Hambone v3.0

Friday Open Comments

We hate to say we told you so, but…

Most significantly, the blue-state financial misery continues and deepens the ideological crisis of American liberalism. Few politicians in traditionally liberal states now speak about the expanding promise of progressive government and the welfare state. New Jersey is already in conservative revolt. New York’s Democratic governor-elect, Andrew Cuomo, campaigned on a promise of budget cuts without tax increases. The New York congressional delegation shifted significantly in a Republican direction. While California remains in denial — even after a budget crisis that has lasted for a decade — that could rapidly change as well. It may be Democratic governors who are forced by economic reality to limit the size and ambitions of government, delivering a body blow to liberalism itself. If progressive activism can’t survive in these places, it will be difficult for it to survive anywhere.

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193 responses to “Friday Open Comments”

  1. texanadian Avatar
    texanadian

    Mornin’ Gang

  2. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    Mornin’ Gang

  3. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Since we’ll end up bailing out California anyway, how about, as part of the bargain, we insist they implement a hundred dollar fee to vote “D” in future elections? 😀

  4. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    G’Morning all

    2 GJT says:
    November 12, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Since we’ll end up bailing out California anyway

    We already are

    The not-so-Golden State is borrowing $40M a day from the federal government to pay for unemployment benefits. Currently one of eight workers is unemployed in California.
    The AP reported:

    With one in every eight workers unemployed and empty state coffers, California is borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment insurance.

    The Los Angeles Times reports that the state owes $8.6 billion already, and will have to come up with a $362-million payment to Washington by the end of next September.

    That’s my money and your money that’s already going to them.
    Do you think they will
    A. repay it
    B. default
    C.be forgiven

  5. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    G’Morning all

    2 GJT says:
    November 12, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Since we’ll end up bailing out California anyway

    We already are

    The not-so-Golden State is borrowing $40M a day from the federal government to pay for unemployment benefits. Currently one of eight workers is unemployed in California.
    The AP reported:

    With one in every eight workers unemployed and empty state coffers, California is borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment insurance.

    The Los Angeles Times reports that the state owes $8.6 billion already, and will have to come up with a $362-million payment to Washington by the end of next September.

    That’s my money and your money that’s already going to them.
    Do you think they will
    A. repay it
    B. default
    C.be forgiven

  6. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Obama met with the Group of Twenty leaders in South Korea yesterday, a day after he printed up and released six hundred billion dollars into circulation. The other leaders were confused.

    Guys who do this usually hold their conferences in North Korea

  7. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    Obama met with the Group of Twenty leaders in South Korea yesterday, a day after he printed up and released six hundred billion dollars into circulation. The other leaders were confused.

    Guys who do this usually hold their conferences in North Korea

  8. GJT Avatar
    GJT

    Pelosi threw a party for House Democrats Wednesday to applaud her Congress’s triumphs. She is the first woman Speaker and is considered the most powerful woman in Washington.

    That’s the furthest that anyone in a dress has gotten in Washington since J. Edgar Hoover.

  9. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    Pelosi threw a party for House Democrats Wednesday to applaud her Congress’s triumphs. She is the first woman Speaker and is considered the most powerful woman in Washington.

    That’s the furthest that anyone in a dress has gotten in Washington since J. Edgar Hoover.

  10. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Yabbut J Ed looked better in heels

  11. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Yabbut J Ed looked better in heels

  12. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    I guess $25 Billion in Texas is no problem – good, I’ll just mark it off my list. A few more Perry campaign commercials and we’ll all be in high cotton again!

    YeeeHaaaaww!

    Thanks, governor Perry.

  13. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    I guess $25 Billion in Texas is no problem – good, I’ll just mark it off my list. A few more Perry campaign commercials and we’ll all be in high cotton again!

    YeeeHaaaaww!

    Thanks, governor Perry.

  14. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    If progressive activism can’t survive in these places, it will be difficult for it to survive anywhere

    Not enough “yays” in the world for that statement.

    I see that Lawrence’s Rick Perry is Bob42’s marijuana. And the carousel goes ’round and ’round.

  15. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    If progressive activism can’t survive in these places, it will be difficult for it to survive anywhere

    Not enough “yays” in the world for that statement.

    I see that Lawrence’s Rick Perry is Bob42’s marijuana. And the carousel goes ’round and ’round.

  16. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Little known fact about OletimerLin: When he was young and broke, he had to take a job writing for Henny Youngman.

  17. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Little known fact about OletimerLin: When he was young and broke, he had to take a job writing for Henny Youngman.

  18. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    From a link at Drudge re Jindal’s new book:

    Obama looks bad. Again.

    “Political posturing becomes more important than reality,” he writes.

    — Tell us something we don’t already know. Well, maybe the libs don’t.

    “The human element seemed invisible to the White House,” he writes.

    —- But I repeat myself.

    And after Obama instituted a moratorium on offshore drilling, Jindal recounts that the president dismissed his concerns about the economic impact of the ban.

    “I understand you need to say all of this, I know you need to say this, that you are facing political pressure,” Jindal quotes Obama telling him. When the governor said he was concerned about people losing their jobs, he said the president cited national polls showing that people supported the ban.

    —– A little projection there, maybe?

    Jindal has criticized the administration in the past over the spill, but that he would do so at the outset of his book suggests he wants to raise his national profile — and perhaps seek national office.

    —— We can only hope…

  19. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    From a link at Drudge re Jindal’s new book:

    Obama looks bad. Again.

    “Political posturing becomes more important than reality,” he writes.

    — Tell us something we don’t already know. Well, maybe the libs don’t.

    “The human element seemed invisible to the White House,” he writes.

    —- But I repeat myself.

    And after Obama instituted a moratorium on offshore drilling, Jindal recounts that the president dismissed his concerns about the economic impact of the ban.

    “I understand you need to say all of this, I know you need to say this, that you are facing political pressure,” Jindal quotes Obama telling him. When the governor said he was concerned about people losing their jobs, he said the president cited national polls showing that people supported the ban.

    —– A little projection there, maybe?

    Jindal has criticized the administration in the past over the spill, but that he would do so at the outset of his book suggests he wants to raise his national profile — and perhaps seek national office.

    —— We can only hope…

  20. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    #7 Yeah, I have to admit Perry’s “We suck less” refrain is getting a bit tiring.

  21. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    #7 Yeah, I have to admit Perry’s “We suck less” refrain is getting a bit tiring.

  22. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I guess Jews aren’t welcome in San Francisco.

  23. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I guess Jews aren’t welcome in San Francisco.

