Random Political Thoughts

[PB the Deplorable]

The Chinese have about 8% of the bonds and, at no time have they ever questioned whether they would receive the interest payments, except for when Rethuglics shut down the government.

Well, first off the government 'shutdown' only affected the 13% of the Federal government deemed 'non-essential'.  And the idea the sky would fall was a scare tactic whipped up by the D's and their accomplices in the Media.

But I think you actually meant the votes on raising the debt ceiling, the accompanying discussion about not passing that until some spending concessions were made, and the usual fear-mongering, again, by the D's and their accomplices - even though tax dollars would continue to roll in from which interest would be paid.

[Up All Night]

How 'bout canceling funds for the War on Poverty?

That doesn't seem to be working

And The War on Drugs

And The Dept. of Education

And the IRS (Just a Flat Tax please)

Pull the military from S. Korea and station them on the southern border

Defund the United Nations

[pate]

I totally agree...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0JvF9vpqx8

I totally disagree...

[b_dubb]

Once again with the fanboy nonsense from the left.
Keep your eye on the ball here, champ- this is a systemic failure.
As far as projecting 2090, it's a working model. That is the point of research.
But you don't have to be Milton Friedman Jr. to see that we're fucking fucked.
China's got us by the nuts and they might like to be paid back sometime.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikepatton/2014/10/28/who-owns-the-most-u-s-debt/

Social Security has us by the balls apparently. Fucking old people and their monthly stipends have us by the balls.

HEY YOUR HANDS ARE COLD!!!!

[Lunger]

And The War on Drugs

And The Dept. of Education

And the IRS (Just a Flat Tax please)

Pull the military from S. Korea and station them on the southern border

Defund the United Nations

And the Department of Energy
And HUD
And BATF
And USDA
Let's not forget ObamaCare and so many, many more

[136 or 142]

Well, first off the government 'shutdown' only affected the 13% of the Federal government deemed 'non-essential'.  And the idea the sky would fall was a scare tactic whipped up by the D's and their accomplices in the Media.

But I think you actually meant the votes on raising the debt ceiling, the accompanying discussion about not passing that until some spending concessions were made, and the usual fear-mongering, again, by the D's and their accomplices - even though tax dollars would continue to roll in from which interest would be paid.

The interest would not have been paid had the spending caused it to exceed the debt ceiling.  While the Treasury Department did have the ability to shift spending around for awhile after the shutdown, ultimately the government would have defaulted on its interest payments. So, as usual, the idiots you idiotically fall for (because you are an idiot) are lying to you.  Hardly a 'sky is falling scare' but a real scare unlike Ebola that had you so frightened that you would have suspended the Constitution for it.

"On September 25, Treasury announced that extraordinary measures would be exhausted no later than October 17, leaving Treasury with about $30 billion in cash, plus incoming revenue, but no ability to borrow money. The CBO estimated that the exact date on which Treasury would have had to begin prioritizing/delaying bills and/or actually defaulting on some obligations would fall between October 22 and November 1."

In the aftermath, one credit rating agency downgraded their ratings on U.S bonds which can mean higher borrowing costs in the future, so, given the size of the interest payments it's possible that the shutdown will end up costing the treasury over $1 billion a year, though I don't know how likely this is.

I also note, that at no time did Rethuglic politicians shut down the government demanding lower spending during the Cheney "deficits don't matter" Presidency which raises questions as to how sincere most of them are about their 'concerns' over deficits.

[pate]

....While the Treasury Department did have the ability to shift spending around for awhile after the shutdown, ultimately the government would have defaulted on its interest payments....

My understanding of the Constitution of the United States was that Congress (not Treasury) had the 'power of the purse'?

Treasury Dept is under the Executive (presidential branch)?

Please educate me?

[136 or 142]

My understanding of the Constitution of the United States was that Congress (not Treasury) had the 'power of the purse'?

Treasury Dept is under the Executive (presidential branch)?

Please educate me?

My understanding is that Congress allocates the global budget while the Treasury decides what to spend day to day.  The Treasury does have the authority to shift spending around over the short term.

[pate]

My understanding is that Congress allocates the global budget while the Treasury decides what to spend day to day.  The Treasury does have the authority to shift spending around over the short term.

