Budget War: Republicans Favored to Win 4:3 in Poll

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Americans favor Republicans' handling of budget: poll

(Reuters) - Americans say Republicans in Congress would do a better job than Democrats in dealing with the U.S. budget, according to a poll released on Friday that shows President Barack Obama's party at a disadvantage as lawmakers near another showdown over federal spending.

The poll's findings underscore the challenge facing Obama as he seeks public support for his proposals for tackling a growing U.S. budget deficit -- an issue that could play a key role in the president's efforts to win re-election in 2012.

The USA Today/Gallup survey of 1,013 U.S. adults looked at whether Americans expressed more confidence in the ability of Republicans or Democrats in Congress to deal with six major issues facing the country.

The federal budget was the only issue in which respondents clearly preferred one party over the other, with 48 percent favoring Republicans and 36 percent Democrats.

The poll found that Americans favored Republicans by smaller margins on four other issues: Afghanistan, the U.S. economy, immigration and jobs. Democrats held a small advantage on handling healthcare, the poll found.

The poll, conducted April 20-23, had a 4 percentage-point margin of error.

The federal budget shortfall is forecast to hit $1.4 trillion in the current fiscal year, which ends September 30.

Congress takes up the budget fight again next week when lawmakers return from their annual spring break, with a showdown looming over federal spending in the 2012 fiscal year that begins October 1.

Republicans this spring used the threat of a government shutdown to win concessions on fiscal 2011 spending cuts from Obama and his fellow Democrats.

A frontline battle will be over an approaching vote to raise the $14.3 trillion federal debt ceiling, which Republicans intend to use as leverage to exact new spending reductions.

Analysts say failure to raise the debt limit could have dire consequences for world financial markets and America's financial future. The United States will reach the ceiling by mid-May, but the Treasury Department says it can avoid default until July 8.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/29/us-usa-budget-poll-idUSTRE73S3UU20110429?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A lot of Americans have apparently been asleep the past decade.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A lot of Americans have apparently been asleep the past decade.

The crowd is fickle, and November 2012 is a long ways away.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The crowd is fickle...

Obviously. The crowd clearly has forgotten the $4 trillion in additional deficits - before the economic collapse and before two unfunded wars - that the GOP has proudly put in place maintaining that deficits don't matter. That's the GOP that is more trusted to handle the budget? Only in America!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Obviously. The crowd clearly has forgotten the $4 trillion in additional deficits - before the economic collapse and before two unfunded wars - that the GOP has proudly put in place maintaining that deficits don't matter. That's the GOP that is more trusted to handle the budget? Only in America!

or just maybe, the cost of obama's health care plan, our involvement in libya in addition to those same two wars, rising gas prices, and so on are what strikes a chord with people the most.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

or just maybe, the cost of obama's health care plan, our involvement in libya in addition to those same two wars, rising gas prices, and so on are what strikes a chord with people the most.

Obama's health care plan is actually helping reducing the deficit. Our involvement in Libya is a tiny fraction of what Iraq and Afghanistan suck out of the treasury, the rising gas prices are mostly a result of speculation which, in turn, is a result of the insane capital gains tax policy that does nothing but create one bubble after the next. Now, you could fault Obama for not getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan (and I do) or for not curbing the Wall Street Commodities casino (and I do) and for not advocating to end the absurd capital gains tax policy that has yet to create a single job this century (and I do). But to think that Republicans will do any of these things is worse than wishful thinking. It's idiocy.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Obama's health care plan is actually helping reducing the deficit. Our involvement in Libya is a tiny fraction of what Iraq and Afghanistan suck out of the treasury, the rising gas prices are mostly a result of speculation which, in turn, is a result of the insane capital gains tax policy that does nothing but create one bubble after the next. Now, you could fault Obama for not getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan (and I do) or for not curbing the Wall Street Commodities casino (and I do) and for not advocating to end the absurd capital gains tax policy that has yet to create a single job this century (and I do). But to think that Republicans will do any of these things is worse than wishful thinking. It's idiocy.

:rofl: :rofl:

and yeah, i'm sure the involvement in libya is a fraction of iraq and afghanistan. oh wait, why are we still there?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

:rofl: :rofl:

It is what it is.

CBO previously issued an estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of PPACA, in combination with the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), which amended it. (Direct spending effects are those that do not require subsequent appropriation action.) CBO estimated that those two laws, in combination, would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010-2019 period as a result of changes in direct spending and revenues.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

oh cool, another government program that's predicted to save money. where have i heard that before?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It is what it is.

CBO previously issued an estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of PPACA, in combination with the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), which amended it. (Direct spending effects are those that do not require subsequent appropriation action.) CBO estimated that those two laws, in combination, would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010-2019 period as a result of changes in direct spending and revenues.

Of course, it only does that by taking away a half trillion dollars in benefits away from current seniors, something the left falsely accuses the Ryan Budget Plan of doing, and by collecting ten years in taxes to pay for six years of the program. Over twenty years, it puts the US into deficit by some seven trillion dollars.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Of course, it only does that by taking away a half trillion dollars in benefits away from current seniors, something the left falsely accuses the Ryan Budget Plan of doing, and by collecting ten years in taxes to pay for six years of the program. Over twenty years, it puts the US into deficit by some seven trillion dollars

Why, yes. Medicare costs need to be curbed. However, PPACA does at least not abandon Medicare. The Ryan plan, on the other hand, does. It just puts away with the program and expects seniors to fend for themselves. If they can't, ** them. That's the Ryan plan.

Now, are we going to have to make decisions on what Medicare will and what it will not cover? Absolutely. Anyone sitting there pretending otherwise is not being honest. And anyone sitting there claiming that "competition" will bend the cost curve has not paid any attention over the past several decades. That's been done and tried. Both in the non-Medicare healthcare sector where it has colossally failed and within Medicare in the Medicare Advantage plans where it has also failed to produce savings. Medicare Advantage actually costs Medicare more than traditional Medicare. The private industry has failed to deliver the savings. It's not like the jury is still out on this. The GOP still wants to hang on the belief that savings can be produced by privatization. It's a religious belief for there is no evidence whatsoever that this will work.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog