CBO Says Dem Energy Reform Will Reduce Deficit, Repubs Get to Remain Fiscal Hawks

It seems here lately that Republicans are engulfed with their fantasy that they care about fiscal responsibility and reducing the deficit. Put aside the fact that Republican George Bush inherited a surplus-- the largest ever to be exact-- and turned it into a $1.3 trillion deficit. And put aside the fact that every single one of Republican Bush's major accomplishments (if you can call them that) increased the deficit by leaps and bounds (the largest contributor being Bush's tax cuts, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, No Child Left Behind and the huge Republican expansion of Medicare that was completely unfunded).  Let's leave that alone for the moment.

Lately the GOP has talked feverishly about their concern for long term debt and short term deficits.  Just yesterday I wrote about Rep. John Shimkus and his statements that he can only consider legislation that cuts spending in other areas and/or reduces the deficit and debt.  This is routine language by Republicans these days.  They really, truly think they are the fiscally responsible people.  Again, don't mention their past, just leave it aside for the moment.

Given their grave concerns for cutting spending and reducing the deficit, one would think they would gladly vote for legislation that does just that.  That's too much sanity, however.  Instead of supporting HCR that was the largest deficit reducer in modern American history, Republicans opposed it and offered an alternative plan that actually added to the deficit.  Genius I know.  But these are our fiscal conservatives.  They are the Serious fiscal hawks that truly care about our financial situation.  Just ask them, they will tell you.

So given today's news that Democratic energy reform would cut the deficit by $19 billion and increase revenues by $750 billion over a ten year period, one again would think these Great Patriotic fiscal hawks would be all over it.  In a sane, realistic world, yes.  But not in the Republican Fantasy World.  They will oppose it en masse, say it doesn't do enough to cut spending and reduce the deficit.  They will get branded by the media as fiscal hawks and get to enjoy endless amounts of coverage where they blast trillion dollar deficits and outlandish spending.  Don't bring up their past or their record of never reducing spending or the deficit.  Don't bring up their record of only increasing the deficit and debt.  And don't dare bring up anything about any alternatives they might suggest beyond talking points about their fiscal conservatism.  Doing any of that only proves that you are a liberal and not a Serious fiscal hawk.