Obama Asks For $100 Million in Budget Cuts: Is it Just a Drop in the Bucket?

“It is and that’s what I just said,” the president said. “None of these things alone are going to make the difference but cumulatively, they make an extraordinary difference because they start setting a tone. So what we’re going to do is line by line, page by page, $100 million there, $100 million here, pretty soon, even in Washington, it adds up to real money.”
I am thinking back to Clinton’s putting Gore in charge of reinventing government when Gore sought out government wasteful spending as part of a two prong strategy of raising taxes to balance the budget.
“Republican leaders deemed it ironic that the Obama administration is touting $100 million in spending cuts”
And here I thought the height of irony was releasing a budget with no numbers to refute the charge that one had no plan.

He used the pld Kerry Secret plan startedgy and it worked until election day now the plan or the road way to change appears to be the very gates of hell. We will all suffer for this unAmerican BS and we shall be broken as a nation.

The reason this will never add up to real money is this; 100,000,000.00 to a Trillion dollars is the same as a Penny is to 100.00. Just think about this, you have a 100.00 budget, you need to cut back so you ask everyone to get together and cut one penny from the budget, you even call a news conference about it. You do this 25 times and you have saved a quarter. We need to cut 10′s of billions of dollars from the budget, not millions. 4 years is not enough time to make a million, or a hundred million her and there add up to anything significant when you are looking at a trillion dollar budget. It is all for show. Show they are serious about how business operates? Are you kidding me? Here is your penny, no get off tv, stay home for a while and get to work doing the things you were elected to do.

Let’s be fair. The democrats will have paid for the $10+ trillion in added debt after only 100,000 years of savings…

I’m tired of these Republicans claiming that “the nation’s debt is at its highest level ever.”
It has ALWAYS been at its highest level ever, because it has always been growing and never gotten any smaller. So how on earth could it be at anything BUT its highest level ever?
If they were so concerned about it, why didn’t they do anything about for the last 30 years that they’ve been in control?

Isn’t it ironic how the GOP leaders have selective amnesia when it comes to budget deficits. One after another after another under Bush.
If tax cuts alone will save the economy, then we would never have gotten into this mess in the first place, because of the Bush tax cuts. They don’t work when they are not provided to the people who actually spend their money. Those cuts were more of the failed Reagan trickle down crap – yep crap.
I’m from KY, and if the election last Nov. had been after the initial reaction to bailouts of the auto industry, Mitch McConnell would have been defeated. Just the counties surrounding the Chevy Corvette plant alone would have been enough to have defeated McConnell. We will be getting rid of Mr. Idiot Bunning next year, then get ‘ol Mitch four years later. How the GOP in the senate could allow him to keep his position shows just how stupid they really are.

I find it incredibly ironic that Republican leaders are criticizing Obama for doing pretty much exactly what the last three Republican presidents did.
Posted by: Tom Oldani | Apr 20, 2009 4:10:14 PM
Exactly, the Bush, bush, elder, and reagan all created trillion dollar deficits though not in their first year, but they did it and not one March took place. our taxes are higher now b/c of their deficits and exhorbant spending on defense.

Normally I would be all for this, but at this point just print the money and fund everything. I am going to go set up my garden now.

“Isn’t it ironic how the GOP leaders have selective amnesia when it comes to budget deficits. One after another after another under Bush.”
It isn’t just the leaders, the whole right wing movement relies on selective political amnesia to avoid uncomfortable hypocrisies of their current positions.

Looks like Obama knew about the tea parties afterall.
When the WH said Obama was unaware that tea parties were being held in all 50 states–it reminded me of the time Bush didn’t know gas was $4 a gallon.
Out of touch with average Americans.

1/35,000 OF THE BUDGET. WOW HOW BORING. They are worried about the teaparties. This is their response. BO is an idiot to no end.

Chump change.
This is a smoke-screen cover that will be used later to allow them to say: “We cut unnecessary spending out. We know what we’re doing.”
Yea sure you do.

zard : he doesn’t have line item veto power.

You guys need to have some other retort other than to blame all of the country’s ills on Bush. He’s is not in charge.
Find someone else to beat up.

What the two of you are missing is the Republicans stopped voting for Republicans when they proved to be overzealous spenders. The Democrats came into Congress (and this Presidency) on the promise of fiscal responsibility. You can’t say Republicans didn’t care, because the evidence shows the opposite- they lost power over it.
Cutting $100Million while operating a $1.75 trillion deficit is not what people had in mind.

I think the minimum qualification for the Cabinet is that you are able to morph into a lemming at a moment’s notice.

And we all know why ‘THEY’ ARE MAKING A LAME APPEARANCE (fraction of 1%) OF TRIMMING THE BUDGET!!!!! (we just can’t say the TP phrase without getting censored) ‘THEY’ ALL KNOW WHAT THE RATINGS WERE LAST WEEK ON THAT ‘OTHER’ CABLE NEWS CHANNEL!!!

Obama can really impress by cutting off the millions that go to his friends at ACORN.
Why isn’t ACORN on Napalitano’s list of radical extremist?
Just because they get paid by the taxpayers to be loud and obnoxious bullies that shouldn’t keep them off the DHS list.
Since you posted, can you point me where I can find what money Acorn is getting from the 2010 budget.

“What the two of you are missing is the Republicans stopped voting for Republicans when they proved to be overzealous spenders.”
I thought it was when Republicans finally got into power and immediately stopped being what Republicans claimed to have stood for; from their spending to their intrusion into private lives (Schiavo) to their corruption to their xenophobia.
Republicans in power demonstrated that Republicans ideals were merely hot air to get elected.
All these things have combined to perhaps permanently damage the Republican brand.

Change we can believe in? What the hell is going on in Washington? This is pure bull and he’s just wanting us to think he is catering to the our concerns.
STAND UP, AMERICA, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

I think Obama has already “set the tone”.
The Democrats are making up for lost time and spending like there is no tomorrow (in case BO is a one-termer).
How many generations will be blaming Obama for the debt they inherited from him?

10 billion a month in Iraq and nothing for it, yet they complain. LOL!

“‘THEY’ ALL KNOW WHAT THE RATINGS WERE LAST WEEK ON THAT ‘OTHER’ CABLE NEWS CHANNEL!!!”
Oh noes! Not the power of FoxNews!
I mean after weeks of non stop promotion and the appearance by their “popular” hosts they were able to get 5000 people to show up!
But you do bring up a great point.
FoxNews promotes rallies financed by the right wing establishment and gets to make money off of the gullible right wingers tuning in to watch Neil Cavuto at the “grassroots” movement.

Just when I think Obama cannot do anything lamer the clock strikes midnight and a new day starts. I guess it is a new day!

I can understand why BO supporters would want to defend ACORN since they are such a wholesome nonpartisan group.
I seem to remember $400 million going to ACORN until there was such a backlash.
The money to ACORN is hidden safely away in the stimulus bill. When the times comes I’m sure it will be doled out on a Friday evening.

This is like a woman that goes on a spending spree and spends $10,000 on stuff that she doesnt need and then says ” Hey lets be responsible here, I am not going to buy that lip gloss until later. He is kidding right?

Are any of the Dems here happy with a $100Million cut, a $1.75 Trillion deficit (it was just over $400B in 2008), and a $3.5 trillion budget?
Is it good? Is it what you’d hoped for?

Awww!! you poor republicans. cant stand a winner.
Thank god for Obama!

“I can understand why BO supporters would want to defend ACORN since they are such a wholesome nonpartisan group.”
I can understand why right wingers are so desperate to paint ACORN as the cause of all of life’s problems.
After all you can’t blame the financial collapse on greed and the lack of checks against that greed touted as the solution by the right wing for decades, can you?
Of course not. After the collapse you have to blame a group that organizes black and brown minorities.
That way you can tell your racist followers it was those evil minorities’ fault and not the greedy Wall Street banking firms.
“I seem to remember $400 million going to ACORN until there was such a backlash.”
You remember things that never happened?
That’s interesting.
In your version of history does Bush catch Bin Laden?

I cant listen to any republican who wasnt up in arms when Bush spent the surplus and put us trillions in debt.
You cant have the cake and eat it too. Republicans are losing their credibility. Is there anyhting they dont whine about? And why havent I heard form them in the pasy 8 years? I mean when Bush literally ran to the podium to request a bailout…where were these guys?

caw…i agree….urine test for welfare.

maybee, who created that deficit? Im sorry why was the $$ needed again? Who was president? Lets remember republicans and democrats are equally to blame here. You cant be considered credible if you turn a blind eye. Keep your facts in perspective please, and the garbage you put on this forum wont look so ridiculous.

Your darn right it’s a drop in the bucket! What is 100 million compared to 10 TRILLION this man inflicted upon our country over the next 10 years!!
Obama is a joke and a dangerous one at that.

BHO is tossing a bone to the Independents/Repubs.
The Democrats are content basking in the glory of having a beloved celebrity in the WH.
Worshipping him is enough.

Goodness, people. He is asking for $100 million from each cabinet member, not in total.

PLAINS GEORGA (Reuters)Former President Jimmy Carter said today he is in full support of President Obamas budget mess; when asked why, Jimmy stated – “I was really hoping I would lose my title of the “Worst President Ever” when “W” was in office, unfortunately, it didn’t happen, close but no peanut.” His hope now is that the way Obama is going he will earn the title before the end of his first 100 days. If this happens, this will be another first for this President of so many firsts.

Mr. Obama only is concerned about his personal praise from other countries…not the praise that the USA should be getting from other countries. Instead, Obama criticizes the USA, its citizens. He’s weakened our national defense – he’s using smoke and mirrors and lies about making the American people believe he’s increased the national defense budget; when in fact, his administration moved current supplemental budget allocations into the national defense budget – to make it “look like” he’s increased the national defense $$$. He’s a frauds fraud. 48 million voters studied and researched who Obama was before Nov 4th…while 52 million other Americans should have researched Obama before Nov 4th. No one knew who Obama was – yet, America voted him in to the highest office in the nation – if not the world. 52 million Americans were foolish and dangerously ignorant – if not plain stupid. Look at the facts of Obama. Not because he gives a good speech (due to notes and teleprompters) – he ran a successful campaign – but based on lies to get votes – he’s looked at as a pretty cool guy – but, his heart and character is not in a place to be the best and do the best for the United States of America and it’s citizens. He and his administration violate the USA Constitution constantly – nothing is visibly being done and no one being accountable. Our country is in the worst state of security and stability than ever before…in a very short time. 2012 – WE THE PEOPLE – REALLY DO NEED A CHANGE – A CHANGE BACK TO VALUES OF THE US CONSTITUTION. OUR FOUNDERS WERE CONSERVATIVES WHO PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION – TO PROTECT its CITIZENS FROM BIG GOVERNMENT – NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INFILTRATE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CITIZENS. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO CONSERVATIVE VALUES FOR OUR CHILDREN’S’ WAY OF LIFE FOR THE FUTURE, OTHERWISE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL PAY FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION’S IRRESPONSIBLE ACTS.
EDUCATE YOURSELF – MARK LEVIN’S BOOK – “LIBERTY AND TYRANNY” – WONDERFUL BOOK HOW, WHAT AND WHY OUR US CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED AND WHAT THE LIBERAL LEFT TOOK OUR COUNTRY TO AND HOW.

North Park You misunderstood my point. Obama is strapping your children and grand children with a huge dept that will hamper their national security. I personally am not ok with that at all and i think our children deserve better.

RyanCcccc – “FoxNews promotes rallies financed by the right wing establishment and gets to make money off of the gullible right wingers tuning in to watch Neil Cavuto at the “grassroots” movement”
That dog’s got too many stripes for conspiracy theories. Sure the right is front & center; why wouldn’t they be?
It is the NO-INCUMBENT message that is bigger than the right alone. Ignore this, but it won’t go away. The banking committees in both houses of congress failed to do their job, (all of them, even the “community reinvestment act” ones.) however the republicans get the loin share of the blame with both D&R voters, but it’s only the far left partisans (30%)who believe the republicans did it alone.
There is a majority who knows when someone needs to be fired! Get ready for a new batch of representatives come 2010&2012, and I’d even bet they’ll be mostly democrats, just not the same ones.

