**SENATE Stimulus Bill DEBATE thread**

[last_texas_dem]

Anybody mess around with doing these anymore? Participate in this one if you wanna...

**"The idea that we can spend money we don't have, on things we can't afford, simply defies logic." -John "Box Turtle" Cornyn
-Just caught that little gem from Cornyn... Where was that "concern" on his part when he was rubber-stamping everything Bush wanted?

Amy Klobuchar speaking now...

[Hello_Kitty]

1. I was just watching the House one. I'm switching over.

Rep. DeFazio gave a very reasonable explanation for being one of 7 Dems to vote against it. He said that he found the reductions in infrastructure projects and increases in tax cuts to be unacceptable.

[last_texas_dem]

4. Yeah, looking at the "Nay" votes, I'm thinking DeFazio

is the only Democrat who opposed it from the left. The others looked like the usual "Blue Dog" crowd. I know the argument will be that its due to their fiscal conservatism (but, why then did the vast majority of Blue Dogs vote for it?), but I think it tends to have more to do with being from states or districts that didn't support Obama. It's unfortunate, since many are from economically disadvantaged southern states/districts that would benefit substantially from various aspects of the bill.

[4 t 4]

49. Although I think we need it NOW

I understand his reserve because it is ruined now and when it doesn't do all that it should the other side will be the first to say "See We told you so" At this point it is a recipe for disaster even though it might save a life- right ? Can't win at this point they made sure of that

[snappyturtle]

2. Thanks! I was watching the House...damn....not that it will do any good

but that Coryn is going to hear from me.........again.

Thune is on now. We're passing up opportunities! DId you know that? Love these conservatives who have binged on the treasury for years and NOW they're concerned? Go figure.

[last_texas_dem]

5. Oh yeah, and *Thune* says there are "better ways" to do tax cuts

than the type in the stimulus bill. (What, like Dubya's budget-busting tax cuts for the rich? Bushie's tax cuts certainly had long-term, positive effects on the economy, right?

Also noticed his use of "Democrat" Party. Grrr....

[bdamomma]

6. what arrogance of these thugs.

[bdamomma]

3. oh jeez, I just want this over, and the repigs are showing their true

selves of being true a$$holes.

They are afraid cause it will work and they don't want a Democratic President to succeed.

[last_texas_dem]

7. Brownback (R-KS) up

"Only $76 billion of the bill is stimulative." (some of the tax cuts, of course, and a few particular things that help Plains states, of course...)

[last_texas_dem]

8. Lyin' Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Blaming his party's inability to cooperate with anything they don't support 100 percent, on "the media": "If the shoe were on the other foot, <the lack of bipartisan support for the bill> would be the lead story."

[4 t 4]

54. Lindsey had the Same

Exact argument in 1993... and he was Wrong then as he is now.

[last_texas_dem]

9. "Lamar!" (R-TN)

Hitting all the Repug talking points: "so-called stimulus bill," red-bellied mice, levitating trains, if we had saved such-and-such every day since Jesus Christ was born it wouldn't equal the amount of this bill...

Quality right-wing propaganda; wonder if he's been listening to Party Leader Rush Limbaugh?

[givemebackmycountry]

10. Richard Shelby

and I fe-ar the O-Bama administration....

[last_texas_dem]

11. Shelby: devisors of the bill resting on their

"Keynesian ideological crutch." Now he sounds like he's trying to argue that Keynes wasn't actually a Keynesian or something...

[4 t 4]

70. Oh don't even get me started on Shelby

what an asshole. A windbag big time with nothing to say but the same old stuff, The Same Old Tired Arguments.

[radfringe]

12. k&r

[Hello_Kitty]

13. Schumer is PWNING them!!

:woohoo:

[Hello_Kitty]

14. Bernie!!!

Giving 'em hell for repealing the Estate Tax!

:applause:

[4 t 4]

62. I Love Bernie ,love him n/t

[last_texas_dem]

15. (Paraphrased) Schumer: Where were my colleagues on the other side of the aisle

for the last eight years re: the debt? Where was their concern about generational poverty?"

Coburn (R-OK) breaking in, worried about Schumer referring to the Repugs as a group. (Wonder if he ever refers to Democrats as a group?)

