tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post5069902047303684380..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: GOP War On Budgeting UpdateJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-42748362300080336072012-02-03T17:18:29.169-06:002012-02-03T17:18:29.169-06:00Small quibble, but I think the latter quote was at...Small quibble, but I think the latter quote was attributed to Sen. Graham, rather than Sen. Kyl.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-47306594024479307152012-02-03T14:16:09.289-06:002012-02-03T14:16:09.289-06:00Agree. Your little dialog is a good illustration o...Agree. Your little dialog is a good illustration of the view some people would have (and not without reason). However, if the scene could continue like this:<br /><br />Doris: It's not marshmallows, it's lettuce, and it's not $100,000. Look, you come up with your list of what what we should cut, and I'll come up with mine.<br /><br />In that case, we might have a negotiation and some progress.ModeratePolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-6924119723857002762012-02-03T05:49:46.065-06:002012-02-03T05:49:46.065-06:00But the Republican view is that federal government...But the Republican view is that federal government expenditures are so huge and so wasteful that it's ridiculous to cut good programmes because there's so much fat to cut elsewhere.<br /><br />Imagine Roger and Doris are discussing the family finances.<br /><br />Roger: We need to balance the books.<br />Doris: Fine. Then sell your car.<br />Roger: But I need my car.<br />Doris: Ha! Then you aren't serious about balancing the books.<br />Roger: We are spending $100,000 a month on your marshmallow addiction. If you give up marshmallows and the books still don't balance, we can talk.<br /><br />Roger may or may not be right about the sums, but his position is coherent and logical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-61597168243660075092012-02-02T22:59:48.752-06:002012-02-02T22:59:48.752-06:00If I'm not mistaken, the Ryan budget and Ron P...If I'm not mistaken, the Ryan budget and Ron Paul's budget were the only major budget proposals by the GOP. <br /><br />I search Newt's site, and didn't find a budget. What <a href="http://www.newt.org/solutions/jobs-economy" rel="nofollow">he has</a> is short enough to repeat here: <br /><br />"Balance the budget by growing the economy, controlling spending, implementing money saving reforms, and replacing destructive policies and regulatory agencies with new approaches."<br /><br />Does anyone else think that's laughable? I suppose it shows what kind of candidate he is.<br /><br />Romney doesn't have a budget plan with numbers, but has an <a href="http://mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2011/09/believe-america-mitt-romneys-plan-jobs-and-economic-growth" rel="nofollow">economic plan</a> (my summary <a href="http://moderatepoli.blogspot.com/2011/10/romneys-economic-plan-fail.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>). His new slogan is "We have a moral responsibility not to spend more than we take in." Will he be discussing how during the campaign? I certainly hope so.ModeratePolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-45746829264451320172012-02-02T18:47:07.533-06:002012-02-02T18:47:07.533-06:00The view that politics is just one big ideological...The view that politics is just one big ideological war is a deeply immature one for political leaders in a democracy. There is also the management of the government, the use of policy to affect outcomes, and the ethical debate about what outcomes are desirable. A lot of Republicans are stuck in a Right vs. Left permanent political war paradigm. It's really unfortunate. Only someone who doesn't understand or feel comfortable with the complexity of politics would let themselves be caught up in that kind of thing.PA Politiconoreply@blogger.com