Republican Congressmen Hang Together to Pass $4.5 Trillion Budget Resolution

I don't know what's in the budget, sorry to say.

Update: TheJamesMadison has an early report:

I've been glancing through the executive summary for most of the day.
https://budget.house.gov/fy-2025-budget-resolution
It slows the rate of growth. It does not cut overall spending. It has a lot of good language about things like ending baseline inclusion of one-time spending like TARP. It relies on accelerated economic growth. It includes making the Trump tax cuts permanent.
And it's supposed to lead to a small surplus in 10 years.
It's not good. It's better than what Paul Ryan tried to put forward 10 years ago. It's much better than the perpetual CRs.
It's probably the best thing we could realistically get.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman

This was a big vote and a big win for Trump. At least two of the Freedom Caucus members, Chip Roy and Thomas Massie, have some kind of stupid scheme to always vote "no" on any budget. The trouble is, of course, that if Republicans cannot get all of their members to vote for a budget, then Republican leadership has to bargain with Democrats to get support for the budget.

And that will result in even bigger budgets and bigger giveaways, of course.

But Speaker Johnson and, one assumes, Donald Trump managed to bring Roy in line, and the House passed the budget on a straight-line vote, 217-215.

I imagine that maybe Trump's demonstrated seriousness on cutting spending caused them to cast a vote for a budget they would otherwise have voted "no" on.

Massie still voted against it. I guess he prides Muh Princibuhls over actual results.

President Donald Trump's tax cuts, border, defense, and energy promises are one step closer to enactment after the U.S. House narrowly passed its $4.5 trillion budget resolution Tuesday night, officially kickstarting the budget reconciliation process.
Following hours of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., convincing Republican holdouts to commit, a brief cancellation of the vote, and then an abrupt recalling of all House members, the resolution passed 217-215 and now heads to the Senate.
Republicans have a majority in the upper chamber with 53 members to the Democrats' 45 and two independents caucusing with them.
The passage of the House budget resolution was far from certain.
Both the high price tag and the steep spending cuts worried some Republicans, with centrists opposed to possible slashes to Medicaid and fiscal hardliners revolting against the estimated tens of trillions of dollars the resolution could add to the federal deficit over the next 10 years.
Besides extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts for at least 10 years at the cost of $4.5 trillion, the resolution authorizes a $300 billion increase in defense and border security spending, to be split among the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Judiciary committees.
To partially accommodate its price tag, the proposal also instructs the Ways and Means Committee to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion and instructs other committees to find at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, likely from changes to Medicaid.
Just two Republican "no" votes could have tanked the resolution. Out of the four Republican holdouts who had either indicated or outright stated their intent to vote no, Reps. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, ultimately flipped after pressure from party leaders. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the lone Republican who voted against the resolution.

Trump has ordered agencies to prepare for mass layoffs and to submit plans to lay off large numers of their staffs.

There's no number for the overall cut in federal workers, but Trump wants the EPA to submit plans to layoff 65% of its "workers."

AP:

The U.S. government is facing a generational realignment as President Donald Trump directs federal agencies to develop plans for eliminating employee positions and consolidating programs.
Senior officials set the downsizing in motion on Wednesday with a memo that dramatically expands Trump's efforts to scale back a workforce described as an impediment to his agenda. Thousands of probationary employees have already been fired, and now the Republican administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection.
"We're cutting down the size of government. We have to," Trump said during the first Cabinet meeting of his second term. "We're bloated. We're sloppy. We have a lot of people that aren't doing their job."
The ripple effects will be felt around the country. Roughly 80% of federal workers live outside the Washington area, and government services -- patent approvals, food inspections, park maintenance and more -- could be hindered depending on how cuts are handled.
Resistance is expected. Labor unions, Democratic state leaders and other organizations have tried, with some success, to slow Trump down with litigation, while Republicans are growing more concerned about how a slash-and-burn strategy could affect their constituents.

LOL. More on that in a second.

Agencies are directed to submit by March 13 their plans for what is known as a reduction in force, which would not only lay off employees but eliminate the position altogether. The result could be extensive changes in how government functions.
No specific targets for cutbacks were included in the memo. However, as an example, Trump said the Environmental Protection Agency could reduce its staff by 65%.
...
"The federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt. At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public," said the memo from Russell Vought, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, and Charles Ezell, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, which functions as a human resources agency. "Instead, tax dollars are being siphoned off to fund unproductive and unnecessary programs that benefit radical interest groups while hurting hard-working American citizens."
Vought was an author of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump's second term, and he has advocated for centralizing power under the presidency and dismantling federal bureaucracy.
"We're not going to save our country without a little confrontation," Vought said last summer during a podcast hosted by Trump ally Stephen Bannon.

Do you remember the media pushing fake stories claiming that "even red state voters are revolting against Musk's vicious cuts"? The AP just referenced "Republicans growing concerned about a slash-and-burn strategy."

Well, I know this may shock you, but those protests were faked by leftwing pressure groups.

Media outlets such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CBS News pointed to town hall events, including one hosted by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), as signs of growing public opposition to DOGE. These reports highlighted heated exchanges and vocal protests as evidence of bipartisan dissatisfaction with the department's efforts to reduce government spending.
However, the Washington Free Beacon's investigation suggests a different narrative. It revealed that the protests were organized by leftist activists, with Maggie Goldman playing a prominent role. Goldman, who resides in McCormick's district, has a long history of political activism within the Democratic Party. Her background includes coordinating volunteers for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign and running for local office with a platform advocating for a more inclusive policy agenda. Additionally, campaign finance records show she donated over $1,500 to Kamala Harris's campaign last year.
The report further detailed that protests at other GOP town halls were also organized by liberal groups, notably Indivisible and MoveOn, both funded by George Soros. These groups reportedly helped drive media coverage that framed the protests as evidence of public discontent with the Trump administration's policies, despite the organized and partisan nature of the demonstrations.

Probably paid for by USAID, we'll find out later.

Fake and gay, fake and gay, everything is now fake and gay:

🚨🎥 WATCH: Rich McCormick (R-GA) is
criticised by his constituents during a town hall in Georgia over DOGE spending cuts pic.twitter.com/scBXBQz3OD
— Politics US (@PolitlcsUS) February 21, 2025

Jeffrey A. Tucker writes:

Jeffrey A Tucker
@jeffreyatucker
I'm concerned that many people do not understand the historical and institutional context in which the DOGE labor reforms are unfolding. They look at this as if these are some random, chaotic, arbitrary, strange, and even cruel measures to impose on a devoted civil service.
The reality is very different, and I'm not even sure that Elon entirely understands this. For more than a century, even dating back to 1883, the civil service has grown and grown without check from the elected branch, either the presidency or the legislature . The bureaucracies have ballooned from a few to 450 or so. The bloat and absurdities have grown too.
Get this: no one has ever known what to do about it. Not Coolidge, not Hoover, not Nixon, not Reagan, not Clinton, no one. No president has been able to crack this nut. The only reforms ever to have made it through are those that make the administrative state bigger, never smaller.
Countless cabinet secretaries have come and gone, always with the intention of making a change but leaving saddened, demoralized, outwitted, outgunned, and ultimately devoured.
No president has seriously taken on this problem because they simply did not know how. The unions are powerful, the intimidation from the deep institutional knowledge is overwhelming, the fear of the media as been powerful, and every single president comes to power vaguely feeling threatened by the intelligence agencies. The industries that have captured every single agency were also far too powerful to unseat or control.
This combination of institutional inertia has blocked serious reform for a full century. No one has dared. No one has even had a theory or strategy about what to do about this problem. It had become so terrible that most people in politics have simply surrendered, like homeowners who know there are rats in the basement and bats in the attic but long ago gave up trying to fix the issue.
All this time, the American people have felt themselves ever more oppressed, weighed upon, taxed and regulated, spied upon, brow beaten, and otherwise overwhelmed. Voting never made any difference because the politicians no longer controlled the system. The bureaucracies ruled all.
The Biden years underscored the point. We didn't even need a conscious and present executive. We only needed a figurehead to pretend to be president, just like the Soviet premiers in the old days. The institutions ran everything and the people controlled nothing.
How to deal with this? Trump alone figured it out in his last term: he simply took charge of the agencies in a limited way. There were screams of horror and plots galore. They performed a long stream of clever schemes to destroy him and show him who is boss, which is not the democratically elected president but the forces behind the scenes.
The job of the president, goes the message from all the insiders, is to PRETEND to be in charge but not actually do anything meaningful. Shut up, mug up, obey, and disturb nothing, let the administrative state do its thing without oversight or disruption, and then you will get your honorary library and bestselling autobiography and go down in history as great.
Trump refused the deal and look what happened.
Four years have gone by and Trump is back again, this time with a determination to slay this beast, one that he knows all-to-well. The efforts of DOGE and MAHA and MAGA are epic in scope, breaking a century of pathetic acquiescence toward the deep, middle, and shallow states, at last using moral courage to confront the problem head on, come what may.
They are profoundly aware that they MUST act fast and with some degree of ferocity, even recklessness, else we will default back to the status quo of leaders who pretend to be in charge while the embedded system runs things behind the scenes.
It has been this way for TOO LONG. The voters this time have demanded change, and mustered the faith to believe that change is possible. This is precisely what DOGE is attempting, to make good on a promise, a promise that for once the voters actually believed was credible.
They simply must succeed. There might never be another chance. The way of failure is the path everyone knows the US was on, toward economic stagnation, political scolerosis, and eventual irrelevance in the unfolding of the next stage of social evolution.

Posted by: Ace at 04:53 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1st

Posted by: GF at February 26, 2025 04:52 PM (zlkNK)

2 $4.50? That is a decrease.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 04:53 PM (lTGtQ)

3 Moar popcorn!

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 04:54 PM (PQM2k)

4 There's no number for the overall cut in federal workers, but Trump wants the EPA to submit plans to layoff 65% of its "workers."
------

Remember NeverTrump told us Trump was too liberal for them.

Posted by: ... at February 26, 2025 04:54 PM (lX8VI)

5 Well, it's something.

Let's see how it all plays out.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at February 26, 2025 04:54 PM (N1tpc)

6 th!

Posted by: Bulg at February 26, 2025 04:54 PM (77rzZ)

7 I don't know what's in the budget, sorry to say.

=======

I've been glancing through the executive summary for most of the day.

https://budget.house.gov/fy-2025-budget-resolution

It slows the rate of growth. It does not cut overall spending. It has a lot of good language about things like ending baseline inclusion of one-time spending like TARP. It relies on accelerated economic growth. It includes making the Trump tax cuts permanent.

And it's supposed to lead to a small surplus in 10 years.

It's not good. It's better than what Paul Ryan tried to put forward 10 years ago. It's much better than the perpetual CRs.

It's probably the best thing we could realistically get.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (GBKbO)

8 There's no number for the overall cut in federal workers, but Trump wants the EPA to submit plans to layoff 65% of its "workers."

-

I'm willing to settle for 99%.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (lTGtQ)

9 'Em status: Called.

