I filed this under "In Case You Missed It," because you likely did. Especially if you watch FOX "News."
[Excerpt]
Image from source, Washington Post
US gov’t reports $116.5B surplus, largest in 5 years; deficit on track for smallest in 5 years
The federal government on Thursday reported a rare surplus of $116.5 billion in June, the largest for a single month in five years. The gain kept the nation on track for its lowest annual deficit in five years. . .
When I hear "chained CPI," my eyes roll back in my head. When I hear liberals--particularly liberals I like--whining about something that makes my eyes do that, I do a double face-palm. And when I hear liberals I barely tolerate doing the same thing, well, I kind of tune out. Now, let me back up and say that President Obama putting Social Security into a deficit conversation is rather irritating. One has nothing to do with the other. Social Security cutting and/or tweaking is a bone thrown to conservatives who have hated every element of the New Deal since they were invented. And no, I don't particularly like throwing bones to Mitch McConnell and John Boner Boehner. Lettuce and bourbon (respectively) would seem like a better toss.
But you know what? Time and again, the Prez has shown himself to know pretty much what he's doing. He may misstep, he may lose one here and there. But more often than not, he ends up pretty much where he wants to be. The first three years of his Presidency, liberal gays were shrieking (it wasn't pretty) about where our "fierce advocate" was, and then he came through. Solidly. I'm trusting him here to know what he's doing. I'm cool with people like Bernie Sanders raising a ruckus, go to town, do it, fine. But the whining and hand-wringing is making me nuts.
So, I really appreciated Rachel Maddow's line of attack on her current colleague, former Obama insider David Axelrod. I never liked him, nor most people who serve in his position for any president, or candidate. Rachel didn't whine, but asked pointed, repeated and very, very insistent questions. Axelrod didn't quite crumble, but you can't say Rachel didn't try.
In this clip from the Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel notes an amazing list of things that happened on Tuesday (all linked here):
- Alaska has passed a law that could arrest law enforcement officers if they enforce gun laws they don't like (wha?)
- Arkansas Governor vetoes anti-abortion ban
- Indiana Senate passes one of those "transvaginal ultrasound" laws just for those who want an "abortion pill" (but not two of them!)
- Illinois elected a new Congresswoman to replace Jesse Jackson Jr.
- Biden meets with retired military for help on gun control
- Patrick Leahy makes announcement on gun control
- Chuck Hagel got confirmed as Defense Secretary
- Pennsylvania GOP forging ahead with vote-rigging scheme
- SCOTUS is votion on the voting right act
. . .and a whole, whole lot more. A lot happened, and this entire clip (not to mention the entire show) is worth watching. But, what I want you to watch--and get everybody else you know to watch--is the part that begins at 5:15, when Rachel starts talking the dreadful boring "sequestration," or "the sequester," if you prefer. Except she not only makes it not boring, she will teach you something you didn't know. [Story continues below]
The amazing thing that you don't know (statistically speaking), is that the budget deficit has been dropping. Every year since President Obama has been in office, the deficit has been going down. Not up, down. Only 6% of Americans surveyed knew that, and far and away a majority think it has gone up. Oh, and the sequestration thing that is some sort of vague nod toward "getting serious" about the deficit. . .has no effect on the deficit.
So, watch it, please? Thanks. Oh, and here's another article if you want to know more:
