Pelosi Rejects Idea of Tying Stimulus to Colombia Trade Pact

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Bloomberg

Pelosi Rejects Idea of Tying Stimulus to Colombia Trade Pact

By Laura Litvan

Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejects the idea of linking the Colombia free-trade agreement with aid to the auto industry and new spending to boost the economy, an aide to the speaker said.

``The speaker has said that our first responsibility is to provide immediate assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering in today's economy, and with the worsening economic conditions, the need for a Main Street recovery and job creation package is now,'' said Nadeam Elshami, a Pelosi spokesman. ``That is our top economic priority and the Colombia free-trade agreement should be considered on its own merits.''

The New York Times reported that President George W. Bush in a meeting with President-elect Barack Obama suggested he might support auto-industry help and a broader economic-stimulus package if Obama and congressional Democrats drop their opposition to the Colombia accord.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino today denied that Bush ever made that suggestion in the meeting.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=avyloNf6yUbM&refer=worldwide

[Ganja Ninja]

1. Screw that trade pact.

We'll just tough it out until January 20th. No more giving in to this criminal. And when he's done for god sakes prosecute this motherfucker for treason!

[Overseas]

2. Glad she is stopping the mashing together of those items. //nt

[JDPriestly]

5. I'm with Pelosi on this.

Didn't Bush get the message? America first. Both candidates agreed on that. Sorry, free traders, your theories didn't pan out. Get real. America first. Americans first.

[Vidar]

15. I hate even saying those words, but me too--this time.

[IndianaGreen]

3. There is a new sheriff in town

Had Obama not been elected President, I am sure that Pelosi would have caved in to Bush (again).

[MrsBrady]

4. thank god

when will she ever get a set of balls?

what kind of freaky hold did the bushies have on her?

[customerserviceguy]

6. Other than the fact that Chimpy wants it

what are the issues surrounding the agreement? Would it help turn Columbia from a country beset by drug cartel thugs to a nation whose economy revolves around products that don't feed our narcotics problems here in the US? Or is is just another giveaway of US jobs overseas?

[DBoon]

7. it's a way of covertly arming opposition to Hugo Chavez

that would be my bet

[Nevernose]

12. Like NAFTA eliminated Mexican drug cartels?

Sorry, it's a crappy idea.

And btw, the only way to eliminate the power of the Colombian drug cartels would be to decriminalize drugs, using the tax money generated to fund education programs and rehab centers.

[Peace Patriot]

27. Let me just give you some context...

The name Eric Holder has been mentioned as high on the list for U.S. Attorney General. Holder was the big corpo attorney who got Chiquita International execs off with a handslap (and secrecy--both arranged by the Bushwhacks) after they paid $1.7 million to rightwing death squads in Colombia to take care of Chiquita's "labor problem" by murdering FOUR THOUSAND union leaders and other workers in Chiquita's banana plantations.

What a "free trade" deal with Colombia really is, is a "free fire zone" on union workers.

THAT's what Bush wants this "free trade" deal for--killing union leaders and other workers, and enriching the brutal fascist ruling elite, as a reward for their vigilance against democracy, and for being just about the ONLY U.S. ally in South America, on which the Bushwhacks have larded $6 BILLION in military aid, which somehow never stops the flow of cocaine onto our streets.

The Bush Cartel--and, sadly, also the Clintons--are filthy on Colombia. Hillary had, as her chief political adviser, a paid agent of the Colombian government (Mark Penn). "Free trade" with Colombia? You might as well have "free trade" with Nazi Germany! It is a terrible, terrible regime, rife with big time drug traffickers and close ties to the death squads in the top echelons of the government itself, whose "president" is the former go-to guy for the Medellin Cartel.

