Nancy Pelosi announces her picks for deficit "supercommittee"

Source: Washington Post

Politics News Alert: Nancy Pelosi announces her picks for deficit
August 11, 2011 12:37:55 PM
----------------------------------------

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced, via her Twitter feed, the final three members of the "supercommittee" charged with recommending an additional $1.2 trillion cuts to the deficit.

They are top members of the House Democratic leadership and include Reps. Jim Clyburn (S.C.); Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the Budget Committee ranking member; and Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.).

The entire 12-member committee has now been selected.

http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/BZYGW4/PRHP95/3CUHKE/6PI9CR/FVZL2/T3/h

For more information, visit PostPolitics.com.





Read more: http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/BZYGW4/PRHP95/3CUHKE/6PI9CR/FVZL2/T3/h

Backus is the weak link that could cause their final bill to be approved by a 7-5 vote.

I expected her to make good picks and she didn't disappoint. Baucus is the only really bad pick and one I expected to be made. I hope the rest can keep him in line.

I am a bit more encouraged, especially after the Baucus pick. My hope is that this doesn't come down to 7-5 votes in favor of the Repubes.

With Bauchus selling us out.

it will mean the committee did its job.

Will the agreement cut wasteful military spending on imperial wars?

Will the agreement limit cuts to SS and trim Medicare/aid costs without cutting services?

Will the agreement close tax loopholes and raise tax rates on the wealthiest?

If not, then it would be better to pull the trigger.

yes to all of your questions, and this bunch of "supers" will approve it

Will the agreement cut wasteful military spending on imperial wars? Murray is there to insure it won't. Boeing and McD-D (which employ vast swathes of her constituents) make too much money for Pentagon cuts to be on the table in any appreciable measure. To put it another way, you need two GOP votes to make this happen.

Will the agreement limit cuts to SS and trim Medicare/aid costs without cutting services? That's the claim, but I think there is no deal the GOP members can sign off on that adheres to this objective. Baucus will force more to be on the table.

Will the agreement close tax loopholes and raise tax rates on the wealthiest? :rofl:

We're screwn. Our best chance is the trigger.

and I think Boeing can do great with or w/o military contracts if the FAA can start certifying planes again. The "Dream Liner" series I know have orders backed up.

-p

He's coming out strong in advance for cutting SSI, the dog. The fix was in when they announced the idea. Harry, as usual, goes along to get along and appoints people who have already stated that SSI needs to be cut. Don't be surprised at the lack of defense cuts and at the atrocious, outsized and unnecessary cuts that will be made to working class people's programs, Medicare, Medicaid and SSI.

may be eyeing the SOS position if Hillary doesn't come back, and he may give more credence to the WH with that in mind. Just one guy's thoughts, but something that may indeed play into his decisions.

and I don't know anything about Bacerra. Why isn't someone like Jim McDermott from WA on this committee? He has more budget experience than probably most members of congress and he's a doctor to boot.

I thought lately I saw something about him and he was using some republiCON talking points. I didn't see the whole piece and it was on Msnbc or CNN.

He has been on Washington journal on Cspan you can probably find the video and he was very good and he also was on one of the panels with Obama during the healthcare debate with the republicons,If I am remembering correctly..

nt

to increase taxes in the debt debate.

On edit, I see that Clyburn IS 3rd way. I'm reading to find out why that matters. ;)

Van Hollen is rated 100% on OASDI by the ARA, but that means only that he has voted with his Party. Doesn't mean he won't cut it, now that the Party is in "compromisse" mode.

"Now the question is will some other look at CPI make sense? And I think that it makes sense to look at it all to see what is an accurate account, a better way to determine benefits. I certainly wouldn't walk away from that kind of discussion."

- Clyburn

http://is.gd/BTtgnA

I do think it's ok to say "I'll take a look" as long as it doesn't result in cutting benefits.

...of whether another method of calculating inflation, which results in lower benefits, is more accurate.

The US has massive inequality.

Social Security is a counter-force to inequality. If benefits are going up faster than inflation, then good, because that means less inequality.

