Fatguy, former President Bush never had a "lock" on power during his administration. If we look back on his administration the two years of his administration in which both houses of Congress were controlled by Republicans they only had a simple majority. The Democrats were able to block numerous appointments desired by President Bush and bills before Congress. The Democrats have controlled the Senate for over four years and they have not passed a budget brought before them in over 820 days.
During President Obama's first two years of office the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress with a super majority. They could pass anything they wanted and in many cases they did. With control of the Presidential Office and both houses of congress, a true “lock” on power occurred. Yet, during even during this period the Democratic Senate never did pass a budget. I contend that if the Obama Administration desired to increase the debt ceiling or write a balanced budget they could have done it during the years they had a "lock" on the power.
Don't forget that the republicans had a tremendous oppportunity to do those things when they had a lock on power during the Bush Jr. administration and they did none of them.
In fact, Bush Jr. spent circles around any previous administration until Obama came to power.
Anyone who thinks the republicans are any different or would actually reduce spending or entitlements is simply not paying attention. Neither one of the two major parties are worth a crap.
The problem is out of control spending. How does raising taxes decrease spending? These debt ceiling "negotiations" are just political posturing by Obuma. It's pretty obvious he is not serious about cutting spending, he is just maneuvering the Republicans into position to take the blame. All this chaos is all part of Obuma's master plan to "fundamentally transform America" - that is transform it into the United Socialist States of America......or maybe worse?
Rather than the end, a Government shutdown is the last, best hope we have for retaking our country and putting it back on a path to prosperity. No one ever previously used the military, veterans' benefits and social security as pawns because there has never been a true Marxist resident in the White House until now.
In a real world the average taxpayer will never see a $250k/yr W-2. For some reason Eric Cantor believes that the Tea Party is the center of the universe. 2012 is not that far off and some more centered GOP members are hearing what the voters are saying with out a FOX News filter. We all hope that common sense prevails.
How many of the government shutdowns you cite Alton occurred because the U.S. debt ceiling had not been increased? Common sense makes me ask.
While the politicians have permitted (and promoted) government closures they have consistently increased the debt ceiling. Wonder why?
U.S. Debt Ceiling Increases for the same period of time:
September 30, 1976 April 1, 1977 October 4, 1977 August 3, 1978 April 2, 1979 September 29, 1979 June 28, 1980 December 19, 1980 February 7, 1981 September 30, 1981 June 28, 1982 September 30, 1982 May 26, 1983 November 21, 1983 May 25, 1984 June 6, 1984 October 13, 1984 November 14, 1985 December 12, 1985 August 21, 1986 October 21, 1986 May 15, 1987 August 10, 1987 September 29, 1987 August 7, 1989 November 8, 1989 August 9, 1990 October 28, 1990 November 5, 1990 April 6, 1993 August 10, 1993 March 29, 1996 August 5, 1997 June 11, 2002 May 27, 2003 November 16, 2004 March 20, 2006 September 29, 2007 June 5, 2008 October 3, 2008 February 17, 2009 December 24, 2009 February 12, 2010
The Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to reduce and reform spending and entitlements and have hamstrung themselves over tax increases for top earners.
As Mr. Perot well observed "talk is cheap and deeds are precious."
The GOP is really distinguishing itself with it's actions.
Alton Thank you for some common sense. The current Administration has no intention of reducing spending where we borrow or print forty cents of every dollar spent. The Republicans are right to ask for specifics in writing when the President verbally throws numbers around. Our President may be the World's greatest orator but there is an old saying: "You can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all of the time".
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July 23, 2011 at 5:15 p.m.Fatguy, former President Bush never had a "lock" on power during his administration. If we look back on his administration the two years of his administration in which both houses of Congress were controlled by Republicans they only had a simple majority. The Democrats were able to block numerous appointments desired by President Bush and bills before Congress. The Democrats have controlled the Senate for over four years and they have not passed a budget brought before them in over 820 days.
During President Obama's first two years of office the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress with a super majority. They could pass anything they wanted and in many cases they did. With control of the Presidential Office and both houses of congress, a true “lock” on power occurred. Yet, during even during this period the Democratic Senate never did pass a budget.
July 23, 2011 at 5:05 p.m.I contend that if the Obama Administration desired to increase the debt ceiling or write a balanced budget they could have done it during the years they had a "lock" on the power.
I have yet to see a reply from the former State Rep Candidate...Mr Easton.
July 22, 2011 at 7:28 p.m.Gansoblanco...
Don't forget that the republicans had a tremendous oppportunity to do those things when they had a lock on power during the Bush Jr. administration and they did none of them.
In fact, Bush Jr. spent circles around any previous administration until Obama came to power.
Anyone who thinks the republicans are any different or would actually reduce spending or entitlements is simply not paying attention. Neither one of the two major parties are worth a crap.
July 16, 2011 at 10:11 p.m.Can anyone tell me how many times the US government has not met it's financial obligations due to a government shutdown?
July 15, 2011 at 5:07 p.m.The problem is out of control spending. How does raising taxes decrease spending? These debt ceiling "negotiations" are just political posturing by Obuma. It's pretty obvious he is not serious about cutting spending, he is just maneuvering the Republicans into position to take the blame. All this chaos is all part of Obuma's master plan to "fundamentally transform America" - that is transform it into the United Socialist States of America......or maybe worse?
July 15, 2011 at 4:18 p.m.Rather than the end, a Government shutdown is the last, best hope we have for retaking our country and putting it back on a path to prosperity. No one ever previously used the military, veterans' benefits and social security as pawns because there has never been a true Marxist resident in the White House until now.
July 15, 2011 at 1:20 p.m.In a real world the average taxpayer will never see a $250k/yr W-2. For some reason Eric Cantor believes that the Tea Party is the center of the universe. 2012 is not that far off and some more centered GOP members are hearing what the voters are saying with out a FOX News filter. We all hope that common sense prevails.
July 15, 2011 at 10:46 a.m.How many of the government shutdowns you cite Alton occurred because the U.S. debt ceiling had not been increased? Common sense makes me ask.
While the politicians have permitted (and promoted) government closures they have consistently increased the debt ceiling. Wonder why?
U.S. Debt Ceiling Increases for the same period of time:
September 30, 1976
April 1, 1977
October 4, 1977
August 3, 1978
April 2, 1979
September 29, 1979
June 28, 1980
December 19, 1980
February 7, 1981
September 30, 1981
June 28, 1982
September 30, 1982
May 26, 1983
November 21, 1983
May 25, 1984
June 6, 1984
October 13, 1984
November 14, 1985
December 12, 1985
August 21, 1986
October 21, 1986
May 15, 1987
August 10, 1987
September 29, 1987
August 7, 1989
November 8, 1989
August 9, 1990
October 28, 1990
November 5, 1990
April 6, 1993
August 10, 1993
March 29, 1996
August 5, 1997
June 11, 2002
May 27, 2003
November 16, 2004
March 20, 2006
September 29, 2007
June 5, 2008
October 3, 2008
February 17, 2009
December 24, 2009
February 12, 2010
The Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to reduce and reform spending and entitlements and have hamstrung themselves over tax increases for top earners.
As Mr. Perot well observed "talk is cheap and deeds are precious."
The GOP is really distinguishing itself with it's actions.
July 15, 2011 at 10:20 a.m.Alton
July 15, 2011 at 8 a.m.Thank you for some common sense. The current Administration has no intention of reducing spending where we borrow or print forty cents of every dollar spent. The Republicans are right to ask for specifics in writing when the President verbally throws numbers around. Our President may be the World's greatest orator but there is an old saying:
"You can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all of the time".