Bush Unlikely to Fulfill Vow on Deficit, Budget Office Projects -NYT

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 — Almost regardless of what happens in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Bush is very unlikely to fulfill his promise of reducing the federal budget deficit by half within five years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said today.

In the last independent assessment of Mr. Bush's fiscal legacy before the elections, the Congressional agency said that if there were no change to existing law, the federal deficit would decline only modestly from a record of $422 billion in 2004 to about $312 billion in 2009.

If Mr. Bush persuades Congress to make his tax cuts permanent, he will fall even farther short of his promise. The federal deficit could reach nearly $500 billion in 2009 and the federal debt could swell by $4.8 trillion over the next decade.

The new estimate is the first time that the Congressional agency has projected that President Bush will not be able to fulfill his promise, made last February, to cut the deficit by half.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/07/national/07CND-DEFI.html?ex=1252296000&en=7d593fd1a2d739ce&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

[Inland]

1. Well, no shit. Bush making false promises, again. nt

[cthrumatrix]

9. and the media says ZERO

[Beetwasher]

2. This Will Put People To Sleep

Their eyes will glaze over and they'll say "Whu?"...Sad but true...

I still think Kerry needs to hammer this like crazy, I'm sure he will, but it won't really be reported ad nauseaum, as it should be, so it's ingrained in people's minds. Hope I'm wrong...

[moobu2]

3. Yes it will sadly because

it's such an important issue with long term consequences for everyone.

In a poll of republican voters something like 85+% said that even if it increased the national debt, that they wouldn't have a problem with more tax cuts..(saw it on CNN).

[Rose Siding]

5. That was a loaded question

It's usually asked more like "would you prefer cuts in services or tax cuts" and generally a large majority choose that services not be cut.

[cthrumatrix]

4. and when does anything he lie about become a reason for him being fired?

[truthisfreedom]

7. lying is bushco's PHILOSOPHY. the neocon hero is Leo Strauss (philosopher

who believed lying by leaders was absolutely necessary.)

Earl Shorris, writing in the June 2004 Harper's makes an attempt to probe Strauss and his imputed roles in contemporary politics. "Ignoble Liars: Leo Strauss, George Bush, and the Philosophy of Mass Deception." (pps. 65-71)

[DeepModem Mom]

6. kick

[struggle4progress]

8. and again ...

:kick: