Should GOP Districts Get Stimulus Money?

[jamiche]

I've read several places that those principled leaders of fiscal integrity, the house and senate republicans, are now lining up at the trough, elbows sharpened and with irony buried in their back pockets, to get the cash.

As the Common Man (who I can't listen to for more than ten minutes every other week) says, you can't make this stuff up.

[bga1]

It's a dilemna- you make a good point. I just heard the South Carolina Gov discuss this very issue and he is seriously considering NOT taking the money as are some other governors. Unfortunately the pressure of the people is likely going to be too great and the likelihood is that the money would then be directed towards states that have been terribly managed such as California. And that's a crime.

So the answer to your question should be this: Let's make a deal: If constituents in GOP districts get an exemption from future tax increases - which are inevitable- then they should not take the money. but of course- that's not going to happen either.

What you are proposing is actually akin to the deal I believe Rush Limbaugh proposed. Let the stimulus package represent the popular opinion. Make 46% of the ideas in it R directed (tax cuts) and make the other 54% be D directed (pork programs).

[jamiche]

IIRC, I think that the polls showed support for the stimulus package at somewhere around 60%.

I think the house repubs should go back to their districts and tell them no dough and no tax cuts are on the way. That seems fair to me.

Obama reached out to the repubs more aggressively than any prez in my lifetime. They ate his pretzels, drank his beer and then blew him off. A risky strategy (and strategy is all it was--party before country). We'll see if it worked.

[Gopher4Life]

jamiche,

>>IIRC, I think that the polls showed support for the stimulus package at somewhere around 60%.<<

It's that high because people don't even know what's in it. What a shrewdly devious strategy by Obama. As people learn the bill's contents, figure out its true price tag, and see that it's not working, the polls will adjust.

>>I think the house repubs should go back to their districts and tell them no dough and no tax cuts are on the way. That seems fair to me.<<

I think we'll see more than a few districts declining this money rather than putting the nation even farther in debt.

>>Obama reached out to the repubs more aggressively than any prez in my lifetime.<<

But all smoke and mirrors when it comes down to it. It was Obama and the Dems who did the "blowng off"!

>>A risky strategy (and strategy is all it was--party before country).<<

I don't know if you could be any more wrong. It's a bad bill and could have been cleaned up and improved. Instead, Dems rushed it through in dark of night before the public could examine it and become any more angry. Political payoffs, not economic recovery, is the Dem agenda, and that's "party before country"!

[bga1]

IIRC, I think that the polls showed support for the stimulus package at somewhere around 60%.

I think the house repubs should go back to their districts and tell them no dough and no tax cuts are on the way. That seems fair to me.

Obama reached out to the repubs more aggressively than any prez in my lifetime. They ate his pretzels, drank his beer and then blew him off. A risky strategy (and strategy is all it was--party before country). We'll see if it worked.

Here's what really happened: He gave them pretzels and beer paid for by us and then he told the press he did it. Then he ignored what they said and did what he wanted to do (as he knew he could). remember what happened when the R's said it was a bad idea? He went into campaign mode claiming the R's were obstructing an emergency measure and acting in bad faith.

Since when does an opinion poll have anything to do with doing the right thing? Opinion polls are what turns a politician from being a public servant who researches and does the right thing into a politican that is in a self preservation mode.

If we are going to go by opinion polls why don't we just dispense with the politician's right to vote. Let them propose ideas, post them on the internet and 48 hours we can all vote. How would that work?

[Stan]

>>Since when does an opinion poll have anything to do with doing the right thing?<<

I agree beej, opinion polls showed us that the Iraq war was a good idea and we all know what a disaster that has been.

[Jike Spingleton]

Stephen Colbert suggested this weeks ago.

"If Republicans can’t have a perfect bill to stimulate the economy, they’d rather have no economy at all."

If the beacon of enlightenment that is Rush Limbaugh is willing to let public opinion polls dictate the agenda, he won't like the results.

[bga1]

>>Since when does an opinion poll have anything to do with doing the right thing?<<

I agree beej, opinion polls showed us that the Iraq war was a good idea and we all know what a disaster that has been.

Yeah, a real disaster Stan. Iraq now stands as a free though imperfect country. We have won a great victory in the Middle East and we have sent the message that needed to be sent to the Muslim world post 9-11. 25,000,000 people are better off in terms of the long run then they were with Saddam. The world is better off without him. And.... we have not been attacked since. It was a good thing.

What it does show, is that people are for things and then once the pain starts theyare against the same exact thing. That's why so many opinion polls reflect everything about FEELINGS and nothing about what is actually the right action to take.

[bga1]

Stephen Colbert suggested this weeks ago.

"If Republicans can’t have a perfect bill to stimulate the economy, they’d rather have no economy at all."

If the beacon of enlightenment that is Rush Limbaugh is willing to let public opinion polls dictate the agenda, he won't like the results.

Colbert is a liberal comedian. That's all he is. He projects his own kind of thinking upon Republicans. Fortunately that's not the way Republicans think. Limbaugh, I think is over the top on a lot of stuff and doesn't reflect the level of compromise that most R's would be willing to see.
he's more of a rallying point for some.

[jamiche]

Here's what really happened: He gave them pretzels and beer paid for by us and then he told the press he did it. Then he ignored what they said and did what he wanted to do (as he knew he could). remember what happened when the R's said it was a bad idea? He went into campaign mode claiming the R's were obstructing an emergency measure and acting in bad faith.

