Posted on The Heritage Foundation-On June 30, 2011:
“As we saw at yesterday’s press conference, President Obama is not going to lead on the debt ceiling issue. Nor is he going to compromise or play a mediating role. He is more interested in blaming others for his troubles, demagoguing other solutions and running for re-election.
This is why conservatives need to be reminded not to yield to scare tactics. Last night, our sister organization, Heritage Action for America, announced it would ask Members of Congress to vote “no” on raising the debt ceiling–unless, that is, a deal “rises to the level of the substantial fiscal challenges which face our nation.” Heritage Action also said it would score that vote on its official scorecard.
In other words, Members of Congress must not pass up this opportunity to lead as President Obama has.
The Heritage Foundation has previously laid out exactly what an acceptable package might look like. It must: 1) significantly cut current spending; 2) restrict future spending; and 3) fix the budget process. Heritage Action for America notes that only one plan currently being debated meets this test, and that is the plan embodied in the “Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge.” Heritage Action goes on to say: “This is an example of a plan that matches the historical moment that we currently face as a nation.”
But this reform will not be easy. President Obama is intent on laying the groundwork to blame Congress if a deal is not reached. It’s why the President pointed his finger at Congress several times yesterday, saying it was “their job” and “these are bills that Congress ran up” and finally excusing himself: “I’ve been doing Afghanistan, bin Laden and the Greek crisis.” Apparently for the President, the economy of Greece is more important than preventing the American economy from collapsing…like Greece’s.
Some Members of Congress are working toward appropriate solutions. All 47 Republican Senators have co-sponsored a balanced budget proposal in the Senate. Likewise, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has indicated similar support among House Republicans for such a measure. The House GOP also passed a budget with significant savings, and they have proposed entitlement reform ideas. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats haven’t even engaged in the budget process in more than two years.
But Congress must also act to relieve the uncertainty caused by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s August 2 deadline and keep President Obama focused on solutions rather than political talking points. Congress can do so by exercising its constitutional power of the purse and prioritizing federal spending, based on the framework of legislation introduced by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA).
As Heritage economist J.D. Foster has pointed out:
“Both immediately and long after it reaches the debt limit, the government would have far more than enough revenue coming in that the Secretary of the Treasury could use to pay interest on the debt. Nor would preserving the current debt limit put at risk the full faith and credit of the United States government, as the President’s chief economic adviser has claimed. The government would continue to pay net interest as it comes due.”
In fact, yesterday the Bipartisan Research Council released a Debt Ceiling Analysis that showed that even if the August 2 deadline is missed, the federal government would still have enough revenue to pay for: “all interest on Treasury securities (thus avoiding default), all Social Security obligations, all Medicare and Medicaid obligations, all Defense contractor bills, all Veterans payments, and all active duty troops, and still have almost $7 billion left over for other items.” Congress can and should take its time to get this right.
Finally, any deal that cuts spending, restricts future spending and fixes the budget process will not fit on a single page. That is why it is critical that the American public have a full 72 hours to review the details of any deal to increase the debt ceiling.
As Heritage Action CEO Mike Needham notes:
“The Washington inclination to go behind closed doors and strike a grand deal is unacceptable. Heritage Action, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans we represent, demand transparency and accountability. Americans must feel confident their Members of Congress understand what they are voting on. There must not be another “pass the bill so that we can find out what is in it” moment.”
The status quo is not a plan. There is no saving Medicare or Social Security “as we know it.” America is on an unsustainable course, and raising taxes on job creators and wage providers will neither fix the problems in Washington nor help rescue a flailing economy. Half-measures and gimmicks will only push these problems down the road, and onto our children and grandchildren.
The crisis is now. Now is the time for substantive action. The American people demand it.”
Source:
Note: The following article and/or blog post and video relate to this disturbing issue-You Decide:
I. $800,000 Personal Pilgrimage For First Lady!
What’s wrong with this picture?
