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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2016 / The Face of Extremism

The Face of Extremism

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This is not getting enough coverage, IMHO. On the day of the budget deal to handle a number of national priorities and to raise the debt limit, Ben Carson had this to say:

In a new interview with The Hill, GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson said he would not sign any budget deal that raised the debt ceiling if he is elected president.

Carson, who has surpassed Donald Trump in polls of Iowa voters, expressed frustration that Congress waits until the debt limit approaches to negotiate budget deals.

“If I’m elected, in January of 2017, we will begin to address the budget immediately,” Carson said. “We’re not going to wait until October or November to do it, when we’re backed against the wall. And I will make it very, very clear that there will not be any budget signed that increases our debt ceiling. It will have to be done.”

Carson said Congressional Republicans wait too long to negotiate deals to suppress federal spending.

“They do the same thing every year,” Carson said. “They wait until their backs are up against the wall and the gun is to their head, and you either raise the debt ceiling or we default and the world falls apart.”

“Why do we do that?” he continued. “I think the time to address that is at the beginning of the fiscal period, not at the end, because then you have other options. Now, they wait until it’s too late to do anything else, and we keep raising the debt and compromising the future of the next generation. It is craziness.”

Since regardless what happens between now and then and who is elected President, come Spring 2017, the debt limit will need to be raised again. We’ve already discussed that Ben Cartson doesn’t seem to understand what the debt limit actually is, and how this is different from the Republicans holding the US and global economy hostage. What Ben Carson is telling you, and our bobbleheads apparently don’t believe or think is just boilerplate election babble, is quite simple. It’s this:

“Elect me, and I kill the hostage.”

It’s really that simple. And with this lunatic, it’s not just talk. He’s really simpleminded enough that he believes this shit.

Reader Interactions

116Comments

  1. 1.

    Gin & Tonic

    Ben Carson demonstrably has no idea of the difference between “budget deficit” and “debt ceiling.”

  2. 2.

    dmsilev

    It’s also quite possible that Ben Carson (a) doesn’t know what the debt ceiling is and (b) has no real interest in finding out.

  3. 3.

    patrick II

    I think that at least he seems to have figured out what the debt ceiling is since last interviewed.

  4. 4.

    Gravenstone

    “Elect me, and I kill the hostage have absolutely no idea how government actually works, and will be happy to prove it!”

  5. 5.

    Bobby Thomson

    We’ve already discussed that Ben Cartson doesn’t seem to understand what the debt limit actually is, and how this is different from the Republicans holding the US and global economy hostage. What Ben Carson is telling you, and our bobbleheads apparently don’t believe or think is just boilerplate election babble, is quite simple.

    You seem to assume our bobbleheads know what the debt limit is. With few exceptions, I think that assumption is unwarranted.

  6. 6.

    BGinCHI

    Does he think the fiscal year begins January 1st?

    I think he has mental problems. I mean, beyond being a doctor and a Republican.

  7. 7.

    Gimlet

    Not having a career in politics he just doesn’t understand the debt ceiling theater or economics in general (based on his comments).

    If by chance he is elected to the office, consultants will sit him down and educate him as to the subject. That said, there is always the unfortunate example of Brownback to throw up as the exception.

  8. 8.

    RSA

    “In the past you’ve voted for candidates with experience in government, knowledge of government. I’m different: I know even less than you do, and I don’t care. Vote for me. Nihilism 2016.”

  9. 9.

    JPL

    The Constitution states that we will not default on our bills. The Constitution has more amendments than the first and second amendment.

  11. 11.

    Heliopause

    “Elect me, and I kill the hostage.”

    Is that really what you get out of it? I’m having trouble making any sense out of it at all. He seems to be saying that the debt ceiling shouldn’t be raised but has to be raised, whatever that means. I think maybe what he’s driving at is this; I’m such a brilliant negotiator that we’ll have a bare bones budget in place long before the debt ceiling arrives and thus there will be no need to raise it. Which is nutty of course.