The Bushwhacks (and the Clintons) want to further reward these gangsters and murderers for being the last bulwark against the peaceful democracy movement that has swept the continent--with good leftist governments elected in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay (most recently), Uruguay, Brazil and Chile, and further north in Nicaragua, with a leftist likely to be elected in El Salvador early next year, and a quite interesting progressive government just elected in Guatemala (in sympathy with the social justice goals of the above). Honduras also has recently thumbed its nose at the Bush Junta and joined ALBA (a barter-type leftist trade group). The South Americans have formed a South American "Common Market" (UNASUR), whose very first major action was to fully back the Evo Morales government in Bolivia against a nefarious Bush Junta plot to destabilize the country.

South America is no longer OURS. That is, it is longer run by fascist pigs for the benefit of U.S. corporations--except in Colombia (and to some extent in Peru, but that pro-Bush government is in critical failure, with a 20% approval rating like Bush's).

In this context--or, really, in any context--the appointment of Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General would be a frigging disaster. It would be a signal to all of South America that they can expect more of the same from the U.S.--meddling, interference, oppression, coups, and death to leftists and poor workers.

Passage of the "free fire zone" (um, "free trade" deal) with Colombia would be the same. It would make the U.S. PERMANENTLY the "enemy" to most of South America and possibly to all of Latin America. (There is a huge leftist movement in Mexico which could well win the next election.)

[customerserviceguy]

32. Thanks

I really didn't know the issues surrounding this, I appreciate your educating me!

[Zhade]

29. Uh, do you know nothing about the travesty that is NAFTA?

You really don't know why this is a bad idea?

[customerserviceguy]

34. I know that NAFTA sucks

but I figure that is mainly because of the geographical closeness of a poor economy (Mexico) to a thriving economy (the US, well, we are still relatively so!) and it's cheap to ship products made there back to here. I wouldn't necessarily think that was the case with Columbia.

As I said in reply to the post above yours, I really didn't know the issues involved, and now I do. I remember President Kennedy had an economic program that was oriented to Latin America, perhaps President Obama will be able to craft something that brings progress to the entire hemisphere. I would suspect JFK's plans were more geared towards preventing the spread of communism from Cuba to the rest of Latin America, fortunately, we can now put together a plan that does not have that as a primary goal.

[ladywnch]

8. there needs to be a law prohibiting the combining of disparate bills.

this BS of mixing environmental protections wtih troop funding or infrastructure repairs with unemployment benefit extentions needs to stop. make them seperate. I'm tired of having to agree to garbage to get things we really need.

[antimatter98]

9. Good! I wonder, what is so hot about that Columbia trade deal?

Anyone know why Bush/Republican are so keen to get that trade deal in place?

??

[acmavm]

11. Maybe the bush** family is worried that Paraguay will sign an extradition

treaty with the U.S.

edit: To add that maybe they're trying to bribe their leetle buddy Uribe. He's certainly not above doing something 'shady' shall we say? Maybe Columbia can become to the neocons what Argentina was to the Nazis.

[Pastiche423]

13. The newly elected Fernando Lugo

is thinking of returning Paraguay to the community of nations, by signing some of those extradition agreements.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/lindorff/094

You go, Lugo!

[Judi Lynn]

31. Here's an article I've posted here before: "Colombia FTA: Monkey Business for U.S."

Colombia FTA: Monkey Business for U.S.
By José María Rodríguez González

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) appears to offer a fair deal. It promises to open U.S. markets to Colombia in exchange for opening the Colombian market to the U.S. But in reality it is a Trojan horse in a minefield.

The U.S. negotiators were a skillful team, intent on imposing U.S. conditions on a “take it or leave it” basis. The Colombian negotiators, on the other hand, were intent only on achieving short-term political gains for Mr. Uribe’s government and the narrow interests it represents. Consequently, this FTA ends up bearing guaranteed economic and political goodies for the U.S. -- but only uncertainties and best wishes for Colombia.

Colombia is pursuing this FTA as its way to push itself to the free and global market. It’s a very worthy aspiration -- if only the country wasn’t overrun by packs of domestic economic hyenas, seasoned speculators and corrupt middle men, not to mention the narco traffickers who have infiltrated the current government. This unsavory band is slavering to use the FTA for their advantage, but the unexpected beneficiaries of FTA are likely to be the resilient guerrillas, FARC (Colombia’s Revolutionary Arm Forces). The FARC have been in existence for over four decades, and are badly in need of a new cause to revive their anti-imperialist ardor and inflame patriotic and nationalistic feeling in Colombia.

The Colombian ruling class, of which Mr. Uribe is a beloved member, has been skillful enough to put in its pocket politicians as diverse as Mr. George W. Bush and Mr. Bill Clinton. Mr. Uribe, yesterday a friend of Mr. Pablo Escobar, today is a friend of Mr. George Bush. This relationship is not the best PR in a region already distrustful of the U.S. Latin America is well aware of the values and standards the U.S. put aside to shake Mr. Uribe’s hand.

Bush has chosen to overlook the character of the current Colombian government under the reign of Mr. Alvaro Uribe, the two-time president. In 1991, The Bush administration embarrassed itself in the region by suppressing a Defense Intelligence Agency report indicating that Mr. Alvaro Uribe is untrustworthy and has ties with the narco-traffickers. Bush has not only undermined his own intelligence service, but has rejected any further investigation of the matter. Today, Colombia struggles with “paragate” -- it's scandalous “narco-paramilitary politics”, describing the association of narco-traffickers and paramilitaries with Mr. Uribe’s umbrella of parties.

Mr. Uribe relationship to narco-traffickers and paramilitaries, officially protected by U.S. policy, is now off-limits to U.S. intelligence. (Considering that Arabic is not Colombia’s official language and that plenty of spies speak fluent Spanish, it is astonishing that the CIA now professes ignorance of the growing influence of narco-paramilitaries in Mr. Uribe’s government).

More:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00521.htm

[PassingFair]

10. The thing I LIKE about Pelosi ...

is that she is disliked on both sides.

I well remember her disappointment in getting
STUCK with Steny Hoyer, THAT was a good sign.

I am hoping that with a stronger majority, she
will rise to the occasion.

[fascisthunter]

14. Free Trade=Slave Labor for the wealthy losers who Whine about Paying Taxes

dellusional

[oberliner]

16. Pelosi calls for emergency aid for auto industry

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for "emergency and limited financial assistance" for the battered auto industry on Tuesday, and urged the outgoing Bush administration to join lawmakers in reaching a quick compromise.

Five days after dismal financial reports from General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., Pelosi backed legislation to make the automakers eligible for help under the $700 billion bailout measure that cleared Congress in October.

In a written statement, the California Democrat said the aid was needed "in order to prevent the failure of one or more of the major American automobile manufacturers, which would have a devastating impact on our economy, particularly on the men and women who work in that industry...."

"Congress and the Bush administration must take immediate action," she added. Administration officials have concluded that the bailout bill that passed earlier does not permit loans to the auto industry, but lawmakers are expected to return to the Capitol for a brief postelection session beginning next week.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081111/ap_on_go_co/auto_bailout;_ylt=AsKNxeALwiQam__LsnkXXcus0NUE

[Hawkeye-X]

17. I call for Pelosi to resign from the Speaker of the House

She failed to do her duty.

- Called for impeachment and bring it on the table, force the issues on the Republicans.
- Passed a unnecessary $700 billion bailout for the banks
- Not hounding Chimp enough, often letting his stupid policies through.
- Now she wants to bail out auto companies who doesn't even exceed the CAFE standards by a TON? Aveo doesn't come close.

I want a better person for the job. Pelosi ain't it.

Hawkeye-X

[amdezurik]

18. Seconded

[oberliner]

20. Who would you support for Speaker? nt

[DUlover2909]

22. Dennis Kucinich would be my choice.

[Mrspeeker]

24. thats a great choice

:)

[Zhade]

30. An amazing choice.

I could not agree more!

[Mrspeeker]

19. 3rd

get rid of her!

[frylock]

21. GM is due to produce the new Hummer H3T in 2009..

there's a reason the big 3 are circling the toilet, so lets just go ahead and throw some more money at the problem.

