Why do we never see these sort of contentious interviews with Democrats? CNN treats Democrats like good buddies there for a chat, while they treat Republicans like mortal enemies. 

Please save us Charlie Crist

Two CNN Anchors Try, But Fail, To Get Florida Governor Rick Scott To Answer Their Question

Translation: CNN sucks…LOL

Romans pressed, saying that new borrowing’s not what a debt ceiling authorization would mean.

Romans is an idiot. Obama wants $2.4 trillion because that will take care of what he plans on deficit spending through the next election, which also means that’s what he plans on borrowing. If we weren’t going to borrow the money, we wouldn’t need the ceiling increase.

Rick Scott, America’s least popular Governor.
http://htpolitics.com/2011/07/13/poll-rick-scott-down-to-27-percent-approval/“Add Sunshine State News to the list of outlets with bad polling news for Gov. Rick Scott. According to a survey commissioned by the conservative website, Scott sits at 27 percent approval, 58 percent disapproval. The discontent with Scott appears to be fairly widespread. Scott’s approval rating among Republicans is just 48 percent, compared to 34 percent disapproval.”

I live in Florida. Rick Scott is despised by most down here, with the exception of some Tea Party types.

LOL..  Charlie Crist….   The progression of Charlie Crist went something like this .. 

From Republican Darling….  to Democratic Stooge…..  to his current position as Ambulance Chaser.. 

Yeah, he’s someone who can save us….

“Governor, I’m not understanding. Christine’s probably asked you this
four times already. We’re not talking about spending more money. We’re
talking about paying the bills you already committed to. Why is this
difficult for you to understand, Governor?”

Velshi is an idiot too. Gov. Scott is simply not buying their asinine premise. Good for him.

OF COURSE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY, YOU MORONS!

I voted for Charlie Crist in the Senatorial race.
As for Rick Scott, he was lucky Alex Sink was a weak campaigner. She should have been more aggressive against Scott.

How about Scott just answer the question instead of using speaking points? Are we to believe that Scott does not know that the US is on the hook for money already spent? 

Whatever, the media has done their best to do a hack job on Scott as he made tough decisions to wean our state off the Federal Stimulus money..  His true litmus test will come in 2012… 

How does a Governor not understand what the debt ceiling is? How does sitting at a 27% approval rating feel Governor Lex Luthor. Don’t get used to the Governor’s Mansion you loser.

The Democrats are trying to make the argument that we have already committed to this spending through prior legislation so that it should be considered as debt…  hence their 14th amendment argument…  which is so weak even the president said he won’t consider it. 

More interesting to me is that the 2.4 trillion rise in the debt ceiling they are asking for, when extrapulated out represents annual deficits of 1.7 trillion dollars…  so where are the cuts that Harry is talking about..  It’s that Democratic math…  Correct me if I am wrong, but the deficit spending that Harry is asking for is even greater than that the current spending rates…

Am I missing something? Is Scott voting on the debt ceiling raise? No? Then who cares what he thinks right or wrong? I can ask my kid too but since she isn’t voting it just doesn’t matter.

What does future cuts have to do with raising the current debt ceiling?

The governor understood the question. He preferred to stick to the Tea Party line about the debt ceiling. I would be frustrated also. Good try CNN, but you didn’t get the job done.

Just another example of two “supposed non-biased” reporters for CNN attacking a conservative using liberal talking points.

You are wrong, but given the really crappy way the media has covered this issue, I understand.

I don’t have a number breakdown in front of me, so I’m doing a really rough breakdown (this is assuming a deal gets passed by Aug. 2nd.):

1)  They still have to cover the bills that come due through the rest of FY 2011 (Sept. 30th).  I can’t breakdown those numbers off the top of my head, because I’d have to dig up the CR that was passed in March to get us through the rest of FY 2011.

2)  Then you have FY 2012, which I’ll assume is the 1.7 trillion you were discussing.

3)  The FY 2013 starts on October 1st, 2012 (assuming a budget is passed) and the remainder would go through the end of the physical calender 2012.

These are baseline assumptions, because tax revenues could fall, downgraded credit rating, etc.

Hope that helps.

Actually, Scott has done his own hatchet job on himself. It is not just stimulus money. This guy was opposed to a database to track those buying large amounts of pain pills at clinics set up to dispense pain pills.

His approval ratings are non-existent in Florida and will get worse as the results of his slash and burn policies take effect.

Example: allowing property insurers to raise rates without seeking approval.
Example: refusing money for Medicaid, even though it was budgeted, on the premise that it came from Obama. Even Rick Perry, Chris Christie and Scott Walker took this money.
Example: drug testing state workers even though the courts have ruled against this over and over. Oh, his wife owned the chain of clinics that would do the testing when he proposed it.

No, Rick Scott is simply doing what he always does – not answering direct questions. Look at his record. He simply ignores the question and gives whatever answer he had prepared.

It’s hilarious that all you fools in Florida voted this clown in.

This guy should be in a federal jail cell and you guys have him in the Gov’s mansion!

COMEDY!!!

Perhaps if Republicans would answer the questions they are asked instead of just repeating talking points the interviews wouldn’t be so “contentious”.  There was an example of this on O’Donnell’s show 2 nights ago.  No matter how many times he asked the Republican Congresswoman a question she was incapable of giving an answer.  She just would not give an answer …. to the point that she was being laughed at.  Nice distraction, playing the victim card.  But it doesn’t change the fact that the right seems incapable of anything but robotic responses using talking points.

Romans is an idiot? Is she the one who said moments after the news from Norway that Radical Islamic Terrorists were guilty? That all of Islam was guilty?

Watch out! There’s a tall fair-skinned man with blond hair and blue eyes behind you! Probably an Islamic terrorist!

Cutting spending has to do with not having to raise the ceiling again. You know we borrow $.40 of every dollar we spend, right?

Floridians seem as pleased with Scott as constituents are in all the other states that elected TP candidates this last election.

That would be surprising. Few politicians rebound from such a low, low point. My impression, and by God’s grace I am not a Floridian, is that Rick Scott is not only a psychotic rightist extremist but also an ethical nightmare and and a nit-wit of some note.

Yeah I didn’t think it had anything to do with it.

Well, we are the dumbest state.

Just answer the question, How hard is it? The truth will set you free. 

