While there have been lots of fretting and gloom and doom about piling onto our existing $37 trillion dollars of debt and what that portends for the future, I am unconcerned as we have trustworthy and serious statesmen on the case who tell me not to trust the projections.  And, after all, if there were serious concerns about increasing deficits stemming the bill wouldn’t there need to be a huge raising of the debt ceiling, a step  “deficit hawk” conservatives just won’t abide?  I mean if you included a $5 trillion dollar debt ceiling increase in the bill then that would be a dead giveaway wouldn’t it? 

Discuss.

Distressing…

Discuss.

The Ayatollah couldn’t have said this better, though I’m quite certain that the Taliban would like to give it a shot too. 

Discuss.

Iran.  

No links today.  Events may overtake them anyway.  Enough to talk/think about on that subject without them: Mosaddegh, the Shah, the Revolutionary Government, nuclear issues, regime change, engagement, the future and on and on. 

Discuss.  

This calls for Operation: Wag the Dog.

Discuss.

When you buy a politician for $300 million, don’t you deserve something more from your purchase than a “disgusting abomination?”

After all, you can buy other disgusting abominations for a fraction of that. 

Discuss.

Not on my watch.

Discuss.

Another prediction from the November 2024 prediction post seems to be coming true:

“Hopes:

1. that the GOP takes its austerity language seriously and makes unpopular choices that risks their majorities.  Think LBJ on civil and voting rights, but with policies on spending.  While I may not appreciate the choices and priorities, it would be refreshing to see and it could re-set the country towards a responsible economic future that is very badly needed.

…

Reality: 

1. no significant and helpful changes in revenue or spending.  The debt curve sees no real change, it actually gets worse, and  we find a way to pass off 40+ trillion of debt on to the next holder of the office.”

How long is it going to take for the shoe to fall? 

Discuss.

A double-header today because I couldn’t choose one.  First, is a cheap and easy “well, I told you so” about the big grift to come back in November.  

The second is a more interesting conversation.  Is the right going full commie?  

Or, if you prefer, do things like tax hike proposals and this suggest has the Reagan Revolution ended and, if so, are we looking at a new realignment of the two political parties and, if so, what will a new roughly 50/50 split look like ideologically, geographically and demographically? 

Discuss. 

Is this lying, stupid, crazy or North Korea?

Does which one it is matter? Should we care that the Attorney General of the United States says things publicly that would put any among us inside a padded room?

Discuss.