Beliefnet has the story. You should click over there and read the full item.
Thanks largely to President Obama’s ’stimulus’ bill, the federal government will run a deficit of nearly $2 trillion this year. Yet with all that spending, the Obama administration could not find $800 million to fulfill a campaign promise intended to save the lives of the poorest among us.
I know that Obama and the Democrats have dreamed of overturning every possible part of the Bush legacy, but I never imagined that included allowing the poor and suffering to die more horribly.
Brian I don't understand why is this bad?
mom2oneson Friday, May 8th at 1:26PM EDT (link)Why should we fund AIDS treatment overseas first of all when we have debt ?Secondly we have people here that need medical care that do not recieve it. Third why should we fund treatment for something that is so preventable? If huge groups of people in Africa refuse to be chaste why is it a crisis for us to fund their STD treatment? I disagreed with Bush on this too.
It doesn’t make sense here that people pay taxes here, some that can’t afford medical themselves care and it goes to treat STDs in Africa. If people with HIV would not have relations there it would stop except for maternal-child transmissions.
My heart goes out to the young children that have caught it from their mothers but I don’t understand why we have an obligation here and even if we did, how does it make sense to borrow money to give to another country? Why don’t we tell them to be chaste and this is unfortunately the consequence of promiscuity and a lack of morals? There are always innocent victims when there is evil, but this would not be an issue even for the innocent people if most people there were chaste.
mom2oneson....I think the point is more about Obama breaking yet another campaign promise...
Aaron Gardner Friday, May 8th at 1:42PM EDT (link)it’s about exposing hypocrisy.
Aaron’s Archive
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
Thank you Aaron :) nt
mom2oneson Friday, May 8th at 1:44PM EDT (link)And the Porkulus bill spent 20,000x this thing
E Pluribus Unum Friday, May 8th at 3:55PM EDT (link)They’re just fine with spending, when it’s spending to pay off their peeps (unions, ACORN, Big Green, etc). But they are slashing the military, slashing AIDS research, etc because military and drug companies don’t vote for them.
The double damning thing comes because (1) the little Charlie Sierra took an oath to protect and defend, and (2) he specifically campaigned on this sort of thing.
Carthago delenda est
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Slashing the Military
exitsfunnel Friday, May 8th at 4:53PM EDT (link)If only. Actually, he increased the defense budget though probably more modestly than McCain would have.
-exits
Think about it
E Pluribus Unum Friday, May 8th at 5:15PM EDT (link)Yes, on one hand, the overall DOD budget is increased by 4% (about 2% in “real” increase). On the other hand, they are hatcheting a whole array of weapons systems and R&D on weapon systems..
So how does the budget go up when weapon systems go down? Would you like me to answer that or do you want to have a go at it?
Carthago delenda est
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Had a similar thought
exitsfunnel Friday, May 8th at 1:45PM EDT (link)It was bad enough that conservatives didn’t oppose Bush’s horrible spending at the time, but why would we add insult to injury by continuing to defend it ex post facto? Unless the idea is to just reflexively oppose every single thing Obama does, which in my mind isn’t a fruitful strategy.
It’s much better to support the meager cuts he’s proposed while placing the emphasis of the rhetoric on demonstrating how meager they are compared to his new spending.
-exits
exits...I don't support the U.S. funding HIV/AIDS spending overseas...
Aaron Gardner Friday, May 8th at 1:48PM EDT (link)But I do support exposing PresBO’s ever increasing list of broken promises.
Aaron’s Archive
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
That may be
exitsfunnel Friday, May 8th at 2:11PM EDT (link)But I wasn’t responding to something you wrote, I was responding to what Brian wrote and both he and the piece at beliefnet he linked to were critical of the cuts.
It’s a valid position to support the cuts but also make the incidental, rhetorical point that Obama had promised more foreign aid than he is delivering. But that’s not what Brian did.
-exits
That's cool exits...
Aaron Gardner Friday, May 8th at 2:15PM EDT (link)I was just talkin…not really caring who was talking to who…and I agree that Brian didn’t really push that idea in the article…although I just assumed it was implied.
Aaron’s Archive
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
uh, no, exits
E Pluribus Unum Friday, May 8th at 4:10PM EDT (link)*conservatives* have in fact railed noisily and constantly against the spending by the Republican Congress in 2002-2006, and Bush for his entire term.
And in the same vein, *conservatives* have by and large been either in favor of or agnostic toward this particular form of spending, which both then and now represent the tiniest portion of overall spending.
Regarding your last sentence, NO. We will not support the cutting of legitimately *good* spending, while the Charlie Sierra has championed insane amounts of spending that seems specifically designed to (a) wreck the capitalist system, and (b) pay off political debts to unions, Big Green, and lawyers.
Have cake, will eat. You are fully, 100% wrong here.
Carthago delenda est
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Legitimately *good* spending
exitsfunnel Friday, May 8th at 4:58PM EDT (link)Who decided that this was ‘legitimately good spending?’ Bono? How is it a conservative thing for the government to steal my money and send it to Africa? I have no objection to charity - I donate both time and money to several different causes. But this is an individual matter -it’s not the role of the government to decide how my money is spent on this stuff.
-exits
If I thought you had the same skepticism
E Pluribus Unum Friday, May 8th at 5:10PM EDT (link)to every single penny in Porkulus, I’d take this more seriously.
That’s a Mafia crime syndicate compared to what is at worst (and I say not at all) a pickpocket.
OK, you do not see the utility to the US in getting AIDS in Africa under control? Seriously? The payoff is not direct, but I would think it’s pretty easy to see.
Carthago delenda est
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Porkulus
exitsfunnel Friday, May 8th at 5:26PM EDT (link)I’m sure that I do have the same objection to ever penny in porkulus.
And regarding getting AIDS in Africa under control: I think that that is quite a noble goal and a worthy pursuit and am heartened by the number of private philanthropic organizations who have dedicated themselves partly or wholly to the problem. What I don’t believe is that it is an appropriate use by the United States government of the dollars it collects from its citizenry.
If I want my money spent thusly, I will write a check and mail it off.
-exits
I'm not opposed to that myself
E Pluribus Unum Friday, May 8th at 5:46PM EDT (link)But it *still* has a constitutionally defensible basis, in that our own minor AIDS epidemic came from Central Africa, and the place has become a rampant festering pool of disease that *does* leak out of there up to here. Taming the disease factory has utility. IMO, an actual, factual use of “general welfare” - as opposed to most that the government does spend under that rubric.
And it’s good to know you’re a Porkulus hater. Didn’t know that.
Carthago delenda est
Do your conservative t-shirt Christmas shopping at EPU Gear. Save the conservative muse, save the world.
It's a trap, Scotty
civil_truth Friday, May 8th at 2:03PM EDT (link)We’ve seen how the media (following DNC directives) placed blame on the Republicans for the cut in flu prevention services that occurred in the stimulus bill. This despite the fact that only 3 Republicans voted for the bill; the entire party wer held responsible for that provision - absolving the Democrats, who control Congress and massive numbers of whom voted for the bill with the cuts.
Brilliantly Orwellian in its execution.
Similarly, if the Republicans go along with this cut, at some time in the near future, an outcry will go up from international relief organizations about how the U.S. has been cutting its support for international health programs. At that point, the media will shift away from Obama’s initiative and start talking about how Republicans voted against AIDS funding because they oppose the use of contraceptives to prevent AIDS, etc. - perhaps with digs as to how Bush pushed this and how they continue to oppose the humane Democrats who want to save lives etc.
Just wait and see how the media and the Democrats completely move the goals posts.
On the other hand, if the Republicans vote against cuts, then they will be lambasted as hypocrites who talk about budget cuts but won’t vote for them, etc.
Republican had better figure out how to regain some influence over the media narratives before too many in the public just close their ears to the Republicans because they have become convinced by this media blitz that they have nothing of value to say
And Rightly So!
ohhhh it's like a set up you are sooo smart civil nt
mom2oneson Friday, May 8th at 2:13PM EDT (link)In addition
Karina Friday, May 8th at 4:34PM EDT (link)It’s just like what happens on the state and local level. When budgets need to be cut, the first thing trimmed are the police and emergency services departments. That way, when we scream no, they just shrug and say “Well, you told us to cut the budget.” Then these are replaced and nothing is done about cutting anything else off the budget. They get to keep their pet projects and we go back to sleep again. It’s been done over and over again.
This time it’s on an international level and the screaming will come overseas. They’ll be able to shrug and say they were told to make cuts. When we say no (or international pressure gets to a certain level), they’ll be able to put it back and hope we go back to sleep again.
Stop confusing me with the facts, I’m making up my own imagination. ~My grandmother who voted for Obama
^5555
LibRick Friday, May 8th at 2:28PM EDT (link)Mom,
You’ve got a way of getting to the bottom line. Now, I know it gets politically complicated and I’ve seen Aaron’s comment about exposing hypocrisy relating to the Brian’s article….all well and good.
But you speak a fundamental truth. If we help anyone, we should help our own people first. That is the foundation on which we should base everything. Too few people express it. It’s a joy to hear you speak out. You made my day!
Thank you LibRick! :) nt
mom2oneson Friday, May 8th at 6:50PM EDT (link)I don't think he's about overturning everything.
Steph C Friday, May 8th at 4:25PM EDT (link)When I look at what’s coming out, in single items, most of those cuts are things most don’t have a problem supporting. There’s going to be a hue and cry over these cuts and after it builds to the crescendo Obama is looking for, he’ll say “nevermind” or something to that effect while also getting credit for having “tried” to cut the budget.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
What he ought to do is say that Bush solved the problem! - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Friday, May 8th at 4:30PM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Now, GC
Steph C Friday, May 8th at 4:56PM EDT (link)You know he’s going to do no such thing. Bush must remain the scapegoat.
Democrats never take blame for what they do. That’s why it has thrown them for a loop with the party of “no.” And now, with Specter’s defection to the Democrats they can’t even call anything they do bipartisan.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
well, he did credit Bush for the ability to quickly respond to
Mike gamecock DeVine Friday, May 8th at 6:28PM EDT (link)swine flu….and given the recent publicity on Bush’s success in Africa…
You know Steph, my greatest distinction is my success when going against conventional wisdom on the right and left.
see cockstradamus
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Yes, I know
Steph C Friday, May 8th at 7:16PM EDT (link)However, I don’t believe you can apply the same to this budget stuff.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
only time tells but this elephant never forgets - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Friday, May 8th at 7:20PM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson