Senator Mark Kirk sent me another...

...one of his disingenuous e-mails today (my emphasis):

S&P just announced a negative outlook for the future of U.S. debt – a warning that if we do not stop spending, a crisis could come.

The rate of U.S. spending and debt is unsustainable -- our economy is on a dangerous course. We are borrowing $4 billion a day and will pay our creditors over $200 billion just in interest payments this year.

In times of crisis, we face a choice: 1) raise taxes and provide government bailouts, or 2) cut spending and enact pro-growth policies. I strongly support cutting spending.

First of all, who is talking about government bailouts right now? (In 2008, Congressman Kirk voted for TARP, which bailed out the banking industry.)

So what on earth is he talking about?

But wait; there's more:

The Case of Ireland

If we do not change course, we face the fate of many European debtors. Take the case of Ireland. During the economic downturn, Ireland guaranteed the debts of its banks – essentially a bailout. Ireland increased spending and borrowing while its tax revenues shrunk. In response, Moody’s cut Ireland’s debt rating.

Again, Congressman Kirk voted for TARP.

The price of Ireland’s bad government was paid by the people of Ireland. In August 2010, Ireland issued 40% fewer mortgages than before. Residential and commercial lending fell so fast that Ireland’s state-run National Asset Management Agency stepped in to find a way lend something to someone.

Lenders charged the Irish taxpayer more and more for the privilege of spending other people’s money.

Kirk then has a tiny chart showing the yield on the Irish 10-year note. (It's hard to tell, but the yield looks to be around 9 1/2 %. Yields on comparable U. S. 10-year notes are below 3 1/2 %, even after today's news from S&P.)

And, anyway, according to Paul Krugman:

Ireland was running a budget surplus on the eve of the crisis, and had quite low debt. Its problems now have nothing to do with fiscal irresponsibility in the past; they’re the consequence of weak financial regulation and the government’s too-generous bank bailout.

Was this e-mail an attempt to justify backing Paul Ryan's disastrous new budget? Will Senator Kirk really vote to end Medicare and cut taxes further on the rich? Really?