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Special Report Online: 2/20/13

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    What is the real danger of sequestration?

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Welcome to another edition of special report on line I'm Bret Baier thanks for joining us -- you have been here before welcome aboard is a place you can type in questions or comments for the panel.

We answer them don't get frustrated if you don't see them right away were putting a man -- faster we get them there.

Also you can answer some questions here that -- up -- some polls we are with our panel Tucker a B and Charles.

Comment from Charles viewer Charles says of the sky is falling please stop calling it -- -- A simple reduction in growth is what it is meanwhile the government still grows Charles.

I don't know if you've watched your show for the past few days.

We've been -- -- get.

Have not been calling -- and a reduction in spending growth but eight or ten times its attorneys who are here.

If if we called it cuts that is cuts.

From growth that we've said that the government is still growing but that that these cuts are happening it's.

It's tough to explain.

But I think we spent some time with Douglas Holtz -- that hopefully iron things out to him when he.

I thought it did on those compelling segment was to make it from watching I -- can Golden Retriever.

I thought it was fantastic I mean I don't think people -- quite understand.

Washington accounting practices -- jargon.

They know it's kind of fix they know the debt for example.

There isn't really that that number it doesn't count you know entitlement liabilities.

But I think it's worth always worth explaining that.

Nothing's as it seems here and it cut isn't like the sort of cut you would do you mean.

You know so who's been fired a couple of times you know -- -- and you like.

Take stock how much money you have and how much he knew immediately -- spending in absolute terms that's not the federal government's.

Maybe.

Well.

It was -- just saying that Douglas -- he can point out that.

And the reality of this is that it doesn't.

Really make a difference we reach.

Debt reaches a 100% of GDP.

Only two years slower.

With sequestered -- -- whatever so we're not really getting the job done here.

My argument is that it's the way you know that it that it's that's being done it's gonna and that's potentially so damaging.

And it is just.

It's just such a had such a failure it's just so remarkable.

That we would be taking.

-- particularly on the defense side as I mentioned because there they've already absorbed.

-- you know rounds of cuts that they're grappling with -- this isn't the most difficult since it can't be.

Reallocate and then transferred and they can't make sense department and department of -- And how.

You know they're going to let go do you agree with the thought that when Washington starts doing.

The blame game that all hope of solution.

Is pretty much out the window.

You know I think -- I think that there's sequester is gonna go through on March 1 and there's snow there's definitely no doubt about that.

What their -- from lawmakers are not telling the public.

Very very well and and frequently enough is that they.

I'm planned to how this battle.

Right afterwards and the 24 days that are the 26 days that -- in March.

I'm doubtful that that can resolve the effects of the sequester in this -- is gonna go through.

It's gonna cause incredible damage even I mean what if you furlough people.

And then you undo this -- terror and some.

Freaky deal in April after she shut down -- -- now.

Who is having compensate people attempt -- -- already mean it's it's that it's you know we're off to the races.

A week from Friday.

And and I know both sides don't intend to reach consensus before that this is a question of what it does after march 1 and I mean you can just tell us he said.

That no one's off from proposals no one's that they're just shifting blame the president is going out on actual media blitz.

To local media trying to shame Republicans in districts with military concentrations.

Think setter and in some Harry but he is not the person -- panicked about the -- for the last.

Here and a half it was Republicans and now they've switched positions he says the sky's falling basins are -- -- -- -- Talk is one thing but it -- actions and other than the senate Democrats moved to plan out of committee they've never voted on the floor on a plan to replace the sequester.

The president in the White House haven't moved a plan to replace the sequester.

So where's the democratic leadership -- actually moving something to replace this -- a Democrat leadership thought all along.

That they have the leverage because they thought Republicans would -- -- -- And they told Republicans that on Capitol Hill they can't believe that this has come to pass.

So President Obama is doing what every -- of the bully pulpit to try to -- wouldn't.

To to do -- -- bottle.

Being in advance of march 1 to blame Republicans but Democrats have not past events -- for this request are replacement legislation in the senate.

They have not.

Brought this to a showdown with with house Republicans doesn't -- -- -- association and the president's not even.

Telling -- leaders to meet at the White House and I didn't know not even talking no and you know he's here's the presidential leadership and.

Another is -- on either side I'm blaming both sides for you know President Obama makes -- so -- he really wants immigration reform -- -- about all balanced deal get a balanced able where's the deal.

Where is the only don't know but there's I mean that Alan -- we're talking about -- and it.

-- squeeze all its revenue from loophole closings from corporate jets have been and that's that's a non starter and everybody knows that.

So.

That's a lot of talk for his radio blitz that it's not a realistic proposal.

That meant that the Democrats are not trying -- places sequester the Republicans are not there.

Republicans.

Passed two versions right to try in past times and right now.

The for -- they have passed through the house to yes I have they have.

The senate has -- you.

That is the that is true okay I'm just asking.

Think they've been messaging the public now is it's three cents on the dollar it's going to be fine actually Charles I get it I'm just trying to see what the facts are here and that and the facts are that.

Nobody's doing anything.

But the fundamental factor of the reason for all of us you talk about all the tactical reasons one blaming each other -- To fundamentally -- we have a president.

Who has created the largest deficits.

In the history of the Milky Way.

And he doesn't think that deficits are a problem.

He's not interested in cutting up -- He thinks -- do we need more stimulus now.

