Stimulus Package - Debate & Discussion

[TurdFergeson]

Geez you're an asshole.

So suck a geezer's asshole.

(Now THAT is assWHOLE-ish)

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Interesting.

THROWING AWAY money on bullshit wars on the other side of the fucking planet is just fine.

But actually reinvesting tax dollars in AMERICA is wrong!

WTF?

Vetteman and Ham Murabi actually one time argued that the Constitution provided for us to send taxpayers' money to bolster welfare programs for the Iraqis, but not to invest in our own country via welfare programs.

Fucking kooks.

 

[unregistered]

 

[TurdFergeson]

It was the mantra of the Democrat Party when FDR was doing it....wasn't it???

Apples and oranges...really.

 

[unregistered]

 

[TurdFergeson]

You clowns always point to FDR and how his WWII spending brought us out of the depression.

Please quit being so binary.

I owe no allegiance to Democrats.

Both are merely a label of the same coin.

 

[off2bed]

Anyone have any new insights into the stimulus bill?

No one dares criticize the stimulus package for fear of being called liberal-bashers. Obama won, after all, so he gets to do whatever he wants without question. Got it?

 

[Le Jacquelope]

No one dares criticize the stimulus package for fear of being called liberal-bashers. Obama won, after all, so he gets to do whatever he wants without question. Got it?

Well, you could always choose the alternative - you could criticize Obama, thereby showing your hatred of America and your willingness to embolden our enemies.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

No one dares criticize the stimulus package for fear of being called liberal-bashers. Obama won, after all, so he gets to do whatever he wants without question. Got it?

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/STFU_MILES_bdc6.jpg

 

[ivantheterrible]

i find it absolutely retarded, blind, and utterly stupid that a failed system is being propped up with more credit (debt).
it's not working, and it will continue not to work. it is a shell game. come on, it's time to wake up people.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/STFU_MILES_bdc6.jpg

I just startled my wife and kids laughing.

 

[off2bed]

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/STFU_MILES_bdc6.jpg

Proves my point.

 

[RightField]

Where's the "transparency"...you know...the "change" we were all eagerly anticipating.

 

[Luk]

Where's the "transparency"...you know...the "change" we were all eagerly anticipating.

Are you really asking that stupid of a question less than a week into his presidency? The fuck?

It took Regan his second term to push the economy in the right direction and you can't even give Obama a week?

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Proves my point.

What "point?"

Where's the "transparency"...you know...the "change" we were all eagerly anticipating.

I knew it. Didn't read jack shit about jill shit for a "debate and discussion."

 

[RightField]

Are you really asking that stupid of a question less than a week into his presidency? The fuck?

It took Regan his second term to push the economy in the right direction and you can't even give Obama a week?

I wasn't refering to the economy. Obama promised transparency in government and this whole stimulus bill has been a orgy of "back room" negotiating and orgasmic delight for the earmark kings and queens. The same democratic shit that led to the massive corruption that got them kicked out last time ('94).

I read the white house web pages, but those plans seem to have very little to do with the current bill in congress.

It looks like it's shaping up to be a battle between Pelosi and Obama here in the first week with neither "team" showing their cards.

 

[Luk]

I wasn't refering to the economy. Obama promised transparency in government and this whole stimulus bill has been a orgy of "back room" negotiating and orgasmic delight for the earmark kings and queens. The same democratic shit that led to the massive corruption that got them kicked out last time ('94).

I read the white house web pages, but those plans seem to have very little to do with the current bill in congress.

It looks like it's shaping up to be a battle between Pelosi and Obama here in the first week with neither "team" showing their cards.

It's been one week. Well, not even. Can he at least put new sheets on the bed and clean up Barney the dog's shit before you ask for anything he does to effect the day-to-day goings on of America?

 

[tmleadr03]

Infastructure. When you just signed a huge mortgage, the first thing you should do is start improving the property.

So you support about 3% of the stimulus package.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

It's been one week. Well, not even. Can he at least put new sheets on the bed and clean up Barney the dog's shit before you ask for anything he does to effect the day-to-day goings on of America?