  24. Super Dave Avatar
    Super Dave

    Why would anyone thing for one minute that the blue states would even consider spending cuts when they know full well the rest of us will bail them out no matter what. Then, the Chinese will help bail them out. Then the fed will print up more money to bail them out. They’re not even to second base yet with their spending plans. Nope, it won’t quit until the music finally stops, and even then the overspenders will be begging the conservative operations for handouts – or, just as is the case with Mexico, they will just ship their problems to us.

    The politicians know that saving money is a losing proposition because the next guy will get to spend it if they try to save it – so why not spend it now and make it tough for the next guy. See current discussion among Senate Republican leaders versus the newly minted conservative incoming members (and DeMint) about earmarks for example. Not spending is a loser for most politicians, and they know it because the sly fox standing at their side will spend it if they don’t.

  25. El Gordo Avatar
    El Gordo

    Why would anyone thing for one minute that the blue states would even consider spending cuts when they know full well the rest of us will bail them out no matter what. Then, the Chinese will help bail them out. Then the fed will print up more money to bail them out. They’re not even to second base yet with their spending plans. Nope, it won’t quit until the music finally stops, and even then the overspenders will be begging the conservative operations for handouts – or, just as is the case with Mexico, they will just ship their problems to us.

    The politicians know that saving money is a losing proposition because the next guy will get to spend it if they try to save it – so why not spend it now and make it tough for the next guy. See current discussion among Senate Republican leaders versus the newly minted conservative incoming members (and DeMint) about earmarks for example. Not spending is a loser for most politicians, and they know it because the sly fox standing at their side will spend it if they don’t.

  26. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    #8. Come on T. You know better than that.

    Just because I didn’t buy into the KSEV Perry propaganda machine and you don’t want to deal with the facts – please don’t compare me to bob69 and his need for weed.

  27. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    #8. Come on T. You know better than that.

    Just because I didn’t buy into the KSEV Perry propaganda machine and you don’t want to deal with the facts – please don’t compare me to bob69 and his need for weed.

  28. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    I just find it amusing that you guys are roasting California about their fiscal problems, and here at home in Texas, we have a $25 billion dollar deficit that was materially understated and downplayed during the recent election, and I guess you’re going to give Perry a pass because you think he’s a Republican and/or a conservative or you don’t want to upset the Senator Patrick cheerleader apple cart.

  29. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #8 TT

    I see that Lawrence’s Rick Perry is Bob42′s marijuana.

    Astute as usual, Tedtam.

  30. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #8 TT

    I see that Lawrence’s Rick Perry is Bob42′s marijuana.

    Astute as usual, Tedtam.

  31. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #14 Lawrence

    The similarity she picked up on is just the relentless same-old single topic ax-grinding.

    Speaking of Rick Perry, did we want Bill White instead?

  32. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #14 Lawrence

    The similarity she picked up on is just the relentless same-old single topic ax-grinding.

    Speaking of Rick Perry, did we want Bill White instead?

  33. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    New York went broke in the 1970s and Washington said no to a bailout prompting the NY Daily News to famously headline: Ford to City: Drop Dead.

    The problem is most of the people in charge today were in Cub Scouts or if they were in college, they were too stoned to remember it.

    I was 23 and recall it vividly.

    Wait until somebody like California genuinely defaults on millions in bonds, the municipal bond market goes to hell and the ratings agencies dramatically downgrade all public debt. It seems it will have to be a catastrophic event before these clowns do something, but it’s coming and coming soon.

  34. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    New York went broke in the 1970s and Washington said no to a bailout prompting the NY Daily News to famously headline: Ford to City: Drop Dead.

    The problem is most of the people in charge today were in Cub Scouts or if they were in college, they were too stoned to remember it.

    I was 23 and recall it vividly.

    Wait until somebody like California genuinely defaults on millions in bonds, the municipal bond market goes to hell and the ratings agencies dramatically downgrade all public debt. It seems it will have to be a catastrophic event before these clowns do something, but it’s coming and coming soon.

  35. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Lawrence,

    I doubt seriously whether anyone here gives a tinker’s dam about Dan Patrick’s mood. The 25 billion dollar deficit was not exactly a well-kept secret during the campaign either.

    KBH ran a miserable campaign and nobody thought she would have any better ideas about getting rid of the debt than Perry.

    Medina ran a good campaign for a novice, but the voters obviously didn’t think she’s ready yet for prime time.

    So the voters in Texas selected the only other choice. We can speculate until we’re blue in the face about why no one stepped up to the plate, but the fact is they didn’t.

    Does any serious person believe Bill White would reduce that debt ?

    The real blame lies with the Legislature and Lt. Governor Dewhurst. That’s the locus of power in Texas and where taxation, budget and debt originate. Focusing too much on the Governor’s chair is wasting energy.

  36. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Lawrence,

    I doubt seriously whether anyone here gives a tinker’s dam about Dan Patrick’s mood. The 25 billion dollar deficit was not exactly a well-kept secret during the campaign either.

    KBH ran a miserable campaign and nobody thought she would have any better ideas about getting rid of the debt than Perry.

    Medina ran a good campaign for a novice, but the voters obviously didn’t think she’s ready yet for prime time.

    So the voters in Texas selected the only other choice. We can speculate until we’re blue in the face about why no one stepped up to the plate, but the fact is they didn’t.

    Does any serious person believe Bill White would reduce that debt ?

    The real blame lies with the Legislature and Lt. Governor Dewhurst. That’s the locus of power in Texas and where taxation, budget and debt originate. Focusing too much on the Governor’s chair is wasting energy.

  37. SC Avatar
    SC

    That is disturbing to think ALL public debt could be downgraded. I’m just thinking of all the MUD districts here around Houston that could already be in danger because of the property devaluations and forclosures.

  38. SC Avatar
    SC

    That is disturbing to think ALL public debt could be downgraded. I’m just thinking of all the MUD districts here around Houston that could already be in danger because of the property devaluations and forclosures.

  39. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #20 SC

    The shockwaves will be felt right down to the MUD level and by every little town in America should my scenario come to pass. I hope I am wrong.

  40. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #20 SC

    The shockwaves will be felt right down to the MUD level and by every little town in America should my scenario come to pass. I hope I am wrong.

  41. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Harpo, $25 billion is not the same old single topic ax-grinding.

    It amazes me how cavalier we have become about the size and scope of fiscal problems at all levels of government in this country. I am blown away how easily numbers in the billions are thrown around these days. The term trillion is now heard or read almost daily in the media. I don’t think the folks really grasp the level of pain that is going to have to be endured to fix these problems that are quantified using the terms billions and trillions and that that pain ultimately will be exponential if we don’t.

    Hey, I’ll go back to doing what I do and leave you folks alone. No point in me ruining your day.

  42. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Harpo, $25 billion is not the same old single topic ax-grinding.

