2009.03.27
The party of 'huh?'
Republicans are feeling battered by the portrayal of them as the "Party of No." So they unveiled a counterproposal to President Obama's budget proposal that they said proved they are a party of ideas. One, small problem. The proposal, called "The Republican Road to Prosperity" is a little shy on details.
How much would this alternate plan spend? They don't say. How much would the proposed tax cuts cost? They don't say. In fact, the plan is not a budget but a list of often contradictory aspirational goals.
President Bush once described a budget he released this way: "It's clearly a budget. It's got lots of numbers."
By that standard, the GOP plan is a clear failure as a budget.
RSS feed 
I still get irritated when people talk about tax cuts as a budget cost. They are the revenue stream for a budget, not a cost. Spending on a program is a cost. Social Security payment checks are a cost. Reduction of revenue through tax cuts are not a cost. They may impact a budget in a similar fashion to funding of a government program, but the terminology is wrong. That aside, if the Republicans ever want to gain traction, they need meat with their proposals.
Comment by Other John — March 27, 2009 @ 9:07 am
OtherJohn you're obviously right....a "budget cut" just means less coming in...it doesn't show up on the other side of the equation. That being said, I haven't closely read the details of any of the budgets currently being floated...my prediction is, there will be much pontificating and grandstanding and, in the end, everyone will get a little of what they wanted and declare victory.
Comment by Kristen — March 27, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Kristen, my prediction would be that after the grandstanding, the Republicans will still cry and moan about being excluded and not having their idead incorporated into any budget process, then try to use that as a campaign ploy in 2010 and 2012 to regain seats. At this point, they seem less interested in working with the Democrat majority and more interested in trying to find ways to score points for upcoming elections. It all seems fairly middle school-ish with the way the parties are behaving.
Comment by Other John — March 27, 2009 @ 10:52 am
OtherJohn..the republicans seem to have decided that all they need for a big win in 10 and 12 is for Obama to go down in flames, which they are attempting to facilitate by taking ridiculously bellicose positions against him every time he opens his mouth. The GOP of today actually manages to make the sheet-sniffers of the 90s look good. No small achievement.
Comment by Kristen — March 27, 2009 @ 11:00 am
I have to chuckle at this stuff.
The old phrase "What goes around, comes around" seems to be so appropriate. The Republicans, when they were in control of everything did their level best to exlude the Democrat minority. Guess it's not too much fun to be on the other side of the fence.
Comment by Will — March 27, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Tax cuts don't cost. Spending costs.
Let's see. The Democrats control the House, the Senate and the White House. So what is the RTEB focusing on? The Republicans. I guess the RTEB has learned to quit talking about the current party in power. It hurts their poll numbers.
Comment by Henry — March 27, 2009 @ 11:44 am
Henry...
Whose poll numbers are hurting? I think the GOP numbers are hurting because they haven't done anything but bitch and bellyache since Jan 20.
Offer up something concrete for us to sink our teeth in but until then, if you don't have a better DETAILED plan, then they need to hush up! Their vague generalities don't mean a hill of beans to me.
Comment by Will — March 27, 2009 @ 11:54 am
I agree with Henry. It's just amazing the media outlets are waving Obama's unprecedented spending spree through without a ripple while attacking any bit of opposition to it the Republicans might offer.
I don't get it. Don't at least some newspaper editors own stock? Why do they cheer a program that's clearly sending our economy to hell? Unless there's a bailout in the wings for newspapers like Sandi suggested. Hmmm. Then everything would make sense.
Comment by Kevin — March 27, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
I think I remember the RTEB having some issues with Obama's plan as well. And I don't think they're attacking their opposition here...they are attacking their lack of opposition. This thing has no details...how can they even begin to support that even if they wanted to?
Comment by HCS — March 27, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
I think our economy was pretty much already in "hell" well before Obama took office...he's been president for maybe 2 months and things obviously hit the skids well before that. The GOP is going to have to come up with something better than "Obama's a commie" before they even have anything of value to discuss, much less endorse.
