Breaking: Senate centrists reach deal on stimulus? Video: 30% chance we’ll get it wrong, says Biden; Update: Spending cuts to be reinstated? Update: Kennedy flying in for vote
posted at 5:46 pm on February 6, 2009 by Allahpundit
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A group of Senate moderates working on an amendment to cut up to $100 billion in spending from the economic stimulus package have completed a tentative proposal that will be presented to Senate Democrats at a 5:30 p.m. caucus meeting, Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad told reporters. “There is a proposal that is sufficiently fleshed out and we will have a caucus and discuss it,” Conrad said after emerging from talks in Senate Majority Leader Reid’s office. Democrats hope the proposal, developed by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, R-Neb. [SIC], will attract several GOP supporters and be acceptable to all Democrats, which would allow for passage of the plan as early as tonight.
Prediction time: How many Republicans vote yes?
Update: AP says the final price tag would be $780 billion.
Update: Cowards:
Reid suggested to reporters that he had two GOP backers for the bill but needed at least one more because neither wants to be the crucial 60th vote if all 58 members of the Democratic caucus support Obama.
Mel Martinez is also in the mix with Collins, Snowe, and Specter, but he’s unlikely.
Update: Under other circumstances this would get its own post but it’s essential context for this thread. It’s the Sex Panther stimulus!
Update: So narrow is the margin here that Democrats expect Teddy will have to be roused from his sickbed to cast the 60th vote for cloture. He’s in Florida right now, so if that’s true, the roll won’t come tonight.
Update: What a scam. Carl Levin says that the money being yanked out now to get the bill through the Senate might very well be reinserted during the conference committee with the House.
Update: CNN says the vote is expected tonight, and Teddy’s expected to be there.
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If Reid has the votes, why would they wait until Tuesday to vote on this monstrosity?
anniekc on February 7, 2009 at 11:30 AM
rockmom, I was around but at the time I was too high to remember, too uninvolved to know, to stupid to care and yes… I was a liberal democrat. ;o) But thanks for the info.
batterup, these ideas also need to be sent to Mr. Steele who is trying to incorporate these kind of things into the RNC.
This is frustrating in that there are millions of us all over the country with no central planning.
Sporatic ideas only work sporactically.
katy on February 7, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Another spin I’ve seen is that the Evil Republicans have ruined things already by “forcing” the Dems to take things out of the bill, which (for the Dems) was already too small to begin with. I think it’s being set up so that when this doesn’t work, Republicans will be blamed for holding them back from spending enough to do it “properly”, because we are all so greedy and hate children and poor people.
This whole thing is disgusting.
Boudica on February 7, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Good thinking.
Here’s a list of Arlen Specter’s Contributors.
Gotta cancel Comcast.
misslizzi on February 7, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This whole thing is disgusting.
Boudica on February 7, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Disgust, despair, fear and loathing. Rememeber the good old days when you could afford to just be disgusted by liberal politics, turn off the TV, and go about your business? Now the stakes are so high, and the realization of how severe our troubles are, I can’t shake this awful, sick feeling that life is never going to be the same again.
anniekc on February 7, 2009 at 11:48 AM
At 37 years of age, Teddy Kennedy did not have the strength to try to rescue Mary Jo Kopechne from her watery grave.
At 75 years of age, Teddy Kennedy, although gravely ill, has the strength to rush back to Washington to vote for Obama’s stimulus bill.
That’s a man who has his priorities straight.
/s
Disturb the Universe on February 7, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Has anyone noticed that the Reid quote about not wanting to be vote 60 has disappeared from the article?
petertheslow on February 7, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Senate.gov keeps giving me an error message. It must be allergic to FireFox. I just faxed the smarter of my two Senators* at her Washington and Los Angeles offices, since no one was answering the phones and the voicemail wouldn’t take messages.
Whenever I have to contact one of my yahoos in Congress, I usually send a fax. Often a fax will go through when a phone call won’t. Just a suggestion.
*Dianne Feinstein. Boxer is hopeless.
Mary in LA on February 7, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Is this guy even of sound mind at this point?
misslizzi on February 7, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Also, in addition, is the fact that we like guns, cling to bibles, love freedom and patriotically wave the flag. And worked hard to build this country they Hope to Change.
barack HUSSEIN obama and the Democrats can kiss my butt, thank you.
Yoop on February 7, 2009 at 11:56 AM
s this guy even of sound mind at this point?
misslizzi on February 7, 2009
At this point?
Was he ever?
artist on February 7, 2009 at 11:57 AM
I just finished e-mailing Specter, Collins, and Snowe. Also my own VA Senator. I rewrote him because of the arrogant reply I got to my original e-mail. I got it yesterday. Seems that he is voting for the Porker and told me not to worry because the government would spend my money wisely. I should have saved that e-mail so I could post it here, but it was so offensive that I deleted it. He is pretty popular in this state and I know that many Republican friends voted for him. I am telling them all how disappointed in him I am. He was certainly not worthy of their vote. I cannot believe that my used-to-be red state has turned blue.