Posted by: Bulg at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (77rzZ)

10 The RIF Wars begun they have.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (PQM2k)

11 Firsticles.

Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (pLaQB)

12 >> The report further detailed that protests at other GOP town halls were also organized by liberal groups, notably Indivisible and MoveOn, both funded by George Soros. These groups reportedly helped drive media coverage that framed the protests as evidence of public discontent with the Trump administration's policies, despite the organized and partisan nature of the demonstrations.

Well, now I don’t want just job cuts, I want burning at the stake.

Posted by: Vengeance at February 26, 2025 04:56 PM (lwxJT)

13 Learn to Use AI to Code.

Posted by: Roy at February 26, 2025 04:56 PM (z+ik4)

14 So now comes the nut cutting time. Watching Reps and Sens do their job is gonna be amazeballz.

Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (pLaQB)

15 >>Remember NeverTrump told us Trump was too liberal for them.

Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now

Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)

16 Oh man, those who sell their houses in the blue enclaves around DC the fastest will do the best.

the others, oh well sux to be them.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (PQM2k)

17 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations,". . . . "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

I know! Isn't it grand?! This is the very thing I voted for!!!

Posted by: Tonypete at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (cYBz/)

18 15 >>Remember NeverTrump told us Trump was too liberal for them.

Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)

=======

Because when he said that he wanted to cut federal spending with a chainsaw in 2013, he was just trying to help Republicans win elections, you see.

Or something.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (GBKbO)

19 8 There's no number for the overall cut in federal workers, but Trump wants the EPA to submit plans to layoff 65% of its "workers."

-

I'm willing to settle for 99%.
----------
Imma lenient and caring. Lets shoot for 98%.

Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (pLaQB)

20 2 $4.50? That is a decrease.
Posted by:

It was about that time I realized my Congressman, who I assumed was just and old dinosaur, was ACTUALLY the gall-danged Loch Ness Monster!

Posted by: Chef's Father at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (JCZqz)

21 17 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations,". . . . "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

I know! Isn't it grand?! This is the very thing I voted for!!!
Posted by: Tonypete at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (cYBz/)

=====

The idea that the country will fall apart if the EPA is reduced by more than half is the only kind of nonsense people in DC could believe.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (GBKbO)

22 The report further detailed that protests at other GOP town halls were also organized by liberal groups, notably Indivisible and MoveOn, both funded by George Soros.

-

No, they were funded by stolen American taxpayer dollars.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (lTGtQ)

23 The left-wing YT channels are doing their part for "The Resistance". I just saw a thumbnail clickbait for an upcoming National Park shutdown for RVers. 'Layoffs for NP employees!" So prepare for some scary federal services weepin' and wailin' videos.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 04:58 PM (rj6Yv)

24 Jonah Goldberg knows if this happens, the talking pundit job class will get eliminated also.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (PQM2k)

25 "while Republicans are growing more concerned about how a slash-and-burn strategy could affect their constituents."

If they put "Republican" in quotes, this might be a true statement.

Everyone else is cheering it on. FIRE THEM ALL. Then hire people who will actually work.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (N1tpc)

26 18 15 >>Remember NeverTrump told us Trump was too liberal for them.

Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)
---------------
Who is gonna clean his couch?

Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (pLaQB)

27 Learn to Use AI to Code.
Posted by: Roy

Those sloths type really slowly. The claws get in the way.

Posted by: Bulg at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (77rzZ)

28 Only got so far as the part where a tax cut “costs” something - that is utter bullshit and I’m sick of anyone using that language. The only thing that costs anything is a spending line in a budget.

Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.

Posted by: CTSPURSMAN at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (Uy2Lz)

29 Is there a good primer on the Pendleton Civil Service Act? I know that some people are hung up on this, the way that others are determined to repeal the 17th Amendment, but I'm afraid it's always been a blind spot for me.

Posted by: Dr. T at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (cdaOK)

30 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations," said Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

Ok

Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (NtVYv)

31 I'm happy with the proposed budge and Massie is a clown

Kentucky wtf?

Posted by: Black Orchid at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (Pv3Rg)

32 Massie's act has become very performative, like AOC bravely voting her 'progressive' principles against Pelosi, but only when her vote would not cause anything Pelosi wanted to fail.

Posted by: the lower depths at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (+b4rY)

33 There's no number for the overall cut in federal workers, but Trump wants the EPA to submit plans to layoff 65% of its "workers."

======

Oh, and related to this.

Orders have gone out to every executive department to have finalized plans by March 16 for reorganizations.

This probably means that Reductions in Force will happen in April.

Trump's going to fire literally hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (GBKbO)

34 We are the people we have been waiting for.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (LkLld)

35 I know the "principled" conservatives were not happy with the budget because they want enormous cuts. Heck, I want things to be cut more.

However, none of them seem to grasp the obvious: This isn't a 10% cut of a 30% increase. These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (tT6L1)

36 Humpty Dumpy had a great fall.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (HUlc3)

37 Our 3 Presidents:

DJT; Thomas Massie (R-Ky) and Lisa Murkowski

Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (NLIak)

38 Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)
---------------
Who is gonna clean his couch?
Posted by: Pudinhead

*raises hand* Well, maybe not "clean," exactly.
-- JD Vance

Posted by: Bulg at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (77rzZ)

39 Resistance is expected. Labor unions, Democratic state leaders and other organizations have tried, with some success, to slow Trump down with litigation, while Republicans are growing more concerned about how a slash-and-burn strategy could affect their constituents.

Learn to choad, asshoes. Learn to choad.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (SlNuN)

40 25
Everyone else is cheering it on. FIRE THEM ALL. Then hire people who will actually work.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (N1tpc)

========

If America didn't turn on Biden for putting tens of thousands of energy sector employees out of work with his regulatory burdens, America is REALLY not going to care about federal workers losing their jobs.

And no, America as a whole did not care about those energy sector workers.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (GBKbO)

41 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations," said Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

Ok
Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (NtVYv)
---------------

Yeah, that's a huge "your terms are acceptable."

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (tT6L1)

42 When you let others eat your seed corn you deserve starvation.

Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (pLaQB)

43 The idea that the country will fall apart if the EPA is reduced by more than half is the only kind of nonsense people in DC could believe.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison

Besides, we have a lot of crops that need harvesting, so they will be able to find another job easily.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (lTGtQ)

44 However, none of them seem to grasp the obvious: This isn't a 10% cut of a 30% increase. These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (tT6L1)

I believe it also makes the Trump tax cuts permanent...

Posted by: It's me donna at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (VE6XX)

45 Trump's going to fire literally hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

it's not the "AFUERA!" I was hoping for, but it will do

Posted by: Black Orchid at February 26, 2025 05:01 PM (Pv3Rg)

46 26 18 15 >>Remember NeverTrump told us Trump was too liberal for them.

Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)
---------------
Who is gonna clean his couch?
Posted by: Pudinhead at February 26, 2025 04:59 PM (pLaQB)

Rosalita, who he pays $4.50 an hour under the table.

Posted by: Will nobody think of the couches?! at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (5TbUi)

47 44 However, none of them seem to grasp the obvious: This isn't a 10% cut of a 30% increase. These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (tT6L1)

=======

I looked through the resolution's executive summary.

Spending increases every year.

It's not an overall cut in spending.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (GBKbO)

48 Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace

And Germany is demanding Europe spend more on defense. Dogs and cats, sleeping together!

Posted by: Dr. Peter Venkman at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (JCZqz)

49 California has nearly 1000 more agencies than the Feds.
And California is broker than the Feds.

Posted by: torabora at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (0Gnoc)

50 I don't know what's in the budget, sorry to say

The some of it that I do know is most excellent but I am sure its full of crap and waste and crazy stuff.

These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.

Yeah its a very small cut but... its an actual cut. Unbelievable.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (2VST1)

51 Didn't Rosalita just get deported?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:03 PM (PQM2k)

52 I looked through the resolution's executive summary.

Spending increases every year.

It's not an overall cut in spending.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 05:02 PM (GBKbO)
------------

Then, I misunderstood what was going on. My first read was actual cuts, not increases. Drat, then, yeah, I'm disappointed.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:03 PM (tT6L1)

53 I'm happy with the proposed budge and Massie is a clown

Kentucky wtf?

Posted by: Black Orchid

Massie wants a budget that has no deficit.

And a pony.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:03 PM (lTGtQ)

54 It's not an overall cut in spending.

Right, the total package is still more, but they did actually cut some stuff, for real. I think the Senate version wants even more cuts. We're a long ways from doing the right thing but astoundingly its a tiny tiptoe in the right direction.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:03 PM (2VST1)

55 Germany under Herr Fred Mertz is calling for a Grosse Europa?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (PQM2k)

56 Trump's going to fire literally hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching B-movies with Roger Corman at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (GBKbO)

And nobody will notice..so many do nothing jobs..like tears in the rain

Posted by: A dude in MI at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (/6GbT)

57 DataRepublican exposes how an NGO claiming to promote “democracy” received $17 million—and “the only thing they did with $17 million was make a terrible muppet show.”

The NGO is States United Democracy Centers

Tom Squarehead Ridgepants is into this NGO up to his neck along with Norm Eisen, Janet Napolitano, and Michael Steele. Clan Bush strikes again.

https://tinyurl.com/2vmdy3sy

Posted by: The German's at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (/U5Yz)

58 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations," said Don Moynihan

Stop, I was already in support of the cuts!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (2VST1)

59 So many layoffs so close to pride month. PRIDE MONTH!!!

Posted by: Cray Cray at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (cF64j)

60 So I guess Massie is waiting the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to deliver him a Skittles pooping unicorn?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (PQM2k)

61 Massie still voted against it.

Massie is an irritant and should be replaced.

Posted by: The German's at February 26, 2025 05:05 PM (/U5Yz)

62 >> The unions are powerful, the intimidation from the deep institutional knowledge is overwhelming, the fear of the media as been powerful, and every single president comes to power vaguely feeling threatened by the intelligence agencies.

This is probably the biggest head fake in history, especially the institutional knowledge lie. The 80/20 rule applies here in that about 20% of the people do 80% of the work. The rest are largely redundant. In some cases entire agencies are whole cloth creations from power vested in others. Here’s the real kicker. Ready? Most of these presidents and many in Congress are either cowards, laggards or in on the graft. It would therefore be appropriate to say up until now nobody except this president has had the courage and fortitude to slash these layabouts and subversives. As they say south of the border, adios motherf**kers.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:05 PM (RZVaz)

63 So I guess Massie is waiting the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to deliver him a Skittles pooping unicorn?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (PQM2k)

... and the spare parts for his still. That moonshine don't make itself!

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (VNX3d)

64 They are profoundly aware that they MUST act fast and with some degree of ferocity, even recklessness, else we will default back to the status quo of leaders who pretend to be in charge while the embedded system runs things behind the scenes.
=
Pretty much this. You have to keep up maximum aggression on enemy forces lest they regroup

Posted by: Methos at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (Dnobf)

65 I looked through the resolution's executive summary.

Spending increases every year.

It's not an overall cut in spending.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

Typically, the only vaguely enforceable part is the executive can't spend beyond what Congress appropriates for various departments and programs. Very little requires it all be spent...because typically, that was just taken for granted.

Now that we have an executive hell bent on NOT spending every dollar, whether needed or not, the Left (and big government RINOs) are panicking, because their gravy-train is coming to an end.

Posted by: Military Moron at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (JCZqz)

66 what will all these layoffs do to Sen. John McCain's funeral procession?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (PQM2k)

67 Massie wants the glitch seat

Posted by: A dude in MI at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (/6GbT)

68 Germany under Herr Fred Mertz is calling for a Grosse Europa?
-----------
Sounds like somebody has some splainin' to do!

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:06 PM (TN0g+)

69 It's as if Trump kicked them in the nuts and now after a series of uppercuts is walking around the ring with his arms outstretched soaking up the cheers ...and jeers.
Stay tuned. Don't change the channel.

Posted by: torabora at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (0Gnoc)

70 We've quadrupled the federal budget over the last 20 years. Are you getting 4 times as much from the government as you did then?

I sure as shit am not.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (t0Rmr)

71 What may be an interesting fight is the "you shall spend every penny allocated" clause.

I can already see President Trump telling Congress, "Yeah, you gave me all this money, but, there's no where to spend it, because those people and that department don't exist any more."

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (tT6L1)

72 Massie should go get his shine box and polish McConnell’s knob.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (RZVaz)

73 Raising the debt ceiling by 4 TRILLION?

This is supposed to be an improvement?

Posted by: nurse ratched at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (t1jwT)

74 However, none of them seem to grasp the obvious: This isn't a 10% cut of a 30% increase. These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:00 PM (tT6L1)

I remember the outcry from Reagan's first-term cuts, which, in comparison to Trump's, were very modest. RIFs struck terror in the hearts of Dems back then, the only thing that kept them afloat was Cold War budgeting. Now we have a rather peaceful future (I think of it as the calm before the storm), a one-party national legislative branch, and more conservative USSC than what Reagan had.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (rj6Yv)

75 Isnothat the point — so damage them itbey have to star over from scratch, if at all?

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:07 PM (Hkcdp)

76 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations," said Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

Ok
Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway

---------------

Yeah, that's a huge "your terms are acceptable."
Posted by: blake

That's proof that these assholes have been living in a bubble.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 26, 2025 05:08 PM (SlNuN)

77 DataRepublican exposes how an NGO claiming to promote “democracy” received $17 million—and “the only thing they did with $17 million was make a terrible muppet show.”

Well, I'm sure they spent $1M or so on the puppet show and...$16M on salaries

Posted by: 18-1 at February 26, 2025 05:08 PM (t0Rmr)

78 How much did that NGO spend to license the name Muppets?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (PQM2k)

79 Well, I'm sure they spent $1M or so on the puppet show and...$16M on salaries
Posted by: 18-1 at February 26, 2025 05:08 PM (t0Rmr)
----------------

More like trafficking sex slaves out of the country.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (tT6L1)

80 I am not a fan of these 10 year plans.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (mB6WH)

81 Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now

Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)

Tell the truth Ace...

You pay Jonah Goldberg to keep pumping out his bullsh*t just because the material is so fantastic.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (mWSu4)

82 59 So many layoffs so close to pride month. PRIDE MONTH!!!
Posted by: Cray Cray

Good point. MSNBC laid Reid off this month...maybe they're waiting for the right time to fire Maddow....

Posted by: Moron Analyst at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (JCZqz)

83 Germany under Herr Fred Mertz is calling for a Grosse Europa?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (PQM2k)

Not without Russian gas and natural resources.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (rj6Yv)

84 It will be interesting to see what happens to the average age and experience of Feds. These cuts will largely affect probationary hires, aka younger people. That means that the Feds will be older, and more expensive per capita. Offsetting that, if they are more experienced, perhaps we need fewer of them.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (xCA6C)

85 Most people only care that the checks go out, and that any unfriendlies get smoked. I’m pretty sure with automation and a military solely focused on war fighting that renders a whole lot of other people unnecessary.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (RZVaz)

86 Herr Fred Mertz, "we need resources? I know! Barbarossa II, electric boogaloo!"

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (PQM2k)

87 Star Force is the place to be.
... or that guy laying mines on the southern border.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (/lPRQ)

88 Thank you for the update JamesMadison

Posted by: Draki at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (QKD6F)

89 So many layoffs so close to pride month. PRIDE MONTH!!!
Posted by: Cray Cray

Good point. MSNBC laid Reid off this month...maybe they're waiting for the right time to fire Maddow....
Posted by: Moron Analyst at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (JCZqz)

They fired Joy Reid during Black History Month.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (rj6Yv)

90 Well, I'm sure they spent $1M or so on the puppet show and...$16M on salaries

Posted by: 18-1

If I told them once, I told them a thousand times, Spinal Tap first and puppet show last.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (lTGtQ)

91 Each state has their own EPA, so cutting 65% of the Fed EPA probably only translates to 20% reduction (warning: made up number that appears plausible) in total number of EPA employees across these United States.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (9DHlV)

92 Perhaps another addition to crippling the government is to require changes to the legal code to be written on clay tablets and baked. Copies must be transcribed on new tablets. Changes require replacement of the affected tablets.

All of the changes have to be made by the elected members of Congress - not their staff. All bills have to be prepared in the same medium, by elected congresscritters.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (VNX3d)

93 Offsetting that, if they are more experienced, perhaps we need fewer of them.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (xCA6C)

And there is more natural attrition in an older work force.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (mWSu4)

94 Jonah is making the conservative case for big government? Does that mean David French is now out of work?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (tT6L1)

95 Ein volk
Einen Homosexuelle
Einen Sitzpinklerelle

Posted by: Fuhrer Merz at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (t0Rmr)

96 "Hurry Star Force! You only have 350 days to save the Earth!"

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (PQM2k)

97 Well, I'm sure they spent $1M or so on the puppet show and...$16M on salaries
-------------
Its "The Producers", all over again....

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (TN0g+)

98 >> Germany under Herr Fred Mertz is calling for a Grosse Europa?

Holy shit. That dude didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on his promises before he broke them. They immediately started shipping in migrants before the government was seated.

There’s a whole lotta Germans who should be wearing kick me signs and I’m with stupid T-shirts.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (RZVaz)

99 89 So many layoffs so close to pride month. PRIDE MONTH!!!
Posted by: Cray Cray

Good point. MSNBC laid Reid off this month...maybe they're waiting for the right time to fire Maddow....
Posted by: Moron Analyst at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (JCZqz)

They fired Joy Reid during Black History Month.
Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:11 PM (rj6Yv)

She's black and she's history.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (XCUp7)

100 Germany under Herr Fred Mertz is calling for a Grosse Europa?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:04 PM (PQM2k)

Not without Russian gas and natural resources.

Posted by: mrp

I have my doubts that Germany will still exist by the time for the next election opportunity.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (lTGtQ)

101 Offsetting that, if they are more experienced, perhaps we need fewer of them.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (xCA6C)

And there is more natural attrition in an older work force.

Yup.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (xCA6C)

102 Jonah is making the conservative case for big government? Does that mean David French is now out of work?

Well all these lady penises aren't going to suck themselves

Posted by: David French's favorite brothel at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (t0Rmr)

103 NeverTrump:

2015: He's too liberal and can't be trusted to implement conservative ideas

2017: He's morally unacceptable

2024: He's Hitler

Now there's a character arc if I've ever seen one.

Posted by: ... at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (lX8VI)

104 >>DataRepublican exposes how an NGO claiming to promote “democracy” received $17 million—and “the only thing they did with $17 million was make a terrible muppet show.”

That's all they reported.

They used it run lawfare and likely to promote Democrat campaign.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (LkLld)

105 They fired Joy Reid during Black History Month.
Posted by: mrp

And kept the white guy. Rachel something...

Posted by: rickb223 at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (SlNuN)

106 Failure to aggressively pursue Lee after Gettysburg probably extended the war by a year.
Same type of thing goes for not sewing the Falaise Gap shut.
Once they're on the ropes don't let up.
Midterms are coming and we need to blow them out then.

Posted by: torabora at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (0Gnoc)

107 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

But don't you understand? If people aren't paying as much is taxes it costs Congress money that would otherwise go into their own pockets!

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (hB7mE)

108 The chorus, "oh where could he be?"

Fred Mertz, "Heil myself!"

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (PQM2k)

109 Each state has their own EPA,

Before he shuts off the lights, Zelden needs to get rid of ethanol in gasoline and DEF for diesels. It's fucking ridiculous to have these additives that cause nothing but maintenance headaches.

Posted by: The German's at February 26, 2025 05:14 PM (/U5Yz)

110 For a mere $6 million I will draw some stick figure renderings of DEI. That’s a bargain in my estimation.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:14 PM (RZVaz)

111 off sauerkraut encrusted sock.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:14 PM (/U5Yz)

112 If the "freedom caucus" doesn't realize that Trump is the best chance they have to get 95% of what they want , from here on out ignore the mfers. It's all posing

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (O8bOp)

113 America: where spending more than ever before is considered a "spending cut."

I'm sure it's fine. I mean, nothing bad has happened so far, right?

Posted by: Tinfoil Dispenser at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (ERYKL)

114 101 Offsetting that, if they are more experienced, perhaps we need fewer of them.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (xCA6C)

And there is more natural attrition in an older work force.

Yup.

I would still prefer that layoffs be strictly merit-based (or more accurately, demerit-based). It will be interesting to see if cuts are at all based on race, sex, orientation, etc. If they aren't, and any of those groups are disproportionately affected, the howling will be epic.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (xCA6C)

115 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

But don't you understand? If people aren't paying as much is taxes it costs Congress money that would otherwise go into their own pockets!
Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (hB7mE)

------------------

Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (tT6L1)

116 That dude didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on his promises before he broke them. They immediately started shipping in migrants before the government was seated.

There’s a whole lotta Germans who should be wearing kick me signs and I’m with stupid T-shirts.

Posted by: Marcus T

They got exactly what they voted for. Anyone with half a brain could have told them that the two ruling parties are going to take turns as committee heads and keep the same policies until AfD gets over 50% of the vote. Too many people believed the lies of the politicians and the media.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (lTGtQ)

117 89 So many layoffs so close to pride month. PRIDE MONTH!!!
Posted by: Cray Cray

Good point. MSNBC laid Reid off this month...maybe they're waiting for the right time to fire Maddow....
Posted by: Moron Analyst at February 26, 2025 05:09 PM (JCZqz)

They fired Joy Reid during Black History Month.
Posted by: mrp

AND BECAUSE MADDOW IS A LESBIAN, THEY MIGHT WAIT UNTIL PRIDE MONTH TO FIRE HER.

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (JCZqz)

118 Herr Fred Mertz, "we need resources? I know! Barbarossa II, electric boogaloo!"
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (PQM2k)

Putin has more nuke boogaloo than Merz does, which is none. That's why UK and France's "Force de Frappe" are essential to such a plan unfolding. What Germans can't seem to figure out is that the US owns the missiles and the warheads loaded inside the UK boomers.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (rj6Yv)

119
We've quadrupled the federal budget over the last 20 years. Are you getting 4 times as much from the government as you did then?

