Arlen Specter is trying to weasel on his stumulus vote

[starroute]

As a Pennsylvania resident, I guess I'm on his email list. At any rate, I just got this. Is the GOP leaning on him so hard that he has to boast about the degree to which he was able to crap the stimulus in voting for it? What a two-faced asshole that man is being -- as usual.

(Web link is apparently http://specter.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100032281.208422.113&gen=1]


Dear Friends,

As you know, today the President signed into law the "Americans Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."

The vote on the stimulus package was a very tough vote because of the very large deficit we have and the very large national debt faced by future generations. *But* *the economy is in a desperate situation.* Just in the month of January we lost 600,000 jobs, added to the loss of 2.8 million last year. There are millions of people who are having their homes foreclosed. The economists tell us that if we do not act that the current severe recession could well develop into a full-fledged depression like 1929.

The agreement we reached was the best one we could under the circumstances. *We were able to cut out $100 billion from the package* *and include 35% in tax relief in the overall bill.* My preference would have been John McCain’s proposal, which I voted for, to have the stimulus package of $421 billion in tax cuts alone. I voted for the Reagan tax cuts back in 1981 and that would be the best course, but in a legislative body you don’t have exactly your own choice.

I was impressed with the position of the United States Chamber of Commerce which was for the bill very solidly. The Chamber of Commerce, obviously, is a very conservative, Republican organization which has its hands on the economy and what’s happening to many, many businesses and they were for it. *All factors considered, I thought that action had to be taken.

*

I voted for it with reservations, as I have commented. One was I didn’t like the speed of the operation. When President Obama came to talk to the Republican Caucus and my turn came for a question I said, Why the haste? Why do you have to move ahead on February 13?’ I reminded him of the bailout package of $700 billion where mistakes were made because the legislature didn’t go through what we call regular order.’ The President responded that there was an emergency and that we had to act. Another factor which concerned me was that there is a good bit in this bill which should be in the regular appropriations process - important healthcare and education projects, but they ought to be in the regular budget where we establish overall spending and then make a determination of priorities.

My vote was cast recognizing the very substantial political peril that I face. I know that there are many on the Republican political spectrum who do not like the vote. I remember, obviously, the tough primary fight I had in the year 2004. *But I felt in the final analysis, given the very severe consequences which might befall the country, that my duty was to look out for the public interest and not my own personal political interest.*

[liberal N proud]

1. Little late for that

[AndyA]

2. Always an excuse, eh Arlen?

You may try to ignore that your party got us into this mess, but the American people aren't going to forget it.

With every layoff, every business that closes, every home foreclosed upon, the GOP sinks deeper into the bog they created. And each and every one of you deserve to lose next time you run for re-election. You have brought this country to the brink of the worst financial crisis ever.

A bigger man would take responsibility, but the GOP is the party of no responsibility. A pathetic lot you all are.

[ThomWV]

3. As a non-Pennsylvanian I've gotta say, if you gotta have a Republican you guys could have done worse

There are many worse than him in the Senate.

[stray cat]

4. As a republican he has a base to keep happy - he did the right thing voting and with the email