For the second time in the past two weeks Fox News showed footage of two separate events and passed them off to their viewers as a single event. It happened on Gregg Jarrett and Sean Hannity's watch. Jon Steward picked up the phony video on Hannity's show and exposed it for what it was, an out right lie.
Michael Clemente, Fox's Senior V.P. said the merging of the two video's as one event on Jarrett's show was unintentional and apologized. Sean Hannity also apologized. Jarrett's video covered an event for Sarah Palin and Hannity's video an event for Michele Bachmann. It was an attempt to convey to their viewing audience inflated attendance to promote what Bachmann and Palin were trying to sell.
Fox News has a habit of trying to mislead their viewers on purpose to foster their own warped ideology and then apologize if caught. That is how little they regard the people who watch the Fox network. They figure the poor suckers will accept their apology, believe they made an unintentional error and keep on watching Fox.
Rupert Murdoch, Fox's honcho dislikes the fact that the Obama administration understands Fox's programs are way out of balance, unfair and phony so what has been Murdoch's reaction? He says judge Fox News by its real news programs and not its other opinion shows. Yet, on Fox's opinion shows, (O'Reilly, Hannity, Beck and others) Fox flashes their fair and balanced propaganda sign on the screen.
The bottom line is The Fox News network is neither fair or balanced and often misleads the viewers on purpose. Its ideology is dangerous to the news media in our country. Nothing will change at Fox News despite the phony apology until the people tune them out. That says it all.
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Health-Care Reform Issue
Sixteen years after Health-Care reform was sent to its death by the Medical Profession, Health Insurance Companies, The Pharmaceutical Industry and Republicans, the U.S. House has passed Health-Care legislation and the U.S. Senate is slated to take up their own version this week end in Congress. Those same negative voices sixteen years ago predicted doom and gloom and are predicting the same think once again. The only doom and gloom that has transpired in those sixteen years are millions of more Americans are without health insurance and the cost of health care has risen beyond the pale.
Those negative voices have also done nothing in the way of reforming the health-care system during that same period. It was recently announced name brand prescription drugs have increased 9% in the past 6 months while the consumer price index actually was in negative territory to the tune of -1.3%.
The negative voices are repeating the past which means they have not learned anything to guide our future. The CBO who reviewed both the House and Senate plans say both plans will lower the deficit and health care cost. The negative voices dare not debate the fine print in the health-care plans because it would show how their position would be one of opposition based on falsehoods and in some cases, out right lies.
Those industries opposed to health-care reform have proven over and over again they can not be trusted to reform health care themselves. Greed is the driving force behind their opposition and their inability to face up to the health of America.
Those negative voices have also done nothing in the way of reforming the health-care system during that same period. It was recently announced name brand prescription drugs have increased 9% in the past 6 months while the consumer price index actually was in negative territory to the tune of -1.3%.
The negative voices are repeating the past which means they have not learned anything to guide our future. The CBO who reviewed both the House and Senate plans say both plans will lower the deficit and health care cost. The negative voices dare not debate the fine print in the health-care plans because it would show how their position would be one of opposition based on falsehoods and in some cases, out right lies.
Those industries opposed to health-care reform have proven over and over again they can not be trusted to reform health care themselves. Greed is the driving force behind their opposition and their inability to face up to the health of America.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Mouths That Roar
Two know nothing Republicans Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra appeared Sunday on Fox News Sunday and Face the Nation. Both are against the five terrorists involved in planning the attack on 9-11 being tried in civilian court in New York as the U.S. Attorney General announced recently.
Giuliani said the trial would increase the security threat to the city of New York and give Islamists a platform to propagate their ideology. Hoekstra said the trial could expose the people of New York to years of propaganda from the defendants.
New York city Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it is fitting that the 9/11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said holding the trial in the city most devastated by the 2001 attack is appropriate, and the Police department is prepared to meet any security challenge. These two men have much creditibility on the subject matter. Giuliani and Hoekstra have zero.