Because Republicans simply don’t answer the questions, probably because they don’t understand them

I am sure that Florida will do quite well without your Royal presence…

Scott has had to make the tough decisions that the Ambulance Chaser left for his successor..  He still has ample time to rehabilitate his image in the state. 

“A case in point is Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. In January 2010, PPP gave Patrick, a Democrat, a 22 percent approval rating. Nonetheless, Patrick won re-election last November and PPP’s most recent survey showed him with a 54 percent approval rating”

There is a reason that Fark has a “Florida” tag.

What I heard was two financial reporters trying to explain to a Governor what the difference between raising the debt ceiling and controlling deficit spending is.

Rick Scott doesn’t think he has to answer questions. He has said so more than once.

You also heard a governor that had memorized today’s talking point and was not veering from it no matter what the question was. This is not new from him.

I do not know what the state (no pun intended) of Florida’s bonds are at the moment, but maybe Scott didn’t get the memo that if we do default the big 3 credit rating agencies are going to go back over credit ratings at the state level.  The 9 states that have AAA ratings are not very happy with that possibility.

Wow…  where do I start with this..

His clinics were not to be involved with the testing, again media hacking, and guess what, I have worked with companies who required drug testing, It was actually mandated by the Federal Government as required to keep Federal contracts…  I know that government employees are special, but just how much more special are they than the rest of us?

Property insurers raising rates… Now lets take a look at insurance in Florida, most all of the insurers have left Florida, wonder why that is….  If you get a policy in Florida these days even if you purchase it at a name lets say maybe like State Farm, it is underwritten by Citizens as State Farm only acts as agency anymore and Citizens is about the only insurance company writting policies in Florida…  Scott is trying to bring insurers back to the state, and I have not met anyone who is particularly thrilled with Citizens…  Insurance is still heavily regulated in the state and I can tell you that as someone who holds and insurance license. 

Medicaid…  “Premise that it came from Obama…”  Are you really going to go there?

Several governors have proposed slashing funding for Medicaid to help erase
budget gaps. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, for example, wants to cut $2.3
billion from the health plan, which costs the state $1 billion a week.

The end of the federal stimulus program will mean that U.S. states on average
will lose a total of $1.08 for every state dollar spent on Medicaid by July 1,
according to a study released on Monday.Read more on Newsmax.com: US
States to Lose $1.08 of Every Medicaid Dollar

Wow…  where do I start with this..

His clinics were not to be involved with the testing, again media hacking, and guess what, I have worked with companies who required drug testing, It was actually mandated by the Federal Government as required to keep Federal contracts…  I know that government employees are special, but just how much more special are they than the rest of us?

Property insurers raising rates… Now lets take a look at insurance in Florida, most all of the insurers have left Florida, wonder why that is….  If you get a policy in Florida these days even if you purchase it at a name lets say maybe like State Farm, it is underwritten by Citizens as State Farm only acts as agency anymore and Citizens is about the only insurance company writting policies in Florida…  Scott is trying to bring insurers back to the state, and I have not met anyone who is particularly thrilled with Citizens…  Insurance is still heavily regulated in the state and I can tell you that as someone who holds and insurance license. 

Medicaid…  “Premise that it came from Obama…”  Are you really going to go there?

Several governors have proposed slashing funding for Medicaid to help erase
budget gaps. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, for example, wants to cut $2.3
billion from the health plan, which costs the state $1 billion a week.

The end of the federal stimulus program will mean that U.S. states on average
will lose a total of $1.08 for every state dollar spent on Medicaid by July 1,
according to a study released on Monday.Read more on Newsmax.com: US
States to Lose $1.08 of Every Medicaid Dollar

What the hell are you talking about, Kook? Are you finally having that long expected psychic break?

What the hell are you talking about, Kook? Are you finally having that long expected psychic break?

Question asked and answered! Stop spending! Prioritize! Hello! How about cutting the number of federal employees and their salaries? That’s a good place to start. Let’s start with that doofus in the White House.

Exactly right, Pablo!

Cutting federal employees is increasing unemployment. How does that help the jobs situation?

Stop spending altogether? Cool. Shut down everything and turn off the lights. That is a simplistic and unrealistic approach. This is already appropriated money they are talking about. Congress has authorized the expenditure and now needs to pay for it. This includes stuff like military pay and veteran’s care.

We should stop increasing spending, but this is not about that. It really is current authorized spending.

 What is it democrats don’t understand about this. When you make cuts that leaves more money to pay the past bills with. (past bills as in money already spent) The “talking points” were the answer but one of the favorite political tools is to claim your opponent isn’t answering the question when in truth you just don’t like the answer and believe you can make the opponent look bad.

Because single issue blind ideology is no way to govern and all the states that elected these zealots now regret it.

Still hyper-sensitive about last week, I see. At least the other noxious emitter has had the good grace to take some time off. Can’t say I blame you, however. You must be terribly, terribly embarrassed.

That’s easy, democrats have nothing to hide!

That’s not what’s happening here. That may be the case with him generally (I can’t say I follow him terribly closely), but not in that clip.

If it was money we’d already spent, we wouldn’t have to borrow it. Even Romans says it, right at the end:

“Even Bernanke says that if you don’t raise the limit, you’d have an immediate 40% cut in federal spending”.

But she does that trying to close her argument that it isn’t about spending. This is what happens when you’re flogging an illogical talking point.

You know, one way to control deficit spending is to not raise the debt ceiling. Which is what Scott said, isn’t it?

This guy is an idiot. He always has been. Why should he not continue being stupid. These idiotic analogies to familes and businesses at this point is meaningless. Throw the country into default and we will all be in breadlines.  

king here is christian, goes to tea parties, wants to talk about teenage boys in the bathe, and talk about dildos…….watch out pablo

About what, Kook? What the hell are you talking about? Is there something you’d like to share with the class? Perhaps you’d like to quote me or something. Either do so, or go knock some doors and sell some lipstick.

And what Republicans don’t understand is if the debt ceiling isn’t raised and the US defaults on it’s obligations, the damage is done (in the form of skyrocketing interest rates and untold chaos to the world economy) and no amount of cost cutting will undo that.

