In the video below, Senator Jeff Sessions grills Office of Management and Budget acting director Jeffrey Zients over the president’s budget proposal. Zients argues that for every $1 in tax increases, the budget has $2.50 in spending cuts. But Sessions points out that the proposal actually increases spending by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. Sessions even asks Zients if he would resign should his prediction prove wrong. Watch below.
Thank you, Sen. Sessions, for your tenacity and honesty in probing the weasel "reasoning" by the OMB Managing Director. Revenue is just another word for a tax increase, and this proposed budget flouts the legislation agreed to in August. Zeints simply cannot answer a direct question about inflated spending with any honesty.
Holy Mackerel!
This should be on the front page of the site and much expanded upon.
The refusal to answer what seems to be a straightforward question is outrageous.
The smirk on that little weasel's face makes me think of a high-school jock who's been caught cheating but knows that the other teachers will protect him from being punished.
"Yeah, I'm lying and we both know it - and we both know that there's nothing you can do about it."
Senator Sessions has demonstrated, once again, that he is economically illiterate.
Resign if your predictions of the economic future aren't perfect? Well, since there is no one who can predict the future, that means that ANYONE who took that pledge would have to resign.
Senator Sessions should learn that just because something would be nice to have (economists who could predict the future in a precise manner), that doesn't always mean it is possible.
Let me get this straight: Jeffrey Zients refuses to answer simple yes or no questions, continues to dodge every question Mr. Sessions puts to him and the dishonest one is Mr. Sessions?
Maybe you can do something that Mr. Zients seemed incapable of doing: answer the question posed by Mr. Sessions.
As for asking Mr. Zients to stand by his prediction and Mr. Zients' refusal to even address the question I'd have to wonder about Mr Zients' honesty. Would anyone believe someone who does not come out and stand by their predictions, but doesn't even acknowledge the question?
Idiot. He said resign if the lies he's telling are proved to be lies. The guy wouldn't answer the question because the answer wasn't something he wanted to give, per Obama. The whole thing is a joke and that you would pretend to defend these clowns shows me that you are either a "our side so I don't care" or delusional. My guess is the first choice....which doesn't say much for you.
As opposed to David Welker, who is just plain ignorant.
The esteemed budget director wouldn't answer a simple "Yes' or "No" question because he didn't want to be caught in a lie. That's all. For anyone who believes Obama's budget will reduce the deficit, I have a beautiful piece of oceanfront property for sell on the outskirts of Phoenix Arizona.
Denroy is absolutely right here. Sessions wasn't asking this tool to predict future economic activity - which I would cede would be entirely unfair. He was asking - quite plainly - to answer a direct question about government spending - and that question was, "Does your budget spend more or less than the budget agreement signed late last year"?
That doesn't require a crystal ball. That requires a calculator and 4th grade math - equipment and tools that apparently elude the acting OMB director.
Thank you, Sen. Sessions, for your tenacity and honesty in probing the weasel "reasoning" by the OMB Managing Director. Revenue is just another word for a tax increase, and this proposed budget flouts the legislation agreed to in August. Zeints simply cannot answer a direct question about inflated spending with any honesty.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHoly Mackerel!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis should be on the front page of the site and much expanded upon.
The refusal to answer what seems to be a straightforward question is outrageous.
The smirk on that little weasel's face makes me think of a high-school jock who's been caught cheating but knows that the other teachers will protect him from being punished.
"Yeah, I'm lying and we both know it - and we both know that there's nothing you can do about it."
Senator Sessions has demonstrated, once again, that he is economically illiterate.
Resign if your predictions of the economic future aren't perfect? Well, since there is no one who can predict the future, that means that ANYONE who took that pledge would have to resign.
Senator Sessions should learn that just because something would be nice to have (economists who could predict the future in a precise manner), that doesn't always mean it is possible.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLet me get this straight: Jeffrey Zients refuses to answer simple yes or no questions, continues to dodge every question Mr. Sessions puts to him and the dishonest one is Mr. Sessions?
Maybe you can do something that Mr. Zients seemed incapable of doing: answer the question posed by Mr. Sessions.
As for asking Mr. Zients to stand by his prediction and Mr. Zients' refusal to even address the question I'd have to wonder about Mr Zients' honesty. Would anyone believe someone who does not come out and stand by their predictions, but doesn't even acknowledge the question?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIdiot. He said resign if the lies he's telling are proved to be lies. The guy wouldn't answer the question because the answer wasn't something he wanted to give, per Obama. The whole thing is a joke and that you would pretend to defend these clowns shows me that you are either a "our side so I don't care" or delusional. My guess is the first choice....which doesn't say much for you.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry, the illiterate was across the room from Sessions and your advice about utopian wishes should be given to current administration.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs opposed to David Welker, who is just plain ignorant.
The esteemed budget director wouldn't answer a simple "Yes' or "No" question because he didn't want to be caught in a lie. That's all. For anyone who believes Obama's budget will reduce the deficit, I have a beautiful piece of oceanfront property for sell on the outskirts of Phoenix Arizona.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDenroy is absolutely right here. Sessions wasn't asking this tool to predict future economic activity - which I would cede would be entirely unfair. He was asking - quite plainly - to answer a direct question about government spending - and that question was, "Does your budget spend more or less than the budget agreement signed late last year"?
That doesn't require a crystal ball. That requires a calculator and 4th grade math - equipment and tools that apparently elude the acting OMB director.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse