Ben Carson Doesn't Appear to Understand The Debt Ceiling

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

The Cadet said:
Make up your mind! Yeesh! Was Ben Carson dishonest or wrong?

Neither.

The Cadet said:
It can be both, but it can't be neither.

He rejected the premise of the question. It's really not complicated.

When people ask gotcha questions ... with the malice and forethought to pervert the answer regardless of whichever way the response is phrased, the best course of action is to reject the premise underlying the question and address the root issue.

That's what Ben Carson did. Nothing more. Nothing less. The reporter was disingenuousness ... and the obviousness of that is reflected in the reporter attempting to maintain the original agenda driven script despite the FACT that Ben Carson had moved the narrative to a place they did not want to go. The reporter didn't want to talk about the root problem causing the "debt ceiling" issues. Carson did and he stuck to it. :oldthumbsup:

The Cadet said:
Either he dishonestly dodged the question and refused to answer, or he wrongfully misunderstood the question and doesn't know what the debt ceiling is. Either way, it reflects poorly on him.

Again, he rejected the premise of the question. Had it been asked of Trump or Ted Cruz, their answer might have been to throw it directly back at the reporter and declare him an idiot for asking a stupid question. But, Ben Carson is a nice guy. He doesn't like to insult people ... even stupid reporters ... who ask idiotic gotcha questions.

amanuensis63 · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
His answer, repeated so as to avoid any possible misinterpretation, was absolutely correct ... and addressed the root issue rather than the hocus-pocus perceptual issues so many politicians like to focus on.

If I asked you what you are going to do about the overdraft charge incurred on your checking account is your answer going to be: "Next month I will put more money in my checking account!"

So ... what exactly do you want.

I want him to answer the question asked. I want that of every politician. NOT the question they wanted asked, but the question asked.

Do you sincerely want his perspectives?

Yes.

Do you want root problems solved?

Yes.

IF you were to actually listen to the interview posted in the OP you would KNOW that he had plenty of time to outline his approach to the root problem (hint: it was simplistic and would likely result in a catastrophe, and he blathered "Lean 6 Sigma" like he had any idea how to apply it.)

AFTER he had his time to explain how he would cut spending he was asked about debts already obligated and the upcoming vote in November to raise the debt ceiling and how he would make the call.

He CLEARLY had no idea that the debt ceiling applied only to debts already obligated. The interview explained this to him and he blithely responded with more indication that he had no idea this applied to debts already obligated.

I get it, there is LITERALLY nothing Ben Carson or Donald Trump could say to make you question them. LITERALLY NOTHING. No matter what absurdity they utter you will be quick to explain how, in bizarro-world, their point "made sense".

The ONLY WAY Ben's response makes sense is if you honestly think Ben was proposing time travel.

ONE CANNOT DEAL WITH A DEBT DUE TODAY BY SUGGESTING HOW TO NOT INCUR THE DEBT. Unless, of course, through time travel.

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

amanuensis63 said:
IF you were to actually listen to the interview posted in the OP ...

LOL ... I did.

That's why I have been able to speak with certainty ... and specificity ... as to exactly what Ben Carson did and didn't say.

DaisyDay · Oct 9, 2015

AvilaSurfer said:
Except that there hasn't been a passed, signed budget in 7 years...

The President and Federal agencies can't spend any money not appropriated by Congress. Congress passes the laws and controls the purse strings.

Each year, Obama has submitted his budget - or wishlist - as required by law. If the House and the Senate can't resolve their budgets, they still pass Appropriation Bills to fund the government (or not).

...so Obama just does whatever the hell he wants.

That's a wild fantasy.

DaisyDay · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
When people ask gotcha questions

How is it a gotcha question? This is something that recurs from time to time and will happen in November.

Whoever wins the election in 2016 will be working with a budget in 2017 that will have been established before he or she became president.

MerlinJ · Oct 9, 2015

DaisyDay said:
How is it a gotcha question?

A gotcha question is determined by how well the candidate answers. Less than perfect answer? GOTCHAQUESTION! Real questions are multiple choice. ^_^

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

DaisyDay said:
How is it a gotcha question?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotcha_journalism

Gotcha journalism is often designed to keep the interviewee on the defensive by, for example, being required to explain some of their own statements taken out of context thus effectively preventing the interviewee from clearly presenting their position. The intent of gotcha journalism is always premeditated and used to defame or discredit the interviewees by portraying them as self-contradictory, malevolent, unqualified, or immoral.

Ben Carson saw the gotcha question for what it was and addressed the root cause of the problem in clear, unequivocal terms.