I have read your posts before and have seen that you often bring more to the argument than talking points..  My assertion is that Harry is really offering little in the way of spending cuts…  as we have really seen his proposal in a way that we can look at it and understand, maybe you can help us with this as I know that you do your research…  My point is that Harry is again extrapulating his savings on a 10 year baseline while the rise in the debt ceiling is immediate…  He includes the withdrawl of both Afganistan and Iraq as 1 trillion in savings which I consider to be disingenious as we can already expect this to happen and he is actually cutting nothing…  His inclusion of 500 billion in savings to be later identified by a commission to me is also disingenious as I simply have no faith in future actions…  These guys need to do something, and I can hardly lay blame to the freshmen conservatives for holding Washingtons feet to the fire as Congress has not demonstrated a capacity to address spending and waste…  in absence of moments like the one we are in now they have never seemed willing to curb their appetite for spending..  I know that reform is not something that can be done in 6 days, but at the same time Harry can not expect to get off the hook that easy…  The freshmen would not be doing this had Washington a better history of acting responsibly to the tax payer in the past.

Floridians, you have my sympathy.

Where to start?

Actually his clinics are involved in the testing and his wife sold them the day after it became known that Solantic is the prime provider of these tests. Not media hacking, but facts. Scott tried just transferring ownership to his wife, but that was still against Florida law so he had to sell them. But the proposal for the testing is designed for Solantic who already does the lion’s share of this. Multiple court cases have ruled that testing existing employees without
probable cause is unconstitutional. Private and public employment have
different rules.

Citizens is all that is left thanks to Marco Rubio finalizing the existence of socialized property insurance in Florida by requiring – as Florida House Speaker – that Citizen’s rates be less than private rates. Initially, Citizens was to be higher and last resort. That great Tea Party fair haired hypocrite Rubio reversed that and made Citizens the primary property insurer. That is in the record. I had State Farm and was dropped after 20 years because they could not get a 78 percent rate increase. Crist said no to that. Scott wants to allow rate increases without justification. Nobody likes Citizens, but people will like the insurers Scott allows in with unbridled rate increases even less.

Yes, I am going there. Scott has turned down several different chunks of money on the basis that it came from Obama. High Speed Rail, too. The Medicaid money came from the health care act. Scott said he wouldn’t take the money for only that reason. He is the only governor in the nation to turn it down. I have no problem with cutting the amount we spend, but turning away money that is needed to prove a pathetic political point to Scott’s Lord and Master Grover Norquist is just wrong and stupid.

Newsmax lumps in multiple things to create that number. Medicaid was a minor part of the stimulus. Most of the money Scott turned away was from the Health Care act. He said so – repeatedly and proudly. Florida is not (thank goodness) New York.

By the way, Newsmax is like the New York Times – not exactly fair or balanced. They lean opposite directions, but they both lean.

No comment on the pain pill database? The one he opposed even after private money was set to fund it? The one that even Republicans in Florida demanded?

He is creating jobs by firing thousands of state workers. Hmmm.

No, Rick Scott is a terrible governor and we will be lucky to have roads when he is done.

How I see this issue: When the government talks about raising the debt limit, I interpret it as raising the credit limit on a credit card called ‘US MasterCard’. Since the government wants to buy more stuff (spending on social & defense projects), they raise the debt limit (credit limit) to accommodate more purchases.

Ironically, the ‘US MaserCard’ carried a debt that is inuring interest. Even though we are barely covering the interest, nothing has been done to address the ‘principle’. Some of the debt on the card is being covered by China, India, and a few other nations. $4.0 trillion of the national debt is owed to foreign countries; thus, the United States is slowly being purchased by external entities. Payment can come in many forums such as national security secrets (defense), land ownership (foreign owned property on US soil), etc…

In order to address this issue, we have to do two very important things. (1) Reduce our spending, (2) Raise the revenue through light taxation, and (3) put money down on the debt’s principle.

Here is the conundrum….  As a result of belonging to the ‘World Trade Organization’, we have American companies moving production to foreign soil. When we raise taxes on these companies, they will move more of their production to facilities in China, India, and Japan. American worker will be out of work, for the company wants to take advantage of another country’s low taxes, low cost to employ workers, and low cost for worker benefits.

Which bring up another conundrum…Does anyone else see a conundrum with Obamacare? When companies start to become overwhelmed by the cost of Obamcare, they will close facilities in the US and move them to China. Why? Low cost in wages, low taxes, and low cost for worker benefits.

FYI – Obamacare would not be possible without making deals with heath care corporations.

Technically, Democrats and Republicans created policies that put us into this citation.

Good point!  Further evidence of the press trying to hack at this govenor…  Florida is one of those states that enjoys no income tax, in some parts of our state local governments have gone overboard with their property taxes as they have tried to become involved in everything as well have done alot of public works projects around beautification etc and the taxes have become so high that many are leaving those areas..  South Florida especially.  Scott is doing the best he can to balance the budget in the face of economic decline and a significant loss in Federal dollars as the stimulus money that Crist had so heavily relied on have dried up…  Time will tell how this governor has done, but the attacks on him in the press as well as this website are just premature. 

Sorry for any spelling errors. I was typing fast.

Well you still don’t get it do you. If you cut spending you have money to pay the debt and you don’t default. You either raise your limit or cut your spending. Both are ways of paying your bills. In this case I believe we need to do both. The point is he answered the question with a valid point of view.

I completely understand the points that you are making, but there’s a common theme that a lot of people see that is ignored time and again. The government shows no sign of slowing down on spending no matter who’s in charge. They keep on appropriating more money and making more federal jobs and justifying it by saying that it’s needed to prop up the economy, which is supported by many liberals. Then a year or 2 later, more money has to be borrowed to pay for the increased spending and the argument that you’re giving now is made: this spending was already authorized and ending these jobs we don’t actually have money to pay for would increase unemployment, so our hands are tied. Isn’t this more than a little disingenuous for the people who argue the before and the after of those arguments? If there’s no need to pass a budget and no need for a spending freeze, then there’s no way to actually improve the situation either. Tax increases is the solution proposed by many liberals, but this does nothing to change the fact that spending just continues to rise. More debt incurred didn’t change that and more income won’t change it either. What’s a real solution? I guess a better question to the progressives here would be: Is there even a problem to solve?

I completely understand the points that you are making, but there’s a common theme that a lot of people see that is ignored time and again. The government shows no sign of slowing down on spending no matter who’s in charge. They keep on appropriating more money and making more federal jobs and justifying it by saying that it’s needed to prop up the economy, which is supported by many liberals. Then a year or 2 later, more money has to be borrowed to pay for the increased spending and the argument that you’re giving now is made: this spending was already authorized and ending these jobs we don’t actually have money to pay for would increase unemployment, so our hands are tied. Isn’t this more than a little disingenuous for the people who argue the before and the after of those arguments? If there’s no need to pass a budget and no need for a spending freeze, then there’s no way to actually improve the situation either. Tax increases is the solution proposed by many liberals, but this does nothing to change the fact that spending just continues to rise. More debt incurred didn’t change that and more income won’t change it either. What’s a real solution? I guess a better question to the progressives here would be: Is there even a problem to solve?

How ridiculous – this tete to tete is like asking the Pillsbury Dough Boy what he would do to improve the taste of Aunt Jemima’s pancake batter.  Why not direct these questions and allocated time to Obama – he is the once responsible for America’s unsustainable debt.  He is the one who has frittered away the first three years in office campaigning for a “second term” rather than to address the wars, economy, unemployment, job creation, bailouts, failed stimulus and countless ineffective entitlement programs that have led to the debt.  Why ask a Governor from Florida how to solve a presidential responsibility and problem his spending created?

Ok.  CBO just scored Reid’s plan this morning (though you are right about a large chunk is savings from winding down Iraq and Afghanistan) and I haven’t had a chance to break it down.  If you’d like they have the director’s blog, which is a nice little summary:  http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=2454

Actually both the Reid and the Boehner plan have commissions and both are based on ten-year projections and both are only discretionary non-defense spending (that’s the 12% and neither is talking about entitlements).  Since neither are in legislative language (the Commission’s recommendations would become law based on an up and down vote in both chambers sort of thing) I’d be lying if I told you they have any teeth.

Kudos to our “insightful” media for explaining to people why the numbers from the CBO don’t match up with either plan.

The reason is that both plans are basing their numbers off of January numbers that got reset in March when they passed a CR that gets us through the end of the fiscal year.

Confused yet?  Just a final word about the debt ceiling.  I think a lot of people think, “Just stop spending.”, which is nice, in theory.  As Homer says, “Communism works.  In theory.”

This is how it works.  Assume that Congress wrote a law that says, “We are going to buy Green widgets.” (pick any program) and then passed a certain amount of money to buy those Green widgets.

The only way to stop buying green widgets is for Congress to repeal the law.  Then the government is no longer on the hook for green widgets.

Now think about thousands and thousands of different sorts of widgets, some of them in just one department, say Commerce.

I hope you have some Tums handy.

Regardless of what side of the failed two-party system you reside, you must admit the debate is healthy. To have simply raised the debt ceiling with no debate would have been the equivalent of saying, “Great job Washington, you guys have been spending our tax-payer money wisely the past 10 years!” During that time, our budget has doubled. Doubled, in 10 years! We haven’t doubled our population. I know my paycheck certainly hasn’t doubled, it has stayed about the same giving me far less spending power. Those of you who listen to all the lies from Bernanke and Geithner, despite their track records, are certainly freaking out. I’m guessing you would rather have a quick agreement that makes a few spending cuts and fails to balance the budget so your upstanding elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, can get back to wasting our money. If the final agreement on this doesn’t include a huge cutback in our nonsensical global war on terror, it will be further evidence that the two-party system is not serving the best interest of our country.

Romans pressed, saying that new borrowing’s not what a debt ceiling authorization would mean. “Raising the debt ceiling, that’s paying for what Congress has already spent.”

Wrong!

We can now pay our national debt- it costs about $20 billion a month and we take about$ 200 billion a month.

So you somehow think that Highspeed Rail is a good idea between Tampa and Orlando, a 1 hour drive in a car?  I don’t think so, for the 15 minute time savings that rail would offer the people using it would have find alternative transportation once they arrive at their distination..  Nobody is going to be using it, as they will find that their car is much more convenient.  Were the the state to proceed with the project they would be on the hook for the continued operation of the Rail for years to come potentially costing the tax payers of the state of Florida hundreds of millions of dollars..  Scott made the right decision,

High Speed Rail connecting Tampa and Orlando is a bad idea that will never be economicaly sustained..  If America wants High Speed Rail they need to do something that makes sense, like a system that transverses the eastern seaboard…  not Tampa to Orlando.  His decision had nothing to do with Obama but rather it was based on the economy of the proposal.   Your assumption is rediculous that a Governor would reject billions in dollars just because it came from Obama..  Grow up.  As far as the loss of State workers he is doing what he has to do for this state to work within it’s budget…  Something that you obviously have no expectation of a government to do.. 

Pill database?   Scott did endorse it having set aside his concerns or patient privacy. 

From the Orlando Sentinel 

“WASHINGTON — After months of skepticism, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday became a reluctant champion of using computer databases to track prescriptions of addictive painkillers — telling Congress that Florida soon would implement the system as part of broader reforms.”

And it appears YOU don’t get it.  Try this:

In August, you have to pay rent, a car loan, two credit card bills (minimum payment only), an electric bill, a phone bill, and a water bill.  Add all those up and it comes to $2,000.  You currently have $500 in the bank, and during August, you’ll make another $1,000.  So, you have a total of $1,500 to cover August’s obligations, which equal $2,000.  

Tell me again how cutting your spending will give you enough money to cover those August obligations without borrowing $500 from your brother-in-law……. 

One point of clarification – an appropriation is not an expenditure.  It is the legal authority to spend money by a governmental agency.  At no time is the agency obligated to actually spend the money until it has incurred a legal obligation such as receiving a service or goods (e.g., employees work and the agency incurs the obligation to pay for the work; agency buys a computer and receives the invoice).  The appropriation acts like a debt ceiling to the agency for the specified time period of the appropriation.  Under the use it or lose it principle government agencies load up on a lot of unnecessary stuff at the end of the appropriation just so it is not returned to the funding source.

Ha!  Then why is the debt going up?  Simple is as simple does!

Thanks!  We need it.

Because the government is spending $1.40 for every $1 it brings in.

