan. Cue cult-like hero-worship. Anyone? Hello?
Carlos the First | 4.19.11 @ 2:06AM
"Cue cult-like Hero-worship. Anyone? Hello.?"
Loved it....made me laugh...You're my hero,
CalMark, I worship you. I want to join your cult.
How much are the dues?
Oregon Anomaly| 4.16.11 @ 4:55PM
He at least is willing to put a plan out there for discussion. He has seen this train wreck coming for a long time and no one in DC is willing to commit if it means their cushy job. Give credit where credit is due. The Dems won't even pass a budget because of the flak. He has stuck his neck out and became a target for anyone with an ego. It is easy to pick apart someone elses ideas while offering none yourself. They call them progressives.
Pelligrino| 4.16.11 @ 11:27PM
Look, Oregon A., no one is really disgreeing with you. CalMark also probably not disagreeing.
But Mr. Paul Ryan needs to ramp it up a bit. We don't have 5 or 10 years to get this right. We just don't.
And these are not the "old" days of old media, old communications. Mr. Ryan can directly take his message to every living room and iPad, laptop, or cellphone in America. He does not need a "Mother may I" permission slip from Boehner, Mitch McConnell, or anyone else.
He's been graced with appearance, a good voice, a good presence, good stature, and some presentation skills. THOSE ARE ALL FROM GOD ALMIGHTY. Maybe bestowed upon him for just this mission in life.
Does he get it?
After Pres. Obama's State of the Union speech just 90 days ago, Mr. Ryan got the rebuttal. And he did a good one. And this national crisis and idiocacy on the grandest of scales was his very theme.
Well, if you do care about your children's future, and God has given you this platform, then let's do it, Mr. Ryan.
Forget the pundits, old fogey pols, media glam bimbos, and K Street corruption. Those are the evildoers.
You can talk directly to the American people. And they will support you.
Ramp it up!
Intelligent Design| 4.15.11 @ 7:36AM
$352 million is .002% of the national debt and .01% of current annual spending. It's like a guy who owes $15,000 cutting his expenses by 30 cents. It's time for everyone in the White House and Congress to go to jail.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 4.15.11 @ 8:16AM
Ditto.
Fed Up| 4.15.11 @ 8:26AM
Are we authorized to make citizen arrests? Thank you, Intelligent D.
We have Capitol Hill crack addicts who not only use but also sell and pimp out their wives, nieces, daughters, sons, nephews, and granddaughters to support the "habit."
Carlos the First | 4.19.11 @ 2:08AM
Yes, Jail or hanging would be appropriate under the circumstances.
leftnmyrightmind| 4.15.11 @ 8:31AM
If we do not reduce our militarty spending by getting out of other countries civil wars, we will never get a balanced budget. Our focus must be to bring the troops home, shore up our borders and get our house in order. That is consistent with the constitution and our founders. The wars we are in now under a veil of "self-defense" are more about empire building and control rather than defending the country. A strong border defends the country, sending troops to fight other countries civil wars is bleeding us financially and on many other levels.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 8:51AM
While there is a point in there somewhere about the cost of military action, those costs are small compared to the looming fiscal tsunami of our various entitlements.
Still, unlike many Republicans, I do support cutting defense spending where possible -- and I believe plenty is possible without significant impact to our war-fighting abilities.
Mitch Angoop| 4.16.11 @ 7:01PM
Ross,
What parts of all these comments aren't you getting? This Country is at a boiling point; and nobody in D.C. gets it. The whole thing is simple: Do it the way you'd do it at home... Cut 10% from EVERY department, group, agency, etc... with the exception of obamacare; Education Dept., EPA, and Energy. Zero out their budgets effective June 1st.
If you dodn't have money and you've proved you're not credit worthy; you stop spending. Period. Why is that so hard to understand?
This is the most dangerous situation we've been in since April of 1861; and obama is just waiting for an excuse to declare martial law so he can annoint himself Emperor Barry the First. Get out while you can.
Fed Up| 4.15.11 @ 9:40AM
So, Mr. Kaminsky, is that the scheme? (I reference your last paragraph)
1) Always tell your party faithful, "Hey gang, just one more election cycle! Come on! Fund us, do phoning for us, send us your monies, go door-to-door for us, send us your hard earned checks, do our mail-outs,..." (as if people didn't sweat blood for this schmucks just 5-6 months ago)
i.e. It is never "now." It always something to be attained 12-18 months from now.
2) By no means achieve any real cuts to delirious OVERspending and continued growth of government during this FY, FY 2012 or in this congressional session. No way. Why? Cuz we want to again have "Masssive government" and "drunken sailor" spending to beat over the heads of Democrats to win more seats....
Don't really go for all you can get or play hardball. After all, we need the further demise of the country in all our election campaign talking points to win more seats (and pilfer more gullible contributors' wallets).
Do you really think that that 50-55% of the voting age citizenry that matters in this land is so dopey as to believe this never-ending game?
The GOP leadership of Boehner, Cantor, McConnell (and would someone please tell me what Senator Retread Dan Coats is doing? Is he awake? Is he medicated enough?) has ZIP/ZERO credibility with voters who matter if they aren't kicking and forcing every issue toward Tea Party results for the nation RIGHT NOW.
The butt kick given November 2, 2010 was supposed to be the most powerful in our nation's modern history, no?
A real man leader in the US House of Representatives would not be saying, "Just wait until November 2012." No, he'd be slamming every issue into the "WIN" column from now until November 2012.
That is VERY doable. A real adult man could do it. (The American public is ready -- NOW)
Any gains in November 2012 general elections are welcome and icing on the cake but really not needed aside from the White House.
This really all just is a game. And you, simple reader, are supposed to believe the Ross K's when they tell you, "Just wait until January 2013...."
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 9:46AM
Fed up,
I did not state, imply, or intend anything like what you suggest.
Republicans should fight for the most aggressive, budget-cutting budget they can get, period. I'm just saying that some realism is in order in terms of what they'll really be able to get done given who controls the Senate and White House.
Further, my point is that the budget that does get done will probably not satisfy me or you or many voters and will lead to conservative gains in 2012, after which I hope we can take an axe to the federal budget and return us to a nation of economic liberty.
Ken in Tyler| 4.15.11 @ 10:16AM
Well Mr Kaminsky, I will say only this: If what you added in the last paragraph be true, that " the 2011 budget deal was the best that could be reached", we're freakin' doomed. No discussion of principle, no mention of the Constitution as it was intended and ratified by We the People. No backbone, no real effort to stop the implementation of obamacare. And now we're going to once again increase the debt ceiling and "fight" over the next budget. All show for the proles.
Rush made an excellent observation yesterday. When the vote for increasing the debt limit comes up, the majority party argues for it and the minority party against. Each uses the same arguments for or against and it matters not a whit which party happens to be the majority at the time. All show for the proles. No principles. None.
The system as it has devolved might be fixable if we had a generation or two to git 'er dun but we don't. The debasement of our currency continues apace, there is no serious effort to stem the invasion from the south, Sharia is quietly being established in the enclaves of the "religion of peace" and the Alinsky disciple in chief is about to abandon our support of Israel.
No sir, what the CBO publishes might be interesting reading but it won't help solve what ails this nation.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.15.11 @ 10:32AM
Ken,
It's very hard for me to see the 2011 deal being much better, although one can certainly argue that Boehner should have preferred a gov't shutdown. It's high-stakes gambling, for sure.
Anyway, my point isn't really that that deal is the best deal we can EVER hope for. It's that we're not going to do a lot better until we replace this president and get control of the senate.