  12. 12.

    Felonius Monk

    @Gimlet:

    If by chance he is elected to the office,

    There won’t be enough planes and trains and boats to evacuate everyone that will want to leave.

  13. 13.

    raven

    Carson hasn’t “figured” shit out. Someone might have told him but he didn’t figure it out.

  16. 16.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Bobby Thomson:
    This. Most of the press thinks this is a game. One of the biggest reasons they dislike liberals is precisely because we take politics seriously and think anybody might get hurt. Everyone who calls themselves a ‘true conservative’ believes that defaulting on the debt limit is actually a good thing, and that the government can easily pay all its bills without any significant damage to society or raising taxes. They believe that the only reason this isn’t happening is because we, liberals, are so selfish and shortsighted that we waste money, spending most of the existing tax revenue on frivolous or corrupt programs.

  17. 17.

    benw

    And I will make it very, very clear that there will not be any budget signed that increases our debt ceiling. It will have to be done

    What? Does Carson think the debt ceiling is the size of the national debt, or does he really guarantee to default the first time the limit is reached? My neighbors have a shiny new Carson 2016 bumper sticker. I’ve got to get going with some Bernie yard signs.

  18. 18.

    Comrade Dread

    Well, in theory, it would be possible to negotiate a budget that wouldn’t require borrowing any additional money. That would mean immediate tax increases, gutting the Federal budget, or some combination of the two. Can’t imagine which one Carson would pick.

    And then once grandma who voted for him is eating cat food, moving into the kid’s garage, and seeing the Christian Scientists for her health care, no doubt she’ll blame it on immigrants, the homosexuals, or liberals.

  19. 19.

    Frankensteinbeck

    Oh, and Carson is not going to be president. Things are so insane, he’s the only candidate I can count out absolutely. His base are the people who resent being told it’s racist for them to not want their kids going to school with blacks. They will love him and vote for him exactly as long as they think he has no chance of being elected.

  20. 20.

    ixnay

    It may be important to note that doctors and dentists (maybe veterinarians? just mentioning by way of full disclosure, as a DVM – although we mostly don’t have enough money to be at risk) are among the most vulnerable to money-making scams. Not to mention a propensity for killing themselves in small aircraft. That old “I am an expert at X, therefore an expert at all other letters” seems to apply to those who have spent time hearing only “Yes, Doctor. Of course, Doctor.”

  21. 21.

    gf120581

    Josh Marshall’s having a field day with Carson lately. Compared him to a certain Peter Sellers character and I don’t mean Clouseau or Strangelove.

    In a field of Godawful GOP candidates, Carson stands out as perhaps the least qualified of them all. Say what you will about Trump and Fiorina, the other two “no experience in governing” candidates, but at least they have executive experience in business (yes, Fiorina was fucking awful at it, but at least she has experience). Carson has no experience in anything remotely resembling the office he’s currently pursuing. Nothing. And yet this is arguably the GOP’s new frontrunner.

  22. 22.

    Rising Above

    Re-brand, re-launch, re-boot!

    It starts tonight, baby.

    There’s a high-speed freight train barreling down the tracks like a laser beam towards Trump and Carson, and its name is Jeb.

  23. 23.

    Patrick

    In addition to the debt limit issue, it drives me crazy that Republicans are getting away with being the “tough on deficit” party. They are only tough on spending they disagree with. They haven’t met a defense spending bill they didn’t like. They could care less what we were spending in Iraq.

  24. 24.

    Brachiator

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Ben Carson demonstrably has no idea of the difference between “budget deficit” and “debt ceiling.”

    Hell, neither do some nation’s leaders. I recall this from a BBC news story. The prime minister and the equivalent of the secretary of the treasury got it wrong.

    If the politicians in charge can’t get it right, what hope for the rest of us?

    In a party political broadcast last year, David Cameron claimed that “we are paying down Britain’s debts”. As you will soon see, we most certainly are not.