I don’t think that anybody really thinks that the debt limit cannot be raised, even the most ardent Tea Party supporter understands that is not practical.  I do think that what theyare looking for is the seminal moment where Washington admits that they have a real problem and will seek real reform in both taxation and spending to address it…  In DC words come cheap, so if they are now saying that please excuse those of us who are not listening, their actions will speak much louder than their words.

Personally I do not think that the wealthy are our problem, and although I do not like the low tax rates that traders on Wall Street pay here is a reason that their gains are taxed as they are, before the changes to taxation of capital gains was addressed, people were not circulating capital in the economy as they did not want the tax exposure on long term holdings..  simple solutions and campaign slogans will not address these problems.  There is nothing holding our international corporations here and if we do not properly address the systemic problems that they have in doing business here in America they will continue to move operations overseas and there will be no recovery.  Thanks for you replies,  you seem to be a good source of information and I have enjoyed reading many of your posts in the past.

Uh vey..Really? I guess Fox is hard hitting,huh?

No he did not answer the question. He did everything but answer the question. States are far different than the Federal govt as it comes to budgets. The debt ceiling which was raised over 50 times in the recent past has nothing to do with future expenditures, only past spending. There really is no choice but to raise the limit or default. Defaulting would cost this country hundreds of billions of dollars, if not more.
Everyone who has a floating rate mtg would be hit with a far higher rate within a few months.
This whole thing is BS and political grandstanding at its best. The Tea Party does not have the mental capacity to understand economics and the two idiot parties dont have the capacity to understand how to be good,decent, and honest politicians.

Where does the liberal ( bullsh*t ) talking point ” we’ve already spent the money ” come from, or actually mean?

No one on the left has any idea what that White House generated, focus group tested line really means, but it sounds great in a 30 second left wing bomb thrower sound bite for sure.

Disagree–they did a good job of asking the questions. As well as pointing out that he did not answer anything they had asked. What else should they have done?

The wingnuts never answer questions that don’t fit their talking points.

How do you “prepare” an answer when you don’t know the question?

lets just call this for what it is, Rick Scott showed up unprepared to with a reasonable rationale argument to defend his point of view

I already broke most of it down for Fedup in Florida, but I didn’t take it as far as I could, because then you go through the looking glass.

Ajolily, here is something YOU don’t get: You can’t just pull the rug out from ALL your obligations as a long term solution!  Do you realize how many people, especially senior citizens, not all physically well, would take a MASSIVE blow.  What is your suggestion, that they “get out there and get a job?”  I think everyone FULLY understands what you claim they don’t, however what is sorely lacking in your rhetoric is the HUMAN component in all of this.  We’re not just talking trillions of dollars.  We’re talking people…OUR people.  If we have already committed to those obligations through prior budgets, then we have no choice but to pay for them as directed under the 14 Amendment.  A NEW budget would imply NEW spending, which has not yet been agreed to.  Put down the tea and THINK a little bit before you offer up nonsensical and frankly, UnAmerican platitudes. 

It would have helped the discussion if your statements to Fedup had been correct.  You were talking about appropriations which are legal authorities to spend.  They are not, and I emphasize not, spending.  That comes from other actions.  At no time is any government agency obligated to spend all of its appropriation, they are only prevented from spending more than the appropriation.  Both you, the CNN reporters and a lot of people on both sides of this issue share this misunderstanding.  The real impact will be what programs and services are cut immediately.  Debt service will not be one of them so the talk of default is bogus.

How the hell do you think Tricky Ricky got elected? Only in Floriduhhh  can a legitimate crook get elected Govenor. He’ll be out as fast as he got in.

How the hell do you think Tricky Ricky got elected? Only in Floriduhhh  can a legitimate crook get elected Govenor. He’ll be out as fast as he got in.

How the hell do you think Tricky Ricky got elected? Only in Floriduhhh  can a legitimate crook get elected Govenor. He’ll be out as fast as he got in.

My statements are correct.  I am aware of the difference between appropriations and expenditures.

A few things that you are omitting though in your analysis.

1) A lot of laws have automatic spending written right into the legislation.

2) I didn’t extrapolate for Fedup to talk about leases, contracts with suppliers, etc.

3) This Congress already spent the money up until the end of this fiscal year when they passed the CR in March, so that money is spent.  If you want to talk about this after the August recess, that is a different matter.

4) If they want to pass a budget that cuts it to bare bones (lays off employees) and only pays for existing contracts, they can do that, but it won’t happen.

Scott is our mortal enemy. He ran hospitals that cheated medicare and medicaid for 10 years. Do you live under a rock? He received the largest fine in history $1.2 billiion and had to resign- he should be in prison but the chrome dome loser is now the Gov. of Florida and as you saw, he is as dumb as a rock.

Scott is our mortal enemy. He ran hospitals that cheated medicare and medicaid for 10 years. Do you live under a rock? He received the largest fine in history $1.2 billiion and had to resign- he should be in prison but the chrome dome loser is now the Gov. of Florida and as you saw, he is as dumb as a rock.

You are as ignorant as Scott. You can’t cut enough in weeks or months to pay the bills coming due.
You freaks that try to compare this to a family budget are insane. There is no comparison. How did so many stupid people get into my country?

You are as ignorant as Scott. You can’t cut enough in weeks or months to pay the bills coming due.
You freaks that try to compare this to a family budget are insane. There is no comparison. How did so many stupid people get into my country?

When the guy jumped in and asked Scott howe could you not understand the question after hearing it four times- they cut to Scottt who had a deer in the headlights look- then he spit out the same dumb response..I would call him the idiot that he is and kick him off the show and tell him he’s banned for life.

Morons giving BS numbers don’t help anything. Do you even pay your own bills or do mommy and daddy still do that for you.  You listed three points but the only point you have is at the top of your head.

Read more on NewsMax? Yeah there’s a reliable source- they have phone hacks to get their news.
‘You know you can trust ugly old Rupert- the pathological liar.

Calling Pablo Calling Pablo- you’re needed back at the Taco stand- pronto.

None of these losers go on a show without knowing the questions or at least the topic. Do you think we’re as ignorant as you seem to be? 

By all means point out any inaccuracies in my post.  Until then, sit down skippy, the grown-ups are talking.

Wrong. South Carolina has that title locked up.

Wrong. South Carolina has that title locked up.

Wrong. South Carolina has that title locked up.