4 times the trannies. 4 times the DEI.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (63Dwl)

120 The Huns are in real trouble. The only comparison I can make would be if Kamala won. There is no telling what the future holds for them.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (RZVaz)

121 The new budget is a ceiling, not a floor.

I believe Trump & the GOP in Congress intend to spend far less than the budget would permit.

Trump needs wiggle room to avoid the infamous shutdown... followed by the dreaded continuing resolution, by which we spend what we did last year (only adjusted upwards for inflation).

Actually reducing federal spending long-term will require Soc Sec and Medicare reform. That's going to be the toughest part of addressing the debt crisis.

Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (NLIak)

122 That dude didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on his promises before he broke them. They immediately started shipping in migrants before the government was seated.

There’s a whole lotta Germans who should be wearing kick me signs and I’m with stupid T-shirts.

Posted by: Marcus T

You fucked up. You trusted us!

Posted by: Every Establishment Party speaking to its voters at February 26, 2025 05:17 PM (JCZqz)

123 Can members in the German parliament defect to the AfD?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:17 PM (PQM2k)

124 The fall of Empire, gentlemen, is a massive thing, however, and not easily fought. It is dictated by a rising bureaucracy, a receding initiative, a freezing of caste, a damming of curiosity…

— Isaac Asimov, Foundation

And one of the few moderately insightful things in that series.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 05:17 PM (EXyHK)

125 Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.
------------
Basic economics has been *purposely* de-emphasized as a field of study, and replaced by fairy dust and unicorn fart theory.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:17 PM (TN0g+)

126 I'm real and I'm fabulous!

Posted by: Chris Hayes, MSNBC personality at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (vcOmj)

127 I have my doubts that Germany will still exist by the time for the next election opportunity.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:13 PM (lTGtQ)

I want to see Poland roll into Germany as far west as Hamburg...or maybe Bremerhaven. I'll bet they would like a North Sea port!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (mWSu4)

128 off sauerkraut encrusted sock.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:14 PM (/U5Yz
-------------

Shot with a guy who did custom harvesting. He told me his more recent stuff which uses DEF is more prone to breakdowns than his older stuff.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (tT6L1)

129 It seems like the budget was half this less than a decade ago.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (jc0TO)

130 The RIF Wars begun they have.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 04:55 PM (PQM2k)

No one really won the RIF wars, but Francisco Franco came out looking pretty good.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (D7oie)

131 The Huns are in real trouble. The only comparison I can make would be if Kamala won. There is no telling what the future holds for them.

IMO, Merz is more like Jeb or Mittens.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (t0Rmr)

132 "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."

Um, yeah. Which is the whole effin' point.

The disingenuity of these hacks is off the charts. They think being obtuse is clever.

Posted by: AnonyBotymousDrivel at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (aXxgO)

133 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

Kinetic lead.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

134 Can members in the German parliament defect to the AfD?

Posted by: Anna Puma

They can but they won't. They would be called nazis.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (lTGtQ)

135 Whoa. That is an epic rant. Well done, sir!

Posted by: LASue at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (lCppi)

136 Holy shit. That dude didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on his promises before he broke them. They immediately started shipping in migrants before the government was seated.

There’s a whole lotta Germans who should be wearing kick me signs and I’m with stupid T-shirts.
Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:12 PM (RZVaz)

It's the price for not being seen as "racist" by voting for AfD.

Posted by: Thrawn at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (9Ovst)

137 Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (tT6L1)

Yeah... there are some weapons-grade retards on X.

But that one is still a doozy.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (mWSu4)

138 Holy shit! Last year the Feds spent $6.9 trillion.

I hadn't noticed it was that high.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (jc0TO)

139 Jonah Goldberg literally arguing against cutting fed workers now
Posted by: ace at February 26, 2025 04:57 PM (KRtlO)

cutting fed workers is a liberal standard now.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (D7oie)

140 We've quadrupled the federal budget over the last 20 years. Are you getting 4 times as much from the government as you did then?

That's not true. It has roughly doubled since about 1965.

https://is.gd/Zd1qcQ

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (xCA6C)

141 Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.

Technically he's right, but its a lot less than its saving by not having the employee to begin with, so...

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (2VST1)

142 That's not true. It has roughly ~~doubled~~ since about 1965.

Quadrupled.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (xCA6C)

143 These RIFs is one way to claw back that missing $1.7 trillion.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (PQM2k)

144 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

Kinetic lead.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

Let's keep it all natural - coconuts.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (VNX3d)

145 TJM, as others have mentioned, thanks for the update.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (tT6L1)

146 It’s the Weimar Republic sequel. You cannot break the popular will of the people by creating a government opposed to its will. Forming coalitions with minority parties is a parliamentary system to largely keep the most popular party from governing never ends well. History is knocking on the door.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:20 PM (RZVaz)

147 They can but they won't. They would be called nazis.
Posted by: Thomas Paine

Nazis! I hate those guys!

Posted by: Indiana Jones and box of Kaboom! at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (vcOmj)

148 137 Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (tT6L1)

Yeah... there are some weapons-grade retards on X.
But that one is still a doozy.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Damn...I thought I was used to seeing stupid...

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (JCZqz)

149 Last year the Feds spent $6.9 trillion.

I hadn't noticed it was that high.

Posted by: Grump928

And took in $4T in taxes.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (lTGtQ)

150 They can but they won't. They would be called nazis.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (lTGtQ)

AfD are not as pure as the driven snow, but at least they would give Germany a fighting chance of surviving.

Whether that is a good thing depends on your perspective.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (mWSu4)

151 Shot with a guy who did custom harvesting. He told me his more recent stuff which uses DEF is more prone to breakdowns than his older stuff.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing

Stuffs a nightmare. On cold days the DEF tank is heated so it doesn't gel and on hot days it crystalizes and clogs up very expensive components.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (/U5Yz)

152
No one really won the RIF wars

MST3K

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (63Dwl)

153 Republicans are growing more concerned about how a slash-and-burn strategy could affect their constituents.

Their TRUE constituents.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (jc0TO)

154 You know it was the University of Michigan that gave the US today's Trans dictatorship? Yep. Not Berkley or Columbia... Frickin Michigan.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov, now, where does a war hero get some lubrication around here? at February 26, 2025 05:22 PM (wBaIH)

155 Damn...I thought I was used to seeing stupid...

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison

thread winner

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:22 PM (PQM2k)

156 Yeah... there are some weapons-grade retards on X.

But that one is still a doozy.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2025 05:19 PM (mWSu4)
-----------------

Completely predictable, though. The left always trots out the usual shopworn arguments. They've yet to learn not everyone huffs aerosols like they do.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:22 PM (tT6L1)

157 144 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

Kinetic lead.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

Let's keep it all natural - coconuts.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf

Teddy bear Cholla is natural I think.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:23 PM (/U5Yz)

158 I really though German guilt from the Nazi era would have a shelf life in terms of it’s usefulness as a means of getting the citizens to vote against there own self interest. I was wrong.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:24 PM (RZVaz)

159 Republicans are growing more concerned about how a slash-and-burn strategy could affect their constituents.

Yeah, that's the new narrative. They tried "unelected", they tried "without evidence" now they are trying "Trump is doomed, polls show his ideas are hated, you Republicans need to jump off the Trump Train while you can!!!!1!!! totes!!!!"

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:24 PM (2VST1)

160 At some point the universities are gonna need a DOGE

@EYakoby 3m
BREAKING: Students at faculty at Columbia University have violently taken over a building, while chanting “there is only solution, intifada revolution.”

Columbia has completely lost control. Every single person should be arrested and expelled.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:24 PM (mlg/3)

161 Already saw some fool on X argue getting rid of federal employees took tax revenue away from government.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (tT6L1)

Yeah... there are some weapons-grade retards on X.
But that one is still a doozy.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Damn...I thought I was used to seeing stupid...
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at February 26, 2025 05:21 PM (JCZqz)
-----------

You're making a mistake. You're confusing crazy with stupid. I posted stupidity. You post comments by the insane.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:24 PM (tT6L1)

162 Minor emergency said I have appendicitis. I blame the Democrats. And Mitch McConnell (BIRM).

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (ExV1e)

163 You know it was the University of Michigan that gave the US today's Trans dictatorship? Yep. Not Berkley or Columbia... Frickin Michigan.
------------
"Evil prospers when good men do nothing."

Or something like that. The "good" people of this country who don't live in LA, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, etc...they go to work and come home and watch Netflix. And by "doing nothing" they allow the evil rot that makes up a good portion of the 10 largest cities in the US to make governmental policy and societal constructs.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (TN0g+)

164 "At least two of the Freedom Caucus members, Chip Roy and Thomas Massie, have some kind of stupid scheme to always vote "no" on any budget."

---

Or maybe everyone else is stupid for continuing to spend money we don't have, on services we don't need.

What has this past few weeks been about, if not trying to get a handle on excess spending.

Better is not good. Quit acting like it is, or you're no better than the Democrat Party.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (dGCAG)

165 Minor emergency said I have appendicitis. I blame the Democrats. And Mitch McConnell (BIRM).
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: RFK Jr. at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (jc0TO)

166 Here's another look at the budget over time.

https://is.gd/qcTXEZ

In 2005, it was about $3.3T or $3.9T, depending on whether you're talking about revenue or spending. Today, it's about $4.5T ($6T).

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (xCA6C)

167 Anyone who says a tax cut “costs” something should be put in stocks and I’m still deliberating whether tomatoes or bricks are thrown at them.
Posted by: CTSPURSMAN

Kinetic lead.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

Let's keep it all natural - coconuts.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf

Teddy bear Cholla is natural I think.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:23 PM (/U5Yz)

That works. Maybe Black Widow spiders to spice things up on occasion.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (VNX3d)

168 Sounds like Columbia Univ needs to host a 24 hr Oh No Yoko concert.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (PQM2k)

169 Yeah, that's the new narrative.

They seem to still be trying “You didn’t vote for this, aren’t you sad?”

Yes, that’s exactly what the bowl of popcorn is for.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (EXyHK)

170 That works. Maybe Black Widow spiders to spice things up on occasion.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:25 PM (VNX3d)
-------------

Mix in a few red ants. Especially the ones from OK. Those critters are nasty.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (tT6L1)

171 Actually reducing federal spending long-term will require Soc Sec and Medicare reform. That's going to be the toughest part of addressing the debt crisis.
Posted by: mnw

Import a shitload of people to augment the tax base!

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (/lPRQ)

172 The Huns are in real trouble. The only comparison I can make would be if Kamala won. There is no telling what the future holds for them.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (RZVaz)

--------------

The Fall and Conquest of Constantinople 2: Caliphate Boogaloo.

Posted by: ShainS -- DOGE should be renamed Federal Agency for Financial Oversight (FAFO) at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (qr2G7)

173
Maddow and Olbermann think MSNBC is racist wait until they hear about FDR, LBJ, and Al Gore Sr.

Posted by: ... at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (lX8VI)

174 A positive move.

I still think we need a Hari Seldon though.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (/RfNj)

175 In theory the dismissed IRS agents should find private sector employment easily. They probably have a CPA valid in many states and know "the system". In reality accounting firms know these morons are probably lazy and have no knowledge of how the IRS functions. They have no skills outside the govt.

Posted by: mishdog at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (YHRKx)

176 The Fall and Conquest of Constantinople 2: Caliphate Boogaloo.
Posted by: ShainS -- DOGE should be renamed Federal Agency for Financial Oversight (FAFO) at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM

That's nobody's business but the Turks.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (jc0TO)

177 Lefty groups are already running ads that the cuts are going to steal grandmas social security and cut Medicaid for American citizens. You see, there is no waste in these programs. Even the 120 year old people getting checks and illegal immigrants have rights too, you know.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (RZVaz)

178 You're making a mistake. You're confusing crazy with stupid. I posted stupidity. You post comments by the insane.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:24 PM (tT6L1)

People make that mistake all the time. If you don't care about what I care about, you're stupid.

Some people here seem to believe passing a budget that kinda sorta maybe promises to be balanced some year in the future is the way to go, and anyone who disagrees with that is stupid.

Sure.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (dGCAG)

179 Herr Fred Mertz, "we need resources? I know! Barbarossa II, electric boogaloo!"
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:10 PM (PQM2k)

Ve shall attack vit the First SS Durka Durka Division! -- Herr Fred Mertz

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (ExV1e)

180 POS Massie. Votes with the Squad more than his fellow Rs

Posted by: DBH at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (0LRC3)

181 Sounds like Columbia Univ needs to host a 24 hr Oh No Yoko concert.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (PQM2k)

The late Senator Jesse Helms (NC) used to say about Chapel Hill, that they should put a fence around it and call it a zoo.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (rj6Yv)

182 Lefty groups are already running ads that the cuts are going to steal grandmas social security and cut Medicaid for American citizens.

Burning the last of the USAID money.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (jc0TO)

183 I think Musk and Trump are betting they can get SS and Medicare/Medicaid on the road to solvency through rooting out fraud and waste.

Getting rid of overhead and removing fraud may give those programs a bit more breathing room.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (tT6L1)

184 Shut up, mug up, obey, and disturb nothing, let the administrative state do its thing without oversight or disruption, and then you will get your honorary library and bestselling autobiography and go down in history as great.
-------------

Good thing PDJT is taking his winnings from suing MSM and putting those to building his library.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (hoCmQ)

185 I still think we need a Hari Seldon though.

Hari Seldon is how the deep state sees themselves. What we need is a Mule.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (EXyHK)

186

I know someone who knows Massies kid. Said he’s an asshole.

Massie’s a bit full of himself but at least he’s on our side and not a Commie.

Posted by: E Buzz at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (nkLIP)

187 Actually reducing federal spending long-term will require Soc Sec and Medicare reform. That's going to be the toughest part of addressing the debt crisis.
----------
I suspect 80% of every Federal dollar spent winds up in someone's pocket OTHER than the name/names listed on the outgoing wire. If that's even remotely close to being true, Social Security and Medicare can be saved, with or without massive reform.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (TN0g+)

188 Trump Warns 1 Million Federal Workers Might Be Fired in Wild DOGE Cabinet Meeting Monologue: ‘They Are on the Bubble’

My neighborhood has a new phallic monolith that's sprung up.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (/U5Yz)

189 177 Lefty groups are already running ads that the cuts are going to steal grandmas social security and cut Medicaid for American citizens. You see, there is no waste in these programs. Even the 120 year old people getting checks and illegal immigrants have rights too, you know.
Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (RZVaz)

They're just going to replace that animated clip of Bush Jr pushing wheelchair-bound grandma off the cliff with Trump and/or Johnson.

Posted by: Thrawn at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (9Ovst)

190 Somebody told me I was lying that illegal immigrants are eligible for Social Security. So I sent them the link on the social security site that shows they are. They were floored.

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:30 PM (RZVaz)

191
Massie wants a budget that has no deficit.

And a pony.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 26, 2025 05:03 PM (lTGtQ)

I wanted a President that would do something about illegal immigrants flooding our cities dragging with them the worst crimes from their corrupt countries, and I was told it was not possible to elect anyone like that against the special interests so I should shut up and vote for . . . Check my notes, here, um, Nikki Haley because she had a broad appeal' and might actually do something.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 05:30 PM (D7oie)

192 They fired Joy Reid during Black History Month.

Trump canceled Black History Month. He gave MSDNC an opportunity and they took it.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:30 PM (ExV1e)

193 Have they patched up Gaylord's library yet?

Are they still vetting for an LGBTQRSS+++ owned company?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (PQM2k)

194 That's nobody's business but the Turks.
------------
"Young Turks" is the only Rod Stewart song from the 80's going forward that has aged well, in my opinion.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (TN0g+)

195 If Massie succeeds in assisting the DEMs in shutting down the govt (again)... the Social Security checks will stop, and then bye bye Trump!

Since Trump can't allow that to happen, we'll be right back to continuing resolutions, just like always.

I detest rule-or-ruin purists.

Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (NLIak)

196 Trump Warns 1 Million Federal Workers Might Be Fired in Wild DOGE Cabinet Meeting Monologue: ‘They Are on the Bubble’

My neighborhood has a new phallic monolith that's sprung up.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:29 PM (/U5Yz)

Can we send them to Guam, to test Hank Johnson's theory that we could tip it over?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (VNX3d)

197 BREAKING: Students at faculty at Columbia University have violently taken over a building, while chanting “there is only solution, intifada revolution.”

Columbia has completely lost control. Every single person should be arrested and expelled.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

You misspelled "Died while resisting arrest".

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (/lPRQ)

198
Skin against skin blood and bone
You're all by yourself but you're not alone
You wanted in and now you're here
Driven by hate consumed by fear

Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor
Let the bodies hit the floor...

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (jc0TO)

199
Some people here seem to believe passing a budget that kinda sorta maybe promises to be balanced some year in the future is the way to go, and anyone who disagrees with that is stupid.

Sure.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (dGCAG)
--------------

I was making a joke?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (tT6L1)

200 I wanted a President that would do something about illegal immigrants flooding our cities dragging with them the worst crimes from their corrupt countries, and I was told it was not possible to elect anyone like that against the special interests so I should shut up and vote for . . . Check my notes, here, um, Nikki Haley because she had a broad appeal' and might actually do something.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 05:30 PM (D7oie)

I don't think anyone would have needed to worry about Nikki Haley wanting to balance the budget either.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (dGCAG)

201 Some people here seem to believe passing a budget that kinda sorta maybe promises to be balanced some year in the future is the way to go, and anyone who disagrees with that is stupid.

Sure.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:28 PM (dGCAG)
--------------

I was making a joke?
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (tT6L1)

I know you were. But I made the mistake of reading the main post.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (dGCAG)

202 But I made the mistake of reading the main post.
------------
You've been around here long enough to know better than that!

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (TN0g+)

203 Chip Roy talks a big game, but he's become a big problem.
Massie is unrealistic and expects 100% purity which is impossible.

Posted by: redridinghood at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (NpAcC)

204 I'm waiting for the "unemployment rate going up" stories from MSM.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (hoCmQ)

205 The Huns are in real trouble. The only comparison I can make would be if Kamala won. There is no telling what the future holds for them.
Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:16 PM (RZVaz)

https://youtu.be/ZRLBbXYWLbs?t=2

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (ExV1e)

206 >>> 169
==
They seem to still be trying “You didn’t vote for this, aren’t you sad?”

Yes, that’s exactly what the bowl of popcorn is for.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (EXyHK)

Heh. I have failed to properly signify my sadz by baking brownies; I should correct this ASAP.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (Vqx30)

207 Maddow and Olbermann think MSNBC is racist wait until they hear about FDR, LBJ, and Al Gore Sr.

Posted by: ... at February 26, 2025 05:27 PM (lX8VI)

-------------------

And yet, Margaret Sanger is one of their many "heroic" "saints."

It's almost as if they're self-hating racist death cultists themselves. Almost.

Posted by: ShainS -- DOGE should be renamed Federal Agency for Financial Oversight (FAFO) at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (qr2G7)

208 I know you were. But I made the mistake of reading the main post.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (dGCAG)
-----------

You're joking!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (tT6L1)

209 "Both the high price tag and the steep spending cuts worried some Republicans, with centrists opposed to possible slashes to Medicaid and fiscal hardliners revolting against the estimated tens of trillions of dollars the resolution could add to the federal deficit over the next 10 years."

And also: "And it's supposed to lead to a small surplus in 10 years."

I can understand why Massie didn't vote for this. A ball of confusion, that's what the House is today.

Posted by: Oglebay at February 26, 2025 05:34 PM (2ap+5)

210 Let us not forget the Women's March, another group frothing up protests and 'resistance'.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at February 26, 2025 05:34 PM (a3Q+t)

211 If the "freedom caucus" doesn't realize that Trump is the best chance they have to get 95% of what they want , from here on out ignore the mfers. It's all posing
Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 26, 2025 05:15 PM (O8bOp)

You are saying that people who do politics for a living don't understand politics? OK.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 05:34 PM (D7oie)

212 BREAKING: Students at faculty at Columbia University have violently taken over a building, while chanting “there is only solution, intifada revolution.”

Columbia has completely lost control. Every single person should be arrested and expelled.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

Would love to see a Kent State reenactment.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:34 PM (/U5Yz)

213 If Massie succeeds in assisting the DEMs in shutting down the govt (again)... the Social Security checks will stop, and then bye bye Trump!

Since Trump can't allow that to happen, we'll be right back to continuing resolutions, just like always.

I detest rule-or-ruin purists.
Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (NLIak)

Good lord, we're back to this?

Oh no! Shutting down the government means the media will write bad things about Republicans, and then the Democrats win!

So let's cut out the middleman, and just let the Democrats win.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:34 PM (dGCAG)

214 >>>> and every single president comes to power vaguely feeling threatened by the intelligence agencies

Heh. I think it's probably more than a vague threatening feeling.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:35 PM (uCjyK)

215 I know you were. But I made the mistake of reading the main post.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:32 PM (dGCAG)
-----------

You're joking!
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (tT6L1)

I wish I was.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:35 PM (dGCAG)

216 1 million is a good start.

Heard on the local news that Trump was moving some federal office out of Denver - maybe FDA? - because Denver is a sanctuary city.

