Just Like With Stimulus, GOP Lawmakers Slam Omnibus While Touting Its Funding For Local Projects
Just Like With Stimulus, GOP Lawmakers Slam Omnibus While Touting Its Funding For Local Projects
Last month, every single Republican House member and all but three Republican senators voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Yet, as Thinkprogress noted at the time, as many as 22 Republicans who railed against the stimulus then touted the projects the stimulus would fund in their home districts. (A few Democrats who voted against the bill have done the same thing.)
Now, many of those same Republican lawmakers are pulling the same bait-and-switch with the FY2009 omnibus spending bill. The Wall Street Journal notes today that Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) slammed the omnibus as wasteful spending, before putting out a press release touting a local harbor project the bill would fund. Similarly, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) voted against the omnibus but then declared he was “proud to have secured these federal funds” for his district. Both insisted to the Journal there was no hypocrisy in their actions:
“Not to be rude, but it’s one of the dumbest things,” Mr. Hoekstra said of the notion that there is a contradiction. “The only people who are supposed to get money in an omnibus bill are the ones that vote for it?…I don’t see any inconsistency at all.” [...]
In an interview, Mr. Diaz-Balart said, “The omnibus was too much money, too much spending, too much borrowing, too much debt, and no accountability. Now, I have stuff in that bill, but I still voted against it. But what I have in there, I am very proud of.”
Of course, spending hypocrisy is nothing new for Hoekstra and Diaz-Balart. During the stimulus fight, both railed against the plan before taking credit for the local projects it would bring to their districts:
– Hoekstra attacked the stimulus as a wasteful “spending spree“. Three days later, he touted the plan’s subsidies for new home-buyers, exclaiming, “Stimulus incentive is very generous!“.
– Diaz-Balart declared those who supported the stimulus would be “embarrassed” because “it’s not going to help the economy.” Two days later, he signed a letter asking for immediate access to the stimulus cash for Florida, calling the stimulus funding “critical” and “vital”. “Now more than ever, we must invest in our state’s future,” the letter concluded.
Days after Congress passed the final stimulus bill, the New York Times noted that the temptation for Republicans to take credit for the funds they voted against proved “irresistible.” Apparently, so is the temptation to insist upon one’s own integrity in the face of blatant hypocrisy.
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Non-obstructionist pork obstructionism – who could have anticipated?
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 pmIn just their latest posturing for the 2012 Republican presidential race, governors Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Mark Sanford (R-SC) joined Texas’ Rick Perry, Mississippi’s Haley Barbour and Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal in announcing they would reject some of the federal stimulus funds allocated to their states. But as the steady one-way flow of tax dollars and earmarks spreading the wealth from Washington to their states shows, de facto red state socialism is alive and well.
As a 2007 analysis of federal spending per tax dollar received by state shows, the reddest states generally reaped the most green. Eight of the top 10 beneficiaries of federal largesse voted for John McCain for President. Unsurprisingly, all 10 states at the bottom of the list – those whose outflow of tax revenue is funding programs elsewhere in the country – all voted for Barack Obama in 2008.
For the details, see:
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm“Red State Socialism and the Politics of the Stimulus.”
With the GOP, it’s called having your cake and f***ing it too. How do these “legislators” keep winning primaries? It would seem that a true (fiscal)conservative could serve up these hypocrisies on a daily daily basis and coast to a nomination.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 pmApparently, so is the temptation to insist upon one’s own integrity in the face of blatant hypocrisy.
After hearing what many conservatives have said about various topics, I have to conclude that the conservative mind does not understand what “hypocrisy” is. If an individual conservative did understand it, then he would also be aware that he was lying about his viewpoint. But I think some of them, if not most of them, sincerely believe what they are saying. And since what they are saying at one point clearly contradicts what they have said at other points, they are either being hypocritical or delusional. (Either one is possible, and sometimes it’s both.)