There are a few things that are important to remember about the issue. It is just another example of republican tactics to oppose any thing coming out of the Obama administration, especially bringing those people to justice. The Bush administration had 7 years to do so and did nothing.
Fifteen federal judges in Washington are hearing other cases in court in complying with a Supreme Court ruling last year. The Obama administration is pursuing those detainees from Guantanamo through the court system to bring those to trial where the evidence warrants. Republicans are also opposed to that process.
It should be noted that not all detainees will be tried in civilian court, some will be tried by a military commission. The Justice Department will seek what ever forum deemed best. It is time for America to prosecute every detainee case it can so the world can see American justice at its best. In the mean time, the public will be exposed more and more to the Republican noise machine. It is just another way to show they really have nothing of substance to talk about.
Giuliani said the trial would increase the security threat to the city of New York and give Islamists a platform to propagate their ideology. Hoekstra said the trial could expose the people of New York to years of propaganda from the defendants.
New York city Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it is fitting that the 9/11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said holding the trial in the city most devastated by the 2001 attack is appropriate, and the Police department is prepared to meet any security challenge. These two men have much creditibility on the subject matter. Giuliani and Hoekstra have zero.
There are a few things that are important to remember about the issue. It is just another example of republican tactics to oppose any thing coming out of the Obama administration, especially bringing those people to justice. The Bush administration had 7 years to do so and did nothing.
Fifteen federal judges in Washington are hearing other cases in court in complying with a Supreme Court ruling last year. The Obama administration is pursuing those detainees from Guantanamo through the court system to bring those to trial where the evidence warrants. Republicans are also opposed to that process.
It should be noted that not all detainees will be tried in civilian court, some will be tried by a military commission. The Justice Department will seek what ever forum deemed best. It is time for America to prosecute every detainee case it can so the world can see American justice at its best. In the mean time, the public will be exposed more and more to the Republican noise machine. It is just another way to show they really have nothing of substance to talk about.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Republican Party's Lack Of Character
The health-care debate has exposed just how phony the Republican party is concerning this issue. The Democratic health-care plans have been out in the public's view for the past six or seven months. It has been debated on radio, television, town hall meetings, newspapers, public forums and you name it, so the American people have been exposed to the plans in a transparent way. That is the way it should be because the public has a right to know.
Now at the last minute the Republican party introduced their health-care plan just last week when the U.S. House took up the measure for a vote. The Democratic plan passed and the Republican plan failed. The Republican party did not expose their health plan to the public like the Democrats did theirs. Republicans like to keep the public in the dark about what they are really up to. That is a slap in the face to the American people. Their plan was phony like their actions so they did not want the news media or town hall meetings to dig into the substance of their plan.
I have written in past commentaries how I believe the Democratic party is more in touch with reality and that it is good for America when they some times disagree within their own party concerning issues the country faces. The Republicans in congress have become "ditto heads" and dare not stray from the phony conservatism they preach. Over 30 Democrats voted against their own party's health-care plan in the U.S. House vote. Only one Republican, Joseph Cao voted for the Democratic plan. The rest voted no with their "ditto heads."
The American people should understand that the country is paying a heavy price for a phony Republican ideology that opposes anything that is likely to move the country forward. Hopefully, the President and the Democratic party will use their leadership wisely and do those things that really matter and make a difference for the country and its people.
Now at the last minute the Republican party introduced their health-care plan just last week when the U.S. House took up the measure for a vote. The Democratic plan passed and the Republican plan failed. The Republican party did not expose their health plan to the public like the Democrats did theirs. Republicans like to keep the public in the dark about what they are really up to. That is a slap in the face to the American people. Their plan was phony like their actions so they did not want the news media or town hall meetings to dig into the substance of their plan.
I have written in past commentaries how I believe the Democratic party is more in touch with reality and that it is good for America when they some times disagree within their own party concerning issues the country faces. The Republicans in congress have become "ditto heads" and dare not stray from the phony conservatism they preach. Over 30 Democrats voted against their own party's health-care plan in the U.S. House vote. Only one Republican, Joseph Cao voted for the Democratic plan. The rest voted no with their "ditto heads."
The American people should understand that the country is paying a heavy price for a phony Republican ideology that opposes anything that is likely to move the country forward. Hopefully, the President and the Democratic party will use their leadership wisely and do those things that really matter and make a difference for the country and its people.
Happy Birthday U.S. Marine Corps
Today the U.S. Marine Corps is celebrating its 234th birthday. Established in 1775 by the Continental Congress, the Marines made their first amphibious landing at New Providence Island in the Bahamas on March 3, 1776. After almost two and a half centuries the Marine Corps continues to uphold its proud tradition.
The Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fidelis" means more than "Always Faithful." It represents commitment, love of country, honor, duty and ability to go the extra mile for your Marine brother and humankind. Marines in all walks of life who wore the Eagle, Globe and
Anchor all share the same common bond, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."
So today in this birthday message I would like to pass along the following tribute.
THE TITLE
It cannot be inherited
Nor can it ever be purchased,
You and no one alive
Can buy it for any price.
It is impossible to rent,
And it cannot be lent
You alone and our own
Have earned it with your
Sweat, Blood and lives
You own it forever.
THE TITLE
UNITED STATES MARINE
So to all my Marine brothers, Happy Birthday Marines, may all of you enjoy good health and a safe return home.
The Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fidelis" means more than "Always Faithful." It represents commitment, love of country, honor, duty and ability to go the extra mile for your Marine brother and humankind. Marines in all walks of life who wore the Eagle, Globe and
Anchor all share the same common bond, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."
So today in this birthday message I would like to pass along the following tribute.
THE TITLE
It cannot be inherited
Nor can it ever be purchased,
You and no one alive
Can buy it for any price.
It is impossible to rent,
And it cannot be lent
You alone and our own
Have earned it with your
Sweat, Blood and lives
You own it forever.
THE TITLE
UNITED STATES MARINE
So to all my Marine brothers, Happy Birthday Marines, may all of you enjoy good health and a safe return home.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
President Obama and Fiscal Stability
Unlike President George W. Bush who took over a government that was in top fiscal shape and then left in poor fiscal shape, the job now falls to President Obama to reverse the record deficit spending and debt of the past eight years. It will not be easy but it is a situation that has to be addressed and acted upon.
The most significant sign in the fight to get our fiscal house in order is that Obama said he will make fiscal responsibility a priority after he deals with the economy and gets back on track. The last three Republican Presidents never made a commitment to get our fiscal house in order and in fact never gave the problem any serious thought or effort.
It is more important now that President Obama keep his promise because the situation is now critical. The President said he would veto any health-care plan that adds to the deficit. That is a statement the President needs to back up with his veto pen if necessary. There can be no turning back from this problem and no excuses are allowed. Balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility will allow our nation to solve many of our problems without creating more debt and raising the cost of living for our people unnecessarlly.
The growth of federal expenditures can be controlled, the Clinton administration proved that and it did not damage our country or our people. There has to be a plan and the President needs to make sure the plan is sound, workable and enforced. The most important element now is to put our people back to work on a sustained basis so the consumer will once again get the economy moving. Jobs are the key and should continue to be the focus.
There will be a lot of distractions for the President, especially from those in Congress and the news media who will try to oppose every move he makes. It has already started. The American people will be in a position to judge the President's action when his term comes to a close. It won't be hard to document what progress was made on his watch. He deserves the chance to have enough time to turn things around for the better.
The unprecedented increase in the National Debt of over $6 trillion just in the eight years of the previous administration has put our country in jeopardy fiscally. President Obama needs to be decisive and firm in reversing this horrow story thrust on our country and its people.