Since when does an opinion poll have anything to do with doing the right thing? Opinion polls are what turns a politician from being a public servant who researches and does the right thing into a politican that is in a self preservation mode.

If we are going to go by opinion polls why don't we just dispense with the politician's right to vote. Let them propose ideas, post them on the internet and 48 hours we can all vote. How would that work?

He ignored what the repubs said? The tax cut portion of the bill was much higher precisely because he did listen to the repubs. It won't happen that way again.

The repubs decided to pursue an incredibly cynical and calculated strategy during a time of national emergency. During the last national emergency, 9/11, the dems rallied behind Bush. They stayed with him through the no child left behind act and the prescription drug overhaul. They even stayed with him when he ginned up the intelligence on Iraq.

If there is any justice, the repubs will pay dearly for putting party over country.

And yes beej, you will get a woody when there is minor anecdotal evidence of a couple of small questionable programs that were inserted in the most pork free legislation in a long time.

[Jike Spingleton]

Colbert is a liberal comedian. That's all he is.


Exactly. His comment was made in jest. Limbaugh is a conservative comedian....only he's actually serious about the crap he says, and his listeners (sadly) even moreso.

[bga1]

He ignored what the repubs said? The tax cut portion of the bill was much higher precisely because he did listen to the repubs. It won't happen that way again.

The repubs decided to pursue an incredibly cynical and calculated strategy during a time of national emergency. During the last national emergency, 9/11, the dems rallied behind Bush. They stayed with him through the no child left behind act and the prescription drug overhaul. They even stayed with him when he ginned up the intelligence on Iraq.

If there is any justice, the repubs will pay dearly for putting party over country.

And yes beej, you will get a woody when there is minor anecdotal evidence of a couple of small questionable programs that were inserted in the most pork free legislation in a long time.

Thanks for correcting me. I forgot that the dems were behind Bush from day one. I forgot the true statesmanship of Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the Dems and how they rarely if ever uttered a disparaging word about Bush. My bad.

Meanwhile I am searching for a way to give a you a comedic drum roll on your last sentence. The thing is about 50% pet projects that are not stimulus in any way this year- that's PORK my boy. It's called Congress bringing home the bacon.

Man, you buy the Obama speeches hook, line, and sinker. The no pork line is right out of his speech.

[monk10]

I would be very impressed if the GOP districts walked away from the extras. If it happens could someone post it in case I miss it. I do enjoy good irony, but actual following through what you were elected to do is much more interesting.

[jamiche]

I would be very impressed if the GOP districts walked away from the extras. If it happens could someone post it in case I miss it. I do enjoy good irony, but actual following through what you were elected to do is much more interesting.

I would be very impressed too. It would be an important matter of principle.

[jamiche]

Thanks for correcting me. I forgot that the dems were behind Bush from day one. I forgot the true statesmanship of Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the Dems and how they rarely if ever uttered a disparaging word about Bush. My bad.

Meanwhile I am searching for a way to give a you a comedic drum roll on your last sentence. The thing is about 50% pet projects that are not stimulus in any way this year- that's PORK my boy. It's called Congress bringing home the bacon.

Man, you buy the Obama speeches hook, line, and sinker. The no pork line is right out of his speech.

Did Bush have Democratic support after 9/11?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for no child left behind?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for his tax cuts?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for the prescription med legislation?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for the war in Iraq?

As I said, during a national emergency the repubs put party ahead of country and now they want the dough. I hope they pay for it.

[bga1]

Did Bush have Democratic support after 9/11?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for no child left behind?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for his tax cuts?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for the prescription med legislation?
Did Bush have Democratic votes for the war in Iraq?

As I said, during a national emergency the repubs put party ahead of country and now they want the dough. I hope they pay for it.

Both No Child Left Behind and the prescription drug legislation are right in the wheelhouse of liberals and moderates. It's bigger government involvement. So those were bipartisan efforts that came FROM the President's desk- get the difference?

As far as the tax cuts - I'm not sure. Check it out and get back to us.

Iraq- yes he got a lot of votes, in fact I remember the Democratic gambit was to vote for the war -but not the funding - that's a beauty eh. Then wehn the going got tough it was hard to find a Dem that stood by their votes.

But he did get support for about a month after 9-11. I'll say that.

[jamiche]

I wouldn't call them half truths. Just highly selective versions of what took place.

What's with the use of caps lately? The last poster who used caps on this board was Wren. I would expect more from the smartest guy in the (chat) room.

[bga1]

I wouldn't call them half truths. Just highly selective versions of what took place.

What's with the use of caps lately? The last poster who used caps on this board was Wren. I would expect more from the smartest guy in the (chat) room.


i'll try to avoid the caps. sorry. but thanks once again for the props!

[Gopher4Life]

jamiche,

>>As I said, during a national emergency the repubs put party ahead of country and now they want the dough.<<

You're obviously describing the Dems and Obama. Recovery is the last thing on their minds. Their focus is on paying back liberal constituents, sending pork home, and lining their own pockets. Business as usual at taxpayer expense.

[jamiche]

jamiche,

>>As I said, during a national emergency the repubs put party ahead of country and now they want the dough.<<

You're obviously describing the Dems and Obama. Recovery is the last thing on their minds. Their focus is on paying back liberal constituents, sending pork home, and lining their own pockets. Business as usual at taxpayer expense.

OK......??