I Don't Believe Him

According to the Washington Post, Obama will propose a spending freeze.  Pardon me if I think Obama is is lying or at least insincere. 

Under mounting pressure to rein in mammoth budget deficits, President Obama will propose in his State of the Union address a three-year freeze on federal funding that is not related to national security, a concession to public concern about government spending that could dramatically curtail Obama's legislative ambitions.

It sounds like a big deal, doesn't it?  It must be a big deal, because on the campaign trail, he adamantly refused to freeze spending.

The devil, as they say, is always in the details.

The spending freeze would affect only about one-eighth of the nation's $3.5 trillion budget, the bulk of which is devoted to entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which are responsible for much of the future increase in spending. It would not restrain funding for the $787 billion economic stimulus package Obama pushed through Congress early last year, nor would it apply to a new bill aimed at creating jobs, which Democrats have identified as their top priority in the run-up to November's congressional elections. 

Doing some quick math, the freeze only effects 437 Billion in spending.  It's not cutting anything.  The 437 Billion just won't get increased.  The savings?  According to the article, about 15 billion dollars.  That's less than half a percent of the budget.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for saving anything, but add this on top of a second stimulus or to any healthcare bills and it's like an alcoholic giving up booze for 5 minutes.

Obama's truth track record is anything but stellar.  He promised to hire no lobbyists.  He promised transparency.  He promised change.  He's yet to deliver on anything but trying to find ways he can take your change.

VW

Comments

[John Hampton]

So does this mean you're not going to listen to his Mistake of the Union address tonight, VW? Afraid I don't time because I need to do some dental work on myself with a pocketknife and a screwdriver. Maybe I'll catch some of the reruns on YouTube.

[John Hampton]

Wonder how many times Nancy "Jack-in-the Box" Pelosi will jump up and clap her hands.

[BobF]

The spending freeze is nothing but smoke and mirrors. He's already increased the spending of most of the affected departments. What he's going to do is freeze it at the levels he increased it to.

[Mike Pittman]

I won't be watching either. I really do have a toothache. I will be in the dentist office at 7 AM. As bad as I feel, I prefer the pain to listening to Obama!

VW