Friday News Roundup - Hour 1
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-07-15/friday-news-roundup-hour-1
A panel of journalists joins Diane to talk about the week's top stories: President Obama called for "concrete plans" to raise the federal debt ceiling and avert a government default. Standard and Poor's says it could move to downgrade U.S. debt later this month. Fed chair Ben Bernanke warned of a "huge calamity" if the stalemate continues. Minnesota's governor and lawmakers reached a deal to end a two-week state government shutdown. The president raised a record $86 million for Democrats and his re-election campaign. Some GOP presidential candidates refuse to sign an Iowa marriage pledge. And former first lady Betty Ford is laid to rest.
Guests
Eleanor Clift
contributing editor for Newsweek/The Daily Beast.
Michael Scherer
White House correspondent, Time magazine.
Jim Angle
chief Washington correspondent, FOX News Channel.
Friday News Roundup Video
The panelists talk about the likelihood that Congress will reach a deal that would raise the U.S.'s debt ceiling before the August deadline:
Comments
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To the best of my knowledge, the debt ceiling was raised 7 times during the Bush presidency. How did the John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor and other members of the Party of NO vote on each occasion?
Why should President Obama and the democrat controlled Senate be taken as serious if they refuse to produce a budget in writing to address the "budget crisis". Seems to me the party of tax and spend has no ideas other than to let anyone who steps up to the plate to take on the hard issues take a public beating. Cowards!!
"Any tax cut when We The People are in debt is nothing but future tax increase plus interest." This is plain a fact as fable where child points out, “the King (GOP) has no clothes.”
Maybe after we have reached level of 3rd world nation for no other reason then the Grand Old arrogant stupidity of GOP (Genuinely Obnoxious Policy-makers??), perhaps China will “forgive us” our debt.
Can’t help but wonder if this is what Founders envisioned -that use of filibuster would be so abused that it would take a 60% majority to even allow a vote on legislation. And this at a time when our country desperately needs to alter direction from self-destructive course we’ve been on for good part of 10 years. I don’t know how you can knock GOP, though. They’ve been able to obstruct and alter every piece of legislation that’s been proposed for 3 years, and 2 of those years they were in minority in both houses! That’s quite a feat. Meanwhile the so-called liberal media (????) has been either complicit or pretty much quiet as a mouse. Even for all that, polls show that majority of Americans believe taxes on wealthiest Americans should be raised, but for some reason this doesn’t seem to get much attention.
If we just required on all payroll checks that $ be withheld from our earnings for direct deposit into accounts of the wealthy, we could skip the government middle man- that should save a few bucks. GOP has done all in their power to insure that our chances of ever being as great as we once were are slim to nothing.
I wonder about the example we set for inspiring democracy in some of these “Arab Spring” nations, when we can’t agree on the most straightforward of subjects such as… is $ really required to pay down debt?? (Hmm- maybe let’s appoint a commission).
Should we be surprised then if these “budding” societies choose paths other than “democracy”.
makosmalski wrote:
"To the best of my knowledge, the debt ceiling was raised 7 times during the Bush presidency. How did the John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor and other members of the Party of NO vote on each occasion?"
However Obama told the American people that his administration would be the most transparent when he first took office and that he would cut the deficit in half. That old tired line "the party of no" has no meaning being that the Dem's have held both houses of Congress since 2006.
How about covering these budget debates live behind the scenes? We the American people are smart enough in deciding who is pulling the wool over our eyes.
Why go to Camp David?
Drew Kelly wrote,"Can’t help but wonder if this is what Founders envisioned -that use of filibuster would be so abused that it would take a 60% majority to even allow a vote on legislation."
I think if the founders saw how the constitution has been mutilated by the democrats and to a lesser degree the republicans for all these unconstitutional government welfare programs they would not have much respect for any of them.
Please, don't start with the twisting of the meaning of the word welfare. The meaning of the word welfare at the time the constitution was written is not the same as the meaning of the word welfare in the 20th century. To claim they meant the same thing is a complete distortion.
Meangreen - do you know the answer to makosmalski's question?
I hold the republicans 100% responsible for the debt. If the Bush Tax cuts were ended we would raise an additional $3.8 Trillion over ten years. I am willing to lose that $500/yr.
Cutting 'entitlements' (benefits) would hurt the economy. I suggest that reform should be at a ratio of 1:3. One dollar is spending cuts for every three dollars in additional revenue. The cuts can be limited to military spending- we can close somewhere between 50-100% of our foreign military bases. The benefits in this country stimulate spending- the poor need to spend every dollar they earn or receive. The rich sit on their money or invest over-seas. The money the rich make is the product of millions of Americans buying products and services- no customers no business. Simple, right?
There is a tragic disconnect in this country when people believe that $250,000/yr is middle class and not upper class. Half of the people in this country make less than $40,000/yr. A large minority make so little that they have no means to pay taxes- they are so poor they can't make ends meet without help.
A quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money- and for people who suggest that those earnings are solely based on 'hard work' and 'innovation' I suggest they move to Somalia and live in a zero tax paradise. I am guessing their yearly income would drop precipitously.
I recognize that Ms. Clift was likely using a phrase of art when she referred to Eric Cantor as "representing the 87 TeaParty freshman" when of course, he actually is elected to represent Virginia's 7th congressional district. The phrase may sadly be indicative of the predominant motivation of our elected officials - to play the game of staying an elected official - rather than represent the electorate.
Very sad, but perhaps not so surprising considering District of Columbia residents continue with voting representation in the federal legislative body. And it's 2011.
Eric Cantor has investments in the ProShares Trust Ultrashort 20+ Year Treasury EFT, which bets that the US debt will become unstable. Isn't that a conflict of interest? Should the guy betting against the United States be negotiating a deal?
several things occur to me:
-social security represents "forced" savings by millions of people and cannot truely be called an entitlement
-ending wars will bring the long term savings especially from funding the military industrial complex
-why do Reps. insist on monetary issues being put on the backs of middle class? why is it that the rich should not participate (the real answer please - none of the job creation language which is largely crap)
-why do many in congress not give a Christian care about the less fortunate?
-if iti comes to not writing some checks, first in line should be those for the congress; they are not leading, not doing the job of politics which is inheriently compromise. Thank you/a
On the budget deal, why will the U.S. banks we bailed out be harmed if Italy defaults but the Chinese banks will be harmed if we default?
Regarding the comment "could not sell cold beer to a boatload of sailors" can your guests please be more sensitive to the "drunken sailor" references? It is offensive to veterans like me. I am certain it would not be tolerated if it were said about ethnic or religious groups. Thank you on behalf of all the veterans I know.
The Wall Street Journal recently had an article about Tea Party congressmen requesting funding for projects in their districts. When confronted about the apparent disconnect from their positions on spending, their offices responded that these specific projects were good for the country as they created jobs, etc. even though they subsequently claimed on the house floor that the government only gets in the way of the private sector creating jobs and that spending will be the death of us all.
My modest proposal is that President Obama publicly issue a directive to help these Congressmen meet their pledges by prohiting funding for any project within their district. Apparently these Tea Party people need help to meet their pledges.
As for changes in Medicare and Medicaid, everyone agrees that the biggest problem is the high cost of health care and the fact it will just keep going higher. What are we doing to curtail these costs or lower them? I don't believe, like the insurance companies, that malpractice cases are causing the bulk of the rising costs. There are more factors involved. But there must be something we can do to bring them down. It seems that if we could fix this one issue it would go a long way to helping to get the deficit and debt under control.
Eleanor Clift does not know about the Ryan budget plan that passed the house!! Yes, the republicans did indeed put a budget plan in writing.
I am assuming that the reference to sailors was not indicating anyone in the military. I can only guess that sailors on commercial and industrial ships are private employees and that tankers, fishing vessels, etc. are not financed with my tax dollars the way a US Navy vessel would be.
WHO DO POLITICIANS SPEAK FOR?
While listening to NPR yesterday discussing budget negotiating and politicians unable to find common ground, it was the callers into the program that where most interesting. A number of Democratic callers were willing to make concessions on entitlement programs, raising social security age, limiting duration for unemployment compensation etc. A number of Republican callers, that are above the $250k annual income, were willing to pay more in taxes. It appears as if the problem is the politicians, they are standing in the way of resolving this problem. Politicians seem much more interested in getting re-elected or getting Obama out of office than coming to a solution for benefit if the country. Like sacrifices made in WWII where each and every citizen sacrificed to contribute to the war effort, I think it is only fair that each of us make some sacrifice to resolve the debt problem for the good of the whole.
Passing the national debts on to the children of Americans is really ok. American children receive support for primary needs; in contrast to a century ago for needs of children.
It's ok for American children to pay in the future.
For the caller that claims to have read the Bible, Quran, and the Torah and has not seen anything about 'same sex' marriage needs to read the Bible's new testament again. ~Romans 1:24-1:32
Yes, it would be great to know specifically how the "average" citizen would be affected, because the public conversation is quite abstract. My beloved octagenerian neighbor, WWII veteran, loves the Tea Party candidate Bachmann. No problem with that - except when we talk specifics like abortion, marriage, SS and Medicare, he is puzzled. He listens to Fox and conservative radio - he doesn't really know what the effect of his vote represents. Both he and his wife live on SS and medicare. What will happen to them? If the wealthy are not expected to "share the pain" who will?
I am tired of the Democrats keep giving into the the Republican's demands and issues. The Democrats needs to make Job creation priority #1. talk about creating JOBS and how we can get people back to work. Now is not the time for huge debt reductions and putting public employees in the unemployment lines.
The Republican are close to putting this country into bankruptcy which has been the position for years. From Reagan's Tax breaks and increase in Defense spending, to Bush's Tax breaks and started 2 unfunded wars. Now they can see the end of the tunnel in putting this country down the toilet.