The debt ceiling debate will be tremendous to watch.
big bob| 4.15.11 @ 11:30AM
There were only incremental gains to be made. What was necessary in this battle was to show that we meant what we said, and that we were willing to fight and die on that. That's how smaller groups win against larger groups. (American Revolution!!) Obama and his minions gave up NOTHING and now know how far we can be pushed in negotiations. We may have come away with a bloody nose, but they would have paid a price. Now, no one got a bloody nose, and the marxists won in the end. They now know our firepower and our willingness to use it for the real battle. It's not about wining NOW, it's about strategy. I call to mind the negotiations Reagan walked out of with the Russians about the missile defense to be installed in Europe. He walked out. But he won in the end. We have no one who is capable of pulling that off in leadership right now. That is who we are looking for, while the old school GOP is trying to protect their turfs. No wonder we are in such tough shape.
darcy| 4.15.11 @ 5:52PM
The Best They Could Do?
They could have "shut down" the government, and then when the MSM was crucifying them, take their message to the people -- who might have finally been listening.
But no. The problem is that the establishment leadership are not conservatives: never have been, never will be, short of cataclysm.
Mitch Angoop| 4.16.11 @ 7:07PM
I guarantee that the ceiling will be raised; the deal is already done. Every day I wonder why so many of us sacrificed what we did for this Country that is now run by sub-human scum who were indoctrinated, not educated. Every "Worst Case" scenario we heard in the 60s, 70s, and 80s has come; and been exceeded. Where is there ANY room for optimism? All our last ditch hopes are invested in a man who cries at the drop of a hat.
Pelligrino| 4.16.11 @ 11:34PM
Mitch, I am with you. And so many of us just everyday, workaday normal folk see it just the same. And this is the most baffling thing I have ever witnessed.
This post (and your earlier one above) are correct. Keep beating the heads of your US Congressional duds and those in your statehouse.
We have to shame them, call them out, deride them, ridicule them. Simultaneously pray for them and work against them ever holding any positions of responsibility anywhere again.
These have to be the worst men ever to walk this continent.
martin j smith| 4.15.11 @ 10:09AM
Change will not happen at the speed most posters here like. In theory if we had a media, and organization that was EQUAL to what the LEFT HAS
we would stand a chance.
Conservative thinking voters are playing "catch up" from 75 years of LEFT oriented political work
and we are wayyyyyyyyyyyy back. So it will
.take work to chip away at the mythology of the LEFT.
I agree --our current leadership is not up to it.
I believe infiltrating the Republican Party thru
primarying those who are not carrying the water. Challenging leadership and sabotaging left agenda in any way possible--legally--I know the LEFT doesn't know that word too well.
So, conclusion--keep bugging Boehner and company .
John Navratil| 4.15.11 @ 10:44AM
Mr Smith,
Taking your point one step further and assuming that the Left is better at this game than we are, I ask if they couldn't turn the country over in two years of controlling both houses and the White House, the leadership of which were the most Left which has been seen in a generation if not the entire history of the nation, how likely is it that Boehner is going to be able to reverse this course in 6 months?
That said, I am quite disappointed in the CR (one may ask who on the Left or Right isn't) and continued pressure is the order of the day. As you conclude...
keep bugging Boehner and company.
JayDick| 4.15.11 @ 10:10AM
These numbers, $38 Billion, $350 Million, are different because they represent very different timing. The concepts, however, are simple and are used by most governments, including state and local.
Appropriations are authorizations for government agencies to obligate a specific amount of money, that is, enter binding agreements to pay for goods or services. These authorizations usually last only until the end of a fiscal year (September 30 for the Feds), but can be longer, forever in some cases. So, it can be a long time between the contract being entered and the check being issued, especially with permanent authorizations (called no-year appropriations). Even with appropriations that expire at the end of the year (called annual appropriations), contracts must be entered before the end of the year, but it could be months or even years before checks are issued, depending on what is being purchased. These timing differences appear to account for the different figures. But, if the authorization to obligate money (appropriation) is reduced or eliminated, actual cash outlays will also be reduced, eventually.
Many other factors affect this process, but the basics are described above.
JP| 4.15.11 @ 11:01AM
Ross,
You have to admit the Democrats played this one perfectly. The failed to pass a budget despite having near locks on both Houses (and who can blame them; we're talking nearly $1.7 trillion debt load). They waited until the new House majority was sworn in; they then turned up the rhetoric when the new House GOP finally gets around to finishing thier unfinished business; and thier coup de grace was the "deal" made last Friday. Let's face it, the GOP is always willing to get rolled.
