The American Spectator : How to Call Obama's Bluff

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How to Call Obama's Bluff

By Green Lantern on 7.18.11 @ 6:09AM

Otherwise, Republicans are playing a losing hand.

I hate to say this, but as much as I agree with Boehner & Company about the debt limit, I think Republicans are playing a losing hand. The problem is that if they go to the wall and shut the government over raising taxes, it's going to be 1995 and Newt Gingrich all over again. As much as the Democrats may be at fault, the public is going to blame the GOP.

Look at the polls now. More than 70 percent of the public doesn't see any problem with "raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires" and "making the rich pay their share." I don't believe in making decisions by polls, but you have to take this into account in approaching such a big risk. If the Washington Monument closes down or maybe even Social Security checks get delayed, the story is going to be -- as it has been for the last century -- that Republicans are the "party of the rich" while the Democrats are the "party of the common man."

That is certainly not true anymore. The Democrats may have a solid block of votes among people of lower income, but their main strength comes from their support in the elites of the East and West Coasts. If you were looking for a historical analogy, the Age of Andrew Jackson would be the best example, when a frontier populist majority united behind a nationalistic military hero in opposition to the New England elites that had assumed leadership of the young republic in the generation after the American Revolution. After all, what was the National Bank -- which Jackson abolished, to the dismay of East Coast elites -- except an earlier version of the Federal Reserve? John Quincy Adams, who had defeated Jackson in 1824 without winning the popular vote, thought one of the most pressing issues in the election of 1828 was the establishment of a national astronomical observatory -- probably an 1828 equivalent of global warming. Contrary to what you hear at all the Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners around the country, Old Hickory's core constituency was the growing legions of freeholders and small business people who were sprouting up all over the country and suddenly found themselves confronting a European-style mercantile elite that wanted extensive government control of the economy. With Jackson at the helm, America instead became the Land of Free Enterprise.

Political rhetoric being what it is, however, none of this is going to penetrate. Instead, with Obama harping on corporate jets and "tax breaks for the wealthy," the stereotypes of the last century will remain -- Republicans are the "party of the rich" while Democrats are the "party of the common man." Who is closer to Wall Street, Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty or Timothy Geithner? But no matter. Obama knows his strengths and will only ratchet up the rhetoric as the deadline approaches, with the press trotting along behind.

The only dissenting voice out there comes from Marc Rubio. Listen to what he is saying. As a second-generation Cuban refugee, Rubio knows that every country in Latin America has at one time or another been ruled by some tinhorn demagogue whose entire political platform consisted of "tax the rich." Read how Juan Peron ruined Argentina's economy in less than a generation by doing exactly what Obama is doing -- going around to the wealthiest corporations and saying, "They can afford to buy gold-plated insurance for their employees, why can't every small business do the same?" Hence, Obamacare.

Adding up the numbers, as Charles Krauthammer has done, would convince any intelligent person that raising taxes on the rich can make only the slightest dent in a $1.4 trillion annual deficit and a $14 trillion national debt. "If you collected all the corporate jet taxes and oil depreciation allowances for 100 years, you wouldn't cover the amount that Obama added to the national debt last February," he said on Fox News. But that's not really what Democrats have in mind. In their hearts, they have become convinced that Reaganomics never worked and that only a small minority at the top ever benefitted from that 25-year run of prosperity. Therefore the only way to restore justice to this country is to tax the rich into submission.

The origin of this delusion lies in a simple change made in the tax code in the Tax Reform Act of 1976. Until that point, corporate tax rates had been lower than personal income taxes. You may recall in the early 1980s there was a big movement afoot of doctors and lawyers incorporating themselves in order to lower their tax rate. All this changed after 1986. Now small corporations and start-up businesses began unincorporating and filing under Subchapter S in order to get the lower personal income tax rate. This lumped $5 million computer start-ups and even some $10 million banks in the same pool with retail clerks working 30 hours a week or teenage busboys reporting income from a summer job.

Now enter two French Marxists, Thomas Picketty and Emmanuel Saez, who parachuted into Berkeley in the 1990s and -- without ever taking a look at the country around them -- started parsing the nation's personal income tax returns. Treating $10 million banks and teenage busboys on the same plane, they soon discovered -- mon dieu! -- that the United States had about the same income disparities as Old Russia. Their work has been the touchstone of liberals ever since. Paul Krugman rarely goes a month without mentioning P&K. In order to disabuse yourself of this delusion, you have to read Alan Reynolds' Income and Wealth, which lays the whole thing out in excruciating detail.

But none of this is going to deter the Democrats. They are hell-bent on restoring income equality by taxing "millionaires and billionaires" to death. What they are going to hit, instead, is small businesses, which just happen to be responsible for half the new job creation in the country year after year. Going after these "rich" taxpayers is only going to make unemployment worse and prolong the recession.

SO WHAT CAN REPUBLICANS do to dramatize all this to the American public? Here's what I would suggest. I think the Boehner & Company should publicly offer the following deal to President Obama: "In the interest of avoiding a disastrous default and risking a lowering of the nation's credit rating, we will agree to your 'tax on millionaires and billionaires' plus the longer depreciation allowances on jets and other provisions designed to extract more money from businesses. In exchange, we ask you to agree to all the spending cuts we have outlined, including the initial steps toward reforming entitlement programs, along the lines outlined by Paul Ryan's 'Roadmap.'

"However, we do this only as a 15-month experiment leading up to the 2012 election. Should these tax increases and spending reductions immediately set off a Reagan-like boom that raises growth rates above 2 percent and lowers unemployment below 7 percent, we will be happy to vote for you in your 2012 re-election. If, however -- as we thoroughly anticipate -- these tax increases only further stifle small business and keep unemployment and economic growth at or near their present levels, then we will ask the American people to elect an all-Republican Congress and a Republican in 2012. If they do, we solemnly swear to repeal these new tax rates, jettison Obamacare, level personal incomes taxes at a lower rate with fewer deductions, bring corporate taxes into line with the rest of the world, ease government regulations, end the effort to run the economy through Washington, and do all the things necessary to turn America once again into a young and vigorous nation."

By November 2012 I suspect more than half of America will agree that the time has come for Obama to go.

About the Author

Green Lantern is the pen-name of an East Coast writer.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (132) | Leave a comment

arlo price| 7.18.11 @ 6:19AM

The obamagedon PIMP thugocracy chugs along.......

It's all about perception (image)............

LET'S ROLL!!

Maddox| 7.18.11 @ 11:14AM

Amen! I will roll with you sir.
It's do or die time for the economy and our currency. I am ready to face the consequences NOW while there is a small chance rather than postpone and lose all. Are there enough men of courage in Congress with this courage? I do not believe there are.

masly| 7.18.11 @ 12:21PM

If our society is too collectively stupid to see what is going on here, then we may as well cash it in & just let the socialists take complete control & run it into the ground.
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USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 4:11PM

Right! That's why nothing kicks in until AFTER 2012.

Now THAT'S eating the peas!

Alan Brooks| 7.18.11 @ 11:10PM

Then you elect a GOP nothingburger in 2012 or '16, so you can do it all over again?
No thanks.
I wont vote for your 2nd rate candidates.

TrueBlue| 7.19.11 @ 11:15AM

So you'll vote for a first-rate socialist instead? Not all of the GOP candidates are second-rate, and I sure as heck hope a good one gets selected this time around, but anyone is better than Obama. Lesser of two evils.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 6:52AM

The 2012 Election Will Be About Jobs & The Economy.

The Successful GOP Candidate Should Focus Like A Laser On The Economy & Jobs.

If The Economy & Jobs Are In The Tank, A Refrigerator Could Beat Obama.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up.