You know he has this ideal yes in the long run will cut down our deficit he said that in your whining here -- when -- three.

We are now in the -- he'll be saying in in the eighth -- his presidency.

He doesn't think it's an issue for me thinks he'll leave it you know and then -- successes shall deal would have -- Louis the fifteenth.

I you know and -- success -- -- Republicans who will be on the hands but that's why all of this is happening that's how we had the the crisis in 2011.

We had a question of fiscal cliff and Republicans who control a single house of the caucus.

-- -- a beachhead in -- that's like a mile off the Germans all around them are hanging on there.

And all that they can do -- either hold the line or on the sequestered their one shot.

Actually in enforcing.

A relatively small very small cut.

In something and they are gonna let go.

That's why we have the problem.

The Republicans are looking at a country headed over a cliff was the Greeks are today president who's completely oblivious who for -- -- -- care.

Or believe that it.

And they are trying to do something to get it cut.

Otherwise there will be none of -- and nothing but expansion.

And as you see any reason even a real cut.

It's a cut in the rate of growth it is exasperated if you're an outsider.

And you see America was sixteen trillion dollars worth of debt.

Obama -- already added five of those trillion.

He's gonna add another six in the second term and he doesn't care.

That's why we're having the problem.

We're gonna have that again on the CR -- -- have it again on the -- -- So how does this -- stuff organized and here are strong letter to follow.

How how does this cycle stopped -- I mean seriously -- -- -- let me just say.

Everything that Charles said was so it was resonant with it was dripping with exuded truth.

And I just want to endorse every war including periods and honest on every punctuation -- and that soliloquy.

It was fantastic how does it and it ends with collapse and -- because the one thing that ties.

All of these budget standoffs together is a profound denial of reality.

And of math which is not unique and affection by election results it's it's a physics principle inspector fabric of the universe it doesn't go away.

And so if you spend more than you bring him.

You can delay -- you -- -- the -- currency with a -- you know do all kinds of things but ultimately you fall apart.

That's true businesses -- -- countries.

And so there will be a day of reckoning sorry I wish that weren't the case but it is and that's the point at which of land I think one side is more guilty than the other principles -- guilty and some keeps us.

I'm it'll take that.

I think Herb Stein economist.

That the father of the Ben Stein and -- that.

-- said it -- when something can't go on it won't.

And that's what's gonna happen at some point it won't go on happening grease president of Portugal happening in Spain it's gonna happen here.

He's we've got to focus not happen tomorrow I tell you what.

You look ads.

People across the country.

And those who are paying attention and those who are following this closely and those who aren't.

Those who are voting and those who aren't.

It's gonna have a lot less impact -- they know it's gonna have a real impact in Washington.

The one city and -- prospered.

As America suffered in the recession that we've had.

Because it lives on government to government is growing every one else.

Lives in the real world so as a result of that that those who question would be a lot of job losses around here.

And Washington which has grown fact in this recession and in the overspending is gonna get a little bit to -- But outside it's gonna have a much much smaller effect.

-- Hi I'm gonna disagree again I think fit now under Virginia's tribute artist -- and Maryland and Charles -- this area will.

That survive the recession was cushioned from and is going to be very hard hit.

But there are pockets as I mentioned before -- Florida and Texas and California and other places affected by jobs in this military concentrations.

They're going to be affected.

And as so real as it is that the president and the Democrats adjusted jobs in the last few weeks.

This new message.

About how we've fixed the deficit and we're just about Japan off with a certain restaurants and it's all going to be -- -- reaching the four trillion to stabilize.

And then it was -- going to be hunky dory as soon now is that -- in -- for once said.

The president starts with let's just start with facts we have cut 2.5 trillion dollars that's -- If you go and I threat that's that is still only on the -- only the -- -- but -- and that's a brand new talking point from that.

And just as bad as we should tell people I understand.

I haven't had as surreal is that is Charles he's used to -- the fact that we could have general Dempsey and others say this.

Is going to be this is going to produce a readiness crisis I don't know -- scares you don't.

Why don't I make it.

Unbelievable so we make it simple -- -- I just read the Giuliani quote.

I read the only quote this is the Department of Defense will be able to -- flaws to ensure war fighting critical military readiness capabilities were not.

Degraded I don't know what they ought to be I don't know where there optimism comes from but if you talk reputable that are very familiar with the defense budget.

And and enter talking and people on the DMZ they don't feel prepared for this they think it's ready and represents a readiness crisis or resentful of the fact that they were told not to plan for this.

And not to prepare for it in a rational way they're not they were told -- -- talk about it.

And this is inside the DO GOK -- -- about defence but talk about it because there's almost sent out letters before the election.

I just.

You know I'm gonna hold my -- outside like -- here just for a little longer he.

I I don't is fair it's fair to blame both sides and they did both vote for it but it's.

I hate to worker that would present and handing out those Republican leaders voted for this and we remember when they call it the trigger.

And we sat -- -- -- was all going to be solvency were so many.

Is that a family here mrs.

hasn't gone through this in the private sector are ready I mean this is surely it's been five years of this of people.

Getting fired taking lower salaries is looking at an uncertain future delaying retirement -- mean she's a tough time in the country.

And I'm sorry I mean I don't want to see anybody lose his job.

But the average federal worker is more likely to die -- to be fired period we have a huge problem with.

We're spending on the federal side and federal workers the last to -- the -- that's just true when you notice it.

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