It’s probably too late to get these three Republican Senators supporting the Democrats’ spendthrift “stimulus” to change their minds, but they could do their party one smaller favor and still vote for this boondoggle.
On the Senate’s web-site, we find this definition of the cloture rule: “The cloture rule—Rule 22—is the only formal procedure that Senate rules provide for breaking a filibuster. A filibuster is an attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter.” (Emphasis added.)
When the reconciled version of the “stimulus” deal comes up for a vote, they should join their Republican colleagues in filibustering the measure. They could say they’re not blocking action, but merely delaying it. With a package of this magnitude and the president’s promise of transparency, they beieve the public should have time familiarize themselves with its contents before their representatives vote dispensing this unprecedented sum.
We could remind these Republicans that the more people learn about this package, the more voters favor the GOP. Heck, maybe when they hear what the citizens of Maine and Pennsylvania have to say, they’ll realize that their Senate colleagues are out of step with their constituents.
Perhaps, they should promise to continue to filibuster until fourteen days* have passed following publication of the entire text of legislation on the web.
I mean, heck, right now, nearly three-fifths of Americans think even Congress won’t know what’s in the “stimulus” when they vote on it.
*Or the number of days it takes someone reading fifty pages a day to complete the document.
Your suggestion is excellent; we can only hope they go for it. San Fran Nan does NOT want anyone to read this bill; as Michele Malkin so eloquently described it, this is a “crap sandwich”. Pelosi knows it, so does Reid, they don’t want you or anyone else to know what’s in it. Obama doesn’t care; he’s already abdicated leadership to Pelosi and Reid. In some sense, maybe it is better that the Democrats own this 100%. The American people can be fooled some of the time, but eventually they catch on. Payback could be very sweet. It’s just sad that we might have to go through this disaster to wake up the Obama enraptured people who elected him.
Fantasy: “We could remind these Republicans that the more people learn about this package, the more voters favor the GOP”
Reality: “Stimulus Support Rises As Obama Sells The Plan”
Support for Obama’s economic recovery plan remains virtually unchanged with 60 percent of voters favoring passage. There is no evidence of eroding support. Finally, Obama’s plan remains an electoral winner for congressional incumbents. By a 36 to 26 percent margin, voters say they would be more inclined to reelect their Representative in Congress if he or she voted in favor of the Obama recovery plan. And Gallup agrees: Public support for an $800 billion economic stimulus package has increased to 59% in a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Tuesday night, up from 52% in Gallup polling a week ago, as well as in late January.
so, fine, torrent, if you think the public supports the plan, then a little delay giving people time to familiarize themselves with its contents wouldn’t hurt, would it now?
Dan, I think the initial Senate votes for the Democrat 2009 Spending bill is an easy one for these three –two of whom might face stiff Democrat opposition in later races… if the farRight doesn’t take ’em out in a primary battle.
Wait for the compromise Democrat 2009 Spending bill to come back to the Senate for a vote… I’m praying the wheels will fall off of their little support wagon and at least 2 will bolt, having voted Yes to cover their asses with later Democrat voters.
The horse ain’t out of the barn yet… the greed of the Democrats may be a strong enough impulse to drive a stake in the heart of these 3 GOP supporters when it comes time to vote on the Conference Committee report.
Who cares about the GOP? These senators should block this bill for the good of the country.
I have a question for supporters of this monster… from cnsnews.com:
One provision creates a National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, “designed to monitor your treatments, to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective,†as a commentary on the Bloomberg news wire reported on Monday.
// Gee, I wonder WHO gets to decide “appropriate” and “cost-effective”
So the Bush Administration listens in on terrorist communications and monitors their money flow (until the patriotic New York Times squealed) and the left is hysterical – with every DailyKos Kook convinced that Dick Cheney was listening in on THEIR phone calls (as if they’d have anything truly interesting to say).
Now comes Barack Obama who wants to collect every detail of our medical care: nurse’s and physician’s notes, prescriptions, procedures, lab tests and results, anything you told a psychiatrist… you name it – the most intimate details of your life. And silence. Just think what the libs could do to their opponents with this sort of info… Joe the Plumber had it easy.
I don’t with to the my medical care to some DMV-type deep in the bowels of some IRS-like bureaucracy. Once the gubmint is in control, you have NO recourse.
There are billions of reasons to oppose this bill but the stealth effort to nationalize our health care (putting the infrastructure in place) is a deal-killer all by itself.
This bill should be split up into many smaller bills that can be understood by the public (and that our esteemed solons can read – I don’t think Specter even knew the NCHIT provision was in this bill when he voted for it).
I didn’t expect Obama to go downhill this fast.
Filtered.
You are forgetting the “fierce urgency of pork”
When Americans are flooded with images and soundbites from the presidential signing of the Democrat 2009 Spending bill, I hope everyone has the same reaction.
Referencing this clip:
http://sixwordstochangetheworld.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/youtube-clip-of-today-hog-calling/
Because this is a pig that’s come to market. Wooooooo, pig, soooooooiiiiiieeeeeeeeee soooooooiiiiiieeeeeeeeee.
I have to wonder what they are going to get for their support. They should know that there is no stimulus for the citizens. It is a misnomer to call it a stimulus package. It should be retitled a reward package for electing Obama and a Democratic majority. If they finally get it, then they´ll join the rest of their Republican collegues and filibuster. .
#8: Michigan-Matt, that was…ummm…DISTURBINGSLASHPERFECT!
LOL.
I love how the torrentprime has to quote a poll run by James Carville.
Meanwhile, all the pollsters that actually have honorable, respectable reputations have all reported that public support had dropped significantly, and that more people opposed the bill than supported it, until Oprahbama ran his revival tour with weeping worshippers and genuflecting McDonalds workers.
And no matter what poll you look at (other than the poll you pulled out of Carville’s ass — congratulations for finally getting that out of there though) they all say any support for the stimulus now is weak at best.
Which is why the sleazy loathsome criminals that infest Torrents party want to cram it through before people can actually start talking about whats IN the bill again.
SHEEP.
AE,
My girl is so derpessed that she honestly thinks it is indeed the government’s job to provide a job for her *sigh* She’s only 19 though so maybe it’s youth and I can educate her before she dies of old age.