That is my understanding as well.  Congress can at a whim tell the Executive Branch of gov't that the 3 trillion available to spend last year is this year 2 trillion...  it is up to the Executive branch to decide which and what is important to spend on, debt payments or "gov't/social" programs...  Yes it is ugly, but it was also designed expressly to prevent king/emporer types from having 'too much power.'  In the end, every elected official answers to the public?

[136 or 142]

That is my understanding as well.  Congress can at a whim tell the Executive Branch of gov't that the 3 trillion available to spend last year is this year 2 trillion...  it is up to the Executive branch to decide which and what is important to spend on, debt payments or "gov't/social" programs...  Yes it is ugly, but it was also designed expressly to prevent king/emporer types from having 'too much power.'  In the end, every elected official answers to the public?

Not quite. Congress sets the global budget for each department with 12 appropriation bills, one for each department, more of less. Some other agencies, like Congress are also funded on this basis, The Treasury likely has some say in how each department will spend its allocations.

In Canada, it's the difference between the Finance Ministry announcing a budget, and the Treasury Board announcing each departments' spending plans.

[pate]

Not quite. Congress sets the global budget for each department with 12 appropriation bills, one for each department, more of less. Some other agencies, like Congress are also funded on this basis, The Treasury likely has some say in how each department will spend its allocations.

In Canada, it's the difference between the Finance Ministry announcing a budget, and the Treasury Board announcing each departments' spending plans.

Let's talk about Canada... heh, I've no idea...

You are still subjects to the Queen?  I notice her picture on your currency? 

Are all Canadians raised/taught to know intimately the workings of the United States Constitution?

Yes/No?  In either case why should any United States citizen give two queen's farts about how you think our country should be run?

In that case, or any case I say FREE QUEBQUOIS!  (or whatever the quebequois equivalent is!)

Again, in any/either case I politely invite you to butt yourself out of other country's politics...


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

[136 or 142]

I'll butt out of U.S politics when the last Rethuglic politician stops invading foreign countries.

[pate]

I'll still stay out of Canadian politics even after the last Communist (er Democrap) has been rounded up and either deported from US soil or shot in the head...

I imagine we need to secure the longest undefended border between a nominally free country and a socialist/commie country...  you pick who is who, komrade...

[136 or 142]

I'll still stay out of Canadian politics even after the last Communist (er Democrap) has been rounded up and either deported from US soil or shot in the head...

I imagine we need to secure the longest undefended border between a nominally free country and a socialist/commie country...  you pick who is who, komrade...

100% of people who call liberals 'communists/socialists' are fascists.

[pate]

100% of people that throw the word "fascist", "national socialist", & "union thug" around resemble the aspersion they tend to throw around...

[136 or 142]

100% of people that throw the word "fascist", "national socialist", & "union thug" around resemble the aspersion they tend to throw around...

but not people who throw the words 'communist/socialist' around?

[pate]

but not people who throw the words 'communist/socialist' around?

I admit that I threw the "Communist/Democrap" association around.

I suppose that was in response to a fallacious/facetious ""

Rethuglic

"" comment some Canadian made in reference to United States politics...  my bad...

edit:  I am Not Sure where I made the Liberal=Communist=Democrap association, I guess some Canadian went ahead and did that for me.  Thanks to whomever that was btw!

[136 or 142]

I admit that I threw the "Communist/Democrap" association around.

I suppose that was in response to a fallacious/facetious """" comment some Canadian made in reference to United States politics...  my bad...

edit:  I am Not Sure where I made the Liberal=Communist=Democrap association, I guess some Canadian went ahead and did that for me.  Thanks to whomever that was btw!

Wow, you can't even remember what you wrote:
"I'll still stay out of Canadian politics even after the last Communist (er Democrap) has been rounded up and either deported from US soil or shot in the head..."

Given that they aren't proponents of getting rid of the monarchy, the term Republican obviously doesn't make sense, whereas Rethug clearly does.

[pate]

I'll butt out of U.S politics when the last Rethuglic politician stops invading foreign countries.

I'll still stay out of Canadian politics even after the last Communist (er Democrap) has been rounded up and either deported from US soil or shot in the head...

I imagine we need to secure the longest undefended border between a nominally free country and a socialist/commie country...  you pick who is who, komrade...

Wow, you can't even remember what you wrote:
"I'll still stay out of Canadian politics even after the last Communist (er Democrap) has been rounded up and either deported from US soil or shot in the head..."