Posted on Ameriocan Thinker-By M Catharine Evans-On June 29, 2011:
“It’s evident by now Mrs. Obama will not yield to public opinion regarding her profligate globe-hopping. Michelle’s week-long junket to South Africa cost taxpayers nearly $800,000 according to an analysis by White House Dossier.
The trip ended at a five-star hotel in the middle of a game preserve where rooms exceed $10,000 dollars per night. Michelle was accompanied by her daughters, brother Craig’s kids and granny who all enjoyed the “luxurious suites” and “one of the world’s finest art collections” at the Mateya.
The cost of local transportation, Secret Service protection, food for her family and staff members, and the cost of firing up “Air Force Two” not to mention the pre-trip preparations all contributed to the final amounts.
Mrs. Obama’s goodwill tour was supposed to “help youth leadership, health, education and wellness” in crime-ridden South Africa. The photos of her and the ‘fam’ showed them feeling “surreal” meeting Nelson Mandela, eating “fat cakes,” dancing and going on safari. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman “made clear that the trip was partially a personal pilgrimage for the first lady.”
A visit to South Africa is important for them as a family. She’ll be visiting many Struggle-era landmarks, including the Apartheid Museum (and) the Hector Pieterson Memorial.
Obviously Michelle doesn’t give a whit that she’s fleecing average Americans.
Or that draping Malia and Sasha in South African flags is downright bizarre for a first lady representing the United States. Or that eating fatty foods, but telling others to “eat your vegetables” is downright Dante-esque. She told a crowd of young people at the University of Cape Town her favorite food is French fries, “I can’t stop eating them.” Michelle just blew her credibility in her vanity campaign against obesity.
The mainstream press won’t talk about Michelle Obama’s unnecessary expenses or duplicitous campaigns at a time when the United States is having a debt crisis.
The same liberal media who tore Bush up for spending too much time at his ranch in Crawford or demonized Nancy Reagan for replacing the White House china is more than happy to keep quiet about Michelle’s extravagant WOD (wife of dictator) lifestyle.
The Obamas are living it up while more and more people go on food stamps, lose their jobs and only dream of the vacations they used to take.
Nothing’s changed for Mrs. Obama since last summer when she took a “Mommy and me” trip to Spain with Sasha, one of eight jaunts in a 4-month period. She continues spending other people’s hard-earned money while carting her friends and family all over the globe.
The public is becoming increasingly disgusted with her defiant attitude of entitlement.
Michelle couldn’t care less.”
Source:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/06/michelle_os.html
II. Video: Obama’s Leadership Lecture Disturbing!-Posted on The Patriot Update-On June 30, 2011:
http://patriotupdate.com/videos/obamas-leadership-lecture-disturbing
III. Rubio Blasts Obama: ‘Left-Wing Strong Man’!-Posted on National Review Online-By Robert Costa-On June 30, 2011:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/270862/rubio-blasts-obama-left-wing-strong-man-robert-costa
IV. The President’s Peculiar Press Conference!-Posted on National Review Online-By Yuval Levin-On June 30, 2011:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/270868/president-s-peculiar-press-conference-yuval-levin
V. Time Editor Calls Obama ‘Kind Of A D*ck’ On Live MSNBC Show!-Posted on The Blaze-By Mike Opelka-On June 30, 2011:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/time-editor-mark-halperin-calls-obama-kind-of-a-dck-during-live-msnbc-show/Note: My following blog posts contain numerous articles and/or blog posts and videos that relate to this disturbing issue-You Decide:
Are we witnessing an absence of inspirational leadership or lack of leadership skills?
http://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/are-we-witnessing-an-absence-of-inspirational-leadership-or-lack-of-leadership-skills/Is it important to understand the Marxist assault on the foundations of our system?
Note: If you have a problem viewing any of the listed blog posts please copy web site and paste it on your browser. Be aware that some of the articles and/or blog posts or videos listed within the contents of the above blog post(s) may have been removed by this administration because they may have considered them to be too controversial. Sure seems like any subject matter that may shed some negative light on this administration is being censored-What happened to free speech?-You Decide.
“Food For Thought”
God Bless the U.S.A.!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E&feature=related
Semper Fi!
Jake
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