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 pmHypocrisy knows no better representation than the phony republicans.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pmThe goppers are acting for the gopper led media, knowing it will play along.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
After hearing what many conservatives have said about various topics, I have to conclude that the conservative mind does not understand what “hypocrisy” is. If an individual conservative did understand it, then he would also be aware that he was lying about his viewpoint. But I think some of them, if not most of them, sincerely believe what they are saying. And since what they are saying at one point clearly contradicts what they have said at other points, they are either being hypocritical or delusional. (Either one is possible, and sometimes it’s both.)
I lean toward “delusional” because it also explains how they can continue to spout “conservative” solutions when they’ve had years now to establish that none of their ideas work. At some point, a rational person would step back and say, “You know, none of this sh!t is working. The more we do it our way the worse everything gets” — except, of course, for those “conservatives” who are only concerned with the welfare of the 2%.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmHow “generous” of them to reject stimulus money and omnibus funds on “principle,” even though their constituents would benefit. They make their citizens suffer while they claim to be taking the high ground. What a laugh!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pmAfter more than 8 years of aiding and abetting unfettered recklessness, NOW they claim they will stand on principle.
Those principles were non-existent before and to claim they are motivational now, is too ridiculous to describe.
gummitch Says:
At some point, a rational person would step back and say, “You know, none of this sh!t is working. The more we do it our way the worse everything gets”
Unless, of course, the point of their programs was to increase the gap between the rich and the poor and to de-regulate businesses to the point of anarchy. If that was their goal, it’s been working perfectly. It hasn’t been good for the nation (or to human beings in general), but it’s been achieving their goals just fine.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pmgummitch
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pmI so need help with those juices. Please advise. Key lime/oj/lemon
I’m throwing this out there.
People are worried that we are wasting money. And they are upset about the AIG bonuses.
Obama’s got an aggressive agenda. Some are worried he’s trying to do too much.
I’ve been convinced that there is some merit in spending government money to stimulate the economy.
What about this as an idea.
There are a lot of divisive ideas. But, energy could have bipartisan support.
Progressives want a new energy policy that’s more environmentally friendly. Conservatives don’t like our dependance on foreign oil.
Instead of Obama trying to pursue his aggressive agenda, maybe focus on one issue. One issue that Americans can feel invested in.
Energy independence.
If we are going to spend massive amounts of money, the American people are going to want to feel confident that there will be something to show for it.
Money for energy conservation in homes, new solar stations, wind farms, new drilling, nuclear plants, alternative energy cars, etc.
KISS principle.
Of course other issues can still be pursued, but maybe an emphasis on one main idea.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pmTotally OT but Hoekstra looks disturbingly like my lawyer
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm.
They aren’t being against it before they were for it…
… They’re for being against it while being for it.
Totally different, pppffftttt!
(/snark)
.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 pmbackup, we could start by ensuring all government institutions are powered by green energy. If the congresscritters mean innovation will keep the lights and the heat on in their offices maybe they’ll have more incentive to help stimulate innovation.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 pmHey Backup: interesting idea, in that it could lead to LOTS of jobs, stimulate the economy, and have the added bonus of keeping OPEC out of our pockets. It does, however, have that flavor of putting all of our eggs in one basket (reminiscent of the tax-cut your way to prosperity B.S. we’ve been fed since Bonzo was in office), and being fiscally conservative myself, I’d like to hedge the bet a bit, but right now I’m at a loss as to how that could be done without government spending in other areas as well. Maybe a shift in Obama’s priorities, rather than a wholesale abandonment of his plans?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:44 pmbackup Says:
I’m throwing this out there.
If we are going to spend massive amounts of money, the American people are going to want to feel confident that there will be something to show for it.
KISS principle.
Try getting this through your noggin, backup: The President is dealing with the problems that EXIST, not just the problems that would be fun to fix or that would have us all holding hands.