This is a fabulous way to put pressure on/punish stubborn blue cities and to get some of these federal employees to quit.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:35 PM (Hkcdp)

217 Somebody told me I was lying that illegal immigrants are eligible for Social Security

It was announced today that food stamps (EBT) is ending for illegals by the federal government. I bet a lot of people were unaware that was happening as well.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:35 PM (2VST1)

218 Take your vitamin D, get a happy light and go for a walk.

Posted by: nurse ratched at February 26, 2025 05:36 PM (TXEHw)

219 Arrested, expelled and deported - how many of these students are from overseas?

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:36 PM (Hkcdp)

220 If the Trump tax cuts are renewed, there will be no CPA jobs for exIRS personnel.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov, now, where does a war hero get some lubrication around here? at February 26, 2025 05:36 PM (wBaIH)

221 Take your vitamin D, get a happy light and go for a walk.
Posted by: nurse ratched at February 26, 2025 05:36 PM (TXEHw)
------------

With your favorite pistol and a bag full of ammo to the nearest range....

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (tT6L1)

222 Chip Roy talks a big game, but he's become a big problem.
Massie is unrealistic and expects 100% purity which is impossible.
Posted by: redridinghood at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (NpAcC)

Nonsense. He voted no. Everyone else voted yes.

And you're bitching that they don't agree with you.

You won. You should be happy.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (dGCAG)

223 Maybe California will be a ghost town for federal employees

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (fwDg9)

224
Before he shuts off the lights, Zelden needs to get rid of ethanol in gasoline and DEF for diesels. It's fucking ridiculous to have these additives that cause nothing but maintenance headaches.

Posted by: The German's

================

Ooohh. You're aiming HIGH.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's office at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (pgtWZ)

225 If Massie succeeds in assisting the DEMs in shutting down the govt (again)... the Social Security checks will stop, and then bye bye Trump!

Since Trump can't allow that to happen, we'll be right back to continuing resolutions, just like always.

I detest rule-or-ruin purists.
Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:31 PM (NLIak)

Social security is not affected by a confusingly named- government shut down.

Only discretionary funding is affected, and only the funding that's considered non essential. And the deep state decides what is and what is not essential. They lean towards "everything"

It's all a big kabuki theater.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (uCjyK)

226 216 1 million is a good start.

Heard on the local news that Trump was moving some federal office out of Denver - maybe FDA? - because Denver is a sanctuary city.

This is a fabulous way to put pressure on/punish stubborn blue cities and to get some of these federal employees to quit.
Posted by: Lizzy

Stop it, I can't take all this winning in only one month.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (/U5Yz)

227 >>> 190 Somebody told me I was lying that illegal immigrants are eligible for Social Security. So I sent them the link on the social security site that shows they are. They were floored.
Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2025 05:30 PM (RZVaz)

That this particular Somebody was willing to check it out at all is progress, and I take it they have not responded that the link is OMG Russian Disinformation.

Did you ask them why they think some taxpayers have to file their returns with a frkn PIN?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (Vqx30)

228 If the "freedom caucus" doesn't realize that Trump is the best chance they have to get 95% of what they want , from here on out ignore the mfers. It's all posing

Its like the Abortion Abolitionists. Yeah, I agree, I want it
to end, too. But they are so absolutist that they reject ANY abortion laws no matter how much they reduce abortion unless it is COMPLETELY ENDED. Dude. Live in the real world. Get what you can and fight for more.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (2VST1)

229 Sounds like Columbia Univ needs to host a 24 hr Oh No Yoko concert.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM (PQM2k)

I'm not saying the exits to the building should be chained shut and then it should be set ablaze.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (ExV1e)

230 Before he shuts off the lights, Zelden needs to get rid of ethanol in gasoline and DEF for diesels. It's fucking ridiculous to have these additives that cause nothing but maintenance headaches.

Posted by: The German's

================

Ooohh. You're aiming HIGH.
Posted by: Blonde Morticia's office at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (pgtWZ)

Not until Senator Grassley retires.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (rj6Yv)

231 Social security is not affected by a confusingly named- government shut down.

Only discretionary funding is affected, and only the funding that's considered non essential. And the deep state decides what is and what is not essential. They lean towards "everything"

It's all a big kabuki theater.
Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (uCjyK)

They put signs up at national parks that say "the mean Republicans shut us down."

We can't have that. So we spend trillions of dollars we don't have instead.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (dGCAG)

232 Right?
Discontinuing the penny will hit Denver’s mint, too.
We’ll see how it’s affected…

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (Hkcdp)

233 F*ckers like Massie, with their "let's cut wasteful spending and stop bankrupting our country" bullsh*t are ruining the Republican Party and our country's ability to spread LGBTQ+ democracy throughout the world.

We need to get back to sound fiscal policy where we claim to fiscally responsible but actually just keep funding every f*cking thing and printing money around the clock.

Republicans aren't elected to shrink government, they are elected to say they will shrink government.

Posted by: It's True at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (9ptcg)

234 A thread on DU about Madcow's staff at MSNBC being eliminated generated this comment:

"MSNBC...getting ready to bend the knee?

FU*KING GOD DA*M COWARDS misogynistic & racists a*swipes."

You mad, bro?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (a3Q+t)

235

Posted by: Duncanthrax at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (a3Q+t)

236 If illegal aliens ARE drawing Social Security benefits, then they're using an SSN not assigned to them by the Soc Sec Admin-- which is a federal crime.

Whose SSN are they using, then, you may well ask?

Yours. Or your neighbor's.

Posted by: mnw at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (NLIak)

237 It was announced today that food stamps (EBT) is ending for illegals by the federal government. I bet a lot of people were unaware that was happening as well.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:35 PM (2VST1)

The welfare stuff is small fries. You know where the real money is?

They also get free medical care and their kids get free schooling. Schooling that requires districts to hire Spanish speaking teachers and ESL teachers, and spend a shit ton of resources because unfortunately most of the kids show up to the US illiterate and many have never been in a classroom before.

But the schools fedmoney is still tied to No Child Left Behind and other DC nonsense, so if they kids fuck up the standardized tests (which they will, because they're 11 and can't read in english or spanish), the district loses fed bucks.

It's all fucked.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (uCjyK)

238 >>> 233 F*ckers like Massie, with their "let's cut wasteful spending and stop bankrupting our country" bullsh*t are ruining the Republican Party and our country's ability to spread LGBTQ+ democracy throughout the world.

We need to get back to sound fiscal policy where we claim to fiscally responsible but actually just keep funding every f*cking thing and printing money around the clock.

Republicans aren't elected to shrink government, they are elected to say they will shrink government.
Posted by: It's True at February 26, 2025 05:39 PM (9ptcg)

It's True Johnson is right!!!

Posted by: Bill Kristol, EXPERT at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (Vqx30)

239 Its like the Abortion Abolitionists. Yeah, I agree, I want it
to end, too. But they are so absolutist that they reject ANY abortion laws no matter how much they reduce abortion unless it is COMPLETELY ENDED. Dude. Live in the real world. Get what you can and fight for more.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (2VST1)

Yeah, but you want anyone who doesn't want any abortions to shut up and vote for continued abortions.

How about no.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (dGCAG)

240 Cry more, DC.

Your tears are the nectar of the gods.

Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2025 05:41 PM (0HaGk)

241 i'll just say this: either some people get hurt or the country goes bankrupt and lots and lots of people get hurt. i'm willing to see some gov't workers get hurted

Posted by: gnats local 678 at February 26, 2025 05:41 PM (CWTWj)

242 Congressional Republicans - "We can't cut... my goodness its so unpopular!"

Feels like today would have been the day to present a bill that cuts... massively... to a balanced budget.

Let people vote against that and explain it to their district.

I can't see the political landscape ever be better than it was for today.... you had the hammer of tax cuts, a strong desire by the voters to cut spending...

and they fizzled out this fart of a bill.

Posted by: RealityMain at February 26, 2025 05:41 PM (GBNTN)

243 >>>"We're cutting down the size of government. We have to," Trump said during the first Cabinet meeting of his second term. "We're bloated. We're sloppy. We have a lot of people that aren't doing their job."

It's another Trumpmas miracle!

Posted by: Comrade Flounder,Disinformation Demon at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (i24o9)

244
Lefty groups are already running ads that the cuts are going to steal grandmas social security and cut Medicaid for American citizens.

That worked sixty years ago. Probably will again.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (63Dwl)

245 Cutting the federal budget and workforce is a start, but more importantly, we need to eliminate our trade deficits and cut government regulations to the bone.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (rj6Yv)

246 Sounds like Columbia Univ needs to host a 24 hr Oh No Yoko concert.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM

Our very own AlaBAMA has considerable experience facilitating Yoko events and content.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (a3Q+t)

247 The illegals also get the child tax credit while their kids get fed at school year round.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (mB6WH)

248 Great news everyone!

On 'The Five', they announced that Newsome is going to start having a podcast to engage MAGA!

Posted by: Stateless...43% - mental state clawing up from 10% at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM (jvJvP)

249 I will not vote to engage in any sex, unless it's sex with Kate Upton. Yes, Tyra Banks and Sydney Sweeney are more attractive than any woman actually interested in me. But I can't vote to engage in sex with them because they are not Kate Upton.

Posted by: Thomas Massie at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM (NXYp1)

250 Sounds like Columbia Univ needs to host a 24 hr Oh No Yoko concert.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 26, 2025 05:26 PM

Ask the military if they can use the entire campus to test demolition techniques. Destroy every building on campus....

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM (VNX3d)

251 These are actual cuts in spending, something I don't believe I've ever witnessed.

Yeah its a very small cut but... its an actual cut. Unbelievable.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

I have no doubt whatsoever that it will be 6 tril by the time the senate is done with it.

These bastards do not know what time it is. It is time to halve the budgets they allocate every year for the next four. $2 trillion this year, $1 trillion next year, $500 billion the year after.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM (hB7mE)

252 The real money is getting the illegals and refugees on SSDI because that’s health care for life, I think.
There was a gall from Social Security Administration on the Larry Elder radio show and she said she was pressured to get as many Syrians on SSDI as possible.
This was intentionally diverting benefits to foreigners at the expense of hurting, deserving citizens.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (Hkcdp)

253 Hey retarded republican representatives - you know what is popular with your fake townhall audiences? Medicare for all. Please put a bullet through the head of the republic by passing that one.

Posted by: Oglebay at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (2ap+5)

254 Fine, cut my SS by $100/mo. In return, however, I don't want to pay taxes on SS any more.

Deal?

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (tT6L1)

255 It's another Trumpmas miracle!
Posted by: Comrade Flounder,Disinformation Demon at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM

I am enjoying the Feats of Strength.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (jc0TO)

256 I'm waiting for the "unemployment rate going up" stories from MSM.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 26, 2025 05:33 PM (hoCmQ)

------------------

AND "the homeless crisis" ("the home challenged?") returns is it always does with a Republican president.

Posted by: ShainS -- DOGE should be renamed Federal Agency for Financial Oversight (FAFO) at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (qr2G7)

257 >>>They look at this as if these are some random, chaotic, arbitrary, strange, and even cruel measures to impose on a devoted civil service.

No need to rain on my parade.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder,Disinformation Demon at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (i24o9)

258 I guess I shouldn't hope for video...

@LeadingReport 10m
BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (mlg/3)

259 247 The illegals also get the child tax credit while their kids get fed at school year round.
Posted by: Ben Had at February 26, 2025 05:42 PM (mB6WH)

In NYC at least, last school year each student got 3 catered meals a day for themselves and any family member. They'd all walk out of school with a stack of to go containers.