    It amazes me how cavalier we have become about the size and scope of fiscal problems at all levels of government in this country. I am blown away how easily numbers in the billions are thrown around these days. The term trillion is now heard or read almost daily in the media. I don’t think the folks really grasp the level of pain that is going to have to be endured to fix these problems that are quantified using the terms billions and trillions and that that pain ultimately will be exponential if we don’t.

    Hey, I’ll go back to doing what I do and leave you folks alone. No point in me ruining your day.

  43. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    The similarity she picked up on is just the relentless same-old single topic ax-grinding.

    This observation is correct, Lawrence. I find Bob42’s continuous rants against authoriteh, the war on drugs, and the need to legalize marijuana tedious, boring, and a huge turn-off. After a (short) while, I quit listening/reading. We all know where he stands – right over us, bashing us in the head with the same old bat. Over and over and over again. I’ve met the guy, and I know he has more up top than what he exposes us to on this blog. I wish he’d branch out more.

    Please don’t let your dislike Perry turn you into Bob. I’d hate to turn you off, too.

  44. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    The similarity she picked up on is just the relentless same-old single topic ax-grinding.

    This observation is correct, Lawrence. I find Bob42’s continuous rants against authoriteh, the war on drugs, and the need to legalize marijuana tedious, boring, and a huge turn-off. After a (short) while, I quit listening/reading. We all know where he stands – right over us, bashing us in the head with the same old bat. Over and over and over again. I’ve met the guy, and I know he has more up top than what he exposes us to on this blog. I wish he’d branch out more.

    Please don’t let your dislike Perry turn you into Bob. I’d hate to turn you off, too.

  45. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    What kind of racial tensions are being raised?

    Good for this kid! And good for his family!

  46. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    What kind of racial tensions are being raised?

    Good for this kid! And good for his family!

  47. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Tex, you wouldn’t have known that from the campaign commercials – but hey, I guess you didn’t have to endure those over in New Jersey.

  48. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Tex, you wouldn’t have known that from the campaign commercials – but hey, I guess you didn’t have to endure those over in New Jersey.

  49. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Okay, I HAVE to ask – did he pee in the pool?

  50. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Okay, I HAVE to ask – did he pee in the pool?

  51. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I had to rescue Handsome Son this morning, just got back a little while ago. His Daddy-rebuilt car doesn’t have a working gas gauge. Thank goodness he wasn’t too far away.

    A mother’s work is never done, I suppose.

    And he has AAA for those times when Mom’s not around, just so you know. I take care of him even when I’m not nearby.

  52. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I had to rescue Handsome Son this morning, just got back a little while ago. His Daddy-rebuilt car doesn’t have a working gas gauge. Thank goodness he wasn’t too far away.

    A mother’s work is never done, I suppose.

    And he has AAA for those times when Mom’s not around, just so you know. I take care of him even when I’m not nearby.

  53. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Hey T, don’t worry, the best alchemist in the world couldn’t turn me into Bob!

  54. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Hey T, don’t worry, the best alchemist in the world couldn’t turn me into Bob!

  55. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #28 Lawrence

    Well, THAT’S good news!

  56. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #28 Lawrence

    Well, THAT’S good news!

  57. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    Not everyone can be Bob.

  58. bob42 Avatar
    bob42

    Not everyone can be Bob.

  59. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #30 Bob42

    I love optical illusions. That one had me feeling a little sideways.

  60. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #30 Bob42

    I love optical illusions. That one had me feeling a little sideways.

  61. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    #30 I think you’ve been in my stash. It was a picture of my cat.

  62. bob42 Avatar
    bob42

    #30 I think you’ve been in my stash. It was a picture of my cat.

  63. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Lawrence,

    If I lived in Texas, the very last place I would look to find the truth is Rick Perry or anyone else’s campaign ads.

    El Gordo, SC and I have been carrying on a simultaneous exchange about massive municipal debt meltdown and its national ramifications, but somehow that doesn’t translate into grave concern about billions and trillions.

    I haven’t witnessed anyone here being cavalier about the public debt problem. On the contrary, the regular commenters on Hambone seem to be exceedingly worried about it, just like everywhere I go on the internet where serious folks gather.

  64. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Lawrence,

    If I lived in Texas, the very last place I would look to find the truth is Rick Perry or anyone else’s campaign ads.

    El Gordo, SC and I have been carrying on a simultaneous exchange about massive municipal debt meltdown and its national ramifications, but somehow that doesn’t translate into grave concern about billions and trillions.

    I haven’t witnessed anyone here being cavalier about the public debt problem. On the contrary, the regular commenters on Hambone seem to be exceedingly worried about it, just like everywhere I go on the internet where serious folks gather.

  65. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    RE: Political Radio and TV ads

    Wherever I am, I almost always mute the sound and ignore campaign ads, even the ones by people I would vote for. They drive me nuts – totally.

  66. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    RE: Political Radio and TV ads

    Wherever I am, I almost always mute the sound and ignore campaign ads, even the ones by people I would vote for. They drive me nuts – totally.

  67. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #34 Texpat

    They drive me nuts – totally.

    And this is why you feel so right-at-home here! 😉

  68. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #34 Texpat

    They drive me nuts – totally.

    And this is why you feel so right-at-home here! 😉

  69. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I’ll bet this drives the cargo dirty-bomb screening equipment nuts at the ports!

    I honestly did not know that I had glow-in-the-dark fruit in my home.

  70. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I’ll bet this drives the cargo dirty-bomb screening equipment nuts at the ports!

    I honestly did not know that I had glow-in-the-dark fruit in my home.

  71. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, there is no $25 billion deficit.

    The state budget runs for two years and is required by the Constitution to be balanced. The current budget, passed by the 81st legislature in 2009, runs through August 31, 2011. Based upon current tax collections, it may be that the revenue projections will be $2-3 billion short and money will have to be moved from the “rainy day” fund in July or August to cover the rest of the fiscal year.

    The upcoming legislature will have to produce a budget that starts on Sept 1, 2011 and runs through August 31, 2013 that is balanced. It is the law and they must follow the law, as they have been. How they do that remains to be seen but this much is clear:

    There is no $25 billion deficit.

  72. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, there is no $25 billion deficit.

    The state budget runs for two years and is required by the Constitution to be balanced. The current budget, passed by the 81st legislature in 2009, runs through August 31, 2011. Based upon current tax collections, it may be that the revenue projections will be $2-3 billion short and money will have to be moved from the “rainy day” fund in July or August to cover the rest of the fiscal year.

    The upcoming legislature will have to produce a budget that starts on Sept 1, 2011 and runs through August 31, 2013 that is balanced. It is the law and they must follow the law, as they have been. How they do that remains to be seen but this much is clear:

    There is no $25 billion deficit.