Al Adab| 4.15.11 @ 11:21AM
What our Congressmen need to hear is the continuing voice of the voters who delivered them to DC. The inertia inside the system is a danger that we must overcome. Hold them to our principles, but agreed, the enemy will only be strengthened if we kill our own wounded. That is not to say thet the RINOs must go. We need ever more Conservatives to hold the fort. Indeed this is the hill to die for.
drgene| 4.15.11 @ 12:10PM
The sad truth is this: we've already lost America to Obama and his army of liars and thieves!
I hold little hope a 2012 election will produce a conservative Republican President, Senate,and House.
Read our own Declaration of Independence: our only last/real defense against this Grinning Liar King Obama is:revolution. Real revolt will be necessary to expel Obama and his legions.
"it is the Right of the People to alter or to ABOLISH it and to institute new government"
whenever Government becomes destructive of . . .
individuals unalienable rights."(I've inverted the quote)
Obama wants all of other people's money and absolute control of their lives:he comes to take away"Liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and to
take away the right of "Life" on the whim of any woman--with taxpayer subsidy.
Enough already. Time for Revolt, not Vote and Hope Congress can stop this narcissist.
I wish it were otherwise, that I'm too extreme in my view. But the facts of 2007 to present are FACTS:Obama/Democrats have come to destroy America--to burn the Constitution. How sad we must revolt to remove an AntiAmerican President and his demonic Democrat legions of liars and thieves!
Impeach Don't Wait| 4.15.11 @ 8:27PM
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Good words, these. But I fear they presuppose that "the people" agree that their government is destructive of these ends. In our situation, many people think the government is doing the right thing, and it's the conservatives who should shut up and sit down. So as much as we would like to believe it's not so... I'm afraid these words don't apply to our current situation. The people are not of one mind on this.
Next election...
Charles Stevens| 4.15.11 @ 10:52PM
The Founders did not foresee our government being progressively hijacked by a vicious political minority that would redefine contempt for the law as a "living Constitution". Consequently, the Founders gave us no in-place mechanism to cut back the ever-encroaching bloated monstrosity called the federal government. It is very late in the day to try to save our Republic. At its core, the left consists of lawlessness and immorality. There is no way to reason with their pursuit of raw power, and any attempt to compromise simply means that the rest of us lose again, only at a slower pace. We have very few options open. Therefore, I propose the following constructive (albeit generic) plan of action:
1) Organized civil disobedience, e.g., at a community local level, withhold payment into an escrow account of taxes going to schools, but ensure that you have conservative legal counsel in place (preferably pro bono) before you start.
2) Nullification at any and all governmental levels up to and including the state; e.g., ignore any court order from any judge who interprets a “living Constitution”. Note that progressives have already successfully done this, e.g., open immigration or sanctuary cities.
3) Secession, perhaps at the county level, but especially at the state level. The end result?.. consider proposals already being made at such blogs as View from the Right: An expanded proposal to divide America into two countries.
These three actions are inherently tied together; they support each other such that where one leaves off another begins. These are also the kind of things that could be discussed at a convention called to draft a new Declaration of Independence. The time has come for the Tea Party to draft that declaration, and then draft some type of supporting federalist papers, after which they must put together a new Constitutional convention.
No more playing defense. We need a vast organized right-wing conspiracy, a strategy and tactics of offense and a new beginning, and we need it now.
Mitch Angoop| 4.16.11 @ 7:18PM
Unfortunately, not enough Americans understand the situation; and that, frankly, you're not extreme at all. We live in a time that could see a revolution (or insurrection) start for almost any reason at any time. The average American with a brain knows that our only hope is the violent overthrow of the unjust and unlawful regime that has usurped our political process and taken over our government. But, it just wasn't barry the muslim and his thugs, it has been the legion of lefties that has picked away at our Constitutional roots until the foundation is so rotton that it is ready to topple from the deep rot inflicted upon it by lefties, democraps, libs, etc... the usual suspects. Keep your powder dry and stock up on food and ammo.