My President is a doofus? hope you’re unemployed and haven’t reproduced- you’re too dumb to be an American.

Item 1 is correct.  Item 2 – leases and contracts can be cancelled, albeit sometimes with financial penalties.  Item 3 – the CR (Continuing Resolution) was an appropriation.  Item 4 will have to happen if the debt ceiling is not raised and they do not take in enough money to cover everything.

You miss the point of Health Care Reform (there is no Obamacare moron). What you call “health care” corporations are thieving corporations that deny much needed care  and overcharge on normal care-
profiteers need to be removed from the health care of this country. They are vultures.

Funny title, a much more appropriate title would be:

TWO CNN ANCHORS SING OBAMA’S TALKING POINTS IN UNISON

I just gave you a McDonald’s franchise. Lucky you.
I explain to you that the meat, buns, frozen fries, and all other food items are not yet paid for because that is how the business works.
Supplies are paid for 30 days after receipt. Standard practice in all business/industry. Since this is McDonald’s, the burgers are sold long before the meat is paid for. What will happen if you don’t pay the meat bill after you sold the burgers?

I enjoyed our conversation and although my approach to calculating the future deficit spending is more simplistic than actually reading the budgets, given the debt level increase asked for, the projected deficit for this year, along with the term of that the expected 2.4 trillion will cover, simple math leads me to suspect that Reid is anticipating continued deficits in the 1.7 trillion/yr  range..  I also appreciate you explaintion on appropriations, but not all of those appropreiations were for buying widgets, as they were for governmental agency funding, beyond that even if we were buying widgets many such contracts have not been committed to so the implimentation of those appropreiations can be delayed or even repealed..  But now I digress as I am more defending my position than sharing thoughts on the problem.. 

Bottomline for me is that of course the debt limit will be raised, not to do so would be akin to putting a Sumo wrestler on a 800 cal/day diet…  he would not be able to function, but the unsustainable path  of Washington must also be addressed…  if it took this crisis, the Tea Party types drawling a line in the sand and the resulting level of debate that we are currently witnessing to begin a serious discussion then that’s what it took..  I would hope that our politicians can begin to set aside all the vitriolic language and begin to get down to the business of addresing these issues.. If they do not recognize that spending is at issue then nothing will change, no matter how much taxes are raised on the wealthy those increases will not begin to address the deficit issue.  That is why Tea Party types are so opposed to the taxing efforts of the left, taxes are not the structural problem.   Even so if we do nothing to address the tax structure in our country then in my opinion the economy will suffer, as we enjoy enjoy such a high per capita income in this country we have to be creative in creating an enviroment that will attract business and manufacturing back to this country… the tax code seems to me to be the best way to do so, not through granting favor either, level the playing field and see who is able to thrive.    Obama’s Green Economy is not going to going to get off the ground, without the passage of Cap and Trade he has lost his funding source so we would do well to look for other ways  to help what is left of our free economy survive and grow.. 

Oh, I see, so then I can safely assume that Governor Cuomo also slashed Medicaid spending in New York because he did not want to accept the accompanying Federal aide soley because it came from President Obama..   

It should read “Ignorant ‘Right’ cannot think for themselves and must resort to mindlessly repeating Conservative talking points”. Conservatives are not big on education. It must be all that “home schooling”.

Yes leases and contracts can be cancelled, but you are incurring a pretty large cost if the larger people with contracts decide to take it to court.

The CR through the end of September is pretty much set in stone, because I don’t think either one of us would want to have to go through this crap line by line and say, “Oh that was the lunch cart account for Commerce in Des Moines.”

I’ve been thinking about point 4, because none of us really know what would happen, given that we’ve never defaulted.  I saw somewhere (I’ll be honest I didn’t have a chance to jot down a citing) that a 1% rise in interest rates would cost $100 billion a year in servicing the debt.  Then there is the fact that several states that have fairly substantial Federal outlays and happen to have Triple AAA ratings are looking at being downgraded immediately.  I think they are Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, and New Mexico.

I would have much preferred a clean vote and then say, “We aren’t taking August recess, let’s start with FY 2012 and map out (I saw part of this in the Cap part of their bill)where we go from here.  If the Senate and the President want to go on holiday, we are here to the American people’s business.”

Good talking to you.  It is nice to have adult conversations about these things from time to time.

Why is this a story?

The left has collectively not answered a direct question in years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/us/politics/25legal.html   and you were saying?

Thanks.. It’s not called Floriduhhhhh for nothing.

Thanks.. It’s not called Floriduhhhhh for nothing.

The crook ran the biggist medicare fine ever in the history of the U.S. and paid millions in fines….in a deposition he pled the 5th something like 53 times. (not sure on exact number.)  Then he uses millions of his own money. Then gets elected Govenor? Go figure.

The crook ran the biggist medicare fine ever in the history of the U.S. and paid millions in fines….in a deposition he pled the 5th something like 53 times. (not sure on exact number.)  Then he uses millions of his own money. Then gets elected Govenor? Go figure.

Ignorant left, like the anchors on CNN who posed the question that was provided to them by team Obama.  there is no doubt these two are working for POTUS not you or me…you seem to be a-ok with that.  I’m not, the role of the press is to report ON the government, not FOR the government.  Get a grip.

He did answer the question, but perhaps he should have made a connection that the interviewer either did not accept or did not understand. He should have made it clear that he did not buy into her premise that Congress cannot backtrack on spending that it has committed to. Of course we can backtrack on such spending. That is part of what Gov Scott did in Florida.

Right off the bat, the US has $700 billion it has allocated but not spent. Senate Democrats have made it clear that they do not want to touch that money. They acknowledge that the money is there, but simply wish to leave it alone.

Once it is clear that no further debt will be allowed, recalcitrant spenders may change their tune. They may see that more constituents wish to see the parks reopened (or whatever) than have various grants funded (e.g. for cowboy poetry).

Is there enough money to be saved by canceling non-essentials? Will we ultimately have to borrow something? My guess is that we will have to borrow something. But it will be clear that the will to continue borrowing massively does not exist anymore. Spenders in Congress will finally recognize that the debt limit is a brick wall, not a paper wall.

Of course Republicans like Gov Scott understand the question. Clearly, he did not buy into her premise that all spending Congress has previously appropriated must continue to be spent. What the interviewer was saying was not true.

