Just Wondering

[Winnie]

"Real' truth doesn't upset me at all-- but guiless misrepresentations thereof, and the lame opportunistic personal "beliefs," of this ilk, do!

I have no idea what you are talking about! What guileless misrepresentations of the 'real' truth and which lame opportunistic personal 'beliefs?'

- I do appreciate your use of capital letters at the start of a sentence.

 

[30ashopper]

"Real' truth doesn't upset me at all-- but guiless misrepresentations thereof, and the lame opportunistic personal "beliefs," of this ilk, do!

You have to admit hnooe, Obama did promise to send back bills containing earmarks, and he is now going completely back on that with this bill. Quite honestly I'm not sure what the guy is thinking. It's a mistake politically imho. That's not a misrepresentation, it's the truth. We sent him to washinton to change things remember? This isn't change, it's more of the same.

 

[traderx]

Obama has already balanced the budget!!!

Wow, am I impressed!!!

From BarackObama.com:

The budget plan that President Obama outlined last week included $2 trillion in deficit reduction, reducing discretionary spending for non-defense programs as a share of the economy to the lowest level in nearly half a century. The President signed a Presidential Memorandum that will reform government contracting by strengthening oversight and management of taxpayer dollars and ending unnecessary no-bid and cost-plus contracts.

 

[traderx]

You have to admit hnooe, Obama did promise to send back bills containing earmarks, and he is now going completely back on that with this bill. Quite honestly I'm not sure what the guy is thinking. It's a mistake politically imho. That's not a misrepresentation, it's the truth. We sent him to washinton to change things remember? This isn't change, it's more of the same.

I could not find much on this on BarackObama.com but thanks to the web archive thru the Wayback Machine I did find the following from his website in 2008:

Barack Obama's Plan

Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington

• Reinstate PAYGO Rules: Obama believes that a critical step in restoring fiscal discipline is enforcing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budgeting rules which require new spending commitments or tax changes to be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue.
• Reverse Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy: Obama will protect tax cuts for poor and middle class families, but he will reverse most of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers.
• Cut Pork Barrel Spending: Obama introduced and passed bipartisan legislation that would require more disclosure and transparency for special-interest earmarks. Obama believes that spending that cannot withstand public scrutiny cannot be justified. Obama will slash earmarks to no greater than year 2001 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open to the public.
• Make Government Spending More Accountable and Efficient: Obama will ensure that federal contracts over $25,000 are competitively bid. Obama will also increase the efficiency of government programs through better use of technology, stronger management that demands accountability and by leveraging the government's high-volume purchasing power to get lower prices.
• End Wasteful Government Spending: Obama will stop funding wasteful, obsolete federal government programs that make no financial sense. Obama has called for an end to subsidies for oil and gas companies that are enjoying record profits, as well as the elimination of subsidies to the private student loan industry which has repeatedly used unethical business practices. Obama will also tackle wasteful spending in the Medicare program.

Make the Tax System More Fair and Efficient

• End Tax Haven Abuse: Building on his bipartisan work in the Senate, Obama will give the Treasury Department the tools it needs to stop the abuse of tax shelters and offshore tax havens and help close the $350 billion tax gap between taxes owed and taxes paid.
• Close Special Interest Corporate Loopholes: Obama will level the playing field for all businesses by eliminating special-interest loopholes and deductions, such as those for the oil and gas industry.

 

[BeachSiO2]

• Cut Pork Barrel Spending: Obama introduced and passed bipartisan legislation that would require more disclosure and transparency for special-interest earmarks. Obama believes that spending that cannot withstand public scrutiny cannot be justified. Obama will slash earmarks to no greater than year 2001 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open to the public.

I don't know the number right off hand but this point is more flexible than I bet many people will realize. Typically the level of earmarking has remained constant through the years, less than 5% of the total budget. So, in not defining what level means (or what is is) he has left himself an out to say.... I meant for level to be percentage. NICE WORD CHOICE!!!