Bob K.| 7.18.11 @ 9:10AM

Don't get over confident. As it says here: Tea Partiers are vulnerable to a sucker punch from Obama. See the last half of this from "Spengler."

Good tactics! http://atimes.com/atimes/Globa.....9Dj01.html

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 10:08AM

We Tea Party Patriots Are Ahead Of The Obama Curve:

1." If the debt ceiling is not increased, the Treasury can prioritize interest and debt payment to avoid a default and essentially put the government on a stringent pay-as-you-go basis. Would that involve extreme cuts in government spending? Certainly. But it could be done, if it had to.

Let's remember that the Treasury still rakes in quite a bit of money in revenues — it took in $604 billion (seasonally adjusted) in the third quarter of 2010. In FY 2010 the annual debt service was some $414 billion, working out to an average of about $104 billion per quarter. Although the numbers won't be quite the same going forward, the debt service will soak up only about one-sixth of the incoming revenues."

2. The Liberal Mainstream Media Is Having Trouble Propping Up Obama & The Democraps , as Polling Numbers & The November Elections Demonstrate.

3. There Was No Tea Party,When Obama Ran The First Time & There Was No Obama Track Record.

4.Americans Will Vote Their Wallets.

We,Tea Party Realize That The Only Mistake, As Bad As Underestimating Your Opponent, Is To Overestimate Him.

We're Ramping Up Now For Both The 2012 GOP Primaries & The 2012 General Elections.

The Tea Party Second Wave Is Coming.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up.

Indy| 7.18.11 @ 11:11AM

Can Tea Party Patriots flush out what is in the baseline used to measure "cuts"? I don't see anyone discussing that and after reading KH blog, my hunch is confirmed about this smoke and mirrors game being played by both parties
http://keithhennessey.com/2011.....substance/
I'll be interested to see what Coburn is offering, but the GOP attempt at true cuts in 2012 is pathetic, they are proposing smaller future increases...would not fly in the private sector

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 11:26AM

"According to Speaker Boehner, the White House and congressional Democrats would have to agree to spending cuts equal to at least $2 trillion as well."

Indy| 7.18.11 @ 11:54AM

How much will be cut in 2012, do you really want to put your faith in future politicians to make these cuts? We must see something substantial in 2012, not $2 billion under McConnell's plan nor $111 billion from the House plan and neither party is telling the public what the baseline is for measuring "cuts"

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 12:08PM

Nowhere Near $ 2 Trillion.

"One Republican staffer, however, told TheDC, “I think what Boehner and the Republicans in general are projecting is an agreement to cut over a five to 10 year period as if we were in a budget cycle.”

Pat Spooner| 7.18.11 @ 6:56AM

"By November 2012 I suspect more than half of America will agree that the time has come for Obama to go."

I believe that we reached this point a long time ago!

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 7:24AM

Pat Spooner,

Apparently, the press hasn't heard this news. What do you think? Shall we let them in on it?

Teaghan| 7.18.11 @ 7:55AM

And it ain't just the press either. There are human beings walking around, living breathing human beings that say they will vote for him again because he's doing a fine job. Braindead, immature, mentally ill democrats who get their news from NPR, MSNBC, MoveOn.org, Media Matters or one of the ancient big 3 network six oclock news shows. They say the evil republicans are ruining poor obama's attempts at fixing America.

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 8:40AM

As Michael Savage said years ago, "Liberalism is a mental disorder." I've tried to come up with a rational explanation for their lemming-like behavior but I can't.

I suspect it's an irresistible urge for comprehensive fairness throughout society. At least that seems to be the vulnerability exploited by Marxist elitists at the top. Their gullible audience is nothing more than a sea of useful idiots.

Jim| 7.18.11 @ 9:08AM

Actually, liberalism is quite simply childishness. I want, I want, I want. Ever try arguing with a two year old? In the end, liberals view the world like two year olds-not the world as is actually is but the world they see and demand.

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:18AM

Elements of truth in both above - childishness and disorder. Just combine those.

Define liberals and conservatives to a young teen and ask them which they are: they are used to relying on care and financial security from parents and can't imagine a world without it.

Most trolls are libs for the same reason, they have grown up, but still rely on the 'care' of others; unable to become responsible for themselves, and self reliant.

That's why it IS a mix of a disorder and childishness.

Occam's Tool| 7.18.11 @ 2:02PM

Id without development of superego, as Freudians would say.

Delta Zelda| 7.18.11 @ 12:51PM

The entitled classes will vote for him.

The Big E| 7.18.11 @ 9:41AM

Pat Spooner,

In a rational world, you would be absolutely correct. Of course, in a rational world, Obama would never have been the Democratic nominee in the first place, and would certainly have never been elected. Clearly, we do not live in a rational world.

Approximately half of the "taxpayers" in this country pay no income taxes whatsoever. You really think they're going to be so eager to vote to change a system that gives them whatever they want and requires nothing from them in return?

Half the taxpayers pay no income taxes, and yet we hear from Obama, his minions, and that half that pays no income taxes that it's the "rich" who aren't paying their fair share. Right.

Yet, not one Republican - NOT ONE - has pointed out the inherent irrationality of that position. Not one Republican has the spine to stand up and say, "You wanna talk about fairness? Fine. Let's talk about those who do nothing but take, take, take and never, NEVER put anything in. Let's make them pull THEIR weight for a change."

Political suicide you say? Maybe so, but it is the truth, and if telling the truth has become political suicide, then just how far down the road to national insanity have we already traveled?

I've said all along that we should be able to run Farmer Brown's yellow cat and beat Obama because of his record, and in a rational world, we should. I'm not saying Obama can't be beat, he unquestionably can, but the fact is that it will likely be very close - close enough for the SEIU to steal? Maybe. But even if we win, with the spineless jellyfish that now populate the Republican party, and the uneducated, irrational, immature cretins which now make up such a high percentage of our population, will we really be turning things around? Or will we just be putting off the inevitable collapse for four or maybe eight more years?

The truth is, I don't know.

YeloStalyn| 7.18.11 @ 1:10PM

Everything you said is SO true. Especially the part about what it says about our position if telling the truth is politiacl suicide. We hear arguments all the time based on numbers from thinkers on the right. Yet, we hear nothing from our "leaders" in DC. Why? Why doesn't Bonehead explain that we can pay our debts without raising the debt ceiling? We wouldn't have enough income each month to pay all our bills... ok, fine. Start to trim back. And what would be the first thing closed down? Parks and NON-ESSENTIAL agencies/employees. Think about that word. That's how they're described. NON-ESSENTIAL. Well... if we can live without them when we are out of money... why can't we live without them at other times?
We need to start to QUOTE Obama. He gives us all the ammo we need. He said he wants to raise the debt ceiling so he can "start new programs." He said he wants big cuts... but hasn't said what. Ask him about specifics. He said we shouldn't raise taxes in a recession... and now he wants to raise taxes. Why do I only hear these things on the radio, townhall, and TAS? Why aren't our political leaders laying into this guy and making it crystal clear that we can do this without taxes, and that Obama and the Democrats are standing in the way of that.

There is NO reason our politicians can't take the Dems to task in the public and call them the liars they are. The fact that they don't should tell us something....

CrackerHound| 7.18.11 @ 1:26PM

The BigE said:"Approximately half of the "taxpayers" in this country pay no income taxes whatsoever. You really think they're going to be so eager to vote to change a system that gives them whatever they want and requires nothing from them in return?"

Your point is well taken however, if these people were part of an ideolgy that wasn't actually a mental disorder they would realize that long term they are hurting themselves and destroying the country at a rapid pace.

Seriously...how does a person come to believe that sustaining ones self based solely on what the government can give them a decent way to live or as good as it gets? Lack of education does not explain it because a high school dropout can live a very decent life if he will just go get it...AND if he will vote to get government OFF of his back.

Occam's Tool| 7.18.11 @ 2:04PM

Actually, Big E, that's why I strongly SUPPORT High tobacco taxes. Nice and regressive, hits the Medicaid recipients hardest, forces them to pay their fair share. And if their consumption goes down, so do Medicaid/Medicare outlays.

Occam's Tool| 7.18.11 @ 2:15PM

Actually, if it were up to me, we would fund everything with Lotteries, Casinos (and taxes), Tobacco taxes, and Alcohol taxes. No force, improved economic base, and no one need to take part. If Rush wants his cigars, pay through the nose, but he's doing it willingly. No one gave him the habit but himself.

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 2:30PM

OT.
I get your point but that method can be a trap. Illinois used the tax on cigarettes/casino revenue to supplement education spending. Of course when people stopped smoking and gambling decreased (partially due to not being able to smoke in casino's, another brilliant idea) then the revenue dropped but the bills did not. So of course they came up with another tax, left the previous tax in place, and the programs are now supported by even more taxes. It's a debt spiral.

YeloStalyn| 7.18.11 @ 2:58PM

That's why you should support the Fair Tax. It's pure consumption, but on everything. And since everyone shops, everyone pays. The rich pay more if they spend more (which they will... they'll buy yachts, planes, nice homes/cars, etc.). The poor will pay less because they spend less. And everone else in between. But we're all in control of how much we want to pay.

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 4:32PM

I like the idea of the Fair tax but don't know enough about it to spot the loopholes.

Wayne | 7.18.11 @ 11:49AM

And don't be certain that Obama won't gin up some crises and "delay" the election.

Teaghan| 7.18.11 @ 6:13PM

Short of him being reelected, that is my greatest fear.

Ret. Marine| 7.18.11 @ 6:57AM

I take another view on the dem's lies, but mostly I believe in the American Patriots who understand the "i won" has almost worn out that mantra of the dem's being the party of the poor, not so intelligent, and most living off the backs of the tax payers, yeah the party of the little guy my arse, more like the party of minny moochers. This is the 21 century, anyone who fails to educate themselves on the pro-cons of the elit, dem's in general, but the ones in both parties who would suggest the economy is bloom'n, the check is in the mail, and other such nonsense, have become suddenly aware of the taxpayers resentment and anger over their choice on the 08 election of this fraud, even they are looking more and more confused as to the idea of hey where's my obama stash. This is not Jacksons generation hell it is not even bill "i didn't have sex with that woman" commie boy and his sista wifey the Sec of State gangsta with the jihadi's lovefeat generation.

I see a major arse woop'n come 2012, it doesn't look good for either party. If obamas bin ly'n keeps up with the outlandish lying, easily verifiable by even the lower rung of the social ladder these days, he is not beyond stretching the law in his favor, the question I have and it should be of concern to the Patriots ( TEA anyone) is why is this CONgress continuing to let this fraud fund ACORN, and the many antiamerican activities squads across this Nation with barely a peep from its citizens, why? Are we looking for an unintended/deliberate marital laws surprise coming this fall, and no one wants to make waves of it, every one, like many I know of just getting more and more entrenched into preparing for what they see as a fight coming our way. I am beyond being pissed at both parties these days, payback is what I think is really coming down this road. IF you don't have similar concerns, you're most likely dead already.

Teaghan| 7.18.11 @ 7:59AM

Ret. Marine, do you think the Republicans know he is still funding ACORN and the like and use them to steal another election?

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 8:41AM

Teaghan,

If the Republicans know anything, they sure conceal it well.

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:20AM

As in how to get re-elected? For a politician party takes second place after that.

CrackerHound| 7.18.11 @ 1:55PM

Does anyone remember a few years back when the Pentagon war-gamed the scenario of "social unrest" and the premise was mass riots/revolt, food shortages, etc.?

....hmmmmm

hmmmm

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.18.11 @ 7:18AM

The Ruling Class appears not to care about the continued debasement of the U.S. Dollar. It's hard to state with any certainty where this will lead but consider the following:

1. Morgan Stanley reported in 2009 that there's "no historical precedent" for an economy that exceeds a 250% debt-to-GDP ratio without experiencing some sort of financial crisis or high inflation. Our total debt now exceeds GDP by roughly 400%.

Investment legend Marc Faber reports that once a country's payments on debt exceed 30% of tax revenue, the currency is "done for." On our current path, analyst Michael Murphy projects we'll hit that figure by October.

Peter Bernholz, the leading expert on hyperinflation, states unequivocally that "hyperinflation is caused by government budget deficits." This year's U.S. budget deficit will end up being $1.5 trillion, an amount never before seen in history.

Since the Federal Reserve's creation in 1913, the dollar has lost 95% of its purchasing power. Our government leaders clearly don't know how - or don't wish - to keep the currency strong.

2 (From the Casey Report) . . . . . . let's not forget that things could have turned out much differently. The U.S. government put billions of our dollars on the roulette table, spun the wheel, and broke even. The ball could have just as easily landed on the wrong number. At the end of the day, TARP was not a "good investment"; it was gambling billions on poor odds that no private investor on the Street would wager. TARP's positive return is a good thing, but the risk undertaken doesn't justify this paltry profit as a "good investment."

3. History has a message for us: No fiat currency has lasted forever. Eventually, they all fail.

BMG BullionBars recently published a poster featuring pictures of numerous currencies that have gone bust. Some got there quickly, while others took a century or more. Regardless of how long it took, though, the seductive temptations allowed under a fiat monetary system eventually caught up with these governments, and their currencies went poof!

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:21AM

Hi Bill,

See this as well:

http://www.americanthinker.com.....ndard.html

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 7:28AM

As much as I hate the situaiton, I agree with the author's premise. Obama will make sure any shutdown causes as much pain as possible. Howls of protest will be heard across the land, aided and abetted by the enemedia, who will hang every bit of the blame on the Republicans.

Will Boehner & Company back off and leverage this mess in their (and our) favor? I sure hope so.

JayDick| 7.18.11 @ 7:41AM

The premise is correct, but the suggested course of action is useful only as a mental exercise. In reality, it would be a disaster. It's time for the Republicans to face the fact that a "big deal" with Obama is not going to be because he insists on tax increases that would make Republicans look foolish. A shutdown would be even worse for Republicans and the Country.

So, Republicans have to raise the debt limit. But, there are options for how to do it. McConnell's plan is a realistic option, despite some conservative's objections. Another option is to do a small increase along with small spending cuts, then repeat the exercise in a few months.

Republicans must keep in mind that they must make it clear who is responsible for the spending and deficit. That's the only way Obama can be defeated in 2012.

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:26AM

If he gets the tax increase - that's on him. -- At least.

Better to have him win the battle and have the spoils stuck to him going into 2012 than have the GOP win the battle to appear to hear the voters who want spending decreases ....

So, let Obama win the battle and lose the war!

BackToBasics| 7.18.11 @ 1:46PM

I've heard and read that McConnell wants to give Obam the option of raising the debt ceiling 3 times so that the onus of raising it will be ALL on him.

How is it that pundits and talk show hosts think that this "onus" will matter one bit to the general public in enough numbers to make a difference?

If you were to go out on the street and ask 100 people what they thought about the debt ceiling "talks" going on, I'll bet 70 out of the 100 would not even not even be aware of such talks.

The 2012 election will come down to a vote between the people worried about the economy and America's direction verses those getting handouts added to those who vote with a PC mindset. I think it's still a tossup as to who wins next year. The population is almost 50-50 divided between those 2 camps. Only outright massive civil unrest or a substantially deeper depression than we currently have will change that UNFORTUNATE balance. I doubt either will happen before the 2012 elections.

