Maybe it is the Republicans we should pay attention to..
Fiscal Conservatives Challenge Bush
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites), who accuses his Democratic rival of keeping his budget plans secret, has yet to offer plans of his own for funding his campaign promises and cutting the deficit in half, fiscal conservatives said on Friday.
Bush is campaigning for a second term promising to overhaul the Social Security (news - web sites) retirement system and the U.S. tax code. He is pushing for more spending on job training and for expanding health care tax credits.
But Bush has yet to say how he will pay for it, even as he charges that his Democratic presidential rival, John Kerry (news - web sites), is hiding "details on how they would raise spending and lower the deficit" until after the Nov. 2 election.
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the White House would release some details about Bush's plans "in the coming weeks," and he insisted the new proposals would "not significantly impact our ability to cut the deficit in half in five years" from this year's projected record of $445 billion.
Bush aides estimated the cost of the president's new spending proposals at $74 billion over 10 years, but the figure excludes Social Security and tax code changes among others.
An analysis by the Kerry campaign put the cost at closer to $4.1 trillion over 10 years, including Social Security reform, health care tax credits, Bush's space initiative as well as the war in Iraq (news - web sites), which Bush leaves out of his budget estimates.
Kerry economic policy director Jason Furman said Bush would have to pay for his new programs by "borrowing money, which means we're all going to pay for it." Stanzel dismissed Kerry's estimates as "pure fiction."
CONSERVATIVES SKEPTICAL
But even fiscal conservatives, traditionally allied with the Republican White House, were skeptical of Bush's plans.
"While it's true that Kerry hasn't provided a detailed plan, neither has the president," said Heritage Foundation budget analyst Brian Riedl.
William Niskanen, chairman of the Cato Institute, said Bush's warnings about Kerry's spending plans were "inconsistent" with his own proposals. "There's no way to accomplish (Bush's) major new measures, including tax reform, without substantial increases in spending," Niskanen said.
Stephen Moore of the Club for Growth, a group that raises money for conservative political candidates, said Bush was not being "very forthright" about his plans. He called Bush's fiscal record "abysmal," adding that under both Bush and Kerry "fiscal responsibility takes the back seat."
This week congressional analysts warned the deficit will balloon to a cumulative $2.29 trillion over the next decade.
Bush's most ambitious proposal -- adding personal retirement accounts to Social Security -- may be the most costly up front. The estimated cost of diverting some payroll taxes to these private accounts ranges from $1 trillion to $2 trillion over 10 years, analysts say.
Bush's own economic advisers say tapping the bond markets to pay for private accounts could dramatically increase the federal debt for decades.
But the Bush campaign says Bush has yet to settle on a plan to reform the retirement system or on a means to finance it. "The only cost that is certain is the cost of inaction," said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan.
Tax code changes are also a big unknown. Whether Bush seeks a flat tax or something less ambitious, White House officials insist any changes will be revenue neutral, meaning they will not undercut federal revenues.
But Riedl said the White House would have to broaden the tax base "to make up any revenue that would be lost." That could mean raising taxes on some by closing tax loopholes. Moore said that would be "very difficult" given the clout of business interests.
Democrats say Bush's tax credits for health care could cost $380 billion over 10 years. Fixing the alternative minimum tax before it affects growing numbers of middle-class Americans: $300 billion. Moon and Mars missions: another $250 billion.
Fiscal Conservatives Challenge Bush
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites), who accuses his Democratic rival of keeping his budget plans secret, has yet to offer plans of his own for funding his campaign promises and cutting the deficit in half, fiscal conservatives said on Friday.
Bush is campaigning for a second term promising to overhaul the Social Security (news - web sites) retirement system and the U.S. tax code. He is pushing for more spending on job training and for expanding health care tax credits.
But Bush has yet to say how he will pay for it, even as he charges that his Democratic presidential rival, John Kerry (news - web sites), is hiding "details on how they would raise spending and lower the deficit" until after the Nov. 2 election.
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the White House would release some details about Bush's plans "in the coming weeks," and he insisted the new proposals would "not significantly impact our ability to cut the deficit in half in five years" from this year's projected record of $445 billion.
Bush aides estimated the cost of the president's new spending proposals at $74 billion over 10 years, but the figure excludes Social Security and tax code changes among others.
An analysis by the Kerry campaign put the cost at closer to $4.1 trillion over 10 years, including Social Security reform, health care tax credits, Bush's space initiative as well as the war in Iraq (news - web sites), which Bush leaves out of his budget estimates.
Kerry economic policy director Jason Furman said Bush would have to pay for his new programs by "borrowing money, which means we're all going to pay for it." Stanzel dismissed Kerry's estimates as "pure fiction."
CONSERVATIVES SKEPTICAL
But even fiscal conservatives, traditionally allied with the Republican White House, were skeptical of Bush's plans.
"While it's true that Kerry hasn't provided a detailed plan, neither has the president," said Heritage Foundation budget analyst Brian Riedl.
William Niskanen, chairman of the Cato Institute, said Bush's warnings about Kerry's spending plans were "inconsistent" with his own proposals. "There's no way to accomplish (Bush's) major new measures, including tax reform, without substantial increases in spending," Niskanen said.
Stephen Moore of the Club for Growth, a group that raises money for conservative political candidates, said Bush was not being "very forthright" about his plans. He called Bush's fiscal record "abysmal," adding that under both Bush and Kerry "fiscal responsibility takes the back seat."
This week congressional analysts warned the deficit will balloon to a cumulative $2.29 trillion over the next decade.
Bush's most ambitious proposal -- adding personal retirement accounts to Social Security -- may be the most costly up front. The estimated cost of diverting some payroll taxes to these private accounts ranges from $1 trillion to $2 trillion over 10 years, analysts say.
Bush's own economic advisers say tapping the bond markets to pay for private accounts could dramatically increase the federal debt for decades.
But the Bush campaign says Bush has yet to settle on a plan to reform the retirement system or on a means to finance it. "The only cost that is certain is the cost of inaction," said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan.
Tax code changes are also a big unknown. Whether Bush seeks a flat tax or something less ambitious, White House officials insist any changes will be revenue neutral, meaning they will not undercut federal revenues.
But Riedl said the White House would have to broaden the tax base "to make up any revenue that would be lost." That could mean raising taxes on some by closing tax loopholes. Moore said that would be "very difficult" given the clout of business interests.
Democrats say Bush's tax credits for health care could cost $380 billion over 10 years. Fixing the alternative minimum tax before it affects growing numbers of middle-class Americans: $300 billion. Moon and Mars missions: another $250 billion.
I don't hold out hope or make predictions other than this race is certain to be close, possible a repeat of 2000 even. Fact is neither side has seized anything where it counts. Both sides have been in the lead in the electoral map and now it looks about as even as ever with Florida once again being the likely deciding factor.
To make assumptions that the race will be won easily just sounds like false confidence to me.
To make assumptions that the race will be won easily just sounds like false confidence to me.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GAMEFACE:
WB,
They've called Bush everything in the book and have accused Bush of everything except child rape. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
50 days till Election Day,still plenty of time to accuse him of this.
WB,
They've called Bush everything in the book and have accused Bush of everything except child rape. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
50 days till Election Day,still plenty of time to accuse him of this.
I know that personally, and I would guess it's the same for the others here that are against dumbya,we will simply be concerned for the wellfare of the nation and disappointed in the public for voting the lunatic in twice.
You gameface, on the other hand, based on your rants and raves will probably fall into a depression similar to the one Foreman fell into after losing to Ali if dumbya loses.
You gameface, on the other hand, based on your rants and raves will probably fall into a depression similar to the one Foreman fell into after losing to Ali if dumbya loses.
Of course I do not celebrate the deaths of U.S. soldiers. As a matter of fact I don't celebrate the death of anyone, that's more of a conserv thing.
Again if dumbya wins I will be concerned not depressed.
"Bad news for America is good news for the Democratic Party"
Typical bassakwards conserv mentality.
Again if dumbya wins I will be concerned not depressed.
