Culberson Spazzes Out On Twitter, Falsely Claims Pelosi Is Rushing Stimulus Bill So She Can Go To Europe
Culberson Spazzes Out On Twitter, Falsely Claims Pelosi Is Rushing Stimulus Bill So She Can Go To Europe
As the House moves quickly to vote on final passage of the economic recovery package, Rep. John Culberson’s (R-TX) criticisms of the process are growing increasingly irrational. Over the last 24 hours, Culberson used his Twitter account to refer to the leadership in Congress as “arrogant tyrants,” claim the process was making him “physically ill,” and argue that the leadership had acted in a “TOTALLY ILLEGAL” way in pushing for quick passage of the bill.
Now Culberson is claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to vote on the package today simply because she is “leaving at 6:00 PM for an 8 day trip to Europe!” The Drudge Report picked up on Culberson’s claim. In large red letters, Drudge trumpeted Culberson’s dig at Pelosi with an arguably sexist headline:
Pelosi will be leading a congressional delegation to Rome, where the group is scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict and address several NATO issues. However, she has repeatedly made clear that if this recovery package is not passed today, she — and the rest of Congress — will stay on Capitol Hill to work on it:
“If we don’t have a bill before the Presidents [Day] recess, there will be no Presidents [Day] recess. … We are not going home without an economic recovery package.” [The Hill, 1/8/09]
“We won’t leave without it.” [NPR News, 1/14/09]
“We’ll keep people in until we get a bill. But we must have a bill in February.” [Larry King Live, 1/21/09]
“We’re on schedule for our timetable to have a bill on the president’s desk to be signed before the Presidents Day recess. Again, if not, there will be no recess.” [Reuters, 1/23/09]
Pelosi spokesperson, Nadeam Elshami, reiterated that commitment this morning, telling ThinkProgress:
As the Speaker made clear all along — and announced in early January and has repeated numerous times since — Congress will stay for as long as it takes to pass the President’s Economic Recovery plan. The House will pass that historic bill today so that the President can sign it, jobs can be created and the American economy can get moving again. The American people cannot wait and neither should the Congress to deal with this economic crisis.
Indeed, while Culberson has deluded himself into believing the recovery package is “a Trojan horse that liberals are using to ultimately turn America into France,” the rest of the country is experiencing a brutal recession. Yesterday, the Labor Department announced that 623,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, while the total number of recipients grew to 4.81 million.
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Can we trust Culberson will take a principled stand and refuse to take any of the tainted stimulus money for his Congressional district???
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… whew… good one…
Heh… I crack myself up sometimes.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pmWorried that the US might “turn into France”???
February 13th, 2009 at 12:41 pmWhich country has the US been turning to in the recent past???
-ultimately turn America into France,”
…mmmm, brie….wine….quiche….
…fcuk the republicans.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:41 pmarrogant tyrants……..got mirror?
February 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pmThe world according to Rep. John Culberson no longer exists. Color him delusional.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pms/b “turning into” – you probably knew that. Not you TROS, you were probably laughing too hard. :)
February 13th, 2009 at 12:43 pmAren’t the people like Culberson who are moaning about “rushing” the stimulus bill the same ones who didn’t see ANY “rushing” when it came to ramming through authorization for Bush to bomb other countries if he felt like it, the Patriot Act, etc., etc.?
Oh, but that was a national emergency, they claim.
Yeah, well so is this.
And this is being handled with far less “rushing” and “ramming” — despite what Limbaugh tells the GOP to say.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:44 pmWhy is no one mentioning how the repunklicans governed from ‘00 to ‘06, when Tom DeLay and the K-Street gang ran the show.
Closed door, midnight votes. Heck, democrats weren’t even allowed to vote most of the time.
And now they’re complaining about partisanship?
Give me a freakin’ break. My daughter has more accoutnabiltiy than these morons.
Republicanism is a scourge; a sh1tstain on democracy.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:45 pmI signed up for Twitter, and to be honest, I’m still trying to figure out what is so ‘great’ about it.
But anyhooo, maybe I’ll try again.
¶ AIO
February 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmLOL! These guys are going nuts! I always knew Republicans were crazy, but know it is just so blantant. Rush, Billo and Beck are becoming unhinged. It would be funny if they hadn’t destoyed the USA with their damaging agenda. But watching them publicly melt-down is somewhat entertaining.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmFrance: Healthcare for everyone while eating delicious cuisine. I don’t see the problem.
Although I admit the frequent “fermetures exceptionelles” can be tiresome.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmIsn’t it awesome how the republicans are using twitter as much and as crazily as they are. It’s blogging for idiots.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmfrom what I can tell, its kind of like Facebook, but without any of the friends that come with social networking sites. Its basically a ‘memememememe’ page.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:48 pmWe may need the stimulus bill. But, do we really know what’s in it?
We’re going to spend a trillion dollars, but we don’t have time to read the bill?
How is it transparent, to give people less than 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars? How is that responsible use of the taxpayers money?
I understand the desire to rush, but 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars?
If you’re honest, you’d admit that doesn’t make sense.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:48 pmdeebaser Says:
Isn’t it awesome how the republicans are using twitter as much and as crazily as they are. It’s blogging for idiots.
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You gotta hand it to ‘em… the GOOPers keep coming up w/ newer, better, and faster ways to embarrass themselves on an international level.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:49 pmYou’re right. It’s difficult to put nuance and thought into 120 characters. And to keep senator’s travel information secret.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:50 pmMethinks this is one Republican that doesn’t enjoy being in the minority party. (He was first elected in 2000 in one of Tom Delay’s newly gerrymandered districts in TX) Would prefer to bully the Democrats instead. Poor whiney Republican.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:52 pmPoliticians (R) don’t seem to understand the whole “everyone can read the internets” thing.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:56 pmThe “let them eat cake” party is accusing the Democrats of turning us into France. Rethugs just don’t understand irony.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pmbackup Says:
If you’re honest, you’d admit that doesn’t make sense.
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So you’re finally admitting almost the ENTIRE Botch Admin was a big mistake?
‘Cause the GOOP pulled this kind of crap over and over and over again when they held the reins, in some case giving the Dems even less time to read over complex bills before being forced to vote on them.
Were you upset about that/ Just asking…
If GOOPer legislators would do THEIR JOBS instead of play to the nearest Faux news camera, they could have looked at that bill, albeit quickly.
It’s so nice of you to use “we” in your comments. “We” don’t get to read these bills at all. Our legislators do. They put the bills together and they vote on them, not us. They have staffers who are supposed to keep them informed.
This entire process didn’t happen over night, no matter what you want to pretend. It’s been going on for weeks now. how long would you have them wait? 3 months? Half a year? Long enough to justify the GOOP complaining “they’re not doing enough”?
If I had to make a choice between a quick stimulus vote and a quick move to attack iraq, I’ll take the stimulus bill any day, week, month or year.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pmbut what of the stories that no one’s read it…?
February 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pmwhat’s that about?
backup Says:
If you can’t read 1000 pages in over a week then what the hell are you doing?
February 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pmWhat a bunch of hypocrites. They delayed the Holder confirmation because Spector was going to be out of the country.
They don’t need to read 1000 pages, only the changes. What have they been doing for the past two weeks, picking their noses. Does anyone beleive they actually read any bill? That is what they have staff for. Their staff does the cherry picking for them, they just regurgitate it off index cards.
Republicans only know how to chew cud. Nothing else.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pmbackup Says:
… but we don’t have time to read the bill?
_____________
Funny… all those GOOPer Congresscritters did have enough time to study that non-existent CBO report slamming the effectiveness of the stimulus bill and go on national media to talk about it, over and over and over… but…
They’re upset because they don’t have time to read this?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pmturn America into France.
Hmmm, we have French fries, French toast,… I say GO FOR IT!
February 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pmThey’ve been working on it for weeks. It’s not a referendum, we don’t all get to vote on it. If congress hasn’t been reading it every day for the last three weeks that’s their problem.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pmPelosi should take to the floor and proclaim: “This bill is being Rushed!”
At which time, virtually every one of the moronic lemming turds AKA Republiscums will vote for the stimulus, believing it has been approved by the drug addicted Grand Poobah of the GOP, Limbaugh.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pmHas anyone seen no tread? He still has not answered my question from the other day about if he’d refuse to accept welfare and social security checks.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm1000 pages… in a week?? Man, back in my college days, that would mean an extra two days for partying.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pmbackup says;
And just how many on Capital Hill read the USA Patriot Act before passing it?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pm“he’s worried about us becoming France…”
If that meant I could get healthcare, then Vive le France!
February 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pmok… getting my answer(s)… thanks.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pmbackup says: I understand the desire to rush, but 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars?
“24″ is a TV show.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pmThe bill has been around a while now. The reconciliation bill can be summarized regarding the changes. If the “rush”-concerned (pun intended) would stop posing, they could read the summary.
lokidog, we did again! Ohio minds in sync!
February 13th, 2009 at 1:07 pmThis is so obviously a talking point. We thought you tried harder than the average troll backup.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pmbackup Says: pretty much anything
bakcedup,
If you’re honest, you’d admit that you don’t make sense.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pmWhat a bunch of drama queens the Republicans are.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pmShayne Says:
backup says:
I understand the desire to rush, but 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars?
This is so obviously a talking point. We thought you tried harder than the average troll backup.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I wish they’d been so concerned about the Patriot Act.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pmHe hasn’t for a long time.
are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
can we have a pool dad?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:13 pmcan we have a pool dad?
This is the GOP strategy? Losing their minds? I think they may overestimate the value of vitriol and obstructionism. It may play well in Texas, but not 99% of the rest of the U.S.
Let us all agree: the 1990s model of opposing Clinton to win big in 1994 will NOT work this time. The economic catastrophe caused by 28 years of Reagon style trickle-down economics has been proven to be a house of cards that does not last.