Is there the political will to revoke some of those previous appropriations? No. Not at the moment.

Is there the political will to raise the debt ceiling? It’s 50/50. Maybe not.

Will the political will exist to review and cancel mountains of previous appropriations after the debt ceiling is reached? Oh, you betcha!  That is the change the Republicans are attempting to force.

That is not so.  This is the same thing people said about him when he was running for governor. It’s the same thing the Fla. legislators said when he threatened to veto their spending. But he held his ground and closed a budget gap without raising taxes.

It’s not a matter (as the interviewer and the author of this article implied) that Scott was not answering the question. In an interview like this Gov Scott was faced with being combative (not his style at all) or politely ignoring the interviewer’s obvious consternation. I think the interview would have been more effective had he acknowledged her point, but explicitly declined to agree with her premise.

To be accurate, a company bought by the company he ran cheated Medicare. Scott paid no fines as you incorrectly stated. His company was liable for the fines. He was not personally liable for them.

If it could be proven that he had knowledge of the crime, he could have been and very well might have been prosecuted. It is important to note that the prosecutor did not bring charges against him for the crimes you just accused him of.

And the fact that he is bald probably does not matter to most adults.

He did not personally receive a fine. Nor was he charged with a crime, hence he should not be in prison.

The fact that he is bald does not matter to most adults.

But the point is, Congress could revoke the spending. If the majority does not exist to pass some kind of debt limit increase, they will have no choice but to revoke previously appropriated spending. It is of course obvious that Congress has not been in the mood to cut much spending. But they could. And it looks like they may not have a choice.

Will it take time? Yes. Will the debt ceiling need to be raised? Probably. But it would probably be sufficient to make a commitment to massive spending cuts for the recalcitrant minority to agree to a moderate increase in the debt ceiling. But there would have to be real, significant cuts – legislated cuts, as you point out – but it could be done. And the interviewer’s premise that it could not be done is inaccurate.

I expect Scott’s popularity to rise as unemployment declines in this state. If it does not, he will remain unpopular.

But as one of those “Tea party types” I am happy with him.

Submit their resignation in disgrace…lol

In 1974, Congress took away the President’s impoundment authority. So if Congress appropriates money, the President does not currently have authority to not spend it (assuming the US actually has the cash in hand – can’t spend what you don’t have). But, to take your point, Congres can certainly revoke the appropriation and there are $700 billion in allocated but unspent funds that could be tapped.

Ah, the dulcet tones of the perpetually kind, gentle and tolerant left wing.

Where have you been?

Purveyor

look back from Reagan until Bush Jr. is is the republicons that have pulled the wool over your myopic eyes and less you have a short memory they are the ones that used our children’s credit card and put us into record deficits with the republicons controlled congress who never saw a spending bill under a republicons President put in front of them they EVER said “it costs our children to much”.  Furthermore what type of leadership does it take to put not one but two wars “off budget” so it doesn’t look like “their” deficits look as bad as they really were?  The national debt limit was raised over twenty five times under republicons presidency, where were the republicans outrage in congress then.  Face it Republicans are the biggest hypocrites in the world Greedy republicans only care about themselves the Koch Brothers are there flag wavers and the cash cows for your greed, and you buy it.   They tell you you work hard and you too can be rich like us. Truth is they lie to you and you still believe them.  I can only tell you that if you buy the load of crap that the Koch Bros; Karl Rove; Grover Norquist; Michelle Bachmann; Sarah Palin; et al, then you are as Un-american as they are and the so called teabaggers funded by Dick Army.  Read the damn Constitution!   It doesn’t start out as “Me, I’ve got mine”, it says “We the People”  last I looked that meant all of us!  Wake up quit being lead by a group of Liars. I will say this Sarah Palin  spoke the truth one time when she called it the “Lame Stream Media” because our “Media” are” nothing but “Entertainment Tonight” that’s right they want you dumb and uninformed.  Wake up, don’t be a sheep lead to slaughter!  

look back from Reagan until Bush Jr. is is the republicons that have pulled the wool over your myopic eyes and less you have a short memory they are the ones that used our children’s credit card and put us into record deficits with the republicons controlled congress who never saw a spending bill under a republicons President put in front of them they EVER said “it costs our children to much”.  Furthermore what type of leadership does it take to put not one but two wars “off budget” so it doesn’t look like “their” deficits look as bad as they really were?  The national debt limit was raised over twenty five times under republicons presidency, where were the republicans outrage in congress then.  Face it Republicans are the biggest hypocrites in the world Greedy republicans only care about themselves the Koch Brothers are there flag wavers and the cash cows for your greed, and you buy it.   They tell you you work hard and you too can be rich like us. Truth is they lie to you and you still believe them.  I can only tell you that if you buy the load of crap that the Koch Bros; Karl Rove; Grover Norquist; Michelle Bachmann; Sarah Palin; et al, then you are as Un-american as they are and the so called teabaggers funded by Dick Army.  Read the damn Constitution!   It doesn’t start out as “Me, I’ve got mine”, it says “We the People”  last I looked that meant all of us!  Wake up quit being lead by a group of Liars. I will say this Sarah Palin  spoke the truth one time when she called it the “Lame Stream Media” because our “Media” are” nothing but “Entertainment Tonight” that’s right they want you dumb and uninformed.  Wake up, don’t be a sheep lead to slaughter!  

RON64740, I drop the cable bill, turn off the kids cell phones and credit cards and I sell the kids cars, they can use the bus. There is plenty of waste to cut that will bring in immediate cash. Thats what Scott is saying. I am saying you raise the limit and cut some spending. Thing is that no matter if Scott is wrong or right he answered the question. NO MORE TEA, neither way requires not fulfilling obligations only cutting waste but then you must keep up the talking point. ADLER56 as to how the stupid people got in here ask your mother and father how you came to be and you have your answer.

Typcial teabagging tool.  How embarrassing for Florida.  He’s in wayyyyyy over his head.  Good try Christine and Ali – unfortunately you can’t talk to crazy people.

Sorry if you want an argument from me on these comments I don’t care much for Republicans either but on the issue of cutting the spending they are right. Did they get us into this? Both parties did and we the people (we the people from both sides) are just as guilty.

So Tiny Tina, why don’t you explain the debt ceiling for the rest of us? 

