Eastwood disappointed by lack of bipartisanship
The actor and director says Simpson-Bowles may have been our last chance for political cooperation.
The actor, director and Man With No Name went on CNBC on Friday to lament the lack of bipartisan cooperation in Congress and to give some credit to former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson and former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles for at least trying back in 2010. He worried aloud that the intractable disputes between both sides of the aisle will lead to political complacency that will only further complicate national politics.
"It's almost like they don't give a damn," Eastwood said. "If they don't give a damn, why do they expect anybody else to?"
It's been an unusually active political cycle for Eastwood, whose appearance in Chrysler's "Halftime in America" Super Bowl ad last year in the middle of primary season made onlookers speculate which side he would take in the 2012 presidential election. He supported John McCain in 2008, but his dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama's economic policies led him to the Republican National Convention and his conversation with a piece of furniture standing in for the president.
With Obama re-elected and the nation's economy facing more cliffs than Wile E. Coyote, Eastwood longed for 2010 and the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, best known as Simpson-Bowles. The plan would have cut the federal deficit by $4 trillion, reduced debt by 60% by 2023 and eliminated the deficit altogether by 2035.
Despite support for the measure from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and McCain, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman sniffed at it as "unserious." The measure's tax tinkering was criticized and its spending cuts, especially those applied to Social Security, were savaged by detractors.
"They were just dismissed, and that was the end of it," Eastwood told CNBC.
The plan died in committee, with votes against it from such notables as failed Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and Democratic Senate fixture Max Baucus. Amid recent drama, including the fiscal cliff, the "sequester" of spending cuts and the debt ceiling debate, Simpson-Bowles is getting a fresh look. Eastwood suggests it should be a long one, as Simpson and Bowles may be our last example of bipartisanship for a while. Why focus on them?
"They're probably smarter than most."
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We need to get rid of all of them and start fresh with new people and term limits.
They don't represent their constituency, they represent themselves. The arrogant ba$tards need
a strong message from the voters, but the voters are mostly apathetic, or are too stupid to vote them out
Clint Eastwood is right on target. At least someone in the public eye has the balls to tell it like it is. We have got to cut the spending in this country. There are far too many entitlement programs and yes I include Social Security in that statement.
The problem with social security is that most people who receive social security end up getting back far more than the ever paid in. I know that there are those who die before reaching the age at which they can draw and then there are others who die before they receive an amount equivalent to what they paid in. But if you take an average worker making $50,000 per year at today's Social Security Tax rates, there is only $6,200 (12.4%) being paid in for that individual each year. Multiply that by 30 years and it is only $186,000. If that SS recipients gets $12,000 per year, the amount paid in will be paid back in 15.5 years. Today many people are living beyond age 80 and are receiving more than $1,000 a month so they are getting back more than they paid in. I realize this is an over simplification because the rate has not always been 12.4% ( it was only 10.4% for 2011 and 2012) also, the maximum wages upon which social security tax was paid was less than $50,000 prior to 1990) but these factors make my calculations even worse.
The first Social Security recipient paid in only $24.75 but received $22,888.92 during her lifetime. Google it if you think I am exaggerating. The current Social Security system is just one giant ponzi scheme. It can not continue to exist as it is currently structured.
I personally have been working and paying into the system for 40 years and per the Social Security Administration, I am scheduled to receive over $2,000 per month when I retire. I will get back everything that has been paid into my account in less than 10 years. My family has a history of living into their 90s. You do the math and then tell me that this system makes sense.
Mr. Eastwood would be nice if you could get the politicians to listen, because the don't listen to those they serve.
I wish when they talk budgets they fall upon the sword and take a real pay cut and that goes for you Mr. President, from the top down they should practice what they preach. We are all in this together if we have to live with less than you and everyone under you should take a REAL PAY CUT.
What are you doing about gas prices? Cost of food? Are you cutting trips? Eating out of the blue box? Ah yes you just raised the debt ceiling & still ask for the middle class to shoulder more. I just don't get it.
According to a report released today, Social Security and healthcare will cost the government $3 trillion/yr in ten years. That accounts for approx 100% of the revenue the govt takes in. No money for defense, education, military, education, FAA, EPA, NLRB, welfare, Homeland Security,roads, bridges, bribery of foreign governments, money to buy elections through giveaways and subsidies, money to pay the interest on the debt etc etc..
Anyone concerned? We ALL should be.
Remember people, Clint Eastwood is worth over $375 Million bucks.
I used to like the guy.. but since he got up at the Rep convention and made an old, decrepit *ss of himself on TV TRYING to slam the president.. I only feel sorry for him. Kinda' like watching Charleton Heston make a fool of himself during those NRA interviews at the end of his life.
Before anybody accuses me of being some kid.. I'm 56.
the country has been going down hill sincwe 2006, when the demo's took over, pelosi and reid spender's of the world and then came along obama that didn't care where or how money was spent, just spend it.
now here we go, they hillary has a chance in 2016, i would not vote for a liar, murderer. along with the awol president when 4 men died in benghazi, but hey just bumps in the road obama calls it. wee read. this is all obama's fault now, no more blaming bush or anyone else, this is why he wants your guns.
IF CLINT REALLY MEANS WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP LET HIM SHOW COURAGE OF RESIGNING MEMBERSHIP OF NRA AS RONNIE DID AND ASK REPUBLICANS APPROVE GUN LEGISLATIONS, WHICH ARE NOT TO CHALLENGE SECOND AMENDMENT BUT TO RESTRICT TYPES OF GUNS SHOULD BE IN THEN HANDS PEOPLE OTHER THAN ARMED FORCES PROTECTING US. 1999 NRA ACCEPTED TOTAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE AGAINST IT. WONDER HOW MUCH THE GUN MANUFACTURERS PAID NRA TO SHOW THIS CHANGE OF THOUGHTS (CERTAINLY NOT CHANGE OF HEARTS) !
THE RED NECK REPUBLICANS LIKE SPEAKER AND HIS CRONIES TIME AND TIME AGAIN HAVE SHOWN THEY WERE OPPOSING EVERY GOOD LEGISLATIONS NOT BECAUSE HE IS HUSSEIN BUT FOR HIS COLOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY HAVE PATHETICALLY OPPOSED THEIR OWN RESOLUTIONS OF THE PAST !! THE ONLY THING THEY LEARNT FROM RECENT DEFEATS IN ELECTIONS IS TO CLING TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (ESPECIALLY HISPANICS). IF USA STOPS GIVING LEGAL STATUS TO KIDS BORN TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MOMS (WHICH IS A BIG LOOPHOLE) WE WILL SEE BIG DROP IN INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
JOHNNY FROM ARIZONA WAS REJECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF USA OVERWHELMINGLY HASN'T LEARNT ANYTHING AND STILL IS SHAMELESSLY TALKING IN FAVOR OF UNWARRANTED WAR IN IRAQ,.WHICH INCIDENTALLY (HUSSEIN VOTED AGAINST THEN AND ENDING IT NOW). SENILE JOHNNY KEEPS CONTRADICTING HIS OWN STANCE AND STATEMENTS OF THE PAST WHICH INCLUDES IMMIGRATION ! .. .
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