If someone were told at work, your salary will be automatically-adjusted based on inflation, and you have a choice between:
a) a measure of inflation which will result in a bigger salary increase, or
b) a measure of inflation will result in a smaller salary increase, but which nine-out-of-ten economists think is more accurate,

almost everyone which choose "a," including me.

But, I'm not against eliminating the contribution cap and/or having a means test.

workers have purchased over a lifetime of work into a shame-based welfare program.

If you pay in full for an annuity, your insurer has no right to demand to means test you when your contractually agreed time to collect finally arrives. That would be fraud.

And, those who don't need the insurance, shouldn't make a claim.

===
While investment banker Peter Peterson likes to go around the country boasting that he doesn’t need his Social Security, the reality is that there are very few rich elderly people like Mr. Peterson. In order to have any noticeable impact on the program’s finances, a means-test would have to hit very middle income people — people with incomes in the neighborhood of $40,000 a year.

Even then the impact would be very limited. To have a major impact on the program’s expenses it would probably necessary to move the means-test down to people with incomes around $30,000 a year. This would not fit most people’s definition of rich.

- Dean Baker

http://my.firedoglake.com/deanbaker/2011/08/12/why-does-the-nyt-think-its-so-cool-to-beat-up-on-seniors/

====

people. I think Baker's assertion that we HAVE to hit this income group in order to make a "major" impact, may not take into consideration a complete plan, involving other components?

...has administrative costs.

No one is paid millions of dollars per year in Social Security benefits in the first place.

A person with a salary of a million-per-year before retirement will get about $60,000 per year in Social Security benefits after retiring.

likely be financially justified. Also, all one would need to do to verify income, is submit a copy of tax returns, or a statement indicating why one is not required to file.

The purpose and effect of the "better way" to calculate cost of living increases to which he refers is to make even more sure that OASDI recipients get fewer cost of living increases. And, as we've all learned, increases in food prices are not even part of the calculation.

The "better" way of a few years ago means recipients have to make it through the end of 2011 on the alleged cost of living in 2008. (That went into effect in 2009, the last time recipients got a cost of living adjustment.)

Now, an even "better way is on the table.

When asked if she considered a "better" way of caclulating the cost of living for OASDI purposes a cut in benefits, Pelosi said "No. A cut in benefits is a cut in benefits."

Cheap word games.

Meanwhile, Obama thinks the poor don't need fuel subsidies as much anymore and wants to cut Medicare as well. And prices of food and home heating oil have risen significantly.

So, all in all, the poor elderly, the poor disabled and the poor "widows and orphans" of deceased workers are being offered up.

Also, I'm not sure when every one at DU became an expert on various COLA calculations, you?

on SS is not much different from the Heritage Foundation's. They just wrote a whole 'plan' for 'entitlement programs', as if they were preparing for this. It is very bad that one of the three is part of that organization.

they're supporting?

Thanks Sabrina :hi:

I have so many tabs open and I know it is among them as I just read part of it a few days ago.

I will try to find it again. It is a long report and is easily found on Google 'Third Way Social Security Reform' or something like that which might be faster than waiting for me to find it.

Be back in a little while to post what I have after finishing some work I am doing.

:hi: back to you!

Saving Social Security

Their whole premise regarding SS is wrong. To begin with SS doesn't need saving, it needs the Fed. Govt to pay its debt to the SS fund. They are pushing the rightwing idea that there isn't enough money to keep the promises made, when that is in fact, a lie. It is sad to see Democrats doing this, it's been hard enough fighting Republicans on this very same issue for so long, now we are fighting both parties to keep this lie from spreading.

Anyhow, there have been lots of responses pointing out their incorrect premise so hopefully this will not go anywhere. But it is making a lot of people very nervous since two people from this Org are a part of the administration.

I don't disagree with some of their suggestions.

