McConnell: Stimulus Would Lead to ‘Europeanization’

[Enrique]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/02/10/mcconnell-stimulus-would-lead-to-‘europeanization’/

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned on Tuesday that the Senate stimulus plan would lead the country toward “Europeanization.”

McConnell, addressing reporters outside the Senate chamber, said the $838 billion stimulus package would greatly increase the percentage of the Gross Domestic Product that the government spends.

“It’s anticipated, if all of these new spending items that we’re in the process of considering, go through, that government spending in this country as a percentage of gross domestic product in 2010 could well be just under 40 percent,” he said. “Just under 40 percent.”

“This paints a picture of the Europeanization of America,” he went on.

He also took a jab at Democrats. “I know there are many on the other side that think the French, and the Germans and the Italians have got it right, but by maintaining a percentage of GDP and government spending of roughly 20 percent, we continue to have ea vibrant private sector.”

[BOSSHOG]

1. No doubt mcconnell

goes back 150 generations in American History.

[Eurobabe]

2. OMFG, the HORROR, excuse me whilst I catch my bullet train. n/t

[DBoon]

21. and use my high-speed internet

And enjoy my 5 weeks vacation.

And not worry about being bankrupted by medical expenses

[LeftishBrit]

3. And what's wrong with that?

Is Europe the axis of evil now? (sounds like the attitude of far-RW Brits, actually!)

[Enrique]

7. they don't speak American there

Obama is going to make us all speak European!

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. He says that like it's a bad thing.

:evilgrin:

[Howardx]

12. health care for all and beer in mcdonalds

im down.

[Marr]

5. I heard that and couldn't believe it.

To me, that's like just coming out and saying we need a poverty-stricken, desperate underclass. I don't know a single person who's spent any considerable time in western Europe who thinks we're better off than those people. They've figured it out and we *should* be "europeanizing" our system.

And their private sectors are doing just fine-- especially in comparison to us. The only Americans who would be hurt if we adopted a European model would be our Paris Hilton/GW Bush/Bernie Madoff class.

[RC]

6. "...vibrant private sector.”" ???

Maybe you need to get out in public more. Maybe meet your real constituents for the first time.

[pinto]

8. Yet he knows that many provisions *expire* in two years, i.e. they're temporary.

So his straw man argument doesn't even hold up on the facts, regardless of any "danger" of "Europeanization".

:eyes:

[dynasaw]

9. Every Time A Republican Opens His Mouth

there's utter nonsense that spews out.

[Hubert Flottz]

10. Guys like Mitch think this economy is great.

To the manor born republicanism is more like Europe 200 years ago.

[devilgrrl]

11. Jesus, what a dipshit!

:eyes:

[Still Sensible]

13. Sonuvabitch is still looking for the right word

to make it sound evil.... they've tried "spending" and that didn't work... they tried "socialist"... and that didn't work... now they're trying "europeanization"... I've got, when that doesn't work they can call it "sacrilegious" (to fire up the fundie base) or "a threat to national security" (to fire up the rest of their base).

Good to see them floundering.

[Still Sensible]

31. Yep, Huckabee did it

Another thread just noted that Mike Huckabee indeed took the jump....

"Republican Mike Huckabee, the once and future presidential candidate, is telling supporters that President Obama's stimulus package is anti-religious.

"Why? Because it bans the use of higher education construction grants to modernize, renovate or repair facilities "used for sectarian instruction, religious worship … or a school or department of divinity; or in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission."

[endarkenment]

14. Oh NOES!!!!! Universal health care Universal higher education

Generous old age pensions and unemployment compensation - a life without constant gnawing fear that tomorrow you could be living in your car trying to survive cancer while keeping up payments on your kids tuition! OH NOES!

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. and that is bad because?

oh yeah__ they are ALL evil socialists . We should have it so good!

[ComtesseDeSpair]

16. We should be so lucky!

[midnight]

17. Possible, he doesn't want Americans to enjoy the healthcare

and time off associated with Europe?

Interestingly enough though, his wife, in 2004 encouraged work relations with China that he was not concerned about impacting the American GDP in a "Chinesization" way.

"These four agreements broaden the ongoing cooperation between the U.S. Department of Labor and its counterparts in the People's Republic of China. Under these agreements, the agencies reaffirmed their common objectives to ensure economic growth, raise living standards and support greater shared prosperity, foster safe work environments and protect workers rights in accordance with relevant international labor principles while fully respecting the national laws of both the United States and China.

The department's earlier cooperative agreements with China include a $4.1 million grant to support the rule of law and a $2.3 million mine safety and health project."


For our troubles and money we received dog food lines that killed our dogs. Toys that poisoined our children, and a lowered standard of safety. How does that destruction impact our Gross Domestic Policy?

Maybe this doesn't matter at this time, but it is just curious about this man's objections.

[HughBeaumont]

18. That was as intelligent as McConnell's jaw is solid.

=

[Ikonoklast]

19. Well, the next thing you know, some country like Belgium

will buy out a great Murkin beer company like Budweiser!!1!11

Damn Yurpeens.

Has that chinless asshat ever been outside the borders of this country? The provincialism of some of our nativist Republic politicians is staggering.

[malaise]

20. I heard him live

Poor fool - at least European governments put their citizens first.

[backscatter712]

22. He says "Europeanization" like it's a bad thing.

Let me get this straight. If we become more like Europe, we have stronger social safety nets, we have universal health care, we have lower rates of poverty and homelessness...

Why this would be bad again?

[DBoon]

23. He would prefer a banana republic instead?

A society with a small number of wealthy and many poor people, with high crime and a military state that "disappears" political opponents?

[Joe the Liberal]

24. OMG THOSE EVIL EUROPEANS!!11!!!one!11

So the French, Germans and Italians don't have a vibrant private sector? Republicans are just trying to find the right word to make the stimulus sound bad or evil. It wouldn't surprise me if they started saying things like "this stimulus funds terrorists!" or some other fear mongering nonsense. McConnell and the rest of his ilk need to go do us all a favor by jumping off a skyscraper.

[ShortnFiery]

25. Germans, Italians and French, oh my!

:eyes:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

26. Rock on with the jingoistic xenophobia, Republicans.

Worked out so well for you in 06 and 08, gotta stick with what works!

[anonymous171]

27. Good. Due to those reforms, Europe's conservatives are wayyyy more liberal than ours.

[GinaMaria]

28. I could use a little Europeanization

Longer life expectancy, more vacation time, more holidays, you know work/life balance that thing that seems to always be beyond our grasp.

[DCKit]

33. Shorter work weeks....

they're even electing "Teh Gays" to run things efficiently.

Oh Noes!!!!

[liberalmuse]

29. Yeah, because Europe is such a soulless, cultureless shithole.

No, wait. That was America under Bush. Sorry!

[spanone]

30. another reason to vote for it

[DailyGrind51]

32. You mean we would have universal healthcare and secure pensions?

Frankly, I don't see the problem here!