If there is too much on his plate it’s because “conservatives” left the table without cleaning it up, they knocked over the furniture and they crapped on the good tablecloths.
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 pmdbadass Says:
gummitch
I so need help with those juices. Please advise. Key lime/oj/lemon
Not for the first time, db, I find myself at a loss for a response. Perhaps you must first answer the question: sinsimilla?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pmI know that money pit known as operation iraqi freedom could have paid for lots of renewable energy initiatives..
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pmSometimes I long for the days when all we had to worry about were the gay communist abortion doctors selling crack to welfare mothers who diapered the baby in the American flag. Wait, is the GOP still worried about that?
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pmyes
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 pmi think these republicans need to be voted out of office so silly
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 pmVoting Repuke is a wasteful use of your vote.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:06 pmA highway without massive pot holes will benefit everyone, especially rich people with a big stake in the economy.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 pmHOEKSTRA: “I don’t see any inconsistency at all.”
Of course you do, hypocrite. Lying comes to you as easily as breathing — it’s required of all Republicans.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:27 pmApparently their mommies never explained to them that they can’t have it both ways. Too bad, the real world resides outside their delusion.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm#20 – the brown acid,
Please refer to Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Bush War (aka Operation Iraqi Freedom.) I call it the Botch War.
This will be of great assistance in preventing the facist, reich-wing from distorting his complete failure in office.
If we can get others to start calling it the Bush War then we own the message.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 pmAfter all these years the librum media still assumes that wingers are honest when they say something. Now there is no evidence of this fact so I don’t understand why wingers are not called lying sacks all the time and when they say up, they mean down, when they say peace, they mean war, and on and on and on. It shouldn’t be that complicated to understand.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pmbackup, your suggestion is good, but even as we explore a new industry of both creating jobs and getting us off fossil fuels, we still need to address the issue of health care which would stymie any new industry if employers have to wrestle with the health care issue. A new industry will require that employees be informed about energy/environmental issues, and put the knowledge to practical use, hence, we need to educate people in order to keep that sustainable.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pmSo, while your suggestion is good, it is one that Obama is already pursuing as part of a three-pronged approach, because attacking one issue (the more obvious and most acceptable) can’t succeed unless we also come to grips with the other two.
.
Follow the Bailout Cash
By Michael Isikoff and Dina Fine Maron
http://www.newsweek.com/id/190363
That’s right, our tax dollars that were meant to assist these financial institutions in buying down bad assets has not only taken it gladly and rewarded themselves for fleecing America, but now are also funnelling it back into the pockets of Congress… OUR TAX DOLLARS!
.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:44 pm$10 billion each month in Iraq.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:48 pmGranted that not all of those dollars would be freed if we left that country, but a whole lot of them would be.
7 years at $10 billion (and more, like the unaccounted loss of $9 billion in the early days of the war) each month has been thrown away.
Had that amount of money been suggested for domestic needs, the repugs would still be screaming. After squandering all that, now they are screaming that we can’t afford domestic spending. Either way — they always get what they want. More wars (defense contracts), less domestic spending (government contracts).
It hasn’t worked – it never has – but they keep playing that tune. And repugs keep dancing.
This is some kind of reverse nimby deal, like Only if it’s in my backyard??
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:41 pmAsshats.
And that’s why we are now saying “Don’t tell us we don’t have the money” They coughed it up to play war games for nothing now they will pony it up for the things we need. No excuses.
It’s astounding isn’t it that they actually think that they can pull this off. I don’t believe they can. Too many Americans see that we need these things and the money has to be spent to make it happen.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 pmFred Says:
And that’s why we are now saying “Don’t tell us we don’t have the money” They coughed it up to play war games for nothing now they will pony it up for the things we need. No excuses.
How many times does the government tell us it will take months or years to pass a bill? I ain’t buying that either.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 pmMr. Hoekstra said of the notion that there is a contradiction. “The only people who are supposed to get money in an omnibus bill are the ones that vote for it?
