Except when they're good.

And part of this Magic Republican Message is this: Deficits are always good when they're a Republican budget deficits.

Always.

Listen: The Republicans have only convinced the Really Extra Stupid Fucks that deficits are bad--and that Republican deficits are good. The rest of us...not so much. And as far as Republicans winning message wars, lately? Again:

Not so much. Fuck 'em. Dry. They deserve MUCH WORSE.

Reagan, Gingrich and their successors have spent 30 years convincing both Democrats and members of the media that deficits are always bad.

That's impressive message control, considering the huge amounts of debt that were run up during Saint Ronnie's and King George's reigns.

The repug message is predicated on people's perceptions gained by listening to too many talking heads on Sunday morning. The facts about repug fiscal stupidity say otherwise, but facts are such troublesome things.

Nearly 30 years after Ronald Reagan took a chainsaw to federal spending, Democrats and members of the media have internalized conservative nostrums about the dangers of deficits.

Come on! A chainsaw to federal spending? Just do a google search and it's easily verified that federal spending increased 25% in real terms during his presidency and income decreased. All he did was run up incredible deficits.

I guess you bought the bullshit too. And Evan Bayh can kiss our ass. The budget passed both houses, and so will the final bill. That asshole -- at the same time he cried about deficits -- voted to make the estate tax even more friendly to multimillionaires at a cost of $250 billion.

Obama's tax increases are actually on the timid side.

Google for national debt, and among the first ten results you will find numerous links showing the same thing: National debt decreased following WW II under all presidents, but as oon as Regan replaced Carter, it shot up, ditto under Bush 41, sort of leveled off under Clinton, and shot up again under Bush 43.

Don't peddle that "Reagan slashed spending" crap here.

Yeah, write off some of these Blue Dogs. They are never going to come around to rationality.

At least we will be going into debt to provide things that will make us better able to compete on a global basis -- all of our global partners supply health care. For instance it's no wonder that Toyota can provide more "bang for the buck" when their country is picking up the tab for health care.

EVERY other industrialized country is already doing this.

The debt went up faster with the give-aways to gazillionaires and corporate uber-citizens. Protecting the theft of value to offshore tax-havens. Plus paying companies to offshore labor.

If we're going to spend as much to shore-up parts of the infrastructure that will make us more competitive, then I'm all for it.

Right now, it all seems to work against the American citizen -- who, after all is SUPPOSED TO BE what the government represents.

And now that Americans aren't doing their part by being consumers we're being told that we shouldn't be trying to save.

Forget that. Pay off your debts. The government isn't looking out for you.

That's your job. Get used to it.

And support a government that is willing to offer you the same social benefits that are available in other countries like Germany, France and Cuba, for instance -- where individuals spend a lot less for comparable care.

Is a walking abortion pretending to be a Democrat. Progressives must mount a primary challenge and, if unsuccessful, vote for the Republican. It is better to have the seat in open opposition hands than held by this Blue Dog whore for corporate millionaires.

"Nearly 30 years after Ronald Reagan took a chainsaw to federal spending, Democrats and members of the media have internalized conservative nostrums about the dangers of deficits."

Haaa... I want what Mike Madden is smoking (which is projected to raise what, 3 Billion in tax revenue in California?).

Our CONSERVATIVE leaders have done more to add to the deficits, from Reagan, to Bush I, and Bush II (and don't forget the Newter) and their deficit spending for wars that don't pay off (even being cynical, our wars have returned a poor investment on our dollar).

BILL CLINTON paid down more of the debt than any of our fiscal conservatives, and he was branded a liberal.

Here's the problem. We can give a trillion to the banks, because they paid for his election, and Obama owes them.

But stuff that INVESTS in the future?

Healthcare for people like me who was laid off recently? What do WE do when our unemployment runs out and we start reading about a jobless recovery again?

Who benefits?

When the wealthy get tax cuts and the banks get money, it's stimulus. When something may benefit the faceless schmucks that history won't remember (thanks to Dick Cheney for that quote) it's socialism.

And the media will manipulate people into demanding that their interests not be served, for... so we can cut more taxes for the wealthy. Bailout rather than prosecute the predatory lenders, while lecturing the guy who wanted a house for being irresponsible? That's what was reported, but the numbers don't bear it out.

Oh well.

France gives it's citizens healthcare. Hmmm...

dan

This defense of out of control spending would be funny if it wasn't what many liberals believe. Liberals such as the author, do not understand that this debt has to be paid back somehow at some point. He and they do not understand that all the new welfare and spending programs in the budget will never be pared back once put into effect. He and other liberals do not understand that at some point once the deficit starts seriously impeding your country's growth then you lose the economic power we once had. All liberals can do is scream and yell spend more while the majority of Americans look at the govt and say, enough is enough. All that money that has been spent, what is it doing. People do not have a problem with spending persay, but what it goes to. According to the author if we thre 10 trillion at the problem enough must stick to be good. Great, now what happened to the 9.9 that didn't stick? Where'd it go? This article is so like the logic of a child it boggles the mind. We as the American people can't buy a house with nothing like the US govt does, we can't print money and we have to live within our means lest we face the consequences like many are now. This author needs to drink some coffee and get back in the real world. A deficit persay may not be bad, but the ones Obama wants to run will destroy this country. At least some Democrats and conservatives like me see that.