I Stand with Rand: The Time to Rein in Spending Was Last Night
Rand Paul made a heck of a speech last night about the debt. In the end, he failed, and President Trump has signed a budget-busting spending bill that is projected to add $1.5 trillion to the debt over ten years. But for a brief moment, Sen. Paul channeled the rage of many of us who believe that both parties are to blame for the fiasco that is our out-of-control budget. I think it’s worth watching.
Some people — like the anonymous source in this piece by Sarah Rumpf — are complaining about Sen. Paul’s efforts. They say that Sen. Paul was being a showboat and making television appearances. I call that raising awareness. They say that Sen. Paul wasn’t working on actual spending reduction. How was he supposed to? The bill was a take-it-or-leave-it proposition — and that’s what he was fighting against. He was trying to get a vote on an amendment to reduce spending — and the leadership was having none of it.
Perhaps most galling, the anonymous carpers say that last night was not the time to do this. What could this possibly mean? Republicans are in power now. If we were ever going to do anything about the debt, the time to do it was last night. Not some unspecified point in the future that will never come. Last night.
Paul’s speech is worth watching. It’s over an hour long, but it addresses an important issue. Put in on in the background, and listen when you can. I’ve taken the liberty of transcribing the first three minutes or so below. While many news articles have quoted from the speech, I think this is the only transcript online of the beginning of the speech — and it’s the fullest transcript of the speech that I have seen anywhere.
I surrender the balance of my time to the junior Senator from Kentucky.
Today the Senate will vote on a bill that will add $1.5 trillion to the debt over the next ten years. This is a large amount of money and something that we should be very wary of. This is in addition to what we were already running debt of, of nearly a trillion dollars. So we’re adding a couple extra hundred billion dollars a year to a budget and a country and a Congress that had already recklessly let spending get out of control.
The bill is nearly 700 pages. It was given to us at midnight last night, and I would venture to say no one has read the bill. No one can thoroughly digest a 700-page bill overnight, and I do think that it does things that we really, really ought to talk about, and how we should pay for them.
One of the things this bill does is, it’s going to add $500 billion in spending over a two-year period. This bill increases spending 21 percent. Does that sound like a large amount? Anybody at home getting a bonus or an increase in your paycheck of 21 percent? And yet your government is going to spend 21 percent more without really having a full debate. Without having amendments. The exchange you just watched was me asking to have a 15-minute vote. I’ve been asking all day. I’ve been asking all week for it.
We could have literally had dozens of votes today but we squabble because people don’t want to be put on the spot. So the reason I’m here tonight is to put people on the spot. I want people to feel uncomfortable. I want them to have to answer people at home who said, “How come you were against President Obama’s deficits and then how come you’re for Republican deficits?” Isn’t that the very definition of intellectual dishonesty? If you were against President Obama’s deficits, and now you’re for the Republican deficits, isn’t that the very definition of hypocrisy?
People need to be made aware. Your senators need to answer people from home and they need to answer this debate. We should have a full-throated debate. My amendment says this simply — we should obey the budget caps. What are budget caps? These are limits we placed on spending, both military and non-military. We placed them in 2011, and guess what? For a year or two, government actually shrunk. But now government’s taking off, and this new stimulus of deficit spending will be as big as President Obama’s stimulus.
Don’t you remember when Republicans howled to high heaven that President Obama was spending us into the gutter? Spending us into oblivion? And now Republicans are doing the same thing.
And so I ask the question: whose fault is it? Republicans? Yes. Whose fault is it? Democrats? Yes. It’s both parties’ fault!
You realize that this is the secret of Washington. The dirty little secret is, the Republicans are loudly clamoring for more military spending. But they can’t get it unless they give the Democrats welfare spending. So they raise all the spending. It’s a compromise in the wrong direction. We should be compromising in the direction of going towards spending only what comes in. And yet this goes on and on and on.
Amen. Thanks to Sen. Paul for being that lonely voice in the wilderness, who speaks for so many of us out here.
[Cross-posted at RedState and The Jury Talks Back.]
You’re a day late, and we’ve all got a rendezvous with the taxman.
ropelight (7bd888) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:48 amLefty compassion:
Bette Midler
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:53 am@BetteMidler
Where’s Rand Paul’s neighbor when we need him?
Senator Paul has credibility and integrity on this issue cause he’s one of the few Rs that sees the sleazy pentagon piggies for what they are
harvardtrash ted could learn a thing or two, but he won’t
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:55 amBut they can’t get it unless they give the Democrats welfare spending. So they raise all the spending. It’s a compromise in the wrong direction.
What the Hell in the name Jesus H. Christ can’t you engage in the grey areas of military spending? Why can’t they cut costs like absurd MILSPEC for everything from ordnance to monkeywrenches?
You Literalists really love the simplicity of black and white. Get some nuance next Christmas.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:57 amDonald Trump is a Republican like Bruce Jenner is a woman.
Dave (34c5f9) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:58 am$20 Billion Hidden in the Swamp: Feds Redact 255,000 Salaries
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:59 amI don’t care how many times you proudly declare you left the RNC. You still think they’re salvageable so maybe your little toe?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:59 amOh, come on. The time for anyone who cared was at the tax cuts. I’m familiar with the mental gyrations involved in convincing one’s self that tax cuts are different, but they aren’t. Tax cuts borrow from the future, just like military spending, ethanol subsidies and job retraining programs.
And Rand Paul pretending to be the voice of rectitude here is just precious. He’s so cute when he performs his principled act.
Nope, the repubs own Trumpcare, taxes, the debt. Trump is the Republican party.
Coasta (51fdf0) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:05 amI agree, Dave. Unfortunately he acts more like a republican than almost all the Republicans do.
For the same reason leftists can’t engage in the “grey areas” of welfare. like giving it to non-citizens, illegals, refugees, felons, gang members, and more.
Cut everything but let’s start with the blatant unconstitutional stuff like the Dep. of Ed and the Nat. Endowment for the Arts. When they take out the sh!t that has no business being in the federal budget they’ll end up owing us money.
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:06 amRev.Hoagie,
Maybe we can starve the troll? lol.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:08 amHoagie: you are eminently underqualified to engage in grey areas as a Literalist’ s literalism.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:09 amBen burn I mean. Sorry if there was any confusion.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:10 amSee? He has nothing real to add.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:11 amIt’s hard for literalists to separate the trolls
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:12 amso why was sasse, lee, fideloflake, none were on board,
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:13 amIt’s easy for trolls to self-identify.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:14 amReal life intrudes. Back soon. Be well my friends. And Ben burn.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:20 amStart with P J O’Rourke’s “circumcision theory” that states everyone can do quite well with 5% less. Then install zero-based budgeting for ALL departments. Do it on a 5-year rotation; every year 20% of the departments do a zero-based budget. That way they only have 4 more years to pump things up before they have to tear it down and start over. Establish the need for every dime spent. Period.
Only then will we actually know what is being spent and what it is spent on. If the zero-based budget shows a need to increase funding, then funding is increased; if it shows funding for an expired or obsolete program it is dumped. Just like we do at home… or should do.
Gramps (a079bc) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:21 amIf only there were a witty two word rejoinder someone could ride to death like Bette Midler’s pet pony…
But Malibu
Law School Word of the Day Demitri Martin
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:26 amgo piggies go
these sluts have no shame
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:27 amIt’s an odd day in the stock market. I was averaging down but not making money. I think there is a ton of block trading (10,000+ shares)going on and it’s affecting the bids. I usually only trade 1,000 shares at a time on a FOL basis but things are quirky.
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:29 amWhat did the US Military do to your state of birth, Trashcanistan? You seem bitter, like Dove levels of cacao.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:30 amhttp://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-repeal-the-tea-party/article/2648609
You can run but you can’t hide.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:30 amQuirky is another word for unstable.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:32 am*FOK basis* Fill or Kill.
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:32 am
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:35 amNo, quirky. Doing unusual things not unstable things. If one is looking for stability in the stock market then he does not know what that word means.
Instability is what makes traders nervous. It’s people that are quirky.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:39 am“Whaddya Want?
“Free Stuff”
“When do You Want It?”
“Now”
Repeat as necessary.
Bang Gunley (5a4596) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:39 amPentagon Mission Statement?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:40 amThe Department of Energy Office of Science, which funds a lot of nuclear and particle physics research, has been on a zero-based budget for the last 5+ years.
From 2010 to 2016, government spending in constant dollars stayed basically flat.
Because the economy grew, spending as a percentage of GDP dropped from 24.5% to 20.9%
In 2016, non-defense discretionary spending took 1.5% of GDP LESS than in 2000, the last year there was a surplus. The remaining difference between 2000 and 2016 (4.5% of GDP) was entitlements (+4.2%) and defense (+0.3%)
If you zeroed out all non-defense discretionary spending COMPLETELY, the budget would still be in deficit.
Pretending you can make any headway on the deficit through discretionary spending is nonsense on stilts. Entitlements are where the real money is.
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:50 amA recent University of Maryland survey found that a majority of U.S. voters are ready to slash the Pentagon budget, which is currently about $600 billion, and gobbles up a massive 54 percent of the annual federal budget’s discretionary spending, which is around 16 percent of total spending. (By some measures, counting other military-related spending — like the Department of Homeland Security — outside the Department of Defense (DoD) budget proper, the total annual defense expenditure is more like $1 trillion.)
https://www.google.com/amp/www.thefiscaltimes.com/2016/03/28/Why-Pentagon-Needs-Audit-Now%3famp
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:54 amYo want to gut Social Security Dave?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:55 amThey’d vote for term limits before a balanced budget. This is not going to end well.
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:58 amI see the NY Times stands with Rand, too.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/upshot/the-era-of-fiscal-austerity-is-over-heres-what-big-deficits-mean-for-the-economy.html
So does the WaPo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/02/09/daily-202-rand-paul-s-short-lived-shutdown-is-ending-but-his-warning-about-gop-deficit-hypocrisy-reverberates/5a7d1f8530fb041c3c7d773f/
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:03 amand thanks to pig-licking coward John McCain they have to budget for tranny hormones now
the US military is a sick joke
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:04 amA BBA is a fraud. They just lie about next year’s income. Happens all the time in states with BBAs.
