Bare-Faced

Anyone who has an open mind won't need to be reminded: Congressional Republicans simply aren't serious about deficits, and they never have been. They've managed to get the public riled up and dumbed down about them, to the point of likely returning them to power; but in case there's the slightest doubt of their insincerity (to put it nicely), here's a direct quote from one of their most senior senators:

KYL: You should never raise taxes in order to cut taxes. Surely congress has the authority and it would be right, if we decide we want to cut taxes to spur the economy, not to have to raise taxes in order to offset those costs. You do need to offset the cost of increased spending. And that’s what republicans object to. But you should never have to offset cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.

Got that? Deficits are only important if they come from spending; and even then, since under Bush (and Reagan, of course) deficits rose dramatically, only spending done by Democrats. And the deficits generated by tax cuts (which is what happens, every time) don't need to be offset. Amazing. Because the way you offset tax cuts is by reducing spending, formerly a Republican talking point. When, that is, they're not in power.

Yet these are the people teabaggers would like to return to majority. Oh sure, teabaggers like to claim some sort of independence from Republicans. But every poll shows they are nearly exclusively Republicans; and those they elect will give people like Kyl control of committees. And policy.

I can't think of any political philosophy that wouldn't drop its figurative jaw at Kyl's claim. Its stupidity is matched only by its brazenness, and its assumption that people who support him and his party are simply too dumb, or too effectively brainwashed by their main source of "news" to notice.

Haven't heard much from them lately around here, in the comments. Have they become convinced? Are they unable to muster a response? Or are they simply too embarrassed to admit that their opinions have nothing to do with economics or reality. Confirming Kyl's smirking speciousness, they'll vote against Obama and his party come hell or high water; both of which, it's clear, are in our future.