Begala: If you oppose stimulus, don't take the money

[wyldwolf]

Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina took umbrage at my writing that his approach to the economic crisis is to do nothing. I'll deal with his "ideas" in a moment, but first let me make a modest proposal:

If Republican politicians are so deeply opposed to President Obama's economic recovery plan, they should refuse to take the money. After all, if you think all that federal spending is damaging, there are easy ways to reduce it: Don't take federal money.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/16/begala.carolina/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

[Deja Q]

1. K&R

[spooky3]

2. A DUer, ThickAsABrick, came up with that idea on 2/14.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5055001

[Occam Bandage]

3. That idea's been kicking around here ever since the stimulus program was first proposed,

and Republicans first complained. It was practically omnipresent after the first unanimous house Republican rejection.

[spooky3]

5. so do you think Begala reads or posts at DU?

[Occam Bandage]

7. Doubtful. nt

[Botany]

10. Paul listens to and contributes to Stephanie Miller and Steph .....

... gets more than a little of info from DU



:rofl:


Paul did not just roll off the cabbage truck.

[Thickasabrick]

24. Bless your heart....or hearts. LOL - thank you for remembering my

post. I don't care where it comes from - I'm just thrilled it's getting some "legs". Let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

[MadBadger]

4. You shouldnt fault those who desperately need the services because of their idiotic leaders.

[spooky3]

6. but they need to vote those idiots out of office.

[Occam Bandage]

8. I wouldn't punish someone because 55% of their neighbors are idiots.

[MadBadger]

9. Exactly

[hay rick]

12. Punish us instead?

I forgot, that's already happening.

[rosesaylavee]

17. But it won't hurt for them to hear that their elected

officials are being given that option. It may cause them to speak up a bit about what is actually going on in their communities as said elected officials seem to be completely unaware.

I do agree they should not be punished as just this past year we managed to get Denny Hastert (due to his resignation) and his RW minions out of our district... but I do think they need to let their voices be heard LOUD and clear. :P

[marshall]

11. What happens to the money if nobody takes it?

Does it sit in a vault somewhere until next year? Is it returned to the public? Where does it go?

[rosesaylavee]

19. www.recovery.gov

will list where all the monies go and how they will be spent. It becomes active this week after President Obama signs the bill.

[jn2375]

13. K&R completely agree

[MadBadger]

15. What would you say to those DUers who live in Red States or Red Districts: "Tough Luck"

Better move to a blue state?

Do you see how this suggestion is ridiculous?

[Number23]

22. Begala's suggestion seems to me to be more of a call for citizens of states

with governors complaining about the stimulus (which is not that many) to demand that their governors accept the money and use it instead of political posturing.

His comments did not seem to me to be a call for citizens of red states to move to blue ones.

[nxylas]

14. Sanford wants to turn it down

Representative Jim Clyburn inserted language into the bill to stop him doing that. Unlike Sanford, Clyburn actually cares about the people of South Carolina.

[polmaven]

16. He is absolutely correct!

All the more for those who agree with it. I also agree with Begala that it is not necessarily about the Senators and Reps from any state. It is the Governors and the state Legislators that are more important.

[DemReadingDU]

18. Spouse said the same thing!

If they voted no on the stimulus, then those Representatives and Senators don't get any of the stimulus money to help get jobs and help their constituents.

I wonder how well that will go over with their constituents!

:evilgrin:


edit: If the constituents are unhappy, they should vote out the jerks who voted no. The money probably goes to the governors anyway.

[Puzzler]

20. If you look at some of the comments...

... below his article, you'll see the same inane lack of simple logic that one of Belaga's critics made on the air recently.

The so-called counter argument to Belaga is to say, "Well, South Carolina should stop paying federal taxes then! Ha... gotcha!"

Unfortunately, the "gotchas" have completely missed Belaga's point. South Carolina receives $1.35 for every $1.00 they contribute to the Feds. So, yes... South Carolina could opt out (hypothetically), and the Federal government would COME OUT AHEAD.

[Number23]

21. It's gonna take a week to get Begala's boot out of some Republican ass

The ending is a killer:

"Something tells me Gov. Sanford won't take that gamble. Because for all his rhetoric about hating federal spending, he can't wait to get his hands on our money."

What a gem. Happy to rec

[kiva]

23. During the New Deal there was wide regional/state disparity

in the payment of aid. The difference was largely due to the fact that many agency funds required a matching contribution from states, but there was apparently no reluctance on the part of state officials to take government money, and I suspect there won't be anyone turning down cash today either.

[Cha]

Rec'd~ Yeah, 'cause if they did..that would make

them..wait for it..ta da! HYPOCRITES. NO! Say it SO!

[Thickasabrick]

25. Yea Baby!!!! Whoohoo - eat it Sanford!!!! K&R

[Qutzupalotl]

26. I heard this about the Bush tax cuts in 2001.

"If you think it's wasteful, give it back!"

It was just as unproductive an argument then as now. It ignores the fact that the direction of the country is what is being criticized, not the individual's fraction of the total.

[ecstatic]

27. I like Gibbs, but Begala would rock as a spokesman

He is so quick with comebacks.