Rep. Barney Frank calls for 25% cut in military spending...

[Jeremiah]

Frank envisions post-election stimulus from Democrats
October 24, 2008 6:00 AM

NEW BEDFORD — After the November election, Democrats will push for a second economic stimulus package that includes money for the states' stalled infrastructure projects, along with help paying for healthcare expenses, food stamps and extended unemployment benefits, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said Thursday.

In a meeting with the editorial board of The Standard-Times, Rep. Frank, D-Mass., also called for a 25 percent cut in military spending, saying the Pentagon has to start choosing from its many weapons programs, and that upper-income taxpayers are going to see an increase in what they are asked to pay.

The military cuts also mean getting out of Iraq sooner, he said.

"The people of Iraq want us out, and we want to stay over their objection," he said. "It's extraordinary." The Maliki government in Iraq "can't sell (the withdrawal deal with the U.S.) because it sounds like we're going to stay too long."

"I was teasing (U.S. Rep.) Jack Murtha (a key supporter of military budgets) and I said to him, 'For the first time, somebody else has got a bill that's almost as big as yours.' We don't need all these fancy new weapons. I think there needs to be additional review."

Rep. Frank called on President Bush to appoint a senior official to guide the economic stimulus packages through the transition to the Barack Obama or John McCain administration when it takes office in January.

And he said that if the Democrats can't find an adequate agreement on a stimulus package in the lame-duck Congress, they would rather wait until the new Congress takes over — likely with many more Democrats, if polling results bear fruit in the November voting.

The new package, he said, will be aimed at easing fears about lending and investing. "The psychological problem is even worse than the real problem," he said.

"There is money to lend and projects worth borrowing money to do. But people are afraid to lend. That's what we're trying to unfreeze."

States have many infrastructure projects — bridges, highways, etc. — that have been shut down because of a cash-flow problems, he said. So it is not the case that a stimulus will take months or years to wait for design and approval, since projects are already in progress or ready to go.

Also, he said, "we'll increase the federal share of medical care so states won't have to lay off people." Unemployment insurance benefits won't increase, he said, but the period of collecting them will, and eligibility requirements might be relaxed.

And, ultimately, there will be tax increases on the upper brackets. "We'll have to raise taxes ultimately. Not now, but eventually," he said.

www.southcoasttoday.com . . .

[chuckster]

Question yet to be answered: What happens when we have finished raising the taxes of only those earning more than $250,000 a year and cut our defence spending to where we are no longer secure, there are still unfunded programs, and we are still facing record deficits? Furthermore, who will they blame the situation on when they no longer have the evil George W Bush around? Can you say Carter Administration? :)

[California Joe]

What do you expect, he's a gay.

Actually I think John McCain has some serious program cutting on his agenda too. He's not a big fan of Pentagon silliness either.

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

I trust McCain to have a little more sense in what gets cut than the Obama administration.

At least McCain doesn't want to cut already functional missile defense systems and slow the Future Combat Systems program.

[California Joe]

Maybe that's why he'll want Colin Powell on board?

[Lambert58]

With this and their proposed elimination of the 401k and mortgage interest tax deductions, the communists will be rolling in inflated cash with which to give their friends.

This country is fvcked.

[helomech]

Barney Frank,what a fag;wait a minute.....he IS

Typical Democrap rhetoric,and it will a Second Coming of the Carter Administration if Obama is elected;why can't these Democratic supporters see the Democratic Party is pushing Socialism?

[Winger]

What do you expect, he's a gay.

Actually I think John McCain has some serious program cutting on his agenda too. He's not a big fan of Pentagon silliness either.

What's funny is that Barny Frank still thinks he's reputable. He's the last guy that should be speaking out right now. On anything.

[loganinkosovo]

Ol' Barney is just parroting his Messiah......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxL8NcNACBY

[I can't think of a name]

If Frank was a Republican he would have multiple investigations on his activities and would be busy going to hearings.

From this Fannie mess (and his conflict of interests with his boyfriend working there) and his boyfriend running a brothel out of his home.

[Rictor]

Barney Frank,what a fag;wait a minute.....he IS

Typical Democrap rhetoric,and it will a Second Coming of the Carter Administration if Obama is elected;why can't these Democratic supporters see the Democratic Party is pushing Socialism?

I know, right!?

They might even slash the military budget to a mere 300% of Russia, China, India, the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Germany's sum total. That's just begging for trouble.

[philbob]

The majority of the budget is just maintaing what we have and the pay role.
We spend less on future procurments then we spend on those two other things, why doesnt Franks and hte rest of congress take a pay and incentives cut as well as cut some over the top social programs instead, and as long as were on it the new GI BIll as well.

[Macs.]

Barney Frank,what a fag;wait a minute.....he IS

Typical Democrap rhetoric,and it will a Second Coming of the Carter Administration if Obama is elected;why can't these Democratic supporters see the Democratic Party is pushing Socialism?

Socialism like... Like the nationalisation of Banks and putting huge trillion sums into the sector without the approve of the common people ? Oops. Atleast you can choose between two socialists.

"Socialism" is the new hit-word in 2008, closely followed by "Terrorist".

[Rictor]

The majority of the budget is just maintaing what we have and the pay role.
We spend less on future procurments then we spend on those two other things, why doesnt Franks and hte rest of congress take a pay and incentives cut as well as cut some over the top social programs instead, and as long as were on it the new GI BIll as well.

