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To be truly objective one needs to think things trough first and then make the decision. Whenever anyone makes a decision first and then thinks of things to justify that decision, it is called 'rationalizing'. It may not be hard to see the truth but it can simply be hard to get emotions out of the way in order to accept it. If our political loyalty is based on our rationalized decisions, then we really can't trust those choices. It isn't easy with all of the subterfuge being constantly thrown at us, aimed to appeal to our self-interests, our fears, biases, prejudices and emotional preferences, hoping to get us to 'rationalize', but it is totally necessary to negate those deceptive efforts, otherwise we can just end up being co-responsible victims. It is absolutely necessary to recognize the manipulative efforts intended to solicit our emotional responses and to instead be firm in withholding trusting the source. The proof has been clearly demonstrated when the voting majority literally failed in doing just that and we are now paying significantly for it. We can't afford 'more of the same' and it isn't going to get any easier, especially after the Supreme Court's recent decision that has opened the flood gates for Special Interests and the influential, powerful and extremely wealthy to now spend even more extensively to manipulate public opinion. We may not always like the truth but if we now fail to have the discipline to make the real effort to know what it is, then we need not complain when the results are controlled by only the few, greatly impacting our lives, and just giving us subterfuge to rationalize with. Whatever Party leaning we may have it will greatly behoove all of us to utilize some very strong independent thinking, to objectively recognize and reject the deceptive manipulation. The question is, "can we do it?" or are we destined to always emotionally react, being led by their self-serving gross dishonesty, and then be the majority that is taken for granted, used and abused? In my thinking, I can't see us surviving a return to government concentrating on Special Interests and the select few and the money, influence and power they have to throw at manipulating the people just scares me.

I think I have a solution to our economic problem; lets invest in clean energy. Let me explain:
For all of these investments, we must come up with an investment total; this will come up with an investment sum; that number is 55 trillion dollars. That number is huge; there is no denying that, but if we are to sustain a US clean energy independent economy, that is what we must do if it is to be accomplished. This investment needs to be divided up to a 50 year time span. We must invest 8 trillion in solar over a period of 50 years, 8 trillion in wind over the next 50 years, 14 trillion in geothermal energy over the next 50 years, 7 trillion in hydrogen in the next 50 years, 10 trillion in biomass/ biofuel energy over the next 50 years, 4 trillion in natural gas over the next 50 years, and 2 trillion in nuclear technology in the next 50 years; including 2 trillion in offshore oil in the next 50 years. That can be achieved over time if we make the investments in the correct way through certain amounts each year; that is going to be up to the federal government to decide, but the figures what I put up just above, needs to be accomplished by the fair tax system. Each year, within the 50 years, all of that money invested, will grow on itself; in the end of that 50 years, everyone can withdraw to buy clean energy infrastructure for our economy. That will lead to tens of millions of jobs being created over a period of time here in the US, and the restructuring of our economy will begin. To pay for all of that, I am thinking that implementing a fair tax system is necessary; $1million or more a year pays the most, 500 thousand-1million, 250 thousand-500 thousand, 100 thousand- 250 thousand, 75 thousand-100 thousand, 50 thousand- 75 thousand, 35 thousand- 50 thousand, 10 thousand- 35 thousand, and anyone making less than 10 thousand still pays a tax, but it will be a very obscure, little tax. Fair Tax provides us with more freedom over our lives, less intrusion by the federal government and more money to save for a house, college, and retirement, while still paying for what is needed here. The population in the US after 2060, will be well over 400 million; 55 trillion investment/ 460 million will equal $119,565 for each person to spend or invest on anything that will reform our economy to an clean, renewable energy independent economy. The investments paid by the Fair Tax System will continue from then on according to the population/ income per person of the United States to be withdrawn for a period of one year every 50 years. We could solve our debt problem as well with the Fair Tax System.

It bears repeating that during the Bush years, the GOP Congress deliberately left the costs of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars off of the Budgets they passed into law. If the GOP had been honest about their accounting, Bush would have been running trillion dollar deficits as early as 2003. But I guess Americans are content to live with the fiction that multiple wars have no impact on budget deficits.

I just hope he don't represent Mr. Bauer. Mr. Bauer want all of you poor folk to be put to death like they do wild animal because he do not want to feed you any more. Be very careful what you ask for because it may not be what you want.

Well, it is pretty obvious he hasn't handled things well, in the past 3 yrs.

GO AHEAD!!

WE, the people with minds of our own, are TURNING AWAY from POLITICS and looking more towards HELPING our Brothers and Sisters AROUND the WORLD.

TURN AWAY from all the DIVISIVE Mass Media. Look beyond what you have been programed to believe by the ESTABLISHMENT.

We need LOVE and COMPASSION in this world......NOT Hate and War.

PLEASE

Honestly, unless he choices to retire, Spratt will be back! He is a strong voice for his district and especially for the military. And this coming from one who leans right!