BackToBasics| 7.18.11 @ 1:57PM

Rephrasing my 2nd paragraph - How is it that pundits and talk show hosts OR MC CONNELL think that this "onus" will matter one bit to the general public in enough numbers to make a difference?

It shows how out of touch MCConnell is. I think his plan is part exasperation part being somewhat out of touch with the Republican base and also part passing the responsibility off to Obam because he's afraid the Republican party will take a beating if he stands firm. The base that matters wants him to stand firm but he'd rather not for one or all of the reasons I cited.

CrackerHound| 7.18.11 @ 2:03PM

Forcing the Republicans to agree to tax increases is Obama and company's plan to undo the results of the 2010 election.....get control of the Hose back to the Democrats.

Oh yea, and WHY is axing Obama Care not being discussed by "the won" if he is serious about deficit reduction?

Answer: because he is NOT serious. Getting the debt limit increased and raising taxes is his only concern.

The population of China is about to increase by about 350-million people

Chef Schnauzer| 7.18.11 @ 7:33AM

I hope Green Lantern is wrong, this isn't 1995 and we have more broadcast voices and a segment of fired up voters. As a small business owner and jobs creator - I'm fed up with the crap from Washington the state capitol and pointless paper pushers. In the good years I filled the warehouse with grain - I am prepared and I saved in such a way that the soul-less parasitic government sponges couldn't tax it. They would have to physically take my preparations and savings at gun point. So fine you want to continue to spend and spend and spend - I'll give you 45 ex-employees for the public dole and you can go find someone else to piss on. Not one of you worthless government types ever created a business or job - you just stole from producers like me. Go to hell.

wodiej| 7.18.11 @ 7:34AM

right on.

Pecos Pete| 7.18.11 @ 8:07AM

Ditto! John Galt is alive and well.

tsd| 7.18.11 @ 8:20AM

Chef, I live in your world! Go for the fix now, any more games on the free spenders terms only make getting back on track even harder. No more tax's, no more debt!!

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 8:48AM

My emotions say, "Go for it right now! Connect with decades of pent-up anger!"

The more rational approach says, "Be very careful. The press can't wait to roll out the blame steamroller. If your actions must be supported by a detailed explanation, it'll be tough to get that message out."

Maybe Palin will help.

DArtigan| 7.18.11 @ 9:56AM

Yes! Kill all the nonproducers! To Arms To Arms

The Big E| 7.18.11 @ 11:53AM

"They would have to physically take my preparations and savings at gun point."

Do you have any real doubt that this is exactly what it will come to? Maybe under the President, maybe under one in the not too distant future. But have created an "entitlement class" in this country who firmly believe they are entitled to spoils of your labor and have no compunction about taking those spoils by force. Either the Government will take it for them, or they will take it themselves. That is the reality we are entering, and I fear it is our future.

CrackerHound| 7.18.11 @ 2:07PM

The good news is after watching a new series on TBS called "Falling Skies" ....apparently when everything collapses we will have a much more conservative, gun-toting society with P.C. out the window.

wodiej| 7.18.11 @ 7:33AM

Who are the 70% that was included in this so called poll-that is the million dollar question. Nobody polled me. I bet it wasn't the people who would be getting the tax hike. I bet it wasn't the hardworking middle class. It was most likely compromised of mooches and people who don't have the foggiest notion how economics work. The GOP needs to stick to their mantra of being fiscally responsible. If we get spending cuts, there is no reason to raise the debt ceiling.

Von Mises Jr.| 7.18.11 @ 7:36AM

This is not about raising taxes on anyone. It is about money printing. Andrew Jackson knew this well.
Beginning in 1641, MA started undervaluing their currency and a few decades later printing money. This caused hyper-inflation leading up to the Revolutioary War that destroyed trade abroad and inter-colony.
The only recipe for continuing this current bloated government is not taxing, but loose monetary policy. Barry and Ben want to print lots more money. The result will be your loss of wealth, and your kids being sold into serfdom. Hayek had it exactly correct.

George S| 7.18.11 @ 7:48AM

Unless this is satire, I've seen more mature and thoughtful analyses in the comments sections than this article. A 15 month experiment? "We" will be happy to vote for Obama if things turn around? Speak for yourself. Democrats agreeing to spending cuts? Dog crap is more trustworthy. And, by the way, how are Boehner & Company going to "ask the American people to elect an all-Republican Congress and a Republican in 2012"? Is that all it takes... to ask them?

Teaghan| 7.18.11 @ 8:01AM

I think he knows it won't turn around in 15 months therefore obama goes.

John Navratil| 7.18.11 @ 12:12PM

Teaghan,

Of course hes know it won't turn around in fifteen months. Unfortunately, that's another fifteen months of spending, entrenching and putting people onto the government teat. We do not have fifteen months. The idea is without merit.

Prester John| 7.18.11 @ 7:53AM

About $35 million of the $86 million raised by BHO last quarter was the result of 244 "bundlers" shaking down their other rich friends.

Who are those 634 people who gave $30,000 or more to the Obama campaign?

http://www.washingtontimes.com.....-bundlers/

Party of the little guy?

Right.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 8:36AM

Follow The Money Trail.

"Just 634 donations from people giving $30,000 or more to the Obama Victory Fund comprise $23 million, while the 1,335 donations the fund received from those giving $250 add up to about $336,000, a Washington Times analysis shows."

RCV| 7.18.11 @ 11:10AM

Boy, what a brilliant revelation! You mean to tell me that 600 x 30,000 is more than 250 x 1,300? Who would have thought!

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 11:35AM

Good, We Pushed Obama LawBoy RCV's Button.

Then, We'll Continue To Expose Obama's Money Trail.

Occam's Tool| 7.18.11 @ 2:09PM

RCV, Obama made a huge amount of money from smaller donors in the 2008 election. Now he's making considerably less money from them, and more from larger donors. This coupled with the difficulty he's having filling smaller venues for speeches than in 2008, does not bode well for him.

I believe that may be Clint's point, and it is a valid one. For my pains, I expect to be called a ToolJob and a Traitor. 3, 2, 1....

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 2:34PM

I also read somewhere where the amounts being reported raised by Obama, were actually the combined totals of Obama and the DNC. Once the primaries are over and the republicans are down to one it will be easier to make a apple to apple comparison.. Stand by for the Clint attack on you shortly.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 2:50PM

"Dear Concerned American,

Will Republican House Speaker John Boehner and other Washington insiders sell the Tea Party and our nation down the river by caving in to President Obama on increasing the debt AND raising taxes?

Only one thing will stop such a deal: You and I raising a cry of opposition that scares sense back into the Republican leadership.

I'm doing all I can. Will you join me?

If President Obama gets his way, and the status quo prevails, he knows he could have the Tea Party on life support.

And, as long as Speaker Boehner refuses to take a clear stand in support of only passing a debt ceiling if a strict "Cut, Cap, and Balance" plan is also enacted, then he's just playing "Let's Make a Deal" with America's future.

I refuse to sit still while another Big Government-empowering compromise to raise the debt ceiling is forced on the American people, but limited government patriots will only prevail if our elected officials hear from us right away!

Please sign the petition to your representative and senators DEMANDING that they reject any business-as-usual "deal" and instead join me in signing the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" pledge IMMEDIATELY.

And if you could make a generous contribution to my Presidential campaign to help me spread my message about fiscal sanity and responsibility, it'll enable us to mobilize even more Americans to join our fight to Restore America Now!

For Liberty,
Ron Paul "

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Doctor Right| 7.18.11 @ 2:41PM

Tool-job! Traitor! Israel-firster!

...HAH-HAH!!! Beat ya' to it, Clint!

