"Honestly, it's like having a policy debate in a Lewis Carroll novel."

[babylonsister]

Posted in its entirety with permission from author.


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027994.php

THE EXTRAORDINARY TIMING OF JIM DEMINT AND MIKE PENCE.... Almost immediately after President Obama's budget proposal was released, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) issued a statement condemning it. As the right-wing senator put it, the White House's budget "would push us over the edge into generational debt." He added that policymakers need to "save our nation from the coming fiscal crisis."

Around the same time, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) issued a similar response to the White House budget plan, insisting it would "not get the debt or deficit under control." He added that policymakers must embrace "fiscal discipline" for "the sake of our children."

About two hours later, DeMint and Pence unveiled the "Tax Relief Certainty Act." It would, according to their joint press release:

Make permanent the 2001 and 2003 individual income tax relief for all hard-working Americans -- preserving the 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% income tax brackets, rather than allowing President Obama and Democrats to increase the top tax bracket to 39.6% and increase taxes on the lowest earning Americans in the bottom 10% bracket;

Permanently repeal the immoral and unfair death tax, which increases from 35% to 55% on Jan. 1, 2013. Permanent repeal of the death tax would increase GDP by $118.8 billion and lead to $23.3 billion per year in new federal revenue;

Prevent the tax increase on capital gains and dividends income for all Americans, rather than allowing the Democrats to increase the rates to 20% from the current 15%; and

Permanently patch the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).

Honestly, it's like having a policy debate in a Lewis Carroll novel.

These guys, like their right-wing brethren, have spent the entire day saying that deficit reduction, debt reduction, and fiscal responsibility are the single most important problems facing the country. That's wrong, but that's their argument.

On the exact same day, the exact same conservatives presented a plan to pass massive tax cuts, costing hundreds of billions of dollars, without a plan to pay for any of it.

In other words, in the morning, DeMint and Pence want to make the deficit better, and in the afternoon, DeMint and Pence want to make the deficit worse.

Anyone who takes these clowns seriously really isn't paying close enough attention. Indeed, if our political discourse made more sense, every Republican whining today about the president's budget would be asked (a) whether they demanded expensive tax cuts late last year without any way to pay for them; and (b) whether they contributed to Bush/Cheney leaving a $1.3 trillion deficit for Obama to clean up.

—Steve Benen

[elleng]

1. 'Clowns' is right.

:thumbsdown:

[prairierose]

2. Yes, I think clowns is a very apt description....n/t

[Make7]

3. Jeff Sessions was pretty clown worthy as well based on the blog entry over there:

 

MAYBE SESSIONS CAN DEBATE HIMSELF ON THE BUDGET.... President Obama's new budget proposal intends to cut the deficit by $1.1 trillion over the next decade. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama was asked on CNN this morning whether he considers that "a good start." He replied:

"No, it's not. This is a ten-year budget. It sets the president's plans and what the country should do for the next 10 years.... $1 trillion reduction is insignificant and does not get us off the right course."

I assume he meant to say "wrong course," but misspoke. Fine.

But literally two minutes later, in exact the same interview, Sessions reflected on House Republicans' proposed cuts.

"[E]ven the $100 billion House proposal in reducing spending will amount to $1 trillion. And that's a step. I mean, because, you carry it out for ten years and you save $1 trillion in that fashion."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/027991.php

[vaberella]

4. I worry we don't have the votes in the House to pass this.

I know it will pass the senate...Obama's bill that is. But the house. Ugh.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. How appropriate then that

they are pandering to a constiuency known as the "Tea Party". See College Humor's "Mad Republican Tea Party" video for what I think is the best and most comprehensive summary of this "movement". PM me if you would like the link.

[The Magistrate]

6. An Apt Comparison, Ma'am

[tishaLA]

7. Best thread title in a while

and too, too accurate.

[handmade34]

8. oh

I have been trying to put into words what this has been feeling like... good analogy...

[andym]

9. They are doing exactly what they intend to do

It's the culmination of the GOP plan (from the days of Reagan) to destroy the federal government's power. Create unpaid for tax cuts and then cut the budget so much that the non-military federal programs are destroyed.

These are very dangerous times as the Rightists in the GOP attack the center, to destroy federal power for a generation.