Wouldn’t you want it to go that way? Damn straight the people that want it should support it, dumbass.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pmRUCerious, how about JIMBY (Just In My Back Yard)?
Jimby Hoekstra (R-MI)
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:19 pmJimby Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
How many times does the government tell us it will take months or years to pass a bill? I ain’t buying that either.
When the SCOTUS ruled that the FCC did not have the statutory authority to enforce the No-Call Registry, it took Congress one day to pass a law changing that. Granted, that’s not as complex an issue as some but, still, they showed they can act quickly when necessary.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pmPLC & RUC
Excellent… JIMBY!!!
But of course it’s always the fault of the DFH, NO?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKEZoY-TMG4
.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pmConservatives complain about the budget, however, well why not account for what bush really spent into his budgets ? Remember he left out the inconvenient truths and then requested supplements. Shrewd, dishonest, but shrewd.
And just what did America get for the deficit he left ? Every social program was depleted for lack of funding for employees and/or services !
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:12 pm… F O U R ~more~ Y E A R S ! …
Don’t Buy the Chirpy Forecasts
The history of banking crises indicates this one may be far from over.
By Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart
http://www.newsweek.com/id/190340?from=rss
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
notice how none of the remaining elected conservative assclowns want to broach the subject that this is the first time in eight years the wars have been part of the budget. now why is that?
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 pmBozo – because that would require accountability a word not found in conservative language.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pmtexaslady,
according to the neoclown dictionary:
accountability:
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:32 pmWhat we hold others to, particularly democrats but it does not apply to us. see also- do as i say, not as i do.
Hypocrites!! Every last one of them.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:34 pmBozo: Notice how the Republicans have faded into the woodwork since real accounting is now being done with the budget after they’ve given Bush the green light to “cook the books”?
Every Republican congressman KNOWS that these votes in the past will be up to haunt them when their term is up.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 pmBush may be known for one thing throughout his Presidency other than lying to the people – he’s begun a totally new and unprecedented “accounting system”….The Bush System where you put down fake numbers and leave half of the controversial %hit out.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:37 pmI agree with Marie,
Those that want Obama to go Slow, or deal with one thing at a time, or say his plate is Too Full…probably just want him to Fail.
Health Care, Education, and Energy Independence/Climate Repair are ALL Vital to our Economic Recoverey.
What good is a 21st Century Energy System, if our workforce is Too Sick, or Too Ignorant to Keep it running.
Obama Needs to Go on the Attack, and call the Republicans what they are…Partisan Obstructionists.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pmBadger I think the republicans are digging their own graves. Most, even conservatives can see if they want too who is trying to clean up and get this economy on the right track again. My thought is, if next year when hopefully things are better will people forget who were the obstructionists ? I hope not. I certainly remember what President was in power when I needed a job. The trickle down theory from reagon never helped my family anymore than any republican President.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 pmThe representatives have to give the masses something to pretend they really get to vote while the lobbyists are running our government.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:49 pmYou have to ask the question “what would motivate these clowns to put forward these excuses“. The Republican governers are in the same boat. High minded principles smacking up against stark reality. These budgets were enacted to help the people, not the political ambitions of the RNC. If these guys are willing to talk and look stupid, let them. I can’t believe that it will help them come election day.
Thank you Rush for flushing these guys out, they are following your example!
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:55 pmThe Republicon Party is a fraud, through and through. A fraud, hell, they are a party of criminals!
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 pmThe reason it looks like President Obama is doing a lot is that we haven’t had a full-time President in eight years.
All the crisis chimpy left are interconnected. Not only is President Obama trying to slow the depression but he’s also has to make sure nothing else will be sucked into chimpy’s blackhole.
repugs get use to the truth
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:58 pmREPUBLICANS ARE THE ENEMY WITHIN
Republicans are practicing seditious DEMAGOGUERY and insurrectionary OBSTRUCTIONISM intended to destabilize our economy for purposes of political exploitation.