For example, they want to increase benefits for low income seniors, tax benefits for those with higher incomes and eliminate the income cap. IF SS IS in trouble in decades to come, I'm not an expert but many experts agree that it is, I don't object to these particular changes. I do object to increasing the age of SS and cutting benefits for those in need. Though, it appears that increasing benefits for lower income seniors, might make up for any COLA adjustment issues which are deemed to be a 0.3 percent decrease in the cost of living adjustment according to the "Third Way" calculations.

Thanks again for providing this info. :hi:

edited for grammar.

solvent program good until 2075 without doing anything right now. If anything, because it has a surplus of over 2 trillion dollars, benefits should be increased right now for those who paid into it.

The reason for all these 'fixes' is they do not want to raise taxes on the wealthy, eliminate the Bush tax cuts, end the wars, not have money for bailouts, all of which they paid for by borrowing from the SS fund and now do not want to pay back.

SS should not even be part of any discussion of the Deficit. It contributed nothing to the debt and the American people have paid enough into it to take care of their own needs for the next several decades. But they have adapted the Heritage Foundations lie that it is SS that is in trouble when the facts are clear. It was the Financial Meltdown, the Wars, the bailouts, the tax cuts for the wealthy that caused the deficit/debt.

Sorry, but this has been a huge issue for a long time and when Bush was president most Democrats understood that the claim that SS was 'in trouble' was a lie. Now, sadly, even some Democrats are buying into it. Anyhow, hopefully there are enough Democrats in Congress to stop any plans to 'save' what doesn't need to be saved and to take the steps needed to make sure that money is returned to the people to whom it belongs. Bush failed because Democrats opposed him. I hope they will continue to fight as they did then. :-)

in trouble, over the long term, because of baby-boomers. I do agree that it's a separate issue from the deficit, however.

Also, Bush wanted to privatize SS by saying we had an immediate shortage. I think there is a distinction to be made between what some Dems are saying and what Bush desired. That said, I'm not defending anything. And I'm not panicking over the false notion that suddenly Democrats share Republican values. I'm simply trying to digest the information fairly, and come to a rational conclusion based upon the facts.

Peace :hi:

The baby boomers paid more into SS than any other group so far and more than took care of not only their own retirement, but of their parents.

The only people who continue to use these deceptions are Republicans and some now in the Dem Party who are more rightleaning in their views especially about Social Programs.

Most Democrats do not agree with them and most economists have written article after article explaining why these claims are so wrong. Not all Democrats share Republican views on SS, thankfully, the best ones are still fighting as they always have, these deceptions. But sadly, some do and that is making the fight far more difficult than it used to be.

I do appreciate your effort to get the facts. I had to do that when I first got involved during the Bush years as I was very ignorant of the facts.

Try reading what James Galbraith and Dean Baker eg, have to say about it if you get a chance. They are very informed on the subject and make it easy to understand. :-)

To say that a few decades from now, we will have issues without tweaking the system, is another matter.

I am not of the mind that we should leave this issue to a Republican President/House/Senate to deal with. I would much rather Democrats tackle it, and get it behind us so that the long term problem can be solved on our terms.

Instead of various commentators, I tend to trust the non-partisan CBO in these matters.

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/123xx/doc12376/SocSecInfographic_print.pdf

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/123xx/doc12375/08-05-Long-TermSocialSecurityProjections.pdf

Thanks for the reading suggestions. :)

Social programs, but the Third Way are not traditional Democrats. SS is not even close to going broke, and that is what is so frustrating, that even here, on DU, they have managed to convince people that SS needs 'fixing'. What needs fixing is the Fed Govt's budget and that is where the focus should be. Once that is done, the wild spending on wars, on bailouts for corrupt Wall St. gamblers, the Tax cuts for the wealthy etc., the Creditors will get their money, and that is what the SS fund is, a Creditor, just like China, of the US Govt.

As for the CBO, I have read their reports. And you have to remember that SS has had shortfalls in the past, when the economy was bad. 11 times actually over the years. But it is not dependent on Payroll Taxes alone, it has two other sources of income and even with the bad numbers on unemployment this year and last, the SS fund STILL TOOK IN A SURPlUS.

There is no program that has been proposed so far, not ever, that is better, more fiscally responsible, more profitable, better managed, than FDR's SS program. And it really is tragic to see anyone with a 'D' after their name attempt to push what was formerly only a rightwing agenda. At least in the past we could depend on Democrats not to fall for the deceptions. This is probably the first time ever that I have seen people on 'left' forums, begin to buy into the Heritage Foundation's lies. And we have the Third Way and the DLC to thank for that. :cry:

important. We can't assume that because Democrats want to deal with a legitimate long-term issue, they've taken up the Republican agenda. To say that SS is solvent in the short term, is true. But, I'd prefer not to wait for a crisis, thirty years from now, to deal with any short fall.

As for the CBO, they have taken all sources of SS related income into consideration in their projections.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the validity of dealing with the long term solvency of SS. Keep in mind, Howard Dean has also indicated that we need to address Social Security in the long run. I don't' consider him a Republican or a DLC mole.

Once again, peace.

:pals:

But yes, we'll have to agree to disagree. The CBO and other numbers, are usually based on the current situation. Eg, even based on this period of high unemployment and bad economy, SS is still taking in a surplus, because of its other sources of income. This year's numbers will change when employment numbers improve and most analysts believe that the surplus, even based on where we are today, will double by 2023.

Iow, there is no crisis in SS, and it did not in any way contribute to the deficit, even Repubs stop short of actually saying that. Yet, when there is talk of the deficit, instead of hearing about the actual causes, all we hear about are 'entitlement' programs. Why is that? Same thing with the Deficiti Commission, and then there was the President's speech at the G20 Conference last year when he stated that Medicaid, Medicare and SS were 'part of the problem'. That was a shock, considering he has said so often that SS is not responsible at all for the deficit.

Anyhow, what happens to these programs in the Super Congress will probably define the Democratic Party from now on. It is a line that should not be crossed by any Democrat and if it is I think it will change the Party for a long time to come. Hopefully it won't happen, but there have been many signs that the PTBs want to mess with those programs and that Dems have not been particularly forceful about slapping them down.

Anyhow, thank you for reading, and have a great weekend, mzmolly :-)

too Sabrina. :D

I had two great YouTube clips of Van Hollen appearing on the Young Turks
Flying his Weasel Flag in am embarrassing display.

He was asked a simple question by Cenk,
"Will YOU vote to cut Social Security?"
and Van Hollen refused to answer the question,
and instead put on an embarrassing, display of his true colors,
waffling, weaseling, tap dancing...
Cenk repeated his direct, simple question 3 times,
and the dancing just got worse, and MORE embarrassing.
Eventually, Cenk was just laughing,
and said, "I guess we'll never know the answer until the vote."

I tried to post the YouTube so everybody could see the spectacle,
but I see that Van Hollen has been successful in getting them scrubbed.
Here is where they used to be.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2eKT70DtgI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wHr3nMG6Y4

I'm checking the archives for the Young Turks,
and if I can find it, I'll post another link.
VIDEO IS FOREVER,
and it is OUT THERE somewhere.
If you see it,
you will never have ANY respect of this weasel....EVER.
It was THAT embarrassing.


Chris van Hollen was also the Chair of the DCCC,
and was accused of directing funds TO Blue Dogs, and denying funds to Progressives.
(SOP for the DCCC since Rahm was the chairman.)

He also approved of the Bowles-Simpson(Cat Food Commission).
(This is what got him in trouble with Cenk.)


As a Mainstream FDR Democrat, I don't like Van Hollen making decisions about the future of Social Security.


Has a single member of the Progressive Caucus been given a seat in the Super Congress?



Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.



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It is part of a thread that madfloridian started:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=496010&mesg_id=496132

Unfortunately, the YouTube account that hosted the video has been removed.

and, about the video --

There was a video of Biden speaking about Veterans that was out there when he was a candidate. I've searched high and low (it was so heartfelt and moving) but it's gone. PatSeg said she'd noticed most of the vids of Biden disappeared when he signed on with Obama. :(

If it were otherwise, he would have had no trouble saying so.

But you won't hear much criticism of her around DU...I love her but there is a disconnect around when it comes to holding all elected leaders to the same standard BIG TIME!!

..back when she was the firey, Left Leaning, take no prisoners Congesswoman.

But after she parlayed her Congressional Seat into a Seat at the Rich Man's Table,
she bought an Extreme Face Lift, and NEVER looked back.
As she has demonstrated time & time again, Pelosi will STAND When & Where the Party Leadership TELLS her to stand.

AND, if YOU haven't seen Pelosi held to a traditional Democratic Party standard on DU,
you haven't been paying attention.
She got her share of criticism for Taking Impeachment Off the Table in 2006,
and more recently, for capitulating on the Public Option after many public proclamations that she would NOT vote FOR a Health care Bill without one.

Paulson with Co-Conspirators

Now THIS is "bi-partisanship".
Better get used to it!
Hahahahahahahaha!

Reid and Pelosi appointed WHO they were TOLD to appoint to the "SuperCongress.





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He's not a weasel, he's a skunk.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

since the legal brouhaha several years back. He was my rep for years and I trust him implicitly, but I don't think he gets the respect he deserves. :(

I'd have loved to have seen him.

Another reason may be that they don't want two people from one State?

He is my representative, and I like him very, very much.

He is in nearly constant touch with his constituents -- holds lots of coffees at which he answers questions. After the coffee you can form a line and talk to him individually.

I have frequently told him I would like to see him run for president.

He represents what is for the most part a relatively low-income to lower middle-class area of Los Angeles -- the East side and Some of Hollywood -- lots of immigrants and people who are struggling. Maxine Waters has an even more impoverished constituency.

He understands the problems of the poor, has a good heart and a brilliant mind (first generation college and Stanford Law School grad). I gather he is a strong Catholic of the socially aware kind.

In addition, he is, I think, on the Ways and Means Committee and versant in every aspect of the budget -- knows it inside out.

Unfortunately, Becerra will be in the minority.

Committee assignments

Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Oversight
Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee on Social Security
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
U.S.-Korea Interparliamentary Exchange (Vice Chair)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Becerra#Committee_assignments

I could not get on his web page.

I started to admire him so much when I attended a coffee he held in our local high school. Most of the attendees were from the neighborhood -- a primarily Hispanic neighborhood.

In response to a question about Social Security, Rep. Becerra answered with such clarity, simplicity, compassion and humility that I was just hooked from that moment on. What a good man he is. How lucky we are as a nation to have him in the House of Representatives -- and in our District as our Representative no less.

If you want to know why I am critical of Obama at times, just listen to Becerra. Better yet, try to meet him sometime. And no, I am not related to him nor do I have any kind of personal friendship with him or his family outside of my activities as a normal member of the Democratic Party and my community. So, I am not biased by any family relationship or other personal tie. He is just a wonderful person!!!!!

He used to be a teacher and he will help keep order.

Good-bye Social Security.

. . .and benefit cuts. Jane Hamsher has audio over on FDL:

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/08/11/audio-clyburn-supports-social-security-means-testing-benefit-cuts/

Not promising.

Basically, the fix has been in since Obama was elected, maybe before.

Candidate Obama: The wage cap must be raised in order to preserve OASDI.

President Elect Obama. I pledge to cut OASDI and Medicare.

President Obama. Senator Simpson, can you do me a favor?

{Republicans try to recover from their ratings following the Ryan abominaton.}

President Obama: Speaker Boehner, are you SURE I can't interest you in cuts to "entitlements" in return for raising the debt ceiling?
I promise to say you forced me into it and you can impress the Teabaggers. Win Win!

Speaker Boehner: No, Mr. President. I'd rather give you all the credit.

President Obama. Then, we have to form a second cat food commission.

Consider what happens if such a thing does get through this committee. It still has to be passed by Congress as a whole. Some Republican Senators will continue to filibuster it simply because of their termagant nature.

Even if it gets past that roadblock, the President then gets to veto it, which he will do because a veto ensures that his own plan is the one that goes into effect.

