GOP appears poised to take on entitlements

[spanone]

In Florida, Republican lawmakers are racing toward a spending showdown with Democrats



CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.— If there's any place
where tea partiers in Congress might hesitate
to call for cuts in Social Security and Medicare
to shrink the federal debt, Florida's retirement
havens should top the list.

Even here, however, Republican lawmakers are
racing toward a spending showdown with
Democrats exhibiting little nervousness about
deep cuts, including those that eventually
would hit benefit programs long left alone by
politicians.

In fact, many GOP freshmen seem bolder than
ever. It's Democrats, especially in the Senate,
who are trying to figure out how to handle the
popular but costly retirement programs.
Congress, meanwhile, is rapidly nearing
critical decisions on the budget and the
nation's debt ceiling.

Radical ideas?
In southeast Florida last week, first-term GOP
Rep. Allen West, a tea party favorite, called for
changes that some might consider radical:
abolish the Internal Revenue Service and
federal income tax; retain tax cuts for
billionaires so they won't shut down their
charities; stop extending unemployment
benefits that "reward bad behavior" by
discouraging people from seeking new jobs.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42293731/ns/politics-more_politics/#

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Allen West is scary crazy

Who did he beat?

[spanone]

2. the fact he beat anyone or anything is frightening

he beat the incumbent democrat ron klein

[WingDinger]

3. Thats OK, we wont get cross. At least we have the sweet by and by.

[Angry Dragon]

4. The most abusive entitlement program in this country

is that elected officials feel that they are entitled to huge pensions and perks paid for the taxpayers that they demonize everyday

Public sector union employees are told they make too much and their pensions are destroying this country. How many elected officials are cutting their own pay and cutting their pensions??

[liberal N proud]

5. Social Security is not an entitlement

And we need to treat it as what it is. We paid in to it separately from taxes and it was intended to be kept separate from taxes.

It is not an entitlement it is a benefit that we paid for!!!!!!

[pacalo]

12. It's a savings account that we taxpayers are funding. They should be going after the corporations

who AREN'T paying the taxes they owe but are getting million$ in tax refunds.

I'm so tired of their Ricardo-Mertz logic.

[DJ13]

6. This is what happens when you let a vicious opponent make a comeback

The GOP was essentially dead after Bush, but the idiots in charge of our party (including Obama) failed to launch a real progressive agenda in early 09, in fact they went out of their way to help make the GOP relevant with a constant barrage of conservative proposals under the guise of bipartisanship.

Now they're back, and more arrogant than ever.

Thanks Dem party leaders, any more bright ideas?

[indepat]

7. You mean if BHO had stopped junior's juggernaut in its tracks and implemented a truly progressive

agenda instead of ratifying/continuing most of junior's major ruinous actions, wars, and policies, including an irresponsible fiscal policy precipitated and exacerbated by a grossly unfair tax policy, Dems would now be in control of both Houses of Congress and would easily retain the WH and congressional control in 2012? :patriot:

[elfin]

8. This geezer dares them

And double dares them - gray (or frosted) power to the streets with our walkers and/or canes.

Wonder if we can get on the TeeVee?? Or that Face something whatchamcallit? Maybe on the You something something that our grandkids talk about?

[suston96]

9. That senior population group is about to grow by the millions.......

.....as Baby Boomers reach the age and decide to apply for social security retirement benefits - a program they have been paying into for many, many years.

In other words, the present rumblings from seniors that were already getting louder will reach tsunami (sorry) levels as attacks on those entitlement programs become more personal to the millions of new eligibles, who may or may not include millions of Republican voters, soon to become former Republican voters.

Are the Republicans in the Congress doing some basic math here?

[hulka38]

10. because the Democratic Party won't so much as counter punch

to protect its core principles. I think we like getting hit in the face.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. This is what happens when crime is shrugged off and we 'look

forward, not back'. This is what comes from 'turning the page' and years of praising the vicious Republicans.

[Raine]

13. "Entitlement" is what you are ENTITLED TO

because you earned it or were promised it. I'm sick to death of these assholes acting like it's a fucking handout!!!!!! :mad: :grr: :nuke:

[spanone]

14. +1

it's the same as paying insurance premiums then being denied coverage. imo

[butterfly77]

15. ...

[applegrove]

16. What about subsidies for big agribusiness?