Republicans AREN’T making a sincere effort to STOP the bleeding THEIR incompetent leadership and failed policies created. Instead, they’re using conflicting economic theories as a smokescreen to conceal their subversive agenda, which is to cause President Obama and America to fail so they can blame Democrats for the consequences of THEIR calamitous mismanagement.
Republicans are preposterously professing that THEIR disgraceful political WHORING had nothing to do with the banking, real estate, stock market and employment catastrophes that resulted.
Republicans are trying to hamstring Democrats to prevent them from exposing the damage caused during a Republican presidency.
Republicans are offering controversial arguments they know no one can agree on to disrupt and prevent progressive change. They’d rather divide America and create political gridlock than endure the political consequences of effective Democratic governance. That’s how they gained power and that’s how they’re trying to retain it.
Republicans are not the LOYAL OPPOSITION. They are the ENEMY WITHIN whose personal priorities have eroded their moral and ethical standards to the point that treachery and betrayal are their preferred modus operandi.
It’s one thing to advocate their conservative beliefs; it’s another thing entirely to willfully sabotage America’s government because a successful Democratic presidency would not be vulnerable to the fears and hatreds that have produced and sustained the radical Republican corporatism and extremism that have poisoned and crippled America.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:12 pmFrank Rich’s Column today has me a little worried.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22rich.html?_r=1
Mr. Rich suggests..”“President Obama may not realize it yet, but his Katrina moment has arrived.”
As Dallasdoc points out at dailykos “It is important to point out that there is a difference between using “Katrina” as a metaphor, and using “Katrina moment” as a metaphor. The former refers to an inexpressible human tragedy, made worse by criminal government inaction. The latter refers, in my mind, to the irretrievable loss of public trust in a leader due to perceived malfeasance or nonfeasance.
Mr. Rich continues…In his town-hall meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Wednesday, he described the A.I.G. bonuses as merely a symptom of “a culture where people made enormous sums of money taking irresponsible risks that have now put the entire economy at risk.” But rhetoric won’t tamp down the anger out there, and neither will calculated displays of presidential “outrage.” We must have governance to match the message.
As the nation’s anger rose last week, the president took responsibility for what’s happening on his watch — more than he needed to, given the disaster he inherited. But in the credit mess, ACTION must match words. To fall short would be to deliver us into the catastrophic hands of a Republican opposition whose only known economic program is to reject job-creating stimulus spending and root for Obama and, by extension, the country to fail. With all due deference to Ponzi schemers from Madoff to A.I.G., this would be the biggest outrage of them all.”
Obama needs to get out in front of this populist Outrage…for his sake AND ours.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:18 pmWhen the economy starts turning around and getting better watch the GOP take credit.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:20 pmI understand that other issues need attention. And you’re right that energy is being addressed as an element.
There seems to be sentiment building that the American people are going to be very reluctant to support more spending.
In light of the AIG bonuses, it might be a signal that we don’t currently have enough oversight. Additionally, Obama has been left with problems, but he is also proposing new initiatives (changing healthcare, for one).
The spending may be beneficial to improve the economy, but in today’s 24 hour news cycle, more stories of wasteful spending could derail future attempts to get support for more spending.
Even if the administration can walk and chew gum, maybe the American people can’t get their arms around simultaneous huge projects costing trillions of dollars.
Clichés come to mind. jack of all trades, master of none; bit off more than we can chew, one thing at a time, etc.
If the administration is confident they can tackle the whole agenda at once, maybe they could communicate to the people how they can manage it all and why it’s necessary to do it concurrently.
There is obviously going to be waste. When those stories come to light, the American people need to feel comfortable the plan is manageable and the waste isn’t excessive.
Here’s a poll of people that think Obama’s doing too much:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/18/obama.poll/
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 pmAnd here’s one that says he’s not:
http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/498.pdf
So?