  73. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=521130

  74. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=521130

  75. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    DJ, I’d love to believe you but I don’t.

    The current budget period is going to have a deficit of several billion dollars. The upcoming two year budget period, at current spending levels, will have a $20something billion dollar deficit.

    I hope you were being sarcastic, not misled or uninformed.

  76. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    DJ, I’d love to believe you but I don’t.

    The current budget period is going to have a deficit of several billion dollars. The upcoming two year budget period, at current spending levels, will have a $20something billion dollar deficit.

    I hope you were being sarcastic, not misled or uninformed.

  77. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #30 Bob

    Not everyone can be Bob.

    Sure they can. This nifty catalog has 13 pages of Boborabilia.

    http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?ACTION=SEARCH&SEARCH_MAXHITS=12&SEARCH_SPEC=bob&submit.x=8&submit.y=5

  78. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    #30 Bob

    Not everyone can be Bob.

    Sure they can. This nifty catalog has 13 pages of Boborabilia.

    http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?ACTION=SEARCH&SEARCH_MAXHITS=12&SEARCH_SPEC=bob&submit.x=8&submit.y=5

  79. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    DJ, the law didn’t prevent the current budget period from a multi-billion dollar deficit.

    Someone has broken the law and needs to be prosecuted and jailed. Where do you recommend we start?

  80. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    DJ, the law didn’t prevent the current budget period from a multi-billion dollar deficit.

    Someone has broken the law and needs to be prosecuted and jailed. Where do you recommend we start?

  81. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Dallas Morning News, October 25, 2010:

    Experts and former officials sized up the developments as meaning that a late-August deficit estimate by senior legislative staff members – $20.6 billion, as reported by The Dallas Morning News – is now on the low side. They say the number has reached $23.8 billion to $24.8 billion, and could go higher if the economy doesn’t pick up.

    As Texas once again fills a budget breach, it brings new assets and liabilities. On the plus side, as Perry and Dewhurst frequently have stressed, the state should have about $9 billion in a rainy day fund that budget writers could tap, though that requires a supermajority of both houses.

    But while that was easily achieved four times in the past two decades, some analysts said this year’s tea party movement – not to mention the 2006 property tax cuts that weren’t funded – could spook Republicans who once blithely consented.

    If you spent the entire $9B rainy day fund in the bank, Texas still has a shortfall of around $15B.

  82. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Dallas Morning News, October 25, 2010:

    Experts and former officials sized up the developments as meaning that a late-August deficit estimate by senior legislative staff members – $20.6 billion, as reported by The Dallas Morning News – is now on the low side. They say the number has reached $23.8 billion to $24.8 billion, and could go higher if the economy doesn’t pick up.

    As Texas once again fills a budget breach, it brings new assets and liabilities. On the plus side, as Perry and Dewhurst frequently have stressed, the state should have about $9 billion in a rainy day fund that budget writers could tap, though that requires a supermajority of both houses.

    But while that was easily achieved four times in the past two decades, some analysts said this year’s tea party movement – not to mention the 2006 property tax cuts that weren’t funded – could spook Republicans who once blithely consented.

    If you spent the entire $9B rainy day fund in the bank, Texas still has a shortfall of around $15B.

  83. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #40

    😀

  84. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #40

    😀

  85. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, I’m not being sarcastic or uninformed. Them’s just the facts. There is no budget deficit. If the projections for this budget were short, as it appears they will be, the money is already there in the form of the “rainy day” fund.

    A projected shortfall for an as yet undetermined budget for 2012-13 is not a budget deficit. It is just someone’s way of saying, hey, if this were to be in place today, this would happen. But the plain fact is that “this” is not in place today.

    In the governor’s campaign, Rick Perry made it very clear, time and again, that raising taxes was not an option to covering that hypothetical shortfall. Bill White left open the idea that taxes could be raised.

  86. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, I’m not being sarcastic or uninformed. Them’s just the facts. There is no budget deficit. If the projections for this budget were short, as it appears they will be, the money is already there in the form of the “rainy day” fund.

    A projected shortfall for an as yet undetermined budget for 2012-13 is not a budget deficit. It is just someone’s way of saying, hey, if this were to be in place today, this would happen. But the plain fact is that “this” is not in place today.

    In the governor’s campaign, Rick Perry made it very clear, time and again, that raising taxes was not an option to covering that hypothetical shortfall. Bill White left open the idea that taxes could be raised.

  87. SC Avatar
    SC

    former Houston mayor Bill White, has accused Perry of mismanaging state finances.

    From the Stateline article.
    Witness the state of the City of Houston finances. Pot calling the Kettle black.
    We’re still better off than anywhere but the District of Columbia.

  88. SC Avatar
    SC

    former Houston mayor Bill White, has accused Perry of mismanaging state finances.

    From the Stateline article.
    Witness the state of the City of Houston finances. Pot calling the Kettle black.
    We’re still better off than anywhere but the District of Columbia.

  89. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    DJ, you need to run for office.

    You can parse them words with the best of ’em!

  90. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    DJ, you need to run for office.

    You can parse them words with the best of ’em!

  91. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    DJ, when it’s all said and done, I’ll bet every agency/entity in Texas who’s fiscal bull gets gored in this next budget session won’t agree with you that there was no $25 billion deficit.

    The screaming/wailing/caterwalling is going to be so loud – if you listen carefully you can probably already hear it.

  92. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    DJ, when it’s all said and done, I’ll bet every agency/entity in Texas who’s fiscal bull gets gored in this next budget session won’t agree with you that there was no $25 billion deficit.

    The screaming/wailing/caterwalling is going to be so loud – if you listen carefully you can probably already hear it.

  93. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #44 DJ

    Then who are these “senior legislative aides” who told the Dallas Morning News in August their estimates are for a $23.8 to $24.8 billion deficit in the budget ?

    And why are Dale Craymer and Talmadge Heflin so alarmed and speaking of deep cuts and state employee furloughs ?

  94. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #44 DJ

    Then who are these “senior legislative aides” who told the Dallas Morning News in August their estimates are for a $23.8 to $24.8 billion deficit in the budget ?

    And why are Dale Craymer and Talmadge Heflin so alarmed and speaking of deep cuts and state employee furloughs ?

  95. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, screaming/wailing/caterwalling is already loud. I’m just pointing out the fact that there is no deficit.

  96. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    LC, screaming/wailing/caterwalling is already loud. I’m just pointing out the fact that there is no deficit.

  97. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Texpat, they are screaming because they do not want the FUTURE budget to be cut, they would much rather have taxes increased. They are thinking about all the spending they have and do not want their power to be diminished.

    There is, in plain fact, no budget deficit. And I guarantee you that there will not be a budget produced by the 82nd legislature that has a deficit because the law will not allow it.

