We are actually probably as close to an general public understanding of the fiscal problem as we have ever been, but only because we have tip-toed up to the very brink of the precipice, and still the necessary savings can only be achieved with great gnashing of teeth, if at all.

Rand Paul and the other unnamed Senators are quite right – it is a waste of time and political capital to provoke a crisis over a few billion in spending in the current fiscal year, already more than half over, and governed by a patchwork mess of authorizations and appropriations by the Reid-Pelosi Congress, with no formal budget to analyze.

We must realize we will only get one bite at the apple: we can shut down the government once and win, but the public will not support repeated shutdowns any more than they support repeated filibusters, it has been demonstrated any number of times on very different issues. If we have only one silver bullet to fire, we shouldn’t use it to shoot a rat when we know the werewolf is at the door.

We should make the real battle over real money, not chump change, and we can only do that with a comprehensive budget of our own (Obama really doesn’t have a clue how to budget, and will be the unarmed man in the knife fight). We can put together long-term reform of the process and entitlements, a program that might actually have a positive effect on our debt crisis, and go to the mat for it with decent chances of success. Paul Ryan has already made a great start on this.

The wailers over the $100-61-33-30-6 billion are like George Foreman facing Ali in Zaire. We have the energy and the strength, but if we squander it unwisely our crafty opponent will knock us out anyway.

It’s not that it isn’t ridiculous there is controversy over $61 billion in cuts to a ghost budget of this size, it’s that we shouldn’t punch ourselves out over minor amounts.

While I know why you cite polls, the economy doesn’t give a damn what voters “want” where entitlement spending is concerned.

We don’t have the money. We can’t get the money. Voters can hold their breath & turn blue and it’s not going to make a damn bit of difference – entitlement spending cannot be sustained at current levels, let alone increased. Period.

Might as well take a poll about unicorns and farting rainbows.

What a One Delta Ten Tango!

How, precisely, would that translate into greater Democratic concessions on the holy grail of the liberal welfare state, i.e. entitlements…

OK, so the public doesn’t want cuts, but do want reductions in spending and the deficit. Seems to me that the Republican message should be that we can’t have it both ways, especially with the Dims insisting we can.

“People want to move on,” said the lawmaker.

Get over it.

Everyone— conservatives, moderates and liberals who are fiscally concerned– will punish you big time if you’re just more of the same. Except in this era, we’re taking people out in primaries, so don’t depend on the old playbook. And so far, you show every symptom of being just more of the same.

Barring that wonderful fantasy above….how about :

THE PAPPY PLAN!!

1. Seal the border!!! (Then you don’t need Entitlement Reform)

2. 10% Across the board Federal Spending cuts!!

THAT is a common sense easy to understand approach that is FAIR!!

If the Dems pitch a fit then demagogue them and call them EXTREME, FAR LEFT RADICALS!!

The politicians are just the enablers. It’s the American people who have become addicts. I’m almost at the point where I think a Greece-style collapse is inevitable.

Vyce on April 1, 2011 at 8:15 PM

I don’t know where you live or what your financial condition may be, but there are plenty of us out here in the World Beyond D.C. who are, shall we say, financially challenged these days.

Like others in the same position, I have cut my spending to the bone, have retired my credit cards and, when things get extra-rough, have been known to skip a meal or two. None of us draw and government assistance.

The Congressional swine don’t go without anything, and neither do their pets among campaign contributors, buddyroos and people-who-might-do-them-a-favor-some-day. They get vacations, more than any ordinary mortal, and if they want a park, bridge or outdoor toilet with their name on it, hey, they go ahead and put one up. With our money.

There’s no more blood to be squeezed from this turnip, and I’m far from alone. If the current race to fiscal destruction continues, some of us may have to get a bit rude.

If it’s a choice between buying milk for myself or paying some Senator’s bar tab, or contributing to the welfare plasma-TV-in-every-room fund for the “disadvantaged,” I know where I’m going, and Harry Reid, Osama Obama and even squish Repubs calling for “moving on” ain’t gonna like it.

Do you personally like President Obama and approve of his performance as president?

Do you personally like President Obama but disapprove of his performance as president?

Do you personally dislike President Obama but approve of his performance as president?

Do you personally dislike President Obama and disapprove of his performance as president?

In fairness they asked the same thing about Gov. Scott. I told them it was a stupid premise, I am unacquainted with either men.