And from like actual restaurants, too. Not the prison food most kids get fed at school. I don't think they're doing that this year, but the kids still get fed at school obviously.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (uCjyK)

260 These bastards do not know what time it is.Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM

Yes, we do! It's soon to be Daylight Savings Time!

Posted by: Congress at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (a3Q+t)

261 Duncanthrax at February 26, 2025 05:40 PM (a3Q+t)

Nice save.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (LkLld)

262 It's gonna be the Golden Age of federal deficits, believe me. A lot of people are saying it's the best debt yet. Could be trillions of billions, we aren't sure yet. Big, beautiful debt.

You'll love it!

Posted by: Donald J. Trump at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (9ptcg)

263 https://is.gd/fgpoi0
@EricLDaugh
🚨 #BREAKING: Trump signs executive order fully implementing DOGE's government waste cutting initiatives.
"Each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency's DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every payment issued by the agency pursuant to each of the agency's covered contracts and grants, along with a brief, written justification for each payment submitted by the agency employee who approved the payment. This system shall include a mechanism for the Agency Head to pause and rapidly review any payment for which the approving employee has not submitted a brief, written justification within the technological system."
And much more - officially putting every agency under the supervision of DOGE's team leads.
3:48 PM · Feb 26, 2025

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (Vqx30)

264 "We're bloated. We're sloppy. We have a lot of people who aren't doing their job."
Trump quote, or tagline for The View?

Posted by: Wally at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (NXYp1)

265 On 'The Five', they announced that Newsome is going to start having a podcast to engage MAGA!
Posted by: Stateless...43% - mental state clawing up from 10% at February 26, 2025 05:43 PM (jvJvP)
------------------

Intrepid Underground Reporter will have new material, then, because only the DUmmies will listen.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM (tT6L1)

266 Get what you can and fight for more.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (2VST1)

"Failure to understand" that is why the Dems always won.

Dems: we want 100.
GOPe: we'll give you 75.
Dems: Done... we want 100.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:46 PM (ExV1e)

267 re 238: or make it more efficient without really cutting anything.

i remember in 1995 the newly controlled repub congress wanted to slow the growth of a school lunch program from 5.25 percent a year to 4.75 percent a year. i can hear rush limbaugh's voice saying what the dems basically said: the repubs want to slash the school lunch program and deny needy children a nutritious lunch so they can give a tax cut to people who don't need it

Posted by: gnats local 678 at February 26, 2025 05:46 PM (CWTWj)

268 BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (mlg/3)
---------------

I smile any more and my face is going to freeze like this!

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (tT6L1)

269 KETCHUP IS NOT A VEGATABLE!!

Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (jc0TO)

270 Nice save.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:45 PM

Someday I will rerererevisit The Barrel. But today is not that day.

Posted by: Congress at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (a3Q+t)

271 I guess I shouldn't hope for video...

@LeadingReport 10m
BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (mlg/3)

Do you think Bob from NSA (or did George take over) can get us the feeds?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (VNX3d)

272 Meanwhile.... a Judge argues that he can order any damn thing he wants for 2 weeks in a TRO, and you can't even ask the Supremes is it is OK...

2 weeks of total control... over whatever the Judge says? Hmmm... don't see that in the Constitution anywhere.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (QAkQ3)

273 >>> 269 KETCHUP IS NOT A VEGATABLE!!
Posted by: Grump928(C) at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (jc0TO)

That one is true - tomatoes are fruit, like much of Brandon's (former) cabinet.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2025 05:48 PM (Vqx30)

274 They also get free medical care and their kids get free schooling.

Yeah the medicare/medicaid DOGE fight is going to be horrendous. The lies about it will be staggering and outrageous.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 05:48 PM (2VST1)

275 BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
---------
I bet many/most won't show because:
a). They were a ghost account and the money went somewhere else
or
b) They had a "job" but never bothered to do work, much less show up to an office building and leave stuff behind.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:48 PM (TN0g+)

276 Nonsense. He voted no. Everyone else voted yes.

And you're bitching that they don't agree with you.

You won. You should be happy.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2025 05:37 PM (dGCAG)
*****
I'm happy. I also happen to agree with ace.

"This was a big vote and a big win for Trump. At least two of the Freedom Caucus members, Chip Roy and Thomas Massie, have some kind of stupid scheme to always vote "no" on any budget. The trouble is, of course, that if Republicans cannot get all of their members to vote for a budget, then Republican leadership has to bargain with Democrats to get support for the budget."

Posted by: redridinghood at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (NpAcC)

277 God Bless and keep everyone in the trenches of this battle.

May they get support and dedication befitting their mission, and may the final outcome be worth their personal sacrifices.

Posted by: jc at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (P3EVa)

278 271 I guess I shouldn't hope for video...

@LeadingReport 10m
BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (mlg/3)

Do you think Bob from NSA (or did George take over) can get us the feeds?
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (VNX3d)

Sorry, haven't been around here much since they made me go back into the Office, where the damn supervisors actually want me to do REAL WORK...

The horrors...

Posted by: Bob, NSA at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (QAkQ3)

279 BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

I keep nothing personal at my desk at work. If I ever hit the lottery, or they decide to fire me, I don't have to go back to my desk for anything.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (SlNuN)

280 Also, I get everyones point about the budget. But I think there are much bigger fish to fry right now. Two existential threats that need to be addressed like today, which are intertwined

1) the breathtakingly large number of immigrants in the US that are here both legally and illegally who will and are already fundamentally transforming American society and will eventually be the downfall of our civilization.

2) Our deep state, which is also working its best to destroy the US society and economy while stealing as much money on the way out the door as possible.

After those issues are addressed (and Trump is moving on both), we can argue about appropriate spending levels on battleships or whatever.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (uCjyK)

281 Do you think Bob from NSA (or did George take over) can get us the feeds?

Um, Bob was let go today. Something about unauthorized chatting.

Posted by: Peter from NSA at February 26, 2025 05:49 PM (/U5Yz)

282 2 weeks of total control... over whatever the Judge says? Hmmm... don't see that in the Constitution anywhere.
Posted by: Romeo13 at February 26, 2025 05:47 PM (QAkQ3)
---------------

I still don't get how a judge thinks it's okay to order the Executive to do something blatantly illegal. Obviously, that's ignoring the minor problem of the judge having no right to tell the executive how to run the executive.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at February 26, 2025 05:50 PM (tT6L1)

283 MoveOn.org
Formed to defend Bill Clinton for committing sexual harassment and molestation.
We just needed to "move on" from our outdated, puritanical obsession over the private sexual life of Clinton.
"Move on" to what was important.
Over 25 years ago now.
But we still need to "move on"

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at February 26, 2025 05:50 PM (hWgwy)

284 re 266:
dems: we want 100
repubs (like mccain): okay we'll give you 95
dems: no, we want 125
repubs (like h w bush): no, you can only have 105
dems: okay
repubs (like romney): we have achieved a compromise for the good of the country

Posted by: gnats local 678 at February 26, 2025 05:50 PM (CWTWj)

285 a). They were a ghost account and the money went somewhere else
Posted by: Crusader

The bank accounts should be seized. If the money was transferred, the IRS needs to track them down.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:51 PM (mlg/3)

286 Good news, people!

The founders of Ben & Jerry's ice-cream want to buy back their namesake brand from its owners Unilever, according to reports.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have begun initial discussions for a buyback deal.

Bosses at the ice-cream company are in a stand-off with its parent company after Unilever reportedly banned them from criticizing President Trump and his policies.

Unilever has been publicly locked in a battle with the business since 2021, when the ice-cream brand halted sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Its founders now want to team up with socially minded investors in any buyback.

We hope you'll join us to help buyback Ben and Jerry's!!!!!

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein of Brattleboro, VT at February 26, 2025 05:51 PM (a3Q+t)

287 If ketchup is not a vegetable the terrorists have won.

Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2025 05:52 PM (0HaGk)

288 re 282: wasn't there a case in kansas city years like 30 ago where the supreme ct ruled that the judge in k c couldn't raise taxes but could order the city council to raise taxes? some judges will try anything they think they can get away with

Posted by: gnats local 678 at February 26, 2025 05:53 PM (CWTWj)

289 @LeadingReport 10m
BREAKING: Fired USAID employees will be escorted to their desks and given 15 minutes to collect their personal belongings from the agency’s gutted Washington headquarters later this week, according to a notice from USAID.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 26, 2025 05:44 PM (mlg/3)

I always approached my desk at work like deniro in heat, don't have anything you aren't prepared to walk away from in 30 seconds.

Posted by: BruceWayne at February 26, 2025 05:53 PM (MGB5H)

290 They were a ghost account and the money went somewhere else
Posted by: Crusader

The bank accounts should be seized. If the money was transferred, the IRS needs to track them down.
------------
I really think we're going to find that the "Federal Budget" has for the last decade or two been almost entirely a grifting show, and that not a single Federal wire transfer goes entirely to the name/names shown on the budget line.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:53 PM (TN0g+)

291 re 287: does tomato soup count?

Posted by: gnats local 678 at February 26, 2025 05:53 PM (CWTWj)

292 OMG, Newsome starting a podcast?

Cargo cult thinking.
Trump and Vance used podcasts to campaign so effectively because they are excellent at long conversations that bounce all over the place (unscripted), with non-partisan hosts.

But the Democrats think podcasts=success.
I sense we’ll be having a rerun of the Air America fiasco.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:54 PM (Hkcdp)

293 Like Unilever gives half a flaccid fuck about ben and Jerry's

Don't even sell it. Just mothball it and release your own brand a year later with all the same recipes.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 26, 2025 05:54 PM (jKo6M)

294 They had a "job" but never bothered to do work, much less show up to an office building and leave stuff behind.
Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:48 PM (TN0g+)

I took all my personal stuff home when they sent us home for the coof... just in case I never went back.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:54 PM (ExV1e)

295 Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have begun initial discussions for a buyback.

Posted by: Don't Ban Me, I Swear I Didn't Notice at February 26, 2025 05:54 PM (9ptcg)

296 " re 287: does tomato soup count?
Posted by: gnats local 678"

Only with saltines.

Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2025 05:55 PM (0HaGk)

297 Like Unilever gives half a flaccid fuck about ben and Jerry's

Don't even sell it. Just mothball it and release your own brand a year later with all the same recipes.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 26, 2025 05:54 PM (jKo6M)

Close down the brand, and publish the recipes under copyright. Make them free for personal use, but not for commercial production.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 26, 2025 05:55 PM (VNX3d)

298
Don't even sell it. Just mothball it and release your own brand a year later with all the same recipes and patriotic names for the flavors.

Better

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 26, 2025 05:56 PM (dxSpM)

299 Eugene Vindman was caught trying to get into the USAID building last week - how much is hiding in that office?

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 05:56 PM (Hkcdp)

300 I'd rather have Hagen Das

Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2025 05:56 PM (oa1NA)

301 Just idly thinking.

A big conservative investment group offers Unilever a buttload of money for Ben & Jerry's.

