Video: Mike Pence, John McCain hammer Democrats on stimulus
posted at 7:57 am on February 9, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Mike Pence and John McCain don’t always sing from the same songsheet, but yesterday the two Republicans fought back on two different networks against the stimulus package. Pence noted that our history shows how to do a government stimulus in a recession, and how to turn a severe recession into a depression — and the Obama administration has decided to adopt the policies of failure:
Update: Fixed the first video.
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Thanks BuckeyeSam; Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey were childhood heroes for my mom and we were all reared with reverence for Mr. Robinson and Mr. Rickey.
Now, Walter O’Malley was a four-letter word in our home >;-)
I would have voted for Mr. Robinson. Ogabe, not so much. Oh, and even though my husband doesn’t like it very much I have a huge crush on Dr. Williams. :^D
Branch Rickey on February 9, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I wish I knew
Brat4life on February 9, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Oh now McCain is playing hardball.
thekingtut on February 9, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Obama has been using the airwaves with frequency to promote his agenda … with incomplete information, fear tactics, and the same-old boilerplate taken from his campaign speeches.
Do the television stations offer rebuttal opportunities from the opposition following the cult leader;s propaganda?
onlineanalyst on February 9, 2009 at 10:38 AM
I smiled at your response. And, if I recall correctly, Mr. Robinson was a registered Republican. Regardless of party, I’d have voted for him for anything. He was a hero.
BuckeyeSam on February 9, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Can’t bring myself to listen to a thing Sen. McCain has to say. I wish he would just step-aside.
Wade on February 9, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I just came across this article, please read and contact your congressmen and senators!!! The Democrats are trying to take Daschle’s plan to socialize medicine and slip it in in the stimulus bill without anybody noticing or any debate. This will ruin healthcare in this country and kill it as an engine of growth. The only private sector increasing jobs right now is healthcare.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs
txmomof6 on February 9, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Yes, I was aware of that, too. My 75 yo mother is as pleased as punch. On top of that, her doctor of 30 years is about to retire, forcing her to have to deal with these new issues. Fortunately, she has no real problems beyond her age at this point.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Sorry the link is so slow. It’s also posted on Drudge. Here it is again.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Kanda, from a market standpoint, I don’t mind GM spending money to increase their bottom line. They are profitable all over the world, except in this country. As a forced investor, thanks to Congress, I want them to invest for profitability. The more money they make elsewhere, the less they will take from me.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 10:55 AM
I’m not sure what you mean by “never going to happen here”. Do you agree with the government bailing out GM and GM spending the money to save jobs in Brazil? The point is OUR money should not be spent to save jobs outside the USA. That is clearly wrong. It’s not about GM it’s about OUR American bailout money.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Bless your heart Kanda, the link did work while I was writing my post. Very interesting and concerning article. GM got some of our Tax Dollars, So that ticks me off. Not defending that. Ford didn’t get money from us. They have a huge Factory in Brazil. They wanted to build it here, but as we know the Union, would cripple them. Yes it is our money! So they need to pay that back before going to another Country and giving our money to non American People. I can see how you feel.
sheebe on February 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM
genso, She will, and it won’t be long at her age. There is also an article in the WSJ today about being “too old for hip surgery” Wonder if she will be pleased after some bureaucrat tells her she is too old for treatment once healthcare is in the hands of the government.
txmomof6 on February 9, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Same here Wade. I voted only because of Sarah. McCain broke my heart. He threw that race. Then after the election he started the Amnesty for illegal spew again. Glad he is against this Stimulus, but am very angry with him, and cannot stand to listen to his voice. He should step aside. The Rino in him will come out again.
sheebe on February 9, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Very glad indeed that I could make you smile especially today with Blowbama and 3 Repubs giving the American People the Lewinski treatment…
;^)
Branch Rickey on February 9, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Fortunately, she has the wealth to seek other options if it comes to it. To me, this is more of a cultural breakdown than political. When did our culture decide to abandon the elderly? Even in communist China, the elderly are still cared for. We, as a people, own this, IMO.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Neither do I care if they spend money in Brazil. I do mind them spending American bailout funds the government gave them from our tax dollars to save Brazilian jobs. That is clearly beyond the intent of the bailout. That money was specifically to bail GM out and save American Jobs. If they want to spend money in Brazil let them use Brazilian profits to modernize their plants not American tax dollars. I am not happy about GM trying to cheat the American government and taxpayer. Let GM move to South America for all I care. Let them rip off some other country. Just don’t take our money and use it to hurt America. I can’t believe our government will allow this once it sinks in on capitol hill.
If you are an investor you should be concerned. I for one will never buy another GM product as long as I live. I don’t care if it’s GM toilet paper. I’ll use leaves first. ;)
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 11:09 AM
I don’t disagree with what you think necessarily. I would never buy GM stock either. Although, if they closed their US plants, I would. But you have to remember that the bailout was not for GM, it was for the UAW. Again, you are now a shareholder in the same way I am. I would rather GM be profitable enough overseas to cover for the unions on their own and without additional help from me. So, from a pure business decision, I now want them to succeed wherever they can.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 11:14 AM
It may not matter to her because it will take time for the healthcare system to deteriorate, but once all the good doctors quit because they don’t want to work for the government, or be told how to practice medicine, those younger than her will have to put up with fewer competent doctors that will basically work 9-5 M-F. And guess what, the wealthy in other countries always come here for care, where will the wealthy (like good old Sen. Kennedy) here go when our system is trashed? If anyone in this country wants to see government run healthcare all they have to do is go to their nearest VA hospital and see how they like it.
txmomof6 on February 9, 2009 at 11:19 AM
A fair point. I watch her career Navy brother go through the VA system. It was not pleasant.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 11:26 AM
This development, if true, is clearly a deception on the part of GM’s senior management. You can be sure if they come with hat in hand again they won’t get anything. You say they are profitable in Barzil. Why do you support sending our money to Brazil to make Brazil more profitable. How much money (profit) does GM Brazil return to the US if any? Certainly they can afford to reinvest their own money. Something smells rotten and it’s GM.
You think you’re an owner in GM by virtue of the bailout. That is pure hogwash. The government is the owner of that stock. You don’t own the government you empower it. Just like the Chrysler bailout of years ago when Chrysler paid off the government made out. The American people got nothing. The only thing close to ownership you have in GM is the former ownership of the money GM is spending in Brazil. You can be sure when GM spends that and the US auto industry is still in trouble they will be back for more. I suspect to protect your “investment” you’ll support another GM bailout.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 11:27 AM
This is the gist of the issue from the article in the Latin American Herald I pointed to for those who can’t get to it.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM
I suggest everyone who is concerned copy and forward this to your US Congressperson and Senators.
My question to them was simple.” Why are you allowing this?” followed by What do you intend to do to prevent this?
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Today, Barack Obama is in Elkhart (next town over from where I work) trying to generate support for his porkulous bill. Elhart and Elkhart County have been hammered hard by the recession and loss of RV manufacturing jobs primarily and many other jobs in general. I guess Ogabe thinks it will be easy pickings there. Many people are desperate there and he’s trying to reel them in with promises of WPA type jobs and infrastructure rebuilding work. It may work.
Desperate people often make bad decisions just hoping some savior will make the bad go away. Even if they know it’s not true, what else have they got to cling to?
Feeding on the despair of others; it’s the Obama way.
SKYFOX on February 9, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I didn’t approve of the first one. I don’t approve of any bailout of anyone. Look, I understand your emotions on this. The whole thing makes my blood boil. The “stimulus” package is just more of the kind of political payback that the auto bailout was. What are you going to do about it? Are you going to revolt? I’ll stand on the front line with you.
The socialists rule now and they will do whatever they want until a real revolt happens. In the meantime, as a conservative and a capitalist, I am going to use those principles to get through this. Protectionism in a global economy will not work. That fact will be the biggest asset conservatives have to keep the socialists in check. Already Obama has backed down from this aspect of his plan after listening, not to the citizens of this country, but to the other countries that trade with us. If you don’t want GM and the UAW to get any more of your money, then you should hope that they will be very profitable going forward. To hinder them from making good business decisions is a sure recipe that they will need more money for you and me. I think you should consider yourself a shareholder in GM for this very reason.
But, if you are of the ilk that thinks we should only spend our money on the socialist “buy America” agenda, then you will only be an ally for them.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 11:47 AM
There should be an honest debate in this country about the future of healthcare (and obviously everything else), but to stick the changes in disguise in the bloated stimulus bill because there is a crisis and noone is focused on other issues, and forclose debate on the merits is reprehensible. But that is the Chicago way and if noone calls their hand on it, then we get what we deserve.
txmomof6 on February 9, 2009 at 11:59 AM
That is how he got elected. Desperate Lazy People wanting the easier way out. They believed his lies. He has not held on promise except closing Gitmo which is the biggest error for him to do. Other then that, he didn’t tell them that they will get poorer and poorer. That our children and grand children and future children will have a huge burden put on them. Well put post by the way! :)
sheebe on February 9, 2009 at 12:00 PM
We are looking at the decades-old results of our nation’s apathy now, in health care and nearly every other aspect of our society. Meanwhile, the people who have dedicated themselves to gain power during that time, and who were able to see further than the next football game and ipod and American Idol, have produced the perfect storm and we will be the worse for it for generations. Get mad, be frustrated, whatever, it will take more effort than we may know how to give to stop this.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Here’s my daily email from Barack today
The campaign is far from over.
drjohn on February 9, 2009 at 12:11 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu12oawTz2g
Check this out, more money via EITC for illegals and welfare receipents.
milwife88 on February 9, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I find it nearly impossible to believe that McCain will reject this bill just to support some other monstrosity later.
csdeven on February 9, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Sounds like you have given up on the power of the people to influence our government. You say you’re giving up because the socialists “rule now”. That is apathy my friend nothing less. I am not as cynical toward amercia as you are. I’ll keep trying to get the politicians to do the will of the people. Someone needs to hold GM and the politicians accountable. You appear to not have the will to stand up to them at this time. I am sorry you feel that way. I understand that you are weary from the battle. I’ll take the banner for you until you recover your strengh and gain the fortitude to continue.
Sometimes I wonder if we’re on the same page. It is a constant battle to keep all these things in perspective. The politicians try to ram so much down our throats. If you stop to catch a breath they slip something by. We must be vigilant and catch these things. Thats what I am doing.
You realize of course that I am talking about money given to GM to save american jobs don’t you? It has nothing to do with “buy american” that was in the stimulous package. That was some democrat bs they thought would make it easier to pass the stimulous bill.
The auto bailout was “poor gm and chrysler, help us oh government to save our dealers and keep our american plants running and open credit markets so we can sell cars in america again”, that auto bailout. Don’t confuse the two. Either GM lied openly or they didn’t. I have not become as cynical as you yet. I’ll keep trying to get the politicians to do the will of the people. At least if they don’t I’ll know who to vote against next time.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Fixed.
csdeven on February 9, 2009 at 12:30 PM
God bless you kanda. I haven’t given in to them at all. But I refuse to fight the battles that can not be won. And I won’t get caught up in the emotion of the moment. That’s what drives the left and fractures the conservatives. If you have the principles of capitalism in you, then you have to stand behind them in all cases. To fight GM and their investment in a profit center is a distraction and will yield the same results, IMO, as pushing harder on a door that has a “PULL” sign on it. While we are fighting every minor issue, the Obama administration is building their voter support with the stimulus package. Even so, this bill will pass. The showdown will be the vote in the Senate on the bill coming from the Senate/House conference committee. Going beyond that, Giethner will soon announce the Treasury plan for the banks, which, by many accounts, will exceed the stimulus in dollars.
Given this, you, we, have three options. We can revolt en masse; we can go “John Galt” in some fashion; or, we can try to be as successful as possible as individuals and as a nation and use our resources to vote these traitors out. I’ll stand with any revolt. In the meantime, I will be a successful capitalist and use the fruits of that to help support the true conservatives who step up to regain this country. Are we too far gone? Only time will tell. Still, whichever you choose, leave the emotion out of this.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Man, I wish this was the McCain we had all along.
thirteen28 on February 9, 2009 at 1:08 PM
McCain in 12…….NOT
Dpet on February 9, 2009 at 3:14 PM
My Congressman is a real jewel. Too bad he is a democrat.
Pelosi, Reid have “failed,” Shuler says
Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C) has further ingratiated himself with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not — by declaring that Pelosi and Harry Reid “failed” the bipartisanship test on stimulus.
“In order for us to get the confidence of America, it has to be done in a bipartisan way,” Shuler said in Raleigh following an economic forum, according to the AP.
“We have to have everyone — Democrats and Republicans standing on the stage with the administration — saying, ‘We got something done that was efficient, stimulative and timely.’”
Here’s the kicker: “I truly feel that’s where maybe House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed.”
Shuler, rumored to be mulling a ‘10 Senate run, was one of 11 House Democrats to vote “no” on the stimulus and was already deep in Pelosi’s doghouse. Now he’ll have to build a Harry Reid wing.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 3:56 PM
sorry that quote above was from Glenn Thrush’s blog
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 3:58 PM
I saw that, too, kanda. I was afraid after the last election that NC had lost their way. Makes us a bit worried in SC. Glad to see that some of the Dems in NC still lean conservative.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 4:07 PM
I guess I don’t understand you but God Bless you too genso. If you choose to sit idly by and let GM or any company promise to spend the money the government gave them on US jobs only to turn around and spend our tax dollars keeping foreign jobs that’s your choice I suppose. I basically take a different approach. I believe that our politicians faced with the reality of the deception will choose the right course of action to correct it. They won’t do it willingly perhaps but they will listen to us. At least while we still have the power of the ballot.
