A serious conversation

would be nice, but I don't see it happening. [Link]

I'm happy to have a serious conversation about these issues, too, Mr. President. So as you say, let's not play games, and let's stop pretending.

Let's stop pretending that the record deficits in your 10-year budget plan, approved earlier today by Congress, were inherited from George W. Bush. This is your budget, your stimulus, and your spending, Mr. President. A serious conversation would acknowledge this.

Let's stop pretending that asking your cabinet to find $100 million in spending cuts is "tightening our belts." A serious conversation would call this what it really is: A joke. And a bad one at that.

Let's stop pretending that we're going to lower health care costs, thus saving money and Medicare, not to mention reducing the deficits, by spending an additional $646 billion of money we don't have. And that's just for the "down payment." A serious conversation would acknowledge that your health care reform is going to cost us even more in the long run, not less.

There will be no serious conversation.