Bernie Sanders(I-VT): What about the R's effort over the last eight years to repeal the estate tax? That would cost $1 trillion, and help only the top 3/10th's of one-percent...

[SeattleGirl]

16. Love it!

Kick 'em good, Chuck!

[last_texas_dem]

18. "When we meet you halfway, don't give us the back of your hand

and say it hasn't been bipartisan.... We have made real efforts, and we know that the arguments about debt and generation theft ring hollow b/c you didn't make those arguments for the past eight years when the deficit bloomed b/c of spending on the Iraq war and spending on tax cuts largely for the most well-off Americans."

[SeattleGirl]

17. Schumer: When we reach out, don't give us the back of your hand.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what they've done.

[Hello_Kitty]

19. Orrin Hatch is whining.

:nopity:

[last_texas_dem]

20. Ugh... Orrin Hatch (R-UT) up now, whining

Says it hasn't been a bipartisan process.

(Gonna take a break and take care of a couple of things now... haha)

[Hello_Kitty]

21. Hatch: Oh noes! They want to give tax cuts to poor people!

How dare they. Poor people can eat dirt.

[burythehatchet]

22. This has been one of the most satisfying days on CSPAN ever. I hope a REpublick has a stroke,

it would complete me.

[last_texas_dem]

23. Hatch: We're heading towards the "Europeanization" of the United States of America!

OMGZ!

And now he's trying to sounds like a populist, railing against big banks and worried about homeowners?!?

[burythehatchet]

26. YES YES YES, I might not have to move to Europe after all!!!

[4 t 4]

63. Orrin is one of the fucks that

keeps touting that bullshit about people that don't pay taxes Everyone pays taxes just Not Income taxes that means you make less than $5,000 a year oh yea don't help those people you jackass On Edit. What the fuck would you think of this country if YOU made less than $5,000 Mr Hatch ??

[SeattleGirl]

24. The LIBERALS have run us into debt?

Jeebus, Orrin, what the hell did you put on your Wheaties this morning?

[4 t 4]

65. Oh yes Jeebus ! Heheheheheh love that term

[last_texas_dem]

71. Oh yeah, I loved that one

Hatch outright lied about the spending of the first six years of Boosh being the product of a coalition of the Democrats and a handful of liberal Repugs. I'm sure that was news to the Dems who were pretty much shut out of doing anything during that period. Bernie Sanders did a good job of calling him on it, though.

[burythehatchet]

25. SOCIALISM RAWWWWWWWKS! you douche

[Hello_Kitty]

27. Bernie!!!!!!

:loveya:

[burythehatchet]

28. Tom Coburn should rot in hell now

[last_texas_dem]

29. Coburn's "going to tell us what's going on... how the money's going to be spent"...

No thanks!

[last_texas_dem]

31. "The first leg of you losing a doctor/patient relationship

is in this bill. It will kill health care in this country!!!!!!1!!"

Coburn getting a little kooky... well, more kooky than usual.

[SeattleGirl]

30. Tom, you're a fucking asshat.

"We're going to abandon" our current healthcare system "and say the government knows best."

Are you kidding me?

What do you think happens now? Doc says you need this test or that operation, and some fucking bean counter sitting in momma's basement says NO.

The Repukes only know how to pull shit outta their asses.

Apparently, they think facts are for losers.

[ShortnFiery]

32. A whiny snot who drug his feet the entire time ... Coburn knows the legislation - he don't like it.

:puke:

[Hello_Kitty]

33. Go fuck yourself Coburn

Sideways and with a chainsaw.

[last_texas_dem]

34. Coburn: "Anybody that votes for this bill will be violating their oath to this U.S. Constitution."

:scared:

[last_texas_dem]

36. Also "(The bill) steals hope from your children's eyes."

I'm not shitting you.

"Tonight this vote will take away children's freedom, and you will see the loss of hope in their eyes."

[ejpoeta]

58. starvation and living in their car will take hope from a child's eyes.

[Mist]

35. Coburn sez the bill "limits the hope and joy of our children." WTF*cknFuck? Just asking. nt

[Hello_Kitty]

39. He meant limits the hope and joy of billionaires' children

That's who he's referring to when he says "us".