If you think maintaining the status quo is the correct way to proceed that is your perogative. There are times I think you can’t see the forest for the trees. This issue is not about GM investment anywhere. It is about GM using US tax dollars to protect jobs in Brazil. I hope it doesn’t happen to you one day. How sad to think that the US Government is providing the capital for GM to accomplish the task and some do nothing. I know you hate the unions but this is not about unions it is about investing tax dollars to save US jobs some of which are union and some are not. To allow the destruction and corruption of our auto industry to break a union or two is not good business. If you think unions are bad now watch what happens when everyone wants to join one to protect themselves from the foreign job exodus. Laying back and pretending you’re an example of free enterprise in action is false security. It is not going to solve the union issue you have, it will make it worse. Forget your hated of unions and consider America for a minute. Once you get your blinders off maybe you will understand.
I don’t know why you keep harping on revolt as a solution. It is not. It’s not even a legitimate consideration. The only people I know who support that as any solution are socialist revolutionaries. We know how that turns out for the common man. We need to keep or go back to the beliefs of our founding fathers. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your use of the term revolt. It would be the end of America as we know it.
Go in peace now, continue to support conservatism as you see fit but don’t come crying to me if you’re the last man standing. It is a choice to ignore the issues and stand passivly by when there was still time to voice your concern in an attempt to correct them. I don’t fault you for being passive/aggressive about it. I know there is a long road ahead but we in our own way will do what can be done to help. There is another Ronald Reagan out there we just need to find that person.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 4:43 PM
This is the tricky part. There are good democrats but they are hard to detect unless you turn over the right rocks. So far so good here in NC but he has a lot of people upset with him. He was re-elected this time. If the republicans can find someone more conservative and not a crook we can get his seat.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 4:46 PM
GM didn’t promise to to spend money to keep US jobs. In fact, the unions promised to help GM lower their costs and have yet to do so. GM needed the money to stay in business. Congress would not have given them the money at all if not for the union paybacks. Still, it is incumbent for GM to be profitable and they are profitable in Brazil because of the lower cost of labor.
I don’t hate unions. I don’t care about them one way or another. People are free to do whatever they want with their jobs. I don’t like unions telling management how to run their business and I don’t like businesses which have failed, in part because of the unions, who come begging for money like GM. And I would not put myself in a position where I would need to run to a union to “protect” my job. You want to see companies taking their plants overseas? Wait until the card-check law is passed eliminating secret ballots. Small and large businesses alike will shutter their plants and either go out of business or move overseas rather than have to deal with unions.
Not advocating revolt at all. Just looking at the options that are presented to us now. As to the founding fathers, I’m not sure that they would approve of some of the following interventions by our current government. Bailing out failed businesses. Bailing out repressive labor unions. Paying money to people who do not pay taxes and do not work. Or a class of citizens who look to government to help them and keep them from failing.
As for Ronald Reagan, it took a Jimmy Carter to produce a Ronald Reagan. Perhaps someone will rise up, perhaps not. What’s your Plan B? Having said all of this, what makes you think I am so passive? Do I have to pound my head against the wall over something like GM in Brazil, which, BTW, is a done deal, in order to get street credit for fighting back? As long as you react, they control you.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Senator Collins (R) Maine just sold us down the river. I wonder how many republicans will vote for this bill….at least the name is right. It’s a bill our children and grandchildren will have to pay.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I think the democrats found their Carter in Obama. I hope you’re right about the Reagan part.
The founding fathers wuold do more than disapprove of these bailouts.
Today I had to file and pay my taxes. It’s the first time in my life I wasn’t happy to do it. This country has been pretty good to me over the years. Being native born I do not share an outside view of America that some have. I have traveled the world and know that there is no other place on earth I want to live. America has been through a lot of change since I paid my first income tax in 1962. I’ve never seen such complete disregard for the American people as I’m seeing in this congress.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Yes, we are sold down the river. But just for this one. Don’t be too dismayed, we will make a comeback.
genso on February 9, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Collins/Nelson amendment passed the senate 61 to 36. Tt now becomes the base stimulous bill. Final vote expected tomorrow. Price tag $829 billion.
kanda on February 9, 2009 at 5:55 PM
It worked for Jay Rockerfeller in West VA….
Branch Rickey on February 9, 2009 at 6:44 PM
John McCain has performed exceptionally well in the last 10 days in fighting hard against the pork barrel spending falsely called the fiscal stimulus bill. He deserves credit for being articulate and for standing on principle. The posters here who have recorded negative comments as to McCain are being short sighted. We are going to have a number of these fights, and it helps to have John McCain on the right side.
Phil Byler on February 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM
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