Straight Talk Needed: What Programs Will You Cut, Senator McCain?
Straight Talk Needed: What Programs Will You Cut, Senator McCain?
This weekend, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) announced his “goal” of balancing the budget in his first term. “It has to be our goal, because we’re mortgaging these young people’s future,” he said.
There are two ways to lower the deficit: raise taxes or cut spending. On Sunday, McCain took taxes off the table by taking the “Read My Lips” plunge, proclaiming that as president he would not raise taxes for any reason:
MCCAIN: No new taxes. [...]
Q: But under no circumstances would you increase taxes?
MCCAIN: No.
Watch it:
But it’s not just that McCain won’t raise taxes. On his campaign website, McCain trumpets a laundry list of tax cuts:
– Permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
– Cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent
– Provide all individuals with a $2,500 [health care] tax credit ($5,000 for families)
– Expanded health savings accounts
– Allow first-year deduction, or “expensing”, of equipment and technology investments.
– Establish permanent tax credit equal to 10 Percent of wages spent on R&D.
McCain may decry the current deficits, but his plan will only exacerbate them. The first three items on his tax cut list alone would cost more than $380 billion in 2009, far more than President Bush’s tax cuts combined.
So, how will McCain pay for his tax cuts? He touts his pledge to eliminate earmarks, but this would save roughly $20 to $30 billion a year. McCain is still left with over $350 billion in tax cuts unaccounted for, which will require massive — and unpopular — spending cuts if he is going to keep his word.
McCain has said in the past that he thinks tax cuts should be paid for. He voted against Bush’s 2001 tax cuts, for example, because the President did not provide a way to pay for them:
“All the predicates for the 2001 tax cuts and all the predictions for its results were absolutely, completely wrong,”he said. “And it will worsen the deficit before it ever helps the economy,” he added. [Newhouse News Service, 2/24/03]
Despite admitting to not understanding the economy, McCain still needs to answer a fundamental question about his tax plan: if he’s going to lower taxes and balance the budget at the same time, what programs will he cut?
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McCain better start bunking with Huck at that Holiday Inn Express every night.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:08 pmHis formula:
Step 1. Get elected President
Step 2. ???
Step 3. Successful Economy and No New Taxes!
February 19th, 2008 at 8:09 pmTo permanently do away with the AMT (as poorly written as it was) and cut taxes for corporations?
February 19th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHow do we make up the lost revenue. Every branch of the military is in desperate need for new equipment. Our nation’s infrastructure needs are greater in dollar’s needed than the amount spent thus far on the war. And we are still prosecuting the “war”.
McCain needs to be specific, but he can’t be, because what he is promising is pure bunk.
We are already facing a projected $400 billion deficit. And now McCain wants to tack another $350 billion on top of that? Most people call that insanity.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHe figured it worked for Reagan—so he might as well try it. Promise the miracle of trickle-down economics which has never worked since the 1920’s. GHWBush called it “voodoo economics”. Total debt our first 200 years (ending with Carter) was $0.9 trillion. After 12 years of Reagan & GHWB trickle-down, it was $4.1 trillion.
So, you add $380 annual loss to the already $500 billion and you get a $880 annual deficit. Won’t be long before we are declared a failed state and taken over by the World Bank. I ain’t kidding. This is what some top economists say.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:18 pmMcBush has only one thing going for him. His tough guy, macho man persona based on the distant past. People that don’t think, don’t look into the “new” McBush, and are looking for a Father image to soothe their frightened psyche, will be in his back pocket. All the rest of the people will see him for the empty suit tha he really is.
November will be a blowout.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:19 pmHuckleberry has a great plan: add another lane to I-95. That’ll solve all our economic woes. Plus global warming. [I'm being sarcastic. He isn't].
February 19th, 2008 at 8:21 pmMerlin, Obama against McCain and all votes counted fairly—Dems win easily.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:24 pmMerlin-
February 19th, 2008 at 8:24 pmFor McCain to kiss the hand of Bush just shows how disingenuous he is. Bush avoided Viet Nam by being placed at the top of the list for the Texas Air Nat. Guard; did not report for duty when he received permission to transfer to a fading out unit of the Alabama Guard, but instead worked on Blount’s campaign there. If anything, McCain should be thoroughly disgusted with even being present in the same room.
Simply put. McCain cannot deliver on his promise. He is in a fantasy world.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:27 pmIt doesn’t take much common sense to understand that when you spend more and don’t increase your income your butt is going to be in big trouble. Why the hell can’t these politicians figure that out?