RightField wants courtside tickets to the process as it happens, like in a play-by-play. That's what transparency means to him. I guess if some things aren't literal, then they're just not up to snuff.

The transparency has already started, of course, but neither he nor his ilk will ever have eyes to see it, or even want to see it.

 

[RightField]

It's been one week. Well, not even. Can he at least put new sheets on the bed and clean up Barney the dog's shit before you ask for anything he does to effect the day-to-day goings on of America?

It looks like it's all running away from him in his first week.

Pelosi isn't toeing the "party line" and is marching to her own (ruinous) music

His head of treasury (and IRS) can't figure out how to pay his own taxes (being generous) or else is a tax dodger (being less generous). Maybe we can save someone from death row to serve as the nation's attorney general.

His lofty proclamations of bipartisanship have been already shown to be a sham.

His deputy DOD guy is clearly a lobbyist and was "waivered" from Obama's new anti-lobbyist rules on the day after Obama signed his new "guidelines"...are rules really for following or for show?

He promised to personally review every line item of spending to be sure it was needed by the American people and worthy of their "investment" in deficit spending, and yet clearly he doesn't have any real insight into the stimulous bill in its current form. He's not talking about it with the American people and its not on-line either. Instead, he's hanging around the press room trying to shoot the shit.

His first week has been a complete disaster. It looks like he's been marginalized by his own party's congress already AND he's not fighting back. I hope he takes control and fixes this.

 

[Sharon_]

What "point?"



I knew it. Didn't read jack shit about jill shit for a "debate and discussion."

Well, I have...and I am well less than pleased albeit with Congress <spit>. The only thing Obama's done to p*ss me off this week is to lob missiles into an ally's country, and an ally with nukes at that.

But the anti-American Stimuls package, per my Congressman's (Geoff Davis-R)last newsletter:

"Congressional Leaders Should Follow President Obama's
Lead Toward Bipartisan Solutions

President Obama has promised to usher in an era of politics that
transcends partisan divisions. He has encouraged Congress to focus on
cooperation and debate so that we can craft the best solutions to our
nation's challenges. Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's record does
not reflect that bipartisan spirit. While I am hopeful that President
Obama will lead Congressional Democrats in a new direction, early
indications have not been positive.

Members of the 111th Congress took the oath of office on January 5,
2009. Since then, the Democratic Majority has scheduled and considered
four significant legislative proposals. In all four cases, the committee
process was ignored, debate was cut short and the ability for any
member, regardless of party affiliation, to offer amendments or
alternatives was all but eliminated.

A prime example of this disregard for the legislative process occurred
on January 14th, when the House voted on H.R. 2, a bill to reauthorize
the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP was
established more than ten years ago to make sure children in low-income
families have access to quality health care. The program should be
reauthorized, but it should remain focused on the neediest children.
However, H.R. 2 is less focused on helping our nation's children and
more focused on mandating a massive expansion of government run health
care.

The SCHIP legislation opens the program to adults and families making as
much as $80,000 and increases the risk of non-citizens obtaining
benefits through the program. Even worse, the budgetary math used to
'pay for' this expansion relies on a tobacco tax increase that will only
fully fund the SCHIP program if an additional twenty million non-smoking
Americans start smoking. It is flawed logic to fund a children's health
care program by creating millions of new smokers.

This important legislation could have been improved through the
committee process and open debate. More than 120 of my colleagues and I
wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi and then-President-elect Obama
describing our priorities for the legislation, including serving
eligible low-income children first, requiring proper documentation to
ensure the program only benefits U.S. citizens and legal residents,
maintaining private insurance options for families who are already
insured, and finding a stable funding source for any potential expansion
of the program. Unfortunately, none of these principles were addressed.

If we are to move beyond partisanship to constructive debate and
collaborative efforts to solve our greatest challenges, it must be more
than speeches and sound bites. We must each commit to practice what is
preached.

