Dumbest bailout request ever
posted at 11:20 am on January 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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As I write this post in the Twin Cities, the temperature stands at -21F, wind chill takes it to -27F, and I have a foot of snow on my front lawn. In Duluth, three hours north by road, it’s -17F but the wind chill is -43F. We have an abundance of cold, or more accurately, a dearth of heat, with plenty of snow for our use … if we could just bring ourselves to leave our homes.
And yet, in the Great Bailout Rush of 2009, what does Duluth want from Uncle Sam to “stimulate” its economy? As my good friend King Banaian points out, they need snowmakers — six million dollars’ worth of them (last item):
Duluth MN Water Spirit Mountain snowmaking and maintenance facility $6,000,000
That’s the final item in Duluth’s whopping $413 million request list. This includes construction of a public farmers market ($2 million), “reskinning” the exterior of Midtowne Manors I & II ($4.5 million for “skinning”?), seevral million more for replacing flooring and bathrooms at both manors, seventeen million for two new schools, $5 million to repaint the Aerial Lift Bridge, $17 million for a rail project, $24 million for a downtown trolley system, and so on.
None of these are federal issues, but they pale in comparison to demanding federal funding for snowmaking machines in Duluth. Talk about carrying coals to Newcastle! What’s next – requests for tanning beds in Florida? Sand for California beaches?
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Failout.
the_nile on January 15, 2009 at 11:22 AM
This shows the complete lack of common sense, and the realization that we are in a credit crunch…no clue, politicians have no clue…they know how to get elected, but they have no clue…
right2bright on January 15, 2009 at 11:25 AM
It takes a while to switch from the warming hoax to the ice age. Unfortunately for mankind, the coming ice age may not be a hoax.
The left’s phasing is all screwed up.
tarpon on January 15, 2009 at 11:25 AM
mmmmm PORK
tx2654 on January 15, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Hmm snow makers huh? We need them here. It was 45 at my house this morning, raining and the 3 feet arouond my house is now a shushy foot of snow.
Gotta love Alaska.
upinak on January 15, 2009 at 11:31 AM
And if Duluth has Democrats in Congress they will get every penny. Obama and the “rats” still haven’t caught on to the idea that America is watching and they won’t be able to get away with the selective investment in “rat” infested districts.
Filthy bastard and the thugs of Congress are going have to submit a real plan in writing about where this money is going to go. That is if the spineless GOP Congress decides to actually take them on for once. Otherwise filthy bastard wins again.
highhopes on January 15, 2009 at 11:31 AM
This wins points for sheer stupidity, but I still think the porno bailout was the dumbest.
BKennedy on January 15, 2009 at 11:32 AM
+5
I think you just coined a new term.
CP on January 15, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Nic pic Ed, you do realize though it is a pic from Europe… That Global Snowing thing.
upinak on January 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Somewhat related, it is -18 degrees where I am and with the windchill it goes down to -35 degrees. I gotta bring myself to go to class today :(
Luthien on January 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Brother can you lend a $10,000,000,000.00
letmeseehowfaricanpushthatdecimalpointmoretotheright
Kini on January 15, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Don’t know if you created it or stole it, but that’s what I’m calling it from now on.
I’d never heard this saying in the South (been here over 30 years) and had to look it up. Very nice, Ed, very appropriate.
LastRick on January 15, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Well the pic is called duluth_snow.jpg and I don’t see any clearly identifiable european artefacts….
LimeyGeek on January 15, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I guess change is expensive.
Angry Dumbo on January 15, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I have a sneaking suspicion that, mathematically speaking, for every $10 in bailout money expended from now on you will see one more vote against democrats in the next election cycle.
Vashta.Nerada on January 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
upinak on January 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM –
LimeyGeek on January 15, 2009 at 11:42 AM –
Gas cap is on the passenger side…the common European standard…but the power lines have a US-type connector.
As for this outrageous request for funds…when most Americans have come to learn/be taught that the government is Santa Claus, it gets difficult, damned difficult, to convince people that government isn’t Santa Claus nor should it be. If they want snow-making machines…find an investor willing to fund them or do without.
Same with stem-cell research or any other program the “public” seems to believe that government is the ONLY source for funding. If it is a viable idea, then money will come from the private sector…if it is a good diea, then money can be made from it, hence private investment is the answer. (Well, back about 30 years or so ago, maybe.) But today, for most people, seems government is not only the first source, but too often the perceived only source.
coldwarrior on January 15, 2009 at 11:54 AM
There’s not that many voters. for now.
the_nile on January 15, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Sorry, decimal point in the wrong place. Perhaps I should avoid speaking mathematically.
Vashta.Nerada on January 15, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Check out German Snow Storms. I have seen that pic before ;).
upinak on January 15, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Have you ever been to Duluth? There is a reason they need a bailout, there aren’t enough working people to tax up there to pay for things, though there are plenty of people who aren’t working.
Dump of a city, Minnesota’s version of an outpost that was put too far into the wasteland because no one of import wants to live there.
Bishop on January 15, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Nah, hardly. I’ve owned audis (while living in the UK) with caps on the driver side….and my US chevy truck has it on the passenger side. Go figure.