  98. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Texpat, they are screaming because they do not want the FUTURE budget to be cut, they would much rather have taxes increased. They are thinking about all the spending they have and do not want their power to be diminished.

    There is, in plain fact, no budget deficit. And I guarantee you that there will not be a budget produced by the 82nd legislature that has a deficit because the law will not allow it.

  99. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    And no, LC, I am not a shill. Show me where I am wrong and I will shut up and go away. Promise.

  100. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    And no, LC, I am not a shill. Show me where I am wrong and I will shut up and go away. Promise.

  101. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    DJ, the law didn’t prevent the current budget period from a multi-billion dollar deficit.

    so;

    You started at $25 billion, then “several billion” and now its “multi-billion” which is essentially correct if its the $2 billion DJ mentions (which is a fact). This is easily covered with the rainy day fund which your source says has $8 billion dollars in it:

    Texas has more than $8 billion in a rainy day fund that would help cover part of the shortfall, if lawmakers chose to tap into it. Agencies have also been asked to prepare 10 percent cuts from their current budgets. If approved, the cuts would entail laying off thousands of employees but would bring $4 billion in savings. Officials have said they will try to protect K-12 education from this round of cuts.

    Of course, the shortfall they’re talking about is the $21 Billion (not $25 billion) that your source says MIGHT exist later.

    Furthermore your own source says:

    When Oliveira and his colleagues gather for the next legislative session in January, he reports, they will have to grapple with a budget shortfall that could exceed $21 billion over two years. That’s an almost unimaginable number in Texas, where the legislature has authority to make cuts to about $87 billion of the state’s spending, the rest being mandated by federal or state statute.

    Which is EXACTLY what DJ said. The shortfall you say exists now, doesn’t exist now. Your source says it MIGHT exist in THE NEXT SESSION.

    In fact, if you read your own source, you’ll find that it confirms what DJ said:

    First, the state’s sales tax returns, which had been expected to increase, dropped precipitously and unexpectedly in the 2010 fiscal year, ending the year $2 billion short of projections, although they have rebounded somewhat since then. Texas has no income tax, so it relies on sales receipts for up to 60 percent of its tax revenue, and a drop in the volatile sales tax is bound to have dramatic consequences

    .

    Dude.

    Learn how to read or folks will pull the wool over your eyes.

    But your source does provide me with further information regarding Speaker Straus that only confirms my opinion that he has got to go:

    Oliveira, a state representative from Brownsville, is a Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee in a Republican-majority chamber. He was appointed to that post by the Republican Speaker, a gesture of bipartisanship that has made him the state’s official bearer of bad news. “I’m not getting a standing ovation when I’m giving these speeches,” he says.

  102. OletimerLin Avatar
    OletimerLin

    #40 🙂 I like it.

  103. bob42 Avatar
    bob42

    #40 🙂 I like it.

  104. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    The only cure for liberalism is massive doses of consequences. And even then, it often times takes several treatments. And many are simply incurable.

    Why should North Korea try to hurt us by printing 600 billion in counterfeit dollars when the Dems are perfectly willing to do it themselves?

  105. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    The only cure for liberalism is massive doses of consequences. And even then, it often times takes several treatments. And many are simply incurable.

    Why should North Korea try to hurt us by printing 600 billion in counterfeit dollars when the Dems are perfectly willing to do it themselves?

  106. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Hammie, did I get moderated for some reason?

  107. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Hammie, did I get moderated for some reason?

  108. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Ever since Perry and Darth Dewhurst stabbed us in the back on property taxes, I’ve not trusted one word they had to say. Not to mention the business grossed out income tax…err, gross receipts tax. I’d get if a panel of 12 Hambone bloggers sat down and looked at the state budget for a month, they could cut a heckuva lot of fat out of that thing.

  109. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Ever since Perry and Darth Dewhurst stabbed us in the back on property taxes, I’ve not trusted one word they had to say. Not to mention the business grossed out income tax…err, gross receipts tax. I’d get if a panel of 12 Hambone bloggers sat down and looked at the state budget for a month, they could cut a heckuva lot of fat out of that thing.

  110. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Dude, where’s my deficit?

    BBBBWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!

    I know how to read and I’m no Perry shill.

    Texas, we have a problem!

  111. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Dude, where’s my deficit?

    BBBBWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!

    I know how to read and I’m no Perry shill.

    Texas, we have a problem!

  112. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Hey Sarge, you might want to pull those wool blinders off and pull yourself out of that stupor you’re in.

    If Tex says there’s a deficit, that’s good enough for me.

    The next big awakening will come for you, Sarge, when you figure out that budget gap won’t be closed with spending cuts alone.

    Then, we’ll hear all the rationalizing about how the tax increases aren’t as large as it would have been if Bill White had been elected.

    Sarge, Dude, learn how to interpret and pull those wool R blinders off.

  113. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Hey Sarge, you might want to pull those wool blinders off and pull yourself out of that stupor you’re in.

    If Tex says there’s a deficit, that’s good enough for me.

    The next big awakening will come for you, Sarge, when you figure out that budget gap won’t be closed with spending cuts alone.

    Then, we’ll hear all the rationalizing about how the tax increases aren’t as large as it would have been if Bill White had been elected.

    Sarge, Dude, learn how to interpret and pull those wool R blinders off.

  114. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Dude, where’s my deficit?

    Its in your source.

    Its 2 billion dollars and there’s 8 billion in the rainy day fund to cover it.

    Future deficits will be handled by the new Legislature that has 55 more Republicans in it now than it did when the Lege voted the current spending levels that resulted in a 2 billion dollar deficit.

    And, hopefully, the new Lege has a conservative speaker who doesn’t appoint Liberal Democrats to Chair the Ways and Means Committee.

  115. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Dude, where’s my deficit?

    Its in your source.

    Its 2 billion dollars and there’s 8 billion in the rainy day fund to cover it.

    Future deficits will be handled by the new Legislature that has 55 more Republicans in it now than it did when the Lege voted the current spending levels that resulted in a 2 billion dollar deficit.

    And, hopefully, the new Lege has a conservative speaker who doesn’t appoint Liberal Democrats to Chair the Ways and Means Committee.

  116. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Frikkin Lowrents ditching his source now that Texpat says there’s a $25 billion deficit deficit and his source says its only $2 billion.

  117. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Frikkin Lowrents ditching his source now that Texpat says there’s a $25 billion deficit deficit and his source says its only $2 billion.

  118. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge:

    http://www.texasobserver.org/contrarian/texas-budget-mess-now-as-bad-as-californias

    The article is dated and the numbers are no longer accurate but the headline is… oh so appropriate.

