A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

[Rogue Valley]

A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

The Trump/McConnell government shutdown of 2018/2019.

12/31/18
Republicans used to shut down the government in the name of fiscal restraint. Now they’re digging in for the sake of a boondoggle. This Trump-era shutdown could well become the longest ever, eclipsing the Clinton-era 26-day standoff over Medicare spending, and the Obama-era 16-day standoff over Obamacare. GOP tactics in the past may have been misguided, but at least the party was in theory fighting on behalf of its signature goal: reducing the size of the federal government. This time, there is no talk of budget cuts, recisions, reform, or sequestration. After years of warning about the debt and the deficit, the alleged budget hawks have fallen silent. Even for the ideological performance artists in the Freedom Caucus, this shutdown is all about actually increasing spending for, of all things, the Wall, a Stone Age technology to deal with an Internet Age non-crisis. The wall is a proposed boondoggle to rival Alaska’s Bridge to Nowhere. It would go head-to-head with Trump University as a monument to wasteful spending. It would also serve as a monument to the transformation of Republican ideology. For Republicans, concern over excessive government spending is so last president. Recent polls suggest that most Americans oppose the border wall, but the Republican base remains fixated on it, and its support actually seems to harden when it’s confronted with growing evidence of the scheme’s impracticality.

These diehards don’t even seem to care that the shutdown puts the lie to Trump’s oft-repeated campaign promise that Mexico would pay for the dumb thing. Nor do Republicans seem unduly concerned about the 800,000 federal employees who have been affected by the shutdown. At this point, it’s worth remembering that back in 2011, Republicans were so concerned about raising the debt limit that they signed on to a measure imposing $1 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration. This wall-induced shutdown is the greatest insult yet. Republicans in Congress must know that Trump’s campaign pledge will do nothing to address immigrants who overstay their visas, drug trafficking, asylum seekers, or the overall question of immigration reform. Leaving aside the ugly symbolism of the United States building a massive border wall, it would require the promiscuous use of eminent domain to seize private property, trigger an environmental nightmare, and cut off vast swaths of territory from access to natural assets such as the Rio Grande. Could it be that even private-property rights have gone the way of spending cuts and fiscal restraint? If Ann Coulter wants a wall, she must get her wall. It seems fitting that Speaker Paul Ryan is leaving the stage at this juncture in this way. According to The Washington Post, “Ryan’s last moment on the House floor came Saturday evening when he gaveled the empty chamber shut, the last legislative session of 2018 going out with a whimper.” Picture this man who supposedly devoted his entire career to deficit reduction, just going through the motions in the service of a profligate mania. He’s not pretending anymore. Neither is the party.

The supposed party of fiscal conservatism exists no more. From the tax-reform bonanza for the wealthy to billions demanded for Trumps medieval 13th century wall, the GOP is exploding the federal deficit.

The federal budget deficit swelled to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018, driven in large part by a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues after the Trump tax cuts took effect. The deficit rose nearly 17 percent year over year.

The deficit will top $1 Trillion in 2019. And no, I don't want to hear the assured 2019/2020 budget-deficit-crocodile-tear-cries of the GOP that we need SS and Medicare 'reforms'. (a euphemism for a wooden stake).

 

[Captain Adverse]

A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

The Trump/McConnell government shutdown of 2018/2019.



The supposed party of fiscal conservatism exists no more. From the tax-reform bonanza for the wealthy to billions demanded for Trumps medieval 13th century wall, the GOP is exploding the federal deficit.

The federal budget deficit swelled to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018, driven in large part by a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues after the Trump tax cuts took effect. The deficit rose nearly 17 percent year over year.

The deficit will top $1 Trillion in 2019. And no, I don't want to hear the assured 2019/2020 budget-deficit-crocodile-tear-cries of the GOP that we need SS and Medicare 'reforms'. (a euphemism for a wooden stake).

Well, the good news is Trump is pulling out of the Middle East, a sucking vacuum costing over 5 Trillion dollars in 17 years. That should make over $294 Billion in savings per year, as well as prevent long-term costs caused by wounded, disabled, and PTSD suffering service members.

Still, I find it funny that people complain about a deficit, when we've had growing deficits under most Presidencies, and the only answer after pushing more social welfare spending programs is to demand higher taxes on everything possible.

I don't care which Party is in power. I'd like to see a little less spending, a lot more fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples.

 

[Saladin4]

Well, the good news is Trump is pulling out of the Middle East, a sucking vacuum costing over 5 Trillion dollars in 17 years. That should make over $294 Billion in savings per year, as well as prevent long-term costs caused by wounded, disabled, and PTSD suffering service members.

Still, I find it funny that people complain about a deficit, when we've had growing deficits under most Presidencies, and the only answer after pushing more social welfare spending programs is to demand higher taxes on everything possible.

I don't care which Party is in power. I'd like to see a little less spending, a lot more fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples.

Looks like he is back tracking on that...US Military advisors will stay for a while...Less spending?...Like that stupid wall

 

[Deuce]

Republicans have not been fiscally conservative since... Nixon, maybe?

 

[Rogue Valley]

Well, the good news is Trump is pulling out of the Middle East, a sucking vacuum costing over 5 Trillion dollars in 17 years. That should make over $294 Billion in savings per year, as well as prevent long-term costs caused by wounded, disabled, and PTSD suffering service members.

Where is Trumps "peace dividend"? Have a link for how many soldiers will be cashed out, how much will be loped from the $736 Billion DoD budget, and other cuts that will accrue due to peace in our time?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr Person]

I don't care which Party is in power. I'd like to see a little less spending, a lot more fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples.

Not gonna happen.

If we cannot actually agree where to cut spending - and we cannot - revenue must rise to meet spending. That means we go back to Clinton level of taxes or, perhaps at this point, further.

Whatever happens, you're not going to get a "I'd like to see a little less spending, a lot more fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples"; after all the first and third points contradict each other. To claw back from a situation where we only have a "little" less spending, you'll need to have a whole lot MORE money taken from your pockets, not staying in them.

:shrug:





Deep Thoughts: It's very easy to make a show of standing on principle when one is sure they'll never actually have to.

Funnier Deep Thoughts: "Maybe in order to understand mankind we have to look at that word itself. MANKIND. Basically, it's made up of two separate words mank and ind. What do these words mean? It's a mystery and that's why so is mankind." — Jack Handy

 

[markjs]

A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

The Trump/McConnell government shutdown of 2018/2019.



The supposed party of fiscal conservatism exists no more. From the tax-reform bonanza for the wealthy to billions demanded for Trumps medieval 13th century wall, the GOP is exploding the federal deficit.

The federal budget deficit swelled to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018, driven in large part by a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues after the Trump tax cuts took effect. The deficit rose nearly 17 percent year over year.

The deficit will top $1 Trillion in 2019. And no, I don't want to hear the assured 2019/2020 budget-deficit-crocodile-tear-cries of the GOP that we need SS and Medicare 'reforms'. (a euphemism for a wooden stake).

You know, as insane as it sounds, would anyone be surprised at this point if Trump just tweets one day that we're withdrawing from NATO, maybe in negotiations for a Moscow Washington pact or alliance. I mean ****, as insane as that sounds, most of his base polled would be OK with him "delaying" the 2020 presidentil election, surely there is nothing they won't eat right up?

The trouble is, for his base, the support was emotional all along, fact can't alter emotional thinking, only embed it deeper. If he did withdraw from NATO and went intot alks with Putin, his base would be in here felating him and exclusing explaining it dutifully.

Remember, the only country NATO ever had to "come to the aid of" was the USA. These fanatics will cheer on the destruction of America all while blaming "the librul leftists":roll:

 

[Nickyjo]

Well, the good news is Trump is pulling out of the Middle East, a sucking vacuum costing over 5 Trillion dollars in 17 years. That should make over $294 Billion in savings per year, as well as prevent long-term costs caused by wounded, disabled, and PTSD suffering service members.

Still, I find it funny that people complain about a deficit, when we've had growing deficits under most Presidencies, and the only answer after pushing more social welfare spending programs is to demand higher taxes on everything possible.

I don't care which Party is in power. I'd like to see a little less spending, a lot more fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples.

Sob. Who are all the unworthy people getting your money? Look at the pie chart of the budget and tell us. Social security and Medicare/Medicaid recipients? The military? Your comments are sooo 1980s Reagan. Next you’ll be talking about welfare queens and strapping young bucks as he did.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

Some things I learned since Trump became president:

I did not know that the president could unilaterally do away with international treaties. One man, a solitary man, has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, NAFTA, the TPP, and has threatened to single handedly withdraw from NATO.

