Open Thread: No Budget from Democrats for Third Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, the Democratic-controlled Senate will not even attempt to pass a budget. This wasn't the first choice of the Senate budget committee chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) who appears to have been pressured into his decision by Senate majority leader Harry Reid who has been insistent that he doesn't want a budget.
But Conrad also seems to have had his own difficulties getting other Democrats onboard as well:
In a stunning backtrack that virtually guarantees Congress for the third year will be unable to produce a budget, Senate Democrats’ top budget writer Tuesday canceled this week’s expected votes on a 2013 fiscal blueprint.
Instead, Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, North Dakota Democrat, said he will use the next few months to try to breathe life into the shelved 2-year-old Bowles-Simpson deficit commission proposal.
Mr. Conrad said he wasn’t able to get enough Democrats to back a fiscal 2013 budget, much less reach a bipartisan agreement, and that he decided instead to try to kick-start a longer-term debate.
“This is the wrong time to vote in the committee. This is the wrong time to vote on the floor,” Mr. Conrad told reporters as he announced his strategy. “We do need to try to maximize the chance as we get closer to all the tax cuts expiring and the sequester being imposed that we’re ready to act.”
He said he will still convene the Budget Committee this week and introduce his plan, but won’t hold any votes or debate any amendments. [...]
Given the opposition, Mr. Conrad instead decided to try to revive the Bowles-Simpson plan, named after former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Sen. Alan Simpson, who led a commission that produced a plan for raising taxes and limiting spending — all designed to reduce long-term deficits.Though President Obama established the Bowles-Simpson commission, he rejected its December 2010 proposal, and Democrats who controlled Congress at the time did not bring up it up for a vote.
But it has simmered in the background, with lawmakers occasionally saying it should serve as a basis for negotiations — only to see both Democratic and Republican leaders block their efforts.
Reid alone wouldn't have been able to force Conrad to withdraw his budget proposal but he certainly could've drummed up a sufficient number of fellow Democrats to oppose the North Dakotan's efforts. While Conrad claims he wants to ressurect the Bowles-Simpson plan, the net result of his refusal to try to push forward a budget for next fiscal year means that once again, the federal government will be funded via a continuing resolution based on the 2010 budget passed the year before when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress but which has been modified somewhat since the negotiations last year.
Given Reid's unwillinginess to put fellow Democrats on the line to see where they stand about tax and spending policy, do you see any other course than to let the November elections run their course? Do you think that Reid is just stalling for time or is this part of a larger plan to ensure that the massive spending enacted by President Obama and fellow Democrats in 2009 stays around for as long as possible?
- Matthew Sheffield's blog
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Comments
The Dear Ruler's own lawyer admits released BC is a forgery
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 9:27am.
But that still won't matter.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Big surprise
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:26am.
And this is why I've all but given up on the people of this country. I haven't given up on the country, but without the people, the country is dead. And if things have gotten as far as they have, not just this thing, but everything else, and the people don't seem to want to do anything about it, what's the use??
-Jon
jon_t
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:47am.
I take it you agree with Ted:
"It isn't the enemy that ruined America. It's good people who bent over and let the enemy in," he said. "If the coyote's in your living room pissing on your couch, it's not the coyote's fault. It's your fault for not shooting him."
➚ I don't literally agree
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:32am.
I believe America is being given the same choice Israel was given. "Choose life"
The same sentiments expressed by Joshua. "As for me and my house, we will serve The Lord"
This election is a referendum on self-determination. America will choose in November whether it will continue to be America.
What it will come down to
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:52am.
And what it'll come down to is just these two choices, Obeyme or Romney. Anyone wanting to re-elect Obeyme just wants to end the country. Nothing else matters at this point. Given the current state of things, what else DOES matter? It won't be enough if we got a Republican Congress and Senate.(which would be impossible to believe if we get that but still re-elect Obeyme, that's stupid voting)
-Jon
no budget
Submitted by kinijane on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:18am.
And they call the Republicans "do nothing."
They are worried about the wrong thing...
Submitted by c5then on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:31am.
They are worried about "winning" and not about doing their job. Winning is defined by them as getting re-elected (primary concern) and getting a majority for their party in their chamber (Senate or House).
They want to maintain the "base-line" budget as it is to enable increases to a massive emergency budget that included all kinds of stimulus spending.
It's time to clean house and get as many of these hypocritical socialists out of the government and into the private sector as possible.
I would prefer that they all be impeached for deriliction of duty and failure to uphold their oath of office. But that will take much longer than simply replacing them in November. I am however completely in support of starting impeachment proceedings against any members of the Senate who are not up for re-election this November and have a (D) after their name.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Dyfunctional Democrats in NC
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:10am.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/17/3180565/gubernatorial-debate...
http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/18/nc-gov-bev-perdue-admits-first-learnin...
I'm loving it.
Listen to what Comrade Conrad says........
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:15am.
Well I want to take something he said, just one thing and expand on it. Here it is:
“We do need to try to maximize the chance as we get closer to all the tax cuts expiring and the sequester being imposed that we’re ready to act.”
So what Comrade Conrad is telling us is that the dems want to wait until we are near crisis, THEN and ONLY THEN will they do something! Here ladies and GENTS is the PROOF that they (the dems) are manufacturing a crisis so they can try and get everything they want while making the Republicans in Congress look like we are the greedy, uncaring ones!
And Conrad is lying here, too.
