CM
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Post by CM on Mar 11, 2009 14:54:22 GMT -5
Current Events
I thought we needed a thread where we could vent over current events. My guess, we will see more disagreement here than others topics. So let me kick it off the hot topic de jure.
Did Obama renege regarding earmarks? We certainly said “No earmarks,” now he supports a bill with over 9,000 earmarks. Which Obama do we believe?
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Post by daleescondido on Mar 11, 2009 18:03:37 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Mar 11, 2009 18:20:14 GMT -5
daleescondido, yes, indeed, our beloved O has reneged! There isn't an earmark that he will find "offensive!" The more pork the more he will gain both parties support of this monstrosity!
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Post by bruce on Mar 11, 2009 18:33:28 GMT -5
What is pork to some is stimulus to others.If it creates jobs,it is stimulus.
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CM
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Post by CM on Mar 11, 2009 20:17:17 GMT -5
My point was not to debate what is stimulus or pork but earmarks, Obama promised he would not support ANY earmarks yet he signed a bill with over 9,000.
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Post by Tired in CV on Mar 11, 2009 21:07:37 GMT -5
I agree with you CM, Obama has made a major issue of earmarks during his campaign. Having been a member of Congress, he is no stranger as to what goes on there. He has totally reneged in his campaign promise by allowing the earmarks. Particularly 9000 of them. I suppose one could justify a dozen or so. He could hand back the bill and say send it to me without the earmarks if you want it to be signed. Until he stands up and does this, both parties will take advantage of him. He obviously doesn't have the cooperation of his own party. This becomes more obvious when Congress does what it wants inspite of what he has told him he wants. He could tell them that the stimulus was filled with earmarks and that from now on the bills need to be earmark free. I suppose the only way that may ever happen though is if they have a quarterly "earmark" bill that has nothing but wish lists from all the Congressmen.
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CM
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Post by CM on Mar 12, 2009 1:09:30 GMT -5
Member projects – aka earmarks or “pork” – account for less than 2 percent of spending in the $410 billion omnibus bill on the floor of the Senate this week, but they’re drawing most of the opposition fire.
The bill, which will fund government for the balance of the 2009 fiscal year, includes 8,570 earmarks worth $7.7 billion, according to a new report by Taxpayers for Common Sense in Washington.www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=1961&action=Headlines%20By%20TCSThe unfortunate part of using percentages to describe money is that it denigrates the amount of real dollars involved as it just sounds so small. Add 7.7 billion to health care, unemployment benefits or most any other real need and it makes a difference. 2% is nothing but 7.7 billion is a lot. If earmarks were no big deal why did Obama make such an issue proclaiming under his administration there would be none. Obama should not give in to the temptation to play with “good old boy” network. He’s obligated to push hard for change; that’s what voters elected him to do. Change we can believe in. Broken promises – yes, no? Democratic capitalism will survive only so long as it takes for people to realize they are being bribed with their own money.
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Post by bruce on Mar 12, 2009 6:21:29 GMT -5
The congession Republicans are a bunch of hypocrites.Of the 27 who voted against the stimulus bill because of earmarks,all 27 put in their own pork worth almost $700 million!One example of an earmark was the building of a high speed train between Ahaheim and Las Vegas.Despite the billions of dollars that would spent to build it,employing thousands,the end benefits to Vegas(increased visitors ) and to Anaheim it was called pork.The idea was that tourists to So California could take a one or two day jaunt to Vegas and vice-versa.
CM it's true that usung percentages can cover up the amount,but the reverse is true.Sheer numbers cover up the relative insignificance of the amount.If I tell you there are 3 million people with birth defects in the US,it sounds like an epidemic;when I tell you less than 1% of Americans have a birth defect,it puts it in perspective.
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Post by daleescondido on Mar 12, 2009 7:18:12 GMT -5
The truth is that if we ever had an official that followed thru with their promises we would be shocked,stunned really. So much talk about something very special coming to the white house, and all we got was a typical politician. Maybe campaigns should be very short so they wont have to come up with so many promises. My personal opinion is Obama doesnt know how to take on washington, even though he said he would.
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CM
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Post by CM on Mar 12, 2009 8:51:25 GMT -5
Bruce, no disagreement from me, my point is Obama promised he was different, he promised change in Washington. What we are beginning to see is busy as usual. Obama is the one that made “no earmarks” a big deal.
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Post by EscapeHatch on Mar 12, 2009 18:27:33 GMT -5
Whoa whoa! whoa! I said whoa thar!How is a high speed train between Vegas and Anaheim pork? Southern California and Nevada both will enjoy the tourist revenues! Taxes, Bruce! Taxes! That's not pork. It's jobs. It's not frivolous, it's tax revenue. And hey! I could use the business! So could my employees.
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Post by bruce on Mar 12, 2009 18:48:14 GMT -5
Escapehatch-Exactly MY point.I heard on KFI a discussion where this was called pork and nonsense,a perfect example of wasteful spending.Not only the host but at least 2/3 of the callers were putting it down.One man's pork is another man's stimulus.I don't know if it even made the cut!!
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Post by EscapeHatch on Mar 12, 2009 19:00:57 GMT -5
Ah, then, point well taken!
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CM
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Post by CM on Mar 12, 2009 19:17:41 GMT -5
I hate to be the broken record (not really) but the point is Obama said “no earmarks.” It is not a question of worthy or unworthy earmarks; the fact is Obama IS NOT keeping his promise. And not a promise he was forced to make, it is a promise Obama offered to set himself apart from the “good ole boy” network, a promise to trump his claim of change. What I’m seeing is business as usual. If I had voted for Obama I would be disappointed.
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Post by bruce on Mar 12, 2009 19:25:47 GMT -5
Sorry CM,not many voted for Obama because of earmarks.Think I'll write up another tale Saturday,I'm totally outgunned today.The good news is there is a lot of activity here today.
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