US: Republicans Lash Out Against Obama-Backed Stimulus

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican senators on Friday ripped at a pared-down economic stimulus plan to pump $780bn into the US economy and warned President Barack Obama against strong-arming lawmakers to pass the bill.

"If this legislation is passed, it will be a very bad day for America," Senator John McCain of Arizona said on the Senate floor.

"I had some Orwellian experiences here in the Senate over the years that I have been here, but this one ranks up near the top in the word bipartisanship that's being thrown around as far as this package is concerned."

South Dakota Senator John Thune called the stimulus package "the largest inter-generational transfer of debt in human history."

The bill's supporters noted that its price tag would be far smaller than the $937bn previously under consideration, a reduction aimed at winning over elusive Republican support that was entirely absent when the House of Representatives passed its version of the measure last week.

=snip=

Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham lashed out against Obama for the president's biting attack on Republicans late Thursday to drum up support for the bill.

"But that speech last night--I'm sure you're not, but if you are listening, think twice about doing that again," Graham warned.

Read more: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/20966?tid=14

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Source: L.A. Times

McCain, back in Senate, plays against hype

He built his reputation and ran for president as someone who would buck the GOP in favor of bipartisan cooperation. Now he's bucked that image to rally opposition to the Democratic stimulus plan. But now, Sen. John McCain is cutting a new profile -- one that is far more partisan than when he became so familiar to Americans months ago as the Republican nominee for president.

By Janet Hook

February 7, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- Mac is back.


As a candidate, McCain cast himself as a uniter of the two parties, willing to buck his GOP colleagues and reach across the aisle to build compromises on immigration, campaign finance and other hot-button issues.

"I have that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not," he said during the campaign, referring to his bipartisan streak.

But this week, with Barack Obama in the White House and McCain back in Congress, the Arizona senator has played a prominent and uncompromising role in rallying Republican opposition to the Democratic majority and its stimulus plan.

McCain did not join the small group of centrists from both parties who worked this week to put together a compromise to let the stimulus bill move forward. Instead, he took to the floor and pushed a Republican alternative that was heavier on tax cuts and offered less government spending than President Obama wants.

Read More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-mccain7-2009feb07,0,99076.story

-- ---- --

The video of "sore loser McCain"'s tirade can be seen, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x269204

[geckosfeet]

1. Hey Graham, bite me.

[goclark]

2. Shut up Graham , just shut up!

[Why Syzygy]

3. wtf?

McCain knows Orwell? Who would have thought. But, he's thinking "bipartisan" has something to do with Orwell, so obviously he's just spouting per usual. Didn't he leave town anyway, not bothering to vote.

I hope their heads spin. I would like to remind as often as necessary, I did not vote for "Bipartisan". Didn't see the name on the ballot. Nor, would I EVER. I voted "take control away from the FREEPERS".

[ShockediSay]

31. Republican criticism: just what we don't need to solve our problems.

More IdeoDitto head idiots, parroting their talking points.

see also
Partisanship Is a Worthy Foe in Debate on Stimulus
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/us/politics/07assess.html

With the Senate on track to pass its version of the economic stimulus legislation, President Obama is widely expected to win final Congressional approval of the plan soon, and thus make good on an assortment of his campaign promises. But in the process, he is confronting the impediments to his most ambitious pledge: to end the capital’s partisan warfare.


Mr. Obama has been frustrated by an array of forces, from an often bitter and personal history of partisanship on Capitol Hill to the near-extinction of Republican moderates in the House to the deep ideological gulf between the parties on economic policy. And as his aspiration of putting aside petty politics has met the necessity of winning legislative votes — no more than two or three Senate Republicans are expected to support him, which is two or three more than did so in the House — he has gone through a public evolution that has left him showing sharper edges when it comes to the ways of Washington.

Frustrated that debate over the bill was being dominated by Republicans’ criticism, and that his overtures had yielded little in the way of support from across the aisle, the president who began the week hosting Republicans for a Super Bowl party had by Friday switched to publicly pressuring them, and rallying fellow Democrats, with a hard-line message about his unwillingness to compromise his priorities.

[depakid]

4. Democrats "compromised" -leaving the country with much less effective legislation

and this is once again their reward!

Heck of a job, Harry!

Hopefully, Nancy will find the pair that Reid is lacking and send back a billthat economistts would actually have a bit more confidence in- that might acually get the job done.

[silverweb]

5. Fucking liars.

"John Thune called the stimulus package 'the largest inter-generational transfer of debt in human history.'"

No, shithead, we've already got that from the last administration.

That debt only destroyed, killed, and maimed -- something you reTHUGs are always happy to go into debt for and throw more money at.

This money, although also debt for now, will be for rebuilding and investing concretely in our future -- something you reTHUGs are invariably against.

[kestrel91316]

6. Memo to Republicans: We won. You lost. Get over it.

[No Elephants]

7. This is what Dems get for bi-partisanship. When you show weakness, the Pubs bully you. Thanks to

our efforts, donations and votes, we are in the strongest position we've been in in a long time and they are bullying us. I give up.

