Bush's priorities under scrutiny

[UpInArms]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-09-17-iraqmoney-usat_x.htm

The White House sent its formal request to Congress on Wednesday for an additional $87 billion to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, inviting renewed debate on President Bush's priorities and more questions about the sustainability of his policies.

<snip>

In his speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Walker, who heads Congress' investigative arm, said the nation's finances were spinning out of control. "Our deficits are not manageable without significant changes in programs, policies and processes."

Though the administration has argued a recovering economy will boost tax revenue and help balance the budget again, Walker disagreed. "We cannot simply grow our way out of this problem," he said. "Tough choices will be required on spending and taxes, and the sooner the better. ... This is arguably the biggest challenge we face. It's time to admit we're in a fiscal hole and stop digging."

...more...

[lazarus]

1. uh oh

I smell some tax raising in the air....

[RobertSeattle]

2. Yes, but only on the highest tax brackets

[ThreeCatNight]

3. I disagree.....

* would never go back on his tax cuts to his wealthy buddies. He will appeal to the ordinary 'Murican working sheeple that we must all make sacrificies in the war on terra, and that means raising taxes ...just a teensy weensy bit for the working class.

[Don_G]

4. I Doubt It

His misadventure in Iraq has proven costly: his tax policies, waste of Clinton's surplus, Trillion plus deficit plus asking for another 87 Billion for a start.

The luster of September the 11th has worn off and people are no longer afraid to be branded a traitor just to ask a few simple questions.

I see this trend continuing unless he can engineer another massive PR event to his benefit. Until then, that $87 Billion Dollar speech has cost him and the GOP control of our country.

[calimary]

7. He's backed into a nasty corner on this one, too.

What many rightwingers say doomed his Daddy was "Read my lips. No new taxes." Aside from the lousy economy and few jobs and exploding deficits and the rest of the crap left over from the Reagan/Bush era that finally came home to roost. They all say THAT was what turned the tide, when he had to raise taxes. One of the only really responsible and realistic things he did, and that doomed him. And Junior is undoubtedly aware of this. After all, most of his tour of duty so far has been studded with talk and "strategery" about avoiding the mistakes of Daddy so Junior gets a second term. Having to retreat on his precious tax cuts will not just piss off his biggest contributors and break a campaign promise to them, it'll remind everybody else about the "no new taxes" line. Along with the MANY other parallels that we now witness. That's just one more nail in the coffin. Granted it isn't a tax increase PER SE. But it'll read very much the same.

He's in deep doo-doo. My only concern is that this is happening maybe a little too soon. They still have time to come up with something dastardly to pull everybody's attention away... I don't trust 'em farther than I can throw the house I'm in.

[Bandit]

5. No the Republican form is "User Fees"

There will be many many "User Fees" introduced so they can say they haven't raised taxes.

[UpInArms]

6. and you just had a prime example of "user fees"

squashed in Washington with the "latte fee" of 10 cents on a $3 cup of coffee -

hell, if you can afford a $3 cup of joe, there's something wrong with that picture anyway :crazy:

[nocreativename]

10. hey now

it's not just joe. And besides it's a washington thing. I don't live in seattle our I would have voted for it.

[snippy]

12. No tax increases. The Tax Cut Monkeys would gnaw his nuts off.

[catmandu57]

8. The ultimate goal is the demise

of the new deal, fair deal, and great society. Every social program brought about by democratic leaders, is in danger at the present time. The moron's* handlers aren't concerned about their pet monkey*, I believe they would gladly sacrifice him in return for the death of every program that doesn't benefit them.

[TahitiNut]

9. David Walker is excellent, IMHO.

While it's 'fun' to bash federal bureaucrats, I've been impressed with David Walker's performance over the years. (He has actually responded to my emails, too.) He's as rational, objective, and nonpartisan as I could imagine in a dense atmosphere of rabid partisanship. Not Quixotic, he seems to demonstrate both courage and integrity. We could sure do a lot worse -- and have over the years.

[Wickerman]

11. Jogging, video games, drinking late evening and early to bed

whats to scrutinize?

:shrug: