 |
 |
   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
|
   |
|
|
January 29, 2010
THE 'CASH-AND-TRASH' STRATEGY.... At this afternoon's event in Baltimore, there was quite a bit of discussion about the stimulus and economic recovery efforts. Not surprisingly, Republicans weren't happy with the initiative, and President Obama presented a spirited defense. Of particular interest, though, was the president reminding the stimulus' GOP detractors of a point they'd prefer to overlook: "[A] lot of you have gone to ribbon cuttings for the same projects that you voted against. I say all this not to re-litigate the past, but it's simply to state, the component parts of the recovery act are consistent with what many of you say are important things to do."
It's being called the "cash-and-trash strategy" -- Republicans hate the stimulus package and "trash" it at every available opportunity, but love the stimulus package and grab the "cash" when it comes to creating jobs in their own states/districts. It's been going on for a year now, but with 65 congressional Republicans making the list, it's getting pretty embarrassing. The point isn't just to highlight GOP hypocrisy, though that is entertaining. The more important point is that, whether detractors like it or not, the recovery effort prevented a depression, generated economic growth, and created jobs -- even in districts represented by Republicans. The more proponents remind voters about this -- yesterday's HSR event in Tampa was a very good idea -- the better. —Steve Benen 3:05 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (11)
Comments
It's not just the stimulus that they trash. I think a democrat talking point forwith should be ,,,, you're an elected official _______________ why are you so anti-government anything? Didn't we just see you cutting a ribbon at ____________, thanks to government dollars? And so on. So who thinks the stimulus stinks now? It is really time to stick the dagger in and twist it. Maybe some 50s music playing while the small trash talk comes out of GOPers mouths, then classic, blaring rock 'n roll to end showing how real men and women DO government service! Posted by: Tom Nicholson on January 29, 2010 at 3:16 PM | PERMALINKThere is no shame among Republican officials these days - MUGGERS (not discouraging the over the top nazi imagery at Tea parties they attend), THUGGERS (the over the top Stalin like rhetoric they are all too willing to use even in light of its out and out inappropriateness) and THIEVES (their raw attempt to steal away the direction the American people chose in November 2008). A regional party with only one hope - ratfuck its way back into power! Republican obstructionism should be kicked to the curb where it belongs! -Kevo Posted by: kevo on January 29, 2010 at 3:21 PM | PERMALINKMike Pence has his angle all figured out. The economy grew faster in the last quarter than at any comparable period over the last 6 years? So what? That wasn't because of the stimulus package, it was a natural cycle, and the American economy would have recovered anyway. He was quoted as having said something like, "I believe the American economy will recover in spite of the physician's prescription". So now the stimulus not only was ineffective, it actually was a handicap that America had to overcome on its road to recovery. Bigt balls and a tiny brain, Mike. I sincerely hope the crazy birther base doesn't fall for that one. Posted by: Mark on January 29, 2010 at 3:25 PM | PERMALINKNote to Democrats, OWN IT, baby! Own it! "Do you still support your vote on the Stimulus?" "Hell, yes! Did you notice that our economy grew almost 5% this month - more so than any time during the last FIVE YEARS? You betcha I still support it!" End of discussion. Posted by: MsJoane on January 29, 2010 at 3:33 PM | PERMALINKDems need to confront the GOP on all this shit, in public and televised if possible. Today's Q&A set a precedent and its time for other Dems to run with it. If Hatch wants a war, let's give him one. Let's face it, the American public is like the mob in Gladiator. It's time for the Dems to step into the arena. When people start turning off American Idol to watch these "steelcage matches," the tide will have turned. I know, I know, but it is a nice fantasy. Posted by: bdop4 on January 29, 2010 at 3:40 PM | PERMALINKanyone have a list of those 65 congressional Republicans? Posted by: Peg on January 29, 2010 at 3:43 PM | PERMALINKI see some great commercials here... This is Congressman X's opinion of the stimulus... [Congressman X speaking against stimulus.] And so is this... [Congressman X cutting the ribbon for a new industrial plant.] You can't have it both ways, Congressman X. It would be nice if the DCCC would produce a bunch of campaign ads contrasting Republican Congressmen taking credit for projects funded by the stimulus bill with their denunciations of the same bill. The tagline could be, "How do you spell hypocrite?" Then flash the Reps name on the screen. Simple, cheap to produce and it would drive the Repubs into apoplexy. Posted by: majun on January 29, 2010 at 4:40 PM | PERMALINK"[A] lot of you have gone to ribbon cuttings for the same projects that you voted against. -- President Obama I'm glad he thought to mention that wee-bit of an inconvenient fact, at long last.If I can't have him wielding an axe and a hammer, I'll settle for a scalpel and a needle, I guess. Posted by: exlibra on January 29, 2010 at 4:41 PM | PERMALINKYesterday evening, I was walking w/my wife + daughter past the Allen Lane Station on SEPTA's R8 Regional Rail Line. For non-Philadelphians, this is one of the two commuter rail lines serving the northwest portion of Philadelphia, this particular one built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 19th century. I pointed out the construction work being done on the station, + explained that this was being done w/funds from the Federal stimulus act. I also said that, if the rebuilding job is done as well as the PRR did it, this stimulus money could result in a train station that our daughter's great-grandchildren could use. Think about that. The stimulus spending may have a reasonably quick effect, but its results could last for upwards of 100 years. That's good planning. -Z Posted by: Zorro on January 30, 2010 at 10:32 PM | PERMALINKPost a comment
May 2011
April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 |
|
|
    |
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
buy from Amazon and
support the Monthly
|
||||||||
