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Friday, October 9, 2015

The Daily Drift

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A Bold New Agenda Bubbling Up From The Grassroots

Obama Saves America From Republican Failure By Bringing Deficit Below 50 Year Average

The CBO put the deficit for the just ended fiscal year at 2.4% of GDP, below 50-year average.obama-cowboy-2
“Big government and debt doubled under a Republican junta,” 2016 Republican pretender candidate Paul said. “And it’s now tripling under Barack Obama’s watch.”
Those are some scary words, and they feed the willfully ignorant frenzy driving Republicans to refuse to raise the debt ceiling. That and their failure to understand what the debt ceiling actually is.
As we head into yet another Republican cabal shutdown showdown allegedly over Republicans unwillingness to pay off the debt they’ve already spent, it’s worth noting reality for a moment. The Congressional Budget Office put the deficit for the just ended fiscal year at 2.4% of GDP, below 50-year average, and also, 2015 was the sixth consecutive year in which the deficit declined as a percentage of GDP.
The federal government ran a budget deficit of $435 billion fiscal year 2015, CBO estimates—$48 billion less than the shortfall recorded in fiscal year 2014, and the smallest deficit recorded since 2007. Relative to the size of the economy, that deficit—at an estimated 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)—was slightly below the average experienced over the past 50 years, and 2015 was the sixth consecutive year in which the deficit declined as a percentage of GDP since peaking at 9.8 percent in 2009. By CBO’s estimate, revenues were about 8 percent higher and outlays were about 5 percent higher in 2015 than they were in the previous fiscal year. CBO’s deficit estimate is based on data from the Daily Treasury Statements; the Treasury Department will report the actual deficit for fiscal year 2015 later this month.
We can’t have an honest discussion about the deficit without noting that “the FY2009 federal deficit was running at a rate of $1.2 trillion on the day he (President Obama) took office in the midst of a financial crisis.”
Also, Factcheck continued (note this was written in 2014):
But a fact that may surprise Obama’s critics is that Obama’s spending increases have been historically modest — much smaller than his predecessor’s, and well below the rate of inflation. Federal spending in the current fiscal year, which ends this month, is running only 7.9 percent higher than it was when the president took office. This increase is well below the 12 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index, which we’ve mentioned.

But the spending increase under Obama would be even lower — only 5.9 percent — if we used the most recent estimate of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office from August 27. CBO puts the current year’s outlays at just over $3.5 trillion. The final, actual spending figures for this year should be announced sometime next month, and we’ll report on them in our next update.
And right when I was about to credit Republican austerity for some of this:
To be sure, some of the spending restraint has been forced on Obama by a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Even so, the contrast with the shrub junta’s spending increases is quite dramatic. Federal outlays rose nearly 33 percent during the first four fiscal years for which the shrub signed the appropriations bills (FY2002 – 2005) and rose again by another 34 percent during the next four fiscal years, even subtracting $203 billion from FY2009 to adjust for Obama’s additions that year.
PolitiFact checked Paul’s claim and found “Quite a few readers asked us if the debt has tripled since Obama took office in January 2009. We took a look at the numbers, and it hasn’t. It’s increased about 1.7 times.”
Want to know how Rand Paul’s “office” justified his claim? Watch the shells move (my bold): “Looking at the whole statement — not just the second clause — Paul wasn’t saying the debt has tripled under Obama alone. Instead, he was saying that it doubled under the shrub. And since Obama took office, it has risen to a point that is triple what it was when the shrub first stole the office. By this measure, Paul’s statement is closer to accurate. Let’s go through the numbers.”
Jobless claims also fell to near a 42-year low today, after the Department of Labor released their update:
In the week ending October 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 263,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 277,000 to 276,000. The 4-week moving average was 267,500, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 250 from 270,750 to 270,500.
So what we have here is a President who has set historic records for continuous private sector job growth, has lowered spending increases dramatically – in fact they have been “historically modest”, and the deficit for the just ended fiscal year is at 2.4% of GDP, below 50-year average.
What’s it all mean? It means that President Obama is not the big spender Republicans make him out to be, unless they really want to blame him for picking up the tab for their 2007 financial crisis and the two unfunded wars they started and put on a credit card. So when Republicans talk about not raising the debt ceiling due to their objections to “spending”, not only is this irresponsible because the money has already been spent, but it’s irrational and ridiculous. For a big spender, see Obama’s predecessor – the entitled “decider”.
In other words, President Obama is the only adult in the room.