    And the prime minister is not alone. Last month, Chancellor George Osborne claimed the deficit had fallen by a third since the coalition came to power in 2010. But in December, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the deficit had not come down. So who’s right and what’s what when it comes to the UK’s debt and deficit?

    This is not to excuse Carson at all, but here he is reflective of the ignorance of many folk. It’s almost like the Sarah Palin effect magnified and come back to haunt us.

    I think that evangelicals, especially, are drawn to a man who thinks that the tax system should equal biblical tithing, and that the federal government can never have any debt.

    Gold standard, anyone?

  25. 25.

    dmsilev

    The polling trends are kind of interesting to look at, and by interesting I mean terrifying.
    I played around with Pollster’s custom plot and generated this graph (just show averages, eliminate the bottom half dozen or so). Trump and Carson have both been rising steadily, with a hiccup in Trump’s support around the time of the last debate. Both of them put together run a bit over half of the electorate right now (54%). Jeb* has been slowly losing support for the last several months, despite the promises from our pet troll that he’ll Surge Any Day Now. Rubio and Fiorina had big debate bumps; Fiorina has lost just about all of her support, but Rubio has only lost a bit.

    At least right now, all of the support and all of the momentum is Trump & Carson.

    Edit: Forgot to add that Huckabee, Kasich, Christie, and Paul have hovered in the two to four percent range for the last few months, and if any of them lose any more support, they’ll be relegated to the Jindal Zone.

  26. 26.

    Hob

    @Comrade Dread: No– you’re confusing the debt ceiling with the budget deficit (which is probably what Carson is doing, too). Even if you pass a balanced budget this year, you’ll almost certainly still need to adjust the debt ceiling to allow payment to be made on things from the previous budget, and interest on Treasury securities.

  29. 29.

    Stillwater

    Ben Cartson doesn’t seem to understand what the debt limit actually is

    Exactly. It can’t be said enough, actually.

    But as they say about politics, if you’re explaining you’re losing. And that’s especially true when you’re talking TO people who don’t want facts to get in the way of their preferred policies.

  31. 31.

    Rising Above

    @dmsilev:

    I remember back in ’99 that everyone laughed when we said George W. Bush would be the next President.

    You know Jeb is inevitable and that thought fills you with utter dread…liberals hate him, even more than Trump, even more than Carson, or Palin, or everyone else.

    The Bushes drive progressives absolutely batshit like nobody else.

  35. 35.

    GregB

    To be really blunt. Any man who lives with such a binary world view as Carson wherein he is on the side of good and anyone opposing him is akin to a Nazi is the kind of man who will end up behaving like a Nazi to those who oppose him.

    He has religious fascist written all over him.

  37. 37.

    Felonius Monk

    @Rising Above:

    There’s a high-speed freight train barreling down the tracks … and its name is Jeb.

    Nope. Sorry. JEB? doesn’t barrel anywhere. Never has, never will. JEB? is just stumblin’ along, singin’ his song, and the big derailment is just around the bend.

  38. 38.

    Comrade Dread

    @Hob: Yes, but I’m not suggesting running a balanced budget. I’m suggesting you a large budget surplus then you would have the money to service existing debt and obligations.

  39. 39.

    dmsilev

    Jindal-mentum!:

    “When you came into office with a budget surplus in the state of Louisiana, now years later the state legislature faced a $1.6 billion budget gap and the Republican State Treasurer called one of your approaches to that problem ‘Nonsense on a stick,'” Harwood said. “Are you going to do for the federal budget what you did for the Louisiana budget?”

    “Absolutely, John,” Jindal said,

  48. 48.

    DTTM

    For the Daily Kos crowd/ but not all in the Juice crowd, rebel Bernie supports the budget agreement.

    Looked over at Kos…silence ……..which is not “reality-based” despite their high-minded assertions of such.

    I should not even look at Kos, but sometimes there is good stuff. My choice, I suppose.

    Meanwhile, Ryan may be Speaker, but the vote shows the knives are out.

  49. 49.

    Rising Above

    @Patrick:

    He’s inevitable because he can afford having a poor start–the money for the re-brand is there for the taking.

    Aagain, Jeb is a policy wonk with real chops on economic issues. This is the perfect debate from which to launch his re-boot.

  50. 50.

    Mike J

    @DTTM:

    I should not even look at Kos, but sometimes there is good stuff.

    Nothing wrong with reading the front page articles at Kos. Just don’t ever read comments or the rec list.

  53. 53.

    dmsilev

    I might have to tune in to the debate if this is to be believed:

    GOP Strategist Hints At ‘Campaign-Ending Stupid’ Debate Stunt To Come
    Republican strategist Rick Wilson in a cryptic tweet referenced a “campaign-ending stupid” pre-planned stunt to come during Wednesday night’s top-tier GOP presidential debate.

    My prediction: Jeb~ announces that he’s going to blow his entire campaign ad budget buying space on liberal political blogs.

  54. 54.

    Elizabelle

    RE Ben Carson: some comedian needs to do a routine of horrible, egregious comments delivered in Carsonspeak.

  55. 55.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Rising Above:

    Let me know if you’d like to see my poem about Jeb (posted in a comment last night). I think you might like it. It’s quite singable, especially if you have a basic familiarity with American musical theatre.

  57. 57.

    DTTM

    @Mike J: Thanks,I know….it’s the sanctimony that gets me and can suck me in to do what the amusing people of Wonkette define as “Hate Reading”…

  58. 58.

    JustRuss

    @Rising Above:

    There’s a high-speed freight train barreling down the tracks like a laser beam towards Trump and Carson, and its name is Jeb.

    Dear God, that made my day. When the election’s over, can we keep Rising Above? He’s just too precious.

  59. 59.

    RaflW

    If this pronouncement doesn’t mobilize the Chamber of Commerce wing of the GOP to destroy Carson’s candidacy, then the Tea Party has taken full and total control of the Republican party and the money class does not give a shit.

    Have they already offshored all their savings? Because we’ll be a global economic basket case if Carson ever wins. Which he won’t. But he’s flogging an absurd idea, and once it’s out there as an acceptable policy stance by a ‘leading GOP candidate’ it’s gonna waft around and stink up more sensible conversations for a loooooong time.

  61. 61.

    RaflW

    @JustRuss: OK, I’m back to thinking parody troll.

    Annoying parody troll, mind you.

    ETA: Jen Bish announced endorsement by Dan Quayle! That’s like a whole extra train car of bricks gonna roll over Trump/Carson.

  64. 64.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @dmsilev:

    Might I suggest Jeb-Jeb Bush?

    Beware the Jebberwock, my son,
    The jaws that bite, the claws that catch;
    Beware the Jeb-Jeb Bush, and shun
    The frumious Barbarsnatch.

  66. 66.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    @Rising Above:

    I remember back in ’99 that everyone laughed when we said George W. Bush would be the next President.

    … and then he got 500,000 fewer votes than Al Gore. But we already know you’re proud that you cheated your way to “victory” like Lance Armstrong.

  68. 68.

    dmsilev

    @RaflW: Maybe Jeb? will announce a Dick Cheney endorsement, so he can boast the support of both his father’s VP _and_ his brother’s VP.

    To show that he’s his own man, of course.

  69. 69.

    Stillwater

    @GregB: Well, he is on record as advocating for more for individuality-affirming, truth-seeking, freedom-embracing Groupthink amongst conservatives.

  71. 71.

    Rising Above

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone):

    The greatness comes not when things go always good for you, but the greatness comes when you are really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes; because only if you’ve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain. Always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. Always remember: Others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win, unless you hate them. And then, you destroy yourself.

    -Richard Nixon

    Keep whining, loser.