RCV| 7.18.11 @ 3:03PM

Occam: Hate to burst your bubble, but it bodes very very well for him. Of course he's getting the big money now. The big money flows where vested interests think the winner is. The fact that Obama has raised four times more than the most successful GOP candidate is something that should worry you greatly; and that candidate isn't even someone you like. The grassroots organization he built from scratch in 2008 is organized and already in full operation.

Doctor Right| 7.18.11 @ 3:58PM

It doesn't worry us at all.

Obama = TOAST in 2012, and no amount of campaign cash will prevent that outcome.

His grassroots operation is in tatters. He's COMPLETELY lost the independents.

WHAT will Obama run on in 2012? WHAT?!?!?

His record??? Fat chance...

George W. Bush?? LOL! Whatever...

Keep dreaming, but 2008 is ANCIENT history.

RCV| 7.18.11 @ 4:30PM

Dr. R: Take a rest from your encapsulation in TAS and read the polls. The only GOP candidate who even has a chance against Obama is the guy you on the right wing disdain. And you clearly know nothing about the grassroots organization, which far from being "in tatters" is stronger than ever and already busy at organizing while the GOP field is in utter disarray.

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 4:37PM

Ok, then how do you explain the gallup poll showing that 44% would vote for a GENERIC republican while only 39% plan to vote for President Obama? And that is with a generic canidate. I expect once the canidates get narrowed down that gap will only widen. Especially as the economy continues to tank, and inflation keeps creeping up. Honestly, your thoughts?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/148.....Close.aspx

RCV| 7.18.11 @ 5:09PM

People don't run against "generic" opponents. They run against actual people. And when Obama is pitted against the actual Republicans who want to be President, he beats all of them -- and the candidates TAS readers like best -- Bachmann, Palin and Cain -- he beats by double digits.

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 7:16PM

And the race is still early, the economy will keep sinking or at least barely moving, Unemployment will still be above 7% in a best case scenario, Inflation is creeping up and you still believe Obama has got a win? Sorry, I read the headlines, have watched him closely this last couple of weeks and the strain is getting to him. He will lose.

Nick| 7.19.11 @ 12:00AM

RCV,

If the election were in a month, or two, you might have a point. But, believing that a poll taken today, in July of 2011, will have any relevance in the 2012 election, is just delusional.

We have over 15 months to go, which is about 2 dozen eternities in politics. We can talk in about 14 months, okay?

skip| 7.19.11 @ 1:07AM

Take a break from the joys of educating the genius Margaret only to run across RCV being RCV.

The afternoon of election day 2004 most of the news outlets except for Fox News were crowing about all the exit polls showing Kerry was a virtual lock to win. Before polling was closed in Florida the evening of election day 2000 every news outlet except Fox News was crowing Gore had won Florida.

Obama has less chance than Carter in 1980. The next president hinted today he was feeling the calling.

Whenever I thought I was doing a pretty good job obliterating that dumbass Margaret, I'd check out how you were doing and get another slice of humble pie for the effort. Nice obliteration.

Nick| 7.20.11 @ 12:32AM

Skip,

Thanks for the compliment.

But, I would say kudos to you. You obviously have more scientific knowledge than myself. I'm just a heating and air conditioning mechanic, or, as we call ourselves now: Technicians.

Also, it has been more than a year since I have followed this subject really closely, when Climategate was raging.

I started with WattsUpWithThat's revelation that weather stations were sitting next to A/C condensers and black-top parking lots.

You appear to be more up-to-date than I am. I really enjoyed your mathematical break-down of the +31,000 scientists! That was great!

Keep exposing the Hoaxers, Skip.

skip| 7.20.11 @ 11:32AM

Thank you.

Don't sell yourself short.

I'm not willing to concede I'm either more scientifically knowledgeable, or up to date, than you.

If any of the air conditioners I'm relying on right now break down it'll be a no brainer who between us is the scientifically knowledgeable and up to date one, I guarantee.

Oops, it's hot as hell everywhere, it must be global warming, and manmade. Hope Margaret doesn't read this or we're both toast.

You were great. Keep exposing the idiots, nick.

Nick| 7.20.11 @ 8:07PM

Skip,

Ha-ha! Good one!
And, thanks for the kind words, again.

Doctor Right| 7.18.11 @ 2:40PM

Give him a break, he rode the short bus to school...

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 2:57PM

"Watch out for Ron Paul.

The Texas congressman has dominated most of the early Republican straw polls, thanks to an army of ardent, mostly younger supporters who flood conservative confabs around the country to show their support for the libertarian icon.

Mr. Paul, who has more money in the bank than all of his GOP rivals except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, is now making a strong push to win the straw poll that matters most, the Iowa straw poll in Ames on Aug. 13.
Meanwhile, Mr. Paul, in his third White House bid, has flown largely under the radar, even though a tea-party movement he helped spawn remains a potent force in Republican politics.

Mr. Paul began running television ads in Nevada, which also holds its presidential nominating contest early, on Monday. After spending the weekend in New Hampshire, Mr. Paul may return to the Hawkeye State next week, his spokesman, Gary Howard, told Washington Wire.

As a sign of grassroots support, more than half of Mr. Paul’s presidential campaign contributions were through small donors — people who give less than $200. That demographic supplied Mr. Pawlenty with just 10% of his donations.

An early July poll of 600 likely Iowa GOP caucus-goers found Mr. Paul with 14% support in the Hawkeye State. That would put him in third place, behind Ms. Bachmann and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The poll had a margin of error of four percentage points."

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Doctor Right| 7.18.11 @ 3:10PM

...yawn...

Ron Paul will NEVER be President.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 3:19PM

We Tea Party Patriots Will See Yor Big Mouth At The Polls, Dr.Reich.
" Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex), a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, won a poll of 882 “highly active” Republican voters in Texas. Paul won the poll with 22 percent of the Republican vote. Texas Governor Rick Perry grabbed second with 17 percent of the Republican vote, while pizza magnate Herman Cain took third with 14 percent of the vote."

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Doctor Right| 7.18.11 @ 4:02PM

...yawn...

Ron Paul will NEVER be President.

First...Perry hasn't even announced he's running, and he came in a close second.

Second...You have to win more than Texas to be President, genius.

Third...Paul's lunatic-fringe stance on foreign affairs and the military will alienate Conservatives who rightly understand that we need a STRONG national defense.

Sure...Paul will win the dribblers, the droolers, and the disaffected Libertarian ding-bats...

...But he'll never be President. Not enough Libertarian ding-bats, I guess.

Elron H.| 7.18.11 @ 4:12PM

Ron Paul's new TV ad opposes fluoridation of drinking water

CHRIS TOMLINSON

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas - Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is using his first campaign television ad to promote his long-time opposition to the fluoridation of our water supply.

In the ad released Thursday and set to run in early primary states, the Texas congressman criticizes both Republicans and Democrats for striking deals in the past and says Congress should not compromise this time. Paul also notes that he always has voted against fluoridation.

"In the '80s, they did it all over the place, Democrats promising to stop it, but delivering only more and more fluoride that disrupts our precious bodily fluids ," the ad says. "The '90s brought more compromises, more mineralized water, more sterility ...The declining birth-rate of western democracies is proof-positive of this Illuminati plot to sell us out to the Elders of Zion and their allies in the Sixth Dimension.

Will our party's leaders repeat the mistakes of the past?"

The Tea Party Rebellion Defecates.

Roll Over.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 5:37PM

That's Pretty Bold Talk From A One-Eyed Fat Boy, Dr.Reich.
We'll See Your Bloviatin' Yap At The GOP Primary Polls, Dr.Reich.

"Ron Paul wins the Republican Leadership Conference straw poll by a landslide in New Orleans .

In a big win for the Congressman from Texas, he nearly doubled the tally of the second place candidate — Jon Hunstman, the former Governor of Utah.
The top four vote getters were: Rep. Ron Paul (612 votes),  Jon Huntsman (382 votes),  Rep. Michele Bachmann (191 votes), and  Herman Cain (104 votes).