Putin Was Asked A Question About Obama, His Answer Will Drive Wingnuts Crazy

Putin Was Asked A Question About Obama, His Answer Will Drive Conservatives Crazy (VIDEO)
Warning: Wingnut meltdown imminent.
Read more 

A Snake Is Always A Snake

by John DeProspo
cobra-viper-snake-100217278The teabaggers emerged as a political farce after the election of Barack Obama in 2008. Rich donors, such as the Koch brothers, mainly funded the fake grassroots movement made up of Obama-haters and hard-core wingnuts dissatisfied with the Republican cabal establishment. In an effort to remain politically viable, the cabal of Lincoln welcomed the vipers into its fold.
The fabulist Aesop told the tale of the farmer who found a frozen snake in his field. Fearful it might die, the farmer opened his jacket and pressed the snake against his warm skin. Unfortunately, once the snake revived, it gave the kind farmer a fatal bite. “I saved you,” said the farmer. The snake hissed, “But you knew I was a snake when you embraced me.” This fable is an apt characterization of the relationship between the Republican cabal and its radical lunatic fringe teabagger wing.
The snake has now claimed its first victim, Boehner. Because the wingnut Republican was not wingnut enough for the lunatic fringe teabagger extremists in his caucus, he was forced to not only resign his leadership position but his seat in the People’s House.
Now, the fully revived and strengthened viper is set on it’s second “kind farmer,” McConnell. Unfortunately for the snake, McConnell still has strong support among his caucus members.
“As someone who’s in constant contact with our members, it’s clear McConnell has overwhelming support within the conference,” said the second-ranking Senate Republican, John Cornyn.
While McConnell may be safe from the snake’s bite for now, he will need to keep looking over his shoulder as he is certainly in the snake’s cross hairs.
All this, of course, is good news for the country. The radical lunatic fringe teagger Republicans may be 'winning' the war, but they will surely lose the battle as more and more 'mainstream' Republicans see them for what they are … anarchists bent on bringing down our government if their agenda is not completely followed. We are witnessing the death of the Republican cabal as it is currently constituted.
Politics is the art of compromise. It will always, by necessity, remain the art of compromise.

Iran’s President HILARIOUSLY Roasted The Republican Pretender Candidates

Iran’s President Just HILARIOUSLY Roasted The Republican Presidential Candidates (VIDEO) The Republican candidates for pretender are not only a joke, but they are an international embarrassment. The latest person to notice how “laughable”...

Who Or What The Republican Cabal Candidates Totally Look Like

There are lots of serious, hard hitting and informative posts about the Republican cabal candidates and their 2016 election run available online, but this is not one of those posts.
This post isn't concerned with debates, social issues or each candidate's dirty laundry, because this post is all about who or what those Republican cabal candidates totally look like.
And the best part of this post is the fact that you can create your own Totally Looks Like meme here when you're done perusing the comparisons other people have already created! It's the fun way to cast your vote and show that you don't take politics too seriously.
Just so they don't come off as biased Cheezburger has also included images of what the Democratic candidates totally look like as well, because every political resemblance post should be fair and balanced.

Frank Bruni Apparently Just Noticed That One Of Our Major Parties Is Crazier Than The Other One

Frank Bruni Apparently Just Noticed That One Of Our Major Parties Is Crazier Than The Other One
Welcome to the real America, Frank Bruni.

Senators Want To Clean Up After Supreme Court Decision That Exposed Older Workers To Discrimination

How Bernie Sanders’ New Bill Would Help More Workers Unionize

Hillary Clinton Has A New Plan To Jail Bankers

The Times: Disband Benghazi Committee Or At Least Rename It 'The Inquisition Of Hillary Clinton'

The Times: Disband Benghazi Committee Or At Least Rename It 'The Inquisition Of Hillary Clinton'

Complaint Filed Against 23 House Republicans For Illegal Agreement To Misuse Taxpayer Funds

house-republicans
A complaint has been filed against 23 House Republicans who are accused of entering into an illegal agreement to misuse taxpayer funds for political purposes.
The American Democracy Legal Fund (ADLF) has filed a complaint with the House Office of Congressional Ethics that accuses 23 House Republicans of violating federal law (31 U.S.C. § 1301) by using official government resources for political purposes.
The 23 House Republicans are Reps. Stephen Knight, Barbara Comstock, Rodney Davis, Jeff Denham, Dan Benishek, Tim Walberg, Martha McSally, David Valadao, Mike Coffman, Carlos Curbelo, David Young, Bob Dold, Mike Bost, Bruce Poliquin, Frank Guinta, Cresent Hardy, Lee Zeldin, John Katko, Will Hurd, Ryan Costello, Elise Stefanik, Daniel Donovan and Mike Bishop.
According to a statement from the ADLF, “These Members violated these rules by entering into the “Patriot Program Contract 2015,” a contract with the National Republican Congressional Committee agreeing to provide details of the Members’ legislative strategy, including a “detailed finance plan and budget,” in exchange for “special attention” and “campaign cash.” The intent of the contract is for Members to use the official resources available to them to coordinate and detail their legislative strategies and plans with the NRCC.”
What House Republicans are doing is not only against ethics rules, it is a violation of federal law.
Corruption is running rampant in the Republican-controlled House. Republicans are wasting millions of dollars on bogus investigations for partisan political purposes while trying to protect their incumbency by misusing public resources for the purposes of illegal coordination.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the House was rocked by a series of ethics scandals. It seems that the combination of Citizens United and the biggest Republican House majority since before the New Deal have created a climate that is ripe for illegal behavior.
There is something rotten in the People’s House, and it is only a matter of time until Republicans are consumed by their illegal behavior.
The House May Be Too Divided To Elect A New Speaker. If So, Here’s What Happens Next.

Wingnuts need to hit 'rock bottom'

McCarthy: House Wingnuts Are Ungovernable, Need To ‘Hit Rock Bottom’

Fox News Hack: Dick Cheney For Speaker?

From the "Oh, Hell, NO!" Department:

House wingnuts in chaos as favorite McCarthy quits Speaker race

Republicans in Congress were plunged into turmoil on Thursday when California's McCarthy surprisingly dropped out of the race, throwing the cabal’s ability to govern into question.

Carson: I got held up once at Popeye’s — but I told the gunman to rob an employee, instead

Carson has been bragging all week that he would charge head-on at gunmen, if he ever encountered one — and now he says he actually has been faced with that threat.

The ‘Gig Economy’ That Rubio Loves Is Built On A Major Flaw


5 Nuttiest Wingnut Moments of the Week


5 Wingnut Hoaxes, Lies and Absurd Urban Legends That Have Made America Stupider


NC Senate votes to cut food stamps after wingnut promises it will make lazy people go to college

North Carolina Republican state Senator Norman Sanderson (WRAL)NC Senate votes to cut food stamps after wingnut promises it will make lazy people go to college

Refugee Rights

Europe is faced with the worst refugee crisis since World War II, forcing countries to change their policies toward new faces on their borders.

South Dakota no longer requires kids to learn about the Constitution, Native Americans, or slavery

In case you haven’t heard, the South Dakota Board of Education has dumped early American history from its K-12 curriculum.

Kentucky Republican, along with two libertarians, claims First Amendment right to accept bribes

State Sen. John Schickel (Kentucky Senate)
John Schickel and a pair of Libertarian cabal hopefuls filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court intended to overturn state ethics laws that prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Cop busts wingnut senator’s wife for suspended license so she blares music to drown out his voice

According to a police report, an officer had observed Summer Loveless driving at a high rate of speed on Sunday, while coming within four feet of the cars in front of her.

Sorry, Anti-Choice Zealots, Your Planned Parenthood Lies Are Being Destroyed One State At A Time

Sorry, Anti-Choice Zealots, Your Planned Parenthood Lies Are Being Destroyed One State At A Time
How many more states need to clear Planned Parenthood before the Republican cabal stops lying?

Wingnuts Keep Forming New Committees To Take Down Planned Parenthood

Bakker is completely insane ...

Jim Bakker (The Jim Bakker Show)Televangelist: Satanic temples are hidden in Planned Parenthood clinics as ‘legal cover’ for child sacrifice

No jail for San Diego doctor who raped and photographed unconscious women at low-income clinic

Dr. Jeffrey Joel Abrams pleaded guilty in June to eight counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, three counts of sexual battery and one count of possession of child pornography.