DAMN!!!! look what the rethugs and blue dog democrats are trying to cut out of the stimulus plan

[bigdarryl]

JESUS!!!! these people are PATHETIC!!http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/06/latest-stimulus-cuts-head_n_164675.html

[K Gardner]

1. Head Start, Food Stamps, Public Transit. Unbelievable. Punish the ones who can least afford it.

[Occam Bandage]

2. Or, that is to say, the things that have the highest proven stimulatory effect.

Trickle-down doesn't work. Trickle-up does.

[Honeycombe8]

32. I don't think food stamps are normally considered to be esp. stimulative to an economy.

A worthy program. But is that really a strong stimulus to the economy; we're on the verge of a depression. We need the economy to kick start. I'm all for anything that'll do that. I'm no economist, but I don't see how that would be a strong way to kickstart the economy.

[Occam Bandage]

33. Actually, food stamps are the absolute best stimulus for any economy,

as every dollar in food stamps will be spent, and will free up another dollar for the poorest Americans to spend elsewhere. And, unlike the upper and middle classes, the working class will spend absolutely every dollar they are given. Every dollar spent is a step towards recovery.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/29/news/economy/stimulus_analysis/index.htm

[Honeycombe8]

34. I stand corrected. Thx. nt

[bigdarryl]

6. I know people who make 25 to 40 thousand a year who are rethugs

looking at this story how in the hell can you support the republican party making 25 to 40 thousand a year. There about the well to do and rich and fuck the middle class and poor.

[WinkyDink]

27. Guns, Abortion, and The Flag. There ya go. And deluded optimism about their own futures.

[OHdem10]

3. Since programs like this are the bain of their existence, are you

really surprised.

[Thrill]

4. Damn Blue Dog Democrats, continue to be a thorn in the ass of Democratic Presidents

wow just wow

[FormerDittoHead]

5. Now, now. They won, we lost... oh WAIT!!! n/t

[Frustratedlady]

7. That is beyond belief. I would even give Collins more credit than to pull such a stupid trick.

Look at what the Blue Dog Dems and Rep. Collins want to add:

Defense operations and procurement, STAG Grants, Brownfields, Additional transportation funding

[Skidmore]

22. But Collins has power now...or so they keep telling us.

[lyonn]

26. After reading the article again

It looks like a scrambled mess. They mix the bad stuff into the good stuff. Like the military/defense addition. Do any of us know what the hell is going on?

[janx]

8. Look at this:

Reductions:

Public Transit $3.4 billion...


Increases:

...Additional transportation funding

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/stimulus-package/latest-cuts-to-the-stim-package-head-start-child-nutrition-food-stamps-public-transit/

____________________________________

What kind of transportation are they talking about?

[bigdarryl]

9. probably something favoring the CEO's

[Swede Atlanta]

10. I have a slightly different take on this

1. Head Start and Child Nutrition - these are both great programs that deserve to be funded but not in the stimulus bill. These programs need to be funded regardless of whether we are in a dire economic downturn or not. Let's fund this but not here.

2. Food Stamps - again this is a meaningful and beneficial program. I would support including it here if it was deemed a necessary complement to extending unemployment insurance. If a family might need both unemployment as well as food subsidy (food stamps) to feed themselves, let's include the incremental amount needed here. The basic food stamp program should be in a different funding bill.

3. Public Transit - if this is to be spent on building out, refurbishing, etc. public transit systems (e.g. buying buses, fixing rail lines, etc.) then this should be included here because those activities stimulate hiring and keep people working.

These are examples of how well-meaning programs in their own right have been added to this bill when they should be in a separate funding bill. They only serve as lightning rods for the truly wicked among us, the Repukkkes.

[Debi]

11. No guarantee there will be any more 'funding' coming out of this congress

This might be their only chance.

[n2doc]

23. Yep. You know the repukes are gonna scream about the deficit from now on

It's all gonna be about reducing the size of that "bloated" government. And Obama has said he wants cuts in some programs, so that will be taken as carte blanche to cut progressive programs to oblivion.

I see they added some defense pork to the bill already. Those guys always, fuck, always get fed well...

[janx]

12. I disagree about food stamps and public transit.

Food stamps enable people to buy food, so they help to keep an industry going. Public transit I can attest to wholeheartedly; it's how I'm able to get to work without having to pay hundreds of dollars a month for gas!

The Republicans don't like that. They want me to keep driving and buying gas.

[Raine1967]

15. Every Dollar in Foods stamps spent

gives a return of about 1.73 to the economy -- (can't find where I read that stat, but that is a gist of it)

Food stamps are critical to the stimulus.

[lyonn]

19. Words worth pondering

1. and 2. can be added in our regular budget. Our rail system is a disgrace. I feel that using rail for transporting many products that are now using trucks could save big bucks. If we had an improved rail system for travelers I know many people that would choose that over air and auto. Europe could possibly be an example to follow when it comes to fast rail travel. I am assuming that the fuel a train uses is more efficent than planes and cars. Plus the cost of road repair due to truck traffic. True the trucks no doubt pay heavy duty on licenses?

Our power grids and piping gas all over this country has got to be a big plus too. Spending on our infrastructure seems a no brainer. How can you lose when you invest in your country and not the banks and the stock market? Money to retain and hire more teachers is stimulus. Hiring more police, same deal. Clinton did it and our crime rate went down.

This bill is to quickly stimulate jobs and keep our economy from hitting bottom.

Woops, forgot the word "from" in last sentence. That's a biggie.

[thoughtcrime1984]

30. These things are all referred to as "wasteful pork" by McCain, are they not? nt

Pork being anything that helps the lower classes of society, of course.

[Hope And Change]

13. They will reduce school construction with $60 billion??WTF!?

[malletgirl02]

14. Heath Insurance for Unemployed

Are these the same Senator who cut health insurance for the unemployed?

[liskddksil]

16. Call your senator now [phone] and demand they vote against these cuts

[Generator]

17. Obama has been prez such a short time

So I decided to see what "the enemy" is saying and watch a few minutes-yes minutes certainly not a whole hour of FOX News. I've been watching for weeks. It's all propaganda. I knew it was propaganda but it makes me sick.

Direct quotes from the anchors: (Not Hannity or O'Reilly but just supposed "neutral" anchors") "The American people are against this." "It's filled with pork and waste." Their entire tone is one of derision and mocking.

THEY DISGUST ME.

It makes me want to cry. Nothing can ever change in this country as long as some folks get direct propaganda they think is news.

The only brief bright spot is I also watch CNBC every day. They are getting a little more positive on the stimulus. They actually have things that show both sides.

[Blue_Tires]

18. oh yeah, that's useless pork, all right

:sarcasm:

[bertman]

20. definition of "useless pork": the area between Bill O'Reilly's ears

[Sebastian Doyle]

21. It's time to neuter these BlueBalled "Democratic" cowards.

They're more useless than the Repukes. At least the Repukes are honest about hating everything that was ever good about America.

[LatteLibertine]

24. I use to not have a problem with Blue Dog Dems

Now I am re evaluating my feelings.

What makes this so offensive is what they are increasing after the eliminations and reductions. I thought once we had the majority things would change. Looks like we have a whole new set of problems other than the Republican party. Thanks Blue Dogs :(

[lyonn]

28. Bottom line is if the bluedogs vote against this bill

This would be un-effin believable.

Edit: I understand the likes of Ben Nelson of Nebraska need to consider their constituents when they cast a vote.
This vote is more than one damn Senator. It's the stability of our country at stake. But they seem to play footsie with the repubs. The hell with the rest of us, where is their honor? Why are they running as a Dem? Cowards - all of them.

[glitch]

25. Perhaps they should be called red mole dems, not blue dog.

blue dog is too good for them.

[Zodiak]

29. Diane Feinstein is one of them

She just loves the idea of voting her and her husband more defense money.

[creeksneakers2]

31. They have some nerve

To add extra military spending while cutting money for the people who need help the most .