Spend spend spend

[WarriorAngel]

Obviously the great recession [aka depression to be honest] means little when one is a drunk sailor who is in office.


Hawaii Reporter takes a look at the cost to taxpayers and concludes this year's trip is more expensive than previous trips:

[T]he advanced trip and the cost that comes with it – as much as $100,000 (flight and security) – adds to an already expensive vacation for the taxpayers.
Hawaii Reporter research shows the total cost for the President’s visit for taxpayers far exceeded $1.5 million in 2010 – but is even more costly this year because he extended his vacation by three days and the cost for Air Force One travel has jumped since last assessed in 2000. In addition, Hawaii Reporter was able to obtain more specifics about the executive expenditures.
The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day vacation round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family and staff has climbed to more than $4 million.
​

First Lady Michelle Obama's decision to leave a few days early without her husband will cost more than $100,000..

President Obama's vacation cost is the buzz in Oahu - POLITICO.com


EVEN Republican Senators want to rescind his pay raises...

Washington – Alaska's senators are joining a growing group of lawmakers urging President Obama to rescind a recent executive order granting pay increases to Congress and other federal officials, saying the move doesn't jibe with the country's debt crisis.

Read more: Alaska senators join lawmakers who want Obama to rescind pay raise for Congress | Fox News
​

....

Obama signed an executive order last week that will lift a ban on pay freezes for federal employees.
Rank-and-file members of Congress would all see a $900 bump next year -- up from $174,000. Congressional leaders will receive a slightly higher raise, with the House speaker receiving a $1,100 salary increase to $224,600. The top two Senate leaders will see pay rise $1,000, to $194,400.