What is needed is a spending limitation tied to GDP.
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:04 amMere words…
Show me behaviors. Speeches are easy.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:05 amOK. They’d vote for term limits before a spending limitation tied to GDP. This is still not going to end well.
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:07 amThe only good thing about this is that, for the first time in a decade, it’s not just a continuing resolution. CRs might be OK for Medicaid or other big programs, but for, say, Defense R&D they continue to fund failures and prevent funding of new stuff.
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:08 amThey’d vote for term limits before a spending limitation tied to GDP.
I doubt that. Why would they vote to allow OTHER PEOPLE to spend lots of money? It’s no fun if someone else is doing it.
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:09 amGoing oblique, Stashiu3
Extreme! More Than Words
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:13 amThere’s a difference between a voice in the wilderness who will someday acquire a following and influence, and a meaningless grandstander — and Rand Paul is the latter.
To meaningfully address spending, one must address entitlements. Anyone who argues otherwise is innumerate and doesn’t understand these issues within two orders of magnitude.
Rand Paul isn’t a leader. Like his dad, he’s a fringe politician who attracts fringe support. When and if there ever is anything meaningful done to address the national debt and the federal government’s spending, it won’t be while this POTUS is in the White House, and it won’t be when the GOP has a one-seat margin in a Senate that retains the filibuster. Even as a gesture, this was meaningless, and I do not applaud Ron Paul for it.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:13 am42. BINGO! was his name-o
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:15 amI thought you were talking about Ben.
Ben Takes on the Winter Olympics
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:21 amOur host claims this “raises awareness.” I am very, very, very certain that if one conducted before-and-after public polling, one could find zero change based on Rand Paul’s stunt.
Stunts aren’t the way to raise awareness. You want to raise awareness, you start with seventh grade civics classes. If Rand Paul quit the Senate to go teach seventh grade, he’d raise more awareness than he did yesterday.
Our host writes (boldface his):
I’m glad he bold-faced it, because even the first of these premises is wrong: Republicans don’t have 60 votes in the Senate. Until they do, on these issues, the GOP is not “in power.” Claiming otherwise blinks reality; both our host and Sen. Paul know that this argument is naive and disingenuous. Even if every single GOP senator had been persuaded by Sen. Paul’s speech, and even if every single GOP member of the House were likewise caught up in his passion, not a single damned thing would change until the GOP either gets 60 members in the Senate or it abolishes the filibuster. I am confident that our host will so concede if pressed. Consider this me, pressing.
If you want to create a situation where the GOP might actually be in power, then you’ll work to raise public consciousness in favor of abolishing the walking zombie of the filibuster. Then you can begin to demand some political accountability from the party that holds the majority.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:24 amgestures matter tremendously
a lack of gestures is how you end up with entitled losers like Tom Price blowing a million bucks traveling around on private jets
entitlement reform is great
yay America
but with the swamp mentality that permeates the perverted military, the slut Congress, and the rank-and-file trash in the burrows and warrens of the deep state
entitlement reform would just provide more slop for these filthy federal worker piggies to gorge themselves on
So I too stand with Rand, and I invite you all to stand with me.
hey you made a rhymer Mr. patterico!
that’s a great way to head into the weekend!
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:25 amThey really ought to have the courage of their convictions, and vote YES for the increase in the deficit.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:26 amYou know what’s funny to me isn’t so much ignoring what someone says but talking about them like they aren’t even there. Hysterical.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:28 amAny particular spending limitation is completely arbitrary, and therefore there will not be one, or they will escape from it after a while.
the fact of the matter is, this Ponzi scheme works as long as it is slow motion and limited, and the GDP of the United States keeps growing. We may be rfeaching a point where policty blunders are easier.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:30 amRand Paul could drive a riding lawnmower through Congress. It would be a stunt…an awesome stunt!
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:30 amit won’t be while this POTUS is in the White House, and it won’t be when the GOP has a one-seat margin in a Senate that retains the filibuster.
It won’t be done even if the GOP has enough of a majority to render filibusters meaningless.
Politicians benefit by spending money on behalf of their clients and their voters, so long as the latter don’t realize it’s their money that being spent. So, short of actually going over the fiscal cliff in some fashion, there’s no incentive for politicians to cut spending. Perhaps the only solution is a mechanism that ensures that taxes increase proportionate to spending or to the deficit. And that ain’t going to happen either.
But Paul’s grandstanding might be meaningless, but at least it serves the purpose of reminding people that deficits ought to matter.
kishnevi (bb03e6) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:30 amTime to acknowledge the the Republicans lost the battle over spending. They have surrendered, and we should too. There’s no sense in continuing to fight for a lost cause.
I, for one, welcome our new high-spending overlords.
A.S. (23bc66) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:42 amEventually, General Rand Paul and footsoldiers like our host will be viewed in this fight like those Japanese fighters who, long after WWII was over, refused to surrender and accept that Japan lost the war. They’ll still be holed up on some island, conducting guerilla actions against the victorious high spenders. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_holdout)
A.S. (23bc66) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:47 amHere’s an article from 1992:
https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/research-and-data/publications/business-review/1992/brnd92aa.pdf
They would like the answer to be no, but experience (see page 15) tells them it is yes (unless somebody blunders, of course).
I think they put alimitation on it that doesn’t apply. And some of the theory is wrong.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:54 amWhen and if there ever is anything meaningful done to address the national debt and the federal government’s spending,
Ryan tried to begin a multi-year reform of medical entitlements, and was handed his head by the fiscal hawks (who ended up with less than nothing).
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:02 pmSammy, the only reason tht the US can do this is that the dollar is the world’s reserve currency. Like the Emperor’s clothes, no one can afford to call it into question.
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:03 pm56
You mean Petrodollar?
Gird your loins baby..
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:05 pmNice. Appropriate, lol. Also, I regret never learning the guitar and wish I had that guys hair. Unfortunately, my fingers get stupid (hence my typing sometimes) and I get uncomfortable when my hair touches my ears. Seems insurmountable.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:08 pmEarlier I didn’t take account of the fact that DACA is now extended by court order (which might be lifted at any time of course)
That’s why theer was the bill passed.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:09 pmWhite House counsel Don McGahn knew a year ago that Rob Porter’s two former wives were preparing to testify to the FBI that he had abused them. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly knew about the domestic abuse allegations as early as November 2017. Other powerful administration figures may have been aware earlier than that.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:09 pmhttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/9/16994784/rob-porter-donald-trump-john-kelly-white-house
blablabla, now Vox. You are fascinating. You missed Slate.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:12 pmSlate, then FOX..
You’re learning..
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:14 pmharvardtrash wife-beater Rob Porter is Orrin Hatch’s boy
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:15 pmYou’re not.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:15 pmYou wouldn’t be the first to underestimate.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:15 pmMy nerve pathways run deep and wide.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:16 pmFunny. You phrased that with the assumption that I haven’t done so yet. Thank you for your honesty.
hahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:16 pmIts obvious to everyone else. Haven’t you noticed you’re alone, unless you count pinpull.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:18 pmBtw
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:20 pmCanned laughter is a tell.
Do you ever think Hillary’s health problems are karma for all the times she enabled Bubba’s rapes, assaults etc.?
https://mobile.twitter.com/charliespiering/status/962020354070851584/video/1
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:21 pmTrump on Rob Porter: ‘We wish him well … He did a good job
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:22 pmyou can do a good job and still beat down your sister wives
it’s not mutually exclusive
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:24 pmhahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:24 pmfeets, not mutually exclusive is true. Still, not a character trait I want around me.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:26 pmJust sayin’
Porter is LDS. There are some who think hes the victim of a warning shot for Stephen Miller.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:27 pmDidn’t Paul vote to cut taxes?
AZ Bob (387261) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:29 pmUrban: how-to explain the protective measures if true?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:32 pmubu, Miller’s Jewish.
I doubt Miller would beat his SO. He’s simply lecture her about being disloyal.
kishnevi (bb03e6) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:35 pmIt’s got to be a great day in California to go outside and enjoy the voices in one’s head.
Don’t die in your bunker with your imaginary lady Ava.
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:37 pmBut he’s not Hasidic. His genes are Jewish but his heart is fascist.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:38 pmWhen I drink alone
I like to be by myself
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:39 pmyou’re right Mr. Stash
as character flaws go that one’s a deal-breaker but you now why?
mostly cause this pattern of behavior shows that this is a person what doesn’t understand in an adult way that his actions have consequences
plus you’re not supposed to hit people
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:40 pmBen burn,
Fascist… I do not think this word means what you think it means.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:42 pmfeets,
That right there. Good point, well made. 🙂
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:43 pmIt’s like there’s a fascist behind every blade of Rand Paul’s grass with this guy.
Go argue with the “Don’t Walk” sign.
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:45 pmDidn’t Paul vote to cut taxes?
AZ: are you pretty much a one issue voter?
It would seem so.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:45 pmStill haven’t shown where I threatened you. Still haven’t said you were wrong I implied I was a sockpuppet. Still proving you’re a liar who never admits he was wrong.
hahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:48 pmTag-team exsullance!
Teh WWF proudly introduces the indefatigueable duo Pinhead and where’s my stash? Sasha!!!
HUZZZZAAAAHHHH!
CROWD erupts jubilantly
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:50 pmSignal, not sign.
Rush’s album cover should have come to mind with that guy.
We need to find an equivalent for “The Scottish Play”.
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:51 pmSo now the host is a Paul fan. I thought it was Cruz. When your guy isn’t top honcho, I guess you get the pick of the litter on a daily basis. And, conveniently, you can always look like you’re standing up for principle.
random viking (64e08b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:52 pmWho is creative enough to make this s h’t up?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43003740
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:52 pmI sh•tpost for my own amusement. What’s your excuse?
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:54 pmThey all played their parts as expected in Shutdown Theater. Nothing will change until the Senate returns to taking up the 12 appropriation bills separately on the merits. Until then the play continues.
crazy (d99a88) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:56 pmBen burn,
I thought I was colluding with JD? Or was I JD? You’re starting to see conspiracies everywhere you go. Not good.
Notice that I don’t try to engage you on anything substantive. That’s futile because you’re a liar and a coward. Calling it out is fun though. If Pinpuller chooses to join me in that, who am I to spoil his party?
hahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 12:59 pmTractor Supply called, they’re all outta you!!
Walk Behind Spreader
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:09 pmWho Will Spam the Spammer
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:10 pmAnthony Scaramucci: If I were John Kelly, I wouldn’t try to ‘cover up’ the Porter scandal
Heh.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:13 pmRue Ben
A. Paris Street
B. Two Word Mission Statement
Pinandpuller (eec01b) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:15 pm@ kish, who wrote (#51):
It might not be, you’re right. Fiscal conservatives are hard to find anymore. But certainly a filibuster-proof GOP majority is a sine qua non for a GOP willing to comprehensively reform entitlement spending along the lines that Ryan has proposed. Right now, even if the GOP abolished filibusters tomorrow and the GOP senators unanimously replaced Mitch McConnell and replaced him with Rand Paul [snort, snicker, ha-ha], and even if the House went along, the POTUS would veto it, since he ran against any sort of entitlements reform.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:16 pmGladly I admit to stealing Glenn Innuendos singular contribution to evolutionary progress.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:16 pmNatch!
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/us/politics/trump-porter-abuse.html?referer=
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:19 pmBeldar takes Pattericos wrath with alacrity!!
Sounds like a match.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:21 pmPerhaps some will find me a better ally than enemy..iykwim.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:23 pmRight now, even if the GOP abolished filibusters tomorrow and the GOP senators unanimously replaced Mitch McConnell and replaced him with Rand Paul [snort, snicker, ha-ha], and even if the House went along, the POTUS would veto it, since he ran against any sort of entitlements reform.
Complete and total BS.
random viking (64e08b) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:28 pmThis, this, this. There is officially nothing that separates the Republican Party from the Democrat Party, fiscally. And Republicans always touted themselves as budget hawks, who would put the country’s fiscal affairs in order. I understand: Republicans do differ from Democrats on social and cultural matters, which is in and of itself important. I have no love for progressive politics.
So, where are we at now? Oh yeah, fiscal ruination, perhaps in 8 years a $20 trillion dollar debt and all that entails. Hint: it isn’t good. We are going to be arguing a lot less on cultural matters once the world decides there is no chance in hell that we can make good on the government debt.
And Trump signed it, for what reason? He got his military spending, along with enough goodies to fund a government expansion of nearly 14%. Lovely. If I was troubled by Obama and his party’s profligate spending, I must be apoplectic at my own party’s doubling down on the same.
Bottom line: I watched every minute of Rand Paul’s epic skewering of the left, right and everyone in between who supported this boondoggle, and he was more than right, he was righteous.
Estarcatus (cd97e1) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:28 pm103 – quote some more Sunny Zoo at me. Because public discourse should be considered war. I am sure some will see wisdom in your words this sad day. Question is, how intellectually honest will you be in the days to come? We shall see.
Estarcatus (cd97e1) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:31 pmRighteous words and $1.64 gets you one-way NY subway. Nice segue.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:31 pmSo resign MFker..
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sources-chief-staff-john-kelly-expressed-president-trump/story?id=52970133
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:35 pmSelf-agrandizing Passion Play
Audience participation
Ponchos for everybody
Pinandpuller (d70e9d) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:36 pmBorrow and Spend vs Tax and Spend. One of these results in a smaller deficit.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:38 pmwhy does everything have to get blown out of proportion
the Rob Porter thing’s just not that big a deal in the big picture
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:53 pmYou know don’t really think in terms of enemy or ally with the dog that insists on trying to hump your leg and sh*t on your lawn.
Pinandpuller (f0a159) — 2/9/2018 @ 1:58 pmJanet Yellin said righteous words are overvalued right now.
Pinandpuller (f0a159) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:00 pmNot really…because it’s “Borrow and Spend” vs “Tax and Spend More.”
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:03 pm
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:03 pmWhich explains the sharp decrease in the deficit under Hussein.
We’re talking about American politics, not Iraqi politics.
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:08 pmIncreasingly a difference without a distinction. But he meant Barack Hussein Obama (you probably knew that, sorry)
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:14 pmI did know that, yes. I was just pointing up how stupid it was.
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:18 pm
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:23 pmWhy is it stupid? Did the deficit decrease under the tax and spend Hussein or did it not? Since we all know it did not I suggest it is you who are stupid for not knowing that and not I for pointing it out.
I’m glad I pre-apologized. 😉
Not sure how to parse what you all were saying, because with all the sarcasm, it seemed you were saying the same things. Maybe not. I’ll butt out and wish you all well.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:24 pmRev.Hoagie,
Like I said, I think you’re both saying the same thing and he missed your sarcasm. Maybe I’m wrong sir. Carry on.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:28 pmThe deficit declined 6 out of 8 years under Obama.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:29 pmyou’re not standing with rand you’re just being a pooper
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:30 pmI think it declined 10 out of 8 years under President Obama. /sarc
Credible link please.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:31 pmFrom October 22, 2017:
As a GOP member of Congress, Mulvaney was a deficit hawk. He now works for a principal who isn’t one, has never been one, and never ever will be one. We’re talking here about the guy who took his junk-bond-financed casino empire through multiple waves of bankruptcies. We’re talking about the guy who, when called upon in 2008 to make good on his $25M personal guarantee on the Trump hotel development, the guy who wants us to think he’s a multi-billionaire, either couldn’t or wouldn’t pay, pleading that the real estate turn-down was an “act of God.”
For Sen. Paul’s stunt to have had a rat’s @ss of a chance in the U.S. Senate, then, we’d actually need sixty-six votes from deficit hawks in the Senate — not just a filibuster-proof majority in one chamber, but a veto-proof majority in both chambers of Congress.
Those are the current realities, whether any of us like them or not. I voted against Trump, and opposed him, and continue to mock him, for being fiscally illiterate and reckless among many other reasons. Okay, those of us who care about such things weren’t able to nominate someone who does. Are we now supposed to support Rand Paul in a series of running battles that historically have favored the Dems, lurching from shutdown to shutdown with a series of CRs that are gutting military preparedness, just so Rand Paul can claim that he’s righteous?
There are a ton of things that fiscal conservatives can and should be doing, even now. I do not wish to be mischaracterized as arguing that fiscal conservatives should simply give up, or even that they should resign themselves to Dem-style spending and deficit growth as long as Trump’s in office. If you want to get into a position where a unified GOP could actually exercise meaningful fiscal restraint (which, again, must include entitlements reform, and if you want to do something really meaningful should include one or more proposed Constitutional amendments), go out and find and then support, financially and with your vote, GOP candidates for Congress who actually do care.
But hold up the federal government for one night’s grand-standing? All by yourself, without even one supportive vote from anyone else in the Senate? Please. That’s just all about Rand Paul satisfying his contributors and getting his face in the news. It’s exactly as credible as one of his dad’s gold coin infomercials.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:35 pmA certain person spent several years of service in Osaka and then returned home. When he made his appearance at the local bureau, everyone was put out and he was made a laughingstock because he spoke in the Kamigata dialect. Seen in this light, when one spends a long time in ado or the Kamigata area, he had better use his native dialect even more than usual.
When in a more sophisticated area it is natural that one s disposition be affected by different styles. But it is vulgar and foolish to look down upon the ways of one’s own district as being boorish, or to be even a bit open to the persuasion of the other place’s ways and to think about giving up one’s own. That one’s own district is unsophisticated and unpolished is a great treasure. Imitating another style is simply a sham.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:37 pmBeldar is right
You should reap all you can while the getting is good.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:38 pm@124
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYFSGDA188S
I’m counting 2010 as Obama’s first year (because the 2009 budget was set in 2008 before he was elected) and 2017 as his last year.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:41 pmOf course there’s financial apocalypse
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/02/us-stock-markets-enter-correction-territory-as-dow-falls-more-than-1000-points.html
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:43 pmAs percent of GDP? Really?
What were the actual deficit numbers? That was your claim. That the actual deficit had decreased.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:44 pm
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:48 pmThat’s odd because I recall being told for at least the first six years of King Hussein’s reign that everything was “Bush’s fault”. So if anything did go down (other than the great leftist activist and civil rights leader Kevin Spacy on Anthony Rapp) it must owe our thanks to Booosh.
Again, we’re not talking about Iraqi politics.
Point of order: I did not say you were stupid. I implied that your puerile, juvenile rhetorical strategy of referring to Obama by his middle name was stupid. And it is. Deeply, deeply dumb.
But I must confess, you’re doing a good job convincing me that you may indeed be a few chewies shy of a Whitman’s sampler.
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:50 pmDoubling down harder than Neil Breen, I see.
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:51 pmYou’re holding Obama and Davethulu responsible for 2008?
Oddly believable
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:51 pm@ Pin (#50): I assume you had in mind an awesome riding lawn-mower stunt like this one at Don Draper’s shop, right?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:53 pmWho did that? I don’t see it anywhere. Oddly believable.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:54 pmGoodbye Mr Chips
https://www.axios.com/trump-candidates-replace-john-kelly-ea7fc73a-5c10-4166-a23e-320714ec67cb.html
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:57 pm@ Pin (#50): I assume you had in mind an awesome riding lawn-mower stunt like this one at Don Draper’s shop, right?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:53 pm
I don’t even have to open that link lol. But thanks for the reference. Now Don Draper’s into floating tax refunds.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:57 pmPlease point out where anyone said President Obama or Davethulu was responsible for 2008. Please show where I threatened you. Please show where I implied I was a sockpuppet.
You just pull stuff straight out from your fourth point of contact, don’t you?
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:57 pmCow chips, that is..
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:58 pmSure, when you pump the deficit way up in the first year, it’s easy to make it come down from that level.
Chuck Bartowski (bc1c71) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:58 pmI’ve got bite marks on my ankles
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:59 pm.oh noes.
The monk setting himself on fire would count as a stunt in parts of what is now the Czech Republic.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 2:59 pmActually, Obama is responsible for the FY2008-2009 deficit. He signed the budget into law in March, 2009. The Democrats in Congress held the budget up until after Obama was in office, so he could add Cash For Clunkers and his $800 billion “stimulus” package.
Chuck Bartowski (bc1c71) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:00 pmThose could be chiggas.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:01 pmI admit I forgot about that. Thinking back though, some of that at least was related to TARP by President Bush, so it’s hard to know exactly how much was President Obama. I know President Bush gave the progressives nearly their entire wishlist in an insane attempt to placate them and stimulate the economy. Bad bad bad.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:02 pmChuck
Stasha has specifically asked that you not encourage me to comment. Ten lashes..
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:03 pm.
Your personal life is your own, no matter how depraved and kinky. Not judging.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:04 pmThe heart of a virtuous person has settled down and he does not rush about at things. A person of little merit is not at peace but walks about making trouble and is in conflict with all.
Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:04 pm@130
You’re putting words in my mouth. My post is literally 8 above yours, you can see what I said. However, here’s the graph in dollars: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=iiy8
Under your method, it ends up being 5 of 8 instead of 6.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:05 pmPoint taken, but he want going to get anywhere with Barry Durham as his identifier, the more interesting element was influences from frank Marshall Davis Stalinist to Palestinian apologist rashid Khalidi with derrick bell, and Roberto unger somewhere in between.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:05 pmYou are a Golden Shower of pulchritude, Stash.
Let us all bathe in your afterglow.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:07 pmFunny how you immediately think that lashes would be appropriate… kind of fascist. That may be the stupidest comment… wait, no… you have many others worse than that. Never mind.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:08 pmIf you do a little research you find that Hellfire Missile’s are on hardly anyone’s wedding registry.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:09 pmHe finds fake lashes on his midriff all of the time, like Eddie Murphy.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:10 pmHere’s the 35cents again
Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say, if President Donald Trump and the FBI disagree, they would believe the FBI over the president. Only 24% of U.S. residents report they would take the side of Mr. Trump. With the exception of the president’s most ardent supporters, more Americans put credence in the FBI than in the president.
http://maristpoll.marist.edu/29-showdown-with-the-intelligence-community-americans-more-likely-to-believe-the-fbi-than-president-trump/
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:11 pmI mean 34cents. Need hoagie-accuracy
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:12 pmNo sir, you said “deficit”, but if we misunderstood each other, I apologize. To me, deficit means the actual amount of the deficit, not a percentage of something else.
Also, as above, I admit I forgot how big that first year ended up being. As was noted, it’s pretty easy to come down after that, but your point was largely correct. Thank you for looking it up. I tried and all I could really find was a bunch of partisan stuff that said “Obama is Hitler” or “Obama is God” (I’m paraphrasing) and not much that showed actual numbers. Everyone wanted to filter them to find the “true numbers” meaning proving their own partisan point.
Again, thank you.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:14 pmFor the graphically challenged, this article lists the yearly deficit by President (including the total cumulative amount per President). It takes into account that kink of Obama spending included in Bush’s budget.
Kishnevi (58423e) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:14 pmhttps://www.thebalance.com/deficit-by-president-what-budget-deficits-hide-3306151
Nobody I know.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:14 pm@150: Chucj’s response at 141 seems to be the most on point. Now, let’s have some praise for President Obama because he lowered the unemployment rate…which is easy to do, when people give up looking for work in your stagnant economy.
Demosthenes (09f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:15 pmAgain, your personal life is your own. But I refuse to participate.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:16 pm@159 – wow, look at those surpluses back at the turn of the century….those were the days.
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:17 pmkishnevi,
I saw that and something seemed off about it as I read the narrative. I’m not sure real numbers are possible anymore given partisan politics, multiple accounting practices and manipulation of statistics, and hidden items that come out later.
But Davethulhu was closer to the truth than I was.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:19 pmYou’ve defeated me again stash.
Sleep fight.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:19 pm@158
I was basing my initial statement off the graph I first linked. The default is %GDP. It took a bit of poking at it to get it to show dollars.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:20 pmNot really right, because Porkulus went into the 2009 numbers.
Government spending in constant dollars stayed nearly constant after 2009, but the deficit shrank as the economy and revenues recovered. Here are the deficits, in millions of current dollars:
2007 -160,701
2008 -458,553
2009 -1,412,688
2010 -1,294,373
2011 -1,299,599
2012 -1,086,955
2013 -679,542
2014 -484,600
2015 -438,496
2016 -584,651
2017 -602,515 (estimate)
I include the 2007 numbers just to show that things were under control during the Bush years, until the financial crisis.
I don’t remember Obama really raising personal income taxes, though. Did he? I guess there was some fiddling with the Bush tax cuts.
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:20 pmS/b
Sleep well my young prince.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:21 pm@161 How’s the labor participation rate doing under Trump?
Davethulhu (fab944) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:21 pmLet me see if I can express this in another way, with a genuinely Trumpian mismash of metaphors:
In fiscal terms, we’re all already aboard the Titanic. We’ve got a captain who’s inclined to seek out the icebergs: He can’t wait to shift discussion to his trillion-dollar ($200B in 2018) infrastructure program, right?
Given the math — the big numbers driven by actuarial tables, existing entitlement commitments, and the ticking of the clock, only one of which is a variable — we are going to hit some fiscal icebergs. The question will then become: Can the ship survive, or will it sink?
The ship has mass, velocity, and a direction. All of those actually are variables, to varying degrees. But the ship can’t execute a 180-degree turn on a dime. If we want to have any input at all on the course corrections as we try to keep our iceberg collisions survivable, we need to be looking at ways to ensure the rudder is getting a good bite. We can’t throw the engines from full-ahead to full-reverse either, but maybe we ought to be trying to at least throttle back. While we’re at it, let’s carefully alert the passengers and remind them of the basics about lifeboats and life jackets, so if their cabins flood, or do end up having to abandon ship altogether, we can maximize the number of survivors.
So go teach a civics class, or go find a fiscal conservative who’s running against a pro-tariff Trumpkin in a GOP congressional primary, or even write [another] good blog post on the dangers of government spending and debt. Any of those things might have some tiny effect on the Titanic we’re aboard.
What Rand Paul was doing was farting into the wind. That isn’t his best or highest purpose toward the end of fiscal conservatism, and ain’t going to affect the ship.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:23 pmThose look close to the best numbers I could find. As I said, much closer to Davethulhu’s claim than I had thought.
It’s kind of creepy for you to be talking about me sleeping or in endearing terms. Keep your fantasies to yourself please.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:26 pmIt seemed like a good idea at the time:
The white bigot’s presidency was dying and the black soul brother needed time to prove his economics.
So they transplanted the FY 2007 deficit head onto the FY 2008 deficit body
Who would have suspected that either one would be cared for too much?
We are joined together temporarily.
George W Bush and Barack Hussein Obama as:
The Deficit With Two Heads
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:26 pmDave, at least some of the Bush tax cuts were allowed to expire on the originally scheduled expiration dates. That happened under Obama, although the expiration date was part of the original tax cut.
Kishnevi (58423e) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:29 pmDave: help me out with 171.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:35 pmBeldar,
I agree with your metaphor and would venture our host does as well, maybe with the exception of the utility of Rand Paul. Except for that, it mirrors what he has been saying passionately for at least the past 4 years that I know of and commenting on before that.
It may be passing gas in the wind, but at least it wasn’t passing a huge spending bill that makes things much worse as his “esteemed colleagues” did. I know I don’t have an answer. I do believe those things needed to be said.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:36 pmIs stash getting pseudonyms confused?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:36 pmPresident Trump will steer the ship to the Sea of Prosperity and there’s gonna be the best velocity plus a parade
I stand with RAND!
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:37 pmflailing before the jailing
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/09/trump-mark-warner-texts-russia-jay-sekulow-401366
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:39 pmBen burn,
In #165 (I hate using comment numbers because they can change) you said something to me about sleep, then in #168 you doubled-down. No confusion here, both comments came from you.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:39 pmReally… very creepy.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:40 pm168 is correcting the autocorrect of 165.
I apologize for not fixing the software but you doubled down the confusion on 171.
Thanks for the clarification but my sentiments stand.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:44 pmAre you stalking/harassing me?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:45 pmMulvaney put together a budget bearing down on discretionary spending it was doa
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:46 pmEverybody loves how fiscally prudent President Trump is being mostly cause of how Obama was so irresponsible
happyfeet (28a91b) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:55 pmProjection. You’re the one calling me young prince and fantasizing about my sleep. Creepy. Keep it to yourself.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:57 pmTeh temerity.
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/09/cnn-josh-campbell-james-comey/
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:58 pmBet you’re younger than I.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 3:59 pmYep, by about 12 years I would guess.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:04 pmhttp://time.com/5142115/rand-paul-spending-congress/
Substance uber SYMBOLISM.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:06 pmPrince to my Kingship makes sense then.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:06 pmBeldar–
You are right, at least in part, but it isn’t Social Security that’s the problem. Social Security’s problems only last until a significant number of Millennials get jobs. All the horror estimates are based on peak GenX employment and peak Boomer retirement, with the smallest generation supporting one of the largest. But the Millennials are at least as large a generation as the Boomers, and things will start to turn in the 2030s. Some fiddling with retirement ages (and cutting out the rampant disability fraud) will suffice.
Ryan knows this, too.
But Medicare will fail within a decade. Utterly and completely fail. Which is why Ryan has been trying to revamp the entire system, from Medicaid to Obamacare employer policies to Medicare. That it was the fiscal conservatives that stopped him, in alliance with the Democrats, is a terrible pity. Because soon the question will be: leave retirees without Medicare or tax the bejezzus out of workers. Neither seems a good idea.
Kevin M (752a26) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:07 pmFor a 12 year difference? I’m 56. Interesting. Not that you’re a king of anything. I put you between 65 and 70, probably around 68. Close?
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:09 pm186 — that “kid” has no idea the vitriol that is going to come his way. His Bureau career was meaningless — and he wants to speak on behalf of agents and retired agents twice his age who have distinguished accomplishments in their background??
If there is a link, you should read the hagiography he wrote about himself on his personal website.
And I would be he’s leaving under the shadow of an OPR investigation because he wrote an OpEd a few months ago that was published in USA Today defending Comey. I’m 100% certain that wasn’t cleared by FBI — when was the last time you saw an active FBI agent get to write an OpEd in a national publication?
That was a violation of policy, and I’m sure he’s getting out one step ahead of the posse, because he doesn’t want to spend the next 15 years of his career in HR.
shipwreckedcrew (56b591) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:10 pmSpending buys votes. We need better voters.
Richard Aubrey (d7bc30) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:10 pmI could have sired you at age 12. Add that to your current age. Close enough .
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:12 pmI wonder how the demographics would shake out if it went back to landowners only. The whole country would look red I suspect.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:14 pm23andme will assist your search for relatives but odds are you and I could only be distant relatives.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:14 pmNo, I don’t think you could have. I think I nailed it. 68, right? hahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:15 pmBen burn,
It’s highly unlikely we are any kind of relatives that would show up there. Both sides of my family emigrated fairly recently and I have a pretty specific ethnic background.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:17 pmHe reminds of glen carle , an analyst of little note, who trued to chalk his disastrous interrigationof a Al queda financier, which ausskind had been leaked a more flattering accounting, in a ‘speaking truth to power’ moment
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:23 pmIts a good thing legs can’t get pregnant. GGB would owe more child support than The Seattle Seahawks.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:36 pmHe’s in his prime paying a Waffle House waitress for company while he blog comments years.
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:42 pmPinandpuller,
No, he said he’s married and I believe him. I’m fairly sure my guess of his age is close. Since he is the one who brought it up, betting that he was older than me, he should say what it is. He won’t though because he’s a coward. An elderly keyboard warrior that runs away from telling any truth or when he’s outmatched. Pathetic. Now, he’ll act like the whole exchange never happened… or declare victory. As long as he stops perving on me, I’m good. I know who nailed it and who has been clueless this entire time.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:49 pmNota bene: I’m not even criticizing Sen. Paul for voting against the compromise bill. I think some of his rhetoric, particularly the intra-party rhetoric, was unhelpful to his purported cause (but probably felt really, really good to him and his most eager supporters). I think his pretense (see above) that the GOP actually controls the Senate is disingenuous, and I think comparing this bill to Obama’s stimulus is likewise inapt. I flatly disagree with him about cutting and running in Afghanistan, but I understand his views on that and don’t care to argue that point again today.
What I object to is Rand Paul — after GOP leadership had reached a compromise, over Rand Paul’s dissent — shutting down the U.S. Senate and then the United States government, even briefly, with absolutely nothing constructive to show for it but some personal publicity for Sen. Rand Paul. And yeah, he’s gotten that, again, in a way that IMHO doesn’t bring credit to the cause of fiscal conservatism but instead just makes it look kooky and fringe.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:52 pm(And futile. Which he is.)
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:52 pmHe’s the old perv on Family Guy.
And being late 60s and not having served he was deferred or a woman at some point, correct?
Pinandpuller (8fcd5f) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:56 pmSo Beldar,
You’re saying, “Rand Paul 2020”? (I keed! I keed! Put the axe down!) 😉
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:56 pmPinandpuller,
Hadn’t thought about it, but you’re probably right. Student deferment most likely.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:58 pmOr his number just didn’t come up. There is that. We know he didn’t volunteer. Shame, with him out there, we might have won the war and the world would be a utopia by now. 😉
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:00 pmI understand trolling completely. What I don’t relate to is unrelenting bitterness.
Pinandpuller (f0a159) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:00 pmAnd being late 60s and not having served he was deferred or a woman at some point, correct?
Bun Burn/Semanticleo? No, he was not subject to the draft because he was neither a U.S. nor a permanent resident yet and still resided in Bombay, is my guess.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:01 pmneither a U.S. *citizen* nor
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:01 pmDRJ and I had interesting conversations about trolling. Bitterness is frequently a component.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:02 pmI think I said the same earlier
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/02/09/john-kelly-needs-to-go.html
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:02 pmAhh, thank you nk. Got it. Adds quite a bit for me actually.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:03 pmStop obsessing over me.
It’s unseemly.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:05 pm“Now, he’ll act like the whole exchange never happened”
hahaha
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:06 pmQuiet, creeper. We’re having a conversation.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:06 pmSo who was the mole:
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/255020/how-cia-director-john-brennan-targeted-james-comey
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:07 pmThat’s the problem with Cults.
Personality before provenance .
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:07 pmBen burn,
Please point out where anyone said President Obama or Davethulu was responsible for 2008. Please show where I threatened you. Please show where I implied I was a sockpuppet. Please tell us your age since you bet that you were older than me. Thank you.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:09 pmI didn’t mean to upset the crabapple cart.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:09 pmSo its like that other dwayne Johnson vehicle:
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/09/donald-trump-russia-election-nsa/
The one with Kevin hart
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:10 pmYour wish list might run out of bandwidth, stash.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:11 pmThe refuge of a coward.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:13 pmIt was a great week for people to pretend to be astonished that there is a downside to electing a vulgar talking yam to the presidency simply because people liked how vulgarly he talked. On Friday, he managed to make the Rob Porter situation worse while everyone else was stunned at the fact that he doesn’t read his daily intelligence briefing. (That’s a lot of maladministration in one morning, let alone a single sentence.) But, this, from The Washington Post, smacked the ol’ gob into the cheap seats.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a16868848/trump-white-house-classified-info-clearances/
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:15 pm—107
Ah, and there’s my answer.
Estarcatus (cd97e1) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:16 pmnarciso @219. Increasingly the kindest explanation for Brennan and Comey’s operation appears to have been Parallel Construction.
crazy (d99a88) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:20 pmWho was trundling along on an interim clearances for years oh that was Ben Rhodesia.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:20 pm—226
Please keep quoting Esquire, that paragon of down the middle, hard hitting journalism. Why not throw in a little Newsweek to really round it all out. I think Sunny Zoo once said: Esquire is the nectar of the ‘tards.
Estarcatus (cd97e1) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:20 pmSorry the answer seemed facile but words stopped impressing me decades ago.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:24 pmReal life intrudes. Be well my friends. And Ben burn.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:24 pmFIFY
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:25 pm@ Stash (#207): Your advice to put the axe down is good advice, regardless. I’ll heed it at least for now with respect to Sen. Paul. I’d preferred that this week’s news cycle had ended with “GOP guarantees no more budget shutdowns or debt ceiling fights before 2018 midterms; American military saved; Dems, demoralized and confused, in disarray.” Instead it’s all about Rand, Rand, Rand.
Also FWIW, I’m using the handy-dandy Patterico javascript comment blocker, described in our host’s sidebar, to avoid investing time on reading comments from a few of the folk you’ve been engaging. But I nevertheless am enjoying reading your side of your interchanges with them.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:25 pmIt’s more probative than conservative Tree House or Instapanda.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:25 pm“Delaware senator Tom Carper, a Democrat who has admitted to hitting his ex-wife hard enough to give her a black eye, will not be commenting on the scandal surrounding spousal abuse by now-resigned White House official Rob Porter.“
http://freebeacon.com/politics/dem-senator-hit-ex-wife-sits-rob-porter-abuse-scandal/
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:26 pmHow do you develop antibodies if you live in a sterile environment.?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:28 pmGood question:
https://mobile.twitter.com/wretchardthecat/status/962120469880086528
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:30 pmI disagree, someone has to call out this travismockasham. For the car wee the vehicle
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:33 pmnarciso @223 Sounds like the Russky sold the feds its own FBI files. I wonder if it was before or after they sought the Page warrant…
crazy (d99a88) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:38 pmDid I say get smart, they tried this trick in the first mission impossible film
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:50 pmBeenburned puttin’ in a little OT…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:11 pmYou cut taxes, you’d better be prepared to cut spending. And nobody has the balls.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:13 pm243 – ‘zactly
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:28 pmRegarding all the tweets calling for Rand’s neighbor to finish the job:
https://mobile.twitter.com/TarheelKrystle/status/961833625762148352/photo/1
Armagideon Time/Groovy Times
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:37 pm@scottvhoward
Replying to @TarheelKrystle
Yeah cuz unprovoked violence against those who disagree with you is the new 50 shades of gray political porn fantasies of the left.
RUSSIAN COLLUSION, FOR REAL: CIA PAID $100,000 TO SHADY RUSSIAN SOURCE FOR DIRT ON TRUMP
—Ace
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/373811.php
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:44 pmIt was also a theme in the recruit, they called the program Ice 9
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:01 pmFriday news dump
Kishnevi (a21714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:06 pmTrump will not declassify the Schiff memo.
Lisa Brand has left the DOJ to work at Walmart.
Another WH staffer leaves because of claims he beat his wife. (Perhaps the NFL does have something in common with the WH.)
CNN reports: Rob Porter scandal: Everywhere but Fox News
While virtually all other news outlets have provided extensive coverage of Porter, the White House staff secretary who resigned Wednesday after allegations that he physically abused two ex-wives were made public, Fox has all but ignored the subject.
The matter was only discussed a handful of times on-air Wednesday by Fox News reporters and anchors, according to transcript searches.
