There is a pattern developing with these Republican governors and the stimulus...

[onetwo]

...refuse the most stimulative parts of the package -- you know, the parts that are most likely to make the plan a success. Then, hope for two things:

1) that the still-employed majority don't notice or care, and

2) that the stimulus plan fails due to this sabotage

Then they pick up the pieces (and seats/Presidency) in 2010/2012.

Could this possibly be their strategy?

[madaboutharry]

1. I heard that the state legislators can override them.

I think President Obama needs to get on television and call them out. He needs to tell the people of their states that the governors are playing them for fools.

[MoJoWorkin]

5. President Obama has the joint session of Congress speech Tuesday nite.....

I will be interested in what he says. I believe the Nation will be all ears, as well.

[Cha]

9. That's right..I would think

he'll be addressing all these obstacles, scams, and trickeries the repod operatives are trying to pull off.

[Kdillard]

2. Yep that is exactly what they are doing . It is shameful.

I just want to shake them. All I can hope for is that the voters in their states remember this come 2010. Country First my A88. They just want to sabotage this bill so they can point and say I told you so even if they caused it not to work in the first place.

[Wickerman]

3. Its the Palin principle; they say thanks but no thanks

but then take it anyway once the presses stop rolling. Get the lens of the media out of the way and then the pigs will come to the trough.

[Exilednight]

4. This isn't the strategy. The strategy is quite simple .......

There is a provision in the bill that allows for Congress to force Governors to take the money.

They will push Congress's hand and make them force the states to take the money. The governors take the money, and then they can point a finger at Congress and say "made me do it".

It's a double political win for them. They get to say that they were against and they get the money.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. I thought the provision was that the state legislature could

directly access the funds on their request.

"In fact, governors who reject some of the stimulus aid may find themselves overridden by their own legislatures because of language Clyburn included in the bill that allows lawmakers to accept the federal money even if their governors object.
He inserted the provision based on the early and vocal opposition to the stimulus plan by South Carolina's Republican governor, Mark Sanford. But it also means governors like Sanford and Louisiana's Bobby Jindal ? a GOP up-and-comer often mentioned as a potential 2012 presidential candidate ? can burnish their conservative credentials, knowing all the while that their legislatures can accept the money anyway."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090219/ap_on_bi_ge/bucking_the_stimulus

This way they get to look like hard ass Republics while the legislature goes and fetches the much needed funds for them.

[vaberella]

13. I heard on David Shuster that it was the legislature who could force their hand.

But who knows...maybe Congress has power too. If the legislature is the only one who could push the issue then they still can't have a win.

[vaberella]

12. What if Congress doesn't push them into taking the bill...?!

They'll end up losing in the end.

[Exilednight]

14. Here's your dilema ........

Obama won many red states. If Congress does not force them to take the money, then Democrats in red states will be saying "why didn't you make them take the money?"

On the flip side, if you do force them to take the money, then you face the possibility of alienating Republican moderates and bluedog Democrats.

This is straight-up political theater, make no mistake about it.

Think of it like a little child who needs their medicine. They resent you for making them take it, even though it makes them better, or they resent you for not making them take it and remaining ill.

[Double T]

6. the rethug party is dead for a very long time.

The destruction of our economy and financial system is largely due to conservative rethug criminal behavior. Unless the Dems screw this up royally, they will be reelected in 2012. The Democrats and rethugs both better be looking over their shoulder as Independents are gaining strength from the incompetence of both of the major parties. The natives are getting very restless.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. SC Minn and LA

of those only Minnesota is of any major economic relevance. California, Texas, and Florida are instead lining up for badly needed money. I think these three idiots are risking a swift vengeance from their voters if their state budgets go south while they are refusing to take a helping hand from Washington.

[Vinca]

10. You can tell the Republicans running for office from the ones who aren't

by their positions on the stimulus package. The ones running are working on the assumption their base is still employed. Election day 2010/2012 should be good for us.

[vaberella]

11. It can't work.

A small number of them have states their Governoring and a good number of Republican Governors ARE taking the stimulus funding to the point that even those who voted against it took it, and were pimping it as their own. For those who choose against it, I think it's fine until they come back crying for the funds. The money they gave up should go to other states that really need the money.


In the end they fail on both counts.