What are the records of the spending in this country or the job creation in this country the rich actually perform in the current situation and what is the evidence that they will in fact spend their multiple millions in this country or create jobs in this country? Are we afraid to raise the Social Security cap on the wealthy are also the people who financially back our elected officials?
Thanks.
Budget discourse? Government shutdown?
How about we audit the Federal Reserve?
While we are at it; let’s audit the PENTAGON and the IRS.
Let’s repeal THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT and reenact THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT.
When we do those few things, we’ll find out where the true wealth of this once great nation went.
Throw that blue pill down the toilet, along with the Republicrat kool-aid, and take the red pill.
Wake up to the Beltway pro wrestling circus you see and hear in the media and on C-span.
Wake up! Ron Paul 2012 Infowars.com
HERE! HERE! Ben. Everybody uses the government and everybody should pay. I certainly don't want to pay more in taxes (at an income of $40,000/yr) but will for my country. Guess this is what you get when the "Me Generation" is in charge
The money the government owes the Social Security Trust Fund most certainly is included in the national debt. When you see a picture of the debt clock or hear that the debt is projected to be 15 and a half trillion by the end of 2011 it includes all intergovernmental debt like the money owed to Social Security.
This is a great failing of many media voices including Mr. Angle who often seem to just make things up and it makes me wonder whether I should take anything else they say seriously.
Ben Carroccio, well said!
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Ben Carroccio wrote:
WHO DO POLITICIANS SPEAK FOR?
While listening to NPR yesterday discussing budget negotiating and politicians unable to find common ground, it was the callers into the program that where most interesting. A number of Democratic callers were willing to make concessions on entitlement programs, raising social security age, limiting duration for unemployment compensation etc. A number of Republican callers, that are above the $250k annual income, were willing to pay more in taxes. It appears as if the problem is the politicians, they are standing in the way of resolving this problem. Politicians seem much more interested in getting re-elected or getting Obama out of office than coming to a solution for benefit if the country. Like sacrifices made in WWII where each and every citizen sacrificed to contribute to the war effort, I think it is only fair that each of us make some sacrifice to resolve the debt problem for the good of the whole.
I don’t understand why Diane and guests even give mention to the republican cry for less government as it is a false argument republicans themselves don’t even want. Corporate welfare, government contracts for their supporters, all the funding that goes from the government to the wealthy in all ways, republicans would have NOTHING to work with without heavy government intervention. I really don’t see how people continue to buy into this false claim of the republicans, it is a smoke screen that too many get lost in. All the world is a stage and this act is sold over and over again to those who have lost their critical thinking skills in favor of falling into a sirens song. Americans need to watch what they buy or we won’t get out of this.
We will find out in 2012 who wants to pay higher taxes. Social security was intended to be a supplement not a lifestyle. I will bet dollars to donuts that the people who actually pay federal taxes are more than tired of paying for lifestyles. Subsidizing irresponsibility only gets more irresponsibility and that is what all federal welfare programs have become, paychecks for the lazy and foolish. The government through it's arrogance has enslaved people with just enough money that they have lost the ambition to carry their own weight through life. Now we have a class of people who are willing to bring the country to it's knees because they feel they are owed something they never did anything to earn.
cicero wrote:
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
"Oh, and I note your list of "FOX News folks who routinely criticize Republicans" include such noted "conservatives" as Al Sharpton, Geraldine Ferraro, and Susan Estrich."
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Where in this previous comment of yours did you mention "conservatives?"
***"Does Fox frequently, if ever, criticize Republican politicians, policies or politics?"*** Etaoin Shrdlu
If you actually watched FOX News, you would already realize that the answer has been yes since FOX News began.
As far as conservative pundits that are FOX News contributors, Laura Ingram, Ann Coulter, and Dennis Miller, have been critical of Bush 43, Republicans, and policies. The only FOX News host who is a professional apologist for all Republicans is Hannity.
Perhaps you can provide a list of conservatives who routinely appear on MSNBC? Before Olbermann left MSNBC, his show "Countdown" never had on any guests with dissenting opinions to his own. Maddow and Shultz are Olbermann clones. The only distinction being that Maddow does have more testosterone than both Shultz and Olbermann.
Is there any reason to take anything Elanore Clift says seriously? The women is not a journalist in any sense of the word. The nearly defunct magazine that employs her sold for $1. She is merely the left wing version of Sean Hannity. Back in March, Clift actually said on The McLaughlin Group that the U.S. auto industry is now stronger than it ever was.
Bill Press: Then there was the auto bailout. Our auto industry is stronger than it ever was today. It was a George Bush program continued by Barack Obama. If he had not continued those two programs, we’d be in the toilet still today.
John McLaughlin: (dumbfounded) You say the auto industry is stronger than it ever has been?
Bill Press: Yes, it is.
Elanore Clift: Yes, it is.
Pat Buchanan: No, it is not.
Patricia Crowley: No.
Bill Press: GM reported its first profits, John.
John McLaughlin: I know that. I know that.
Elanore Clift: Well, General Motors now has a nice fat share of the market in China. They have recovered, excuse me, and millions of jobs have been saved.