[Mist]

46. What was I thinking? Expecting a Rethug to make sense...my bad! nt

[ThomWV]

37. Saxby Chambliss (R.Georgia) is up

[Hello_Kitty]

38. Oh look, it's Sacksby Douchebliss.

:puke:

[last_texas_dem]

40. The Repugs are suddenly deeply concerned about "the children."

Chambliss's speech was essentially a shorter, less crazy version of Coburn's...

[Cleita]

50. Are those different children than the ones that they denied the SCHIPS

funding for back before the new Congress took their seats?

[last_texas_dem]

52. Must be!

Orrin Hatch was whining about how the Democrats had rammed through SCHIP in a "non-bipartisan" fashion just an hour or so ago...

[burythehatchet]

41. SuCk It MiTcH

[Hello_Kitty]

42. A million dollars a day since the birth of Jeeeezus!1!1eleventy

:eyes:

[last_texas_dem]

47. One of their faves

Lamar! used that one earlier. It's an opportunity to attack lib'rul guv'mint spending and invoke the Baby Jesus at the same time...

[ejpoeta]

60. which birthday are they using? because there are a few to choose from.

0 ad of course. or 6 bc. like anyone really knows!! assuming the guy ever lived. how much money have we spent in iraq? how much have we wasted on tax cuts for rich people? hmmm.

[Hello_Kitty]

43. Sen. Inouye being very calm and reasonable. eom

[Hello_Kitty]

44. Sessions: "ZOMG Socializm!1!"

[Hello_Kitty]

45. McNasty is up. Whining about lack of "bipartisanship".

[blogslut]

48. Voting now

n/t

[last_texas_dem]

53. Lugar voted w/ the Repugs

(I mention 'cause I had heard he was a possible "swing") Voinovich just voted "no," too. Collins voted "aye."

[brooklynite]

51. Spector and Collins holding back on votes...

[Avalux]

56. They've both voted AYE now. n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

55. This is maddening! Do you think they have the votes?

[tekisui]

57. I think they have to hold it open until Brown gets back,

at 10:30pm is what I've read.

I think they will be at 59, they need 60, until Brown makes it back.

[TahitiNut]

61. The "White House" arranged for a plane to fly Brown to DC and back to Ohio.

Senator returns from mother's memorial for vote

2 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Sherrod Brown is returning from his mother's memorial services for what could be the decisive 60th vote needed to send the $787 billion economic stimulus plan to President Barack Obama.

The White House has arranged a plane to fly the Ohio Democrat to Washington Friday night and then back to Ohio immediately after the scheduled vote so he can attend church services and the funeral for his mother in Mansfield Saturday morning, his office said.

Brown's mother, Emily Campbell Brown, died on Feb. 2 at age 88. Funeral arrangements were announced later that week.

Brown was to leave for Washington after visiting hours ended at 8 p.m., landing at Andrews Air Force Base in the D.C. suburbs. The vote will be held open until Brown arrives.

(more)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1M3URxMffMGcUZEgrswCL6ntm7gD96ATTJ81

[spanone]

59. cornyn never saw a war he wouldn't fund

[brooklynite]

64. Senator Martinez.....paging Senator Martinez.....

[Hello_Kitty]

66. He's a Republican right?

So I expect he'll be a nay vote.

[Soupy Liberaltarian]

67. Evan Bayh. Where the hell are you? You too Gilibrand, don't you dare have a change of heart! n/m

[4 t 4]

68. Hey Guys ,Shuuuuu

ineffective Nancy is speaking on C-Span. I swear did someone put something in her and Harry's juice cause she can't even speak properly ? I swear check it out WTF ? Her lips are stuck together

[4 t 4]

69. John Bonner

was just covered on C-Span I believe it was pre recorded anyway how can I possably agree with him simply based on the fact that I bet his Tan costs more or about the same as it would cost for some parents to feed their children I'm absolutly serious Tanning costs money and he is Tan year round so he must be paying for it. Kinda like George Hamilton-right ? How much do you think he has spent on his Tan so far but he's going to set a policy for my life. How disgusting is that when I know people that need food.