Obama Quote On The Debt

[BLAZER PROPHET]

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America ’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America ’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Nice find. I wonder what his response to this would be?

Never mind, he would find some politicatian way to spin it to say it doesn't apply to the current situation.

 

[Minstrel]

Nice find. I wonder what his response to this would be?

Never mind, he would find some politicatian way to spin it to say it doesn't apply to the current situation.

Actually, he said that he was a younger senator then who didn't really understand the ramifications and now he does.

In the end, obviously, it's just political games, on both sides. He was fighting it then to get leverage against Bush and Republicans and Republicans are fighting it now to get leverage against him and the Democrats. There's very rarely principle involved.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Actually, he said that he was a younger senator then who didn't really understand the ramifications and now he does.

In the end, obviously, it's just political games, on both sides. He was fighting it then to get leverage against Bush and Republicans and Republicans are fighting it now to get leverage against him and the Democrats. There's very rarely principle involved.

So he was a naive young senator who didn't really understand politics in 2006, and he was elected president in 2008.

I get it's all a political game, which is why I enjoy the quote BP found, it exposes just how much poltical rehtoric is invovled . . . even by those that try to put themselves out there as a change to usual politics.

 

[Minstrel]

So he was a naive young senator who didn't really understand politics in 2006, and he was elected president in 2008.

That's about the size of it. Not the best political cover, really.

 

[ABM]

Nice find.

He found it from me.

 

[Sug]

He was right then, but now that Bush year's changed the entire course of this country for a long time to come.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl. ThinkProgress compiled a breakdown of the five debt limit increases that took place during the Bush presidency and how the four Republican leaders voted:

June 2002: Congress approves a $450 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $6.4 trillion. McConnell, Boehner, and Cantor vote “yea”, Kyl votes “nay.”

May 2003: Congress approves a $900 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $7.384 trillion. All four approve.

November 2004: Congress approves an $800 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $8.1 trillion. All four approve.

March 2006: Congress approves a $781 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $8.965 trillion. All four approve.

September 2007: Congress approves an $850 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $9.815 trillion. All four approve.

 

[blazerboy30]

He was right then, but now that Bush year's changed the entire course of this country for a long time to come.

It's Bush's fault!! :MARIS61: :MARIS61:

 

[Sug]

It's Bush's fault!! :MARIS61: :MARIS61:

According to most people it is.

American voters disapprove 56 - 38 percent of the way President Barack Obama is handling the economy, but by 45 - 38 percent they trust the president more than congressional Republicans to handle the economy, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

The country is in a recession, 71 percent of American voters say, but by 54 - 27 percent they blame former President George W. Bush more than President Obama.

The president gets a 47 - 46 percent job approval rating, unchanged from the June 9 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. That tops a 64 - 28 percent disapproval for Democrats in Congress and a 65 - 26 percent disapproval for Republicans. Obama outscores congressional Republicans on several points in the deficit reduction battle:
Voters will blame Republicans over Obama 48 - 34 percent if the debt limit is not raised;
Voters say 67 - 25 percent that an agreement to raise the debt ceiling should include tax hikes for the wealthy and corporations, not just spending cuts;
Voters say 45 - 37 percent that Obama's proposals to raise revenues are "closing loopholes," rather than "tax hikes";
But voters say 57 - 30 percent that Obama's proposals will impact the middle class, not just the wealthy.
"The American people aren't very happy about their leaders, but President Barack Obama is viewed as the best of the worst, especially when it comes to the economy," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling institute.

"Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of President Obama's handling of the economy, but by 2-1 they pin the blame on former President George W. Bush rather than Obama, who is now more than 60 percent through his term of office."

"Given this public view, it might be reasonable to expect that the president's re-election campaign will be, as it was in 2008, running against the former president, in addition to the actual GOP nominee," said Brown. "The key voting bloc, independents, say 49 - 24 percent that Bush is more responsible for the economy than Obama."

 

[blazerboy30]

According to most people it is.

Most people also think they are smarter than average. Yeah, think about that for a second.

Regardless, your original post has nothing to do with Obama's quote from 2006 compared to his bitching today.

 

[Sug]

Most people also think they are smarter than average. Yeah, think about that for a second.

Regardless, your original post has nothing to do with Obama's quote from 2006 compared to his bitching today.