Now, those who support Trump celebrate these moves, but what if he does something you don't like? He has, without consulting anyone in the other branches of government, imposed massive tariffs on several industries, including farming, which has devastation written all over it for family farms. He has threatened to completely shut down the southern border, cutting off about $30 billion in commerce. This has the potential the throw the country into a massive recession.

These are the methods of a dictator, not a president.

 

[Helix]

Some things I learned since Trump became president:

I did not know that the president could unilaterally do away with international treaties. One man, a solitary man, has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, NAFTA, the TPP, and has threatened to single handedly withdraw from NATO.

Now, those who support Trump celebrate these moves, but what if he does something you don't like? He has, without consulting anyone in the other branches of government, imposed massive tariffs on several industries, including farming, which has devastation written all over it for family farms. He has threatened to completely shut down the southern border, cutting off about $30 billion in commerce. This has the potential the throw the country into a massive recession.

These are the methods of a dictator, not a president.

i didn't know that one person could make those unilateral decisions, either. i hope that a sane congress in the future will do something to address that.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

"... and most importantly, more of my hard-earned wages remaining in MY pockets and not being spent to put it into other peoples."

We definitely need to lock up all those thieving old people, the least they could do is sell apples for a nickel on the streetcorners.

 

[Bullseye]

A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

The Trump/McConnell government shutdown of 2018/2019.



The supposed party of fiscal conservatism exists no more. From the tax-reform bonanza for the wealthy to billions demanded for Trumps medieval 13th century wall, the GOP is exploding the federal deficit.

Was no "tax reform bonanza for the wealthy - their share of total tax paid increased and more folks at the bottom end had no federal income tax liability. And please don't trot out the brainless blather about "xx% of tax cuts went to rich" bull****.

The federal budget deficit swelled to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018, driven in large part by a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues after the Trump tax cuts took effect. The deficit rose nearly 17 percent year over year.

and corporate income tax revenue for the first two months of FY19 were 5 billion higher than last FY.

The deficit will top $1 Trillion in 2019. And no, I don't want to hear the assured 2019/2020 budget-deficit-crocodile-tear-cries of the GOP that we need SS and Medicare 'reforms'. (a euphemism for a wooden stake).

Did you scream and shout about trillion dollar deficits when Obama was President? HE had FOUR OF THEM.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Some things I learned since Trump became president:

I did not know that the president could unilaterally do away with international treaties. One man, a solitary man, has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, NAFTA, the TPP, and has threatened to single handedly withdraw from NATO.

Now, those who support Trump celebrate these moves, but what if he does something you don't like? He has, without consulting anyone in the other branches of government, imposed massive tariffs on several industries, including farming, which has devastation written all over it for family farms. He has threatened to completely shut down the southern border, cutting off about $30 billion in commerce. This has the potential the throw the country into a massive recession.

These are the methods of a dictator, not a president.

He's just waiting around for a convenient terrorist attack so that he can demand, and get, his "Enabling Act".

 

[trixare4kids]

He's just waiting around for a convenient terrorist attack so that he can demand, and get, his "Enabling Act".

That's a pretty sick thing to assume

 

[Hawkeye10]

i didn't know that one person could make those unilateral decisions, either. i hope that a sane congress in the future will do something to address that.

We have spent the last 40-50 years depowering Congress as we added powers to the Office of President.....there were some voices in the wilderness along the way who claimed that this was not such a hot idea but we did not care.

 

[Helix]

We have spent the last 40-50 years depowering Congress as we added powers to the Office of President.....there were some voices in the wilderness along the way who claimed that this was not such a hot idea but we did not care.

i'm ready to see it go the other way. this one person trade war stuff is unnerving.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

That's a pretty sick thing to assume

It is not an assumption, it is conjecture based on both his past behavior and the behavior of other tyrants who express open admiration for dictators.

 

[trixare4kids]

It is not an assumption, it is conjecture based on both his past behavior and the behavior of other tyrants who express open admiration for dictators.

Thank you for inadvertently reinforcing what I wrote above...

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Thank you for inadvertently reinforcing what I wrote above...

Reinforcing the fact that you support would-be dictators who wouldn't hesitate to use a manufactured terrorist attack as a means of dismantling constitutional values and assuming the mantle of tyranny? You're very welcome.

Just know this: It won't last. And if past history is any yardstick, it won't kind to the people who supported him.

 

[Captain Adverse]

Some things I learned since Trump became president:

I did not know that the president could unilaterally do away with international treaties. One man, a solitary man, has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, NAFTA, the TPP, and has threatened to single handedly withdraw from NATO...

Well study your history.