Wayne | 4.15.11 @ 12:15PM
Well time to start neutering the President. Start by voting against this illegal war in Libya. Start by attacking his assaults on US citizens. The GOP is on the front lines right now. But not if it decides to be Obama light.
Mark Hammell| 4.15.11 @ 12:18PM
Boehner can be forgiven for losing a fight -- especially one in which he was outnumbered two to one. What he needs to be careful of though, is appearing to be trying to shine the voters on. h e won't be forgiven for that and while his House seat is probably safe, his Speaker's chair isn't.
CalMark| 4.15.11 @ 12:27PM
Kick that can down the road, declare victory. Every time we kick that sucker! Which we'll keep on doing because...well, we're brilliant D.C. Insiders!
Note to peasant boobs in fly-over land: you can't POSSIBLY understand, you literalist rabble. Black is white, up is down, now shut up and celebrate the latest craven surrender as Victory!
Recreation time! Let's re-arrange deck chairs on the Titanic. Fun, especially with the added challenge of the deck tilting at 10 degrees...15...20...
ABNCP| 4.15.11 @ 1:13PM
I agree Mr. Kaminsky, no real change is going to take place until the 2012 election. However, what needs to happen, starting now is the Tea Party must become a national party. Not a third party, at least not yet, but an organized national party.
It needs a nationaly recognized figurehead to organize and lead it. Perhaps one of the Presidential contenders might undestand that organizing and leading a national Tea Party movement is even more important that being one of many running for President (Palin?) If we had a national Tea Party in place, the power would be available to actually scare these RINO's
into doing what this country really needs. The
country is ripe for this to take place. If and when it does there will be a real power change taking place.
Impeach Don't Wait| 4.15.11 @ 8:55PM
Good idea! A new burgeoning party ("in favor of America") would be a great way to increase conservative might over time (in numbers). That kind of legitimacy is what's needed to intimidate (or encourage) Republicans to do the right thing. And in order for this country to survive, such a party must eventually replace the Democrats as the second major party anyway, since they oppose the founders' vision for this country and therefore aren't appropriate for governing it.
There now.
Works for me.
Joe D.| 4.15.11 @ 2:12PM
However, I would still say, like most of my Tea Party friends, Lindsey, Snowe and Collins need to go. Once the pressure is off they will go back to being the senators we have grown to hate.
Occam's Tool| 4.15.11 @ 3:36PM
Just not the Pauls. Please, G-d, not the Pauls. Bachmann, Bolton, Cain, etc. Not the Pauls.
Al Adab| 4.15.11 @ 4:03PM
Lots of names going around OT, but I don't think we've hit it yet. A long track record of Conservative action, Foreign policy experience, fiscal competence, a known commodity with energy, clear spoken and uncompromising. Someday someone will come to mind.
Clint| 4.16.11 @ 8:23AM
Israel Firster Tool Job's afraid that our Tea Party Co-Favorite Dr.Ron Paul or Our Tea Party Senator Dr.Rand Paul might take away these Middle East Rice Bowl Foreign Aid Welfare Handouts paid from Big Government Confiscated American Taxpayers' Money.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
We Walked The Talk At Yesterday's Tea Party Tax Day Rallies.
Carpe Diem.
Charles Stevens| 4.15.11 @ 10:27PM
The Ship of State (now renamed the USS Gravy Train) has been steering hard left for quite a while now. With Boehner and the Republicans, the only thing we are seeing is how many can be persuaded to go out and stand on the starboard side of the ship. Unfortunately, that won't make much of a difference in where we're headed. The real solution to the problem lies on the bridge, where we can spin the wheel over to the right. I don't see anybody anywhere on Capitol Hill who really seems to understand the ungodly quagmire we have gotten ourselves into over the decades.
Based on all the latest misinformation, incomplete information, sturm und drang, and angst from Washington, I am now beginning to draw certain conclusions about the budget process, and they are not pretty...
1) Accounting practices for the federal government are so convoluted, and so far removed from GAAP, that not only making sense of past data, but more importantly making predictions based on current data, is an exercise in shamanistic mumbo-jumbo.
2) There are so many procedural tricks and gimmicks conceived over the years that are now associated with “normal” federal budgetary appropriations and outlays, that attempting to address them via any reasonable funding bill is an unmitigated nightmare almost inevitably doomed to failure.
3) Based on (1) and (2), no HR budgetary battle will ever resolve anything, especially for conservatives who want to change the course of government spending.
4) Based on (3), the only recourse is to take a sword to the Gordian Knot (sorry for the mixed metaphor) by shutting down the government either in its entirety, or else targeting specific agencies one by one, e.g., a bill that says no more money for the EPA period, no exceptions, defund it in its entirety forever amen. There may be one more similar approach, which is to simply defund all government by a fixed percentage such as 50%, again no ifs, ands, or buts, just do it.
If (4) is not done, conservatives can kiss any hope of our beloved but heading-towards-the-shoals republic goodbye.
JayDick| 4.16.11 @ 9:01AM
Government accounting is far removed from GAAP. In fact, there is another whole set of standards for Federal government accounting. Different standards are required because spending is controlled differently.
Under GAAP, no accounting entry is made when a contract is signed, only when title to the goods passes or services are provided, despite the obligations included in the contract. In governmental accounting, control is exercised at the point when the contract is entered. No contract can be entered without authority in an appropriation. Accounting entries are made at the point when a contract is entered because that's the way the controls are set up. Thus you sometimes get big time lapses between the time when an obligation (contract) is recorded and the time a check is issued, sometimes extending to several years.
For these reasons, all the hand-wringing about numbers being wrong is unfounded. The different numbers simply represent different events in the cycle of government spending. As noted in my post above, however, if appropriations (authority to enter contracts) are reduced, cash outlays will also be reduced, but it may take some time for this to show up.
Dee See| 4.16.11 @ 12:05AM
Latest polls reveal some 80% of the American
peopleare calling for the END of the ILLEGAL
Federal Reserve.
NEVER MENTIONED in 'American' Spectator.
LiveFreeOrDie| 4.17.11 @ 2:21AM
It just was mentioned, by you. Got a link for any of those polls?
Fed Up| 4.16.11 @ 1:57AM
I will now laugh mockingly at any poor schlub who calls on the behalf of the GOP asking for my time, energy, and (what they really ONLY want) money.
Not a dime.
We just witnessed full betrayal in the last 7-9 days.
(And these morons are on a two week break? Out fundraising and deal-making for the 2012 primaries and general election, no doubt.)
I sincerely encourage all other thoughtful readers here to not fund in any way the GOP in the coming two election cycles.
They only listen to money and power. Let's please leave their coffers penniless.
Intelligent Design| 4.16.11 @ 7:14AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....e=youtu.be
For what it's worth.
Glein| 4.16.11 @ 10:36AM
We Americans have just witnessed the end. There is no political will to stop financial, social, cultural, and national suicide which the feckless "leaders" of our government are currently assisting. Obama will be the Dr. Kevorkian overseeing the self inflicted death of a nation while Republican and Democrats hand him the poison. It's the process! Not the substance! The process will mean nothing when there is no country to run.
Yosemeti Sam| 4.16.11 @ 12:19PM
The HR - ostensibly controlled by the GOP - controls the economic purse STRINGS.
Um, Easter recess - yo, any townhall meetings scheduled to offer HR Republicans opportunities to esplain what happened to those STRINGS.
off-road accessory | 4.20.11 @ 4:22AM
For this matter, once I discussed with one of my friends, not only about the content you talked about, but also to how to improve and develop, but no results. So I am deeply moved by what you said today.
Christian Louboutin | 6.23.11 @ 5:32AM
Yesterday, despite the defection of 59 Republican votes, the House of Representatives passed the budget for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year as negotiated between John Boehner and Harry Reid.
Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 10:15PM
is good