None of the other candidates (Romney, Palin, Gingrich, Pawlenty, Santorum, Johnson, Roemer) garnered above 100 votes.
Here are the full results:

Paul - 612
Huntsman - 382
Bachman - 191
Cain - 104
Romney - 74
Gingrich - 69
Palin - 41
Santorum - 30
Pawlenty - 18
Johnson - 10
Roemer - 9
McCotter - 2"

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Carpe Diem.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 5:55PM

Uh Oh !

American Spectator's Resident Fixated Israel Firster Nut Bag Crank Case Is Running Through The Halls With Their Hair On Fire, Again.

Attendants In The White Coats!

Get The Straitjacket & A Syringe Full Of Thorazine.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 5:40PM

Dr.Ron Paul,
“Our military’s purpose is to defend our country, not to police the
Middle East.

“As the President prepares to send even more support to Egypt, we should
be reminded that it was our foreign aid that helped Mubarak retain power
to repress his people in the first place. Now we have to deal with the
consequences of those decisions, yet we keep repeating the same mistakes.

“I am not the only one who can see the absurdities of our foreign
policy. We give $3 billion to Israel and $12 billion to her enemies.
Most Americans know that makes no sense.

“We need to come to our senses, trade with our friends in the Middle
East (both Arab and Israeli), clean up our own economic mess so we set a
good example, and allow them to work out their own conflicts.”

Drunken Sailor| 7.18.11 @ 7:18PM

Wipe your chin, your drooling.

NWBill| 7.19.11 @ 3:11AM

We give 12 billion to her enemies in the Middle East because we don't have the foresight and intestinal fortitude to make use of our own national resources and technologies to free ourselves from foreign oil. And we need to decide once and for all who our friends are, and trade with THEM in a mutually beneficial economic and defensive alliance that will help protect the national defense and interests of the US.

That means leaving the UN, asking it to remove itself from our shores ... and replacing it with a federation of democracies ... so that we don't have a situation where an Iran can be on a Human Rights Council.

We need to build on our own strengths, and maintain relationships with our TRUE friends, who see freedom and the world the same way we do.

martin j smith| 7.18.11 @ 8:23AM

Small debt ceiling increases over one year and equal spending cuts--in other words--let the Socialists shoot it down if they dare.

JimH| 7.18.11 @ 8:25AM

Your proposal has merit. Politics is always more about perception than reality. In 95 the Newt and the GOP were portrayed by the MSM as the bad guys bringing down the government. A major difference now is that there are alternative sources for information, such as Rush, FNC and the internet. I don’t know if they will be enough. The party and its pols do not themselves get the message out well, especially when they are seen to be arguing among themselves. At this point the best that can be done is to maximize the budget cuts, allow the elimination of what are termed loopholes in the tax code for such things as ethanol ( these should be gone when the whole tax code is cleaned up and simplified by the future Republican administration anyway) and move on.

Jocon307| 7.18.11 @ 8:26AM

If I wake up on election day 2012 and find the streets are paved with gold, I'm STILL not gonna vote for Obama.

Anthony| 7.18.11 @ 8:38AM

What rock does this Green Lantern crawl out from under? Is that you Harry Reid??? Or is this really Mitch McConnell???
This will not be a repeat of 1995, got it? That is beltway bullshit that comes from the trolls that inhabit Washington.
Nor do 70% of Americans favor "more taxes on the rich". That's another D and LSM carnard.
Here's an idea Mr. Green Lantern, how about Boehner explain to Americans what the government brings in in taxes each month, (around $185B), show the numbers on the debt obligation, and then show Americans how the government can prioritize and cut the rest of the bloated federal government??
I think most of the American people are smarter than their leaders, and their media sources, if only given the information.

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:30AM

My first thought on opening this article:

"Who writes on Spectator under a screen name?"

BackToBasics| 7.18.11 @ 7:26PM

Probably a RINO, maybe even in the Congress or Senate.

DCD-in-Indiana| 7.18.11 @ 8:39AM

Is it just me, or is there something inherently immoral about the notion of permitting Obama to further trash the economy in order for Republicans to save it?

michigander_sandusky| 7.18.11 @ 9:01AM

Ret. Marine: I really do wish there would be "a major arse woop'n come 2012." I would love to be that optimistic, but I'm not. I still believe there are enough ignorant people out there to vote Obama another term. So many otherwise smart people I talk to don't have a real clue about what is going on or what is at stake. It is sad, real sad, and frightening, real frightening.

BillF| 7.18.11 @ 9:03AM

Obama continues to attack the "millionaires and billionaires", yet the tax rate for them is the same rate as for those who earn $250K. The Republicans need only to offer Obama tax increase on the real millionaires and billionaires. They should propose a new upper tax limit of, say, 42% on anyone earning more than $5M per year. Let Obama go ahead and approve a tax hike on the ones he is at war with, not the small business national wealth builders.

PolishKnight| 7.18.11 @ 10:39AM

Hear hear!

Obama and the Dems have played the "go after the rich" card since FDR with the Republicans playing right into their hand. The Dems classify the "rich" now as non-government workers earning more than $100K a year plus they want to raise taxes on energy and other commodities as a form of social control.

Republicans need to call their bluff. Concede the corporate jet tax increases and let Steven Speilberg and George Soros pay a million dollars to avoid TSA security lines.

Regarding harming small businesses: This only applies when small businesses earn a significant IRS profit. If the workers, including the managers and CEO's, draw out enough money in salaries that the balance sheet balanced out to 0, there is no effective income tax on such small businesses. Income tax largely only applies if the company pays their shareholders dividends. I'm not an income tax attorney though so perhaps there are ways that such businesses still pay taxes.

One of the frustrating thing about watching politicians in the past 20 years is how timid and small minded they are. At least on the right. Say what you like about Obama, but he'll drive off a cliff if he thinks it will get his agenda going. Our side? They want to play it safe and stick to Stalingrad issues such as abortion and not lowering taxes especially on millionaires.

Let's look at someone such as Obama. Everyone smart knows he is all for gay marriage. But he pretended otherwise to get the independents and those disgusted with GW's war and economy. Then the moment he was safe in power, he casually switched back over. Same thing with Republicans: Let the left have a bone or two and pretend to cave in on a stalingrad issue, then quietly reinstate your position later. In the meantime, fight like a dog for positions that protect your votes and electorate including eliminating racist preferences, protecting two parent heterosexual families (via addressing family courts). etc. OH, wait, they aren't even putting those issues on the radar even as millions of their voters turn out for just those reasons.

For now.

Wayne | 7.18.11 @ 11:47AM

Its not 250K, it is 125K for each member of a married couple. And it is not indexed for inflation. It is a middle class cut, and the ObamaCare tax increase is right around the corner.

PolishKnight| 7.18.11 @ 12:17PM

Agreed Wayne. Indeed, I live in a purple state and certainly this would make me a member of that "middle class".

The upper-middle class tax increase would hit blue states and regions disproportionately such as DC metro, the Bay Area, Boston, and NYC not only in reducing their spending power but helping to collapse the bloated housing bubble in those regions even further.

Dan Hirsch| 7.18.11 @ 9:26AM

Did anyone notice last week that Obama said to Cantor, "Eric, don't call my bluff."

Am I the only one who noticed that the littlest President SAID that he is BLUFFING?

He has so many lies, half truths, fairy stories, and false theories to keep straight, that every once in a while, he inadvertently blurts out the truth!

Remember his 'you got to spread the wealth around' gaffe? Actually when the littlest President speaks the truth, it is a GAFFE!

Wake up, people.