Comment by Kristen — March 27, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
You can try to blame the media for the lack of real leaders, a cohesive message, a detailed plan, an actual budget with real applicable proposals till your cows come home, but it will not work. I find it laughable that whenever they are losing on whatever the issue, it is always the fault of the media. Conservatives in general and Republicans in particular, have more TV Stations, PAC's, TV Networks and Newspapers than ever before and they dominate talk radio, so this 'our message is not getting out', 'people just don't understand', 'Obama is ruining this country' bile is being spewed in all areas of media, the problem is that we DO hear your message (such as it is) and we realize that you do not have a clue as to how this country is hurting, you do not have a clue how to fix it and you do not have a clue that you are your own worst enemies. But, speaking for myself, Keep it up!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — March 27, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Juxtapose this with an Obama budget with a bunch of fake numbers hoping to result from initiatives that run counter to recent empirical economic basis. Yeah, I feel so much better. Cut corporate tax rates and don't let politicians seize this economic crisis for political witch hunts such as over-regulation and class-warfare-wealth-redistribution and let America recover.
Comment by Jim — March 27, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
"You can try to blame the media for the lack of real leaders, a cohesive message, a detailed plan, an actual budget with real applicable proposals till your cows come home, but it will not work. I find it laughable that whenever they are losing on whatever the issue, it is always the fault of the media. Conservatives in general and Republicans in particular, have more TV Stations, PAC's, TV Networks and Newspapers than ever before and they dominate talk radio, so this 'our message is not getting out', 'people just don't understand', 'Obama is ruining this country' bile is being spewed in all areas of media, the problem is that we DO hear your message (such as it is) and we realize that you do not have a clue as to how this country is hurting, you do not have a clue how to fix it and you do not have a clue that you are your own worst enemies. But, speaking for myself, Keep it up!"
I guess it's because Republicans don't meddle in the news departments of outlets they own. Are you saying you think they should? Dang, I wish more of them were like Democrats who start networks (think the failed Air America) for the sole purpose of pushing their ideas.
I;m laughing pretty hard at the irony, saying Republicans have no clue about how to fix the hurting economy when Democrats have a guy who has never run so much as a popsicle stand.
As far as cleaning up messes, I'd say Republican Congresses have a pretty good track record of reverse Democrat recessions. Especially in the 12 years the ran Congress recently.
Now we have a guy in there who is trying solutions which have NEVER worked anywhere in the world at any time. And yet the liberals squash anybody who dares challenge the emperor with no clothes.
I still want to know if a newspaper bailout is in the works. I think you were onto something when you said that.
Comment by Kevin — March 27, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Kevin...
Detail an alternative from the Republicans! Your catchy little phrases like "Why do they cheer a program that's clearly sending our economy to hell?" don't provide any specifics other than sounding like spoiled grapes because the Republicans are no longer in power.
I think most people are tired of that same beating of the dead horse by Republicans. The Republicans shot the horse...at least let the Democrats bury it and move on.
Maybe that's why they're about to loose control of both houses of Congress and the White House...ooops...my bad. They already did. (A little sarcastic humor on a Friday afternoon.)
Comment by Will — March 27, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Will,
I take it you don't think something is serverely wrong trillion-dollar bailouts and rapid socialization of government? If you're fine with that, just say so. Then there won't be any need for further discussion.
Comment by Kevin — March 27, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
Will darlin', if I wasn't happily married, I think you would have a new admirer on your hands! Thanks for you wise posts, sometimes I feel it is useless to try here.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — March 27, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
If you want a good laugh, look up the "Road to Prosperity" online and check out the fabulous charts. Then Google all the send-ups of these charts that are already online.
Comment by Kristen — March 28, 2009 @ 8:43 am
Kristen,
Do you have a link to the above mentioned charts?
Comment by Bill — March 28, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Bill...the actual GOP charts are on their Road To Prosperity site, if those are the ones you're referring too. I found the funny ones on the political button at Fark.com.
Comment by Kristen — March 28, 2009 @ 11:14 am
http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4291765&cpp=1 Bill I can't figure out how to post an actual link here, but if you cut and paste this into your browser it's a good start. Scroll down through all the comments...there are LOTS of comments..this site is all really funny.
Comment by Kristen — March 28, 2009 @ 11:37 am