The precedent was set by Jimmy Carter, then President Carter when he unilaterally withdrew the United States from the Sino American Mutual Defense Treaty back in January 1980.

Most treaties have an option allowing any signatory nation to unilaterally withdraw after a set period, anywhere from immediately through six months to 1 year. NAFTA allowed unilateral withdrawal after six months, I am sure the TPP has an article allowing it as well.

Carter's action was challenged in Goldwater v. Carter, 444 U.S. 996 (1979), but the SCOTUS opted not to hear it, thus giving tacit approval for a President to take this kind of unilateral treaty action.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Well study your history.

You forgot to address my query. Where is our fiscal peace dividend if our troops are coming home?

 

[code1211]

A Shutdown Reveals the Transformation of the GOP

The Trump/McConnell government shutdown of 2018/2019.



The supposed party of fiscal conservatism exists no more. From the tax-reform bonanza for the wealthy to billions demanded for Trumps medieval 13th century wall, the GOP is exploding the federal deficit.

The federal budget deficit swelled to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018, driven in large part by a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues after the Trump tax cuts took effect. The deficit rose nearly 17 percent year over year.

The deficit will top $1 Trillion in 2019. And no, I don't want to hear the assured 2019/2020 budget-deficit-crocodile-tear-cries of the GOP that we need SS and Medicare 'reforms'. (a euphemism for a wooden stake).

If there is an annual deficit of only 1 Trillion Dollars per year, that will mean that Trump has cut the rate of increase in the Debt to less than have of what BOTH of his immediate predecessors posted. Bush Doubled the debt and so did Obama.

Sounds like real restraint. Is that your point?

 

[code1211]

Looks like he is back tracking on that...US Military advisors will stay for a while...Less spending?...Like that stupid wall

If the entire cost of the wall is allocated and spent, that is, I think, around 25 Billion.

In projected spending of around 4 Trillion, 5 Billion is a rounding error.

A very good place to start on reducing government waste is to reduce government waste. Why do Federal Employees get a better retirement than the rest of us? That kind of theft is one reason for the debt.

Revenues after the tax cuts for All Americans who are paying taxes rose by about the full cost of the wall.

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/statistics/federal-receipt-and-outlay-summary

 

[code1211]

Sob. Who are all the unworthy people getting your money? Look at the pie chart of the budget and tell us. Social security and Medicare/Medicaid recipients? The military? Your comments are sooo 1980s Reagan. Next you’ll be talking about welfare queens and strapping young bucks as he did.

Social Security is an excellent example of Government waste. This is not due to the wisdom of or need for the program but rather to the administration of the program.

Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme that will continue to take more and more of every paycheck to support more and more people living longer and longer.

Social Security needs to be revised to operate more like a 401k plan to accumulate the monies and then more like an Annuity to distribute the monies. In this way there is NO budgetary cost to the program.

This was suggested by newt in the 90's and was dismissed by the shrieking Liberals in the Congress and the Media.

This one move could balance the budget and eliminate the debt in 50 years. Failing to make this conversion is utterly stupid and completely Congressional.

 

[code1211]

Some things I learned since Trump became president:

I did not know that the president could unilaterally do away with international treaties. One man, a solitary man, has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, NAFTA, the TPP, and has threatened to single handedly withdraw from NATO.

Now, those who support Trump celebrate these moves, but what if he does something you don't like? He has, without consulting anyone in the other branches of government, imposed massive tariffs on several industries, including farming, which has devastation written all over it for family farms. He has threatened to completely shut down the southern border, cutting off about $30 billion in commerce. This has the potential the throw the country into a massive recession.

These are the methods of a dictator, not a president.

A President cannot unilaterally withdraw from TREATIES.

The things you cite are NOT Treaties. they are agreements. Not much different than an Executive Order. You seem to have "learned" things that are not so.

Did he REALLY threaten to leave NATO? C'mon, man!

Tariffs are imposed on products entering the country, not on domestic production of anything. You, again, are not understanding the mechanics of what is happening.

Your prediction of dire consequence is the stock in trade of Liberals.

In the real world, Trump has cut the tax rates and reduced the pages of Federal Regulation by between 35% and 40%. Both of these actual occurrences in the real world increase personal freedom for the average guy.

These are the methods of a President, not a dictator. Increasing personal freedoms is not what a dictator does.

If he had increased the number of regulations strangling individual freedom and industrial expansion, THAT would be the act of a misguided dictator working against the well being and freedom of the average guy.