What you have is 11 aircraft carriers, 700+ military bases in 130+ countries, 17 intelligence agencies and 2.5 million personnel on the pay-role (excluding contractors). So yes, those things cost money. Fancy that.

Believe me, I'm all for slashing wasteful spending. The government has its fingers in way too many pies and needs to be cut back to something that at least resembles a limited, constitutional republic. But why should we ignore the 800lb gorilla in the room, the most wasteful of government programs?

I'm always intrigued at how eager Americans are to keep borrowing money from the Chinese and the Saudis in order to finance stuff that you will never, ever need. You are trading tangible and badly needed assets, taxpayer's money, for intangible benefits - namely some false sense of power and authority. That behaviour might be justified, fiscally if not morally, in a time of unprecedented plenty, but it's downright criminal under the present circumstances.

[ren0312]

Maybe that's why he'll want Colin Powell on board?

Considering Powell is from the infantry, air force and navy programs like additional F-22 procurement and the DDX may just run into trouble.

[BloodyTalon]

I'm always intrigued at how eager Americans are to keep borrowing money from the Chinese and the Saudis in order to finance stuff that you will never, ever need.
I don't know whether to rofl or :roll:. Either way, i just love it when people think like the world is going to stay the same for the 20 years or so.

[loganinkosovo]

I know, right!?

They might even slash the military budget to a mere 300% of Russia, China, India, the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Germany's sum total. That's just begging for trouble.

Defense is number 3 on the list behind Health and Human Services (Welfare) and Social Security....

Don't here Barney or the Left proposing cuts in the biggest spender...do you?

[Bia]

This country is fvcked.It is indeed if McCain / Palin take the reigns.

Agreed.

[Buffalo_soldier]

I don't know whether to rofl or :roll:. Either way, i just love it when people think like the world is going to stay the same for the 20 years or so.

werd

It can always get worse - as it has been doing.

[xavierob82]

Barney Frank,what a fag;wait a minute.....he IS

Typical Democrap rhetoric,and it will a Second Coming of the Carter Administration if Obama is elected;why can't these Democratic supporters see the Democratic Party is pushing Socialism?


Because they're not. Barack Obama is no more "communist" than any other mainstream Democrat, like say, Bill Clinton. Since Obama's economic platform is almost identical to Clinton's in 1992.

And like in 2008, in 1992, all the right-wingers were saying how Bill Clinton was a "communist" and a "socialist" exactly what they're saying about Obama now. All Democratic presidential candidates since 1932--even centrists like Bill Clinton and Jack Kennedy--were all tarred with the same socialist/marxist accusation by the right.

Wingnut talking points never change.

[philbob]

Because they're not. Barack Obama is no more "communist" than any other mainstream Democrat, like say, Bill Clinton. Since Obama's economic platform is almost identical to Clinton's in 1992.

And like in 2008, in 1992, all the right-wingers were saying how Bill Clinton was a "communist" and a "socialist" exactly what they're saying about Obama now. All Democratic presidential candidates since 1932--even centrists like Bill Clinton and Jack Kennedy--were all tarred with the same socialist/marxist accusation by the right.

Wingnut talking points never change.

we weren't at war in 1992 though

[Winger]

Because they're not. Barack Obama is no more "communist" than any other mainstream Democrat, like say, Bill Clinton. Since Obama's economic platform is almost identical to Clinton's in 1992.

And like in 2008, in 1992, all the right-wingers were saying how Bill Clinton was a "communist" and a "socialist" exactly what they're saying about Obama now. All Democratic presidential candidates since 1932--even centrists like Bill Clinton and Jack Kennedy--were all tarred with the same socialist/marxist accusation by the right.

Wingnut talking points never change.

Yeah, its pretty stupid. I'm pretty conservative but even I realize that JFK was more conservative than GWB. The Republican party DOES NOT own the patent on conservatism.

Our government and law&order wouldn't exist in its current state without some elements of socialism.

However, some people are really freaking out this time because of Obama's previous affiliations.

Either way I think we be aight.

[budgie]

Why, Winger, is that an endorsement?

[WarDancer]

Barney Frank,what a fag;wait a minute.....he IS

Typical Democrap rhetoric,and it will a Second Coming of the Carter Administration if Obama is elected;why can't these Democratic supporters see the Democratic Party is pushing Socialism?

I dont understand why the DNC just doesnt rename its party to the "Socialist Democratic Party" like the Europeans. At least the Europeans are honest about their agenda.

[Jobu]

JFK was more conservative than GWB.

True but Obama is not conservative in any sense of the word.

Look at his voting record. Look at his proposals.

[chuckster]

I dont understand why the DNC just doesnt rename its party to the "Socialist Democratic Party" like the Europeans. At least the Europeans are honest about their agenda.

But if the Chosen One does in fact rename his party to the Socialist Democratic Party, how can he 'reach across the asile'? If he does 'reach across the asile', it would be just to stuff his middle finger into the middle class you know what.

[deagle]

Question yet to be answered: What happens when we have finished raising the taxes of only those earning more than $250,000 a year and cut our defence spending to where we are no longer secure, there are still unfunded programs, and we are still facing record deficits? Furthermore, who will they blame the situation on when they no longer have the evil George W Bush around? Can you say Carter Administration? :)

true, but we've asserted ourselves, and where has that gotten us. our intentions are good, but our management of how to do things is inept at best.

we've got no bail out plan for both economy and iraq, and things have gotten worse. cutting back to reassess ourselves is the best alternative for now.