So, this is the deal that we're looking at,

[MadHound]

Means testing, cuts in benefits(and yes, raising the age of eligibility is a benefits cuts, despite what some around here seem to think), COLA adjustments to both SS and Medicare/Medicaid. No mortgage interest deduction and other middle class tax breaks, along with the closing of a few tax loopholes for the rich and corporate.

In other words lots of spending cuts for programs that benefit the people in this country. But nothing about cutting the military budget. I'm sorry, but is this administration blind? Can anybody in the White House do basic math?

Military spending makes up over fifty percent of our annual budget. We regularly "lose" billions of dollars, money simply disappears in the military. We sell potential enemies our high tech weapons, and then use this as justification to create higher tech weapons. And let us not forget the huge elephant in the room, namely that we are involved in two illegal, immoral wars, and three illegal, immoral skirmishes, all the while waving the bloody shirt at Iran and others.

The simple fact of the matter is that we cannot solve our debt problem until we decide to cut military spending. Sure, we can continue to cut social programs to the bone, but there is a limit to that sort of cutting, and we're quickly approaching it. The stark fact of the matter is that we are taking the Soviet style of ending our empire, putting an increasing amount of our resources into our war machine at an increasing price to the ordinary people in this country.

It is time to stop this madness. Instead of cutting benefits for people, the Obama administration needs to take the lead in cutting our military budget. I would like to see a fifty percent annual cut, but I realize that is not going to happen. But a ten percent cut in our military budget, approximately one hundred billion annually, combined with letting the Bush/Obama tax cuts expire would go a long way toward bring down our debt over the next ten years. And we wouldn't have to consign the poor, the working and middle classes to more pain and suffering.

[warrior1]

1. I'll bet

it doesn't get past the Senate.

[MadHound]

3. Given the current climate in the country,

With a vast majority against the wars we're involved in, I bet if the Dems proposed it, hit the bully pulpit hard, stood up and fought for it, I would bet you're wrong.

But there's a lot of if's there, the biggest one being that the Dems stand up and fight, so you're probably right on the mark.

[The Magistrate]

2. War Is, Sir, A Luxury we No Longer Can Afford....

[MadHound]

4. And sadly, we continue to poor money down that rathole,

While neglecting our own people and country. Building infrastructure in far flung locales while our own is crumbling. A sad state of affairs indeed.

[Parker CA]

5. I watched the entire presser, and at least three times Obama mentioned cutting defense. He was quite

strong on the issue, in fact.

Highly unlikely that the cuts will equal what many of us here on DU would propose, but to suggest that Obama didn't mention them at all would be incorrect.

[Fire1]

7. Plus, he's already cut 400 billion in defense. n/t

[MadHound]

12. 400 billion over twelve years, a drop in the bucket

33 billion dollars a year, hell, that's less than the automatic increases for inflation.

Let's make some real cuts, 100 billion a year, ten percent of the military budget. Then we can talk.

[MadHound]

9. He mentions defense cuts in a very abstract, hedging matter

"I think we need to cut defense, but as Commander-in-Chief, I’ve got to make sure that we’re cutting it in a way that recognizes we’re still in the middle of a war, we’re winding down another war, and we’ve got a whole bunch of veterans that we’ve got to care for as they come home"

Notice, he says nothing about ending the fucking wars ASAP. Gee, wouldn't that save a hell of a lot of money?

[yourout]

6. No mortgage interest deduction?......are they frickin nuts?

That ought to boost home sales.

[Fire1]

8. I didn't hear one word today about mortgage interest

deductions.

[MadHound]

10. It has been floated out there,

It is coming under the rubric of closing tax loopholes and revenue generation, not spending.

[yourout]

11. It would be a colossally bad move.

Home sales would all but disappear. Without the mortgage interest deduction probably half of the middle incomers that are buying will be gone.

Without the deduction it would probably be cheaper to rent.

On edit: If they are talking about taking away the deduction for a secondary residence but leaving it for the primary residence.....fine.

[Carni]

21. WOAH That is screwed up!

To disclose I am not able to take advantage of that deduction but man...that will not be popular and would have a massive impact on the economy IMO

Many middle class people and small biz owners depend on that refund/deduction at year's end.

And yeah, that would be the nail in real estate's coffin. Why buy a house if you cannot enjoy a write off?!

[ProSense]

13. Hmmm?

"But nothing about cutting the military budget. "


President Obama:

<...>

It also requires cuts in defense spending, and I’ve said that in addition to the $400 billion that we’ve already cut from defense spending, we’re willing to look for hundreds of billions more.

<...>

Which press conference did you listen to?

Pelosi Remarks Following Democratic Caucus Meeting Today

[MadHound]

15. See post number nine above,

He may be looking, but we're in the war business to stay. Nothing about ending these wars.

Oh, and four hundred billion, over twelve years, is a drop in the bucket. Less than the military will receive as inflation compensation.

Get back to me when he starts hitting the ten percent mark. That will be a real achievement.

[ProSense]

18. What's at post number nine?

Is it an admission that this statement from the OP was bogus: "But nothing about cutting the military budget."

[MadHound]

19. You can read apparently,

Read for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Just remember, we're not getting out of Afghanistan anytime soon, and military spending constitutes over fifty percent of our budget.

Don't you think we need to cut it back? Don't you think we need to end these illegal, immoral wars?

[hay rick]

23. "Cutting the military budget" is code for spending more.

A "cut" is spending less than requested. Actual spending here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Defense_Spending_Trends.png

Read it and weep.

[hay rick]

25. Delete

[hay rick]

26. Another try at the link:

[damntexdem]

14. It may be the deal that I'm being hit with, but it's not one I'm looking at.

What I'm looking at is that if Obama really pushes this, and especially if it goes through, then I WILL NOT be voting for Obama in 2012.

[MadHound]

16. I'm right there with you,

I can no longer go down the path that Obama is leading us, especially if it means abandoning the people of this country and core Democratic values and programs.

[JoePhilly]

17. You have a credible link for this??

Just want to make sure before I clutch the pearls and run off to the fainting couch!!!

[Marr]

20. rOpe a doap!!1!

Rope a dope, my ass.

[amborin]

22. kick

[Lorien]

24. Amen. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

27. End the Bush tax cuts, Cut Defense 30-50%, End the drug war, legalize & tax pot first.

Oh, yeah, I know, crazy talk.