Debt Creation

I continue to tell other Right leaning fiscal conservatives that as much as they continue to support a Republican Party that says one thing, but then does the opposite once in office, they are supporting the wrong party. They scoff. Fair enough. As long as they consider FoxNews a legitimate news source there won't be much opportunity to show them the truth. But there is a Graphic that has been flying around Facebook for several days now. Take a look at the Left.

And for added reading, Bloomberg goes into some details.

House Speaker John Boehner often attacks the spendthrift ways of Washington.

“In Washington, more spending and more debt is business as usual,” the Republican leader from Ohio said in a televised address yesterday amid debate over the U.S. debt. “I’ve got news for Washington - those days are over.”

Yet the speaker, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell all voted for major drivers of the nation’s debt during the past decade: Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts and Medicare prescription drug benefits. They also voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, that rescued financial institutions and the auto industry.

Together, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News, these initiatives added $3.4 trillion to the nation’s accumulated debt and to its current annual budget deficit of $1.5 trillion.

You should read the rest.

Flash

A Question for Conservatives

Next to 'The Fix', Cagle's blog with his assortment of Editorial cartoons should be a regular stop, and his collection of columns can be a must read.

Today's installment is 'The Question Conservatives Can't Answer'

The following fact was sent to numerous conservative pundits, politicians, and profitseekers:

Based on Tax Foundation figures, the richest 1 percent has TRIPLED its share of America’s income over the past 30 years. Much of the gain came from tax cuts and minimally taxed financial instruments. If their income had increased only at the pace of American productivity (80 percent), they would be taking about a TRILLION DOLLARS LESS out of our economy.

And a question was posed:

In what way do the richest 1 percent deserve these extraordinary gains?

Care to take a stab at it. If we were experiencing the boom we were led to believe would happen under these policies, they may be justifiable. But in reality, and as predicted by many of us, this only took money out of the economy, stalling it, and creating a catalyst for economic tumult.

Here, take a peek at the raw data in the article:

But based on 1980 dollars and IRS data, this is how U.S. income has been redistributed since that time:

• Incomes for the top 1 percent have gone from $148,000 to $450,000
• Incomes for the next 9 percent have gone from $46,000 to $50,000
• Incomes for the next 40 percent have gone from $17,500 to $15,000
• Incomes for the bottom 50 percent have gone from $5,400 to $3,750

Debt Denial

As mentioned below, my post on January 25th is as timely today as it was then. 6 Months ago, we could have implemented my plan and we would not be facing inevitable economic tumult. Now we have no choice but to increase the borrowing power of the Fed to keep our country solvent. However, for those of you not paying attention, the Right has never been concerned about the solvency of this nation or deep spending cuts for that matter. It has always been a political ballot box game to them regardless of the cost.

We lived a microcosm of this during the MN State Government shutdown and when the Governor called their bluff, they got cold feet, initially. They had no choice but to own an offer they thought the Governor would never accept.

I suspect something similar will happen in the next day or two. The President will agree to a smaller, shorter term offer as long as it extends past Nov 2012. I mean, we wouldn't want to go through this same process just before an election, that would be . . . what . . . putting personal political partisanship over the best interest of the country. No one would do that, would they?

Flash

6 Month Vacation

So, I stopped writing on January 25th, and ironically, that post is as timely today as it was then. More on that in the next screed.

Things have been going great, lately, so just a quick update.

Airman Nick is currently stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. He just completed Combat Readiness School and may deploy soon. He called the other day to say he probably won't get away on leave before then, so we'll have to rely on occasional phone calls and Facebook chat to stay in touch. He continues to be confident in his choices and grounded in his future. I am so proud of that young man.

My youngest officially completed his K-12 education. He claims to be committed to saving up some money so he can move out on his own. Maybe empty nest isn't as far always as I once thought *smile*

I am having an incredible time performing with Minnesota Brass, Incorporated, my 20th year on the field as a marching member. This is by far and away the most challenging book we have ever performed. This years' program in entitled VALHALLA! and takes our Viking hero, John, from immigration across the sea (Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin) to our prayer/battle sequence (Mingus Children Hour of Dreams) where our hero dies in battle. From there we bury him at sea to our ballad of John Lennon's Imagine. And, of course, all Vikings who die an honorable death in battle are delivered to Valhalla with a ride from the Valkyries, which means Wagner's classic for the closer. Embedded below is our performance at TCF Bank stadium to give you a peek at us mid season. This weekend we head out to Lewisburg PA to go head to head with out main competition. Labor Day weekend is World Championships in Rochester NY.

