Is Boehner a failure?

[Jarod]

Bohner was given the impossable task of bringing the Tea Party group into the fold of the establishment Party. He has done the best he could but failed at an impossable task.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Slashing defense spending is a necessity. Are there other areas that should be trimmed? Of course. Should austerity be the direction we take right now? History, as well as the current situation in Europe, proves otherwise.

Praytell, why the refusal to cut military spending? Why does Boehner insist on forcing the military to take obsolete aircraft/engines that are produced by his constituents, while simultaneously calling for spending cuts?
Cutting taxes has proved to be a losing venture, especially while there are two unfunded wars raging.

Likewise, the staunch refusal to compromise on the debt ceiling caused our credit rating to be lowered. I find it questionable that we never once heard a peep from conservatives when the debt ceiling issue was voted on in the past.

When Europe is still spending more today than in pre-crisis years, it is quite absurd to proclaim they are implementing austerity. We absolutely should cut defense spending as well as spending across the board back to 2007 levels. There is no reason the government should continue to outspend the way they are.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

If our deficit were the only problem we're facing, then spending cuts might be the answer. But we have a serious issue with unemployment, which translates to lower demand. Creating higher unemployment via the 'kill the govt.' approach, will only compound the issue. Further, giving more tax breaks will only create jobs overseas, or increase cash on hand for companies that have already demonstrated that they have no intention of bringing jobs back.

You realize that it is an uncertainty with government spending and taxation that is causing corp's to hold on to record levels of cash?

Had the stimulus been administered with some oversight, we'd have seen better results.

I agree.

Unfortunately, many (red) states used the money for balancing their budgets, and created no jobs. Now they scream about deficits.

LMAO...

Until/unless we can address the idiocy of flushing money down the military toilet, while simultaneously calling for the death of Medicare/etc, the conversation runs in circles.

Who exactly is calling for the death of Medicare?

Obama offered a 5/1 ration of spending cuts, to tax increases.

Grover Norquist won't allow it.

Norquist needs to go. On that we can most certainly agree.

 

[Damocles]

Then the facts contained in the link I provided (I hope it's OK I did that, BTW) don't affect what you think should be done?

No, I think we should cut spending in defense. How is somebody else's opinion supposed to affect that?

 

[Damocles]

the austerity bit is not working in europe - it is leading europeans into further depression

a combination of tax increases with cuts and tax reform are needed, but defense spending is a gop sacred cow along with no tax increases and tax cuts for the wealthy

Have you seen the actual "austerity"? Seriously, outspending your income by a matter of threefold is not Austerity by any measure. The reality is they've spent decades creating a debt that is collapsing their economy. Only the Democrats and Socialists seem to think that more debt is the solution to overwhelming debt.

They need to kick start private industry, not government payouts.

The reality is they've spent too much time measuring compassion by how much they give away without understanding that forcing future generations to pay for you largesse is both unfair and immoral.

 

[Don Quixote]

Bohner was given the impossable task of bringing the Tea Party group into the fold of the establishment Party. He has done the best he could but failed at an impossable task.

bohner made a cogent comment, he said that 'his job is like trying to move a wheelbarrow full of frogs somewhere' - lol

 

[Don Quixote]

Have you seen the actual "austerity"? Seriously, outspending your income by a matter of threefold is not Austerity by any measure. The reality is they've spent decades creating a debt that is collapsing their economy. Only the Democrats and Socialists seem to think that more debt is the solution to overwhelming debt.

They need to kick start private industry, not government payouts.

The reality is they've spent too much time measuring compassion by how much they give away without understanding that forcing future generations to pay for you largesse is both unfair and immoral.

perhaps, but any european government that tries to cut back too much will find itself out of power - one of the reasons that democracy does not work...

still if you think that european governments can kick start private businesses within their current budgets, you are having a pipe dream

as i said in my post a combination of tax reform and hiring to rebuild out infrastructure is needed and that includes tax increases something that mittens will not and cannot do

 

[Damocles]

perhaps, but any european government that tries to cut back too much will find itself out of power - one of the reasons that democracy does not work...

