Wednesday, the 111th Congress burdened future generations of Americans with the passage of an embarrassingly non-stimulative “stimulus” bill. The final tally was a strictly partisan 244 yeas to 188 nays. Not a single Republican voted in favor of this behemouth, thankfully.
More telling, however, is the way in which the supposedly moderate and fiscally responsible “Blue Dog Coalition” of Democrats almost completely caved. These representatives who were elected as middle-of-the-road moderates from mostly conservative districts boast on their Website as having “the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.” Really?
Their votes on Wednesday? Of the 43 current members of the coalition (their roster lists 47 members, but four of them no longer serve in the House), a scant 6 voted against the pork-laden shame. Six. Of 43, six.
Those six (along with the 5 non-Blue Dog Democrats who also voted nay) deserve our congratulations and thanks as taxpayers for joining with their Republican colleagues in taking a stand against government waste and for real stimulus through responsible spending and tax relief for all Americans.
Those Blue Dogs who stood up to Peosi and BHO are:
Allen Boyd, FL-2
Jim Cooper, TN-5
Brad Ellsworth, IN-8
Collin Peterson, MN-7
Heath Shuler, NC-11
Gene Taylor, MS-4
-Colorado Patriot (Nick), From HQ
I believe the stimulus is more “grant” monies with the intent to maintain the present social support groups who generally are dependent on Federal and State Aid. Japan has ” bullet” trains and this stimulus will just ” maintain” and expand aid and entitlement programs. The movie should be called “BARACK AND BACK TO THE FUTURE.
I doubt the late great ” liberal with sanity” Senator Patrick Moynihan from my home state of New York, would endorse this progression to replicate the governments that now dominate Europe.
One dangerous admission Congress including Senator Lahey want to give grant monies to state and local police departments. They see the possible “social ” disorder on the horizon and this is there ” option” play.
What Pelosi and Ried have forgotten is great Speakers of the US House gaveled based on the best interests of “the House”, not just their parochial Party. If Pelosi wants to be the obvious leader…and lightning rod….of her Party, she should be House Leader, not the Speaker.
It’s not that the House Republicans are opposing Pres. Obama, (note to Rush; shut.up.) they’re opposing Pelosi and the pork. Even the MSM is having trouble hiding the more-obvious pork from the populace. It’s not stimulus if it’s going into social programs, nor infastructure construction two-years from now….and infastructure and energy efficiency/dependcy is ONLY 10% of the stimulus?
I heard Rush mention some blue-dog Democrat from back east somewhere who was granted permission to vote against this abortion by Evil Queen Pelosi because the constituents back home were up in arms.
PERMISSION?! If an elected representative has to ask permission to 1) represent his constituents and 2) act in the interest of the country… well, I just don’t know what to say.