The media, which is to say CNN, showed the pre-mediated intention afterward anyway by attempting to say that Carson didn't understand the question. Clearly, Carson not only understood the question, he addressed the underlying root problem to resolve it ... and the only way to resolve it.

DaisyDay said:
This is something that recurs from time to time and will happen in November.

The media of the political elite seems determined to go out in a blaze of glory over the next few months. All of the leading Republican contenders have demonstrated both the ability to deal with the media dishonesty and the willingness to do so.

:oldthumbsup:

DaisyDay said:
Whoever wins the election in 2016 will be working with a budget in 2017 that will have been established before he or she became president.

Yes ... and the media is going to blame the next Republican president for all the sins of his/her Democrat predecessor ... and then some.

Do you plan to similarly blame the next Republican president for things he/she did not do?

pat34lee · Oct 9, 2015

amanuensis63 said:
In addition it appears that Carson's only definite plan to cut gov't spending is to go to every department head and commanding them to cut 3-4% in costs. His reasoning is nothing is perfectly efficient so he's taking the atomic bomb approach and just blasting everything.

3-4% is that drastic to you? About half of government, I would work to defund totally and close down.

Carson is out of his depth in this area. It's kind of scary that he's #2 in many of the GOP polls.

When it comes down to specifics, none of them know everything. That's why they build a cabinet of advisers.
It prevents gaffs like bowing to Saudi royals or giving the Queen of England an iPod with your book on it.

AvilaSurfer · Oct 9, 2015

DaisyDay said:
The President and Federal agencies can't spend any money not appropriated by Congress. Congress passes the laws and controls the purse strings.

Each year, Obama has submitted his budget - or wishlist - as required by law. If the House and the Senate can't resolve their budgets, they still pass Appropriation Bills to fund the government (or not).
That's a wild fantasy.

Actually it's deadly accurate.

amanuensis63 · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
LOL ... I did.

That's why I have been able to speak with certainty ... and specificity ... as to exactly what Ben Carson did and didn't say.

Like I said, there's literally nothing Ben could say that you wouldn't defend. Same with Trump apparently.

Even if it means going directly against reality.

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

amanuensis63 said:
Like I said, there's literally nothing Ben could say that you wouldn't defend. Same with Trump apparently.

Only when they're correct.

amanuensis63 said:
Even if it means going directly against reality.

Your perspective of reality seems somewhat different from mine.

amanuensis63 · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotcha_journalism

Gotcha journalism is often designed to keep the interviewee on the defensive by, for example, being required to explain some of their own statements taken out of context thus effectively preventing the interviewee from clearly presenting their position. The intent of gotcha journalism is always premeditated and used to defame or discredit the interviewees by portraying them as self-contradictory, malevolent, unqualified, or immoral.

Ben Carson saw the gotcha question for what it was and addressed the root cause of the problem in clear, unequivocal terms.

Yeah, it was a "gotcha question" because it related to real life. Would Ben support NOT raising the debt ceiling, thus leading directly to US default.

The fact that Ben couldn't or didn't answer it means he didn't want to tell you whether he thought it was OK to hold the US credit rating hostage for longer term ideologies.

So Ben is either incompetent or hiding something from you.

I can see why you guys who support him will justify every single utterance he makes!

The media, which is to say CNN, showed the pre-mediated intention afterward

BUT YOU TOLD US YOU LISTENED TO THE INTERVIEW! If you really did you would know it had NOTHING TO DO WITH CNN! CNN was in NO WAY INVOLVED in the question!!!

LOL!

NHE, if you are going to tell us you listened to the interview, then maybe you should pay closer attention to figure out WHO WAS DOING THE INTERVIEW!

LOL!

anyway by attempting to say that Carson didn't understand the question.

Actually that was manifest in the interview (which wasn't done by CNN, btw), when the interviewer explained after Ben fumbled the first asking. The interview had to explain to Ben what the Debt Ceiling meant in relation to debt obligated.

The media of the political elite seems determined to go out in a blaze of glory over the next few months

Funny. It sounds like you have never listened to Marketplace on NPR. I guess because it isn't hosted on Fox it probably sounds commie to you. (HINT: Marketplace is about as capitalistic as a radio show can be. The rejoice when the market goes UP and they are sad when it goes down.)

Do you plan to similarly blame the next Republican president for things he/she did not do?

Probably. Most of us aren't such fierce defenders of an ideologue that we will be willing to deny reality and bend the laws of TIME AND SPACE to make every utterance they make, no matter how uninformed or bizarre, out to be a pure wisdom.

amanuensis63 · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
Your perspective of reality seems somewhat different from mine.