Heavens to Betsy. FOX News only discussed the entire Democrat Medias pet outrage of the minute (used to dodge reporting on Obama’s FBI henchmen using a phony dossier, linked to one of their own operatives secreted as a volunteer into a remote corner of the Trump campaign as pretext to spy on the campaign in it’s entirety with the fig leaf of an unconstitutional secret star chamber court providing past post cover) a handful of times!
Outrageous! TO think FOX didn’t give this non descript staffer, whom I had never heard of before, wall to wall coverage, just like the Clinton networks! Only a handful of reports! The nerve!
So who is Rob Porter? On his freshly minted wikipedia page it says this guy spent his entire life studying (credentials out the wazzoo) to be the best damn political staffer he could be.
What was the complaint against him? According to the lightly sourced Democrat media (nothing posted prior to Wednesday) and a sudden FBI hit (smacks of the “seven ways to Sunday” payback that Senator Schumer threatened last week) eight years ago his wife threw him out of the house, and he was stupid enough to leave, instead of standing his ground, and lawyering up like his ex wife did.
That’s it.
That’s all.
There really should be a button on the website so that when a Ben Burner or someother posts these types of stories I can push it so a boxing glove on a spring pops out of his laptop and punches him in the nose.
Could you work on that for me Pat? Thanks in advance.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:24 pmWould the distinguished gentleman from Texas yield to a question?
How?
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:29 pmWell it appears a little more substantial then rhat, tiger, but unlike say senator Tom carter (What state is he from again?) Questions keep getting asked.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:37 pmNarciso , oh to be sure Porter’s ex got a restraining order against him in the interval between his leaving then coming back for his things.
I figured that part was implied.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:40 pmUnless you are going to pretend the black eye didn’t happen either, but it’s a relatively low level position but Lee and hatch vouched for him, I imagine his father bush srs policy advisor did too.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:43 pmYou never dealt swith an insane [edit] … um .. excuse me… ex-wife before?
My brother’s ex nasty trick was to bring into court a social worker to swear on a stack of bibles he was shooting up “H”. Bald lie, but it worked.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:44 pmAmen. Thanks to Sen. Paul for being that lonely voice in the wilderness, who speaks for so many of us out here.
Yes, it was a grand stand. Great teevee. But only a few weeks ago Rand Paul voted for the tax reform bill which added to the massive debt. So as honest as his pitch may have sounded– and it was– he’s certainly has shown his ‘principles’ can be bought for the right price.
“Never mind what I told you. I’M TELLING YOU!” – Captain Morton [James Cagney] ‘Mister Roberts’ 1955
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:45 pmBlack eye? Not in the documentation. Not alleged on the restraining order.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:46 pmWe went up 10 trillion in 10 years,without a,tax cut, no matter what Wesley snipes accounting method, Dave employs.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:49 pmAre you looking at the correct ex-wife. Remember, there are two of them alleging abuse.
Kishnevi (a21714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:51 pmPerhaps Rob Porter took time out of his day, working for various Senators staffs, between 2010 and today to revisit and rough up his ex-wife.
Doesn’t sound likely but…
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:51 pmGiven the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, we went up 10T even though we had a tax increase.
Kishnevi (a21714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:54 pmKishnevi, you think the Democrats, having once latched onto a bone, are going to leave the juicy bits unlinked on the new Wikipedia page they set up specifically to remark the event?
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:55 pmThis was by far the coolest and most inspiring story of the week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M
It zipped away from Patterico readers at 20,000 mph.
“There can be no thought of finishing, for ‘aiming at the stars’, both figuratively and literally, is a problem to occupy generations, so no matter how much progress one makes, there’s always the thrill of just beginning.” – Dr. Robert Goddard to H.G. Wells, 1932
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:56 pmHere’s what I read. It’s wapo and for that I apologise.
https://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/politics/read-the-emergency-protective-order-against-rob-porter/2753/
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:57 pmThat’s make my point, kish.
That instance seems weak, how did wollf not know,about this.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:03 pmQuick look online. The blackeye photo is from the other ex-wife and was alleged to have happened while on a trip in Italy.
Kishnevi (a21714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:05 pmIt’s all horsesh!t. The Rob Porter stuff. It’s not job related, for one thing. It also happened, if it happened, before he got the job, for another.
If Trump were a real man, he would have had Sarah say all of the above and add: This is a personal and private matter between Mr. Porter and his former wives. The White House is not a domestic relations court. Mr. Porter is a valuable employee, who performs his duties exemplarily, and that ends the matter for us.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:11 pmnarciso, thanks for your daily links —- you do a better briefing than Pompeo.
What’s becoming embarassingly apparent is that low-level Russian operatives are running circles around our intelligence community. What do we spend on 17 intel agencies? They have a tiny budget for a few hackers and a specialist in disinformation in an apartment somewhere, cleaning our clock. Jeezus, we’re inept.
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:13 pmWhat were we saying about loyalty being a one-way street for Trump not that long ago?
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:15 pmI pick up odds and ends, almost never directly from Bezos or the post, and then eat shielded,
I remember bastone of the smoking gun, when he,and the late Wayne Barrett were throwing shade on Giuliani, the fellow who saved the city from escape from new york fate.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:23 pmTook her on a trip to Italy. What a terrible guy.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:33 pmhttps://tinyurl.com/ydbgx9cq
Tillman (a95660) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:35 pmSo the ‘russian’ hacker was named Carlo, was this a cast off script from the sequel to spy.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:36 pmYou know how there are women who are attracted to bad boys? Well, Porter might be a guy who is attracted to vindictive shrews.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:39 pmWait, my scorecard doesn’t have Porter. What inning did he come in and at what base?
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:40 pmIt sounds like he was pinch hitter, Stashiu.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:44 pmTrue, that’s why Porter has job security at the White House.
Oh, wait…
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:46 pmHe got $100K and our spook got bupkis
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:46 pmThis goes to show you, that wollf had Bill is again, how did he miss this, episode from the blacklist or svu.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:49 pmSomeone’s got it in for me
They’re planting stories in the press!
Whoever it is, I wish they’d cut it out quick
But when they will, I can only guess.
They say I shot a man named Gray
Took his wife to Italy
She inherited a million bucks
And when she died, it came to me
I can’t help it, if I’m lucky…
– Bob Dylan, Idiot Wind
Sorry, couldn’t resist…
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:50 pmGornisch, nada goosegg
If this is the story they are willing to leak, the actual story re the hacker fustercluck is much worse.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:52 pmThey keep going after Trump’s people and he keeps letting them. He better wake up before he finds himself all alone in the Oval Office.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:53 pmThen he can watch TV in peace.
Dave (445e97) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:56 pmhttps://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/carter-page-steve-bannon-fbi-communications-398992
Politico: FBI surveillance of Carter Page might have picked up Steve Bannon.
Anyone here think Steve Bannon is/was in collusion with Vladimir?
Show of hands?
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:06 pmTier 1 surveillance means if the FBI picked up Steve Bannon in a conversation with Carter Page then anyone Steve Bannon talked to subsequent to that conversation is fair game for surveillance also.
The way I understand it. According to the explanation of tier 1 by the Treehouse.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:11 pmBut bannon was evil because trump. That’s all you need to say, there’s a also a convoluted rabbit that involves a British French tech tycoon and that band of ex mossad operatives that turned on him.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:22 pmCody shearer, the original sleaze merchant is also hanging around
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:38 pmThat story.
Hadn’t thought about it, but you’re probably right. Student deferment most likely.
Stashiu3 (466cdf) — 2/9/2018 @ 4:58 pm
Educated beyond his intelligence some folks might say. Or maybe he’s nice until it’s time to not be nice ie on the clock.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:40 pmBun Burn/Semanticleo? No, he was not subject to the draft because he was neither a U.S. nor a permanent resident yet and still resided in Bombay, is my guess.
nk (dbc370) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:01 pm
Good point, but I’ve never met a bitter Hindi myself. He seems to hate Christianity and the US Military so maybe Palistinian.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:44 pmPlease keep quoting Esquire, that paragon of down the middle, hard hitting journalism. Why not throw in a little Newsweek to really round it all out. I think Sunny Zoo once said: Esquire is the nectar of the ‘tards.
Estarcatus (cd97e1) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:20 pm
Esquire hasn’t been raided by police. No street cred.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:50 pmThe original prototype wAs? A lecturer on politics and anarchism at a claremont school, he went on sabattical for a number of years, traveling e erywhere from Ireland to Bhutan
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:52 pm“Delaware senator Tom Carper, a Democrat who has admitted to hitting his ex-wife hard enough to give her a black eye, will not be commenting on the scandal surrounding spousal abuse by now-resigned White House official Rob Porter.“
http://freebeacon.com/politics/dem-senator-hit-ex-wife-sits-rob-porter-abuse-scandal/
harkin (75fedf) — 2/9/2018 @ 5:26 pm
I don’t even want to talk to my ex-wife, much less touch her with my knuckles.
I know, I know. She probably wasn’t his ex at the time.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:54 pmWhen did the UK become freakier than us:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/02/09/oxfam-should-face-criminal-investigation-alleged-prostitution
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:59 pmSo who misses George W Bush? He didn’t beat his wife…as far as we know.
Goodbye Earl Dixie Chicks
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 9:59 pmThat’s not a How-To Video, Ben.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:00 pmThe reviewer at least tries to figure it out
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/1517-paris-review-clint-eastwoods-workaday-reconstruction-everyday
Of course the story begins in algeciras and ceuta.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:04 pmBeenburned puttin’ in a little OT…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/9/2018 @ 6:11 pm
He could get comp-time if he needs to run errands at lunch. Western Union some money back to cousin so and so. If mr nk’s theory holds.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:10 pmIt was also a theme in the recruit, they called the program Ice 9
narciso (d1f714) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:01 pm
Joe Satriani Ice 9
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:19 pmThere really should be a button on the website so that when a Ben Burner or someother posts these types of stories I can push it so a boxing glove on a spring pops out of his laptop and punches him in the nose.