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 3:25pm.
If he wanted to even approach the truth, he'd tell everyone that Reid, Obama and the rest of the dems don't want to have any dem who's up for re-election or any dem running for office having to go on the record on anything. Especially, they don't want any dem to have a record of voting for tax increases, or cuts to defense. At least, until after November, then those they hold in contempt(voters), won't remember in the next election cycle, which starts as soon as congress is sworn in, what they did.
This is the wrong time...
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:24am.
"This is the wrong time to vote in the committee. This is the wrong time to vote on the floor"
Apparently it hasn't been the "right time" for over three years now, which makes me wonder: when will the Senate Democrats feel it is the RIGHT time? Just what the heck are they waiting for? A sign from God?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Just give me a sign....
Submitted by Dan Diego on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 8:40pm.
Any kind of sign
Bush vs. Clinton
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:23am.
Battle of the First Daughters.
Kind of a funny story, and a microcosm of the two families. The coldly calculating Clintons, and the "this is who we are" Bush family.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
First we get Fluked, now we get Flocked?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 11:44am.
Tingles and Tommy Bobby desperately searching for new rip-n-read sources.
Book recommendation wanted
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 12:01pm.
Open thread:
Can anyone recommend a good book on Stalin and his rise to power?
Please, not some dry academic tome, something engaging for the layman. I know there are many avid readers here.
Feel free to PM me or post here.
Thanks!!
DFTT
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 2:53pm.
PM Unsane. This is right up his alley.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
DFTT: Book recommendations
Submitted by Unsane on Sat, 04/21/2012 - 3:39pm.
For very readable stuff on Сталин: run, do NOT walk, to your nearest bookstore and ask for the following two titles, both written by the Brit author Simon Sebag Montefiore:
Young Stalin. Exactly as the title implies. This actually was released in 2008, after the next title I will share with you. It covers the early years of Stalin's life, from his birth in Gori, Georgia on up to the Russian Revolution.
Stalin: Court of the Red Tsar. This book was published in 2004. It, as its name implies, covers not just Stalin but the rest of his "court". Hell of a read, but depressing. Montefiore's thesis: Stalin was already screwy anyway then his second wife kills himself. At which point he REALLY loses his marbles.
For more academic, dry reading, try Robert Conquest's The Great Terror, or especially Bertram Wolfe's 3 Who Made A Revolution, which looks at Stalin, Trotsky and Lenin. Informative as hell but dry reading.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Since Boy Baraka is holding
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 1:01pm.
Since Boy Baraka is holding down first place, and Ms. Botox has been kicked out of her position, I'd have to say the Harry the Weasel is the second-biggest scumbag in political office right now - and that's up against some serious competition!!! I'd have him near the front of the line when the guillotine is brought out to extract a little vengeance for the REAL American people.
back to pre 9-11?
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 3:14pm.
Up goes the wall and the FBI doesn't share information. Where's Gorelick?
http://pjmedia.com/blog/breaking-without-warning-fbi-halts-intel-sharing/?singlepage=true
Request to NB Admins: Pin the OT at the top of the page?
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 1:36pm.
How about "pinning" the OT to the top of the page for the day?
On many occasions, I've had topic for the OT a while after it gets posted, and don't bother because I know no one will see it; it drops down the page and people are only looking at the newest blog postings. I'm sure this has happened to others, and I'm betting a lot of us miss out on some good stuff that goes into the OT later in the day.
It seems a shame to have an Open Thread that's pretty much done by noon.
What do you think, fellow NB's?
mb
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 3:03pm.
I think they use the pin feature mostly for Brent Bozell's stuff...he is the site owner, after all.
But I enjoy the OT, and check back to it often.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Like
Submitted by Dan Diego on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 8:50pm.
I agree, I've asked a couple of times for a button or tab to the latest OT... crickets.
Verna McClain
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 3:31pm.
In the spirit of Barack Obama's penchant for thinly veiled comments, allow me to say;
It happens all to often that a black women murders a white mother in order to kidnap a white baby.
Edward Said/obama
Submitted by kilrod on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 4:06pm.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/April/Elites-Failing-America-in-Battl...
http://www.google.com/search?q=barack+obama+edward+said&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&i...
kilrod "the Birther"
If an unborn child cannot trust you, why should I,??
An interesting comment.
Submitted by Par for the Course on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 4:42pm.
An interesting comment I saw, but not really unexpected.
Read the interview at the link for the full context of the statement.
~PRICELESS
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 12:16pm.
I just found this comment on a blog post about Obama Eats DogGate:
Somebody had better make sure Jimmy Carter isn't missing any chunks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And then there's this..
Hitler Finds Out Obama Ate His Dog
: ]
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 5:56pm.
Cant be much of ol Jimmy left. Must of dug up Marx also.
Sorry, Matthew, but the dems DID pass a budget
Submitted by mrt721 on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 12:31pm.
And here's Kent Conrad on msnbc this morning proving it:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/47100673#47100673
See, only, it wasn't a resolution, it was a LAW!!!
Bwaaahahahahaha!
Seriously, though, the look on Chuck Todd's face while listening to this BS is PRICELESS!!
Maybe, Maybe Not
Submitted by stratman on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 2:28pm.
Rubio considering VP spot?
Yesterday it was reported Chris Christie did not give his customary unequivocal denial to accepting an offer to be on Romney's ticket. Media hype or actual change of mind in the making?