BetseyRoss on February 7, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Yeah, I knew I should’ve qualified it.
misslizzi on February 7, 2009 at 11:59 AM
It gets scarier and scarier.
One wonders if some of these people secretly hope to bring about the ruin of the U.S.
albill on February 7, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Speculation, but see if this makes sense. Obama is going on national TV on Monday night to make his pitch. Then, I believe, he’s off on some whirlwind magical mystery tour to do townhalls in Elkhart, Indiana, and then Ft. Myers, Florida. I think he’ll be stopping by West Palm Beach before heading back to DC.
In the end, I think the idea is to give Obama a chance to regain control over the conversation. His speeches recently, and now this nonsense strike me as very unpresidential. But I feel that way about his very being, entire campaign, and his first few weeks in office.
BuckeyeSam on February 7, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Wow, got to 1,000.
nickj116 on February 7, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Next up, more billions of socialism for the banks.
The hits keep coming on the American taxpayer.
getalife on February 7, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Makes me think of Red Dawn, with a different enemy. Scary stuff.
JiangxiDad on February 7, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Ok, hear me out on this. I’ve been in banking for 7 years so this is how I see things. Strictly business speaking.
Where is this money coming from? Who are we “borrowing” it from?
Based on that question we are entering into a “contractual agreement” with someone. We have the “lender” , the “borrower” (govt) and due to the fact that the govt doesn’t do anything to make money we, the American people could be considered the “co-borrowers” due to the fact that we are the govt’s income via taxes.
Ok, follow me, for those of you who have ever signed loan papers know that all information in the “terms of agreement” have to be spelled out and explained to all parties involved. Everyone has to be in agreement with the terms of agreement.
Now, based on that where is this said agreement? WHat are the terms, how is a payment default handeled? What is the collateral other than the American people? Why isn’t a copy of the agreement, if there is one, being distributed to us?
Maybe I am overthinking, but if we are being used as “collateral” what happens when we can’t pay this back?
Ok, thought over, please correct me if I am wrong.
milwife88 on February 7, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Clickable links in original post
again here: Collins, Snowe
Moreover these Senators are directly responsible for the effects of this bill on the economy in their home states.
As in this excellent suggestion:
Companies should know their Senators reckless actions will affect their business.
batterup on February 7, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Methinks it’s time for a Queen Boudica to rally the troops to fight the Romans again( Democrats). Sorry, Boudica, I had to leave a bit of historical perspective in the thread. But, to be honest, I do see this porkulus bill and the efforts of the scum in Congress tocpass it as a sort of Roman invasion in to a sovereign culture( conservatives and capitalism)
MNDavenotPC on February 7, 2009 at 12:21 PM
CONTACT THE RNC – SAY YOU WILL LEAVE AND/OR NOT DONATE IF THE GOP SENATORS VOTE FOR THIS CRAP!
Chairman@gop.com ; Finance@gop.com; Political@gop.com; Membershipservices@gop.com
Mutnodjmet on February 7, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Well, if the goal of the last 8 years of tax cuts and governing for the wealthy with 2 wars with nation building was to bankrupt our country.
Mission Accomplished.
Countries have collapsed and come back so at least it is not the rapture.
Next year, it should start getting better so the expectations should fit this reality.
getalife on February 7, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Your lack of understanding of even the rudiments of how the economy works is appalling.
KentAllard on February 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I don’t think there is anything secret about it. They obviously do, at least the U.S.A. as we know and love it.
pannw on February 7, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Your lack of understanding of even the rudiments of how the economy works is appalling.
KentAllard on February 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Don’t pick on her too much or we won’t get her comical explanation on how Ogabe’s expansion of the Afghan war and his failure to reduce troop levels in Iraq is a GOOD thing.
Bishop on February 7, 2009 at 2:49 PM
We’ll see.
the_nile on February 7, 2009 at 2:53 PM
LOL. I have a Vermont ban. Won’t go there anymore, or buy their dairy products (which are in our local stores here in NY). I have a NY ban too, except for me. Think I’ll join you in banning Maine, although the northern woods there and the beautiful shoreline are a sight to behold.
(Ok,I’ll fess up. I ban all blue states :)
JiangxiDad on February 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Cowardly Craphead Collins just lied through her teeth on FoxNews….
just an fyi
Branch Rickey on February 7, 2009 at 4:47 PM
wanna cracker?
parrot
Jamson64 on February 7, 2009 at 5:36 PM
We are still waiting for you to relocate to Jo-Ja; preferably before the census!
>:^D
Branch Rickey on February 7, 2009 at 5:54 PM
…were very good to people like Obama, Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, Reid…
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Don’t sell yourselves short guys; you’re Ivory pure stupid, there’s a 99.44% chance you’ll get it wrong.
gekkobear on February 7, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Israeli elections are on Tuesday. I wonder what will get more TV time – townhall meetings or new Israeli PM.