I may not get into full daily posting mode, but I do plan on putting something out there a few times a week. Someone has to inject common sense in the midst of all the partisan gamesmanship!

Irregardless, it's GREAT to be back!!

Flash

Bi-partisan Balancing

I was watching McCain this AM talk about the budget, and after seeing tea party style Republicans looking at peanuts for political gain as it relates to budget cuts (think Foreign aid, only .16%, that's POINT ONE SIX), McCain kept on harping about Agriculture Subsidies. But again, nice political buzz word, but eliminating those subsidies is again, ONLY .07% (yes, POINT ZERO SEVEN).

I've said it before, if we are going to make meaningful efforts in restoring the federal budget to sanity, we need to make the painful, yet not politically popular, decisions to reel this behemoth in. I propose the following:

1) Do NOT raise the debt ceiling. Force congress to make the cuts or revenue investments necessary to stop the growth in borrowing and begin buying down the debt, not increasing it.

2) A straight across the board cut, 15 % to start, on ALL budget areas INCLUDING Defense.

3) Revenue enhancements; not the least of which is rolling back the top tier tax bracket to pre-President GW Bush levels, adding a scant 3 cents on the dollar influx on adjusted Gross Income of the first dollars over $500,000

So that's the quick and dirty of where I am at, but coming off the heals of the President's Debt Commission recommendations, there is a bi-partisan piece of legislation being proposed that also recognizes the balanced approach needed to resolve the budget conundrum:

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is about to heed his own admonition that Congress "put up or shut up" when confronting the dangerously high federal debt.

The Virginia Democrat and U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Georgia Republican, are close to introducing a complex bill that would cut trillions in federal spending, raise some taxes and lower others, and spread the pain of cutting the federal deficit among just about everyone in America.

Nothing will be sacred. Everything is open for cutbacks or change to get spending under control, including defense, Social Security and Medicare.

And that is all I ever said that has to happen to make true and real budget reductions, EVERYTHING needs to be on the table, be it cuts or revenue.

No, as it the case with any legislation, by the time it hits the floor it will be sliced and diced. Radicals from both sides will play politics with amendments and slight of hand proposals to get members in vulnerable district to go on records with trick votes. The bi-partisan authors have a message for them:

The political cost is so high, Warner said in a recent interview, that the entire plan has to be a single bill - one up-or-down vote.

"The only way you realistically can get there is if you get... one package where everybody can say, 'I don't like a lot of it, but the sum of the good it does is worth the pain it will cost,' " Warner said. "At the end of the day, this is not going to be a painless process."

It's not easy, and it will hurt, but the hurt should be spread evenly.

If YOU want to try your hand it dealing with trillions of dollars in deficits, play the game. It kind of puts things into perspective.

Flash

RIP, Jack!

My mother would get a kick out of me, when I was just a wee little boy, when I would go into the kitchen, and grab a chair, and drag it into the living room. JACK was on, and I wanted to do the exercises with him.

I watched Jack through those early years, and followed his life as he reached each and every milestone, while accomplishing another unheard of feat for a man his age. Even at 70, he pulled 70 rowboats in a flotilla while swimming for 2 1/2 hours in the waters off Long Beach. Jack was immortal, or so we thought or at least hoped.

Like George Burns we couldn't fathom a scenario of a world without their hope, their spirit, their drive. But mortality is a reality, and at 96 Jack succumbed to respiratory failure while battling pneumonia.

I miss you already, Jack. Thanks for the memories!!

Flash

McCain on Obama: "I believe he is a patriot"

Did you catch McCain's Op-Ep in the WaPo, yesterday? Here's a snippet:

President Obama gave a terrific speech Wednesday night. He movingly mourned and honored the victims of Saturday's senseless atrocity outside Tucson, comforted and inspired the country, and encouraged those of us who have the privilege of serving America. He encouraged every American who participates in our political debates - whether we are on the left or right or in the media - to aspire to a more generous appreciation of one another and a more modest one of ourselves.

The president appropriately disputed the injurious suggestion that some participants in our political debates were responsible for a depraved man's inhumanity. He asked us all to conduct ourselves in those debates in a manner that would not disillusion an innocent child's hopeful patriotism. I agree wholeheartedly with these sentiments. We should respect the sincerity of the convictions that enliven our debates but also the mutual purpose that we and all preceding generations of Americans serve: a better country; stronger, more prosperous and just than the one we inherited.

But this is the part that that hit home (emphasis mine):

I disagree with many of the president's policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause. I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals. And I reject accusations that Americans who vigorously oppose his policies are less intelligent, compassionate or just than those who support them.

Our political discourse should be more civil than it currently is, and we all, myself included, bear some responsibility for it not being so. It probably asks too much of human nature to expect any of us to be restrained at all times by persistent modesty and empathy from committing rhetorical excesses that exaggerate our differences and ignore our similarities. But I do not think it is beyond our ability and virtue to refrain from substituting character assassination for spirited and respectful debate.

Read the whole thing, he's on to something!

Flash

Healing

Last night:

At a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do -- it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds

President Brack Obama
January 12, 2011

I thought Right Wing blogger Allahpundit recognized the positives of last night:

right after the line “it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy,” he punctuated it with “it did not.” He’s not playing the “climate of hate” game here

and this part:

Ace heard a different speech than I did, I guess, but for what it’s worth, this is playing remarkably well thus far among righties on Twitter: Rich Lowry, Jonah Goldberg, Jim Geraghty, Andy Levy, S.E. Cupp, Philip Klein, and Ace’s own co-bloggers Drew and Gabe all thought it was rock solid.

I don't presume that this crazed mad man acted out based on words of others. It seems more clear each day that he was acting independently, irresponsibly, and delusionally.

However, isn't it enough to give us pause that maybe our words matter. Isn't it enough that the mere chance that something like this could happen by some kook taking words literally, rather than rhetorically. It is hopefull to see members on both sides of the aisle beginning to recognize this.

Flash

AZ in Pictures

I thought these three cartoons did a decent job of recognizing the fractured debate even this incident has caused. At this point, I see too much finger pointing and not enough reflection.

I continue to pray for the recovery of all those injured, and for those greiving the loss of loved ones.

Flash

We Are All Responsible as Words Matter

President Bill Clinton, April 2010 (emphasis mine):

"What we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or that we should reduce our passion for the positions we hold - but that the words we use really do matter, because there's this vast echo chamber, and they go across space and they fall on the serious and the delirious alike. They fall on the connected and the unhinged alike," he said.

"One of the things that the conservatives have always brought to the table in America is a reminder that no law can replace personal responsibility. And the more power you have and the more influence you have, the more responsibility you have."

And I agree, the perpetrator of this horrendous attack is the one who is solely responsible, but it is a time to reflect on our words and how they effect others.

If we truly believe our positions are the correct ones, can't we successfully impress them on others without the incendiary dialogue. I know during President Bush's first term I was falling into that trap, but upon his re-election I'd like to think I dialed it back and stayed on the high road. Can't we all!?

My heart and prayers go out to the Victims of Arizona's tragic events. May the healing begin!

Governor Dayton!

I just like saying that. Not because he was my first choice, or even my preferred choice. Heck, he spent most of the election on my 'No way in hell' list. But the Right wing smear machine has already started the hatefest by taking a page out of the National Republican book.

See, it isn't about what is best for Minnesota. It's about their way or the highway. For them, elections only have consequences when the Right wins. When they lose it is to stop, stonewall, and HATE until everyone is beat into submission. Minnesotans tend to be smarter than that.

I've grown tired of the Strawman fights the bought and paid for blogs of the local Right stir up. They know if they ever had to actually debate real issues they'd get swallowed up. I refuse to fall into their heartless and soulless trap.

I'm going to stick to issues, because only juveniles stomp up and down demanding their way or the tantrums will continue. Us grownups are willing to do more than that.

Flash

Airman Countdown

Airman Nick is scheduled to fly in for the Holiday Exodus, Wednesday evening. He graduated from Lackland this past August, and has been attending Tech School in Keesler, MS ever since.

He'll be gone before the new year begins, but anytime to catch up will be good times. I am hoping to get him downtown Thursday night, But I understand I do have to share him with the rest of his friends.

Thinks have been hectic on my end, thus the snails pace of posts. I;m sure I'll find some time to rattle some cages soon enough.

Flash

Joel is Home . . . for now.

Spotted on Facebook:
This isn't over by a long shot, but it is a good first step.

Welcome home, Joel!

Flash

Joel Juked

Joel Rosenberg, MOB Member, friend, carry advocate, renowned carry trainer, author, and MPD Gadfly, is in jail . . . STILL!

A Minneapolis man who claims to have a right to carry a gun in City Hall faces charges for bringing a loaded weapon into the police chief's office last month.

Now, we reap what we sow, and all that. But as you read the case you'll see that the Police officer A MONTH AGO, return the gun to Mr Rosenberg after disarming him and politely asked him to return the gun to his vehicle. Sure would imply to me that that would be that. Not in this case.

Remarkably, the court is holding Joel on $100,000 bail and continued his hearing till after the first of the year. Just plain senseless.

Other 2nd Amendment and MOB blogs are getting the story out. They have a much better handle on the details then I do, so give them a look:

Political Prisoner
Sgt. William Palmer
Joel Rosenberg: Alpha Male of the Day
Free Joel (Update)
The Empire Strikes Back
25% of Windypundit Blog Team Now In Jail
Latest news on civil rights activist Joel Rosenberg from Ellegon.com

I'll be following this to see if/when the court comes to it's senses.

Flash

Congratulations, Governor-Elect Dayton

Dear Mark,

OK, it's finally over, and what we have known all along will become official within the next few hours.

Now, the political landscape isn't quite what you were hoping for, but that doesn't mean there isn't opportunities. The local Right Wing smear machine is taking a page out of the national playbook, already. They are planning, hoping, and praying for you to fail. The Legislature will do whatever they can to set bugs and booby traps in your way. Let them. The Minnesota electorate will see them for who they are.

The MN GOP has never been a forward thinking bunch, pacifying their base until the real people get hurt enough that they vote them out. It will happen again, in a couple years. For now take the high road. No need to roll over or capitulate. We learned from the outgoing Governor that there are a variety of options for you when working with an opposition legislature. Relax and be relieved. If their pattern holds true, they'll implode soon enough. And you'll be there to pick up the pieces, and show everyone the true leader you are.

Godspeed Governor Elect Dayton!

Kurt 'Flash' Schiebel
Centrisity.com

Capitulation

Sometimes I wonder if the Democratic Party actually has a plan. These tax relief negotiations are something that should have happened BEFORE the midterms, especially the vote. The Left would have been in a position of strength, whereby they could DARE the Republicans to vote against Tax Cuts for all before the midterms. This would have saved their house majority. But they didn't, and now they are backed into a corner.

The new vote on the Framework gives the Right a second chance, and now puts the 'double dare ya' on the Democrats, instead. How much are we spending now . . . estimates are between 600 and 800 BILLION. The deal:

Paraphrased:

- Bush tax cuts: $458 billion. The package would extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone for two years

- Unemployment benefits: $57 billion. The package would also leave in place for 13 months the option to file for extended federal unemployment benefits

- Social Security tax break: $120 billion. The package would also offer workers a 2% payroll tax holiday next year

- Individual tax credits: $40 billion. extend for two years the increased value of a number of tax credits that benefit low- and middle-income tax filers,

- Business tax breaks: Cost unclear. It is still not clear how many business tax breaks are in the package. Some, like an extension of the research and development credit, has drawn bipartisan support and is typically renewed annually. But also included is a new temporary option for businesses to write off 100% of their expenses in 2011. A cost estimate was not immediately available.

- Estate tax: $88 billion. exemption level would be raised to $5 million and the top rate lowered to 35%.

Another deficit killer. Everyone wants to give away money, but no one wants to make the tough budget cutting decisions that need to happen. And I mean meaningful cuts, not Freezing salaries and chopping apart Earmarks, feel good actions that are pennies to the budget.

GOP, come back to me when you have meaningful tax cuts, like a 20% cut in defense!! Dems, let me know when you are willing to do the same in Health and Human services, or even Education.

Isn't there at least some group of true fiscal conservatives who have the guts to do what is needed, regardless of personal electoral peril?

I doubt it!!

Flash
Centrisity.com

The Chess Game

There is a reason I tend to support Democratic candidates in the face of my right leaning moderacy. The Left is a forward thinking compromise based group, whereas the Right is a power hungry unmovable behemoth. The current stunt they are pulling nationally, block everything and anything until they get their way, is no different than what is happening here in the recount. It's all about power and the base. But what happens when the base begins to wane. Lets look at that.

From the Strib:

The Dayton campaign said that of the 2,776 ballot challenges Emmer workers have filed, 98.2 percent have been declared frivolous. By contrast, 39 Dayton challenges have been ruled frivolous, according to the campaign.

Does the Emmer legal team even know what they are doing to themselves. With control of both houses of the legislature they have a chance to lead, and govern. They have an opportunity to show the MN electorate how they believe things should be done. Even with a Governor Dayton, there is much room to show what they can do. But the hunger for power, even briefly, seems to be more important than long term improvement of the state. Some Emmer supporters are getting fed up:

Those challenges were wearing thin even on some Emmer voters.

"I'm an Emmer supporter, but I think what's going on here is a bunch of nonsense," said Steven Camp, a Robbinsdale resident and small-business owner who worked as a Hennepin County table official.

But Camp didn't blame Emmer. He suggested larger forces may be at work. If Republicans delay the recount long enough or contest it in court, the planned Jan. 3 swearing-in of the next governor could be delayed.

"It seems to me, frankly, that Emmer is something of a pawn in this situation," Camp said.

Being a pawn is NOT the mark of a leader. If Rep Emmer wants any hope for future political viability he needs to recognize a couple things; 1) there is no path to victory for him; and 2) The behavior of his recount team and the MNGOP smear machine is causing frustration even within his base.

Rep Emmer has a choice to make, if it is his choice and that is to simply recognize reality. If there is a decision to move forward with an election contest post recount, we'll have our answer. No sensible leader would continue after the process is complete . . . unless, of course, he is merely a pawn.

Flash

Yes, That's Her!

Yes, that;s my sister leaning over the table on the front page of the Strib. Both her and my mom participated in the recount efforts, yesterday. My take is very simple numbers:

By day's end, more than 400 ballots were challenged, with the vast majority coming from Emmer's side. County officials declared half of those challenges "frivolous," meaning they remain in the current count but could get another look.

According to a final tally released by secretary of state Monday night, taking challenged votes out of the count did little to change the overall vote

margin. Dayton picked up 20 votes while Emmer lost four.

Dayton now leads Emmer 43.6 percent to 43.2 percent -- a margin of 8,794 votes.

Folks, according the the SoS site, almost half (44.65%) of the votes have been looked at, and the results have barely budged. There is not path to the Governor's mansion for Emmer. So the question that becomes more clear, is whether the Right risks losing the independents and moderates to go on a wild goose chase to suppress the will of the electorate.

It seems to me, that cooler heads will prevail. The Right has a prime opportunity to show the people of Minnesota they can be sensible, and then govern from the platform that they ran on. If they try to do that with an end around of the electoral system, they could become a permanent minority in two year. I would think the last thing they want is for the DFL to hold all three branches of government. If they are willing to see the writing on the wall, they will have a much better chance of keeping their majorities in both chambers come 2012.

Flash

8 Years!

Eight years ago, today, Centrisity was born. In that time. congressional controls has swung Left, and back Right. The President is of a different party. My grade school kids are now fledgling Adults, well except for the youngest, who is a Senior in high school, now.

My oldest spent 5 years in the marine corps, including a trip to the sandbox. And the #3 son is active duty in the Air Force. I've lost two best friends, watched my nephews grow up and marry. My parents enjoy good health, I'm still madly in love with my wife, and the Drum Corps has gone from middle of the pack to Championship contenders.

I haven't written much, recently. Attempts to stick to policy get drowned out by members of the smear machine who can't even take time to see the good that is happening right now. I'm not sure what will happen next, on these pages. But an 8 year investment isn't something I just want to walk away from. I still plan on lying low as I watch the recount, the holidays, and the world. At some point the fire will burn again, but time is a treasured resource. As I shuffle my priorities, Centrisity will soon find a place on that list.

Thanks to many of you for sharing this journey with me. 8 years is a long time, let's hope that time will continue to grow.

Kurt 'Flash' Schiebel
Centrisity.com

Thanks for your Service!

I special Thank You to the newest Veteran to be, Airman Nick!

He is currently excelling at Keesler AFB on track for Tech School Graduation in mid December. He will then get a couple weeks off for Christmas Exodus where we'll have much to catch up on.

He had an opportunity to go to Japan for his first assignment, but decided that getting more training and being involved in the meet of the Air Force beet going over seas to a Sit down Help Desk Job. He's got 6 years, I am sure he'll get to travel some over that time.

Also a salute to Sgt. Tom, who continues to enjoy his inactive reserve status. He is attending College in San Diego and actually called last night. He needed to check up on his brother still at home.

Thanks, gentleman! You have made me very proud!

Dad!

Other Veteran's Day Posts:

2009
2008
2007
2005
2004