I've asked you a couple times now a question which would clarify this very point. But you ignore it. And I think I know why. You realize that if you answer it rationally you'll make Carson's comments clearly irrational.

If you have incurred an overdraft charge on your checking account and I ask you if you are going to pay it or not, will you answer with how much better you'll keep the check book next month? Or will you answer the question?

Just answer that question and we'll understand exactly how "realistic" you are.

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

amanuensis63 said:
I've asked you a couple times now a question which would clarify this very point. But you ignore it. And I think I know why. You realize that if you answer it rationally you'll make Carson's comments clearly irrational.

If you have incurred an overdraft charge on your checking account and I ask you if you are going to pay it or not, will you answer with how much better you'll keep the check book next month? Or will you answer the question?

Noting that people who live within their budget don't get hit with overdraft charges.

stamperben · Oct 9, 2015

amanuensis63 said:
I've asked you a couple times now a question which would clarify this very point. But you ignore it. And I think I know why. You realize that if you answer it rationally you'll make Carson's comments clearly irrational.

If you have incurred an overdraft charge on your checking account and I ask you if you are going to pay it or not, will you answer with how much better you'll keep the check book next month? Or will you answer the question?

Just answer that question and we'll understand exactly how "realistic" you are.

He won't answer as he thinks anything other than a question from an approved (by him) conservative source is a "gotcha" question.

Gordon Wright · Oct 9, 2015

All that needs to be said about the debt ceiling:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7)

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. (Proverbs 22:26-27)

"Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." (Ecclesiastes 5:5)

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

DaisyDay · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotcha_journalism

Gotcha journalism is often designed to keep the interviewee on the defensive by, for example, being required to explain some of their own statements taken out of context thus effectively preventing the interviewee from clearly presenting their position. The intent of gotcha journalism is always premeditated and used to defame or discredit the interviewees by portraying them as self-contradictory, malevolent, unqualified, or immoral.

Ben Carson saw the gotcha question for what it was and addressed the root cause of the problem in clear, unequivocal terms.

There was no defamation. Carson was asked a question about the debt ceiling which we are due to hit - again - this November when the appropriations run out.

The media, which is to say CNN, showed the pre-mediated intention afterward anyway by attempting to say that Carson didn't understand the question. Clearly, Carson not only understood the question, he addressed the underlying root problem to resolve it ... and the only way to resolve it.

More and more it seems as if you really don't understand this particular issue, what it is about and who the interviewer was. ^_^

The media of the political elite seems determined to go out in a blaze of glory over the next few months. All of the leading Republican contenders have demonstrated both the ability to deal with the media dishonesty and the willingness to do so.

Wait, what? The "something that recurs from time to time and that will happen again in November" is us hitting against the debt ceiling again. This has nothing to do with media dishonesty or the media at all. It is the subject of discussion - the debt ceiling which we will be coming against soon.

Yes ... and the media is going to blame the next Republican president for all the sins of his/her Democrat predecessor ... and then some.

Do you plan to similarly blame the next Republican president for things he/she did not do?

What do you mean "similarly"? Do you think that a Republican is not going to win in 2016?

DaisyDay · Oct 9, 2015

Gordon Wright said:
All that needs to be said about the debt ceiling:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7)

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. (Proverbs 22:26-27)

"Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." (Ecclesiastes 5:5)

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

Sounds like you're on the same page as Dr. Carson, but platitudes don't pay the bills.

NightHawkeye · Oct 9, 2015

DaisyDay said:
There was no defamation.

Come on, DaisyDay.

CNN blasted Carson after the interview ... defaming Carson about "not understanding the debt ceiling" despite the FACT that Carson not one time in the interview mentioned "debt ceiling". Instead, he addressed the root problem ... which was not at all what CNN was hoping to get from the interview. So sad for them ...

DaisyDay · Oct 9, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
Come on, DaisyDay.

CNN blasted Carson after the interview ... defaming Carson about "not understanding the debt ceiling" despite the FACT that Carson not one time in the interview mentioned "debt ceiling". Instead, he addressed the root problem ... which was not at all what CNN was hoping to get from the interview. So sad for them ...

It seems pretty obvious that neither he nor you understand the debt ceiling problem...or how much the President actually controls the budget.

Are you accusing CNN and Kai Rysdall with colluding on a "gotcha" question? :doh:

Ben Carson Doesn't Appear to Understand The Debt Ceiling

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