• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

American History and Black History can not be separated.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

I’m just a talker, trying to find a channel!

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

It’s a doggy dog world.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Mobile Menu

  • Four Directions Montana
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2024 Elections
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / How The Bush Administration Advances Fiscal Conservatism

How The Bush Administration Advances Fiscal Conservatism

by John Cole|  August 21, 20078:34 am| 24 Comments

This post is in: Republican Stupidity

FacebookTweetEmail

In Steps:

1.) Spend absolutely massive amounts of money on a number of programs, expanding spending leaps and bounds beyond your predecessor.

2.) Fund an extremely expensive and increasingly unpopular war that has, literally, no end in sight, and even if ended tomorrow, would continue to cost extraordinary amounts of money.

3.) Finally take a stand on spending, but choose to do so on an expansion of a popular Children’s Insurance Program that will be impossible to defend politically (especially since 6 of 10 Republicans on the finance committee voted for it) and do so in a way that makes sure it looks like you are trying to do something underhanded (like, for example, issue new rules).

4.) Watch as members of your own party, already terrified at their election prospects in 2008 due to the rank incompetence of your administration and sheer unpopularity of all your other decisions, race from your position, unable to explain why you chose this, of all programs, to take a stand.

5.) Enjoy yet another permanent expansion of the bloated United States budget.

The Bush Administration in a nutshell.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « I Give Up
Next Post: The End of 24 »

Reader Interactions

24Comments

  1. 1.

    Xanthippas

    August 21, 2007 at 8:55 am

    You could just as easily add a line about watching right-wing blogs line up to defend this move against the instituting of “socialized medicine.”

  2. 2.

    RSA

    August 21, 2007 at 9:09 am

    The Bush administration in a slightly bigger nutshell:

    3.5.) Take a stand on spending that includes strongly opposing a 3.5% pay raise for soldiers, calling anything above 3% “unnecessary”.

    6.) Blame Congressional Democrats for their out-of-control spending.

  3. 3.

    Punchy

    August 21, 2007 at 9:11 am

    In slightly OT but related news….

    This article just makes me so sad. Everything–no hyperbole this time–that Congress tries to look into is labeled “Executive privilege”. Even when the President isn’t involved! They then completely ignore their legal obligation to obey a subpeona, and claim they’ll only respond if Congress makes permanent the FISA changes. As if Congress must go quid pro quo

    The Rule of Law is just broken. Period. Full stop.

  4. 4.

    carpeicthus

    August 21, 2007 at 9:29 am

    So, support for states rights doesn’t trump hatred of children? Under what angle does that play well?

  5. 5.

    rachel

    August 21, 2007 at 9:52 am

    Look, if those kids want health insurance, they’re going to have to work harder and get better jobs the same as anybody else. Why should my money go for giving these little bums get a free ride?

    (I’m being sarcastic, but some people seem to think that.)

  6. 6.

    Jake

    August 21, 2007 at 10:08 am

    Great post John, if I may summarize:

    How The Bush Administration Advances Fiscal Conservatism

    Screw the poor!

    Even I was a little surprised by this one since the GOP consistently pimps the kiddies to get their way. However, I take it as proof that the corporate raid of the U.S. treasury (with Bush handing out bags for the swag) will only increase until Jan. 20, 2009.

    Aaaar! What’s in your wallet?

  7. 7.

    Bubblegum Tate

    August 21, 2007 at 10:09 am

    Why should my money go for giving these little bums get a free ride?

    Yeah! I mean, that’s socialism, the only thing that could possibly be more evil than Zlammyfashzm. If we start taking care of our children, then we become a nation full of Stalins. Maybe that’s just The Left’s master plan, eh comrades?

  8. 8.

    grumpy realist

    August 21, 2007 at 10:11 am

    Go read Megan McArdle’s latest screed about how old people and “sick people” as a class haven’t taken care of their health and thus deserve whatever happens to them.

    If anyone wants to know why no one ever votes for Libertarians, McArdle is a walking example. May she lose all health insurance and have to pay for all future health care out of her own pocket at full rates.

  9. 9.

    rachel

    August 21, 2007 at 10:14 am

    Go read Megan McArdle’s latest screed…

    Linky?

  10. 10.

    Lupin

    August 21, 2007 at 10:26 am

    I’m surprised because Bush should know that babies taste fresher and juicier when they’re healthy.

  11. 11.

    magisterludi

    August 21, 2007 at 10:33 am

    Read the NYT piece on income inequality today? Required reading. At least, it should be.

  12. 12.

    mrmobi

    August 21, 2007 at 10:36 am

    …Bush should know that babies taste fresher and juicier when they’re healthy.

    But only after they’ve been properly cooked.

  13. 13.

    whippoorwill

    August 21, 2007 at 10:44 am

    This kind of stupidity would make for good chuckle, if the consequences were not so dire. The ideological fear of government subsidized healthcare by the right should be fought on the political battlefield with adult americans. They can to one degree or another fend for themselves. But children cannot. A civilized society should make access to health for children ironclad. They should not be subjected to delay or paperwork or greedy HMO’s . Nor should be caught in a political contest.

  14. 14.