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 pmBottom of page 7, by the way.
And thanks for your concern.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 pmBadger, Frank Rich is in need of a spring break. He opines that withn two months of taking office, Obama has already met his Katrina moment. That is baseless and irresponsible, and offering the repugs an unnecessary talking point — and like all their talking points, based on nothing but someone pulling an opinion out of his own backside.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:03 pmI don’t know, Marie. I know what you’re saying, but I can see Rich’s point — not that tis situation is anything like Bush’s bumbling response to Katrina, but it’s possible that if Obama doesn’t act quickly enough, and the Bush Depression gets deeper, Obama won’t be able to recover the lost ground if people turn on him.
I think it’s a possibility.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:12 pmWell, I dont think using Katrina as any kind of talking point will be useful. A) Katrina happened in the Bush second term [2005] B) It was a natural disaster C) The financial scam occurred under Bush
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 pmEven if the dems fail we still won’t vote for a repug president. repugs don’t understand this.
repugs stop claiming stupid
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 pmI get your point, too, ralph, but two months to define a clear plan, much less, clean up a ten year disaster in the making is expecting the impossible. For now, Obama is dealing with the immediate need, with not all his people in place. It’s going to take some time to lay out a plan that is sufficiently thought out for the long term.
BTW, Check out “The Big Takeover” at Rolling Stone by Matt Taibbi. After reading the Shock Doctrine last summer, I see the parallel with our economy today. Friedman economics have always failed, yet repugs always support it, and get some dems to join them.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pmObama hasn’t even broken in the wh and here comes the deadbeats beating their dics to his failure.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:34 pmI know it’s more CNN polling, but it shows support for stimulus spending slipping:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/17/poll.economic.plans/index.html
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pmThe sign of a compulsive person, is one who does the thing expecting a different result. When you cross this with a cult status organization like the RePUGs and put psyco-paths in elective offices you can fill, you all get the double down theory.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:54 pmInstead of Obama trying to pursue his aggressive agenda, maybe focus on one issue. One issue that Americans can feel invested in.
Energy independence.
And you talk of nuclear power in the same post.
You cannot become energy independent, using a source that is as deadly toxic as uranium. Not when it’s potential danger is rated in thousands of years.
There is only one solution to the problem of nuclear energy-generation. We must begin another space program, to perfect a means to remove nuclear waste from the planet, and dispose of it safely by guiding into the sun. No other method will completely remove it from being a potential danger, and as a side benefit, we’ll be infinitesmally extending the sun’s life.
And backup?
“Support for all the spending programs is down for two reasons,” said Bill Schneider, a CNN senior political analyst.
You do know ‘ol Bill is a senior fellow at Heritage, right?
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 pmOh barfly… why you got to kill b-cup’s buzz?
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:10 pmTypical Republican hypocrisy. Christopher Bond of MO voted against the stimulus. And yet Mo was the first state to have a shovel ready project to go. And Bond went to the project as it was beginning, and took credit for getting it to MO. Even though just hours before he voted against it.
Missouri was my home state. And as conservative as it is, if these constituents don’t remember what this man did, then they deserve to keep him. Ashcroft and Bond. I do a mea culpa just thinking about them. I was born there. But I take an oath, I did not vote for them when I lived there.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pmOh barfly… why you got to kill b-cup’s buzz?
He looks goofy with that red spraypaint smile.
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 pmThese are real terrorists. They are praying to their “gods” that America falls into a deeper depression so they can hide the fact that we entered into the Great Bush Deppression months ago.
The “what’s-in-it-for-me” Cult is alive and well in America.
One more reason for a Permanent Republican Minority!
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 pmWatch this interview of Mike Evans author of “The Liberal Left and World Chaos”
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:27 pmThis guy is insane.
The is the way the GOP has played this game for decades. They slam the federal government while relying on it to fund local projects.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 pmI just arrived and scanned through the comments, and I saw some references to Rich’s Katrina analogy. I like Rich, but this is not a great analogy he makes. Why?
