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February 06, 2009
Oh... the stimulation
of stimulus:
It's $900 Billion now and counting...
Speaking at the Energy Department, Obama made a fresh plea for the stimulus plan that the Senate is debating. He cited the latest bad economic news of jobless claims as another reason for quick action.
He said: "The time for talk is over, the time for action is now."
Republicans and some Democrats have expressed reservations about the growing price tag of the package—more than $900 billion. Senate Democratic leaders hope to have a bill completed by Friday.
Earlier today, Obama warned that failure to pass an economic recovery package could plunge the nation into an even longer, perhaps irreversible recession, as senators searched for compromises to whittle down the enormous bill.
Senate moderates gathered behind closed doors in an effort to find at least $50 billion in spending reductions that might make the $900 billion-plus package more palatable to centrists. Democratic leaders hoped to pass the legislation by Friday at the latest.
Obama painted a bleak picture if lawmakers do nothing.
In an op-ed piece in The Washington Post, the president argued that each day without his stimulus package, Americans lose more jobs, savings and homes. His message came as congressional leaders struggle to control the huge stimulus bill that's been growing larger by the day in the Senate. The addition of a new tax break for homebuyers Wednesday evening sent the price tag well past $900 billion.
"This recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse," Obama wrote in the newspaper piece.
He rejected the argument that more tax cuts are needed in the plan and that piecemeal measures would be sufficient. His latest plea came on the same day the economy dealt with another dose of bad news: A big jump in jobless claims and another round of weak retail sales.
Yeah, no tax cuts for the people, tax cuts are not stimulating, $70 million for super computers to research climate change is stimulating, $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts is stimulating, $335 million to prevent sexually transmitted diseases is stimulating, $650 million for TV coupons is stimulating, and $150 million to insure honeybee farmers is stimulating. Oh yes, you have to admit, that's some stimulating stimulus, along with...
... House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in Congress left town for their annual retreat at Kingsmill Resort and Spa in nearby Williamsburg, Va., which offers "unforgettable golf, luxurious accommodations... and an abundance of recreational opportunities."
The three-day retreat is part of an annual tradition enjoyed by both parties in Congress -- an opportunity to bring families, take off their jackets and relax as they plan their agenda for the coming year.
oooo! "unforgettable golf, luxurious accommodations... and an abundance of recreational opportunities." Now that's stimulating! Yup, Williamsburg is certainly stimulated this week with taxpayer money, and we're footing the bill, if not for the accomodations (at least they pay for something themselves - good thing they got that raise in pay, huh?), we the people pay for the rest of that stimulation, including the transportation, food, room service, beefed up security, photographers, telephone and internet, yadda yadda. and this year, we get to pay for Obamessiah flying in on AF One.
No matter what side of the politcal spectrum you fall on, I'll bet most of you have thought of spending a few days in a place like the Kingsmill Resort but have never quite made it there. How stimulating it must be for the average American to know that even if they can't stay in such luxurious accomodations and their families can't enjoy the abundance of recrational opportunities available there, well, even in this time of recession, even while we're on the brink of disaster, even as we are rushing toward catastrophe, thanks to the efforts of congress, even if the average American can't stay there, they can pay for someone else to stay there. Is this a great country or what? Why not send a thank you note to your congress critter for allowing you that opportunity? Don't leave out your republican congress critter, they had their luxurious annual retreat on your tax dollar a few weeks ago.
Oh, and if you're thinking maybe this compares to AIG and their happy happy joy joy bailout parties, well, you can stop that right now. What AIG did was bad but they only did it once, or was it twice, and this, well, this is an annual thing but hey, don't think about that part, no, this is hope and change coming to America right before your very eyes, with extra bonus stimulating stimulus, surely you can see that and if you can't see that, well, then you're probably not a honey bee farmer.
Posted by LindaSoG at February 6, 2009 06:52 AM
Comments
Well, I don't know about you folks, but I sure would like to see O'Vomits head explode.
Posted by: cuchieddie at February 6, 2009 03:30 PM