And when it does, half a trillion dollars gets stripped from the DOD without a single Democratic vote in favor of it.

since the majority of the party is progressive. But when does majority rule have anything to do with our democracy?

Thanks for all the info nuggets you post.

LOL. That was supposed to read "facts," not "fasts."

or your sheep...She has made her decision.
What choice do you think the repubs made ?:rant:

Mission accomplished!

hold Kerry accountable.

I guess they either figured his seat was 1000% safe or that a couple of hundred million bucks would console him if he is involuntarily retired.

King Florestan the XXIVth declares a grand christening ceremony to be held in honor of the birth of his daughter, Princess Aurora named after the dawn. An entourage of six fairies are invited to the Christening to be godmothers to the child. They are the Candide Fairy, the Coulante Fairy, the Miettes Fairy, the Canari Fairy, the Violente Fairy and—most importantly—the Lilac Fairy, who is the last to arrive (the names of fairies and their gifts vary in productions). As the fairies are happily granting gifts of honesty, grace, prosperity, song and generosity, they are suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the wicked fairy Carabosse, who is furious at the King's failure to invite her to the ceremony. The King and Queen begin to remonstrate, and the Master of Ceremonies, Catallabutte, intervenes to take responsibility, whereupon Carabosse rips off his wig, laughing. With spite and rage, Carabosse declares her curse on Princess Aurora: she will prick her finger on her sixteenth birthday and die. But all is not lost: the Lilac Fairy, fortunately, has not yet granted her gift to the Princess. She acknowledges that Carabosse's power is immense and she cannot completely reverse the curse. However, she declares, though the Princess shall indeed prick her finger, she will not die, but instead sleep for 100 years until she is awakened by the kiss of a prince. Carabosse departs, and the curtain falls as the good fairies surround the cradle.

...The ballet's focus was undeniably on the two main conflicting forces of good (the Lilac Fairy) and evil (Carabosse); each has a leitmotif representing them, which run through the entire ballet, serving as an important thread to the underlying plot. Act III of the work, however, takes a complete break from the two motifs and instead places focus on the individual characters of the various court dances....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sleeping_Beauty_%28ballet%29

Quelle surprise. :eyes:

Clarence Thomas = Black
Kay Bailey Hutchison = Woman
Former Chairman of the Republican party, Mel Martinez = Latino

It is little comfort if they use a Gay Black Latina
to cut Social Security.

these are 3 decent picks - unlike Reid's

He is quite concerned about the deficit, but is a supporter of Social Security. He was not raised rich. His father was an immigrant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Becerra#Committee_assignments

I just got an update alert to this article:

Politics News Alert: Nancy Pelosi announces her picks for deficit 'supercommittee' (corrected)
August 11, 2011 2:45:27 PM
----------------------------------------

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced, via her Twitter feed, the final three members of the "supercommittee" charged with recommending an additional $1.2 trillion cuts to the deficit.

They are top members of the House Democratic leadership and include Reps. Jim Clyburn (S.C.); Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the Budget Committee ranking member; and Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.).

The entire 12-member committee has now been selected.

An earlier version of this alert incorrectly identified Pelosi as the House speaker.

http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/2GZNC0/PRHUO8/4V1BDQ/1JXF9G/9GOBV/6C/h

For more information, visit PostPolitics.com.


Wishful thinking.

....because you have the same politicians who were crippled trying to make a decision trying to make a decision. This is nothing more than a dog and pony show.

Even if you get this "supercommittee" to come up with something, the rest of the spineless suits in DC would never do anything with it.

I like the sound of Becerra.

And every politician who votes for this panel's recommendations is going down next year.

It takes a deep sort of cynicism to come up with this idea, setting up half a trillion dollars in defense cuts that will automatically go into effect as long as the Republicans continue to interfere and delay.

The committee is also set up to automatically cancel itself out by being tasked to find revenue, necessarily through taxation, which the Republicans will refuse to do and on which the Democrats will insist.