PEOPLE WERE DYING IN NO! PEOPLE WERE LOOTING IN THE STREETS! THERE WAS FLOODING, GUNFIRE, NEGLIGENCE IN THE VERY GOV. OFFICES DESIGNED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE! This is not the same as LOSING MONEY!
I’ve posted briefly on this thing before and some of you offered support, but this economic emergency is not the same as war, flood, disaster relief, epidemic, etc. This is another false equivalency between this stimulus/omnibus plan and emergency policy and response. It is not that complicated to figure out 1 or 2 days in advance that emergency assistance in the form of boats, water, food and shelter may be needed while an impending hurricane looms. It is quite another thing to say that the economy needs to be fixed – in some SYMBOLIC gesture of AIG bonuses. Do they deserve the bonuses? I doubt it. But will anyone die if they get them? NO!
I get the symbolism of all this AIG sh*t. And I apologize for the screaming, but I can’t help but offer my opinion that once again America has lost. Why? Because the only damn thing that gets people talking is their money. I’m losing money. It sucks. Do I want more money? Yes. But I’m a hell of a lot more upset by the fact that people in NO could have been saved, soldiers didn’t have to die in Iraq and Afghanistan, and families everyday avoid going to the doctor because it is too expensive. Oh yeah. And some jerks TORTURED PEOPLE in my name.
I’d be happy to pay $500 dollars/yr (in additional taxes) to help people live. But I am not going to pretend that if $200 million dollars of misappropriation of gov. dollars is causing me ANY problems. This AIG thing is a MINOR travesty in my opinion. Stop letting our soldiers get killed for nothing. Stop killing civilians. Stop pretending that a loosely regulated social compact like capitalism is a solution to any problem (if RIGID international agreements like the GENEVA conventions don’t work, why should an INVISIBLE HAND?). I’m tired of the right wing economic philosophy claiming it takes care of itself. Anyone who wants to believe that must take a historical walk in a world with no highway system, no water quality regulations, no sewer system, no fire department, no public police system, no libraries, no universities, etc.
Seriously? Who the hell are we as a nation? Few seem to know!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:52 pmJust another day for the REICH Wing Taliban on the Republiscum Channel,As a Michigander I am appalled and disgusted by Mr.Hoekstra and his counterpart,but yet I am laughing like a MOTHER F*&#er at the whole Reich Wing Taliban because they are so lost and don`t care that everthing they say or do is hypocrisy at it`s highest and is destroying this country because of party first politics.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 pmWhy on Earth is ANYONE hoping and dreaming of bi-partisanship? It ain’t gonna happen.
This was clearly demonstrated when that prick McConnell was crying, “I guarantee that no one has read this bill” while doing all he could do to stop it. Call me crazy but, I think that a lawmaker should read a bill before fighting, or supporting, it.
I think it’s safe to conclude that the rest of the party is doing the same thing. If it’s sponsored by a Democrat? They’ll vote against it. If it passes? They’ll try to direct the money away from “librul” causes when the specifics of the appropriations are hammered out. And, finally, they’ll depend on GOoPers in state’s government to block anything that shows promise of quick positive results.
Palin, Jindal, and their ilk are not blocking funds that are wasteful. They are blocking funds that just might do some good. The GOP has passed from mere obstruction to sabotage.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 pmkrystalview Says:
These are real terrorists. They are praying to their “gods” that America falls into a deeper depression so they can hide the fact that we entered into the Great Bush Deppression months ago.
The “what’s-in-it-for-me” Cult is alive and well in America.
One more reason for a Permanent Republican Minority!
What the repugs are about to do is to flood the market with their ill-gotten money on anything US, which will cause inflation. Just like repugs had to control DOJ and media they want to control the US and the world.
repugs will continue their destruction until they are brought to justice.
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 am.
Coming Soon: Declassified Bush-Era Torture Memos
By Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
http://www.newsweek.com/id/190362
Q U E S T I O N:
Which came first…
… The memos?
… The request?
… The torture?
.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 am.
The Real AIG Scandal, Continued!
The transfer of $12.9 billion from AIG to Goldman looks fishier and fishier.
By Eliot Spitzer
http://www.slate.com/id/2214407/?from=rss
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:24 am
Wayne A. Schneider Says:
Unless, of course, the point of their programs was to increase the gap between the rich and the poor and to de-regulate businesses to the point of anarchy.
You’re talking Milton Friedman’s free market ideology. Basically, the government auctions off all government services to the private sector which in turn jacks up the cost to consumers while cutting salaries of employees – increase the income equity between profit from services offered and costs to do business. Of course, this require a willing participant within the government to steer those functions to them and remove all regulations that would inhibit their pursuit of profit. Of course, that would be the GOP – started with Reagan; remember the air traffic controller union he busted? That was just the beginning. Go read Naomi Klein’s book, The Shock Doctrine. It’ll open your eyes.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 amGOP’s constant anger and critical rhetoric is dangerous for this country! The Weimar Republic (1918-1933) shows, relentless, virulent critique from both ends of the political spectrum weakens the spirit of democracy, a spirit that can only thrive in an atmosphere of tolerance and compromise. By destroying the very relationships that are a thriving polity’s engine, excessive critique exhausts the collective will to good. Democracy and human rights rely in part upon vigilance; they also rest upon an ability to perceive and foster the good that already exists in the human family. Yet what we are good at is criticism; we are quick to perceive failure. We are much less skilled in the art of collective strengthening. Therefore, I want to try to use the historical record, particularly the record relating to democracy and human rights, to suggest some direction for that process.
http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service...
We in the American society are critical but it is especially true in the Republican Party.. Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Hannity and others. One must ask why are the Republicans so critical? Why are they so angry? Why are they so divisive? And, is this what we want of our society, a group of angry, bitter people to run this country? Because I think we know by now that negativity attracts negativity to us, …., and nothing from nothing leaves nothing, and that is precisely why they are the Party of “No”!
It is surely disconcerting and hypocritical to see Republicans and Joe Scarborough daily do everything they can to try to disparage President Obama and his teams’ goals and positive endeavors and to falsely link him to George Bush and his failed years (who did not have an economic policy at all or a Home agenda policy at all). What was really “unsustainable” was the money George Bush spent digging us into a huge hole, a mess, and now Pres. Obama is spending money getting us out of this hole, that is the difference. One is a “destroyer” the other is a “savior”.
And, for the GOP to begin this this doom and gloom scenario, is to work counter-intuitive to the good energy we are trying to bring in to fix America, to restore her. The GOP are like a doctor telling a patient wrongly “you have cancer and you only have 6 months to live”, when in fact the patient does not have cancer, and is only sick, but with the right treatment gets healthy again. Their energy is ugly, angry, and it is down right embarrassing, and it is also Dangerous for us as a country. Because the GOP are devoid of hope and goodwill, there is no hope or positive agendas in their scenarios at all. They are on the wrong side of history and on the wrong side of what is right and good. We must recall that all the doom and gloom predicted for Y2k, was just that, doom and gloom with no basis in reality and that is what the GOP are offering now, a false basis in reality. Where were they a few years ago? Huh, when we Really, really needed them?
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 amRepublican motto:
Divide and Conquer
or, in more contemporary terms,
Fracture and Exploit
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 amBeware! Massive reichwingnut unhinging. Watch out for flying wingnut parts.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:11 pmAccording to the Founding Fathers, the federal government is supposed to have less influence over issues than state or local governments. Why are there specific local projects in federal legislation. If anything the state should solicit financial support when necessary from the federal level only as a lump sum, not project by project.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:28 pm