The American people get that and back Obama and the stimulus. The poll #s prove this out. The GOP will be sorry in 2010. Again.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pmHere’s a link. Obama talking with economic advisors a month ago, promising transparency and reform:
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7950/
He laments a trillion dollar deficit left over from Bush, but we’re going to double that with this new bill alone.
He states that he’s going to be more transparent and more responsible with the peoples money. If we’re going to spend more money than we ever have, on a huge bill that I believe most voting on it, don’t know what’s in it. How is that more responsible?
He says their will be transparency and the information will be posted online. Okay, but how is 24 hours to digest a 1000 page bill, a genuine effort at transparency?
If you watch Obama talk about fiscal responsibility, how does this stimulus bill and the way it’s being hustled, follow?
I understand the argument that a delay in stimulus could be damaging. But, that is at odds with the transparency and fiscal responsibility that was promised.
It’s four minutes. Watch it:
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7950/
February 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pmed just asked Rep. George Miller, D-CA, about the gripes there’s no time to read 1000 pages:
“the good news for sen. lautenberg and others – it’s double spaced, big print…”
February 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pmHey guys,
backup is genuinely concerned that even given 3 weeks to look at the particulars of the rescue package, plus the months leading up to the election up until now to get some sort of clarity on the economic crisis which, to believe that this “snuck up” on us, especially those CHARGED with kind of keeping an eye on how the country is doing, would be to believe a LIE – even with all that, backup is concerned that his GOP friends are too dense and too slow to even have begun processing ANY of this. which explains their immediate, rote reaction: TAX CUTS!
backup, you are serving really weak tea this afternoon. it’s Friday the 13th – get creative or something.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pmHello all,Tony and lido here.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pmI generally try and control myself,but after this week shove it.
If I was in France they wouldn’t have discharged my from the hospital with fluid on my lungs yet from pnuemonia.
If I was in England it wouldn’t have taking them 3 days to fix the toilet in my room,guess they were studying a new mega germ.
If I was in Sweden, maybe the hospital could afford tissues
Frig the right wingers and their enablers here. This country is a damn sorry site unless your a rich dumb ass right winger like Tears
Boenher.
Screw it all
take care
tony and lido
ah hahahaha ha !
February 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pm…into France? Hooray Hooray, I’m breaking out my beret!
good times they are a comin’!
February 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmUnfortunately, its all true.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmI’d laugh but I’m wheezing too hard right now
tony and lido
bentley1 Says:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Well ranted, Tony & Lido.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pmthanks.The damn hospital was a public health danger.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pmEvery once in a while (most TPers might say more often tan that), b-cup, you seem to get into moods where you’re just ornery and make me want to say “go Cheney yourself”.
Your “if you’re honest” comment earlier was one such moment.
Now this is a second.
EVERYONE laments the trillion dollar deficit left over from Bush, except Bush.
And almost EVERYONE agrees that the only prudent course in this wrecked economy is ramped up government spending.
When you try to present this situation as an example of hypocrisy from the President, it makes YOU look dishonest.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmbackup Says:
He laments a trillion dollar deficit left over from Bush, but we’re going to double that with this new bill alone.
____________
EXCUSE me? Botch ran up nearly SIX TRILLION DOLLARS in debt while he was in office, you specious, lying twit.
And as far as BASIC NUMBERS go, if Botch had left only “a trillion dollar deficit”, how is $789BB DOUBLE THAT?
Do you ever feel embarrassed about the crap you post here?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmbackup Says: …
He laments a trillion dollar deficit left over from Bush, but we’re going to double that with this new bill alone.
do you understand that THIS time WE THE PEOPLE will get the benefits from this spending…?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmbackup:
He states that he’s going to be more transparent and more responsible with the peoples money. If we’re going to spend more money than we ever have, on a huge bill that I believe most voting on it, don’t know what’s in it. How is that more responsible?
It is completely irresponsible of the Congressmen and women to not devote ALL THE RESOURCES AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO READ AND COMPREHEND THIS BILL. It is disingenuous of you to blame the President for the fact that the people responsible for KNOWING WHAT THEY VOTE ON apparently ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.
Do you realize that ALL of the Senators and Reps have staff members? You couldn’t imagine having five people run through 200 page sections of the bill and then meet to discuss things that send up red flags?
It is so bogus of you and your concern to be pointed in the wrong direction. These people in Congress NEED TO DO THEIR JOB. Complaining about being “rushed” when they have had ample time to get to researching is lame.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmFear and panic is all that the Republicans have to offer the American people. This is just more of the same old crap that we have been listening to for the last 8 years. All this does is raise people’s blood pressure and increase the amount of stress hormones which increases abdominal body fat.
I say, “Just say no to the Republican message.”
February 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pmtony – i was laughing at rep.miller’s comment… not you…
February 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pmbentley1 Says:
thanks.The damn hospital was a public health danger.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Don’t I know it. My Mum was in bad shape, but it was the hospital acquired MRSA and pseudomonas that took her away sooner than she should have gone.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pmand backup, as stated just now by a caller to ed,
WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN FROM THAT BOOSH TRILLION???