    I haven’t ditched anything – I’ll give you even odds the final numbers are worse than the article projects and that your “rainy day” fund gets completely doused with the current budget period shortfall.

    Care to put your money where your keyboard is?

  119. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge:

    http://www.texasobserver.org/contrarian/texas-budget-mess-now-as-bad-as-californias

    The article is dated and the numbers are no longer accurate but the headline is… oh so appropriate.

    I haven’t ditched anything – I’ll give you even odds the final numbers are worse than the article projects and that your “rainy day” fund gets completely doused with the current budget period shortfall.

    Care to put your money where your keyboard is?

  120. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    HAL is picking on Big45 today.

  121. Hamous Avatar
    Hamous

    HAL is picking on Big45 today.

  122. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #62 Hammy

    Well, SOMEONE has to.
    ;D

  123. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    #62 Hammy

    Well, SOMEONE has to.
    ;D

  124. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    DJ, Sarge, et al

    I am not sure if Texas will have to raise taxes this time. Spending cuts seem to be a pretty sure thing. Texas and our legislature cannot accurately forecast how much money that the Feds will funnel back to us in the future. It seems a reasonable assumption that there will be less money coming back and a State tax increase of some sort will loom in the future.

    It would be nice if the Feds could straighten out their problems with spending cuts alone, but I do not see it happening in the long term. The chairmen of the Deficit Commission are probably not too far off of the target. There will be plenty of pain to go around in terms of program and entitlement cuts.

    I am not a Harvard educated Nobel Prize winning Economist; therefore what do I know? I do know how to balance my household budget.

    Simple

  125. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    DJ, Sarge, et al

    I am not sure if Texas will have to raise taxes this time. Spending cuts seem to be a pretty sure thing. Texas and our legislature cannot accurately forecast how much money that the Feds will funnel back to us in the future. It seems a reasonable assumption that there will be less money coming back and a State tax increase of some sort will loom in the future.

    It would be nice if the Feds could straighten out their problems with spending cuts alone, but I do not see it happening in the long term. The chairmen of the Deficit Commission are probably not too far off of the target. There will be plenty of pain to go around in terms of program and entitlement cuts.

    I am not a Harvard educated Nobel Prize winning Economist; therefore what do I know? I do know how to balance my household budget.

    Simple

  126. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Okay, LC, you proved me wrong, so I’ll just go away as promised.

    BTW, you do know that the Texas Observer was started and funded by Matt Angle as part of the Texas Democratic Trust in their effort to turn Texas blue ala the Colorado model, right?

    So adios and enjoy your day.

  127. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Okay, LC, you proved me wrong, so I’ll just go away as promised.

    BTW, you do know that the Texas Observer was started and funded by Matt Angle as part of the Texas Democratic Trust in their effort to turn Texas blue ala the Colorado model, right?

    So adios and enjoy your day.

  128. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I’m glad these vigorous disagreements are happening in cyberspace and the combatants are not all in the same room somewhere.

  129. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    I’m glad these vigorous disagreements are happening in cyberspace and the combatants are not all in the same room somewhere.

  130. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Simple, reasonable assumptions are not allowed in Texas. Hyperbole, ranting, and raving about things that do not exist are the norm. Just sayin’.

  131. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Simple, reasonable assumptions are not allowed in Texas. Hyperbole, ranting, and raving about things that do not exist are the norm. Just sayin’.

  132. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    The article is dated and the numbers are no longer accurate but the headline is… oh so appropriate.

    Thanks for providing the article. It certainly is dated. When ti was written, in July of 2010 it said:

    Texas: $18 billion shortfall (estimated) or about 20 percent of state spending.

    Then it said:

    A couple of caveats: Texas—as you probably know—budgets in two-year cycles. If the budget gap does turn out to be $18 billion (and we won’t have an official number until early next year), that would represent about 20 percent of the $87 billion in state funds that Texas allocated for 2010-2011.

    And per the first source you gave us which reports the current deficit, its now at $2 billion.

    Congratulations, genius.

    You just proved Perry cut $16 billion off the deficit in one year.

  133. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    The article is dated and the numbers are no longer accurate but the headline is… oh so appropriate.

    Thanks for providing the article. It certainly is dated. When ti was written, in July of 2010 it said:

    Texas: $18 billion shortfall (estimated) or about 20 percent of state spending.

    Then it said:

    A couple of caveats: Texas—as you probably know—budgets in two-year cycles. If the budget gap does turn out to be $18 billion (and we won’t have an official number until early next year), that would represent about 20 percent of the $87 billion in state funds that Texas allocated for 2010-2011.

    And per the first source you gave us which reports the current deficit, its now at $2 billion.

    Congratulations, genius.

    You just proved Perry cut $16 billion off the deficit in one year.

  134. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    Sarge & Lawrence

    I didn’t say anything about the budget deficit. What I did do was quote the Dallas Morning News about the alleged budget deficit. I don’t have the resources Dave Jennings does in Austin so I am inclined to believe what he says. I also well acquainted with the power of legislative staffers and their cozy relationship with the press. It’s an old tactic to generate early sympathy for partisan solutions to problems by placing alarmist stories in the press.

    Also, given that 60% of state revenue comes from sales tax and the great lion’s share of that is collected over the end of year holiday season, nobody, especially Comptroller Combs, wants to comment on the final numbers until after December 31.

    We’ll see in January what the real numbers turn out to be. It’s obvious there are a lot of games being played right now before the new Leg session begins.

  135. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    Sarge & Lawrence

    I didn’t say anything about the budget deficit. What I did do was quote the Dallas Morning News about the alleged budget deficit. I don’t have the resources Dave Jennings does in Austin so I am inclined to believe what he says. I also well acquainted with the power of legislative staffers and their cozy relationship with the press. It’s an old tactic to generate early sympathy for partisan solutions to problems by placing alarmist stories in the press.

    Also, given that 60% of state revenue comes from sales tax and the great lion’s share of that is collected over the end of year holiday season, nobody, especially Comptroller Combs, wants to comment on the final numbers until after December 31.

    We’ll see in January what the real numbers turn out to be. It’s obvious there are a lot of games being played right now before the new Leg session begins.

  136. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I can’t believe I just came upon this site!

    DJ, don’t go away. Keep it in perspective.

  137. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I can’t believe I just came upon this site!

    DJ, don’t go away. Keep it in perspective.

  138. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge, you’re kidding, right?

    Steak lunch at Taste of Texas says my predictions will be proved true.

    What say you?

  139. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge, you’re kidding, right?

    Steak lunch at Taste of Texas says my predictions will be proved true.

    What say you?

  140. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    What the frik is it with you pin heads and your childish bets?

    That always seems to be where you go when the numbers start working against you.

  141. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    What the frik is it with you pin heads and your childish bets?