This is ALL that is left of the Republican Party – "...criticizing the South Carolina Democrat for his role as House Budget Committee chairman..."

"CRITICIZING" – no solutions.... I am so anxious to see what MR. BROWN does when he gets to Washington and all other RepubliCAN'Ts!!! More of the SAME and NO Solutions!!

The GOP really needs to represent Americans and not corporations. Tell the GOP they do not work for the health insurance industry.

get rid of them all and start over.....

Yet another Obama failure. The man needs to get some balls. I'm not talking basketball either.

Here is a new idea... What would happen if we put someone in Bernankes job that cares about creating jobs? How about freezing walstreet right where its at today until these CEO's put people back to work. People have jobs, people spend money, the economy recovers. Novel idea.

I sure opr someone sends that representative Fox from NC packing. You know – the 66 year old woman that says we're gonna have death panels.

Either that, or line her, Bachmann, Palin up for the first death panel - ha ha ha ha ha

I thought Republicans were voted into office to work. All they do is buy ads and attack Democrats. Do some viable work for the American people and maybe we will give you some credit for something. You are a bunch of do-nothings and I have no respect for you.

I wonder if their criticism is based on the fact that he is not embarrassing South Carolina and the country enough, like GOPers DeMint, Wilson, Bauer and Sanford. Don't let ruth get in the way of your propaganda GOP. Country before party, right?

You know, if the Republicans would put as much time and effort into running the government as they do running for office, we would probably be in better shape.

He should stay and run again. I'm sure Obama would campaign for him. Obama has been helpful in getting others elected.
As he has told Dems up for election this fall that he will be the difference in elections in 2010.
The difference that he has made so far is about like his "hope and change" that he promised, just not what voters expected or wanted.

Leaders? We have NONE! They all just run for the Money and then make us pay for their largesse!

And we have to wonder what foreigner is funneling donations through a corporation to the NRCC to defeat Rep. Spratt, thanks to the Extreme Court decision of last week. We will never know, from now on, which foreign nationals are promoting which stealth candidates with totally legal, and totally un-democratic, campaign contributions.

No matter how you twist this, Repugnants, the blame is squarely on Bush-appointed, activist, traitorous Extreme Court "justices".

Free speech, indeed.

And this is just the beginning of many more now that the Repubs have corporations for endless funneling of campaign funds thanks to the wonderful Supreme Court. I'm sure they're salivating over the opportunities to push their crap on the uneducated and gullible among us.

I guess these Republicans will ignore what was done as they held both houses of Congress from 2000 to 2006. What did they do? They spent like there was no tomorrow. Apparently they forget what they did only a few years before.

This is good, but they need to also set their sites on Charlie Rangel who has now been being investigated by Nancy Pelosi for not paying his taxes. The investigation has been going on since October of 2008. Speaker Botox, just don't say nothing about. She is scared of him.

republicans ruined this country...

If Spratt was on the Budgetary Committee, he needs to go.

(Over the past 3 years, the democrats in Congress have really done a poor job messing up the economy. Bush and Obama could have vetoed their spending, but didn't).

the people of s.c. need to elect someone to help them not to keep taking them backwards that state is behind in everything except crime.thier elected officials do nothing fr them except make tnem look bad.

Please someone tell me ONE thing the Republican Party is in favor of?

Let's talk corporate profits shall we? Who here wants corporations to not profit?

THINK ABOUT IT FIRST!!!!! It might be a trick question...

"But this year, Congressional Republicans are touting Mick Mulvaney, a GOP state senator, as a candidate who can potentially knock off the powerful chairman."

Ummm, so why try to convince him to retire? GOP double-speak is knee deep and rising.

It is difficult to imagine anything more damaging for a resume' than to be Nancy Pelosi's House Budget Committee chairman. Let's see,

1. General Motor's Vice President of Quality?
2. Bernie Madoff's Chief Internal Auditor?
3. Kate Moss's personal chef?

By all means, let's only elect Republicans in South Carolina. Let's not have any diversity in a state that in most categories, health, education, etc., ranks behind most of the other 49 states as well as some third world countries. If I had any relatives in South Carolina, I'd advise them to move.

The NRCC and the rest of the republican party are only focused on one thing and that is regaining control in Congress. That's all well and good, but I haven't heard any of their solutions on how they are going to fix the mess they created. All I hear is a bunch of criticism of democrats. I guess that's a good thing because at least I know which party is putting forth new ideas and not the same stale economic policies which got us into this mess in the first place. NO is an unacceptable answer to the American people. And I will keep that word in mind when I go to the ballot box in November....

Republican in the H.R. – NO!!!
Republican in the Senate – NO!!!
Republican POTUS – OH HELL NO!!!!

Haiti's population are bulldozing bodies to mass graves. Children are wailing in the streets for the parents. Now's the perfect time to play politics. America has lost all of its morals and traditions.