we have a $270 billion surplus!

[awesome guy]

Or would have one if spending were the same as it was pre-Obama.

http://www.caintv.com/the-us-would-have-run-a-surplu

[VoiceOfReason]

Meaningless stat that only a LIV could believe in.

In order to reduce 2015 spending to 2008 spending... what do you cut: Social Security, Medicare or Defense? Because that's where 80% of the spending is... and likely the bulk of the increase.

[RiverguyVT]

Today, "cut" is defined as "slowing the rate of increase"

[awesome guy]

You misspelled ObamaCare and porkulous LIV

[Mcl3 Hokie]

Are you forgetting the $300B in tax breaks made permanent by this administration?

Meaningless stat that only a LIV could believe in.

In order to reduce 2015 spending to 2008 spending... what do you cut: Social Security, Medicare or Defense? Because that's where 80% of the spending is... and likely the bulk of the increase.

[HokieJoe]

Today, "cut" is defined as "slowing the rate of increase"

It's been defined that way for decades. Unfortunately.

[WestEndHokie39]

and likely the bulk of the increase

Incorrect. Obama used TARP spending, which was supposed to be a one time increase, to establish a new spending baseline. LIV of the progressive ilk like to tout Obama's "restrained" budgets, but ignore the exploding deficit because it ignores this inconvenient fact.

We would not have a surplus by now, but the US would have be in a lot better shape if spending had increased at its historical rate.

[VoiceOfReason]

Are you forgetting the $300B in tax breaks made permanent by this administration?

Meaningless stat that only a LIV could believe in.

In order to reduce 2015 spending to 2008 spending... what do you cut: Social Security, Medicare or Defense? Because that's where 80% of the spending is... and likely the bulk of the increase.

You mean making permanent the Bush tax breaks for all but the top 2%. Are you complaining about tax cuts? Wow... you guys will really go after Obama about anything huh?

[awesome guy]

and likely the bulk of the increase

Incorrect. Obama used TARP spending, which was supposed to be a one time increase, to establish a new spending baseline. LIV of the progressive ilk like to tout Obama's "restrained" budgets, but ignore the exploding deficit because it ignores this inconvenient fact.

We would not have a surplus by now, but the US would have be in a lot better shape if spending had increased at its historical rate.

Yep. That's why we have never ending continuing spending resolutions instead of a budget. Obama rebased the budget around a "temporary" budget increase. And now we're close to 20 trillion in debt.