It appears you think you are smarter than average ;-)

It clearly connects. At the time he felt that way, now he is in a totally different situation and feels differently. Wait am I supposed to imagine that it is 2006 and he is the president? Magical thinking argument?

 

[blazerboy30]

It appears you think you are smarter than average ;-)

It clearly connects. At the time he felt that way, now he is in a totally different situation and feels differently. Wait am I supposed to imagine that it is 2006 and he is the president? Magical thinking argument?

Please indicate which parts of the original quote from 2006 are not applicable today.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

He found it from me.

From YOU???

 

[ABM]

From YOU???

OK, well, at least I attributed it here before you.

 

[Sug]

Please indicate which parts of the original quote from 2006 are not applicable today.

I imagine you can argue that all of the quote is still 100% on target today, but he is no longer in that position. Bush burned the house down, and now we are trying to rebuild it. Sadly the choices made over the last several years have led to further need to rely on borrowing money.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

It's Bush's fault!! :MARIS61: :MARIS61:

so true, good point

 

[mobes23]

Please indicate which parts of the original quote from 2006 are not applicable today.

Other things come to mind, but the biggest is that we were running huge deficits in a STRONG ECONOMY in 2006. We were in a perfect position to get the deficit in control and didn't get it done. Honestly, is it really truly a surprise that the budget deficit got worse when we hit the worst economic conditions since the great depression? Rather than national bubble bursts, the entire global financial system is faltering.

It's precisely this reason why I can't take the any of the usual conservatives on this board seriously when they gripe about the budget deficit. You didn't say squat when the conservative was in power and running up sizable deficits in a strong economy, so don't go all chicken little on us now when the econcomy sucks and the deficit has gotten bigger.

Any arguments that the deficit is bigger now than then will be ignored because (a) like I said, stronger economy in 2006 and (b) fiscal responsibility was ignored in 2006. If you believe in it, preach it all the time -- not just when the party you don't like is in power.

So where does that leave us? Step 1: quit your whiney ass bitching about the deficit and start working together to come up with solutions. All the griping finger pointing b.s. gets nothing done. Step 2: don't eff up our nation's credit rating by screwing with the debt ceiling (which would potentially have a severe and long lasting impact on the global economy) just so that you can continue your whiney ass bitching. Step 3: work together, give and take, come up with solutions. Taxes can be raised some, the Bush tax cuts don't need to be entirely repealed. Cut down on entitlements. Raise the social security age. Close loopholes. Work the fuck together. (I'm so sick of this conversation that I could punch someone.)

Grow up. It's about the U.S.A, not R's and D's.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I imagine you can argue that all of the quote is still 100% on target today, but he is no longer in that position. Bush burned the house down, and now we are trying to rebuild it. Sadly the choices made over the last several years have led to further need to rely on borrowing money.

Good spin.

 

[blazerboy30]

Other things come to mind, but the biggest is that we were running huge deficits in a STRONG ECONOMY in 2006. We were in a perfect position to get the deficit in control and didn't get it done. Honestly, is it really truly a surprise that the budget deficit got worse when we hit the worst economic conditions since the great depression? Rather than national bubble bursts, the entire global financial system is faltering.

It's precisely this reason why I can't take the any of the usual conservatives on this board seriously when they gripe about the budget deficit. You didn't say squat when the conservative was in power and running up sizable deficits in a strong economy, so don't go all chicken little on us now when the econcomy sucks and the deficit has gotten bigger.

Any arguments that the deficit is bigger now than then will be ignored because (a) like I said, stronger economy in 2006 and (b) fiscal responsibility was ignored in 2006. If you believe in it, preach it all the time -- not just when the party you don't like is in power.

So where does that leave us? Step 1: quit your whiney ass bitching about the deficit and start working together to come up with solutions. All the griping finger pointing b.s. gets nothing done. Step 2: don't eff up our nation's credit rating by screwing with the debt ceiling (which would potentially have a severe and long lasting impact on the global economy) just so that you can continue your whiney ass bitching. Step 3: work together, give and take, come up with solutions. Taxes can be raised some, the Bush tax cuts don't need to be entirely repealed. Cut down on entitlements. Raise the social security age. Close loopholes. Work the fuck together. (I'm so sick of this conversation that I could punch someone.)

Grow up. It's about the U.S.A, not R's and D's.

That's quite a lot of whiny bitching. Kettle... pot. Pot... kettle.