​

Adding Biden also got a pay increase.


~~~

For a lucky few with the right political connections, the “fiscal cliff” presented an opportunity to take flight upon pork-encrusted wings. The bill, which no one in the House of Representatives had time to read before voting on it, was packed with juicy special-interest tax breaks and subsidies.
Why not get the party started with a little federally-subsidized rum? $222 million worth, to be precise. The wonderful exercise in fiscal restraint that emanated from the Senate included an extension of excise taxes – which would, technically, be a tax on the middle class, as many of them drink rum. The bulk of the money from these taxes is remitted to Puerto Rico.


...read more




Fiscal cliff payoffs | Conservative News, Views & Books

 

[KatherineS]

We know with the American people (and the majority of American Catholics) having twice elected President Obama, the Right-Wing has given up on fair, democratic elections. Their agenda now is to remove President Obama from office but cutting back on his security detail and hoping for something decent people find almost unthinkable.

They are a pathetic bunch. We must pray for them.

 

[AMDG]

Yes, I know they are "high spenders". (I was aghast that Obama told Jay Leno that he doesn't even know what our debt is and I couldn't even believe that he signed an executive order to raise the salaries of Congress--glad the House shot that down!) Still I think he's raised it 3Trillion now.

Oh well, heard that 77% of you guys will be paying more in taxes because of the fiscal cliff deal--and that doesn't even count for all the taxes that are in Obamacare that you will be having.

In two months there are going to be talks on the debt ceiling. I'm going on record right now as saying that Obama is going to unConstitutionally try to use the 14th Amendment to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling without Congress' agreement. (I think I saw a hint of that plan in his "spiking the football" speech after he got all those taxes.) It's going to be interesting if it turns out to be so.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

My taxes went up a bit, but fortunately I'm ok with that. I don't believe the ACA will have any effect on my take home pay though. How about you? Did you see a tax increase in your paycheck?

 

[Fantine]

If they want to cut down on expensive security details--and make the country safer for the rest of us, then they can pass Senator Dianne Feinstein's assault weapons ban, a bill she will introduce on the first day Congress goes back into session--with a House and Senate that will be more receptive to such a proposal.

 

[Fantine]

We won't get our 2013 paychecks until next week.

We are affected by the lower amount you can put into Flexible Spending Accounts--down to $2500. We used to set aside $4000 for three of us (yes, we didn't have the world's most lavish insurance plans, and two of us are over 60).

We will be affected by the end of the payroll tax holiday. Since my hubby is over the maximum, it will cost him $2240 a year--and it will cost me 2% of my salary.

Since he is retiring at the end of the year, it doesn't matter to me that much. At that point, I will be the only person on salary (he is planning on starting a small business in an area he's dabbled in with some success, and we'll have to see how that goes).

 

[AMDG]

Overheard a receptionist I know discussing her salary yesterday. Her salary was reduced $20.00 just with the Medicare increases--and that's not including the other 1% or 2% expiring tax cut (which *wasn't* considered in this deal) and other reductions which will also cut into her "bring home" pay. And of course, there's the tax that she'll have to pay should she not have health insurance and the fact that the only way around it is for employers to make their employees part-time workers. She's definitely not a "happy camper". And neither is a friend of mine who recently learned that *if* she's able to sell her house, Obamacare will claim 3.8% of the selling price.

Truth be known, nothing has been solved. We are still on our way to becoming Greece. Our only hope was to "tighten our belts" but today's pampered politicians seem to have no idea how to have a solvent country. Only time will tell if we see a fourth credit downgrade because we have not cut spending as the credit agencies told us to do.

 

[WarriorAngel]

It figures Obama doesnt know the debt.
Like i said - he spends like a drunk sailor. Drunks usually dont know or care what money they have - its gonna be spent.
The problem really is - Obama is spending our money like its his.
Thankfully - i was astute and didnt vote for him...and listened to the Bishops.

O that's just absolutely wonderful - he can take 3.8% of a selling price of one's property.

Hey - this all smacks the face of the Popes who warned us. I wouldnt even take the blame of voting for him if i were anyone. He may have been voted in - but according to a Holocaust survivor from Austria - they voted for Hitler too.

 

[AMDG]

The Ugly Truth About The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal

Maybe some rum will make this deal go down better.

 

[WarriorAngel]

No, no it won't. Rum makes me sick - as does this 'deal'.

How it costs taxpayers $1.4 billion a year to fund the White House | The Daily Caller

Taxpayers spent $1.4 billion on Obama family last year | The Daily Caller




1.4 BILLION Spent On The Obamas In 2011 – British Taxpayers Only Spent 57.8 Million On The Royal Family

http://www.inquisitr.com/345745/tax...mas-comforts-last-year-according-to-new-book/http://thetruthwins.com/archives/us...spent-57-8-million-on-the-entire-royal-family

 

[WarriorAngel]

Marie Antionette called - she said this is unfair.


While most of America is suffering through one the worst economic downturns in U.S. history, the Obamas are living the high life at your expense. During 2011, U.S. taxpayers spent an astounding 1.4 billion dollars on the Obamas.

That money paid the salaries of their staff members, it paid for their transportation and housing costs, it paid for entertainment and vacations for the Obamas, and $102,000 was even spent on a "dog handler" for the family dog Bo. In his new book entitled "Presidential Perks Gone Royal: Your Taxes Are Being Used For Obama's Re-election", author Robert Keith Gray reveals some absolutely shocking details about the enormous amounts of U.S. taxpayer money that are being spent on the personal needs of the Obamas.
[see above link]

 

[WarriorAngel]

Again - see above links.

President Barack Obama has received some criticism throughout his presidency over various vacations and “date-nights” with Michelle Obama, all at taxpayer expense. But exactly how much has he spent on personal pleasures and costly comforts? According to a new book, which questions presidential perks as a whole, the POTUS spent $1.4 billion last year alone.

Read more at Taxpayers Fronted $1.4 Billion For President Obama’s Comforts Last Year, According To New Book
​

 

[KatherineS]

Here is a little fact. Anyone who says they are pro-life but wants to see President Obama murdered by given less security protection that other Presidents is a liar and unworthy of the name Christian.

So, with that truth in mind, we can continue this discussion.

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Little factoid we should all keep in mind:

In America the President doesn't spend money

Congress does.

 

[Needing_Grace]

Little factoid we should all keep in mind:

In America the President doesn't spend money

Congress does.

You know that. I know that. I'm sure most of us know that.

But some can't let it get in the way of a good old-fashioned hatred and an uncanny ability to hold on to a grudge.

Sorry, folks. Obama's in for the next four years. Get used to it. Deal.

Now y'all can choose how to do that. Some of you will choose to live in terror and fear of what "HE" will do. Fine. I read in my Bible that perfect love casts out all fear, but if some of you wish to live in fear, well, what can I say? As for me, and probably most of us, I choose to live without fear.

It's part of living in the reality-based community. You're welcome to join but ya gotta lose the fear.

Sorry for the interlude...back to your regularly scheduled topic.

 

[Fantine]

Prevailing economic wisdom says economies don't recover without stimulus.

The President followed prevailing economic wisdom (with which I happen to agree.)

The economy has been recovering--not as quickly as some would like--but recovering.

When budgets are cut in hard times, unemployment increases, businesses go into more trouble--and often less taxes are collected than if a stimulus had been given.

If you want proof, look at what's happening in the UK. Budget cutting has resulted in making the nation's existing problems even more severe.

I do recognize that some of you prefer Fox News Fantasyland to real-life examples in the United Kingdom--that's what keeps this discussion going.

 

[AMDG]

Yes the House of Representatives is *supposed* to hold the purse strings and the Senate is *supposed* to vote. The President is only *supposed* to do what the Congress says, but with Obama particularly, that's not the way it works. He has decided to rule by executive order, side stepping the Congress whenever possible and making them irrelevant. He also bullies--both the Congress and the Judiciary (either insulting them at the State of the Union or calling a press conference to tell them that they can't do something that is their *job* or that he refuses to even talk to them anymore.)

And look at what he has done--three credit downgrades, 16 trillion in debt in December and over a couple trillion more by January, 40% less wealth, we are no longer a power in the world. Attacking the Constitution. Polarizing the country. We can't even recognize our once great country!

Yeah, he managed to get re-elected (because 40% of the people didn't vote or voted for someone who couldn't possibly get elected so only the few voters that were bought with his "Obama-phones" etc. got him elected.) If the Bishops said that his first term was nothing but Gethsemane, I wonder what they'd call things now? The same? Or would they now refer to the time Catholics were fed to the lions?

It's going to be a difficult year. Most of America is already agreeing on that.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Yes the House of Representatives is *supposed* to hold the purse strings and the Senate is *supposed* to vote. The President is only *supposed* to do what the Congress says, but with Obama particularly, that's not the way it works. He has decided to rule by executive order, side stepping the Congress whenever possible and making them irrelevant. He also bullies--both the Congress and the Judiciary (either insulting them at the State of the Union or calling a press conference to tell them that they can't do something that is their *job* or that he refuses to even talk to them anymore.)

Truth.

Heard Obama throws tantrums when he isnt getting his way.
Um - let me think really freaking hard here - who else threw tantrums?


Name begins with H ends with R.
But shhhhh cant be comparing apples to apples.

He has side stepped Congress - and the last 2 weeks i heard him spouting off 'GOP get in line or i am telling on you - {{waving his fingers}} - and then everyone will blame you for not fixing things the way 'I' want them fixed.

Ok, thats the final truth behind his vocal threats i heard him making...and threats indeed - he did make. Like as if he the savior.
Ego maniac.

And look at what he has done--three credit downgrades, 16 trillion in debt in December and over a couple trillion more by January, 40% less wealth, we are no longer a power in the world. Attacking the Constitution. Polarizing the country. We can't even recognize our once great country!

You Are So Not Getting It AMDG - no one cares about facts. Stop reminding everyone - they simply do not care...
Its the party - the party.

Yeah, he managed to get re-elected (because 40% of the people didn't vote or voted for someone who couldn't possibly get elected so only the few voters that were bought with his "Obama-phones" etc. got him elected.) If the Bishops said that his first term was nothing but Gethsemane, I wonder what they'd call things now? The same? Or would they now refer to the time Catholics were fed to the lions?

It's going to be a difficult year. Most of America is already agreeing on that.

I heard something today - will check into it 1st to see if it is genuine - will make a thread if it is.

 

[KatherineS]

Nothing makes my day better than reading how out of their wits the Right Wing is over the FACT they lost the election! It just tickles every part of me!! hehe.

 

[Antigone]

Marie Antionette called - she said this is unfair.

....because she never actually said "let them eat cake" and would like to posthumously rectify the situation.

I need a drink.

Hey, you know who else raised taxes? Hitler.