Given that they aren't proponents of getting rid of the monarchy, the term Republican obviously doesn't make sense, whereas Rethug clearly does.

Note the timestamps on all the above quotations, komrade...  I do recall...

As for quotes, I seem to recall an old one that I attribute to Clauswitz(sp):

We see, therefore, that war is not merely an act of policy but a true political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse carried on with other means.

seems to have some meaning to my comment about borders between countries, and politics...  What is the population of Canada again?  And how far across that undefended border would the United States need to roll before your pitiful country was 'annexed'?

Just a thought experiment there, no threat us (er USa?) are ya?

ediot:  "Given that they aren't proponets of getting rid of the monarchy... et al"  Well, I'd say we have no opinion in the matter, that is the duty of good Canadians and Britishers to decide.  Y'all do what you want, and stay out of our business as we asked y'all back in 1776...

[136 or 142]

Well, as you sort of said, Canada is a liberal country, so if you invaded us, the 35 million Canadians would ensure a Democratic U.S government forever.

[pate]

Yah, I imagine once we 'citizenized' y'all, you'd all sign up for welfare.  Not blaming you, you don't know any other way, and yah, I'd guess 35 million more people on the dole would be ripe victims for the Democrap rhetoric 'bout "cutting the benefits off" or somesuch....

So you do understand why it's not worth it for the USA to invade Canada?

I thought y'all were both stupid AND lazy.

I guess Canadians are just lazy...  I'll yield on the y'all have some cognitive ability point...

[136 or 142]

Yah, I imagine once we 'citizenized' y'all, you'd all sign up for welfare.  Not blaming you, you don't know any other way, and yah, I'd guess 35 million more people on the dole would be ripe victims for the Democrap rhetoric 'bout "cutting the benefits off" or somesuch....

So you do understand why it's not worth it for the USA to invade Canada?

I thought y'all were both stupid AND lazy.

I guess Canadians are just lazy...  I'll yield on the y'all have some cognitive ability point...

I don't know if Americans are stupid, but you sure are.

[pate]

I don't know if Americans are stupid, but you sure are.

I take it that when you cross the border to illegally vote in our elections I cannot count on your vote for me in the Dictator-For-Life thing?

What'll it take?  You want to be the US diplomat to Jamaica?  I can make that happen, if you just illegally vote for me!

Well, at the least I can get you on the Jamaican embassy staff...

ediot:  I may have promised the Jamaican Diplomat spot to another voter (I will neither confirm nor deny their legal voting status, however)

[136 or 142]

Hey mon, me wanna the juana.

[pate]

Well, shiet, why didna you say so?

I'm sure I can get you a nice federal appointment in the state of CO or CA (OR?), somewhere.  And with your obvious mental deficiencies, I'm sure we can get a doc to get you a 'script for nutritive or analgesic brain therapy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-n_zk7e0ZU

Thank goodness, that Jamaican Diplomat spot is getting awfully full of people in my run for Dictator-For-Life...

[ACE of CLUBS]

I guess Canadians are just lazy...  I'll yield on the y'all have some cognitive ability point...

I guess Americans are lazy and fat ..... who cares what you think ?   
Double order of French fries with the cheesecake Ma'am ? 

[136 or 142]

I guess Americans are lazy and fat ..... who cares what you think ?   
Double order of French fries with the cheesecake Ma'am ?

Don't you mean Freedom Fries?

[Avi]

I guess Americans are lazy and fat ..... who cares what you think ?   
Double order of French fries with the cheesecake Ma'am ?

As my new Canadian son-in-law is fond of telling me, "Canadians are Americans. Is Canada not in North America?" Of course, many Canadians have a bit of the schoolmarm about them. It's all good. My daughter just spritzes him with the cat sprayer when required. Et il est Québécois, pas de "QUEBQUOIS" - qu'est-ce que c'est, exactement? Ah, juste pour rire.

[136 or 142]

Viva Le Quebec Livre!

[136 or 142]

Today's Rethuglic Party states its true feelings towards President Lincoln:

Senate Republicans        ✔ @Senate_GOPs
Follow
150 years ago today, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. America is forever indebted. pic.twitter.com/vhIE1k20e7

As was stated by a poster on politicalwire.com:
"The Right is so anti-tax that they even hate syntax."