If only Eric Cantor had the presence of mind to respond, "Yes, Mr. President, we are calling your bluff! Name your spending cuts, here and now!"
Then wait for him to speak, staring at him until he evaporates - it would have taken about ninety seconds.

Anybody remember Nikita Kruschev at the U
N banging somebody's shoe on the table, screaming we will bury you, we will bury you? If John Foster Dulles had just shut up and looked at what Kruschev did with that shoe, rather than start droning on to placate the old Stalinist, the world would have seen that the shoe was just a prop and the whole thing was farce. Cold War would have ended twenty years sooner. We would still have won.

OBAMA'S BLUFFING! CALL HIM ON IT, REPUBLICANS!!!!

Sheesh....

Try not to tread on me..

USSAlabama| 7.18.11 @ 10:35AM

Yeah, Dan. But can you count on him to get his sentence right without the teleprompter?

Did he mean anything like what he said. Off-teleprompter he can't form coherent sentences and I think he said something he thought was the right semantics, but just wanted to deliver a threat.

Mike Gabel| 7.18.11 @ 9:48AM

This pretty well sets the debate, as long as Obama can look up the definitions of millionaire and billionaire.

As an American, you don't have to love millionaires and billionaires, but you have to protect the ability and aspiration to become one.

Indy| 7.18.11 @ 10:02AM

Dr. K is late in the game, Bill Little put together this video - eat the rich based on Iowahawk's post

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/io.....-rich.html
a

fmm| 7.18.11 @ 10:04AM

Love the history lesson which brings to the fore that the battles are always the same, between the controlling elites and everyone else. The main problem in my view is that the natural state of man is that of a liberal progressive, being focused exclusively on the self. Psychologists call this self preservation and it is acutely observable in the behavior of each new born baby. To be otherwise requires a tremendous amount of expended energy outside of oneself. Thus, activities can be directed to learning how the universe actually works, and in developing a human society which is truly beneficent for all. The latter is by far the harder since it goes against the built in tendencies of self.

The real wonder is that the developments which led from the dark ages to personal freedoms in early English society and which morphed into the Federal Republic known as the United States of America even happened at all.

It is not unsuspected that such experiments will fail, despite their unqualified successes.

Steve A| 7.18.11 @ 10:12AM

Does anyone out there happen to recall the recent elections of November 2010?? Remember? Did the Democrats not get absolutely smoked? Were any of those voting to punish the Democrat economic kamikaze machine VOTING TO RAISE TAXES?

I shall answer for you. NO. Not just No but HELL NO.

So you can take all of the polls you want, but, the vast majority of this populace now knows Obama could not balance his check book, never mind manage the US Economy. It has to end here or we are done. This is crunch time.

Wayne | 7.18.11 @ 11:45AM

Looks like it, but unfortunately we have some wormtongues who will try to paralyze any decisive action with fear. They are afraid of the MSM.

WEB| 7.18.11 @ 10:20AM

On the last note, I hope it is so.

Alky| 7.18.11 @ 11:15AM

Instant Balanced Budget = don't raise the debt limit. That will force Obama to live within the current line in the sand. Any cuts he makes to Medicare, Military etc., will be on him. There's plenty of places to cut fat, EPA, Education, Energy, etc.!

Oldefarte| 7.18.11 @ 11:22AM

Green Lantern is correct in most of his editorial, but is incorrect concerning allowing Democrats to have any tax increases [which efflectively dilutes any spending reductions simultaneously achieved]. Democrats are almost completely responsible for this defecit/debt problem, as their historical governmental welfare legislations have caused same. Democrats are simply/solely about spending other people's money. They cannot let go of this taxpayer funded governmental creidt card, and never will do so unless they are defeated. The one/only significant solution to these finaicial/economic porblems are to elect as many Republicans as possible, period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Knows?| 7.18.11 @ 11:39AM

“Obama knows his strengths and will only ratchet up the rhetoric as the deadline approaches, with the press trotting along behind.”

This is the money quote in your article.

Go to powerlineblog.com TODAY and read some amazing quotes from another NEW book that proves how biased the MSM is---

“Left Turn”, by a UCLA prof and his buddy.

The Green Lantern’s quote perhaps epitomizes the overwhelming essence of this new book---that the MSM FOLLOWS “Obama” et al.

No, it’s the opposite, and has been for DECADES!

The MSM is IN CHARGE!

THEY know this, ALSO, and have for way too long. Why do you think they’ve always denied their liberal bias? Secretly, in their own little cramped minds---conjure Paul Krugman---they can’t believe how gullible and naïve their political foes are.

I’m afraid it’s like fearing to declare that Iran has been at war with us since 1979---if we did so, via a presidential “official” speech, we’d have to DO SOMETHING.

However, with the currently exponentially growing suicidal actions by the minions of the MSM who are in DC, and many state capitals, just maybe the pain is becoming too widespread and obvious to INDIVIDUALS who’ve been gulled by CW, so far.

Yes, you can only go SO FAR, before “war” must be acknowledged to be the case, and FOUGHT.

What has happened, basically, is that the answer to Ben Franklin’s question was rendered, de facto, over 20 or 30 years ago, when the MSM started running the country---they, not the PEOPLE, took away the “republic”!

It turns out the people COULDN’T “keep” the free representative government the Constitution TRIED to establish.

How unconscious the vast FOOLED majority of Americans are, including supposedly informed elites in the punditry realm like the Green Lantern!

While we rightly have long been aware that Putin and his pals took over Russia, and brook no opposition, how painful it is to realize that the SAME THING has been going on in America for too many years. It’s ALMOST too late.

All I need to say is---Barney Frank.

A personal memory from April 30, 1959---

As rock and roll was still new, a radio station in Vancouver, WA, KVAN, changed to KISN, was in the forefront of this change, and broadcast lots of rock, mostly into Portland, OR.

So, on that day, it played a single record, “Teenage Bill of Rights”, by Robby John and the Seven-Teens, over and over, all day. I can still recall the essential lyrics---

“Shall we start a revolution, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, or shall we leave things like they are, no no, no no…”

It looks like they succeeded.

It’s time for a counter-revolution---indeed, the same lyrics apply, to our “Barney Frank” status quo!

(I just googled KISN and read the wikipedia entry---what a hoot! By finding out, today, July 18, 2011, that it was on April 30, 1959, that this song was played, over FIFTY TWO years ago, it was possible to hook the clear memory of my own life, as on that day my childhood friend had driven me close to home, to the intersection of Lombard and Vincent, in Portland, after school, as we were surrounded by the tune, the whole drive home. What an imprinted memory for an almost 17 year old guy!)

Wayne | 7.18.11 @ 11:43AM

Looks like the AS is loaded with RINOS who quickly give into the nonsense Obama spouts. "Give in or you get the blame" seems to be the message of the day.

Steve A| 7.18.11 @ 12:15PM

Memo to Congress: You have not been sent there to get re-elected. Your job is not to worry about political fallout. Your job is to do the right thing for the future of America. Just do it & let the chips fall where they may. You need to trust the American people to figure it out.

If our society is too collectively stupid to see what is going on here, then we may as well cash it in & just let the socialists take complete control & run it into the ground.

Matt| 7.18.11 @ 12:26PM

I fail to understand the part about unincorporating ... What are you saying? putting the millionaires with 30 hour a week works is good? also 1986 was during the Reagan years ... Does that not fall under the "Reaganomics"? or did he not have anything to do with this tax shift? Are you suggesting to lower corporate tax rates or to simply force these people to corporate …?

Joe D.| 7.18.11 @ 12:55PM

I disagree with you. I, along with my Tea Party buddies, pay enough now. We are tired of hearing about what if the government??? It is time to put them on the last plaine as the rest of us. The debt ceiling is not to be raised. They have enough to pay the military, debt interest and the seniors. After that they will have to choose.