    That always seems to be where you go when the numbers start working against you.

  142. Dooood Avatar
    Dooood

    #65 DJ

    minor correction:

    I don’t think Matt Angle was alive when Ronnie Dugger founded the Texas Observer in 1954, but I was 2 years old. Dugger and his silver spoon partners created the publication in Austin and Dugger, the biggest Lefty in Texas outside of Ramsey Clark, ran it for around 50 years.

    And no, I wouldn’t believe anything they wrote without extensive corroborating evidence.

  143. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #65 DJ

    minor correction:

    I don’t think Matt Angle was alive when Ronnie Dugger founded the Texas Observer in 1954, but I was 2 years old. Dugger and his silver spoon partners created the publication in Austin and Dugger, the biggest Lefty in Texas outside of Ramsey Clark, ran it for around 50 years.

    And no, I wouldn’t believe anything they wrote without extensive corroborating evidence.

  144. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Tex, my business is off 35% from its 2008 highs. We pay a lot of sales taxes here. Everyone else in our industry(construction) is in the same boat. Other industries are also off varying degrees from 2008. Texas government is now starting to feel the effect of those numbers in a big way. That is the reality that will not be escaped.

    The pain is coming, most likely in a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, and no amount of political tactics can change that.

    That’s the reality out here where the rubber meets the road.

  145. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Tex, my business is off 35% from its 2008 highs. We pay a lot of sales taxes here. Everyone else in our industry(construction) is in the same boat. Other industries are also off varying degrees from 2008. Texas government is now starting to feel the effect of those numbers in a big way. That is the reality that will not be escaped.

    The pain is coming, most likely in a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, and no amount of political tactics can change that.

    That’s the reality out here where the rubber meets the road.

  146. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    We’ll see in January what the real numbers turn out to be. It’s obvious there are a lot of games being played right now before the new Leg session begins.

    I liked the one that ended up with Perry cutting $16 billion off the deficit in one year.

  147. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    We’ll see in January what the real numbers turn out to be. It’s obvious there are a lot of games being played right now before the new Leg session begins.

    I liked the one that ended up with Perry cutting $16 billion off the deficit in one year.

  148. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge, what are you so frightened of a friendly little wager about?

    Pinhead and childish could be terms describing folks who won’t or can’t accept the reality of Texas bleak fiscal situation.

    Just sayin’

  149. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge, what are you so frightened of a friendly little wager about?

    Pinhead and childish could be terms describing folks who won’t or can’t accept the reality of Texas bleak fiscal situation.

    Just sayin’

  150. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge, is that like the one where Pelosi said Obamacare would cut the deficit?

  151. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge, is that like the one where Pelosi said Obamacare would cut the deficit?

  152. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge, the numbers aren’t just working against me. They’re working against all Texans and in a big way.

  153. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge, the numbers aren’t just working against me. They’re working against all Texans and in a big way.

  154. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    78 Lawrence says:
    November 12, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Sarge, the numbers aren’t just working against me. They’re working against all Texans and in a big way.

    Look smart guy.

    All you did was prove you don’t know what you’re talking about what’s happening now.

    Then using that as proof that you can see the future.

  155. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    78 Lawrence says:
    November 12, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Sarge, the numbers aren’t just working against me. They’re working against all Texans and in a big way.

    Look smart guy.

    All you did was prove you don’t know what you’re talking about what’s happening now.

    Then using that as proof that you can see the future.

  156. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Hey Sarge, a friendly wager is just that – one side of the bet believes in one outcome and the other side doesn’t. There’s nothing offensive about it.

    Why are you name calling? Pinhead, childish and smart guy aren’t terms of endearment or the foundation of a sound argument.

    I’ll leave you to ponder that question.

  157. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Hey Sarge, a friendly wager is just that – one side of the bet believes in one outcome and the other side doesn’t. There’s nothing offensive about it.

    Why are you name calling? Pinhead, childish and smart guy aren’t terms of endearment or the foundation of a sound argument.

    I’ll leave you to ponder that question.

  158. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Why are you name calling? Pinhead, childish and smart guy aren’t terms of endearment or the foundation of a sound argument.

    Neither is claiming that there’s an existing $25 billion deficit.

    I merely engaged in conversation on the terms you set.

    You didn’t come here to voice concern over the Texas budget.

    You came here to bash Perry, and used fake numbers to do it with.

  159. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Why are you name calling? Pinhead, childish and smart guy aren’t terms of endearment or the foundation of a sound argument.

    Neither is claiming that there’s an existing $25 billion deficit.

    I merely engaged in conversation on the terms you set.

    You didn’t come here to voice concern over the Texas budget.

    You came here to bash Perry, and used fake numbers to do it with.

  160. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Don’t make me call Rodney King to ask you all to get along. Perhaps you are all in need of a beer summit!!

  161. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Don’t make me call Rodney King to ask you all to get along. Perhaps you are all in need of a beer summit!!

  162. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    I thought ole Guvnah Goodhair does a pretty fine job bashing HIMSELF.

    If the dang Repubs had any integrity left they’d make Tricky Ricky an honorary Democrat and take back that R in front of his name.

  163. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    I thought ole Guvnah Goodhair does a pretty fine job bashing HIMSELF.

    If the dang Repubs had any integrity left they’d make Tricky Ricky an honorary Democrat and take back that R in front of his name.

  164. meglettx Avatar
    meglettx

    Sarge, you can parse it all you want.

    The fact is, in the current budget period, Texas will have a multi-billion dollar budget deficit despite the balanced budget law. If you want to apply the “rainy day” funds to cover that shortfall(and I contend it will take most if not all of those funds to do so when the final numbers shake themselves out.) so be it. Those funds then will not be available to help cover the CURRENT LEVEL OF SPENDING projected into the next budget cycle, otherwise known as the deficit. In other words, if current levels of spending are frozen in the next two year budget cycle, the great State of Texas will indeed incur a $20something BILLION shortfall. Your state Senator Dan Patrick has admitted as much on his radio program.

    This projected budget shortfall will most likely be closed with a combination of serious spending cuts and tax increases irregardless of what Rick Perry promised or what you feared Bill White might have done.

    My contention is that many Texans simply aren’t aware of this and that in itself is a shame. The fact that I have to argue it here with informed people proves that point.

    I didn’t name call and I didn’t presume to know your intentions.

    Good day.

  165. Lawrence Avatar
    Lawrence

    Sarge, you can parse it all you want.

    The fact is, in the current budget period, Texas will have a multi-billion dollar budget deficit despite the balanced budget law. If you want to apply the “rainy day” funds to cover that shortfall(and I contend it will take most if not all of those funds to do so when the final numbers shake themselves out.) so be it. Those funds then will not be available to help cover the CURRENT LEVEL OF SPENDING projected into the next budget cycle, otherwise known as the deficit. In other words, if current levels of spending are frozen in the next two year budget cycle, the great State of Texas will indeed incur a $20something BILLION shortfall. Your state Senator Dan Patrick has admitted as much on his radio program.