  72. 72.

    beltane

    @sloan: I would pay to watch that.

    More likely that Donald Trump will go off on the whole lot of them as he endorses Hillary ans then storms off the stage. Millions of teabagger heads explode all across the country.

  74. 74.

    bemused

    Has there been any corroboration that Carson actually tried to stab a kid, beat up people when he was 14 because I wonder if he is lying about that too.

  75. 75.

    RaflW

    Aagain, Jeb is a policy wonk with real chops on economic issues.

    The only real chops Jen Bish has are best served with applesauce.

  76. 76.

    Baud

    @Rising Above:

    Others may hate you. But those who hate you don’t win, unless you hate them. And then, you destroy yourself.

    -Richard Nixon

    DougJ lied his ass off when be said he wasn’t you.

  77. 77.

    Roger Moore

    @ixnay:

    That old “I am an expert at X, therefore an expert at all other letters” seems to apply to those who have spent time hearing only “Yes, Doctor. Of course, Doctor.”

    They obviously haven’t heard the old joke:

    Q: How do you say “Fuck you!” in Tagalog?

    A: Yes Doctor, right away.

  78. 78.

    Elizabelle

    @Baud: Good evening, candidate Baud.

    Having heard about the inadequate (but well toileted) facilities for the lesser GOP candidates, how are they not just hiking around near gorgeous Boulder CO? Plenty of fab outdoor activities in the vicinity. Losers.

    What are our predictions on flameouts?

    If one preferred to watch the event on mute (but plugged into this blog), what musical accompaniment is appropriate?

  81. 81.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @DTTM:
    If they can’t replace him, those are plastic butter knives, and if they could replace him, it wouldn’t have been this hard to elect him in the first place.

    They’ll whine and refuse to vote for anything. Status quo.

    @RaflW:
    Also bear in mind that the Kochs fund the Tea Party. The richest people most eager to blow incredible amounts of money on politics are the ones who support ‘burn the country down’ candidates. One of many problems the CoC wing is facing.

  84. 84.

    beltane

    I hope Jen Bish is appropriately dressed tonight. He seems to have trouble figuring out how zippers work. It wouldn’t be a shock to learn that he still can’t tie his own shoes.

  85. 85.

    Hungry Joe

    @Rising Above: Maybe THAT’S been Jeb’s problem: Here he is, a laser beam, and he’s trying to “barrel down tracks.” Actually, see, laser beams don’t barrel down tracks, they …

    Oh, screw it. Here comes that laser beam, barreling down the tracks.

  86. 86.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Rising Above: You do know that Tricky Dick was a crook, contrary to his assertions. Also, “High Speed Freight Train”? I though you Republicans didn’t like Hight Speed Rail.

  87. 87.

    Baud

    @Elizabelle:

    What are our predictions on flameouts?

    All of them, Katie.

    If one preferred to watch the event on mute (but plugged into this blog), what musical accompaniment is appropriate?

    Your choice of sad trombone, kazoo, or yakaty sax.

  90. 90.

    Tim C.

    I am now at the point where I have no idea who takes the nomination. The 2008 and 2012 models just don’t seem to have much predictive value anymore. McCain never had the unfavorables that Jeb! has. Each of the “not-Mitts” faded after very brief rises. We’ve had another four years of right-wing media hyping things that in no way reflect reality. The train is off the tracks and nobody has any real idea what the rabid chicken-humpers will do next.

  91. 91.

    Elizabelle

    @beltane: Yeah, truly. Half of the country (that gives a fig about politics, a small set) is hate-watching. We demand our debacle!

  94. 94.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Baud:
    Candidate Baud! Candidate Baud! Is it true that all the GOP candidates will be appearing tonight with one arm in a sling, because of injuries incurred when you beat them all in an arm wrestling competition?

    What of reports that you have a new campaign strategy, where all votes for other candidates are actually votes for you?

    And what is your position on ELECTROLYTES?

