Quiz - Who said this is 2006?

[DimPrawn]

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here’. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”

[Mich the Tester]

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here’. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”

Barry O'Bama?

[Coalman]

Obama?

[Coalman]

Barry O'Bama?

Obama?

Snap

[Mich the Tester]

Let's be fair on Obama here. The debt really shot up under Mr Bushmonkey, and the US needs to cut spending AND raise taxes to improve matters; trouble is that the Tea Party loonies won't allow him to reverse Bush's tax cuts. All he can do is buy time.

[sasguru]

Let's be fair on Obama here. The debt really shot up under Mr Bushmonkey, and the US needs to cut spending AND raise taxes to improve matters; trouble is that the Tea Party loonies won't allow him to reverse Bush's tax cuts. All he can do is buy time.

WHS. Obama is head and shoulders above his predecessor. But hamstrung by the idiots of the Tea Party.
Thae fact is America's (and the UK's) debt needs to rise before it can fall.

[DimPrawn]

WHS. Obama is head and shoulders above his predecessor. But hamstrung by the idiots of the Tea Party.
Thae fact is America's (and the UK's) debt needs to rise before it can fall.

That's the most stupid thing you've ever said, and that's saying something.

New Labour's view is debt must always rise in order to achieve growth.

[Mich the Tester]

That's the most stupid thing you've ever said, and that's saying something.

New Labour's view is debt must always rise in order to achieve growth.

The UK has an advantage in that the government has a majority in parliament and the coalition have agreed spending cuts and tax rises; the debt can't go down immediately as there are running spending commitments which can't be cancelled in one go, but at least there's a plan to get the books balanced some day. The US is a different matter; they reacted quite smartly to the crisis by electing a president with a brain but then gave him a congress full of headcases to block any sensible idea he might have.

[Old Greg]

Bush Jr. cut taxes for the rich during the boom years when he should have been cutting deficit. That would have allowed more room for fiscal stimulus / borrowing during the recession. Obama had a a sh1tty hand and will no doubt pay for it in the election.

[DimPrawn]

Bush Jr. cut taxes for the rich during the boom years when he should have been cutting deficit. That would have allowed more room for fiscal stimulus / borrowing during the recession. Obama had a a sh1tty hand and will no doubt pay for it in the election.

Here's hoping. Is there not a Bush Jr Jr lurking anywhere to save them?

Nice war in some Arab country to boost their military spending and get some cheap oil in.