(’cept he wasnt’ yelling…)
February 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pmTotally.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pmbackup Says:
He says their will be transparency and the information will be posted online. Okay, but how is 24 hours to digest a 1000 page bill, a genuine effort at transparency?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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It’s not 24 hours. We’ve had three weeks. HR 1 has been on Thomas since January 26.
Out of curiosity, have you been this concerned with reading all 1,000 pages of the bill every time Congress has voted on the budget or issued a supplemental for the Iraq/Afghanistan quagmires?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pmI’m certainly not pleased w/ the fact we’re spending all this money, hoping it will kick-start the economy back to life, but I DESPISE what BotchCo did over the last 8 years to much stronger degree.
Perhaps if GOOPer legislators would knock out the phony histrionics and public whining, they’d have time to actually DO THEIR JOBS.
READ THE BILL. GOOPers… Over 40% of the “dollars” involved are in the form of those F-in’ tax cuts you cretins love so much.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:31 pmZooey Says:
Don’t I know it. My Mum was in bad shape, but it was the hospital acquired MRSA and pseudomonas that took her away sooner than she should have gone.
seriously? from carle???
oh jeez… so sorry…
February 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pmGee… where’d b-cup go?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pmTweedster Says:
It is so bogus of you and your concern to be pointed in the wrong direction. These people in Congress NEED TO DO THEIR JOB. Complaining about being “rushed” when they have had ample time to get to researching is lame.
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B-cup is running on fumes this morning.
Perhaps the GOOPers simply went home and caught the Faux Snooze wrap-up on the stimulus. Look at all the time they saved by not having to actually read it.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pmZooey, sorry to hear about your mom.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pmand Katy, no problem. I’m just in a mood today. Or as Fred G. Sanford would say, I’m having a fit.
Wonder what the last time a congress fool was treated like shit when he needed medical care.
Like I said, to heck with all the sefish buffons , AND thier enablers here.
tony and lido
Could twitter be used to show his consituents what a bozo he is ?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pmhow do you know, if you don’t know what’s in the bill?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pmZooey. sorry.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:38 pmWere paying these fools almost 200 grand a year, and enabler backup says their not intelligent enough to read 1000 pages in a week or two. At least Jethro Bodine gradeated 6th grade.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:39 pmtony and lido
sorry about being on a roll here.
tony and lido
You falsly attempt to say that someone is keeping this information from the people who are voting on it….that’s just a lie captain…..you getting dizzy from the fumes or what?
What you claim to be going on here is exactly what the corrupt lenders actually were doing with low income people trying to buy houses……irony….look it up.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pmHow do you know whether katy knows what’s in the bill or not?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:41 pmMaybe if the Regressives hadn’t spent all there time on tv and giving interviews to right wing radio and print media outlets bemoaning the bill they could have sat down and read the damned thing. Truth is they don’t give a shit about the details. Suffice to say it is Obama’s bill, being put forward by a Dem majority that stands to help average Americans. That’s the Holy trifecta of Repub “Reasons to Obstructand Mislead”. These Repukes have spent the last two weeks crying to the media about a few points that make up about 2% of the actual bill in hopes to sway public opinion away from the much larger efforts it contains to aid Americans and get us moving forward. Obama blew that crap out of the water with his town hall meetings and press conference. These Repubs are pretty stupid. Did they forget that a Democrat now has the bully pulpit? Did they forget that the new President possesses a keenly working brain as opposed to his predecessor?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pmLet us bash trolls musically! New-to-me site: http://www.amiright.com teems with
February 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pmteems with song parodies, many of them spot-on for our types of comments. I plan to contribute. . .
katy Says:
seriously? from carle???
oh jeez… so sorry…
February 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
No, not from Carle — that was the best hospital EVER. It was their local hospital.
Thanks, all.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pmThe Pig Men are descendants of the Loyalists who supported King George of England. No wonder they liked Bush. The name George reached back into the memory stored in their gene pool and they believed that America would revert to a feudal system ruled by the King and Lords.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pmJoin me in some musical troll-bashing? New-to-me site: http://www.amiright.com percolates with song parodies already, many of them relevant to TP concerns. I plan to contribute. . .
February 13th, 2009 at 1:45 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
——————————————————————————–
backup Says:
He says their will be transparency and the information will be posted online. Okay, but how is 24 hours to digest a 1000 page bill, a genuine effort at transparency?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
___________
It’s not 24 hours. We’ve had three weeks. HR 1 has been on Thomas since January 26.
Out of curiosity, have you been this concerned with reading all 1,000 pages of the bill every time Congress has voted on the budget or issued a supplemental for the Iraq/Afghanistan quagmires?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pm Recommend (1) | Report Abuse
Hey, Mr. Toasterhead, I’ll give you two chances to answer that one, but I know you can get it on the first.
tony and lido
February 13th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
backup Says:
do you understand that THIS time WE THE PEOPLE will get the benefits from this spending…?
how do you know, if you don’t know what’s in the bill?
In regards to you floating this as an excuse for why the Republicans should not vote on the package – it is their job to read the bill. If they cannot read a 1,000 page document then they shouldn’t run for a job that requires such a Herculean task.
As I said before, these people have lots of staffers who I am sure can analyze chunks of the bill and condense them down to layman’s terms for these idiots in the Senate and House who feel so “rushed” and furious about not being able to get out of their own friggin’ way.
Why do you condone laziness on the part of your elected officials?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pmbackup Says:
how do you know, if you don’t know what’s in the bill?
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Okay, since you’re so determined to keep driving INTO traffic…
What fantasy are you proposing? That we all demand Congress postpone voting on this until after all 300 MILLION of us read it over and discuss it thoroughly?
You do understand how utterly impossible that is? For ANY Congressional bill?
I notice others here this morning have repeatedly asked you if you were this upset over the rapid passage of the Patriot Act, or perhaps those instances when GOOPers slipped new passages into bills in the dead of night w/ no forewarning and right before votes were scheduled?
***Crickets…***
Didn’t think so.
BUT… now, just like a little kid pestering Mummy, you’re gonna push this NEW SOUND MEME over and over and over, aren’t you?
I notice the other day, when we got into this whole bit about plating memes, you took to making a joke out of me, BUT, you never replied directly to what I was saying.
I WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU. You’re a fraud. Sneaky and manipulative.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
backup Says:
do you understand that THIS time WE THE PEOPLE will get the benefits from this spending…?
how do you know, if you don’t know what’s in the bill?
How do you know whether katy knows what’s in the bill or not?
You didn’t know that backup is a psychic, but strangely cannot comprehend a pdf?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pmTROS:
I WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU. You’re a fraud. Sneaky and manipulative
You forgot to add smarmy, condescending, and clueless.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pmwhew… good to know, zooey… i mean about carle…
February 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pmstill sorry…
Oh backup? Take a couple minutes to let responses to your idiotically sophomoric argument sink in, and please indulge me with a respons to the following question:
Why do you condone laziness on the part of your elected officials?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pmUncle Ho Says:
turn America into France.
Hmmm, we have French fries, French toast,… I say GO FOR IT!
French Kiss?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:53 pmFrench Tickler?
I’M THERE!
(even though I’m late for the party, you know I wasn’t going to let this pass!)
The Regressives also hope that we conveniently forgot how they operated the last eight years.
1-Chimpy and crew raise the terrorist threat level to orange (with no true justification other than to scare Americans or deflect attention from one of there crimes)
2-Have the propogandists pick up their talking points at the Pentagon and hit the media circuit.
3-Maintain constant background chatter on the Hill that a possible attack may be underway and anyone who doesn’t support them is aiding terrorists and anti-American.
4-Bush steps up to his bully-pulpit to single out and pressure the Dems to move quickly in giving up citizens Constitutional rights while simultaneously blaming them for all the worlds woes and if you don’t do what I say then the terrorists win and we will all die.
5-After having NO time to read a bill, it is rushed through Congress to Bush’s desk (usually after some Repuke aid sneaks in a few extras).
6-After a few signing statements and strikes of his red pen Bush turns the bill into a law that doesn’t even resemble the original bill.
7-If you don’t like it you are anti-American, we are all going to die and all the rest is covered under Executive Privilege and State Secrets so go Cheney yourselves.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pmbackup Says:
How is it transparent, to give people less than 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars? How is that responsible use of the taxpayers money?
I understand the desire to rush, but 24 hours to consider a 1000 page bill that costs a trillion dollars?
If you’re honest, you’d admit that doesn’t make sense.
Hey, backup–a few nights ago I praised your efforts to raise honest questions, and this one is, on the surface, honest. But we have a REPRESENTATIVE rather than a direct democracy: we elect representatives to carry out the desires of their constituents. Admitting RIGHT up front that the repugs have largely elected scum to carry out their scummy desires; admitting also that not all elected non-repug representatives have clearly carried out the desires of their constituents; and admitting that our system has flaws, let me nonetheless assert this: For the first time in DECADES, we have duly elected representative who ARE carrying out the desires of their constituents! It has not been the system that has been flawed; it has been the disruption, lying, self-gratification, narrow-mindedness, delusion, hatefulness, racism, classicism, law-defying, Constitution-stomping RETHUG “elected” represtatives who have so twisted the system.
Our government was designed to allow citizens to CHOOSE those who would have the time, desire, savvy, expertise, education, experience, fidelity, and/or intelligence to deal with complicated bills, laws, Constitutional questions, and government actions in general. “Government by consent of the governed”–a founding principle of the US. We can now TRUST our elected leaders to carry out our wishes as much as is Constitutionally and realistically possible.
February 13th, 2009 at 1:58 pmbackup Says:
do you understand that THIS time WE THE PEOPLE will get the benefits from this spending…?
how do you know, if you don’t know what’s in the bill?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
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You don’t need to read all 1000 pages (which are double-spaced with huge margins, so it’s really more like 300 pages, fyi) to know that we the people will indeed get some benefits from this spending. In a cursory skim of the first fifty pages or so, I found all of these benefits we’ll be receiving:
Not bad for just the first 60 pages…
February 13th, 2009 at 2:00 pmTweedster Says:
You forgot to add smarmy, condescending, and clueless.
_________
Oops! My bad. yer so right. T’anks fer the clarification.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pmYa’ll are doin’ a find job… a FINE job… of chasing b-cup around and rubbing his nose in his own words.
Gotta go! See ya later.
And if ya get the chance, give b-cup an extra one right in the nads (if you can FIND THEM) fer me!
February 13th, 2009 at 2:13 pmRepublic, Tweedster, and others:
It’s not that all of us have to read and debate it, but how about our representatives?
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=43478
Forget about me making a claim that there hasn’t been enough time, and focus on what the representatives are saying themselves.
If anyone here has read the bill or claims to know what’s in it, you better call up you representatives and let them know. Not one of them claims to have read it.
Spending a trillion dollars without reading the bill and asking questions about the spending may satiate the need for quick action, but it does not measure up to Obama’s charge for transparency and fiscal responsibility.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:14 pmDRxJ says;
DOH! :-o
February 13th, 2009 at 2:18 pmtelestai2. I respect your point about representative government. I agree with that.
But, what about the comment:
February 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
b-cup, you offer a link to Cybercast News Service (formerly Conservative News Service) to buttress your right-wing talking point?
Seriously?
What’s going on today, b-cup?
Phoning it in on a Friday? Training an apprentice? Ypu’re making me look bad for defending you in the past.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pmbackup, if what you are saying is true then why are the reps claiming it is nothing but pork…..how would they know.
can’t have it both ways anymore…
February 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pmread the thread Ralph….he’s pathetic and really always has been, even when you guys were defending captain mantastic.
He’s getting as bad as tracy5
February 13th, 2009 at 2:27 pmbackup Says:
If anyone here has read the bill or claims to know what’s in it, you better call up you representatives and let them know. Not one of them claims to have read it.
Spending a trillion dollars without reading the bill and asking questions about the spending may satiate the need for quick action, but it does not measure up to Obama’s charge for transparency and fiscal responsibility.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
___________
And this is news to who?
Members of Congress NEVER read every page of every bill they vote for. This is why they hire a staff of LAs and LDs to do that for them. I don’t expect my Congressman to be an expert on economics, African affairs, metallurgy, climate science, levee construction, credit-default swaps, corn subsidies, and any of the thousands of other issues he’ll have to vote on in any given session. I do, however, trust him to have a competent staff of researchers and advisors.
That said, would I like to see Members spend more time legislating and less time campaigning and fundraising? Absolutely. But that’ll take campaign finance reform that nobody’s willing to stick their necks out for, unfortunaely.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:28 pmralph. I’ve been told about this mythical time in the past when I used to have something to offer; many times over the past couple of years.
The idea is simple. I get that many experts believe that if the stimulus is delayed, it could result in more economic hardship. I get it.
But, I think it is reasonable to highlight the fact that it is a trillion dollars. We have debated funding for the war in Iraq almost continuously for about 5 years. They are similar numbers. A trillion dollars.
While I understand the rational of quick action, it comes at a cost of less deliberation. Our representatives are admitting they ‘don’t have adequate time to read the proposal before voting on it’.
Is it unreasonable to suggest that if we are going to spend a trillion dollars, that we are very confident that our representatives are familiar with what’s in the bill and that they have had adequate deliberation on it’s contents?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pmFunny, I don’t remember this much concern from someone here about the trillions of unaccounted for wasted dollars in Iraq. Anyone else?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:31 pmtony and lido
excuse my pig latin. should read I don’t remember someones concern about all the wasted, unaccounted, for trillions spent in Irag. Anyone else
February 13th, 2009 at 2:33 pmbackup Says:
Is it unreasonable to suggest that if we are going to spend a trillion dollars, that we are very confident that our representatives are familiar with what’s in the bill and that they have had adequate deliberation on it’s contents?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
__________
They’ve been deliberating on its contents since January 26, when the bill was introduced, and have been deliberating on the basic idea of an economic stimulus package since November.
How much more deliberation do you need?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:38 pmGo Cheney yourself, backup; I noted days ago when you had a substantive, reasonable argument to offer. It wasn’t some “mythic past”.
Today you’re being a troll. offering right-wing talking points and supporting them with links to a wingnut “news service”.
Any legitimate points you had about adequate time to read the bill were efficiently shot down by TRoS, Shayne and HTH, among others.
Lame, b-cup. very lame. Maybe these guys were right about you.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:38 pmbackup, you trusted the republicans with much more money than this……how did they perform?
We trust democrats to do a better job. We have good reason to believe that they will…..history is just one of those reasons.
Need I remind you of the bush and gop legacy:
After you read that you should be able to put this spending bill in perspective. It is a fraction of the money lost for us by gop fiscal policies.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Any legitimate points you had about adequate time to read the bill were efficiently shot down by TRoS, Shayne and HTH, among others.
Lame, b-cup. very lame. Maybe these guys were right about you.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
_________
If he’d spent this time reading instead of whining, he’d be halfway through the bill text already.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:42 pmPerhaps if these repugs who are so outraged by the fact they didn’t have time to read the bill would have kept themselves in their offices and read the friggin’ thing instead of appearing on the tv and radio machines at all given times of the day and night……….
My ourage meter is on serious overload today. I’m sick and tired of the whining and the bickering and the fear mongering and the down right disingenuousness of the Republican party. It’s like having to step between a bunch of middle grade school kids fighting on the play ground.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pmBackup, if reading and understanding legislation is not the job of a member of Congress, just what do you think they should be doing up there? They have had over a month to integrate all of the proposed legislation. Could it be that some of them are more interested in appearing on television yakking about something they can’t be bothered with reading and understanding?
February 13th, 2009 at 3:03 pm“B-Cup” – ROTFL!!!! (terrorist fist-jab @ Ralph)
I’ve had my moments of Pelosi disappointment, but I am compelled to joy at the way she’s way under the skins of Righties.
Oh how they rant and rave and foam over Nancy.
Good, good times.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pmMaybe b-cup’s unspoken concern is that Democrats will behave exactly as Republicans, and try to slip a radical change into the bill unnoticed… say, a provision which would have allowed for the staffs of the (Democratic) finance committee chairmen to examine any individual American’s income tax returns.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:18 pmThinking of Twitter – which could potentially offer non-censored pictures into the lives of political figures.
Any chance in convincing Michelle Bachmann (MN) and her twin in Florida (blanking on the name) along with Sarah Palin to get active on Twitter ?
February 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pmralph. Some of this stuff doesn’t transmit as well as I’d like it too. You’re fair and I’ve said so in the past. I could have done a better job, but I was responding to this:
What’s the expectation? That if I post something that you don’t agree with (which is going to happen) it somehow invalidates agreements we’ve had in the past?
I don’t get that.
And, trust me, if I got worked up anytime I thought someone’s post was lame or disingenuous here, I’d be in a constant state of agitation.
I appreciate your willingness to consider other views. But, sincerely, if you’re worried about what others are going to think, because you might agree with me on occasion – don’t do it.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:59 pmHoodathunk. Because of the circumstance, this stimulus bill has about 40 times the amount of legislation in it than a normal bill.
On one hand, there’s a push to get it all started. On the other hand, there’s so much in it, it can’t be reasonably deliberated.
There is some validity to both these claims:
and
Before anyone gets pissed, I know that the war in Iraq and the stimulus bill are two different things. I’m only suggesting that the tactics are similar.
The point is: The lack of deliberation of our last trillion dollar project (War in Iraq), resulted poor decision making.
Will the lack of deliberation today result in similarly bad fiscal decisions?
February 13th, 2009 at 4:08 pmJesus freakin christ on a crutch captain.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:15 pmYou know what I’ve noticed about trolls, b-cup?
We can explain in painstaking detail what elements of their arguments are disingenuous, and why we find them so, we can outline characteristic inconsistency of ideas and values, we can point out that their positions fail to adhere to principles of logic, and yet they always claim that we want to silence them simply because they “disagree” with us.
You seem to have this same kind of blind spot today.
Whatever respect I’ve had for you in the past depended not on any agreements we reached (which were few) but on your willingness and ability to argue fairly and honestly.
So if we were to rewrite your question more accurately it might go like this:
And I’d have to say it may not completely invalidates those judgments, but it certainly calls them into question.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:31 pmAlright. Fred, ralph. rhf. What ever point I’m trying to make isn’t working, so I’ll give it up. Plus, it is valentine’s day.
I’ll concede to the point that it has been more debated than my characterization (you’ve change my mind). And although there is a lot in the bill that should have more deliberation (only because of the size of it), I concede Obama’s (and the progressive) argument that we can’t deliberate forever while we are getting nothing done.
One last concession. It is a representative republic. The hope is that, although we would like more deliberation, there is an inherent trust we have in our representatives.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:32 pmWrong. The poor decision making was the result not of “lack of deliberation”, since further deliberation would not have changed any minds that were already set on war.
It was the result of “tweaked” information that was presented to Congress and the nation. You think further deliberation would have changed the outcome of that debate?
Even now, after no WMD were found, after no connection between Saddam and AQ has been established, even now Republicans insist it was the right thing to do and they’d do it again.
“Lack of deliberation” wasn’t the problem there.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:35 pmpeace, ralph.
I have a fantasy where the ideas could be evaluated separate from the messenger.
If I make some argument that makes sense to you one occasion, why would it matter if the next day my arguments seem disingenuous.
If we have a reasonable discussion one day and the next day you post something I think is not reasonable, it doesn’t have any bearing to me on what you said the day before.
I think that to me, the idea is much more important than the messenger. I disagree with rhf nearly 100% of the time. But, if he/she (sorry) posts a good idea – it doesn’t matter to me at all that it comes from rhf.
Why should it?
February 13th, 2009 at 4:41 pmI disagree. More time to discuss the war could have changed public sentiment and at least required a more solid justification from the administration.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:45 pmBecause the words we post on these blogs are the only way we have of judging the people with whom we converse.
I’ve judged you forthright in the past, which as you know puts you in a tiny minority of conservatives who post here. Others complain of your habits, but I dismiss those complaints. Yet a performance like today’s makes me wonder of they were right and I was wrong.
I don’t take posters like Tracy__5 seriously, or Tim Vacuous. I know from their established patterns that they have nothing to offer except target practice. I suspect you look at some lefty posters the same way.
What does it matter, these judgments about other people? Just a sense of the world around me, and an ability to read and respond appropriately as efficiently as possible.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pmIt shouldn’t. But does that mean that when I see you offering poorly-founded arguments, I shouldn’t call you on them? I shouldn’t let you know if I see you falling into bad habits?
February 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pmI think you’re dreaming.
As I said, most of those who were gung-ho STILL think it was a good idea and they’d do it again. Public sentiment didn’t begin to turn until our troops found themselves in the middle of a desert sausage-grinder. That push to war, backed by a popular president, wasn’t going to abate simply because people in Congress got more time to deliberate.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pmLet’s look at a few facts.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:06 pm1. This “stimulus” bill was rushed through with little opportunity for the legislators, much less the taxpayers, to evaluate it.
2. Despite the rush job on a bill over 100 times (!) greater than FDR’s largest annual budget during the great depression, its backers refused to sever provisions clearly NOT immediately stimulative. Why? Is there a concern they might not stand on their own merits? Is it not corrupt to hold the truly urgent provisions hostage to pass the patronage wish list?
3. The largest part of the spending does not occur until more than two years from now. Hardly an urgent response matter, and likely to be hugely inflationary in any quick stimulus can be effected.
4. The truly enormous increase in the debt we are piling onto our grandchildren, who got no vote on this, concerns me.
5. Responsible governance would suggest that pouring gasoline onto a fire that was fed by overspending and loose credit is a poor idea. To max out the National credit card to do so is not the “change” I was “hoping” for.
6. I was around the last time we greatly accelerated domestic entitlements in a weak economy. We got double-digit inflation, high unemployment, and years of stagflation. What is different? I heard that we were going to abandon the failed policies of the past, not amplify them 100-fold.
ralph. I know my arguments don’t make sense to you and may seem not genuine. But, although I believe it less right now, I did come into the thread feeling that a trillion dollars is a lot of money. That there are a lot of initiatives in the bill. And that, in comparison to most legislation, these initiatives have not enjoyed as significant a deliberation. I don’t think those ideas are that far fetched.
Additionally, to say my postings are imperfect would be a monumental understatement. When you consider the volume of posts, the lack of non verbal ques and the fact I dropped out of the 4th grade, I’m surprised you hung in this long.
Obviously, do what you want. But, I would ask for the benefit of the doubt, because I’m sure I’ll miscue again in the future.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:09 pmnot amplify them 100-fold
February 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm—
Is this another ass pulled number? It is odd that such a genius wasn’t asked for their input…
No, the budget numbers are posted on a government site. No FDR budget during the depression years exceeded $6 billion by much.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:15 pmb-cup, your point was primarily that the vote was rushed. Yet HTH pointed out that the bill has been on Thomas for three weeks. It has changed in that time, but it has not been completely rewritten. A legislator familiar with the provisions in the bill should be able to keep up as changes are made.
And Republicans appear to have been familiar with the bill, since they’ve been on TV bashing it for the past three weeks by a margin of two to one over Democrats.
So either they’ve had plenty of time to update their understanding of the bill, or they’re lying — either about not having enough time or about knowing enough about the bill to bash it.
This argument of yours sounded suspiciously lame when you first posted it. But then when you supported it with a link to CNS, that was just a smack in the face.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:16 pmdbadass, is a troll now comparing Depression-era dollars to current dollars?
Seriously?
February 13th, 2009 at 5:16 pmOne of the reasons depression-era dollars have turned into today’s inflated ones is that administrations both Republican and Democrat have printed dollars by spending beyond revenues. My concern is that accelerating this past practice is unsustainable.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pmralph. my bad on the cns. Believe it or not, I didn’t look hard enough and thought it was cbs. I understand that.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:26 pmWhether that is true or not, it still stands that a comparison of Depression-era dollars to current dollars is meaningless.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pmralph. I re-read you’re post around #95. This whole thing was my bad. I try to pay attention to sourcing and only used the link because I thought it was cbsnews.
Because it’s cns, it is a lame source and you were right. My bad.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pmNo, the budget numbers are posted on a government site. No FDR budget during the depression years exceeded $6 billion by much.
–
So exactly what mathematical calculations are employed when solving for the variable which is the “failed policies of the past”?
X= 2xWTF/huh?+STFU
February 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pmApology accepted, b’cup. It can happen. It just so happened to you on a bad day to begin with. Whether it was a bad day for you or for me, who can tell.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmNow assuming X = 100. Solve for WTF. Be sure to show your work…
February 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmThis just keeps getting better and better. GOPers imploding all over the country.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:28 pmAnyone want to bet that they have NOT learned anything??