Say anything

[hfojvt]

it is sort of amazing, in a sad way, how these Republican Presidential candidates can apparently say anything and get away with it.

Here's the last presidential debate, and the opening question was about the national debt. The person asking the question feels that the debt needs to be reduced.

Santorum gave the first answer, and he went on and on about how he would cut spending. He closed with this

"But we need to start dealing with it (social security and medicare) now because our country is facing fiscal bankruptcy."

http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/2012/02/pitiful-helpless-know-nothings-pitiful.html


Our country is facing fiscal bankruptcy. That's what Santorum said.

But neither the debate moderator, nor any of his opponents called him on that. Because Romney and Gingrich and Paul probably all said the same thing. Our country is facing fiscal bankruptcy.

So we need to slash spending. Not defense spending, Santorum said, but entitlement spending, including social security.

Because our country is facing fiscal bankruptcy.

Yet if they really believe that, then why do they propose trillions in tax cuts for the rich? Wouldn't a fairly obvious way to stave off fiscal bankruptcy be to get more money, more income, more tax revenues?

Yet instead of proposing that, Santorum proposes more and bigger tax cuts.

"And Mr. Romney's is the most modest of the GOP proposals. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich's plan would cost an astonishing $850 billion in 2015 on top of the Bush tax cuts. Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum's would cost $900 billion in 2015 alone. "

Please note: According to this earlier study, Santorum’s proposals would add $900 billion to the deficit in 2015 alone, even after you allow for extending all the Bush tax cuts!"

http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/2012/02/pitiful-helpless-know-nothings-new.html

That's $900 billion in 2015, on top of the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

Seriously.

And yet millions of people watch those Republican debates and Santorum is allowed to say "the country is facing fiscal bankruptcy" without ever being challenged on how his own tax proposals would add to the deficit and debt. $900 billion in one year? On top of the $3.7 trillion the Bush tax cuts cost over the next decade?

Never mind how much the Bush tax cuts and Reagan tax cuts have already added to the debt, with most of that tax cut money going to those in the top 20%.

If Santorum can say "I want to cut $5 trillion in spending because the country is facing fiscal bankruptcy" and "I want to give $5 trillion in tax cuts to the rich." without being laughed off of the public stage as a clown, then he can say anything.

[libodem]

1. Those tax cuts for the rich

Net most of 'em an extra million per year that they can't see sharing to support the system. They would see us die in the street before they cut loose of a penny. Well Eff 'em I'll die in an occupy tent somewhere first.

[hfojvt]

2. most people don't want to pay more taxes.

If there was a tax plan that increased taxes on a family making $40,000 a year by even 50 cents a week I bet there would be mass hysteria on DU. To even think of taking back the $15 a week from the new payroll tax cut is simply unthinkable, even to many here.

Myself, I would say tha ta family making $200,000 a year is rich, but most of them probably do not want to give up their $8,000 a year they get from the Bush tax cuts or the $4,000 they get from the accursed payroll tax cut.

They would insist, even as they spend four months at a summer home, send their daughter to a private school for $32,000 a year and have $300,000 in savings, that they are NOT rich. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002368177

[hfojvt]

3. I know this is a boring discussion of fiscal policy

but I am gonna kick it anyway. 96 tears, er views, is not enough.