What is your replacement plan? Stupid choices do not mean that what is happening, isn't.

still if you think that european governments can kick start private businesses within their current budgets, you are having a pipe dream

The point is government spending isn't the answer. They need private industry to grow rather than try to spend their way to prosperity creating still more crippling debt. Debt is NOT the answer to a debt crisis.

as i said in my post a combination of tax reform and hiring to rebuild out infrastructure is needed and that includes tax increases something that mittens will not and cannot do

Growing the tax base is the only solution that can actually make a dent in the debt. We have 80 Million people without jobs that need to be in the workforce and paying taxes. I can agree that building infrastructure is part of the solution, however one can do this (pipeline Keystone, google is your friend) without spending a government dime in many cases.

Do I think that Mitt has all the answers? No. I don't think he does. I think we should drive towards independence within 3 to 5 years and that we can do it if we use LNG or CNG. Instead we get only talk about oil from one guy and only talk about green from the other. Green isn't doing it, oil by itself won't. But giving people choices (like either CNG or Gasoline at the pump) can while we work towards that Green solution...

 

[Don Quixote]

What is your replacement plan? Stupid choices do not mean that what is happening, isn't.


The point is government spending isn't the answer. They need private industry to grow rather than try to spend their way to prosperity creating still more crippling debt. Debt is NOT the answer to a debt crisis.

so you think that keyes and krugman do not know what they are talking about - please note that i did not talk exclusively about more debt, but increased revenue via tax reform and and tax increases - we have had enough of tax cuts that do not work


Growing the tax base is the only solution that can actually make a dent in the debt. We have 80 Million people without jobs that need to be in the workforce and paying taxes. I can agree that building infrastructure is part of the solution, however one can do this (pipeline Keystone, google is your friend) without spending a government dime in many cases.

the keystone pipeline may help. but i am leery of pipelines - they tend to leak unless money is spent on proper maintainance, something that pipeline operators are usually deficient at

Do I think that Mitt has all the answers? No. I don't think he does. I think we should drive towards independence within 3 to 5 years and that we can do it if we use LNG or CNG. Instead we get only talk about oil from one guy and only talk about green from the other. Green isn't doing it, oil by itself won't. But giving people choices (like either CNG or Gasoline at the pump) can while we work towards that Green solution...

considering the abundance of natural gas these days, lng/cng are good alternatives to gasoline and do not cost a lot to converrt cars from from gasoline to natural gas

we do need more green investments

we both agree that rebuildng our infrastructure is a good thing and will create jobs in an industry that is in the dolurms

sorry about the attitude, i tend to get the hickups whenever i eat and they hurt my surgery scars

 

[Damocles]

considering the abundance of natural gas these days, lng/cng are good alternatives to gasoline and do not cost a lot to converrt cars from from gasoline to natural gas

we do need more green investments

we both agree that rebuildng our infrastructure is a good thing and will create jobs in an industry that is in the dolurms

sorry about the attitude, i tend to get the hickups whenever i eat and they hurt my surgery scars

Man.. I know about pain and changing your attitude. Whenever I have a kidney stone it makes me into a jerk.

How are you doing anyway? Healing well? Taking a bit less of the strong stuff?

 

[Don Quixote]

Man.. I know about pain and changing your attitude. Whenever I have a kidney stone it makes me into a jerk.

How are you doing anyway? Healing well? Taking a bit less of the strong stuff?

i am tapering off the strong stuff, but i have developed low back pain from the shift in my weight - the surgery was bariatric and i have lost a lot of weight due to not being able to eat more than a couple of ounces at a time - a little frequently but when i do eat it tents to hurt so i am not eating much

i have healed a lot from the surgery, but the collateral pain is still with me and the resultant attitudes suck

are you near any of the fires - also, how are things with you in general - take care brother

 

[Althea]

You realize that it is an uncertainty with government spending and taxation that is causing corp's to hold on to record levels of cash?