It would have been better had he tried cutting spending when he spends billions on stimulus package on stupid projects.

Well, I had another terrible day(-300 points) thanks to Mr Change. I have lost more of my value this POST election season than in any other post election season IN HISTORY. Somehow the media ignores that fact though.
Why is it that I know the havoc socialism wreaks on an economy, but the obamabots are still jumping up and down simply because they think uncle sam is going to buy them a new pair of shoes?

“I personally am not ok with that at all and i think our children deserve better.”
Which is why you ignored the national debt that was rapidly mounting for the last 8 years.
Did you just have children ans that is why you are suddenly concerned?
Or is it just simple hypocrisy?

It is a small drop in the bucket…and may I suggest another? If o and his posse are serious about getting the budget in line…..how about ALL of them plus the Sentate and House…work for free for their constituents? Isn’t that the true mettle of a dedicated public servant?

I posted the following earlier and someone said good idea but who pays for it. I do not know but imagine it still would be cheaper than the welfare check handed out.———-Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test.
So here is my Question.
Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their rump –doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could title that program, ‘Urine or You’re Out’

Tammy…I too feel that way…but not in a joking manner. He is truly a frightening presence.

Ryan C Try and read my entire post, it puts the last eight years in perspective.

All of the people at the tea parties didn’t like bush’s spending either. This is a non issue. We want less spending period.

I believe—the issue is where were the republican whiners complaining during Bush’s administration. he was sworn in to a balanced budget and left a mutli-trillion dollar deficit to Obama. that’s the issue. it’s just political—blame Obama and enjoy your sweet tea.

Stupid is as stupid does. Never voted for Bush and proud of it. I, thankfully, can’t take credit for supporting the idiotic policies and utter lack of oversight and disturbing war mongering that led us into our current state. Now I’m putting my efforts and tax money behind President Obama (because he does have a brain in his head, and a good one) because I too believe that investing in America is what is best for America and best for my daughter’s future. If the Prez does think we’re stupid, who can blame him? I would have to agree that at least the half that voted us into this mess weren’t thinking through things. Who votes for someone because he seems like a guy to have a beer with? Dumb! I hope Bush is enjoying his retirement. I know I am enjoying it!

I think some of you understand what Obama said today about spending cuts, but there are others out there that just don’t get it. It’s not just 100 million, it’s a 100 million cut from EACH agency – got it! Good!

hey ryan c, why do you assume that everyone that disagrees with this CRAZY spending was just okay with it under bush? why does it have to be left or right? and if it does have to be that way why are you so far to the left? every day i read your angry, rude, and insulting posts. its your way or no way. did you see your boy with hugo??? does that make your eyes water? to think this guy is cool with ayers, dorn, hugo, and cuba…. but then in the same week call his own people terrorists. when janet n was asked why she did not use the word terrorists she said she didn’t want to cause any concern. ryan c….just call it as it is and leave your rhetoric at the door. BE NICE

MNM – He’s just getting started with the spending cuts! He hasn’t started the “line by line” cutting in the budget yet – how bout cutting the prez a little slack!

“hey ryan c, why do you assume that everyone that disagrees with this CRAZY spending was just okay with it under bush”
The copious silence was my first clue.
“every day i read your angry, rude, and insulting posts.”
I had no idea you were such a fan.
“its your way or no way. did you see your boy with hugo??? does that make your eyes water?”
I always enjoy people who castigate me on my style who then attempt to act in the same manner.

It’s like save $100 after spending $4 millions. Or like spending money to buy all the lottery tickets and claiming he wins the “jackpot”. I do not believe this is from US President or he think American are all dumber. This also reminded me that one CNBC report claimed the TARP program actually made money as Banks’ earning and stock are higher.

one more thought… for those of you that say “give him a chance” or “this didn’t happen overnight, it won’t be fixed overnight” let me ask you a question….. you see your neighbors in an argument, they have had similar problems with each other for ohhh, the last 8 years. one of the neighbors grabs a knife, do you really need to wait and see what happens next? or do you maybe try to stop the ensuing train wreck? im just saying that it is painfully obvious what is coming. we don’t need to wait to see what happens next. if you spend this kind of money, make friends with these kinds of paople, and have zero respect for 1/2 of the political faction in your own country, i don’t need to wait for the end result. i already know whats coming. if you don’t see it, we probably won’t be able to help