[Left Coast2020]

9. Did John McLoser say "worst thing to happen to America if passed"?

He would know how to define "worst" even if you drew him a roadmap. :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[Rocknrule]

10. We really WOULD be fucked if he had won

[Egnever]

16. Are they?

looks like we are getting most of what we want.

[No Elephants]

19. Are we really getting most of what we wanted? George Bush got more of what he wanted,

even when Congress was Dem, using only veto power. Dems should not empower the likes of Graham this way, not when Dems own both Congress and the Oval Office. This is not only a battle for this bill. It is a pr battle that the Dems have to win if they are going to stay in control in 2010 and 2012. Dems let the Pubs erode public support for this bill and look as they they owned us. Why?

As for whether we are getting most of what we wanted, I have not compared what Obama proposed with what is emerging from the Senate. However, I do know House Republicans got a lot of changes, even though not a one of them voted for the bill. What the hell is that? Lydon Johnson, Tip O Neill, Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay--none of them would have rolled over for that. And it looks as though the bill is now fuller with defense spending and tax cuts than it is with the kind of stimulus most Dems favor. See, among other things,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3727211

[caseymoz]

8. Losers trying to save face I see.

Not a bipartisan bill. So, Democrats threw more than $150 billion dollars out of the bill just to make lord their power over Republicans.

[ryanmuegge]

33. I think the Republicans are the big winners.

Not that there is much of a difference between the two.

[Triana]

11. The republics are in NO position to make petty threats. THEY LOST. And it's about TIME

Democrats LET THEM KNOW IT. In NO uncertain terms.

[No Elephants]

18. Pubs are in a position to do whatever DEMS let the Pubs do. So far, that's been way too much.

[bjobotts]

12. John McCain on the economy...haha haha hah haha ha ha haha ha

[bjobotts]

13. I'd spend 2yrs in prison just to slap that nasty Graham's face once.

[bjobotts]

14. If I thought it would bring some humility to that authoritarian schmuck

[Dumak]

15. Ridiculous Republics pandering to their base like that

The initial bill should have been a 2-trillion dollar jobs bill, so that there would be some room to backtrack into something still reasonable. As it stands, we are going to be in serious danger of not doing enough for the economy if this weakened bill passes.

[Hardrada]

17. I think so too.

[No Elephants]

20. Whose fault is it that the Pubs are getting to pander to their

base like that. After what the Dem base did for Dem candidates in 2006 and 2008, Dems in office need to stop letting us down and step up to the freakin' plate for a change. When are they likely to have more power than now?

[w4rma]

21. Nevermind. (nt)

[natrat]

22. wtf? FDR played hardball and cut deals with the crooks to pass meaningful legislation

[RBInMaine]

23. SO, EVEN WITH A "COMPROMISE" WE CAN STILL SAY FUCK YOU TO MOST R'S ! Beautiful !!

[RBInMaine]

24. This is WONDERFUL !! FUCKING WONDERFUL !! Here's why:

Just enough moderate R's and moderate Dems will compromise and sign on to the bill and it WILL pass DUE TO a few moderate R DEFECTIONS !! Then most ring wingers will continue to shit on the bill and vote against it, and it will pass nonetheless. It will pass due to some cracks in the REPUBLICAN caucus, because a few of those moderate R's know they will be FUCKED at home in their next elections if they vote against stimulus. I LOVE IT !!!! Most R's will rant and SHIT on the compromise, which will make THEM look like the COMPLETE OUT OF TOUCH RIGHT WING EXTREMIST ASSHOLES THAT THEY ARE. The bill will pass. A majority of the public will support it. Dems will have gotten MOST of what they wanted and will also be able to say they worked, to a fair extent, with the other side, and it will PASS in the Senate with a few REPUBLICAN defections.
THIS IS WONDERFUL. FUCKING WONDERFUL. The majority of Republicans come out fighting with and shitting on moderate members of their own party (and Lieberman too who will vote for it and who backed McSAME who is also shitting on the bill), look like stonewallers refusing to compromise even a little bit, look like assholes, and we win !! Oh I do love it so much !! IT IS BEAUTIFUL FOLKS. THINK ABOUT IT. JUST FUCKING BEAUTIFUL !!

[ixion]

25. why do Republics hate America?

and why does the MSM continue to stoke that hatred with bogus reporting?

What the hell is wrong with people?

[madrchsod]

26. the democrats will put their tails between their legs and run away

the thugs are playing this out till next spring so they can get control of the house and senate in 2010...

[RBInMaine]

27. NO ! The Pukes come out of this LOSERS and looking like ASSHOLES ! WE WIN !!

[tanyev]

28. Fuck them and the rampaging elephant they rode in on.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

29. "Let's slow down. Let's take our time," said Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska

Reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently

[The Wizard]

30. Republicans Lash Out Against Obama

Who would believe the Party of God would be so angry and vicious and dissembling? The GOP war profiteers should have their balls crushed in a vise. They are good at tantrums and causing good people grief. They all suck and should die screaming.

[Arugula Latte]

32. Goddamn these fucking lunatics.

I wish there were an election coming up so we could throw more of these mofos out on their asses. :grr:

[The Stranger]

34. Graham is such a good little Confederate Nazi.

[classysassy]

35. The war party

zip for the common man and woman,zillions for the ongoing wars.BRING BACK THE DRAFT.