A 2008 Sen. Obama quote: “The problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion dollars for the first 42 presidents — number 43 added $4 trillion dollars by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion dollars of debt that we are going to have to pay back — $30,000 for every man, woman and child.”
Now the national debt is $16.5 trillion. Obama has added more to the debt during his first term than the first 42 presidents combined. Republicans in the House of Representatives want to tie spending cuts to a debt ceiling increase. So, what does President Obama say about raising the debt ceiling now?
Consider a quote from January 15:
“Now if the House and the Senate want to give me the authority so that they don’t have to take these tough votes, if they want to put the responsibility on me to raise the debt ceiling, I’m happily (sic) to take it. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, had a proposal like that last year, and I’m happy to accept it. But if they want to keep this responsibility, then they need to go ahead and get it done. And you know, there are no magic tricks here. There are no loopholes.”
Hypocrisy? You make the call.
Steve Ball
Gilbert
Mike McClellan posted at 6:57 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.
Rich, what's the "it"?
And Frank Zappa, what leads you to the conclusions you draw?
YeloSno posted at 3:59 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.
I have to agree with Rich. Obama spent us out of a recession the same way FDR spent us into the Great Depression. Note the similarities. If government does not intervene, most recessions work themselves out in 18 – 24 months. Political meddling has extended this recession, increased unemployment, and delayed recovery.
DonMey posted at 1:01 pm on Tue, Jan 29, 2013.
Mike - I was unhappy with Bush's version of the bailouts just prior to his exit. However, many people pointed out that Bush's bailout was quite similar to the S&L bailout way back when, and that actually turned a "profit" after the government held onto the bonds for quite some time. (not sure if the profit was greater or less than the interest on the money that originally bought the bonds)
Much of Obama's bailouts were handouts to the states; he didn't receive anything he could sell at a later date for a potential profit.
Rich posted at 10:03 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.
But Mike, he hasn't spent us out of recession, every time it's re-examined, it's worse than originally reported. Obama spent more than all Presidents before him, and the results are dismal. So Obama was a hypocrite, almost all politicians are. Because they are does Obama have the right to destroy our children, and grandchildren. Please, because it was done before,as you point out by Republicans, but by Democrats as well, does that make it right? Your reasoning is absurd. And it is no reason at all to continue on a collision course with disaster. It is certainly no reason for you to bend common sense to justify it.
Mike McClellan posted at 4:26 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.
Well, VofReason, my only point is where was Ryan -- and you and Abstract, for that matter, when the Bush administration was ringing up the debt?
Just Ryan's votes alone helped add almost $7 trillion to the debt, yet THEN he apparently had no qualms.
Nor do I remember any of you ripping into the Republicans for raising the debt.
Nor do I remember Ryan or any of you ripping into Cheney when he famously said, "Deficits don't matter."
Suddenly, when a Democrat takes over and spends us out of a recession, you guys get religion and don't want to crush "the children" with the debt.
No word on "the children" ten years ago, however.
So, yeah, Obama was hypocritical in calling out Bush then. But maybe, maybe, the spending he did saved the economy.
VofReason posted at 2:03 pm on Mon, Jan 28, 2013.
Yes Truth "Obama may not be Lincoln", this qualifies as the understatement of the day. I think you are right, President Obama has "achived" more in his first term than most have in two. I would debate the quality and benefit of those "acheivements", but history will judge. Again that AZWillie for pointing out that it is all republicans fault. This makes perfect sense to Democrats only. Also thank you for Mike McC chiming in to tell us that even though our current President who is "in charge" of the current situation is spending money faster than any Presdient has before despite high unemployment, high debt, etc etc. That it is really OK because a Republican voted for Wars once. Excellent work, no wonder the Trib allows you to continue with your columns.
bubba posted at 4:13 pm on Sun, Jan 27, 2013.
I see Leon has logged in his alter ego --(Ateam1)-- again to make it appear as though somebody agrees with him. Pitiful Leon, just pitiful. But then I guess when you have multiple personality disorders you're never alone are you. You really are a sad little troll.
truth posted at 1:47 pm on Sun, Jan 27, 2013.