"Bad news for America is good news for the Democratic Party"
Typical bassakwards conserv mentality.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>i'm still waiting for anyone to give a reason to vote for Kerry, other than the following: <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
1.stronger economy (i would imagine kerry could do this while taking a nap in the oval office)
2.stronger foriegn policy
3.get the boys home
4.kind of sick of being the subject of ridicule around the globe
1.stronger economy (i would imagine kerry could do this while taking a nap in the oval office)
2.stronger foriegn policy
3.get the boys home
4.kind of sick of being the subject of ridicule around the globe
"Moon and Mars missions: another $250 billion."
Are we rebuilding those planets also? Maybe Saddam buried his WMD somewhere on those two planets....we better go and see...
I really get a laugh out of some of you guys who staunchly support your candidate of choice...like the country will be in sooooooo much better shape if one is elected instead of the other.....this all or nothing thinking, like if one is elected we just won a bet and can go to the window and cash out, and if the other one is elected we just tear our losing ticket up and wait for the next game....
This country will be in as big of a piss poor mess as it already is, regardless which of these two jerks wins come election day.....
"I wouldn't want one of you guys to do anything to harm yourself."
I won't need to do anything to harm myself, I'm sure all the harm will be done by the next president and his usual, traditional grandiose promises that fall short of a mile by 5,279 feet...you guys are going to still be arguing war records when your social security check bounces.
Are we rebuilding those planets also? Maybe Saddam buried his WMD somewhere on those two planets....we better go and see...
I really get a laugh out of some of you guys who staunchly support your candidate of choice...like the country will be in sooooooo much better shape if one is elected instead of the other.....this all or nothing thinking, like if one is elected we just won a bet and can go to the window and cash out, and if the other one is elected we just tear our losing ticket up and wait for the next game....
This country will be in as big of a piss poor mess as it already is, regardless which of these two jerks wins come election day.....
"I wouldn't want one of you guys to do anything to harm yourself."
I won't need to do anything to harm myself, I'm sure all the harm will be done by the next president and his usual, traditional grandiose promises that fall short of a mile by 5,279 feet...you guys are going to still be arguing war records when your social security check bounces.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RobFunk:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>i'm still waiting for anyone to give a reason to vote for Kerry, other than the following: <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
1.stronger economy (i would imagine kerry could do this while taking a nap in the oval office)
Economy is strong. The deficit is the lone problem
2.stronger foriegn policy
go to the UN...Let France,Germany, and Russia dictate US foreign policy
3.get the boys home
If the boys come home now, the Baath party and Al Queda are back in business tomorrow
4.kind of sick of being the subject of ridicule around the globe <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If not for the US, these countries that "ridicule" us would be part of the Nazi nation, not the EU
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>i'm still waiting for anyone to give a reason to vote for Kerry, other than the following: <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
1.stronger economy (i would imagine kerry could do this while taking a nap in the oval office)
Economy is strong. The deficit is the lone problem
2.stronger foriegn policy
go to the UN...Let France,Germany, and Russia dictate US foreign policy
3.get the boys home
If the boys come home now, the Baath party and Al Queda are back in business tomorrow
4.kind of sick of being the subject of ridicule around the globe <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If not for the US, these countries that "ridicule" us would be part of the Nazi nation, not the EU
Re-electing dum-dum would be by far the more interesting result.
Us outsiders could watch Americas credibility go even further down the toilet and her economy gradually implode under the burden of debt.
There's not much talk about invading Iran at the moment either, the chickenhawks are pretty quiet just now.
Us outsiders could watch Americas credibility go even further down the toilet and her economy gradually implode under the burden of debt.
There's not much talk about invading Iran at the moment either, the chickenhawks are pretty quiet just now.
"i'm still waiting for anyone to give a reason to vote for Kerry, other than the following:
1- anybody but Bush
2- Kerry was in Vietnam, where was Bush
3- we hate Bush
4- Beat Bush"
Ok, just took this survey.
http://www.presidentmatch.com/Main.jsp2
Kucinich 86%
Kerry 75%
dumbya 9%
1- anybody but Bush
2- Kerry was in Vietnam, where was Bush
3- we hate Bush
4- Beat Bush"
Ok, just took this survey.
http://www.presidentmatch.com/Main.jsp2
Kucinich 86%
Kerry 75%
dumbya 9%