And if the snowball's chance in Hell comes through and they do come up with an alternative plan, the President can simply veto it and make that half-trillion dollar cut go through, anyway.

They can't win.

Never in my life have I seen a politician so adept at using the base nature of his opponents against themselves. President Obama has mapped out a strategy that we will be able to use for the rest of our lives against those people, because they will always sacrifice everything else to satisfy the rapacious desires of the wealthy people who control the Republican Party. And as long as they do that, we can twist 'em up like a clown's balloon.

President Obama has effectively presented the Republicans with a choice: be responsible, or get jack shit. They're gonna get jack shit.

$500Billion Dollars over 10 years is a CRUMB for "Defense" Spending.
The MIC won't even notice.

BUT this WILL be used to justify slashing Social Spending.
The Old, the Poor, the disenfranchised WILL notice.
People WILL die.

And YOU have bought this scam,
and are promoting it.

Shame.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed



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"What are you going to do to protect medicare and social security and NOT CUT BENEFITS"?

Not only the politicians, but the MSM has been pretty silent about that obvious conflict.

Look, the fix is obviously in. At most there might be one of these repubs who will compromise and approve symbolic revenue increases. There are several Dems who will compromise on SS and social safety net cuts. There WILL be cuts to the poor. There might possibly be some defense cuts, perhaps some tax code loopholes will get closed. But this committee will not raise taxes on the rich, or in any significant way claw back revenue from those who already have too much of it. Instead, they will attack the poor,the elderly, and those of us who will soon be both poor and elderly.

Whose fault is this? We can blame Republicans, they certainly deserve it. But that's a little like blaming a shark for eating a fish. The real blame, from my perspective, belongs on Obama's shoulders. He likes these committees, which are an end-run around electoral accountability. He wants these cuts. He has truly jumped the shark, or revealed himself to be the shark, take your pick.

Primary him. We have to do it, and do it seriously.

who don't want to look too closely, for people who hate uncomfortable questions.

We don't get a fair hearing out of it and its a quick way to play fast and loose and steal the remains of our retirements how the hell could anyone think ANY picks are 'good'?

...then you can tell Rep. Xavier Becerra on August 31 what you'd like him to do in the Super Congress.

1401 H St., NW. on August 31 from 6PM - 7:30PM.

If you live near DC but don't have $1,500, then I guess you can stand outside with a sign.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/176529-supercommittee-member-becerra-to-be-feted-by-lobbyists

(Sorry.)

Isn't Becerra the only person of color, too?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

fair representation of the people of this nation, especially in "rule by decree" committees such as this one, are only for rich white males.

if you are female, poor or of a non-white persuasion, then SOL to you.

welcome to the new reality, it's like the old one only better marketed.

The fix is in. Murray will make sure that there are no defense cuts and Baucus will do what he always does--let his corporate pals loot the store.

They will go thru the motions, but in the end their corporate masters will once again get what they demand as the rest of us get screwed to the point that we can't afford cat food.

I honestly can't believe it's come to this.

That a committee needs to be set up, to control our money. I thought that was what the whole point of having a budget?

this is nothing more than removing the blame from the repukes and dems and putting on a 3rd party, to whom we the people never had any say in the matter or it's creation, that controls our future.

if this isn't an acute example of how truly fucked up things are, I can't find one.

And rather than protest this god awful bullshit, people now argue over the minutia of the cast members of this, as you say, Kabuki theater troop.

we are not only failing as a nation we are willfully helping it along.

rather than sit down like adults, they appoint a group of half wits to put off the problem for another time.

if anyone actually believes, in this day in age of extreme partisan politics, that these 12 fools will actually agree on something that is actually good for the people, I have several bridges in stock that have to move quickly at fire sale prices.

the only thing about all this bullshit will help, much like the vanished pallets of money mysteriously went missing in Iraq, will be the further stealing from the American people and for these 12 idiots to pick and choose which of their own pet projects get how much; all the while they live high on the hog on our money, eating drinking and entertaining themselves, while the people go hungry and homeless.

Fuck this bullshit, I'm sick of it.