Then turns it into the ultimate MAGA brand. Keeping the name of course.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at February 26, 2025 05:56 PM (DJPFk)

302 Eugene Vindman was caught trying to get into the USAID building last week - how much is hiding in that office?
-----------
Did he run out of donuts at home?

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:57 PM (TN0g+)

303 I really think we're going to find that the "Federal Budget" has for the last decade or two been almost entirely a grifting show, and that not a single Federal wire transfer goes entirely to the name/names shown on the budget line.
Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 05:53 PM (TN0g+)

Agreed. But I think the money is laundered through vendors and "private public partnerships" and NGOs.

I also think it goes back much longer than a decade. I'd say probably closer to 100 years.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 05:57 PM (uCjyK)

304 Just keep firing them, the only “public” that cares is rabid liberal activists that weren’t voting Republican anyway.

Huge long term dividends by cutting federal workforce.

I bet billions of tax dollars have been flowing into Democrat campaigns. You will see a difference.

Posted by: Maroon at February 26, 2025 05:58 PM (LWdDr)

305 >>Eugene Vindman was caught trying to get into the USAID building last week - how much is hiding in that office?

I'm kind of surprised at the lack of coverage of the first USAID committee meeting today. After the meeting MTG tweeted out that USAID sent millions to Ukraine in 2014 essentially to run a coup.

Seems like big news that it's finally coming out into the open.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:58 PM (LkLld)

306 The razor-thin margin in the US House should be alleviated somewhat, starting in April, when the special House elections take place to replace members who left their seats to work in the Trump administration.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 05:59 PM (rj6Yv)

307 A big conservative investment group offers Unilever a buttload of money for Ben & Jerry's.

Then turns it into the ultimate MAGA brand. Keeping the name of course.

If we are going to get Donnie's Two Scoops brand ice cream I'd rather we buy Tillamook

Posted by: 18-1 at February 26, 2025 05:59 PM (t0Rmr)

308 OK, been trying to figure out the legal basis for a TRO... exactly what law enables it...

And it looks like the Congress delegated its authority to make law, to the Supreme Court, under its ability to make Rules for the courts.

No where can I find where there is an actual law saying a Judge can stop the President from using his own authority.... especially for 2 weeks with no way to go to a higher court to get it overturned...

And it seems like the Chevron Doctrine (where you are not really supposed to create laws, without an actual law) would contradict the whole Idea that a Court Rule (not law) can usurp Presidential authority.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 26, 2025 05:59 PM (QAkQ3)

309 Al Jourgensen, interviewed about With Sympathy
youtu.be/SU6-uMVECRE
Clive Davis pulled AJ off a tenement he was squatting in, cut his hair, and produced the album - most of which AJ didn't even write. AJ compares himself to Milli Vanilli, a pretty face who could fake an English accent. When AJ realized that Arista Records' "Ministry" album was bullshit, he sued to get out of the contract.
What's funny is that With Sympathy is a lot better than most Ministry shit since then.
Meanwhile AJ had written a lot of other stuff which was rejected. Most of Twitch was what AJ wanted on that first album, he claims.

Posted by: gkwve at February 26, 2025 05:59 PM (gKWVE)

310 Don't even sell it. Just mothball it and release your own brand a year later with all the same recipes and patriotic names for the flavors.

How apropos is this suggestion, in a discussion about how government continues to spend money hand over fist no matter which party is in control!!!

Posted by: Die Hard Unipartitarian at February 26, 2025 05:59 PM (9ptcg)

311 >>Seems like big news that it's finally coming out into the open.

When the guy coming out showed up to the Party wearing a Messenger Bag, Crocs and was riding a Vespa...

Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2025 06:00 PM (oa1NA)

312 After the meeting MTG tweeted out that USAID sent millions to Ukraine in 2014 essentially to run a coup.

Seems like big news that it's finally coming out into the open.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:58 PM (LkLld)

Hillary Clinton and whats-her-face both bragged about supporting the "protestors" during the coup at the time.

No one seemed to care that State Department (at least) was involved in that coup.

But hopefully this gives some ammo.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 06:00 PM (uCjyK)

313 Nice. The Art of the Headline.

Posted by: t-bird at February 26, 2025 06:00 PM (KtPtl)

314 Just idly thinking.

A big conservative investment group offers Unilever a buttload of money for Ben & Jerry's.

Then turns it into the ultimate MAGA brand. Keeping the name of course.
Posted by: WitchDoktor at February 26, 2025 05:56 PM (DJPFk)

I want a flavor called "Two Scoops Orange Victory".

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 06:01 PM (rj6Yv)

315 Eugene Vindman was caught trying to get into the USAID building last week

He didn't realize that Trump had removed the grease rollers at the entrance so he couldn't get in.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 06:01 PM (ExV1e)

316 "Once you do this damage, it's going to be incredibly hard to rebuild the capacity of these organizations,". . . . "It's not like you can turn the switch back on and everything is going to be the way it was before."
------

But...but...but...they said they could do exactly that with shutting down the entire economy for covid!
Did, did they LIE?

Posted by: OneEyedJack at February 26, 2025 06:02 PM (FCbAQ)

317 Pretty sure one of the Vindmans was skimming off an ngo ( can’t recall the details) to help Ukraine. Probably a USAID funded one, I’m guessing..,
The attempt to get into the building was suspicious, really.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 06:02 PM (Hkcdp)

318 >>What's funny is that With Sympathy is a lot better than most Ministry shit since then.
Meanwhile AJ had written a lot of other stuff which was rejected. Most of Twitch was what AJ wanted on that first album, he claims.

Nonsense. Twitch, The Land of Rape and Honey and The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste are all excellent LPs.

Psalm 69 is no joke, either...and to top them all off, In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up is one of the best live LPs ever put out.

Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2025 06:02 PM (oa1NA)

319 Heh. I have failed to properly signify my sadz by baking brownies; I should correct this ASAP.

Brownies and popcorn. Add some ice cream and you have a balanced meal.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 06:02 PM (EXyHK)

320 >>No one seemed to care that State Department (at least) was involved in that coup.

>>But hopefully this gives some ammo.

Considering Trump is in the middle of negotiating and end to the war it seems like a good time.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 06:02 PM (LkLld)

321
I want a flavor called "Two Scoops Orange Victory".
Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2025 06:01 PM (rj6Yv)

I want a flavor called "Blood of Traitors".

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 26, 2025 06:03 PM (dxSpM)

322 I'm kind of surprised at the lack of coverage of the first USAID committee meeting today. After the meeting MTG tweeted out that USAID sent millions to Ukraine in 2014 essentially to run a coup.

Seems like big news that it's finally coming out into the open.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 26, 2025 05:58 PM (LkLld)

US Aid started at least one War (Ukraine)
Created Covid (Plague)
Caused a lot of Death (promoted Covid Vaccine propaganda).

If we can find a bit of destroying food, we'd have the Whole of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse covered.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 26, 2025 06:03 PM (QAkQ3)

323 I want a flavor called "Two Scoops Orange Victory".

I would buy that.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 26, 2025 06:04 PM (EXyHK)

324 My only familiarity with Ministry is "A New World Order" and "Jesus Built My Hotrod".

Did I really miss anything? I found both of the above to be "interesting" but not mind-altering.

Posted by: Crusader at February 26, 2025 06:04 PM (TN0g+)

325 Nood. Trannies doing what trannies do.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 06:04 PM (ExV1e)

326 nood women

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at February 26, 2025 06:05 PM (uCjyK)

327 >>Did I really miss anything?

Checkout the aforementioned Live LP / VHS release.

Live Ministry was always a treat. Amazing shows.

Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2025 06:06 PM (oa1NA)

328 Don't even sell it. Just mothball it and release your own brand a year later with all the same recipes.

Compared to how much money they make from other businesses they own, its couch money. Wouldn't really hurt them to put it on the shelf.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 26, 2025 06:06 PM (2VST1)

329 Romeo13, USAID NGO was possibly paying journalists in Nigerian to criticize the government (which was later overthrown) and to promote Bill Gates’ seed program in the country.

That sounds like messing with the food supply…

Posted by: Lizzy at February 26, 2025 06:06 PM (Hkcdp)

330 Massie is a laughingstock. He acts like most of the capital-L Libertarians I've met, in that he thinks that it's better to make things worse and never get a scratch on his nice shiny armor, than to actually make any kind of real progress. It's GOPe failure theater for capital-L's, gives him street credit with the other douchebags.

People like him need to read some Jeremy Bentham and embrace a wee bit of utilitarianism, or else go piss up a rope and stay out of politics where real people want to see actual accomplishments.

Posted by: Pennsyltucky at February 26, 2025 06:18 PM (QdGJh)

331
"Failure to understand" that is why the Dems always won.
[ . . . ]
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at February 26, 2025 05:46 PM (ExV1e)

No, they always win because they have the biggest say in who gets the kickbacks.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 26, 2025 06:20 PM (D7oie)

332 Wanna lay off a lot of DC staff? Wanna curtail / close some agencies? Then push their duties down to the States. Let the States figure out if these are things they want their citizens to have.

Money? Well, it's already been taxed from us and raised, so have Treasury write a check to each State, and shut down the DC arm of it all. What does DC bring to the table anyway that the States cannot or should not do for themselves. We don't need to wash every tax dollar through two or three or four levels of DC bureaucracy before those dollars can do anything.

Defund and closde.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at February 26, 2025 06:31 PM (bufu1)

333 If you "Google:" site:whitehouse.gov "budget" spreadsheet
then root around a while you should be able to find
a spreadsheet with the following information for "on budget"
U.S. federal government spending:

2019 $3.540 Trillion
2020 $5.598 Trillion
2021 $5.819 Trillion
2022 $5.192 Trillion
2023 $4.914 Trillion
2024 $5.629 Trillion

So, if congress manages to roll back "on budget" spending
to 2019-2020 levels, then some mild squinting could make
the 2025 budget look like winning.

Posted by: Marooned at February 26, 2025 06:40 PM (kt8QE)

334 Much drama with some local (across the river).news:

CBS3, Immigrant restaurant owners in Haddon Township, New Jersey, arrested by ICE, son says

The father is out on an ankle monitor but the mother is being held. Reportedly, they came from Turkey in 2008, applied for green cards 2016 & never heard about approval or denial.

"They did everything right," so it's been said. GoFundMe organized for them and, so far, more than $130,000 has been donated.

ICE is slowly & gently tapping the collar counties around Philly, probably for getting the administration's points across but it'll be to no avail. They want the kickass brawl here.

ICE could easily net more than a thousand in SW Philly, alone. The NE, thousands more.

And we're no shrinking violets when it comes to harboring.
---
Child in TX has died from measles which are now in eastern New Mexico, too - reportedly.

For the 1st time, I saw news saying depending upon birth year, some may need a booster shot. That's pretty alarming.

Kat Timpt gave birth to a boy last week, but hours before his birth learned she has breast cancer.

She'll be out a few months & will return to Fox when she gets the OK.

Posted by: L - Another fine day at February 26, 2025 07:08 PM (NFX2v)

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