Lisa Benson for December 14, 2012

Says it all.

Someone wants to save the forest while others want to biuld a mall.

And the Tea Party thinks that an enormous tax hike is “Hey brother, can you spare a dime?”That is, the TOTAL tax hike, for the whole 1% is a dime.

Raising revenue where it will not hurt the economy and spending it on infrastructure, education, and research that increase the productive capacity of the country and gets people working for the good of the country is what is required. Okay to decrease spending on non-productive areas such as the military and cutting the fat and waste. Republicans want to cut spending so the economy continues to limp along. Republicans are not interested in protecting the rich so much as they are interested in low revenues and the country not doing well that reflects unfavourably on the Democrats.

How about, just maybe, something, let’s say, in between?Is it really necessary to cut down the whole durn tree?

Spending is down, oh mindless right wing thinkers!

Republicans have valiently suggested that people who want to pay more taxes VOLUNTEER to pay more..I will suggest that Republicans who don’t want Social Security and Medicare, or veterans benefits GIVE THEM BACK to the government when the checks start coming in..Everyone wins that way.

What is it about Retuglican ’Borrow and give to the Rich ’ that voters do understand?

“What is it about Dem Lib “Tax and Spend” don’t voters understand?”-Have you considered that it is you who don’t understand liberals?

A good post — intelligent, thoughtful, and well structured. I’d like to see an intelligent reply. Is there someone out there who can counter this at the same level of discussion?

Its’ so nice to visit “Jurassic Park” now and then to see if the inmates have evolved. Sad to say that does not seem to be the case. Good to see the bi-partisan, co-operative, reach across the aisle attitude is still alive. I understand they are offering homestead deals in Texas. Anyone interested?

“I’ll create 12 million jobs.” — Mitt Romney, third debate

“Government doesn’t create jobs.” Mitt Romney, third debate

With that kind of grip on reality by its chosen leader, it is no surprise that Republicans are clueless about how to proceed.

Let’s assume that we stop spending altogether, tomorrow. This will remove over $300 billion per month from the domestic economy. How quickly would it move/recover then? If you want to cut the tree down, we go straight to depression and serfs/lords. There’s a reason why it was called the Dark Ages.

Spending needs to be cut, but like all trees, you can strengthen and improve the health of the tree by knowing where and how to cut. You can kill the tree by running at it with a chainsaw. So, I commend Ms.Benson for pointing out how the Republicans want to trash the economy in an effort to save it, just like the Ryan plan would “save” Medicare by totally transforming it from Medicare. I’m pretty sure this was not her intention, but sometimes the wisest thing you put on paper was not intended that way.

The elephant in the room is the defense spending. The need for a huge military presence is a combination of “cold war, my stick is bigger than yours mindset”, an appeal to the conservative base, and the need to have military contracts go to states with GOP and Democratic reps who want to get re-elected. Its’ pretty tough to go back home and tell your constituency that they will have to get by with less for the national good. The need for a large “boots on the ground” armed force is a concept that has outlived its’ time. Think small, tech oriented, and specialized. If you don’t think so, look at how well we are doing in the last two “occupations” we have attempted.

At face value, Lisa is saying: “Republicans want to cut ALL spending while Obama is trimming a little bit.”.If ALL spending is cut — where does that lead??.This cartoon is nothing but stupid.

Obama’s first cuts proposed were billions in savings by cutting waste and fraud,, called “corporate profit” in Medicare and Medicaid, and cutting more billions in corporate profits from excess “defense spending” even the Pentagon DOES NOT WANT! So, of course these are just horrible proposals, how DARE we cut waste and fraud, or excessive corporate profits!

Boehner and crew of course have a much better idea, let’s cut needed services, AND reduce taxes on wealthy, and propose “cutting” a few phony “deductions”, while making others easier to take.

What is it about the republicans who year after year after year run on the platform of smaller goverment when in fact every republican president since Johnson has grown the federal goverment more than thier democratic counterparts during that same time span. When I ask people why they vote republican most respond “I am for smaller goverment”. Then why are you voting republican. All of your bilnd idealogoy makes you ignore the facts in front of your face.

as usual Lisa got it right on the nose….Obama refuses to do even one single genuine “cut” to reduce the annual spending total….The House GOP want to really make huge REAL CUTS to stop annual deficits….the tree represents decades of Dem and GOP debt by deficit spending excesses…..now at a yearly unsustainable amount of OVER ONE TRILLION DOLLARS….year after year into infinity….if Dems get their way…

As usual Lisa got it exactly wrong. Missed by a mile. Obama has offered to cut defense spending, spending on subsidies for oil and gas companies (billion dollar companies), health care — pharma companies making trillions in overpriced drugs. The House and Boehner want really big (unspecified) cuts which can only be in Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Veteran benefits, pensions, aid to the already strapped states, etc. Disastrous for the economy.Don’t talk about cuts generically. Talk specifically. Do you want to cut spending for the most vulnerable citizens? Or do you want to cut welfare for the wealthy? I’m with Obama.

On the surface, I agree. Digging deeper, however, I would like you to consider the following points:

1. You can’t kill an idea with a weapon. The only way you can be sure that there are no Muslims (or any member of any group) who want to kill us is to identify each and every one of them and kill them first. Then, each member of their angry family, and so on. I submit this is not practical.

2. Islam is the most popular religion in the world. If all Muslims wanted to kill me and every one I love, it probably would have been done by now.

3. Every time we waterboard, every time we keep someone indefinitely in a prison across the world with no hope of ever having a trial, every time we take pictures of prison activity that looks just as bad as that of the people we “liberated” them from, we create another hater. Or two. Even if our captives “deserve it”, our haters will not accept that.

If we had gone after bin Ladin instead of Saddam Hussein, offed him and gone home, we’d have support throught the world, and we’d be trillions richer, especially if we hadn’t blown so much money on DHS. Instead, we tried (and pretty much succeeded) to bankrupt ourselves playing Whack-a-Mole, which is truly what bin Ladin was hoping for, having a willing but unwitting partner in GWB. I submit that our continued spending in that part of the world becomes more counterproductive the longer we do it.

Another example would be the Coalition Provisional Authority, whose primary purpose was to privatize everything Iraqi to the highest bidder. This is the very definition of the word PLUNDER.

If we want them to stop hating us, we should stop giving them reasons to hate us. Best way to do that at this juncture, in my opinion, is to go home. Today.

So if the Reps want to cut spending, why don’t they start with their spending habits…tax payers could save quite a bit of money if they cut all those wasteful fringe benefits they receive….maybe they can also pay into SS to and see what we deal with too.

the House GOP bills that would make real cuts in total spending are in the Democrat Senate “Black File”….DEAD. The Senate is ruled by Democrats who have not passed the legally required annual budget for at least 3 years. Obama’s “budget” is so excessive in spending that the Democrat Senate votes 99 to 0 to defeat it. More Democrats are beginning to call for the end of Obamacare and its huge load of new and increased taxes and mandated costs….designed to put manufacturers and suppliers of medical devices OUT OF BUSINESS.Obama wants total Federal Government control of every sector of what has been the “Private Business/Industry” of the USA. Can you say “Marxism”???

Now, let the trolling continue…..-—————————-Hey, you got your wish!.The troll I’ve dubbed touché obliged with its inane comment above..

^We all know a gay bashing when we see it.

To Whom It May Concern:

Let’s cut spending, starting with cutting the military and war budget in half. Sound good?