The stimulus is beginning to work. There’s certainly more stimulus required. How do I know? If not, why are GOP politicians grubbing for the money?
The Wall Street Journal has followed up on The Washington Times report about Republican lawmakers who publicly opposed the stimulus but privately sought stimulus funds to create jobs in their states and districts. Some nuggets:
Rep. Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican who called the stimulus a "wasteful spending spree" that "misses the mark on all counts," wrote to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in October in support of a grant application from a group in his district which, he said, "intends to place 1,000 workers in green jobs."
Republican Reps. Sue Myrick of North Carolina and Jean Schmidt of Ohio sent letters in October asking for consideration of funding requests from local organizations training workers for energy-efficiency projects.
The Environmental Protection Agency received two letters from Sen. John Cornyn of Texas asking for consideration of grants for clean diesel projects in San Antonio and Houston. Mr. Cornyn is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. One of the letters was signed jointly with Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, also of Texas.
The agency also appeared to have received eight identical letters from Republican Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah recommending infrastructure projects in his state, seven of which were sent before stimulus legislation was passed by Congress.
The entire congressional delegation of Alabama, including its two Republican senators, wrote to then-Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell asking for $15 million for cogongrass eradication and control programs in the state. The state ended up getting a $6.3 million grant.
It's not just the WSJ and Washington Times that are paying attention. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Gov. Tim Pawlenty used stimulus funds to balance his state's budget. TPM notes new Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has privately thanked the administration for offering stimulus funds to his state.
Based on these and other reports, the Obama Administration is mounting an aggressive defense of the stimulus program, pointing to the 'slam it in public, beg for it in private' hypocrisy of its Republican critics… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Daily Kos>
I know you’ve seen that chart before at other blogs, but the Democratic Party sent it to me in email and asked me to spread it around, and it does fit this article perfectly. As bad as things still are, that condition is a result of the disaster Bush and the GOP left Obama and the Democrats to clean up. Long term readers who were here during the previous incarnation of Politics Plus will remember that, during the last year of the Bush/GOP regime, I often speculated that the GOP, knowing they would face major losses in 2008, intentionally allowed the economy to tank, even including the misuse of their half of TARP spending, to leave a mess behind that was so bad that they could blame Democrats for the effects of their own policies and use that blame in an attempt to regain power. While In have no proof that was their intent, inductive logic indicates likelihood. Look at that chart again. Things are not as bad as they used to be.
Bear in mind that these reports of GOP duplicity regarding the stimulus are not coming from left wing sources. Both papers are bastions of the right.
Two of my favorite people had a field day with this story.
First, here’s Rachel Maddow with DNC Chair, Tim Kaine.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Next, here’s Keith Olbermann with Eugene Robinson.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I hope you watched both.
Now the next time a rabid right winger tells you that the stimulus is _________ [insert GOP lie at hand], you are now armed with the truth. Let them have it with both barrels.
11 comments:
Tomcat you are absolutely right, and we have to keep that message out there so people will not forget
The stimulus is indeed working, just as we progressives knew it would. We were all warned that it would take time to pull ourselves out of this disastrous Great Recession brought on by Bushonomics, but Republicans, teabaggers, and the ill-informed kept expecting and demanding instant results. Utter nonsense, just like the hypocrisy congressional Republicans have shown in first opposing, and then taking credit for, this stimulus. The conservative faction in this country, Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats alike, have absolutely nothing of value to offer the nation. Yet we progressives, the only ones with a true and workable agenda, are nearly paralyzed by GOP obstruction and Blue Dog inaction. This is not the blueprint for a vibrant and blossoming future! This country badly needs a massive infusion of progressive liberalism and it's not getting it!
I hope that the Republican hypocrisy highlighted is not the topic of the week for the DNC, it, and it's close relative, lying, should be hammered relentlessly on a national level but especially in the districts that will be keenly fought this November. They are being called out by both left and right media outlets, now that's a first.
The fact that it worked at all, with all the Republican jerrymandering--is a miracle for sure.
I love it!
(GOP Congressman, whispering)-"Pssst...I need $15 million for a jobs project in my district- but don't tell anybody I asked for this, OK?"
(A month later)- "We don't need money for a socialist program that will bankrupt our kids and our grandchildren".
These guys are like football players who cheapshot a guy, and then say "Who me?" when the ref flags them for 15 yards, and its all caught on video tape. Just amazing.
And thankfully the Dems are finally starting to wake up and seeing you can't deal with these guys, and are calling them as they see them- liars and hypocrites.
Interestingly, these are supposedly SANE Republicans, the ones who aren't yelling for birth certificates, or wanting to deport anyone who's name ends in a vowel.
And perhaps that makes them even more pathetic, and even a little scary.
Yes the stimulus is working and Republicans are spending it left and right, taking advantage of this "government" money to boost their ratings in their districts. Regardless of their hypocrisy they will NEVER admit that the bill is having a definite and positive effect on our economy. They have learned that obstructionism, and vitriol works in their favor. Just look at the numbers.
Thanks Teeluck!
Jack, I agree. We need to keep education people, one at a time.
Holte, I agree. The closer November gets the more we need to hammer this.
Ivan, how would gerrymandering effect the stimulus?
Hugh, may I respectfully suggest that, when it comes to elected officials, sane and Republican are mutually exclusive terms?
Mike, that has been the case, because Democrats have lacked the spine to call them on it and move ahead without them. I hope I am smelling the winds of change.
I give you Roy Blunt from my district:
http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/2010/02/roy-blunt-on-stimulus-projects-is-he.html
This is from a good friend of mine that nailed his ass good.
Howdy and long time no C. Great post. I left a comment! Thanks!
"... that the GOP, knowing they would face major losses in 2008, intentionally allowed the economy to tank, even including the misuse of their half of TARP spending, to leave a mess behind that was so bad that they could blame Democrats for the effects of their own policies and use that blame in an attempt to regain power."
That's downright criminal!
Of course it is, Anna. That's why either the transformation or the demise of their party is critical for our nation's health. I trust you remember my statements to that effect back then.
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