Congress has lost its mind...

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oh yeah, Roosevelt really fucked things up. Guess that's why we lost the war and became a second world, backwater, country. Get real.

[sugarpop]

Merc, everyone knew it was going to take time for all the money to get out there. There have certainly been jobs saved, millions I imagine. I have heard numerous people on TV (governors and company executives) who have said they would have had to fire even more people if it hadn't been for the stimulus money. The 2nd phase is coming, and that is where the jobs will come in. I understand your frustration, I'm frustrated too. But be happy more people didn't lose their jobs, because they could have. We could very well have been in a full blown depression right now if we hadn't taken action.

[TheMercenary]

I doubt you can point to the millions of jobs saved but I can certainly point to the millions lost since he took office. Bad luck for him but it happened on his watch and he promised to fix it by providing us with hundreds of thousands of jobs, so did the Demoncrats in Congress. So far, nada.

[sugarpop]

I have seen people say they were beginning to start up projects. They have even had articles in the local paper about the stimulus money.

I wish more money had been focused on infrastructure and jobs too. But I am still willing to give him more time, because everyone always said it would not be immediate. If, after this year, the unemployment rate is still rising, I will start bitching with you, OK? We can march on Washington if you want.

[Happy Monkey]

Here is the infrastructure allocation so far.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Meet the Press

SEN. McCAIN: And this is--if I know Washington, this is the beginning of a pretty involved and detailed story. And I, I don't have enough information, but I think a lot more's to come on this.

MR. GREGORY: Should there be an investigation, do you think?

SEN. McCAIN: I don't know if--first of all, I'd like to know the facts of the case before there should be an, "an investigation."

MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. McCAIN: How long did, did the director of the CIA know about this program and when did he terminate it? And all of these things are going to, are probably going to be heavily discussed in the weeks ahead.

I'd like to know the facts... By magic!

[TheMercenary]

Well it looks like Congress and all it spending may have finally reached a brink. At least someone is looking at the numbers. CBO say Demoncratic spending is unsustainable.

Under current law, the federal budget is on an unsustainable path, because federal debt will continue to grow much faster than the economy over the long run. Although great uncertainty surrounds long-term fiscal projections, rising costs for health care and the aging of the population will cause federal spending to increase rapidly under any plausible scenario for current law. Unless revenues increase just as rapidly, the rise in spending will produce growing budget deficits. Large budget deficits would reduce national saving, leading to more borrowing from abroad and less domestic investment, which in turn would depress economic growth in the United States. Over time, accumulating debt would cause substantial harm to the economy. The following chart shows our projection of federal debt relative to GDP under the two scenarios we modeled.

http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=328

[TheMercenary]

Well at least some Congress men still have a sense of their priorities.

Sen. Dodd (D) may snub lobbyists, but not their cash

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090726/D99LQR1O4.html

[TheMercenary]

Keeping an eye on the bills in congress and how much they are costing us.

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/...nding-tracker/

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Keeping an eye on the bills in congress and how much they are costing us.

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/...nding-tracker/

Washington Watch is affiliated with the conservative/libertarian CATO Institute.

WashingtonWatch.com does not report the many benefits that may be provided by government regulation and spending, made possible by taxation. Proposals that “cost” the average American may benefit you, your community, your loved ones, or your employer.

WashingtonWatch.com does not report the budgetary consequences of legislation. A proposal that “saves” money may drive the national debt higher because it reduces taxes without reducing spending. One that “costs” may reduce the national debt because it includes more taxes than spending.

When you rely on a partisan service, you generally get a partisan perspective...which is fine, if that is what you want....but dont attempt to pass it off as a site w/o a political agenda.

If you want to keep an eye on Congress and want a non-partisan perspective, use non-partisan sources, like Thomas, the official Congressional site and read the CRS bill summaries and the CBO cost estimates that are included or use GovTrack, another good non-partisan source.

Keeping an eye on Congress is good....doing it with an open mind (is "not reporting the benefits that may be provided"....open-minded or objective?), rather than a predisposed agenda, is better.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

If you want to keep an eye on Congress and want a non-partisan perspective, use non-partisan sources, like Thomas, the official Congressional site and read the CRS bill summaries and the CBO cost estimates that are included or use GovTrack, another good non-partisan source.

You mean like the AARP?

I really didnt expect you to acknowledge that the the analysis of legislation by WashingtonWatch.com is as partisan and biased as any you will find.

I listed the others for those who are more open-minded.

[richlevy]

Thanks Redux. I like the CBO. They had the guts to tell GWB what tax cuts combined with war spending would do. I trust them to be equally annoying to Obama and I've already seen our loyal opposition here refer to their estimates.

I'd relegate washingtonwatch and the AARP both to the spin cycle. Both have an agenda, although at least the AARP has a defined constituency whose interests they do look out for, mostly, while trying to sell them insurance.

Originally Posted by richlevy

....I'd relegate washingtonwatch and the AARP both to the spin cycle. Both have an agenda, although at least the AARP has a defined constituency whose interests they do look out for, mostly, while trying to sell them insurance.

Absolutely...there are few political sites that are without some spin.

I think its fair to say that the AARP doesnt hide or misrepresent what they are and for whom they advocate....as opposed to most of Merc's op eds and sites.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

I really didnt expect you to acknowledge that the the analysis of legislation by WashingtonWatch.com is as partisan and biased as any you will find.

You may not like the messenger but the message is quite accurate.