What absolute rubbish. Tax cuts usually end up adding to tax revenue.

The sooner the current president of the USA is out of office the better it will be for the country.

"The party of NO, sometimes known as Republicans, has been consistent in its contempt for America."

This man - supposedly a professor of journalism - opens his essay with an outrageous pejorative, successfully alienating at least a third of his potential audience in the first 16 words.

I feel sorry for his students.

Ok, so the author is clearly not the least bit pro-Republican. He is biased and he makes no secret of it.

Leaving tax cuts and debt aside, is the author correct when he writes that Republicans: "..blocked legislation to provide financial compensation for the nation's first responders who were exposed to toxic ash at the 9-11 attacks and had to seek medical treatment."

The following (yes, it's an op-ed) seems to corroborate the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-kane/republicans-to-911-respon_b_795093.html

http://currentglobalperceptions.blogspot.com/

Are the similarities between Republican 'Let it be NO' blocking tactics and Abbott's wrecking ball tactics a coincidence?

It seems the disease has taken hold in Australian politics. The wealthiest 2% here too have unscrupulous politicians ready to serve their interests with a 'whatever it takes' mentality.

don't they forget so quickly. The total control of the US Congress by the Democrats, during Obama's reign resulted in blockages, earmarks and watered down legislation.

Obama's malaise is that he's totally ineffective. The Democrats malaise is that they are ineffective.

So obviously it's always the fault of the effective Republicians.

Thanks Walt for the look at America of today.
Obama has tried to improve life and life Expectancy for the millions of working dirt poor in America .
The No Party - the rich Republicans, do not want a bar of it.
Their Motto of the old saying, "Never give a sucker an even Break " holds true for them today .
They are not interested in lifting the lower working Classes up the ladder .
They will do anything to hang on to their riches, just as the NO Party of Tony Abbott in Australia will do .
The Poor will continue to get poorer .

The only thing missing from this extreme religious right party of No, (The church of Republicorp), it's assorted totally ignorant Tea baggers and their corporate confederates are the white hoods and the burning crosses and torches. The USA is sick with charlatan religious extremist and sadly so is Australia. Aided and abetted by a totally corrupted media, we are witnessing the end of democracy and a new rise in political religious fascism.

Prior to the Ronald Reagan disaster, the top tax rate was 91% and the rich still cleaned up, puts things into perspective. No wonder the USA's infrastructure is crumbling before their eyes. Take a look at some of the rebublicorp extreme religious right political wannabes Sarah Palin, Micheal Bachmann, Christine O'Donnell, etc etc the place is lousy with crazy especially the ex confederate states.
At least we got rid of Senator Fielding here, but there's far more of this virus festering in our politics way beneath the surface.