    This projected budget shortfall will most likely be closed with a combination of serious spending cuts and tax increases irregardless of what Rick Perry promised or what you feared Bill White might have done.

    My contention is that many Texans simply aren’t aware of this and that in itself is a shame. The fact that I have to argue it here with informed people proves that point.

    I didn’t name call and I didn’t presume to know your intentions.

    Good day.

  166. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    My contention is that many Texans simply aren’t aware of this and that in itself is a shame. The fact that I have to argue it here with informed people proves that point.

    So you lie to us to make sure we understand?

    I don’t need to be told a lie to know that we definitely need to cut spending.

    And I’ll treat the guy who lied to me with every once of respect he showed me when he lied to me.

    I know that we’ve elected a whole bunch of people who say they are going to do that, got rid of a lot of them that didn’t, and scared the bejabbers out of the rest.

    I also figger some tax increase will be needed.

    First step is to not increase spending past this year’s level.

  167. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    My contention is that many Texans simply aren’t aware of this and that in itself is a shame. The fact that I have to argue it here with informed people proves that point.

    So you lie to us to make sure we understand?

    I don’t need to be told a lie to know that we definitely need to cut spending.

    And I’ll treat the guy who lied to me with every once of respect he showed me when he lied to me.

    I know that we’ve elected a whole bunch of people who say they are going to do that, got rid of a lot of them that didn’t, and scared the bejabbers out of the rest.

    I also figger some tax increase will be needed.

    First step is to not increase spending past this year’s level.

  168. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Katfish #83, you don’t have to make him an honorary Dem:

    In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from a district (64) that included his home county of Haskell.

  169. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Katfish #83, you don’t have to make him an honorary Dem:

    In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from a district (64) that included his home county of Haskell.

  170. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Perry, like the rest of the Establishment Republicans, is part of the problem unless they get the message just sent.

    But coming within $2 billion of the projected revenue in an economy like the one we’ve had this year is one whole lot better than any other state is doing.

  171. Sarge Avatar
    Sarge

    Perry, like the rest of the Establishment Republicans, is part of the problem unless they get the message just sent.

    But coming within $2 billion of the projected revenue in an economy like the one we’ve had this year is one whole lot better than any other state is doing.

  172. Texpat Avatar
    Texpat

    #86 – Well there ya GO!

  173. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    #86 – Well there ya GO!

  174. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    If I were your mother…..

    I get back from running errands and find ya’ll on the floor rasslin’ and cussin’ each other. It looks like you broke a lamp and knocked over a chair.

    Now, both of you stop it. Admit you’re not going to convince each other and shake hands. Behave nicely and I won’t send you to your rooms. /glowering mother look

  175. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    If I were your mother…..

    I get back from running errands and find ya’ll on the floor rasslin’ and cussin’ each other. It looks like you broke a lamp and knocked over a chair.

    Now, both of you stop it. Admit you’re not going to convince each other and shake hands. Behave nicely and I won’t send you to your rooms. /glowering mother look

  176. Katfish Avatar
    Katfish

    Careful y’all.

    I think she means bizness.

  177. wagonburner Avatar
    wagonburner

    Careful y’all.

    I think she means bizness.

  178. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Wagon #90. Mom’s not so smart. All our good stuff is in our room, and she didn’t even find the big scratch we put in the side of her armoire. A really mean mom sends you outside to pull weeds by hand and trim the curb with clippers.

  179. Big45Iron Avatar
    Big45Iron

    Wagon #90. Mom’s not so smart. All our good stuff is in our room, and she didn’t even find the big scratch we put in the side of her armoire. A really mean mom sends you outside to pull weeds by hand and trim the curb with clippers.

  180. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Little do they know that I have removed their Playstations and Xboxes and confiscated their Ipods and mp3 players! Oh, and the tv/dvd player has no remote.

  181. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Little do they know that I have removed their Playstations and Xboxes and confiscated their Ipods and mp3 players! Oh, and the tv/dvd player has no remote.

  182. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    HAL is picking on Big45 today.

    Must be for old times’ sake.

  183. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    HAL is picking on Big45 today.

    Must be for old times’ sake.

  184. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Texas Shows How to Grow Jobs

    How did Texas beat California?

    The answer is simple. Texas has marshaled its vast natural and human resources to grow its economy, while California has wasted its resources.

    Along the same lines, Texas has bested New York as well, both on the field and in the marketplace. Jobs leave New York and come to Texas. The Yankees’ huge payroll couldn’t overcome the Rangers’ pitching, and neither could an over-regulated Wall Street outperform Texas entrepreneurs.

    Although financial liberalism is a lot less intense in Texas than many other states, especially in states like California and New York, it still exists. Texas knows the way and should stick to it.

  185. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    Texas Shows How to Grow Jobs

    How did Texas beat California?

    The answer is simple. Texas has marshaled its vast natural and human resources to grow its economy, while California has wasted its resources.

    Along the same lines, Texas has bested New York as well, both on the field and in the marketplace. Jobs leave New York and come to Texas. The Yankees’ huge payroll couldn’t overcome the Rangers’ pitching, and neither could an over-regulated Wall Street outperform Texas entrepreneurs.

    Although financial liberalism is a lot less intense in Texas than many other states, especially in states like California and New York, it still exists. Texas knows the way and should stick to it.

  186. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    TT #70;

    That was very cool.

  187. Darren Avatar
    Darren

    TT #70;

    That was very cool.

  188. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I found this interesting. A simple yet ingenious solution to a potentially complicated problem. AND it is more functional than the usual “hand”.

  189. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    I found this interesting. A simple yet ingenious solution to a potentially complicated problem. AND it is more functional than the usual “hand”.

  190. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    TT, you turned up some interesting finds today. The scale-of-the-universe video #70 was very upbeat, and the gripper in #96 is bizarre.

    Also thanks for dressing down the rowdy boys.

  191. mharper42 Avatar
    mharper42

    TT, you turned up some interesting finds today. The scale-of-the-universe video #70 was very upbeat, and the gripper in #96 is bizarre.

    Also thanks for dressing down the rowdy boys.

  192. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Yes, well, while boys are being rowdy I’m out expanding my horizons.

    Of course, sometimes what’s just over the horizon isn’t always “upbeat”!

  193. Tedtam Avatar
    Tedtam

    Yes, well, while boys are being rowdy I’m out expanding my horizons.

    Of course, sometimes what’s just over the horizon isn’t always “upbeat”!

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