You guys don’t need to lump Barry in with the DNC leadership. Obama may do a better job with the new congress in 2011

oh boy another one of those abc reporters asking tough questions to BO. I suppose now she will be a “right wing” reporter like jake. You guys are running out of reporters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cut a latte or two out of your annual budget and you’ve just done as much belt-tightening as President Barack Obama asked of his Cabinet on Monday.
The thrifty measures Obama ordered for federal agencies are the equivalent of asking a family that spends $60,000 in a year to save $6.
Obama made his push for frugality the subject of his first Cabinet meeting, ensuring it would command the capital’s attention. It also set off outbursts of mental math and scribbled calculations as political friend and foe tried to figure out its impact.
The bottom line: Not much.
The president gave his Cabinet 90 days to find $100 million in savings to achieve over time.
For all the trumpeting, the effort raised questions about why Obama set the bar so low, considering that $100 million amounts to:
–Less than one-quarter of the budget increase that Congress awarded to itself.
–4 percent of the military aid the United States sends to Israel.
–Less than half the cost of one F-22 fighter plane.
–7 percent of the federal subsidy for the money-losing Amtrak passenger rail system.
–1/10,000th of the government’s operating budgets for Cabinet agencies, excluding the Iraq and Afghan wars and the stimulus bill.

President Obama will set the tone for budget cuts and will be sucessful during his 8 year term, and when the baton is passed, to another very sucessful democrat president the cuts will continue and be Absolutely successful.

The bravery of Obama is amazing!! The guts this man has to make the hard choices necessary to slash and gouge the budget by 0.0003% is truly awesome. Now that all waste has been removed and only the absolute minimum, the bare-bones essentials remain in the budget, no one can dare to question the massive tax hikes Obama has in store.

$100 million = 15 minutes spending according to Obama’s proposed budget.
Who does he think he is kidding?

I am going to pay taxes no matter what, so, I would like to see my taxes working better and smarter…And it is just dumb to think that taxes will not eventually increase…
One man’s Spending is another man’s investments.
Bush spent wholly and we got nothing but the Iraq war and the rebuilding of Iraq…
At least Obama wants to spend and invest in this country…This is nothing but, Smart investment spending.
I want investments in healthcare, in our public schools systems, in our infrastructure, in new energy etc. It is not wrong to invest in ourselves, and in our own country as some would have us believe. We have invested and rebuilt other countries, why not ours?
Anymore, I generally see Republicans as getting what they can and pissing on everybody else. Whomever disagrees with them is an idiot or a socialist or on welfare recipient or a facist… it’s pathetic as their criticisms are unceasing.
These are no ordinary times, so to speak of spending as if these are comparable to any time except the great depression is thoughtless to say the least. Exceptional actions and risk must be taken in Exceptional years…do anything less is to miss an Exceptional opportunity to become something more…

Obama logic says that people will see the 100 in the 100M and think it’s a great savings because 100 is a larger number than say 3.5, as in his $3.5 trillion budget. So what does that tell you about his opinion of the intelligence of most people in this country?

$100 MILLION CUT NOT BAD…SHOULD BE $100 MILLION CUT PER LINE, PAGE BY PAGE, LIKE YOU SAID WE’D DO EARLIER ON AFTER YOU TOOK THE OATH!
By the way, did you find your long vault BIRTH CERTIFICATE yet…the one that says you are a ‘natural born citizen”? and more. America is still waiting and checking for it…the other ones posted were fake! How about your college records and medical stuff? I think America would like you more if you told the truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God.THIS IS AMERICA AND WE ARE PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. WE DON’T WANT TO BE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. WE ARE A PROSPEROUS REPUBLIC/NATION. WE LOVE AMERICA AND WANT TO KEEP ON LOVING AMERICA AND ALL THAT IT STANDS FOR! WE LOVE AND ARE PROUD OF OUR ARMY. FREEDOM OF SPEECH, LIBERTY, CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS….THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY IT IS!