Occam's Tool| 7.18.11 @ 2:12PM

The correct answer to Obama on taxes is Molon Labe. Your bluff is called, now try to win with the unemployment rate around 10% and no end in sight under you.

David Shoup| 7.18.11 @ 2:53PM

Green Lantern's suggestion ain't gonna happen and should not happen. Where does the right come from to tax anyone higher than is currently being done? The problem has never been too little money but too much spending.

Margie| 7.18.11 @ 3:04PM

"Read my lips: No new taxes!"

Controse| 7.18.11 @ 3:06PM

Green Lantern let me tell you something about the English language. It has many clever words to express thoughts and situations and actions succinctly. The one which perfectly replaces your post is "surrender." See all the time you could have saved yourself and your readers?

Ron| 7.18.11 @ 3:13PM

And the MSM continues to hammer us with the "tax the rich", "pay their fair share" (as if the middle class hasn't been paying as well) until the election. And, as usual, NerObama will pull out a win because the Republicans really have such a small media base to work with. Their message is just not getting out and through to people, and worse, the people who are collecting entitlements are going to vote for the guy who gives it to them...

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 3:52PM

We Tea Party Patriots Are In Open Rebellion Against The Economic Treason Of Barky Obama.

"Obama officially threatens to veto 'cut, cap and balance'

The White House on Monday warned President Obama will veto GOP legislation to “cut, cap and balance” spending and the budget.

In a statement of administration policy, the White House Office of Management and Budget labeled the GOP bill as an “empty political statement.”

The House Rules Committee is expected to take up the measure on Monday, and it is likely to receive a floor vote on Tuesday. The measure would cut spending in fiscal 2012 by $111 billion, cap future spending at 19.9 percent of gross domestic product and allow for the debt ceiling to be increased if a balanced-budget amendment is approved by Congress and sent to the states. "

Ron Paul's new TV ad opposes raising debt limit

CHRIS TOMLINSON

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas - Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is using his first campaign television ad to promote his long-time opposition to raising the federal debt limit.

"In the '80s, they did it to (Ronald) Reagan, a debt ceiling compromise, Democrats promising spending cuts, but delivering only tax hikes," the ad says. "The '90s brought more compromises, more broken promises and more new taxes. ... Will our party's leaders repeat the mistakes of the past?"

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up.

Elron H.| 7.18.11 @ 4:07PM

Ron Paul's new TV ad opposes fluoridation of drinking water

CHRIS TOMLINSON

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas - Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is using his first campaign television ad to promote his long-time opposition to the fluoridation of our water supply.

Will our party's leaders repeat the mistakes of the past?"

The Tea Party Rebellion Defecates.

Roll Over.

Clint| 7.18.11 @ 5:26PM

Apparently, The Screwball Israel Firster RINO-CINO Psychotic Gnawed Their Way Out Their Restraints Again & Sneaked Down The Hall To The Computer In The Nurses' Station To Obsess Against Our Tea Party Co-Favorite & Presidential Candidate, Dr.Ron Paul.

Attendants !
Bring The Tranquilizer Gun.

Gary B| 7.18.11 @ 8:54PM

I've changed my mind. Screw this anti-Christian, anti-American, pro-Muslim excuse for a president. No new taxes!

And, as for the traitors in the enemedia... bring it on! Isn't this what the 2010 election was all about?

And, remember, the 2012 primary season is face-the-music time for mushy Republicans, too. Everyone should fear the Tea Party.

bob46| 7.18.11 @ 10:57PM

I can go along with this only because of our current predicament. But, republicans are woefully simialr to democrats and in order to set themselves apart they have to come up with true cuts and a lot of them. Whole depts need to to be deimated. Regulations need to be rolled back to the early 2000's. We've got solvable problems but it seems we don't have the bold person to implement them. We need a statesman like Reagan so bad. I don't think the country is going to survive with that courageous person coming out of the woodwork. He or she sure isn't in the public eye right now. God help us. If obama is reelected, God's wrath will rain throughout the land.

POST American| 7.18.11 @ 11:26PM

BTW ---Check out July 18th's ALAN WATT.

He goes into detail on the FAKE Murdoch
wiretapping rau.

Seems, as we suspected, Murdoch's LONG been totally
in bed with Globalism for many many years
---and in close kahootz with the surveillance
and blackmailing op of the ruling Globalist
elite.

Claims that virtually our entire government
is now, unquestionably, under BLACKMAIL.

--------------TOLD YA' SO.

Republican Connect| 7.19.11 @ 2:18AM

I just don't understand how anybody can truly believe that simply raising the debt ceiling for the long term would be a good idea for the United States. If Republicans give any, it needs to be a short term plan and give nothing away long term.

skf bearings| 7.19.11 @ 2:30AM

Going after these "rich" taxpayers is only going to make unemployment worse and prolong the recession.
skf bearings
fag bearings

NWBill| 7.19.11 @ 3:02AM

GL, an excellent article - and I haven't read something so clearly laid out in quite a while! Thank you!

Now ... here's where I have to differ with you. There is no way - and I mean, NO WAY - you're going to ask for, and get, Republicans to promise to vote for someone they detest, in case some or all of HIS policies work for the country. Nu-hhh.

You can't play with people's and business' lives based on a 15-month "experiment." This isn't a college chemistry lab; there are real folks and real business owners out there, biting their nails ... wondering what the heck the next "policy" will be coming out of Washington. And that kind of uncertainty is why, to a great extent, things are the way they are right now.

No, my friend ... what we need from our representatives right now are two things: the ABILITY to lead, and the SPINE to make the tough decisions. Obama has neither. He can't be dealt with, or bargained with, or negotiated with, because he thinks he holds all the good cards - even when he's bluffing. Casinos love players like him, because they know he won't listen to, or be receptive to, anything approaching reason.

So, we as conservatives and Republicans must lay down our own form of frontier justice - DON'T come to town bringing any more tax hikes, or no cuts in spending ... or we'll run you out of town. Period.

Remember - these are people who truly believe, as you said, that Reaganomics never worked; even though there are tons of evidence to prove otherwise. Why waste valuable time and effort trying to negotiate with people like that?

Bottom line: the US will NOT default on August 2nd. Or August 15th. Or August 30th. You know why? Because the government HASN'T ASKED TAXPAYERS TO STOP BUYING OR PAYING THEIR TAXES. This boils down to turning the spigot of spending WAAYYYYYY down, until we all get used to the smaller water flow - and live accordingly. You can't lead Democrats by promises into doing this; these are issues of leadership and decision-making that only Republicans and conservatives like Michele Bachmann have right now ... and that Democrats and liberals have lost since JFK's time. President Kennedy said this at a press conference in 1962:

"It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now ... Cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus."

And he said this in a national address on a tax cut bill in 1963:

"A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues."

Democrats and liberals like that are gone - it's up to us, the conservatives and Republicans and Tea Partiers, to lead.

WeMustResist| 7.19.11 @ 5:44AM

You cannot negotiate with an addict. You can only pretend to negotiate. You can educate the people. The numbers and the graphs which show the addiction are clear. Ditto for the numbers and graphs which show that the deficit stimulus is useless, indeed harnful.
If not now, then when? After you have surrendered? After the addict has blackmailed you? After you have smoked his crack?
With an addict negotiations are useless. Only ultimatums work. The ultimatums should be:
1) No new tax rises at this time, and until the economy is more robust
2) No new debt ceiling at this time, until expenses are lower than now.
3) Obama and the Dems can pick and chose what expenses they want to cut - the GOP leaves it all up to them. They got us into this high expense mess and they can get us out.

kiwikit| 7.19.11 @ 6:02AM

I wish someone would publish a list of not only what was spent by the 'Gimmecrats' in the last five years but on what it was spent: billions to this special interest and that.