[WriteDown]

25. And the Volt in 2010....

I guess Toyota has stopped all production of the Tundra?

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. and remember to add "NO Oversight" to that bailout, Nancy.

I probably have unborn great-grandkids you haven't enslaved yet.


Notice she is calling on "outgoing Bush Administration" to deepen the debt sinkhole.

Jesus, she and Lieberman sign a pact to sink Congress????

[doc03]

26. We did that back in the 70s, import quotas were put on cars

and Chrysler was bailed out. As I remember they were supposed to retool because the Japanese ate their lunch. Now after 30 years here they are again caught flat footed with a bunch of gas guzzling dinosaurs and I am supposed to bail their ass out again. The steel industry asked for help and we made enormous sacrifices, we lost our pensions, consolidated and lost 100s of thousands of jobs. How many times is the auto industry going to come to the trough? If the big three can't make a car in the US that we need the Japanese and Koreans will.

[Zhade]

28. Good. To do so would undermine the very relief being sought!

NT!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Judi Lynn]

35. Bush sets free-trade trap for Obama

Bush sets free-trade trap for Obama

The outgoing president wants to spur Democratic infighting by attaching an agreement with Colombia to the economic stimulus package. Obama should say, "no deal."
By David Sirota

Nov. 15, 2008 |

It wouldn't be the George W. Bush we all know if our shamed president didn't spend his remaining White House days in a final fit of polarization.

That's what Bush's moves this week are clearly about: dividing, not uniting. The New York Times reported that during his first meeting with Barack Obama, the outgoing president suggested he might support the Democrats' economic stimulus package and aid to struggling automakers if party leaders "drop their opposition to a free-trade agreement with Colombia." While Bush later denied an overt quid pro quo, one was obviously implied.

Strange behavior? Yes and no.

Bush is the Texas hold 'em addict who raised on the largest tax cuts in contemporary history, re-raised on two wars and went all-in with an attempt to privatize Social Security. So yes, from a brinkmanship standpoint, it seems bizarre that in exchange for a massive legislative effort to right the entire economy, the cowboy president may insist on a tiny trade deal that -- at best -- promises a boost of "less than seven-hundredths of one percent to U.S. gross domestic product," according to the Brookings Institution.

But, then, Bush is the protégé of Karl Rove and the son of George H.W. Bush. So no, his Colombia demand isn't weird at all -- nor is it as small a wager as it appears.

Bush understands what happened in 1993 when his father left an almost-finished North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the lap of Bill Clinton's incoming administration. He knows that business interests subsequently pressured Clinton into joining with Republicans to pass the pact over the opposition of Clinton's own party. His Rove-trained mind gets what the Nation's John Nichols reported: that the payout came with a 1994 election whose NAFTA taint delivered "a dramatic drop in turnout among members of union households," decreased "Democratic support in traditional areas of strength" -- and thus birthed the Republican Congress.

Bush wants to replicate this three-card monte -- and the Colombia trade pact is his ace in the hole.

More:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/11/15/free_trade_trap/print.html

[Judi Lynn]

36. No good side to this FTA. More from the article:

~snip~
The deal would reward a right-wing Colombian regime under investigation for links to paramilitary gangs, drug cartels and anti-union brutality. Like NAFTA, it includes few labor protections, meaning it will enrich Bush's corporate donors by forcing Americans into a wage-cutting competition with low-paid foreign workers. And, most important to Bush's legacy, the pact could bust the Democrats before they ever have a chance to unify.

NAFTA proved that trade is the most divisive issue inside the Democratic Party. On one side is the party's Wall Street wing, which supports free trade. On the other side is its progressive wing, which wants our trade policies reformed. Lately, the latter has increased its clout. As globalization became a major campaign theme in the last two elections, the watchdog group Public Citizen reports that free-trade critics replaced free-trade proponents in 69 House and Senate races. These new populists, along with more senior incumbent progressive Democrats, constitute a powerful new voting bloc promising to reject deals like the Colombia agreement and protect labor and human rights.