Health Care, U.S. per person $8,233 a year, Norway $5,388, Switzerland $5,056, Netherland $5,053, Lexembourg $4,786, Denmark $4,464, Canada $4,445, Austria $4,395 Germany $4,338, France $3,976, Belgum $3,967, Sweden $3,758, Irland $3,718, Australia $3,670, U.K. $3,433, Iceland $3,309, OECD $3,268. Some should use their brain before their mouth. The last time I worked I was 48 years old that was 20 years ago, I have never been on welfare and every year I take a 21 or 35 day trip around some part of the world. Almost all the Countris above have a Obama type health care plan, and have a better health care system.
YeloSno posted at 7:11 am on Sun, Jan 27, 2013.
Despite McConnell’s words, he must CERTAINLY know better than to give up congressional authority to any president. And Mr. Barack Hypocrisy Obama appears only TOO EAGER to violate his oath to protect and defend the Constitution by bypassing congress on the debt ceiling. They both must know the Constitution. It seems there are truly no smart people in Washington. No wonder our national debt is north of $16T.
Abstract01 posted at 2:19 am on Sun, Jan 27, 2013.
McClellan,
are you saying that it is OK for a "dummy-crat" to be hypocritical, but not for a "repugnant".
If liberals and conservatives are actually going to get some action about reducing the financial burden, why don't you drop your acrimony and join forces against the bureaucracy?
truth posted at 2:33 pm on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
Obama, He may not be Lincoln but Obama has achieved more in his first term than “most presidents secure in two terms”-despite relentless Republicans obstructionism. His universal health-care law is “the most significant piece of social policy past since the Great Society,” and his bailouts of Wall Street and Detroit staved off a second Great Depression. He ended the war in Iraq, is pulling us out of Afghanistan, and has already reduced the deficit by $3 trillion over the next decade. If Republicans act responsibly, Obama may achieve even more in term two. Bloomberg.com
bubba posted at 12:10 pm on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
chatmandu002...Arizona also used Federal money meant to help people facing foreclosure from losing thier homes. Just rob Peter to pay into the General Fund. Makes them look fiscally responsible, while they let middle class folks be kicked to the curb.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:29 am on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
chatmandu002: Congressthieves " borrowed " all the money from Social Security and gave Social Security a bunch of IOU'S.
They figured they would be out of office by the time to pay up came.
However, now the time has come to pay back those IOU'S issued by Congress over the years.
It's a matter of paying your bills. We ( American citizens ) owe Social Security trillions of dollars that we borrowed for all sorts of projects that we benefited from over the years. SS money was used for airports, bridges, roads, all sorts of projects that would not have been done if they hadn't borrowed the money.
Whether they < should > have borrowed it or not is another subject and is also irrelevant because they did.
Republicans are always preaching personal responsibility.
Get a job.
Pay your bills.
So now the time has come to pay the bill to Social Security for the money we borrowed, but the Republicans DON'T WANT TO PAY THE BILL.
Where is that famous Republican FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY that they always preach?
Oh yeah, it only applies to OTHER people.
Republicans don't actually believe in paying their bills.
Republicans prefer BORROW AND SPEND and let the grandkids worry about the bills.
chatmandu002 posted at 10:26 am on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
Steve,
We can all see what the problem is. But are we going to do anything about it? Our state legislature took the bull by the horns and cut our budget, some people were hurt but we are in a better situation now. Can or will the federal government do the same? I just read on another website that the Social Security disability fund will be broke in 3 years, will our leaders fix it? It seems the only thing this administration wants to do is raise taxes and kick the can down the road. The road will dead-end somewhere.
downtownresident posted at 10:15 am on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
The House and Senate LOVE these frequent fights over money.
Their high and mighty talk of spending limits are a sure fire way to stimulate the contributions from big business and lobbyists.
So, picking up a few million extra free dollars every few months will guarantee that we never resolve this issue.
Cash cows are sacred in Washington. Here in Arizona, too.
Mike McClellan posted at 9:47 am on Sat, Jan 26, 2013.
Absolutely right -- Obama's hypocrisy is clear in what Mr. Ball shows.
Just like another politician, who voted for two unfunded wars and two unfunded tax cuts in the 2000's, inflating the debt by trillions.
And now bemoans the debt.
That would be Paul Ryan, of course. Born Again Debt Buster. Who, of course, just a few short years ago helped add trillions to the debt by his votes.