  96. 96.

    Baud

    @Hungry Joe:

    Clearly, you’re angling for the Veep spot. Why don’t you just admit it?

    I’d be lying if I said that being the untouchable Fourth Branch of government wasn’t tempting.

  98. 98.

    Baud

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    Candidate Baud! Candidate Baud! Is it true that all the GOP candidates will be appearing tonight with one arm in a sling, because of injuries incurred when you beat them all in an arm wrestling competition?

    No. They broke their own arms so they wouldn’t have to face me.

    What of reports that you have a new campaign strategy, where all votes for other candidates are actually votes for you?

    It’s what the voters woukd have wanted if they knew who I was.

    And what is your position on ELECTROLYTES?

    It does not, I repeat, does NOT cause autism.

  99. 99.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Baud:

    No. They broke their own arms so they wouldn’t have to face me.

    Will you be debasing them on stage tonight as the cowards they are, Candidate Baud? The American public is begging for you to prove your smack talk chops!

  101. 101.

    M31

    best stunt would be Joe Biden running them all off the stage with his Trans Am, muttering “I hate Illinois Nazis”

  104. 104.

    SFAW

    @Racist Above:

    Keep whining, loser.

    What’s amusing is that you get angrier and angrier in every thread where you appear, as you realize that people see you as a fool, a clown, a liar, and a shill – and keep commenting on that.

    I keep waiting for you to pule “Stop making FUN of me, you big meanies! Mommy! They’re being mean to me! Waaah!”

    Have a nice life, racist. Come back when you reach fourth grade.

  106. 106.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @efgoldman:

    As long as the parting gifts include the Home Board Game Version, I’m happy to attempt the trifecta. Watch this space tomorrow night (assuming one of the debaters [or ‘debaturs,’ qua McLaren {?}] provides decent material).

  111. 111.

    The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    Ben Carson is single-handedly dispelling the notion that brain surgeons are smarter than the average person.
    Ben Carson is single-handedly dispelling the notion that brain surgeons are as smart as the average person.
    FTFY

  113. 113.

    mclaren

    Ben Carson is a typical American doctor — loud, confident, narcissistic, ignorant, stupid, and wrong.

  114. 114.

    mclaren

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I’ll have you know that all those Republicans onstage were master debaters. Seldom has such a display of public masturdebation been seen in American politics.

  115. 115.

    mclaren

    SCENES FROM TONIGHT’S REPUBLICAN DEBATE AS TOLD BY J. R. R. TOLKIEN

    But suddenly the TV went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had opened in the world of sight, and Frodo looked into emptiness. In the black abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew, until it filled nearly all the TV screen. So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze. The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat’s, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing. “Bush!” Frodo cried out, and fell as though struck dead, reeling.

    Source: Lord of the Ding-A-Lings: The Two Trump Towers

    “I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the culture warriors of old like Patrick of Buchanan and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong,” boasted Trump.
    “Yeah, but smell isn’t everything,” retorted the burning eye of Carson.

    Source: Lord of the Ding-A-Lings: The Return of the Cringe

    Concerning the Three Ding-A-Lings Carson could learn nothing from Walker; and he had him put to death. But he guessed the truth, that the Three had been committed to Kennebunkport guardians: and that must mean the three Ding-A-Lings were George H.W., Dubya, and Jeb. In black anger he turned back to battle; and bearing as a banner Walker’s body hung upon a pole, shot through with backstabs, he turned upon the forces of Huckabee. Huckabee had gathered such a few of the Gnomes of Zurich as had escaped the attentions of Trump and the three Ding-A-lings, but he had no force to withstand the onset.

    Source: Lord of the Ding-A-Lings: The Fellowship of the Ding-A-Lings

  116. 116.

    Myiq2xu

    Notice that John Cole doesn’t explain WHY he thinks Carson is wrong, he just calls him a simpleminded lunatic.

    The term for that is “projection”.

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