Silly talking point. Demand creates jobs. Put some money into the hands of the middle class, and see how it increases demand.

LMAO...

I'm glad you're amused. Start w/Texas, Arizona, and Alabama, and work from there. There's plenty of info out there.

Who exactly is calling for the death of Medicare?

Paul Ryan, and (at least on the days when the wind is out of the west) Romney. Ryan's budget, with Romney's blessing, calls for a voucher system for Medicare recipients, in exchange for tax cuts for billionaires.

Seems like a win/win to me........not.

Norquist needs to go. On that we can most certainly agree.

Maybe he'll visit Fla.

 

[PostmodernProphet]

Silly talking point. Demand creates jobs. Put some money into the hands of the middle class, and see how it increases demand.

so you're in favor of reducing taxes?.....

 

[Althea]

so you're in favor of reducing taxes?.....

I'm in favor of a 10% reduction in marginal/payroll tax rates for those making $100K/yr, and under.

Likewise, we need to bump cap gains taxes up to at least 25%.

That's a start. I'd like to put about $1000.00/month into the pockets of those who actually buy things...not those who park it offshore, or buy another Jaguar with it.

 

[Don Quixote]

I'm in favor of a 10% reduction in marginal/payroll tax rates for those making $100K/yr, and under.

Likewise, we need to bump cap gains taxes up to at least 25%.

That's a start. I'd like to put about $1000.00/month into the pockets of those who actually buy things...not those who park it offshore, or buy another Jaguar with it.

cap gains should be treated the same as regular income for income tax purposes with a $500 deductible

 

[Althea]

cap gains should be treated the same as regular income for income tax purposes with a $500 deductible

That would be better, but I'd be happy with 25% as a start. We still want people to invest, but predatory investment shouldn't be tax 'free'.

Likewise, your idea would stop the way CEOs take the bulk of their pay....via stock shares. Or at least negate the tax shelter they enjoy by doing so.

Because they 'need' share price to stay high, they continue to cut staff, in order to maximize profits. When the number one goal is no longer share price, we may see a shift in employment figures in THIS country.

 

[PostmodernProphet]

cap gains should be treated the same as regular income for income tax purposes with a $500 deductible

treat capital gains as ordinary income (retaining 1031 exchange rules), treat dividends and interest as ordinary income......but, eliminate corporate taxes recapturing the loss by raising the tax rate on upper incomes.....all to go into effect AFTER the government puts in place a spending cap lower than 2008 spending levels adjusted for inflation......

it is absolutely essential that the government acknowledges that cutting spending is unavoidable before we let them have more money.....otherwise they will just continue to overspend.....

 

[Althea]

treat capital gains as ordinary income (retaining 1031 exchange rules), treat dividends and interest as ordinary income......but, eliminate corporate taxes recapturing the loss by raising the tax rate on upper incomes.....all to go into effect AFTER the government puts in place a spending cap lower than 2008 spending levels adjusted for inflation......

it is absolutely essential that the government acknowledges that cutting spending is unavoidable before we let them have more money.....otherwise they will just continue to overspend.....

allowing the military to perform the functions that the 'private' military now does, will save billions.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

He sold his soul to the teabag devil. Now, it's proven to be hell. He has no control over his own party.

The Tea Baggers affectively undermined Boehners authority as Speaker and he will be probably considered one of the weaker Spearkes in the history of congress. In his two years as Speaker he has accomplished virtually nothing. His weakness as a Speaker is also, in part, responsible for Congress historically low approval ratings. Those ratins are certainly a reflection on the nations confidence in Speaker Boehner.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I agree, I thought he would be bad, but not this bad. He will review the scene of the bigger gavel and regret that moment.

I don't know if I would classify Boehner as bad so much as I would classify him as inept for having accomplished so little.