Congress has lost its mind...

The bigger issue is that after the RNC did this earlier in the year, Congress unanimously passed (and Obama signed) a law to prohibit such mailings....and the fact that it was not just a push poll, but a fund raising appeal as well.

The legislation, H.R.4621, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look-Alike Mailings Act, would require any mailing with an envelope marked “Census” to clearly indicate the sender and return address. It would also trigger an existing requirement in federal law to include a disclaimer that the mailing is not from, or affiliated with, the federal government. The bill would not prohibit the use of the word “Census” on a mailing, but the mailer must make clear that it is NOT sent by the United States Censu

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4621

And, the RNC did it again with this more recent mailing.

The mailing is currently under investigation by the US Postal Service. The likely outcome, the RNC might be fined.....probably less than it raised from the mailing.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

This Corries song "Liberty" would play pretty well at TEA Parties even though all of its references are Scottish.

Words: George Weir
Music Roy Williamson

By the cross our Andrew bore
By the sword oor Wiliam wore
By the croon oor Robert swore
Tae win oor Liberty
Ca' the falcon frae the glen
Ca' the agle frae the ben
Ca' the lion frae his den
Tae win oor Liberty

By the man wha's faith was old
By the man they sold for gold
By the man they'll never hold
Tae win oor Liberty
Ca' the thieves o' Liddesdale
ca' the spears o' Annandale
Ca' the brave of Yattowvale
Tae win oor Liberty

By the arm that bends the bow
By the arm that plies the blow
By the arm that lays them low
Tae win oor Liberty
ca' the banners frae the west
Ca' the raven frae his nest
Ca' the clans that dance the best
Tae win oor Liberty

By the field that once was green
By the shield that's silver sheen
By the sword in battle keen
Tae win oor Liberty
Bless the man wha's faith we hold
Bless the man in chains they sold
Bless the man in cloth o' gold
Wha won oor Liberty

The references to "The man sold for gold" would be Wallace, and the man in cloth of gold would be Bruce.

It's probably more about the Wars of INdependence in general rather than just Bannockburn.

The song is a comparatively modern one...(I'd guess the mid 70's), and George Weir wrote several songs that the Corries sang.

[TheMercenary]

WASHINGTON — The federal budget deficit hit an all-time high for April as the government kept spending to aid the recovery while revenue fell sharply.

The Treasury Department said Wednesday the April deficit soared to $82.7 billion. That was significantly higher than last year's April deficit of $20 billion and the largest imbalance for that month on record.

The government normally runs surpluses in April as millions of taxpayers file their income tax returns. However, income tax payments were down this April, reflecting the impact of the recession which has pushed millions of people out of work.

Total revenues for April were down 7.9 percent from a year ago.

The Obama administration forecast in February that the deficit for this year will hit an all-time high of $1.56 trillion, surpassing the current record $1.4 trillion set last year. Many private economists believe this year's imbalance will be closer to last year's figure and that deficits will remain high for years to come.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...XknwQD9FLISG82

[classicman]

Next year's budget is sinking in deep red ink

The chance that the majority Democrats will pass a budget this year is “fading,” Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said Tuesday.

He is pessimistic because House Democrats don’t know whether they want to pass a resolution that would officially acknowledge the certainty of big deficits. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and other Democrats have indicated that would be a tough vote in an election year.

One option Conrad said his staff is now looking at is a deeming resolution.

Like an actual budget measure, the deeming resolution would set the discretionary spending levels for the next fiscal year. But unlike a budget resolution, the deeming resolution would allow Democrats to avoid laying out their fiscal policies for 2011 and beyond.

Centrist House Democrats have been wary of voting for a budget resolution because it’s likely to project large deficits. Republicans have hammered Democrats over the budget deficit, which they blame on Democratic spending.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that President Barack Obama’s policies would lead to deficits averaging nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.

The House and Senate together have failed to pass a final budget resolution on numerous occasions, including in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Republicans held both chambers in those Congresses with the exception of 2002, when Democrats controlled the Senate.

Link
The fiscal irresponsibility of this is just astounding. Didn't they just pace a law recently that there would be no additional spending that would increase the deficit? How the heck is that gonna happen if they don't create a budget first?
Oi'!

Originally Posted by classicman

Next year's budget is sinking in deep red ink

Link
The fiscal irresponsibility of this is just astounding. Didn't they just pace a law recently that there would be no additional spending that would increase the deficit? How the heck is that gonna happen if they don't create a budget first?
Oi'!

Please tell me how not passing a budget resolution is fiscally irresponsible....considering it is only a non-biding resolution...is not sent to the president...and not signed into law.

[classicman]

Then what is the point?

Originally Posted by classicman

Then what is the point?

The point is the budget resolution has been ignored numerous times in recent years (as pointed out in your link) and ultimately has no impact on the budget.

All that matters are the appropriation bills.

[classicman]

So there is no point to doing this at all and its just a total waste of how many man hours and taxpayers money on this worthless nothing. Great - I feel so much better now.

Originally Posted by classicman

So there is no point to doing this at all and its just a total waste of how many man hours and taxpayers money on this worthless nothing. Great - I feel so much better now.

I would encourage you to read up on the budget process before making sweeping statements about the lack of a budget resolution being fiscally irresponsible.

[TheMercenary]

The Stimulus Package failed. This will be no different.

[jinx]

[classicman]

Great video Jinx.

"Our Founding Fathers considered the power of the purse the most important responsibility of the legislative branch. If that power is abused, it can have very serious consequences for our nation, not only threatening our prosperity with huge budget deficits but, ultimately, undermining the economic foundations of our safety and national security. And that’s why we must start now.......to reform the budget process."

Ron Paul's view of monetary policy and the role of the Fed is way outside the mainstream and dismissed by most economists as highly likely to lead to another great depression.

The ulra-libertarians who subscribe to the 19th century Austrian School (this is where UG would jump in) love iit but really cant defend it in today's global economy.

Where I do agree with Paul is that there needs to be greater oversight of the Fed (ie a less independent Fed).

The House version of the financial regulatory reform bill passed earlier this year (which includes many of Paul's recommendations) addresses this issue better than the Senate version now being deliberated.

Just one non-economist's opinion.

[toranokaze]

The reliance upon a pure fiat currency is one of the signs of the fall of a nation.

[lookout123]

Quit being such a spoil sport. Fiat currency makes it easier for us to vote ourselves money from the public treasury.