This part was my favorite little gem of an ironic statement:

Work the fuck together. (I'm so sick of this conversation that I could punch someone.)

 

[mobes23]

That's quite a lot of whiny bitching. Kettle... pot. Pot... kettle.

This part was my favorite little gem of an ironic statement:

Guilty as charged: all of your whiney bitchiness has gotten to me. So cut it out and we can maybe get somewhere. That's the point.

 

[Sug]

Good spin.

So Person A burns your house down and takes all your money

Person B comes along and tries to rebuild the house with very limited resources.

You blame person B that the house was burned to the ground in the first place given the situation was initially caused by person A? On top of that you whine when it is difficult to rebuild the house with limited resources.

Now that is truly nice spin.

 

[Ed O]

Guilty as charged: all of your whiney bitchiness has gotten to me. So cut it out and we can maybe get somewhere. That's the point.

It seemed like the point is that you want to punch someone because you're tired of talking about it.

Ed O.

 

[mobes23]

It seemed like the point is that you want to punch someone because you're tired of talking about it.

Ed O.

Like I said, sick and tired of bitching, finger pointing and posturing. Talk about solutions or finding middle ground and I'm all sunshine and daisies.

 

[Eastoff]

Most people also think they are smarter than average. Yeah, think about that for a second.

Regardless, your original post has nothing to do with Obama's quote from 2006 compared to his bitching today.

and most people think we shouldn't raise the debt ceiling.

 

[Ed O]

Like I said, sick and tired of bitching, finger pointing and posturing. Talk about solutions or finding middle ground and I'm all sunshine and daisies.

I think a lot of us have the basis for a solution: cut spending dramatically.

It's not a matter of finding a solution, seemingly. It's finding one that you agree with so you don't want to punch someone

Ed O.

 

[Eastoff]

So Person A burns your house down and takes all your money

Person B comes along and tries to rebuild the house with very limited resources.

You blame person B that the house was burned to the ground in the first place given the situation was initially caused by person A? On top of that you whine when it is difficult to rebuild the house with limited resources.

Now that is truly nice spin.

The analogy I have heard to the economy is that the basement is flooded and the roof is on fire. You are going to have to add more water to put out the fire, because if you get rid of the water first, the house will burn down.

 

[PapaG]

I imagine you can argue that all of the quote is still 100% on target today, but he is no longer in that position. Bush started burning the house down, and Obama and the congressional Dems poured gasoline all over the fire. Sadly the choices made over the last several years have led to further need to rely on borrowing money.

FTFY

How anybody can not put some blame on Obama for doubling the deficit and not even having a fucking budget for 2 years running is what is wrong with politics.

Luckily, it's not the true believers like you who are over the guy. He'll have his 40% based on the tax structure alone (and the handout people, like you), but the other 60% are trending against him.

 

[PapaG]

Margin marks first statistically significant lead among registered voters

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Registered voters by a significant margin now say they are more likely to vote for the "Republican Party's candidate for president" than for President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, 47% to 39%. Preferences had been fairly evenly divided this year in this test of Obama's re-election prospects.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/148487/Republican-Candidate-Extends-Lead-Obama.aspx

If Obama's plan is to run against Bush, he'll lose in a landslide.

 

[PapaG]

The analogy I have heard to the economy is that the basement is flooded and the roof is on fire. You are going to have to add more water to put out the fire, because if you get rid of the water first, the house will burn down.

What happened to the bus being driven into the ditch, and putting the GOP in the back of the bus?

So many analogies with our genius President. I'll just go back to pulling off my band-aid and eating my peas...

 

[mobes23]

I think a lot of us have the basis for a solution: cut spending dramatically.

It's not a matter of finding a solution, seemingly. It's finding one that you agree with so you don't want to punch someone

Ed O.

Yep, I get that spending cuts are key. And it's part of the solution for sure.

I'm asking you to take the next next and consider that maybe the tax system isn't perfect and perhaps we can raise revenue in ways that are smart, fair and won't hurt business.

Keep as much of the part that's important to you that you can, but acknowledge that "the other side" may also have valid points worth considering and that there might be a place to meet in the middle.

Let's listen to the other side, see what has value and might be workable. Let's focus on those things and try to build some consensus. We're all a whole lot better off doing that than we are sitting around trying to show how "our side" is smart and "their side" is dumb.