Could you work on that for me Pat? Thanks in advance.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/9/2018 @ 7:24 pm
It’s Rob Porter’s new app.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:22 pmQuick look online. The blackeye photo is from the other ex-wife and was alleged to have happened while on a trip in Italy.
Kishnevi (a21714) — 2/9/2018 @ 8:05 pm
It’s Italy. People talk with their hands there.
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:29 pmt I noticed a significant number of homicides happened in affluent neighborhoods,” Watson says. Among them: Newspaper heiress Anne Scripps Douglas, who was bludgeoned to death in her Bronxville home on New Year’s Eve 1993 by her husband, Scott.
The theory is that when upscale domestic-violence victims do seek help, they are often treated with ignorance or skepticism, Weitzman says.
The public, along with many lawyers, doctors and mental-health professionals, wrongly assume well-educated women are more capable of getting out of bad relationships, she says.
In New York, Family Court Judge Ingrid Braslow allowed Anne Douglas’ husband to continue to live in the house, although Anne had gotten a court order of protection against him after he allegedly assaulted her.
Douglas’ family sued the court and the state. Braslow later resigned in the wake of another controversial bench call.
Romance novelist Nancy Richards-Akers left her abusive husband, top environmental lawyer Jeremy Akers, in 1998. Last summer, he fatally shot her outside his posh Washington, D.C., home, in front of their young children.
Even then, some of her ex-husband’s friends implied Nancy was at fault because she likely knew Jeremy, who committed suicide, was aggressive when she married him.
When Daryl Hannah filed abuse charges against then-boyfriend Jackson Browne in 1992, the Chicago Tribune ran a flippant three-line story under the headline “Put Up Yer Dukes,” reinforcing the public’s misconception that celebrity abuse is part of the “Hollywood scene.”
NYPost
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 10:47 pmA Utah lawmaker who voted for tougher penalties for prostitution has resigned amid allegations that he used taxpayer dough to pay for hotel rooms to hook up with an online escort, according to reports.
The DailyMail.com quoted call girl Brie Taylor saying former GOP Rep. Jon Stanard paid her $250 for sex twice at the Fairfield Inn in Salt Lake City.
But he does’t drink. $250 is getting paid to leave but not enough to keep her from talking. I mean advertising.
NYPost NSFW
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:01 pmRob Reiner takes time from his busy career to investigate Russian Collusion
Tucker Carlson
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/9/2018 @ 11:34 pm@ Kish, who noted above (#248): “Lisa Brand has left the DOJ to work at Walmart.”
That’s a real eyebrow lifter and chin scratcher. I watched her Senate confirmation testimony — she and Rod Rosenstein appeared at the same time, and I watched his entire confirmation testimony the day I read his memo to Sessions about Comey — and I thought she was very polished and fluent, a strong nominee for a very consequential DoJ position. Maybe she bailed for the bucks, but with her CV she could have walked into a dozen jobs just like that Wal-Mart job at any time in the past 10 years, I’m pretty sure. Indeed, if bucks were her priority, she could have jumped to any of three dozen law firms who’d pay her 10 times what Wal-Mart is probably paying her. I haven’t heard anything about her being connected in any way to any of the ongoing controversies — the Russia investigation, the Clinton email scandals, the Carter Page/FISA stuff — and they didn’t announce an effective date for her departure (in contrast to the FBI guy’s “immediate” “resignation” “for personal reasons,” which reeks of involuntary separation due to an inspector general or ethics investigation of which she’s just been notified. So I end up guess — subject to someone else’s better info or better-informed guesses — that she just didn’t really want to be forced to decide whether to be reprise William Ruckelshaus or instead to reprise Robert Bork when and if Trump fires Rosenstein (or orders Sessions to fire him, if they follow chain of command), if Rosenstein were, for example, to refuse a direct order to fire Mueller when Rosenstein didn’t believe that there’s the “good cause” required by 28 C.F.R. part 600.
I’m curious who’s next in line behind Rosenstein as Acting AG if he were to suddenly have to drop out of that role for purposes of supervising Mueller’s team, now that Brand is leaving. But I’m too lazy to figure it out, at least tonight.
@ Dave (#250): I think that would indeed have been the resulting spin from the deal, and I think that’s actually an accurate summary of its effects. Like every compromise that’s forced upon the GOP in the Senate to get absolutely essential Dem votes to get to 60, the GOP side (including the House and the Executive) had to give up something. It is a bunch of money, no question, but as Speaker Ryan has pointed out, a huge chunk of it is for one-time expenditures that neither Rand Paul or anyone else was going to be able to prevent, or really wanted to, including federal relief for this year’s hurricanes in Texas, Florida & Puerto Rico and fires in California. (I’m a sufficient fiscal hawk that I’d happily prefer the states or, in PR’s case, the territory to bear their own such costs, but that isn’t politically realistic now, and certainly not worth a futile government shutdown to try, without effect, to block them.) It’s not remotely as bad a boondoggle and graft engine as Obama’s stimulus, and shame on Sen. Paul for that inapt comparison.
Mostly, though, I’m convinced — as I think large majorities of GOP members of both chambers were confinced — that the political benefits are a genuine home-run for the GOP and debacle for Schumer & Co. I suspect something like two-thirds of their own base is furious with them for “abandoning” DACA, restoring a lot of long-denied military funding, and buckling under to Trump and McConnell and Ryan. The Dems have given up all further opportunities between now and the 2018 general elections to manufacture budget and/or debt ceiling crises. This gives Congressional Republicans another “win” (except, concededly, for its fiscal effects) upon which to run in November. And it clears the legislative playing fields for a lot of other stuff that, at a minimum, the GOP should try to demonstrate a real effort to pass before that election, including such things as reciprocal concealed carry that will gratify, and therefore turn out, the GOP base. In even the medium run — say, January 2019 — it’s awfully important to try to keep, or even build upon, GOP majorities in both chambers, and like the tax bill, this budget compromise will indeed contribute directly toward that effort. I’m not arguing that erases any of the debt we’ll add; it doesn’t. But the chances of the GOP becoming more fiscally responsible are irrelevant if the Dems regain Congress and the WH.
Now I’m not suggesting that CNN is going to run my summary on its chyrons or that Rachel Maddow would agree with my summary. But w/e — they’re unreachable on any basis corresponding to objective reality in any meaningful way; plus, see above re division this sewed in their ranks.
@ nk (#266): I agree. I’d add: “The POTUS and the WH have also determined that since these allegations are now public, Mr. Porter is no longer a threat for blackmail based upon these distant events. That was the only basis for the FBI’s delay in granting him permanent security classification, so the POTUS has directed the FBI to expedite any remaining paperwork and to forward its duly revised recommendations within the next five business days.”
But we’re un-woke, brother. And Trump’s in the proverbial glass house.
@ Lenny (#267): narsico is often hard to follow, but nevertheless an amazing resource for both current & timely info and for far-flung bits of history and culture. Ditto your compliment.
@ nk, who wrote (#281):
He’ll never run out of people who want to be close to power and will therefore lick his hand. And he’s greatly assisted in replacing even cabinet-confirmed position-holders by Harry Reid’s abolition of the nominations filibuster, meaning he only needs 50 votes to confirm replacements, and the Dems can’t block any without GOP defectors.
@ narciso (#285): I’ll bet Bannon stole other kids’ ice cream in kindergarten. I bet he sh@t in their lunchboxes. What a hate-filled, thoroughly repugnant man he is.
@ Pin (#293): I’m thinking Laura Bush would have given back better’n she got, and Dubya would have been a black-eyed fool himself if he’d ever tried. Those Permian Basin women have spine. She’s my all-time favorite First Lady, and her mother-in-law is my second favorite. (Oddly enough, perhaps, poor Lady Bird Johnson is my third favorite; but then again, she was another Texas gal.)
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 12:25 amOne of my all-time favorite Dubyaisms — because it was memorable and concise and effective and dirt simple — was his habitual response when asked about his drinking and/or alleged drug use before he went on the wagon: “When I was young and foolish, I was young and foolish.” Now if he’d only disclosed that DWI proactively, to pull its teeth ….
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 12:48 amOne of my all-time favorite Dubyaisms — because it was memorable and concise and effective and dirt simple — was his habitual response when asked about his drinking and/or alleged drug use before he went on the wagon: “When I was young and foolish, I was young and foolish.” Now if he’d only disclosed that DWI proactively, to pull its teeth ….
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 12:48 am
You know, speaking of confirmation hearings, I recently heard someone reference Bork and Thomas. Did they submit their video rental records and library check out history or was that all leaked by the press? Is it all going to be Netflix and Amazon from here on out?
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:02 amCanada actually believes in warning shots and self-defense?
BATTLEFORD — After a trial that captivated and polarized the province, Saskatchewan farmer Gerald Stanley has been found not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of Colten Boushie.
The jury began deliberating around 4 p.m. Thursday and announced shortly before 7 p.m. Friday they had reached a verdict. They had been given the options of finding Stanley guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty of any crime.
As the not guilty verdict was announced at 7:35 p.m. in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench, Boushie’s mother Debbie Baptiste rose from her seat and screamed.
Some family members restrained her. Others wailed or screamed at the jury.
“You’re a murderer, you’re a murderer,” one woman bellowed.
“You’re cruel. You guys don’t even care about First Nations,” another woman yelled through tears.
MSN
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:04 am@ Pin: God forbid the Norks figure out how to hack browser histories.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:38 am(Actually, they probably already have figured that out — and have all of Hillary’s, along with five or six other foreign intelligence services).
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:39 amWith all the bad PR the FBI has gotten, and in the case of some individuals, deserved, it should be remembered that some poor agent doubtless had the job of checking on Anthony Weiner’s browser history. Eww.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:41 amGraveyard shift clock watching wrap up
For nk, happyfeet, urbanleftbehind The Onion
Pinandpuller (3f8721) — 2/10/2018 @ 2:22 amConDave is a burrito short of a combination plate…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/10/2018 @ 5:45 amBritain’s been freaky since the 60s scandal depicted in the Joanne Whalley flick.
