Obama checkmates himself on sequester

[Theb]

Do you smell anything other than farts in your bubble?

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/exclusive-the-woodward-sperling-emails-revealed-88226.html

From Gene Sperling to Bob Woodward on Feb. 22, 2013

Bob:

I apologize for raising my voice in our conversation today. My bad. I do understand your problems with a couple of our statements in the fall — but feel on the other hand that you focus on a few specific trees that gives a very wrong perception of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here.

But I do truly believe you should rethink your comment about saying saying that Potus asking for revenues is moving the goal post. I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim. The idea that the sequester was to force both sides to go back to try at a big or grand barain with a mix of entitlements and revenues (even if there were serious disagreements on composition) was part of the DNA of the thing from the start. It was an accepted part of the understanding — from the start. Really. It was assumed by the Rs on the Supercommittee that came right after: it was assumed in the November-December 2012 negotiations. There may have been big disagreements over rates and ratios — but that it was supposed to be replaced by entitlements and revenues of some form is not controversial. (Indeed, the discretionary savings amount from the Boehner-Obama negotiations were locked in in BCA: the sequester was just designed to force all back to table on entitlements and revenues.)

I agree there are more than one side to our first disagreement, but again think this latter issue is diffferent. Not out to argue and argue on this latter point. Just my sincere advice. Your call obviously.

My apologies again for raising my voice on the call with you. Feel bad about that and truly apologize.

Gene

From Woodward to Sperling on Feb. 23, 2013

Gene: You do not ever have to apologize to me. You get wound up because you are making your points and you believe them. This is all part of a serious discussion. I for one welcome a little heat; there should more given the importance. I also welcome your personal advice. I am listening. I know you lived all this. My partial advantage is that I talked extensively with all involved. I am traveling and will try to reach you after 3 pm today. Best, Bob

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/...ling-emails-revealed-88226.html#ixzz2MJYPdJ6M

Wow. I can feel the raw hatred dripping from those words. If Bob Woodward ever dies I don't think there can be any question as to who murdered him.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Too polite, really. Obviously concealing his true intent. Had he responded in abject violent rage I'd be much more inclined to consider the threat empty.

 

[cubby1223]

Except the reality is the Democrats have won.

The Democrats have won big time with this sequester.

What do the Democrats want? They want more taxes, more spending, but less defense spending.

Taxes go up, defense spending goes down, other spending still goes up just at a slightly lower rate.

Obama is a goddam genius. He wins all scenarios.

If the economy tanks he blames it on the evil Republicans for cutting spending. If the economy strengthens he ridicules the Republicans for refusing to ever raise taxes.

 

[Theb]

Woodward got friendly with the Bush admin, got access, then stabbed them in the back. It looks like he's doing the same thing with the Obama admin.

'Bush is a resolute leader'

vs

'Just kidding, he's a jackass'

 

[xj0hnx]

The sequestor will cost 170 million jobs!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvVX8m_RDQc

The problem is the typical democratic voter thinks the world is falling.

Well yea, it's Maxine Waters, she is a complete fucking idiot, and proven liar.

 

[dank69]

Anyone who thought the effects would be felt immediately is an idiot. He's just explaining this to the average American idiot.

 

[Matt1970]

Except the reality is the Democrats have won.

The Democrats have won big time with this sequester.

What do the Democrats want? They want more taxes, more spending, but less defense spending.

Taxes go up, defense spending goes down, other spending still goes up just at a slightly lower rate.

Obama is a goddam genius. He wins all scenarios.

If the economy tanks he blames it on the evil Republicans for cutting spending. If the economy strengthens he ridicules the Republicans for refusing to ever raise taxes.

Except he and the Dems out there spreading doom and gloom lies that are going to be hard to ignore when the tragedy never happens. People were a little miffed when the Y2K scare turned out to be nothing.

 

[dank69]

As someone who lived through the Watergate episode I can't tell you how delicious it is to see Democrats and lefties like you attacking Woodward for once again telling the truth. I honestly think you guys have forgotten what real journalism looks like.

As someone who's lived through your terrible posts in P&N these last few years, I can tell you how funny it is to see you characterize Thump's post as an "attack" on Woodward.

 

[dank69]

Except he and the Dems out there spreading doom and gloom lies that are going to be hard to ignore when the tragedy never happens. People were a little miffed when the Y2K scare turned out to be nothing.

Yes I'm sure government layoffs are what our economy really needs to thrive at this point in time. I expect only good things to come of this.

 

[Ryan]

From the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Mark Welsh):

March is here, and unfortunately, so is sequestration…that means the entire Department of Defense, including our Air Force, will experience about a nine percent budget cut across all programs—starting now, and with no ability to adjust which accounts those cuts come from.

Some of our flying units will start to cut back on training immediately to protect the readiness of units scheduled to deploy and those with key mission responsibilities. Unless something changes, in about six weeks you’ll notice the civilian Airman you rely on every day forced to accept unpaid leave for one day a week through the end of the Fiscal Year. We’ll also be forced to delay some number of aircraft and engine depot inductions, causing aircraft availability and reliability issues, along with impacts to the small businesses that support our depots. And we’ll have to delay construction projects, from airfield repairs and energy programs to the planned upgrade of your dormitory or housing area. The impacts of sequestration will be noticeable, they’ll likely affect you, and, in some areas, they’ll hurt our mission in a big way. But we’ll hang together and get through this…and hopefully our nation’s leaders can reach agreement and get things back on a more even keel soon. We’ll keep you informed as this moves forward.

 

[Matt1970]

Yes I'm sure government layoffs are what our economy really needs to thrive at this point in time. I expect only good things to come of this.

Just remember, everyone said we needed tax hikes plus spending cuts to fix the problem. We got the tax hikes but now when it is time for the spending cuts, and a small one at that, the Dems are crying foul. Boo Hoo

 

[dank69]

Just remember, everyone said we needed tax hikes plus spending cuts to fix the problem. We got the tax hikes but now when it is time for the spending cuts, and a small one at that, the Dems are crying foul. Boo Hoo

And what, Republicans are happy as pigs in shit? The "champions of spending cuts" are crying just as much.

 

[Brainonska511]

Anyone who thought the effects would be felt immediately is an idiot. He's just explaining this to the average American idiot.

Yep. Say goodbye to research funding for young scientists. The NSF is going to honor its multiyear commitments, which will leave little money for new grants. Those scientists will leave their respective fields for greener pastures outside of research. The NIH is also going to have its funding cut, which again means less money for research grants. Researchers who focus on basic research in both biological and physical sciences don't spring up overnight.

 

[boomerang]

Once again, all they need to do is cut out some, just some of the waste, fraud and abuse. We keep hearing about it. The time is upon us. Obama told us he was going to go through the budget line by line.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/11/obama_vows_line.html

"In these challenging times, when we are facing both rising deficits and a sinking economy, budget reform is not an option. It is an imperative," Obama said. "We cannot sustain a system that bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs that have outlived their usefulness, or exist solely because of the power of a politicians, lobbyists, or interest groups. We simply cannot afford it. This isn’t about big government or small government. It’s about building a smarter government that focuses on what works. That is why I will ask my new team to think anew and act anew to meet our new challenges.... We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way."

This is the shit he got elected on in his first term. His second term is upon us and he still hasn't gotten it done.

He got a big tax increase very recently. The .gov should be awash in revenue.

 

[dank69]

Once again, all they need to do is cut out some, just some of the waste, fraud and abuse. We keep hearing about it. The time is upon us. Obama told us he was going to go through the budget line by line.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/11/obama_vows_line.html



This is the shit he got elected on in his first term. His second term is upon us and he still hasn't gotten it done.

He got a big tax increase very recently. The .gov should be awash in revenue.

Wouldn't it be great if the President had the power to make those cuts himself? Well, it would be great if the President was a Democrat, not so much if he was GOP. But you just keep on railing about Obama not being a dictator. :thumbsup:

 

[boomerang]

Wouldn't it be great if the President had the power to make those cuts himself? Well, it would be great if the President was a Democrat, not so much if he was GOP. But you just keep on railing about Obama not being a dictator. :thumbsup:

I'd say don't be stupid but it's too late for that.

 

[dbk]

My friend who works for a contractor lost his job because the entire program with the navy got slashed. He along with 40 people on last Wednesday. Apparently, his company is getting rid of 2% of their workforce due to military cuts. Sound like a REAL IMMEDIATE IMPACT to me.

 

[cubby1223]

Except he and the Dems out there spreading doom and gloom lies that are going to be hard to ignore when the tragedy never happens. People were a little miffed when the Y2K scare turned out to be nothing.

Republicans have spread doom and gloom that raising taxes will be an apocalyptic event. They both are guilty, and the Democrats will win.

 

[cubby1223]

My friend who works for a contractor lost his job because the entire program with the navy got slashed. He along with 40 people on last Wednesday. Apparently, his company is getting rid of 2% of their workforce due to military cuts. Sound like a REAL IMMEDIATE IMPACT to me.

Sounds like his job was not necessary. Welcome him into how the rest of us live. Either lose his job now or lose two people's jobs later when the interest payments on the debt become too great a burden.

 

[glenn1]

My friend who works for a contractor lost his job because the entire program with the navy got slashed. He along with 40 people on last Wednesday. Apparently, his company is getting rid of 2% of their workforce due to military cuts. Sound like a REAL IMMEDIATE IMPACT to me.

Good - reducing the growth rate of spending should have real impacts, if it doesn't then you're not doing it right. I'm glad to see they won't take weeks or months like Obama said. Sorry about your friend's job loss, but it sounds like he, like many defense contractors, only had his job due to the huge defense spending buildup of the last 10 years and he should be glad for the gig while he had it. Defense needs to be cut, and this is a tiny down payment on the bigger cuts we need to make. Ditto for domestic discretionary spending.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

My friend who works for a contractor lost his job because the entire program with the navy got slashed. He along with 40 people on last Wednesday. Apparently, his company is getting rid of 2% of their workforce due to military cuts. Sound like a REAL IMMEDIATE IMPACT to me.

Military cuts are needed.

We need to stop building tanks in 40 different states and continue to provide employment to people building tanks we don't need, when we have a thousand tanks rusting in the reserves.

 

[dank69]

I'd say don't be stupid but it's too late for that.

Is that because you think the President can cut whatever he wants without approval from congress? :hmm:

 

[Jadow]

let the sequester come! All hail the sequester

Christ, the scare tactics the dems are doing on this are insulting.

Now, if you REDUCE THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT, it's fucking doomsday.

Imagine what would happen if heaven forbid government spending were to actually go down one year. I imagine we would be in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

 

[Matt1970]

Wouldn't it be great if the President had the power to make those cuts himself? Well, it would be great if the President was a Democrat, not so much if he was GOP. But you just keep on railing about Obama not being a dictator. :thumbsup:

Obama was given the option to decide where the cuts should be. He p./assed

 

[Saint Nick]

I welcome this. I barely pay attention to politics as it is, and I'm all for shaking things up. NO idea what sequestration even means. I just don't care.