The stimulus bill passed in the senate without 1 Republican vote.
I have not seen anything definite as to why the Republican's refuse to show bi-partisanship and help our country.
I hear the same rhetoric. No Pork. Which mainly deals with $50 million dollars to support the arts.
Republicans are gambling with our country. If the stimulus works they are one more step closer to political suicide.
If the stimulus fails they will step in and say "OK now can we go back to OUR way?"
Lets step back in time to 1993. Bill Clinton passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 with not 1 Republican vote.
Yes every single Republican in the chamber voted against it, hoping to prove, once and for all, that they were right about economics and Democrats were wrong. If memory serves, that budget was the first step towards the longest economic expansion on record, the creation of 22 million jobs, and the total elimination of the federal budget deficit.
It cut taxes for fifteen million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90% of small businesses, and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2% of taxpayers.
Unfortunately the Clinton Presidency was overshadowed by blowjobs and interns.
If we continue to let Republicans play politics with our future we have no one to blame but ourselves.
You may think that writing or emailing a letter to your Congressperson or senators doesn't do any good. How can one person's voice make a difference?
Well suppose 500 people did it or 10,000? It shows our elected officials that we are watching, we are paying attention and we expect them to do the job we sent them to do.
Maybe they will get the hint. No one is indispensable.
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Comments: 51
Why is it that when 11 Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans in the house vote, Nancy Pelosi said it was a display of "Republican partisanship"; but when two or three Republican Senators cross over to support the stimulus, the President says "the Senate came together in a bipartisan fashion?"
Is it only bipartisan when Republicans cross over?
Instead of focusing on the 11 why dont you ask yourself why Republicans as a whole are doing this to you and me?
My answer: they dont care. They love big business and wealthy so if you dont fall into those 2 catagories you are SOL.
You can focus on the 11 Dems if that makes you feel warm and toasty.
Yes Danielle we do.
I am so confused:)
Today he could be a Russian belly dancer with mob ties.
I havent seen the new Hannity episode yet.
If it has changed I will let you know.
It'd disgusting.
Regards,
Sparky <~~~~~
Feb 9 (Reuters) - Here's a rundown of what's next for U.S. President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package making its way through Congress this week:
* The Senate is expected to vote around 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) on Monday to force the end of debate on its version of the stimulus package. Obama's fellow Democrats, who control the Senate with 58 seats, need 60 votes to end debate and have the support of at least three Republican senators.
* The Senate on Tuesday is expected to vote on an amendment to slim down its version to roughly $827 billion from $937 billion. It is expected to pass with support from Republican Senators Susan Collins, Arlen Specter and Olympia Snowe.
In my opinion, when you get right down to it... there is very little difference between Democrats or Republicans. One factions chooses to appeal to the middle class and the other chooses big business and money, but neither seem overly concerned with actually making changes needed in society. Someone once said that what Democrats do to their secretaries, Republicans do to the whole country. Amusing and often true, but it doesn't address any of the serious issues we as a society face. Perhaps it is the position of power that corrupts, perhaps it is the need for compromise that breaks down a good leader, perhaps the system we have has simply reached a critical mass in terms of corruption. There are so many issues to address that it is overwhelming and extremely difficult to tell what is the root of a given problem and what is merely a symptom. I only know that citizens continue to argue and indulge in petty behaviors while politicians collect their paychecks. I feel totally disillusioned and hopelessly frustrated when it comes to this aspect of our country. Over the last year, I decided to remove myself from all political issues as much as I could as the stress was quite literally killing me. I believe the majority of people running for any office, regardless of party affiliation, are in it for their own reasons and unlikely to have any true concern for anyone beyond themselves. I think we need to stop electing politicians altogether. I wonder how their opinions would change if they actually had to Work for a living?
"Wanting to rule as opposed to being willing to govern is evidence of a diseased mind." ~ Joel Rosenburg
"AC Obama reached out to Republicans but they chose to ignore it."
A major reason for their refusal to cooperate is the fact that Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid excluded them from the writing of the bills. Ms. Pelosi even said that since Democrats had won in November, they wrote the bill. Does that sound very bipartisan?
Mr. Obama has made an attempt to reach out to Republicans. But he is being undermined in his efforts by the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate.
"Instead of focusing on the 11 why dont you ask yourself why Republicans as a whole are doing this to you and me?"
Personally, I'm opposed to this particular package. Too much long-term stuff and not enough short-term stuff, given that we are faced with "catastrophe" and "the worst economic crisis since the great depression." So I don't think they are DOING anything to me, other than trying to save me the cost of more national debt.
As for my question on bipartisanship, you didn't answer the question. Why the double standard?
AC I am not avoiding your question. I do to a point agree with Quinn and Debra. While I think that there are individuals in both parties that are committed to doing their best I think as a whole they are out to further their own interests.
And AC in my opinion your comment about Pelosi and Reid show just what big babies the Repubs are. They either get to play with THEIR balls on the senate floor or they are going to go home. And that helps how?
Obama is looking out for us. This I firmly believe.
Eric no I think Hannity and Coulter are both exotic dancers. Heartwarming isnt it?
Did it occur to you that they might have legitimate ideological disagreements with the bill? The two parties are very different in their economic approaches, so it is not unreasonable to expect them to vote against a package they disagree with.
I have no doubt that the President has our best interests at heart. I, for one, happen to disagree with him on how best to achieve those interests. That is a legitimate difference. Remember, it's our patriotic duty to question and dissent, and not just fall in line lock step when we disagree with a particular policy / approach.
Obama is looking out for us. This I firmly believe.
Eric no I think Hannity and Coulter are both exotic dancers. Heartwarming isnt it?
Remember, it's our patriotic duty to question and dissent, and not just fall in line lock step when we disagree with a particular policy / approach.
AC, agreed, however that was something very forgotten during the previous President's administration. Some may say "But Eric, that's in the past, get over it!" Well, forgive me for being tired of our all-too-short-term memory!!!
"Wait a minute, AC! The Repubs don't support a bill that will help Americans because they don't get their name on it?"
No. They don't support the bill because they believe it will do more harm than good. They argue that a more balanced bill could have been written if they had been included. You've got a one party bill here, so is it really any surprise that the other party disagrees with it?
"AC, agreed, however that was something very forgotten during the previous President's administration."
Quite the contrary, I distinctly remember Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid saying it, as well as other prominent Dems.
Pelosi isnt Obama.
Repubs are acting worse than 3rd graders.
I have, in other posts. Feel free to see my history, especially the one where CNN compiled a list of items the GOP found objectionable.
"Pelosi isnt Obama."
But he can't do real bipartisanship without her or Reid.
"Repubs are acting worse than 3rd graders."
And Pelosi and Reid aren't? Give me a break. They are all horrible.
Unbelievable...the ignorance is simply astounding.
I'm glad it passed. And it will succeed and the GOP Will be sunk forever. They truly hate America, don't they?
Senate — $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cuts in education aid and provide block grants; $25 billion to school districts to fund special education and the No Child Left Behind K-12 law; $14 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $400 to $5,250; $2 billion for Head Start.
•House — Similar aid to states and school districts; $21 billion for school modernization; $16 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $500 to $5,350; $2 billion for Head Start
Let me specifically address the 25 million to the No Child left behind.
This program should have been dropped a long time ago. Its not working, its being proven that it doesn't work, and schools try to take advantage of this so that they can get more in federal funding.
Same with the special education spending. I firmly believe that schools use this to their advantage and to the students disadvantage, and I am speaking from personal experience here, that I have had 3 different schools fight and submit my child and their disabilities for Federal funding, and I had to fight for every service that my child got. The spending in these 2 programs should be dropped considerably.
Ok as far as how Congress is acting?
They are all acting like kids, to include Obama, who has point blank reminded them that he won and the republicans lost.
What kind of message are the republicans sending? I don't know but I think that only time will tell.
Mooch
Then they don't need any stimulus money, do they?
"...the arts are part of our business environment and employee millions of people and they are hurting from the financial crises...."
Are you saying we should set a precedent and prop up every failing business? I believe the Soviets tried that, and we know how well that turned out.
Where exactly would you say we draw the line?
The GOP argument is that giving money to the arts is not stimulus. As I pointed out, the arts employs people by the millions. If we are trying to stimulate jobs for people, all people, not just some people, then it follows that the arts should be included in that mix.
Unless you think the arts to be less worthy of assistance than another area, even though it employs millions.
Can you point me to the place in the Constitution where it guarantees the right to a job for all people? Because if it's not there, the federal government doesn't have the power to do it. Any powers not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are reserved for the states. Unless you can point me to the place where I missed it.
Hey! Whatever works for ya! You know? Ha ha!
At the expense of the largest tax increase in U.S. history. What a bargain.
They were both America's first black president?
That's probably what they plan to do but it won't work. This couldn't possibly fail as badly as THEIR WAY failed us.
How'd you love that speech tonight? Yay, President Obama! It's about time he called them on their childish games.
You come into MY house for a party and then think you can get away with taking a sh*t on MY front yard? Watch out because the dog will bite you in the ass.