Our country is in the middle of an economic crisis with a new Congress
and a new President. In these challenging times, Congress must work
together for the common good. Developing the proper economic stimulus
plan is only the first item on a very long "To-Do" list. Together we can
do better. The Democratic Majority should join Republicans in heeding
President Obama's call to put ideas ahead of narrow partisanship.


D.C. and District Talk

Ways & Means Democrats Deny Bipartisan Contributions to the Stimulus
Package Yesterday, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a markup
for the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (H.R. 598).
After participating in the markup, Congressman Davis issued the
following statement:

“Despite President Obama’s call for Congress to put aside partisan
politics for the good of the American people, I was disappointed that
House Democrats are still more interested in pushing their agenda than
working together for pragmatic common-sense solutions,” Congressman
Davis said. “Speaker Pelosi’s proposed stimulus legislation would expand
the deficit by nearly $1 trillion. Despite the substantial sum of
borrowed money the Speaker proposes to spend in this package, there is
very little assurance it will actually stimulate the economy.

“This morning, House Republicans presented our ideas for this stimulus
package directly to President Obama. I am hopeful that after carefully
considering these ideas, the President will encourage the Speaker and
Chairman Rangel to be more open in crafting the stimulus legislation.”

During yesterday’s mark-up of the stimulus legislation, the Committee on
Ways & Means considered twenty amendments. Both amendments offered by
Democrats were accepted by the whole Committee. All but one of the
eighteen amendments offered by Republicans were rejected on party-line
votes.

Congressman Davis offered two amendments during the markup:

Removing Conditions on Assistance to States for Unemployment Obligations


Chairman Rangel’s bill conditions receipt of a one time payment of
additional federal unemployment insurance funds on permanent expansion
of eligibility for unemployment insurance (including categories like
part-time workers). Congressman Davis’ amendment would have simply
removed the conditions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this
amendment will prevent States from having to hike payroll taxes to raise
an additional $5 billion. We should not be mandating additional
long-term expenses at the State-level at a time when States are already
struggling to meet their existing obligations. Unfortunately, the
amendment was rejected along partisan lines.

Increasing the Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Home Improvements

Congressman Davis also offered an amendment that would increase the cap
on the tax credit for the purchase of energy efficient home
improvements, like Energy Star appliances and heating and cooling
systems, to an aggregate of $5,000. The underlying bill only raised the
tax credit to $1,500. The amendment would have stimulated more demand
for manufactured products and created jobs. In addition, it would allow
families to increase the energy efficiency in their homes and help to
lower their utility bills. Increasing the tax credit from $1,500 to
$5,000 provides an additional incentive to families who are considering
a major new home appliance like a furnace, HVAC system, or a new set of
new windows. Unfortunately, the amendment was rejected along partisan
lines.

Some additional examples of constructive Republican amendments rejected
by House Democrats during the mark-up include:

* Representative Dean Heller’s (R-NV) amendment to modify and
expand the homebuyer tax credit by extending it through 2009 (it will
expire on June 30, 2009), opening the credit to anyone purchasing a
primary residence (as opposed to just first-time homebuyers), and
requiring buyers to pay at least a 5% down payment to get the credit.

* Representative Sam Johnson’s (R-TX) amendment that would exempt
unemployment benefits from federal income tax for 2008 and 2009.

 

[KingOrfeo]

I read "the plan" and no where did it mention lots and lots of condoms or funding overseas abortion clinics that were discussed in the news as part of the bill. What other surprises are in there? Did you read the bill? The actual bill isn't on the white house web site. Where is the bill?

Still a work in progress. Reid says it will be ready by February 16.

 

[KingOrfeo]

His lofty proclamations of bipartisanship have been already shown to be a sham.

How so?

 

[KingOrfeo]

i find it absolutely retarded, blind, and utterly stupid that a failed system is being propped up with more credit (debt).
it's not working, and it will continue not to work. it is a shell game. come on, it's time to wake up people.

Yes, well, as Maggie Thatcher used to say, There Is No Alternative.

 

[Ham Murabi]

We who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down. Only when the human spirit is allowed to invent and create, only when individuals are given a personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefitting from their success -- only then can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive, and free.