So last year "new home buyers" got an extra tax credit or write-off. Now they're talking about taking away the mortgage interest write-off. This should really stimulate the housing market.

Everything is fine as long as the warlords in Afghanistan are getting paid billions for not shooting at our troops. We pay Israel at least $3B a year. Why don't we cut foreign aid first?

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson have a battle on their hands. Any cuts will be unpopular. Reminds me of when David Stockman was budget axeman for Reagan in the early 80s. Bowles had us on the right track when Clinton was in office. Then Bush cut taxes, borrowed money for war, and got us into this mess.