Phoenician on February 7, 2009 at 7:24 PM
I know we are focused on the stimulus bill but I think 2 orders signed by Obama recently have the impact to do some harm to America as well:
1) allowing Hamas to settle in the USA
2) mandating that only union construction workers can work on government projects
Does anybody else have the idea that Obama also wants to naturalize every minority Islamic group and bring them to America and legalize all illegal aliens and force workers out of a job to join a union or not work at all, thus giving illegal aliens the opportunity to become union workers. Guess who these newly naturalized citizens will vote for.
technopeasant on February 7, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Think Back, FRIENDS (January 21st)
Yesterday:
1. Outgoing President George W. Bush quietly boards his helicopter and leaves for Texas, commenting only: “Today is not about me. Today is a historical day for our nation and people.”
Eight years ago Yesterday:
1. Outgoing President Bill Clinton schedules two separate radio addresses to the nation, and organizes a public farewell speech/ rally in downtown Washington D.C. scheduled to directly conflict with incoming President Bush’s inauguration ceremony.
Yesterday:
2. President Bush leaves office without issuing a single Presidential pardon, only granting a commutation of sentence to two former border patrol agents convicted of shooting a convicted drug smuggler. He does not grant any type of clemency to Scooter Libby or any other former political aide, ally, or business partner.
Eight years ago Yesterday:
2. President Clinton issues 140 pardons and several commutations of sentence on his final day in office. Included in these are: billionaire financier, convicted tax evader, and leading Democratic campaign contributor Marc Rich; Whitewater scandal figure Susan McDougal; Congressional Post Office Scandal figure and former Democratic Congressman Dan Rostenkowski; convicted bank fraud, sexual assault and child porn perpetrator and former Democratic Congressman Melvin Reynolds; and convicted drug felon Roger Clinton, the President’s half-brother.
Yesterday:
3. The Bush daughters leave gift baskets in the White House bedrooms for the Obama daughters, containing flowers, candy, stuffed animals, DVD’s and CD’s, and heartfelt notes of encouragement and advice for the young girls on how to prepare for their new lives in the White House.
Eight years ago Yesterday:
3. Clinton and Gore staffers rip computer wires and electrical outlets from the White House walls, stuff piles of notebook papers into the White House toilets, systematically remove the letter “W” from every computer key-pad in the entire White House, and damage several thousand dollars worth of furniture in the White House master bedroom.
Eight Years
Headlines On This Date 4 Years Ago:
“Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops Die in unarmored Humvees”
“Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times”
“Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get the shaft”
Headlines Today:
“Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $170 million”
“Obama Spends $170 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party”
“Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate”
“Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration”
Keemo on February 7, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Fortunately, my TX senators have pledged to vote against this latest version of the crapp sammitch. (I think both voted for ver 1.0, but it might have been only Cornyn.) They have a tendency to waiver if not firmly propped, so we shall see what we shall see. However, if RINO senators are going to vote like Dems, might as well have a Dem in office. That being the case, if my senators let me down on this issue, I will vote against any warm body running against them, even if that body is a Dem. (that made me throw up a little bit.)
Now, it’s up to the RNC to make sure I have viable choices and I’m pinning a lot of hopes on Michael Steele. RNC leadership these past 8 years (at least) has been pathetic.
NTXLass on February 8, 2009 at 6:12 AM
Cutting his sentence down doesn’t count?
What you’re watching is the screeching and wailing of those who want a dead man and a dead ideology back. That includes Wall Street trying to justify their bonuses, H1/L1 abuse and their status as “masters of the universe”. That includes some resisting states of the South who wish to interfere with the recovery of this country.
Welcome to the end of the era of Reagan. Welcome to the beginning of a nation that does not confer instant sainthood to Wall Street.
What this bill does not include is a large enough tax cut, a strong “Buy America” provision, and a reform in H1/L1 law that is more citizen friendly(and makes the unpatriotic folks at Grigsby & Cohen unhappy).
sethstorm on February 8, 2009 at 8:43 AM
A dead ideology… What a moronic statement to make. Conservatism will out live both you and I seth… Life has many cycles; this current cycle is going to test Liberalism-Socialism. Eventually, Americans will come back towards Conservative values and principles, as these have been tested and approved through several cycles in our history.
Keemo on February 8, 2009 at 9:29 AM
That’s funny. I remember hearing the same thing 16 years ago. A couple of years after that, what I heard was that the old New Deal coalition is dead.
ddrintn on February 8, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Yeah, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that “Reaganism” is deadorshoulddieimmediately, but yet FDR keeps a-goin’ and going’ and goin’.
ddrintn on February 8, 2009 at 9:34 AM
ddrintn on February 8, 2009 at 9:34 AM
This seth critter is a walking-talking Liberal talking point. Must be addicted to CNN-MSNBC… Probably gets a chill running up his leg when listening to Olbermann… A dead ideology; what a moronic statement.
Keemo on February 8, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Well said. I think freedom loving Americans lost the battle once they lost the schools to the government.
Maxx on February 9, 2009 at 10:58 AM
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