Newt Gingrich Leading Insane Conservative Effort to Close Deficit By Reducing Revenues

[swag]

Matt Yglesias

If this Washington Post article is to be believed, I think some prominent Washington figures may need a course in remedial math:

And Republicans have made it clear that they intend to try to shift the economic debate toward concern about the federal deficit.

They are also preparing to use the ballooning deficit to renew their push for additional tax cuts. Groups including the Club for Growth and GOP leaders such as former House speaker Gingrich say such cuts would do more to improve the economy than the spending plan would.

The reporters on the piece, Michael D. Shear and Paul Kane, might have observed that a deficit is, by definition, a shortfall between revenue and spending. Thus, it’s extremely difficult to envision circumstances under which “additional tax cuts” would prevent the deficit from ballooning. As this handy chart indicates, ballooning deficits are strongly correlated with either fighting World War II or else governance dominated by a desire for “additional tax cuts”:



. . . more

[Cerridwen]

1. Let me see if I understand their "logic,"

if I want to reduce my debt, all I have to do is pay less on my bills?

If I pay zero on my bills, does that zero out my debt?

[baldguy]

6. Republican logic.

500,000,000,000,000 - 0 = 0

I'm sure MasterCard would think otherwise.

[Jamastiene]

2. Oh, ffs! When is his 15 minutes going to be over?

Neuter Newt!

x(

[Baikonour]

3. Evidently never.

You'd think after he plead guilty to all those tax violations, he would've disappeared. Hell, his approval rating after that happened was at 28% and yet all these years later he still thinks he's relevant.

Typical repuke delusion.

[stillcool]

4. oh jeeze..make it stop!...

Tax cuts, Tax cuts, Tax cuts..followed by Terror, Terror, Terror. Do they have nothing else in their repertoire?

[OHdem10]

5. please do not dismiss them as being insane. They are as serious

as the day is long.

PnaC---even spelled it out. Grover Norquist, a real serious
player in GOP Political scene has spelled it out. Cut Taxes,
Cut Taxes Cut Taxes and eventually the revenue coming into the
Government will be such a small amout. Defense Spend until we
are purple to use up any possible tax money coming. One Day
we wake and they will be telling us. Sorry Folks no money
available--SS Medicare etc are over.

We must recognize that they believe these social safety net
programs are wrong. This is not responsiblity. Small government
means as little Government as absolutely needed.

[tabasco]

7. LOL. Republicans spend like drunken sailors & hand off the ruinous debt to Democrats to fix

As soon as the adults are back in charge, the republicans screech about the debt.

Unfuckingbelieveable, but it's what's been happening for a long time.