    Incertus (Brian)

    August 21, 2007 at 10:47 am

    Linky?

    Here you go.

  15. 15.

    rachel

    August 21, 2007 at 10:56 am

    …Moreover, as a class, the old and sick have some culpability in their ill health. They didn’t eat right or excercise; they smoked; they didn’t go to the doctor as often as they ought; they drank to much, or took drugs, or sped, or engaged in dangerous sports…

    And most important of all, they didn’t die young. Jesus wept.

  16. 16.

    Dreggas

    August 21, 2007 at 11:12 am

    Well No shit sherlock.

    What the working class hasn’t realized yet is that the GOP will happily take their tax money but cut taxes on the rich because they are somehow overtaxed. They’ll make sure to do things that favor the corporations and rich in order to make them richer.

    People talk about the dems and “class warfare” the republicants don’t believe in class warfare they just wage wars on the other classes all the while protecting themselves.

    Their campaign slogans should just state it clearly “Let them eat cake”.

  17. 17.

    Jake

    August 21, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    What the working class hasn’t realized yet is that the GOP will happily take their tax money but cut taxes on the rich because they are somehow overtaxed.

    True, the only question is will the working class do shit about it or will they continue to believe the GOP is their best friend? I must confess to a limited amount of sympathy for people who complain about being laid off, rising health care costs, rising gas prices, the general rotteness over everything in one breath and shout TRAITOR at people who disagree with Bush’s policies in the next.

    I can’t tell if these folks don’t know where that sharp pounding pain in their ass is coming from, they actually like the pain, or they consider the pain a small price to pay for continued vows to protect zygotes and marriage from the Libruls.

    Or maybe it’s ‘cos the GOP keeps promising to respect them in the morning.

  18. 18.

    Dreggas

    August 21, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    Or maybe it’s ‘cos the GOP keeps promising to respect them in the morning.

    Ding Ding Ding we have a winner.

  19. 19.

    rawshark

    August 21, 2007 at 12:26 pm

    They’ll make sure to do things that favor the corporations and rich in order to make them richer.

    point out that that is fascism and watch them freak out.

  20. 20.

    Alan

    August 21, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    Speaking of Republican Stupidity, have you heard this Simpsons’ audio clip of Sideshow Bob? It succinctly, yet ironically, encompasses everything that’s wrong with the GOP–including how conservative pundits lead the party astray. The right has come a long way since ’95 when that episode debuted.

  21. 21.

    The Other Andrew

    August 21, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Has someone already coined the phrase “Credit Card Conservative”? Buy now, make your children pay later!

    I’m no wonk, but I seem to recall seeing a pie chart that showed that the vast majority of spending consists of military matters and the social safety net. I don’t see either of those things either being significantly reduced, the Iraq fiasco notwithstanding, so I hereby proclaim that the concept of “small government” is officially obsolete. It’s probably been obsolete for quite a while, though. I’m sure that the right will continue to pay lip service to it, but we’ll never see a takeover by actual “small government” conservatives, as too many have too much to lose. Bush may have been a step towards a more socialistic America, ironically, as he proudly gave the right a taste of what big government could do for them. Sure, Reagan did roughly the same thing, but Bush was less ashamed about it. And shame is what this is all about. Once the country gets over the often self-destructive pride that prevents it from openly accepting help from the government, it’s all over for the vaguely-anarchistic libertarians on the right. You win on individual liberty, you lose on governmental power. Sorry, guys.

    If some semi-sane moderates did somehow take over the GOP, I’d tell them to push for “smaller government.” The big government genie is out of the bottle for both parties–which is fine with me–and there’s no going back. Now it’s just a matter of improving effectiveness and limiting corruption.

  22. 22.

    Pb

    August 21, 2007 at 2:30 pm

    The Other Andrew,

    Howard Dean, 10/01/03:

    I’m a fiscal conservative, a real fiscal conservative, not a borrow-and-spend credit card conservative, like the president is.

  23. 23.

    The Other Andrew

    August 21, 2007 at 7:42 pm

    …well, if you’re going to subconsciously plagarize, might as well do it from the best. My bad.

  24. 24.

    Pelikan

    August 21, 2007 at 10:01 pm

    Speaking of John (or Jane) Galt. Has anyone else picked up Bioshock? Shooting Libertarian Mutants is turning out to be even more fun than I had suspected.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Baud on I Am All For This! (Apr 17, 2024 @ 5:48pm)
  • Baud on Humpty Trumpty (Open Thread) (Apr 17, 2024 @ 5:47pm)
  • WaterGirl on I Am All For This! (Apr 17, 2024 @ 5:46pm)
  • sab on I Am All For This! (Apr 17, 2024 @ 5:45pm)
  • Ruckus on I Am All For This! (Apr 17, 2024 @ 5:44pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning
Proposed BJ meetups list from frosty

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8
Virginia House Races
Four Directions – Montana
Worker Power AZ
Four Directions – Arizona
Four Directions – Nevada

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
Positive Climate News
War in Ukraine
Cole’s “Stories from the Road”
Classified Documents Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Political Action 2024

Postcard Writing Information

Balloon Juice for Four Directions AZ

Donate

Balloon Juice for Four Directions NV

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!