That was my biggest clue too…
LimeyGeek on January 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I can’t fault Duluth for asking, since all politics is local, and the Democrats have a very good “farm system” for supporting local “nonpartisan” politicians in election bids, and then turning these local politicians into national ones. That these local politicians then reflect Democratic values (that tax money is free) is a given.
Whom I will fault is Congress, because the locality of its politics should be the nation as a whole, but I have no doubts that plenty of bridge-to-nowhere types of projects will be funded.
If I’m going to pay for having someone elses’ flooring and bathroom fixtures replaced, mine need replacing too, and I will inform my city council about this post-haste.
unclesmrgol on January 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Oh yeah, that’s a keeper.
Count to 10 on January 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Wouldn’t the $6,000,000 be better spent educating Minnesotans on how to fill out a ballot correctly?
They already have had their snowjob …. name of Franken.
fogw on January 15, 2009 at 12:02 PM
If you’re right, I’ll fly up to Alaska just to take my hat off to you :)
LimeyGeek on January 15, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Naaa send me a snow maker. It is now 50 (not including the winds at 100 MPH) and it is like a freaking ice skating rinks. If you ever wanted to play bumper cars IN a car or truck… this is the time.
upinak on January 15, 2009 at 12:06 PM
You Rock!!
BigWyo on January 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
No, I think the porn industry still holds the record for dumbest bailout request ever.
Gina on January 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Hope you’re not holding your breath on that one. If we had rational voters in this country who were willing to hold elected officials accountable for their idiotic, irresponsible behavior in office, then people like Barney Frank would not have been re-elected in November.
AZCoyote on January 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I need to change my name to “Children’s Hospital for Malnourished Orphans” and slip in an application for a bailout.
I think 1 million would suffice…
Asher on January 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Chocolate covered Bacon.
kirkill on January 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Five million bucks worth of painting? Union work, no doubt.
BTW, the porn bailout was hilarious. No one expects it to happen, but it’s great commentary on bailout madness.
Pablo on January 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM
The porn bailout was satiric. Besides, the formal request was never delivered because the names and addresses were withheld.
Still, for MN town to request snowmaking equipment comes close to being satiric.
chsw
chsw on January 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Madison was right. Once the public coffers are opened for this kind of stuff, there is no end to it. They will raid the treasury until it is gone.
I am disgusted with Democrats. Irresponsible adolescents given control of a hoard of cash. Imbeciles. Each and every one.
crosspatch on January 15, 2009 at 12:41 PM
And an excellent one.
the_nile on January 15, 2009 at 12:56 PM
With all the money the gob’ment is printing, I can’t wait until bread is $10/loaf.
We can then just print more to pay for the bread that is so expensive because we prited more.
See the spiral developing?
madmonkphotog on January 15, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Who doesn’t get a bailout these days.
Xolom on January 15, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I have a friend that was born and raised in SoCal. We were at the beach one day and he started playfully digging a hole. He asked, “How far down would we have to dig?” I said, “For what?”
“You know….before we reach the cement shelf they put all the sand on.”
He was under the impression that the government had come in, laid a cement foundation, and built a nice, sandy beach on top of it.
The tax payers.
JadeNYU on January 15, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Everyone knows this is the GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY
and I tell all people this..
Do NOT
Put your money in the stock market
Put it into 401k’s
Put it into government bonds or securiities (thats a joke)
Put it into oil futures or even Gold futures..
only 2 things do i do now
Pay bills or buy Gold. (not certificates no i want it in my hand)..
Put the money in the bank
Period because the ENTIRE system is ready to collapse.
Everyone knows the system is faulty ..
Not because of capitolism no
Because of the people in our own government and on wall street have made the tables CROOKED..
jcila on January 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Most ethical Congress ever.
Static on January 15, 2009 at 1:57 PM
+700 trillion :)
Chaz706 on January 15, 2009 at 2:15 PM
HAHA. This is the second time my hometown made the news.
Donny Ness, in his infinite wisdom, has come up with other ways of raising cash, but no one else good see his genius.
Along with this federal bailout money he is requesting, he decided it would be a good idea to charge anyone who called the fire dept/ the police dept a $500 fine.
Until Jay Leno ridiculed him on the Late Show.
But Don’t go knocking the snow makers, I live at the bottom of Spirit Mountain, and without those snow makers where else would I go sledding in November??
CollegeRep08 on January 15, 2009 at 3:09 PM
We have Jim Oberstar, the longest serving member of the House, not to meantion Klobuchar and Franker (gag), of course we will get the money.
Duluth doesn’t know how to vote for anyone but to person with the little “D” after their name.
CollegeRep08 on January 15, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Make that a DFL supposed to be democrat-farmer-labor, but I refer to them as dumb-f’ing-liberals.
Dasher on January 15, 2009 at 6:02 PM
One only needs to review the pork-laden Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 1495) to find earmarks for California beach sand.
Among the many questionable earmarks included in the bill are:
$21,000,000 for Imperial Beach, California, beach replenishment;
bartonbulletin on January 15, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Wonder what the la-la land of Ann Arbor, MI wants.
I’d love another par-3 golf course.
Techie on February 5, 2009 at 1:12 PM
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