I’m all ears.

Good call. I’d completely forgotten the amendment to the original bill written in the 1920′s.

Trying to keep up with so many pieces gets hard.  

“I just got here myself”

The Mediaite Headline,  (” CNN Anchors try but fail, to get Rick Scott to answer questions”) is somewhat deceptive as it does not reflect the substance of the article.  In fact, Scott stays with his and Conservative’s Philosophy to STOP SPENDING.

Underneath the video, in smaller print, is CNN’s claim that Scott asserts: “not raising the debt would not have that much affect.”

One of the two women claims she agrees that the debt is too high and that we have to stop spending.  She then contradicts herself by urging Scott to admit the need for raising the debt, because, “EVERYBODY” whose anybody agrees that not raising the debt would be bad for the economy!  Huh…

I guess the immovable has met the unstoppable?  Or, more to the point, the reasonable (Conservatives) has met the un-reasonable. (Socialists) 

 Or, the tapped out credit card is replaced with one that still has a line of credit…Ouch!

Purveyor 

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure.  It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills.  It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.  Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally.  Leadership means that, “the buck stop here.”  Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.  America  has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.  American’s deserve better.”

A Democrat Senator, March 2006

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure.  It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills.  It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.  Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally.  Leadership means that, “the buck stop here.”  Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.  America  has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.  American’s deserve better.”

A Democrat Senator, March 2006

Pay attention and don’t talk so loose.

Good Post!

Should have been, would have been prosecuted?  Prosecuting people that use their station in life and their education to commit crimes of confidence, is one that should become a priority considering the overall mistrust in this Nation. Conversely over prosecuting questionable cases is a “vile” form of Government abuse.  I don’t see an ethical and proper balance as being that difficult.Anyway,  For the middle class to know that Federal and State authorities are going after white collar tape worms, might alleviate some “bad blood?”

Purveyor

You really don’t understand economics nor accountability!  Keep listening to Rush, Hannity, 
O’ Rilley, and Beck. I would gladly lend you my Economics and Ethics books as long as you read them and return them! =)  Then maybe you would realize you’ve been lied to and fed a line of BS by the Republicorps.  

Riester: Were you able to read those books because you didn’t read my comments. You are a fool if you don’t believe that both parties and the American people are responsible for this economic crisis. Seems you better redo those classes or demand your money back as you didn’t learn a thing.

That act has many parts.  The part you appear to be referencing dealt with a backdoor way for a president (Nixon was the one it was aimed at when passed) to invoke a kind of line-item veto.  The act prevents an outright rescission but provides for a president to identify spending to be eliminated and Congress then must agree to it in 45 days or the money is restored.  However, the act does not require all money in an appropriation to be spent.

Of course the person knows the topic. But you still haven’t answered my question. 

The guy is a IDIOT, theres only one way you can say it. Florida elected a Tea Party Self made IDIOT who has money which is why he got so many people to vote for him. He has no leadership or government skills. He even looks out of place and has no problem taking teachers, police, and firemen benefits because he wasnt educated in the public school system!

Well it isnt so much as dem’s or rep’s have a better decision then the other.The both sides are at fault for what has happened to our country.If the fortune 500 companies that are still making record breaking profits that pay 1% tax or no tax at all.Would put us back in a position to relief U.S. dept off the hands of americans where it shouldnt be totaly relied on like it is now.In the early 80′s big companies helped pay for by actually paying taxes that covered over 50% of taxes payed into government.Now its in the high 80% that americans are paying more and companies are paying less.So save an american family from have less stress and so on.And make them tax scamming bastards pay their share.Atleast make it 50/50 and hell we would see financial progression.But then telling any politician they need to tell their golf buddies and under the table pay check they need to actually pay taxes now.Will never happen, and all the other congressional kiss asses wont even stand up and fight for whats right.It makes me sick to think my lil 6 year old is going to have to pay for friggen bank bail outs and shes only 6.Either way its this DEPRESSION wont get fixed anytime soon and when it does its off the backs of hard working americans.
 

Good answer Adler.  We should be like Cuba, then we can go to the doctor anytime we please, and make 20 bucks a month and share a roll of toilet paper with our neighbor.

Good answer Adler.  We should be like Cuba, then we can go to the doctor anytime we please, and make 20 bucks a month and share a roll of toilet paper with our neighbor.

Robert, you dont know what you are talking about. I live in Florida and spent quite a bit of time up in Tallahassee watching committee hearings and the legislature. Rick Scott DID balance the budget of FL because the state has to every year….however he DID NOT do it without raising taxes. They passed a bill that forces a 3 % pay cut on all public employees in the state- teachers, police, firefighters, etc. in order to BALANCE the state budget. They took the money from public employees, which by any definition is a TAX on middle class workers. So, NO he did not manage to balance the budget without raising taxes. He just raised them on a select group of people. Where is shared sacrifice? We also do not have a state income tax by the way, in case you dont know that…not sure if you live in Florida.

Robert, you dont know what you are talking about. I live in Florida and spent quite a bit of time up in Tallahassee watching committee hearings and the legislature. Rick Scott DID balance the budget of FL because the state has to every year….however he DID NOT do it without raising taxes. They passed a bill that forces a 3 % pay cut on all public employees in the state- teachers, police, firefighters, etc. in order to BALANCE the state budget. They took the money from public employees, which by any definition is a TAX on middle class workers. So, NO he did not manage to balance the budget without raising taxes. He just raised them on a select group of people. Where is shared sacrifice? We also do not have a state income tax by the way, in case you dont know that…not sure if you live in Florida.

You’re too dumb to post here- comparing a family budget to the budget of the most powerful nation in the world makes you as brain dead as bachmann. Turn off kids cell phones and cable? How the phuck does that compare to a military budget larger than most other countries in the world combined? We need to knock that down but it’s repugnants that prevent that- protecting their billionaire backers.

Still as dumb as ever. You’re talking about republicans in schuylkill county who keep voting against their own interests. Still have that 24/7 mental health care you obviously need? Post your address and I’ll send you some toilet paper.

As a Florida resident of 49 years, this guy is the WORST governor we’ve ever had and in Florida that’s saying something.  And if you think our governor is bad you should see our rethuglican legislature, the absloute worst. These guys made the RICO act go away, it’s open season on Florida’s citizens.