Thoughts On The GOP Gameplan : As Of Today

So here's a list of what the incoming GOP majority in the Lower Chamber is planning.

1 - Read the Constitution aloud in order to pretend like they understand, accept, and have lived by it's very word, even though they only really became interested in it within the last two years.

2 - Investigations. Darrell Issa seems to be hell-bent on investigating as much of Obama's actions, legislative accomplishments, and his entire administration as possible. This was easily a predictable position for the modern conservative movement, as they have a far greater desire to smear Obama than to ensure our country continues to move forward.

3 - Repeal. Everything. Not content with looking at the far reaching ramification of repeal of the Affordable Care Act, conservatives are going to go full tilt in trying to repeal all of the accomplishments of the Obama administration, regardless of how they will affect the national debt, the deficit, or the future of our country. And if you think they have alternate ideas, you're fooling yourself.

4 - And speaking of the financial stability of our country, conservatives are none too concerned with default as they are in pushing the narrative that the Obama is responsible for the entire $14 trillion dollars in debt - or at least pretending that they ( Republicans like Reagan and both Bush's ) had absolutely nothing to do with it.

5 - Here's one that's really just starting to simmer - the "forever war" in Iraq and ultimately more of the Middle East. With a ramped-up "Christian Genocide" meme that has been threading its way through conservative media outlets, the "We Won In Iraq" storyline has all but disappeared. At this point, it appears that the war-hawks are getting that taste for blood again.

A Question Of Economics: Pt. V

There so much speculation going on surrounding Obama's alleged State Of The Union "spending freeze" request that it's hard to discern the facts from the fantasy.

While some conservatives are crowing that they have won, to some economists saying that this is very a "Hoovereque" move on Obama's part, one has to wonder precisely what he's going to say.

It's very easy to get lost in rank speculation, though not all of it is reactionary paranoia, but one shouldn't just simply rest back on one's heals and hope for the best. After having read Krugman, DeLong, and a variety of other economic minds, I'm inclined to be a little skeptical of this plan.

None-the-less, I'm going to wait until Thursday morning and read the political tea-leaves and see where this plan could really lead us.

Shorter Ed Morrissey @ Hot Air

What Would The Federal Deficit Buy

Nevermind that I had not once questioned the ever ballooning spending of the Bush administration on things like Iraq, Afganistan, and tax cuts that made the cost of healthcare reform look like a value-meal at McDonalds - things that were never truly included in the bookeeping of Republicans - but I am all in on accepting this rationale that spending is absolutely radical, horrible, and anti-American and this video will prove the point what we have never been concerned with for the past decade.

Some Thoughts On Healthcare Reform And The CBO

Here's some food for thought in regards to the CBO, deficits, and the concerned conservatives that have issue with the cost of healthcare.

1 - In 2004, the CBO predicted that Bush's tax cuts ( for the richest 1-2% of Americans ) would cost around $2.75 trillion over 10 years. That's more the twice the cost of the Obama administrations proposed healthcare.

2 - When Republicans attempted to spin the cost of the tax cuts, the CBO later found that, through stimulating rather than spending, the cuts would still produce a deficit of around $1.2 trillion which those same Republicans ignored en masse.

3 - The Obama adminstrations healthcare reform proposal will cost less than the occupation of Iraq and the continuing conflict in Afganistan. Of course, Republicans will cry that this money is being used to spread freedom, democracy, and keep American safe. But the reports of money being mispent or simply "lost" are increasing. These stories too are largely ignored by Republicans.

So, due to the practices of the Bush adminstration, we are still within the 10 year buffer zone stated by the CBO. That's $2.3 trillion dollars in deficit that has been left for America.

The Party Of ......