The most significant sign in the fight to get our fiscal house in order is that Obama said he will make fiscal responsibility a priority after he deals with the economy and gets back on track. The last three Republican Presidents never made a commitment to get our fiscal house in order and in fact never gave the problem any serious thought or effort.
It is more important now that President Obama keep his promise because the situation is now critical. The President said he would veto any health-care plan that adds to the deficit. That is a statement the President needs to back up with his veto pen if necessary. There can be no turning back from this problem and no excuses are allowed. Balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility will allow our nation to solve many of our problems without creating more debt and raising the cost of living for our people unnecessarlly.
The growth of federal expenditures can be controlled, the Clinton administration proved that and it did not damage our country or our people. There has to be a plan and the President needs to make sure the plan is sound, workable and enforced. The most important element now is to put our people back to work on a sustained basis so the consumer will once again get the economy moving. Jobs are the key and should continue to be the focus.
There will be a lot of distractions for the President, especially from those in Congress and the news media who will try to oppose every move he makes. It has already started. The American people will be in a position to judge the President's action when his term comes to a close. It won't be hard to document what progress was made on his watch. He deserves the chance to have enough time to turn things around for the better.
The unprecedented increase in the National Debt of over $6 trillion just in the eight years of the previous administration has put our country in jeopardy fiscally. President Obama needs to be decisive and firm in reversing this horrow story thrust on our country and its people.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise: Another No Vote
Congress on 11/5/09 decisively approved an extension of unemployment benefits for almost two million people out of work nearly a year or more reported the Associated Press by the Times Picayune dated 11/6/09. The U.S. House cleared the measure 403-12 after unanimous support in the U.S. Senate.
La. Representative Scalise was the only Louisiana House member who voted against the measure along with 11 other Republicans who voted no. The legislation also covered the expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers. A no vote is nothing new for Scalise who opposes most every thing that comes out of the Obama administration. He was a subject of one of my commentaries on April 27.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission said that 6,829 Louisiana residents as of Nov. 2 would be eligible for the extra 14 weeks of benefits provided under the bill. Scalise said the cost of the bill will only cause more Americans to lose their jobs. Scalise and Republicans are familiar with job loses because their party has a dismal record when it comes to creating jobs. Just ask former President George Bush.
Representative Scalise will also oppose any health-care reform that comes out of Congress that Democrats are in favor of. He is proving to be the next Newt Gingrich of the Republican party. That is not very encouraging for the people of Louisiana. The Republican party would like to see Obama fail like they wanted to see Clinton fail. They hate to see a Democrat be successful in moving the country forward and they will become more negative as the economy improves. Keep an eye on Scalise, he is one of those "ditto heads" who has mastered the "no" word.
La. Representative Scalise was the only Louisiana House member who voted against the measure along with 11 other Republicans who voted no. The legislation also covered the expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers. A no vote is nothing new for Scalise who opposes most every thing that comes out of the Obama administration. He was a subject of one of my commentaries on April 27.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission said that 6,829 Louisiana residents as of Nov. 2 would be eligible for the extra 14 weeks of benefits provided under the bill. Scalise said the cost of the bill will only cause more Americans to lose their jobs. Scalise and Republicans are familiar with job loses because their party has a dismal record when it comes to creating jobs. Just ask former President George Bush.
Representative Scalise will also oppose any health-care reform that comes out of Congress that Democrats are in favor of. He is proving to be the next Newt Gingrich of the Republican party. That is not very encouraging for the people of Louisiana. The Republican party would like to see Obama fail like they wanted to see Clinton fail. They hate to see a Democrat be successful in moving the country forward and they will become more negative as the economy improves. Keep an eye on Scalise, he is one of those "ditto heads" who has mastered the "no" word.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Louisiana Medicaid and Lobbyist
The Times Picayune in its "Briefing Book" of November 1 published the following: The high powered Washington D.C., lobbying firm of Patton Boggs has been brought in to help Governor Jindal's administration to convince Congress to give Louisiana a break from a costly change in the Medicaid match rate. "We need representation up there that goes beyond our own delegation, Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine said." This is related to the issue that Louisiana may be forced to make deep cuts to its health care budget because the federal Medicaid match rate is scheduled to drop from 80% to 63% in January 2011.
State officials have argued for months that the formula that determines the match rate is unfair to Louisiana because the state's average personal income was artificially inflated after Katrina by the influx of federal relief dollars. The state can not legally hire a lobbying firm so Levine enlisted the help from private health-care providers who thru LRA Support Foundation hired the lobbying firm and is paying for it. It was noted in the article that the private health-care providers would be the biggest financial losers if the state is forced to make deep cuts to its health-care budget.
The state of Louisiana is represented in Congress to serve the people on issues such as this yet the state is getting involved with a lobbying group financed by the private health-care industry who will be looking out for their own well being and not the state and its people. In other words hire a lobbying firm instead of relying on the people's representation to handle the problem. How can lobbyist know more about the problem than our elected officials? The answer is they don't but money talks which is why our elected officials should be outraged if they have any character. Government for the people, by the people has become government for the lobbyist, by the lobbyist.
Maybe Governor Jindal does not have the time to go to Washington himself and speak on behalf of the people of Louisiana and the state because he spends so much of his time outside the state seeking campaign contributions. Leaders have to lead, that is why they are elected. Once again the people of our state come last. The status quo is alive and well. That says it all.
State officials have argued for months that the formula that determines the match rate is unfair to Louisiana because the state's average personal income was artificially inflated after Katrina by the influx of federal relief dollars. The state can not legally hire a lobbying firm so Levine enlisted the help from private health-care providers who thru LRA Support Foundation hired the lobbying firm and is paying for it. It was noted in the article that the private health-care providers would be the biggest financial losers if the state is forced to make deep cuts to its health-care budget.
The state of Louisiana is represented in Congress to serve the people on issues such as this yet the state is getting involved with a lobbying group financed by the private health-care industry who will be looking out for their own well being and not the state and its people. In other words hire a lobbying firm instead of relying on the people's representation to handle the problem. How can lobbyist know more about the problem than our elected officials? The answer is they don't but money talks which is why our elected officials should be outraged if they have any character. Government for the people, by the people has become government for the lobbyist, by the lobbyist.
Maybe Governor Jindal does not have the time to go to Washington himself and speak on behalf of the people of Louisiana and the state because he spends so much of his time outside the state seeking campaign contributions. Leaders have to lead, that is why they are elected. Once again the people of our state come last. The status quo is alive and well. That says it all.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Federal Spending, Facts vs. Myth
Conservative Republicans are still telling the people we need to go back to the Reagan era and control federal spending like he did. It was especially pronounced during the last Presidential campaign during the Republican debates. Romney and McCain talked about the Reagan legacy often even though they knew it was a fairy tale. Lets examine the spending record of the Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43 administrations and see who actually did the best job of controlling federal spending.
The below information covers the four year term of each President ending in that fiscal year. Source is taken from the Congressional Budget Office.
Jimmie Carter 1981 Total Federal Spending $2.232 Trillion
Ronald Reagan 1985 Total Federal Spending $3.352 Trillion Up $1.120 trillion or 50%
Ronald Reagan 1989 Total Federal Spending 4.203 Trillion Up $851 billion or 25%
George H.W. Bush 1993 Total Federal Spending $5.369 Trillion Up $1.166 trillion or 28%
Bill Clinton 1997 Total Federal Spending $6.140 Trillion Up $771 billion or 14%
Bill Clinton 2001 Total Federal Spending $ 7.007 Trillion Up $867 billion or 14%
George W. Bush 2005 Total Federal Spending $8.936 Trillion Up $1.929 trillion or 28%
George W. Bush 2009 Total Federal Spending $11.883 Trillion Up $2.947 trillion or 33%
The numbers show not only did federal spending increase much less under President Clinton for eight years, but the increase was at a steady 14% for each of his two terms. Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 do not even come close. The numbers indicate those three Presidents never had federal spending under control while Clinton did. Also Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 did not face the magnitude of deficit spending that Clinton had to face and take on and that makes Clinton's record even more impressive.
Bob Woodward pointed out in one of his books on Clinton that Clinton new more about the federal budget than members of Congress who had been dealing with budget matters for decades. That explains in part why Clinton was so successful in balancing the budget and bringing federal spending under control, and why he knew his deficit reduction and economic policies would work for America and its people.
Conservative Republican Presidents are champions when it comes to increasing federal spending. That is why you never heard a peep out of them during the 20 years of spending spree of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 and none of those three Presidents faced the fiscal disaster Clinton took over or the fiscal and economic disaster Bush 43 left President Obama.
President Reagan presided over the first trillion dollar budget. George Bush 43 presided over the first two and three trillion dollar budgets. It took the country 15 years to go from a one trillion dollar budget to a two trillion dollar budget. But it only took Bush 43 seven years to go from a two trillion dollar budget to a three trillion dollar budget.
Federal spending is made up of discretionary spending and non-discretionary spending. If anyone is interested go to the CBO site and you will find that Clinton was also the best at holding down spending in those two categories as well by a wide margin.
Conservative Republican Presidents are best at controlling federal spending????????? That is pure myth, the numbers speak loud and clear.
The below information covers the four year term of each President ending in that fiscal year. Source is taken from the Congressional Budget Office.
Jimmie Carter 1981 Total Federal Spending $2.232 Trillion
Ronald Reagan 1985 Total Federal Spending $3.352 Trillion Up $1.120 trillion or 50%
Ronald Reagan 1989 Total Federal Spending 4.203 Trillion Up $851 billion or 25%
George H.W. Bush 1993 Total Federal Spending $5.369 Trillion Up $1.166 trillion or 28%
Bill Clinton 1997 Total Federal Spending $6.140 Trillion Up $771 billion or 14%
Bill Clinton 2001 Total Federal Spending $ 7.007 Trillion Up $867 billion or 14%
George W. Bush 2005 Total Federal Spending $8.936 Trillion Up $1.929 trillion or 28%
George W. Bush 2009 Total Federal Spending $11.883 Trillion Up $2.947 trillion or 33%
The numbers show not only did federal spending increase much less under President Clinton for eight years, but the increase was at a steady 14% for each of his two terms. Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 do not even come close. The numbers indicate those three Presidents never had federal spending under control while Clinton did. Also Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 did not face the magnitude of deficit spending that Clinton had to face and take on and that makes Clinton's record even more impressive.
Bob Woodward pointed out in one of his books on Clinton that Clinton new more about the federal budget than members of Congress who had been dealing with budget matters for decades. That explains in part why Clinton was so successful in balancing the budget and bringing federal spending under control, and why he knew his deficit reduction and economic policies would work for America and its people.
Conservative Republican Presidents are champions when it comes to increasing federal spending. That is why you never heard a peep out of them during the 20 years of spending spree of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 and none of those three Presidents faced the fiscal disaster Clinton took over or the fiscal and economic disaster Bush 43 left President Obama.
President Reagan presided over the first trillion dollar budget. George Bush 43 presided over the first two and three trillion dollar budgets. It took the country 15 years to go from a one trillion dollar budget to a two trillion dollar budget. But it only took Bush 43 seven years to go from a two trillion dollar budget to a three trillion dollar budget.
Federal spending is made up of discretionary spending and non-discretionary spending. If anyone is interested go to the CBO site and you will find that Clinton was also the best at holding down spending in those two categories as well by a wide margin.
Conservative Republican Presidents are best at controlling federal spending????????? That is pure myth, the numbers speak loud and clear.
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Fiscal Legacy Of President George W. Bush
The final numbers are in on President Bush's last budget for fiscal year ending 9/30/09. It showed another record federal deficit, this time to the tune of $1.42 trillion. Like Reagan and Bush 41 before him the President failed to balance the budget during his term in office. No Republican President has balanced the federal budget since Dwight Eisenhower in 1960. One would never believe that if you listen to the rhetoric coming from the conservatives in the news media or the Republican party. Below is the fiscal record of President Bush and the previous administration of President Clinton.
Fiscal Years Ending 9/30/
President Clinton
1994 $203.2 billion Deficit
1995 164.0 billion Deficit
1996 107.4 billion Deficit
1997 21.9 billion Deficit
1998 69.3 billion Surplus
1999 125.6 billion Surplus
2000 236.0 billion Surplus
2001 128.0 billion Surplus
Total Budget Surplus $62.8 billion
President George W. Bush
2002 $157.8 billion Deficit
2003 377.6 billion Deficit
2004 412.7 billion Deficit
2005 318.3 billion Deficit
2006 248.2 billion Deficit
2007 160.7 billion Deficit
2008 454.8 billion Deficit
2009 1.42 Trillion Deficit
Total Budget Deficits $3.53 Trillion
President Bush's final budget that ended 9/30/09 was sent to Congress on July 28, 2008 and contained a projected deficit of $482 billion. That was before the economic meltdown and the financial collapse. His budget message at the time contained the following information. "The nations economy has continued to expand and remains fundamentally resilient." One should remember at the same time the economy had lost jobs every month since December 2007. The administration was completly out of touch with the economic facts.
Part of the deficit problem that made it swell to $1.42 trillion was the $700 billion Bush asked Congress to pass to bail out the financial industry, plus federal revenue was down 16.6% from fiscal 2008. Also there was approximately $200 billion from Obama's $787 billion spent of the stimulus money. However, without the expenditures for the bail out and stimulus the budget deficit would still have been another record number around $600 billion plus.
When the above budget numbers are compared for Bush and Clinton one can see the tragic results of Bush's 8 years in office and the tremendous burden the American people are left with fiscally and economically and the challenge that falls to President Obama. President Clinton had a deficit reduction and economic plan and policy when he took office and the Democratic controlled Congress passed that plan in 1993 without one vote from the Republicans in Congress. They predicted doom and gloom but the opposite happened. Bush had no economic or fiscal policy to keep the budget in balance when he took office. Instead he continued the policy of trickle down economics which proved once again not to be a policy at all to deal with the economy and the nations fiscal health.
Clinton's policy reduced the budget deficit every year his first term in office and was in surplus every year his second term in office. The Clinton administration also paid down $453 billion on the public debt. The Bush administration paid down zero and added over $6 trillion to the national debt. Bush never got a hand on deficit spending because he lacked the fundamental knowledge of how to create a sound economy and how to use government policy wisely. The ideology of trickle down economics being the engine for growing the economy and jobs in the private sector is a fairy tale. There were over 22.7 million new jobs created during the Clinton administration and 91% came from the private sector. The highest in over 50 years. Clinton did it with an economic policy that created an even 11 million plus jobs in each of his terms. Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 talked, but it was Clinton who performed. In fact try this on for size. More new jobs were created under Clinton in 8 years than were created under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they served. Their trickle down economics never got past the wealthy to the private sector.
When President Bush took office the governments fiscal health had never been better. In 8 years he managed to take the country and its people to the cleaners and it started in his very first year. If this is the conservatism that Republicans like to brag about, lets hope we never see another Republican President.
Coming next: Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth. Stay tuned.
Note l: The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were handled outside the budget by the Bush administration. The cost of those wars are now handled within the budget by the Obama administration.
Note 2: National Debt number taken from Treasury Department.
Note 3: To read more why a policy of trickle down economics is not a policy at all read my three part series with conclusion titled: The U.S. Economy: Which Part Performs Best, dated 1/27/08/
Note 4: Budget Surplus and Deficits shown above taken from Congressional Budget Office Records.
Fiscal Years Ending 9/30/
President Clinton
1994 $203.2 billion Deficit
1995 164.0 billion Deficit
1996 107.4 billion Deficit
1997 21.9 billion Deficit
1998 69.3 billion Surplus
1999 125.6 billion Surplus
2000 236.0 billion Surplus
2001 128.0 billion Surplus
Total Budget Surplus $62.8 billion
President George W. Bush
2002 $157.8 billion Deficit
2003 377.6 billion Deficit
2004 412.7 billion Deficit
2005 318.3 billion Deficit
2006 248.2 billion Deficit
2007 160.7 billion Deficit
2008 454.8 billion Deficit
2009 1.42 Trillion Deficit
Total Budget Deficits $3.53 Trillion
President Bush's final budget that ended 9/30/09 was sent to Congress on July 28, 2008 and contained a projected deficit of $482 billion. That was before the economic meltdown and the financial collapse. His budget message at the time contained the following information. "The nations economy has continued to expand and remains fundamentally resilient." One should remember at the same time the economy had lost jobs every month since December 2007. The administration was completly out of touch with the economic facts.
Part of the deficit problem that made it swell to $1.42 trillion was the $700 billion Bush asked Congress to pass to bail out the financial industry, plus federal revenue was down 16.6% from fiscal 2008. Also there was approximately $200 billion from Obama's $787 billion spent of the stimulus money. However, without the expenditures for the bail out and stimulus the budget deficit would still have been another record number around $600 billion plus.
When the above budget numbers are compared for Bush and Clinton one can see the tragic results of Bush's 8 years in office and the tremendous burden the American people are left with fiscally and economically and the challenge that falls to President Obama. President Clinton had a deficit reduction and economic plan and policy when he took office and the Democratic controlled Congress passed that plan in 1993 without one vote from the Republicans in Congress. They predicted doom and gloom but the opposite happened. Bush had no economic or fiscal policy to keep the budget in balance when he took office. Instead he continued the policy of trickle down economics which proved once again not to be a policy at all to deal with the economy and the nations fiscal health.
Clinton's policy reduced the budget deficit every year his first term in office and was in surplus every year his second term in office. The Clinton administration also paid down $453 billion on the public debt. The Bush administration paid down zero and added over $6 trillion to the national debt. Bush never got a hand on deficit spending because he lacked the fundamental knowledge of how to create a sound economy and how to use government policy wisely. The ideology of trickle down economics being the engine for growing the economy and jobs in the private sector is a fairy tale. There were over 22.7 million new jobs created during the Clinton administration and 91% came from the private sector. The highest in over 50 years. Clinton did it with an economic policy that created an even 11 million plus jobs in each of his terms. Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 talked, but it was Clinton who performed. In fact try this on for size. More new jobs were created under Clinton in 8 years than were created under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they served. Their trickle down economics never got past the wealthy to the private sector.
When President Bush took office the governments fiscal health had never been better. In 8 years he managed to take the country and its people to the cleaners and it started in his very first year. If this is the conservatism that Republicans like to brag about, lets hope we never see another Republican President.
Coming next: Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth. Stay tuned.
Note l: The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were handled outside the budget by the Bush administration. The cost of those wars are now handled within the budget by the Obama administration.
Note 2: National Debt number taken from Treasury Department.
Note 3: To read more why a policy of trickle down economics is not a policy at all read my three part series with conclusion titled: The U.S. Economy: Which Part Performs Best, dated 1/27/08/
Note 4: Budget Surplus and Deficits shown above taken from Congressional Budget Office Records.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)