Whenever President Obama signals his support for some lofty idea, sometimes in soaring rhetoric, we need always ask for the details. In his campaign, he promised us hope and change, but what exactly were we hoping for? What changes was he promising?
He was going to giving us a “net spending cut”, but never spelled out the specific government programs he was going to cut. Just over three months ago, he delivered a major speech on the budget, yet provided no specifics of how he was going to get federal spending under control.
Yesterday, we read that he had praised the deficit-reduction plan of the bipartisan “Gang of Six”. (Gotta love how Yahoo! include the Obama mantra of “hope” in the AP article they published.) Today, Conn Carroll reports in the Washington Examiner:
If the Gang of Six’s goal was to produce a detailed and credible plan to reduce our nation’s deficits and solve the debt limit crisis, then they failed spectacularly yesterday. The plan they released contains no specific spending cuts, kicks all the major decisions down the road to Senate committees and congressional commissions, and depending on what baseline you use, raises taxes by as much as $3 trillion. And Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a member of the Gang of Six, admitted yesterday that the details of the plan are nowhere near firm enough to be scored by the Congressional Budget Office before the August 2nd deadline.
Emphasis added. Details nowhere near firm enough to be scored by the CBO. Now, why does that sound familiar?
When politicians get excited about an idea, it probably isn’t a good one.
Notice they have detailed plans on where the new taxes are coming from but no detailed plans on the spending reductions. Now, what does that tell you? The tax increases will be invoked and the spending reductions will be forgotten.
Notice also, they don’t vote on the spending cuts until *after* the debt limit is raised.
I don’t know if this is a “Prisoner’s Dilemma”, or a “Mexican Standoff”. Both sides dragging their feet hoping the other-side blinks before the bomb goes off. At some point they HAVE TO raise the debt-ceiling…with or without tax increases or cuts for future spending.
The Gang of Six has no real plan; like Obama, it is a basic outline. Once the House & Senate get ahold of the real legislation, it could change–for better or worse–considerably. AS of right now, the Gang of Six is talking hot air.
We are so screwed.
Why is Chambliss having anything to do with Turban Durbin, Bruce?
When did the Gang of Six get back together? It’s strange. I don’t like it. Something smells rotten here.
#6: Richard, I get the feeling that you are sooooo right.
I fear that it will take a true calamity to get people to wake up and if that does happen, people will accept even more government involvement.
One thing the GOP could do is STOP using the word “default” (I heard Cornyn use it more than once this morning). If default means failure to make debt payments then this won’t happen unless POTUS makes it happen.
Why isn’t the GOP repeating that fact over and over in the manner of a talking-point Democrat?
Why isn’t the GOP asking, over and over, what happened to the Social Security lockbox?
Sean Hannity said on his radio show that the Gang of Six is disentergrating again; therefore, this “plan” is a nothing burger. There is no real legislation from the Gang of Six–just an outline thant Obama likes since it involves tax increases. The only other real plan is the House’s Cut, Cap & Balance bill thus far. And McConnell-Reid bill in the Senate which capitulates & gives Obama everything he wants. The House Republicans, particularly the Tea Party Republicans, are against the McConnell-Reid bill & it will not pass. Whereas, the Senate Democrats are saying the Cut, Cap & Balance bill is dead in the Senate. We’re at another stalemate.
The Gang of Six plan is a rouse to get more money–not cut it! It is still alive & well; the new plan is 500 pages long! It’s not an outline. But Obama is ready to downgrade the USA’s credit to get his tax increases. He will pull the plug & default unless he gets his way. Please call you congress person to support the GOP’s Cut Cap & Balance from the House! Call your senator!
The Gang of Six plan is worse than the McConnell-Reid plan. Obama wants the Gang of Six plan; therefore, he’s willing to work with a short term deal until its ironed out!