West Canada has always been cool, it’s just that 3/4 of the population lives in S.E. Ontario and another 10% in Kee-beck.
urbanleftbehind (d9a4fb) — 2/10/2018 @ 5:55 amSomeone from Kansas, I was joking about bannon, Beldar. I don’t think we can take more like thursdays. But the combine will block anyone like mcdaniel or wolfe, for those without the program tea party stands for taxes enough already.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 6:09 amthis is actually the cover story, I think this is how they really dealt with the second dossier, remember cody shearer is obliquely mentioned in the story,
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 6:56 amit’s a good question to ask:
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/02/09/big-picture-question-how-do-we-know/
they haven’t made the connection I did, that the lobbyist that warner contacted was actually one of steeles sources, which makes this whole grishenko thing more absurd,
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 7:07 amsome stories get covered with a large pillow:
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/09/three-democrats-rouhani-louis-farrakhan/?utm_source=site-share
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 7:09 amremember Truman smith, military attache in berlin:
https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/02/06/new-york-times-accuses-jewish-billionaires-of-dragging-us-into-war-with-iran/#
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 7:11 amlike I say, they don’t know what they are doing
https://twitter.com/jeffreycarr/status/962317560753528832
narciso (d1f714) — 2/10/2018 @ 8:04 am@318 – imagine a world where there were reporters that did their job. How’d we get to this point?
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/10/2018 @ 8:29 am303 — Beldar (if you are reading any longer).
My first reaction to Brand resigning was that 1) Rosenstein is planning to recuse himself in the Mueller investigation since he has clearly turned his attention to obstruction, and Rosenstein is a witness and wrote a memo justifying Comey’s firing; or 2) She believes Trump is about to fire Rosenstein for his involvement in extending the Page FISA warrant two times after Trump was inaugurated, which is likely a fact Trump was not told about.
My supposition was that she’s just not interested in taking over the role of supervising Mueller.
I disagree on the issue of her pedigree — she’s a DOJ attorney who has never been involved in any litigation. She came into the Bush DOJ directly from a clerkship with Anthony Kennedy. Prior to clerking, she had been part of Bush’s campaign legal team with regard to the Florida recount. She was a patronage hire.
She was a “partner” at WilmerHale for 3 years — which is the firm Mueller went to after leaving the FBI Director post in 2013.
I think she probably realizes she’s not the person who should be overseeing Mueller’s investigation, so she’s getting out of the way.
The next in line would be the Solicitor General. Noel Francisco is the kind of guy who would have no problem overseeing Mueller.
shipwreckedcrew (56b591) — 2/10/2018 @ 8:37 amMaybe this speculation is way out there but enquiring minds want to know if this coincidence:
had anything to do with her unexpected resignation.
crazy (d99a88) — 2/10/2018 @ 9:21 am@303 – Beldar
Maybe she bailed for the bucks, but with her CV she could have walked into a dozen jobs just like that Wal-Mart job at any time in the past 10 years, I’m pretty sure. Indeed, if bucks were her priority, she could have jumped to any of three dozen law firms who’d pay her 10 times what Wal-Mart is probably paying her.
Beldar, look at Walmart’s 10-K sometime. Brand is doing to be an Executive Vice President of Corporate Governance and Corporate Secretary, reporting directly to the President/CEO of a Fortune 5 company. That’s most likely worth north of $10M/year with bonuses, plus private jet travel, restricted stock options, and other perks. I’m not sure a law firm can compete with that.
Lenny (5ea732) — 2/10/2018 @ 9:47 amHillary was a Wal Mart lawyer for a minute.
Pinandpuller (2ff771) — 2/10/2018 @ 1:06 pmLenny, you’re right, my top-of-the-head “10 times” was way too high even for ball-parking purposes. I see that the top three Wal-Mart execs make over $10M annually when stock and all other benefits are considered. The number 4 guy, though — an Exec VP and CFO, is down to $6.3M — and I doubt she’s going to end up in the top 10 overall. I’m guessing that Brand will make significantly less cash at Wal-Mart than she would at, say, Wilmer Hale (avg per-partner of $1.86M/year cash; she’d be in the top quarter there); her restricted stock might eventually out-do that, if she’s not interested in liquidity. I don’t deny that it’s a boat-load of money she’ll be getting, but Wal-Mart is just one of many companies where she could have found that at any time in the last 10 years. I didn’t mean to suggest that she’ll be squeezing any nickels and dimes.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 6:38 amNot sure if it is posted above, but Kevin Williamson had a decent precis of the American appetite for unsustainable spending – and the cost of trying to graft Euro-progressive-ish policy “solutions” to American problems.
JP (aa4555) — 2/11/2018 @ 6:57 am
Rev.Hoagie (6bbda7) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:14 amI missed this brilliant retort the other day. Wow, you really get bent out of shape when somebody snarks on your Barry. I guess being sarcastic and snarky about Hussein is somehow over the edge with leftists. Would you prefer I use his Christian name, Barry Soetero
You know how not to build a broad public consensus — which certainly does not now exist! — that we need to restrain government spending and debt?
You go on the Sunday shows and attack everyone of your own party — with whom you’re almost completely aligned on a broad range of other issues (including national defense), and with whom you will have to work closely to promote those interests and to increase your party’s margins sufficiently to actually control Congress, which your party today does not — and demonize them. Jim Jordan just forfeited most of my respect for him for doing exactly that.
There could be nothing stupider for a deficit hawk to do, in fact, because what Jim Jordan just did — with the harsh rhetoric he just directed at his fellow partisans — didn’t change a single mind over to Jordan’s point of view, but it hurt the GOP’s chances of ever gaining a sufficient majority to actually implement fiscal discipline, even after there’s a renewed will to do so.
There was zero inspiration in Jordan’s rant. There was nothing but condemnation. Okay, condemn spending and debt, that’s fine. (The timing still could be better: Can you wait maybe two weeks? But w/e.) And okay, by all means condemn the party of historically unabashed big spenders. But today, in this context, if you want to change things for the better someday, just take a breather on the red-on-red firefights, please. Instead of look fratricidal on national TV, try to confine yourself to looking sorrowfully disappointed, and then pivot to something inspirational and educational. Save the long knives for another day.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:18 amHe seems to hate Christianity and the US Military so maybe Palistinian.
Are you Barmy? Or is it just hatred of democracy?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:21 amI beg your pardon in case I missed it, but Trump never promised to reduce the size of government, spending, or entitlements. What he did promise was to give White Christian God-fearing True Blue Non-Leftists Americans their fair share of welfare that heretofore has only been going to Criminal Alien Leftist Communist Un-American Dark People.
nk (dbc370) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:25 amNo, Beldar we are 10 trillion over sparing their feeling
narciso (d1f714) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:27 amS, I think its way past time for blunt talk
For President Trump, Haiti may be a “sh’thole.” But on the other side of the island is a country that he clearly thinks could be a goldmine—and a potential windfall for his family’s business
https://www.fastcompany.com/40526424/trump-organization-revives-project-in-dominican-republic-roiling-local-politics
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:28 amNot only Does it help addicts..boozers too.
Legal-pot purveyors hauled in $11.3 million in revenue last year compared with $10.5 million for liquor stores, marking the first time marijuana sales outpaced booze for the year in Aspen.
Cannabis revenue last year also marked a 16 percent improvement over 2016, which produced $9.7 million in sales. Of Aspen’s 12 retail sectors, the marijuana industry also enjoyed the biggest rate of growth last year. Liquor store sales were flat between 2016 and 2017, according to the city’s’ report.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1740054
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:33 amJim Jordan would probably read my comment above and rant at me that I’m no true conservative.
I look at him, who’s supposed to be a professional politician, and cry out again, in my best Casey Stengel voice, “Can’t anybody here play this game?”
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:35 amnarciso you are missing my point, sir!
Blunt talk that makes your side lose — because it helps elect Democrats — is stupid talk, regardless of whether it’s principled or not.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:36 amWe love Corporations so much we made them people and we love them more than the meek.
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/corporations-will-inherit-the-earth.html?referer=
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:37 amDo you want to be 20T more in debt after the first year of Pres. Camalla Harris’ term with her majorities in both chambers of Congress?
‘Cause that’s where picking today to accuse Republicans of fiscal treason will get you.
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:39 amBecause they were predisposed before, to cut spending, shirley.
narciso (d1f714) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:39 amMcdonnell takes a scythe to anyone who threatens his punchbowl
narciso (d1f714) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:41 amThis is why Ohio hasn’t produced since Mr. Teapot Dome. They probably will have their typical 4 or 2 year conniption, thenget eclipsed by NC or GA as consumate swing srate.
urbanleftbehind (9adb35) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:46 amKamala Harris?
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:47 amHow can one be anything but blunt when talking to conservatives? They dont do diplomacy or subtle
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:50 amKamalatoe Harris
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:51 amOh, dear. Yes, “Kamalla” with a “K,” how could I have gotten that wrong?
Beldar (fa637a) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:56 amYou’re never wrong.
Just making historical notation.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 7:58 amWillie Brown’s side chick
urbanleftbehind (9adb35) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:08 amStephanopoulos gutting the crypt keeper on THIS WEEK.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:12 amTrumps slippery sidesqueeze
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:15 amYeah. Let’s have a do-over
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/world/europe/uk-brexit-second-referndum.html?referer=
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:18 amSo it’s like canceling a TV Guide subscription.
Won’t take no, f[edit] no, i’m not sending you any money, get your foot out of the door, I’m calling gthe cops, this is pepper stray, i’ll shoot you dead in the eye, – for an answer.
papertiger (c8116c) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:37 amTrump does not have a staff problem unless El Chapo has a staff problem.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:49 amFess up Trumpkins..
You hoped John Kelly would rub off on the Abuser. Trump rubs Kelly.
Ben burn (b3d5ab) — 2/11/2018 @ 8:55 am