Good grief — let’s just have a lottery every four years to determine who our federal legislators are — we certainly couldn’t be any worse off and we’d stand a good chance of improving our government.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pmleftcoast,
February 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pmPlus the smears by Bush’s people against McCain in 2000. Don’t see how he forgets that.
should have a line thorugh it…
February 19th, 2008 at 8:28 pm13 sorry folks, I was experimenting with tags….
didn’t seem to work.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:33 pmPoliticians keep repeating the same lie..about ‘not raising your taxes’.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:33 pmBut politicians find a better way to get to people’s pockets…just look at your monthly telephone bills, the gasoline you pump,the passport fees, car registration fee, driver’s license fee…on and on…
Look at commercial air ticket you buy..almost 25% of the ticket’s price you pay goes for taxes…
Schools tuition fees, sales taxes…etc.etc..
The Taxpayer is heavily burdened with taxes…while they are not increasing your Federal Taxes…they are chasing you to get every penny they can collect from you.
Corporations now passing most of their expenses to consumers..Look at the Phone bill and see how many items are included in the bill for you to pay every month.
While politicians might not have raised your Federal Income Tax, they already made you pay many hidden taxes.
For the average American, whatever it is called Taxes or fees…it makes no difference, because it is coming out of his pocket.
McSnarly is just running on what repulics always run on…….he knows he can’t win and if he did he would be like bush I …..read my lips, no new taxes…….something will have to happen no matter who the pres is.
This is just keeping up the good fight so they can run it up the flagpole again in 4 years.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:39 pmHe’s going to cut all government programs and fund only unwed mother organizations?
February 19th, 2008 at 8:50 pmI’m so not caring about this tool.
Saddle up! The Keating 5 Rides Again!! De-Regulated financial scandals for me and all my friends!!!
Run, McMaverick, Run!!
February 19th, 2008 at 8:52 pmOur currency is currently being devalued by the actions of our non-bank, Federal Reserve. This will allow us to pay our international debt in nominal terms – in dollars that are worth far less than those we borrowed years ago.
Wages will lag. Prices of necessities will rise while the value of assets (in both real and nominal terms) will fall.
We’re fixin’ to feel the pain of our past taxation/spending choices.
We will be compelled, in the coming decade, to both raise taxes and cut services.
It’s time that those who benefit the most from our system – mega-profitable corporations and individuals – to start paying their fair share.
as usual, the middle class will be too stupid to protect its own best interests.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:56 pmSeeing the attempts of explaining the Republicans’ tax policy is always almost as funny as those documentaires where rotting fruits or dead animals are filmed through all the process of decomposition and then the movie is shown in fast forward mode. Fascinating and disgusting.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:01 pmThis is the Grover Norquist philosophy of government. When we have no roads, no schools, nothing but bombs, I hope McCave starves to death.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:09 pmComment by questioneverything — February 19, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
This is the Grover Norquist philosophy of government. In concert with the “trickle down theory” which acts as the cover up for the Norquist philosophy.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pmI hate to use the word stupid. We teach our daughter not to say it.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm#21….questioneverything,
I agree with you,
How can a candidate say that he will continue his war dreams,by having many coming wars, more military spending, also wants America to act as a big empire , yet no tax increase, but keep borrowing money.
We already saw what’s the cost of two small wars to us..with two small countries.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pmUnless McCain explains to us how is he going to do it..then it will stay nothing but cheap talk by him.
Don’t wait until Nov. 2008 to tell America what you’re going to cut, John. Tell us now.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pmIs it heretical here to say that the government is way too big and powerful and wasteful? I don’t much care what programs McCain cuts as long as he balances the budget, like Bill Clinton did. We’re screwing our children out of their security and prosperity.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pmhttp://www.newsprism.com
Wisconsin: Obama 56%, Clinton 43% with 19% in.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:58 pmOf course the ‘goal’ will keep moving and he’ll never score.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm#26
“I don’t much care what programs McCain cuts as long as he balances the budget, like Bill Clinton did. We’re screwing our children out of their security and prosperity.”
Silly sentiment. Of COURSE it is important what programs he cuts. What, you think its OK for your kids to end up with a military that will never be used, but a debt of $300,000@ and NO INFRASTRUCTURE.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:10 pmOF course we have to be concerned with what programs would be cut.
So how many folks think that rush and all the other wing nuts a coupla weeks ago was just a form of roper dope to throw every body off.
They want McBush, as dollars drop from the heavens and hedgefunds, they want that dried up prune to run, for Pres and then to fall out after two years and let his vice do the rest of that term.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pmIt’s one thing to not be good at economics. It’s another thing to not be good at basic arithmetic. And it’s the latter that seems to be the bigger problem for McCain.
In order to balance the budget, income must equal or exceed outgo. An elementary schooler can grasp that. Why can’t McCain?
Or maybe he just figures that if he screams “balanced budget!” and “tax cuts!” loud enough and often enough, he will be able to seduce enough people who won’t care that it makes no sense.
First question he should be asked — how does he expect to pay for all these wars he wants? Or is he, like Bush, going to claim that falls outside the budget because China is paying for them?
February 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm#15 tarazan: You are so right. Sadly, most people live under the delusion that if you lower their income taxes that they will have more money to spend. And then the reality sinks in to some of them. Fees and more fees. More and more increased local taxes. It’s amazing. And just how much of the money given to the rich is going back into the economy as investments and not offshore to the Caymens?
In Denmark, where they are consistently labeled the happiest people in the world, they pay around 50% in taxes. So what? They have total health care. They pay you to go to college. Yes, you read that right. They work about 32 hours a week. They get on average about 6 weeks vacation a year. I’d gladly pay 50% to have most, if not all, necessary services paid for. A government of the people, by the people, for the people is exactly what taxes are supposed to pay for. OUR needs! If we start using OUR money to rebuild and repair OUR infrastructure how many jobs will that create? If it were a national program of some sort it would probably create over a million new jobs. Add to that building and modernizing new schools and OUR water and sewer systems. How about a new, for the future, mass transit system for our cities instead of slow, noisy, plodding diesel soot spewing buses.
We need to be innovative and proactive instead of just believing the same old mantras of self-serving politicians, especially John McCain.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:23 pmComment by Mr. Evil — February 19, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
SHHHHHHH we got wars t’ fight
February 19th, 2008 at 10:25 pm#32- Mr. Evil,
I agree with you…other countries pay taxes, but they reap more benefits than us overhere in return for their paid taxes.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:36 pmThat’s why taxes are the most hated thing in America…it is because the return to taxpayers is very low.
Other industrial countries are advancing more than us in many areas,building their infrastructure and having savings because they do not have to spend hundreds of billions of their tax collected revenues annually on defense like we do.
Off topic:
Obama wins Wisonsin. Hillary collects more votes than the Republicans combined. Check this link for spin free numbers. Just click on any state.
http://www.pbs.org/ newshour/ vote2008/ primaries/ states/
February 19th, 2008 at 10:43 pmOther industrial countries are advancing more than us in many areas,building their infrastructure and having savings because they do not have to spend hundreds of billions of their tax collected revenues annually on defense like we do.
Comment by tarazan — February 19, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
Sadly, we don’t HAVE to either. We’re just led to believe that we do. And lied to to facilitate our defense spending. So a tiny fraction of our populace can profit mercilessly at the expense of the rest of us. It just saddens me to no end when I realize what we are capable of creating and building and accomplishing is tossed aside just so the Bush and PNAC cabal can feed their obsession with money by destroying anything and everything to accumulate it. They worship money.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:47 pmLooks like it will be McCain vs Obama in the election for President. McCain will be the next President of the United States and continue to stay the course that the current White House is doing. Senator Obama isn’t experienced enough to give a speech during the debates. Yes if speeches and the word Change were all that was needed Obama might win he gives great speeches. Let’s face it this country is about color, sex, Rock Star it’s about a plan of action. Yes Obama has John Kerry and Ted Kennedy to lay out a plan but isn’t that what a President does. We’re had 7 years of Dick Cheney running the White House, if Obama gets in it will be John Kerry/Ted Kennedy running the White House. McCain knows if the choice is him or Obama he wins. Senator Obama become black when he decided to run for President, he forgot about his blackness during the Katrina storm and when the need to help the Jenna Six. Obama was born and raised in Hawaii and living a good life, then came to Chicago to get the black experience. He brought a home he couldn’t afford with the help of his friend a now indicted criminal. Yes Obama talked his way like a Preacher leading the weak. No plan on how to get the US out of this mess, but a helluva speech. Americans are losing their jobs and homes, but what they voted for a the speech. Hope and Change are powerful words but without a plan of action there just words. Our country needs a President with a plan, Obama would be better used to go around the USA and give his speeches of Hope and Change.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pmIn his Wisconsin victory speech this evening, John McCain wasted no time in firing shots across Barack Obama’s bow. Hoping to highlight the Democratic frontrunner’s inexperience, McCain to partisan cheers ridiculed Obama’s promises as “eloquent but empty.” But in a preview of Republican duplicity to come, McCain blasted Obama’s past advocacy of unilateral American attacks against Al Qaeda targets in Pakistan, attacks the Bush administration itself is now finally carrying out.
For the details, see:
February 19th, 2008 at 10:50 pm“McCain Attacks Obama for Bush’s New Pakistan Policy.”
I’ll bet McCain is already wishing he never got on a bus called the “Straight Talk Express.” Straight talk express up his ass is more like it.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:52 pmpete,
February 19th, 2008 at 10:54 pmright you are. Obama leads 56% to 42%. Hillary’s total is more than all Repubs combined!
More like the Lying Eyes Express. McCain’s Republicans lying about earmarks and their fiscal competence. Read this post!
http://beertap.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/earmarks-and-gop-hypocracy/
February 19th, 2008 at 10:56 pmThere are two ways to lower the deficit: raise taxes or cut spending. On Sunday, McCain took taxes off the table by taking the “Read My Lips†plunge, proclaiming that as president he would not raise taxes for any reason:
MCCAIN: No new taxes. […]
Q: But under no circumstances would you increase taxes?
MCCAIN: No.
***********************************************
In yer dreams, McCain. We all know how well “NO NEW TAXES!” worked for Poppa Bush — that pledge came back to bite him in the backside something fierce, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to argue that the economy was significantly worse then than it is now. Under Bush Sr., you had the savings and loan collapse (and while we’re on the subject, let’s not forget that you were one of the infamous “Keating Five”). Now under Bush Jr., we have the sub-prime mortgage crisis — coincidence? I don’t think so — it’s just the same circus in a different tent. Since the “NO NEW TAXES!” pledge didn’t work for Bush Sr., there really isn’t any logical reason to believe that it will work for you. Then again, you know what they say…fool me once, shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me. If the American people buy into the “NO NEW TAXES!” pledge again, they’ll have nobody but themselves to blame when that promise gets broken as it inevitably will be if you should succeed in getting to the White House.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:56 pmstop the war – there’s an extra 120 billion a year saved
February 19th, 2008 at 11:05 pmMcCain must be unhappy watching Wisconsin results tonight ;
February 19th, 2008 at 11:16 pmDemocrats outnumbered Republicans voting 4 to 1 and McCain still cannot get more than 54% of Republicans vote and being able to finish Huckabee
decisively.
Democrats outnumbered Republicans voting 4 to 1 …
Comment by tarazan — February 19, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
i’m not so sure about that, due to reports of repugs voting dem in a
concerted effort to get hillary nominated…
but, by the numbers, it looks like a wasted effort… i don’t think ANYbody
anticipated the OBAMA affect… if that stadium in texas, where he spoke
tonight, is any indication, it’s onward and upward…
i’m ready.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:40 pmwell, i’d take it from one who knows…
February 19th, 2008 at 11:41 pmthat was not supposed to be so random sounding…
February 19th, 2008 at 11:42 pmit’s a response to the “just to vote against Mrs. Clinton” thing…
Republicans are getting exactly what they wanted, the death of the Clinton Machine.
Comment by good_golly — February 19, 2008 @ 11:33
Everybody knows you Republicans were being urged to vote for Hillary because she’d be easier for McCain to beat. Who do you think you’re fooling jackass?
February 19th, 2008 at 11:48 pmDamn it! All progressive sites should simply start reporting McCain’s voting record!
Like: Voted against banning torture, voted for telecom immunity, voted for credit card bankruptcy bill a few years ago, etc…
JUST START POSTING HIS VOTING RECORD!
February 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pm#44,
Nice Try
Are you suggesting that Obama won with 3 time the numbers of votes that McCain got due to Republicans voting for Obama…as you put it that Wisconin is an ‘open ‘ primary
I can sell you the Pyramids of Egypt if you believe this…
February 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pmshayne’s was better.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pmPlus, Hillary is still getting more votes than McCain and the Huckster combined. It’s quite probable that we will witness the end of the GOP as a viable party.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:05 ammany Republicans decided to vote on the Democrat side just to vote against Mrs. Clinton. Republicans are getting exactly what they wanted, the death of the Clinton Machine.
Comment by good_golly — February 19, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
I also call BS. Every poll shows that McCain would fare better against Hillary in the general election than against Obama!
February 20th, 2008 at 12:34 amYou’ve cut out part of his response. He didn’t say “No new taxes”. He said “No new taxes for Americans”. He’s going to levy a tax on every Iraqi, Afghan, and any country we ‘make free’ because freedom isn’t cheap. Unemployed Americans will be hired as overseas tax collectors. You get a Kevlar nut sack and a promise that a Republican won’t sleep with your wife or male child while you are away…a promise most likely they won’t keep.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:41 amThe ” Speak With Forked Tongue Express”?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:50 amHave you seen the petition against Senator Clinton?
http://beertap.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/ask-senator-clinton-to-release-her-tax-returns/
February 20th, 2008 at 1:27 amSorry Mr. Buckley but you don’t give McCain a pass because he spent five years in a cell in Viet Nam. He wasn’t exactly innocent…ya know. Remember he was dropping napalm on villages for gods sake. What were they suppose to do…wave as he flew by.
Prediction…If McCain wins, the draft will be revived within eighteen months of his election. He’s already warned you, “We’re going to have more wars my friend.”
February 20th, 2008 at 6:44 amLook at McCain’s age. He does not need to worry about paying off the debt in the near future.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:34 am#44 – “Republicans decided to vote on the Democrat side just to vote against Mrs. Clinton. Republicans are getting exactly what they wanted, the death of the Clinton Machine.” Comment by good_golly — February 19, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Which seems counter-productive for the Republicans. Sen. Obama has a much better chance at beating Sen. McCain. Sen. Clinton as the Democratic Nominee would make for a competitive race. Sen. Obama would make it almost impossible for Sen. McCCain to win.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:59 amWe can only hope that whichever person is elected president, they will cut alot of the unneeded entitlement programs that waste productive Americans tax money and leverage my childrens future. Bush turned out to be more socialist then American. I can only hope the next president turns out to be more American and finally makes the large cuts in the governments budgets that should have happened years ago. This out of control spending needs to stop.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:11 amI think with all of the corporate tax breaks given the more loopholes they find.Sounds like another chimps FUUZY MATH.these guys just don`t get it.Full of tax cuts for the rich while we carry this country on our backs.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:15 amEvery time Mr. Flip-Flop McCain opens his mouth he provides fodder for the Democratic candidate. Keep them coming, McNasty!
February 20th, 2008 at 10:29 amThese Borrow and Spend Republicans never met a line of credit they couldn’t abuse.
Why does John McCain feel that we should double the cost of government by borrowing the money for it? Why does John McCain feel it is acceptable to pass our financial obligations onto this nations children and grandchildren? Why should we trust John McCain’s radical economic philosophy when he admits that he doesn’t know much about the economy?
And, why, oh please God tell me why, does the MSM still portray the Republicans as the party of fiscal conservatism? A balanced budget is conservative. Endlessly compounding debts to pay for tax cuts and nation building is radical adventurism.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:56 amAlso, I buy my own health insurance and it doesn’t cost $2500/year. I’m doing my taxes right now and I’m well aware of what it costs. Why should I get a tax credit for $2500 when I pay less than that for health insurance? I think the idea is that all of our health insurance rates will jump so that they can absorb the entire tax credit. Hell, why not double my rates so they absorb the tax credit and I pay out of pocket what I’m paying now.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:59 amThat would have been a great opportunity for him to annouce that his nomination for vice president would be David Copperfield.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:17 amSorry John…you are the designated chump. Reagan-Bush economics (cut taxes!) only works when there’s something left in the cupboard. You need a competent Democratic administration who is willing to act fiscally responsible before you can pander to the free lunch crowd.
Bush will be leaving you in charge of the Titanic on a Republican course that you can’t change, while he and his buddies cash out and abandons ship. Luckily, the passengers know where the icebergs are and you’ll be relieved of duty before you can get to the wheelhouse.
Unfortunately for John, timing is everything. He won’t benefit from fiscally responsible Democrats who will have to raise taxes to deal with the structural deficits that will be left to them. But the next Republican will have his/her opportunity to wreck the economy once again when there is a surplus to bust.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pmAnd what happens to all the projects that will have their necessary earmarks cut? Will not respective departments have to pick up the slack for the most important and pressing projects.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pmLook at commercial air ticket you buy..almost 25% of the ticket’s price you pay goes for taxes…
October 15th, 2008 at 3:51 amSchools tuition fees, sales taxes…etc.etc..
The Taxpayer is heavily burdened with taxes…while they are not increasing your Federal Taxes…they are chasing you to get every penny they can collect from you.
Corporations now passing most of their expenses to consumers..Look at the Phone bill asus a22-700 battery,asus a32-f3 battery and see how many items are included in the bill for you to pay every month.
While politicians might not have raised your Federal Income Tax, they already made you pay many hidden taxes.