Archive for the ‘Stimulus Package’ Category
Freedom of Speech Need Not Apply
May 30th, 2009
It was only a matter of time:
A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus projects has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It’s a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.
Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):
“First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.
[Emphasis-admin]
Talk about shredding the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
This administration is beginning to take liberties where they should not tread.
What happened to all the talk of honest and open government or the claims of future civil debate. Oh wait, that debate is only permitted if you come down on the side of those who are unraveling the fabric of this country in short order.
What say you?
HT:Macsmind
Tuesday Tid-Bits
February 24th, 2009
The Anchoress misses former President Bush. Me too.
The man was always true to his word. No double talk, no constant campaigning – just words from the heart. Whether one agreed or disagreed with his policies,you knew where he stood.
We should all expect at least that much from the leader of the free world.
Below is an excerpt from an interview Alan Colmes conducted with Bill Ayers:
On setting bombs as part of the Weather Underground:
“I don’t regret anything I did it to oppose the war. It was — I did it to oppose the war. I don’t regret it.”
“I don’t look back on those things and regret them, but I’m willing to rethink them. And there are many things which I’m going to rethink.”
Ah, the company the current administration in Washington has chosen to keep.
Taking of life or property in acts of domestic terrorism is nothing to regret..not even a cause for remorse. It must be nice to live in that world.
The more I read about this man the more I believe he should have a strong leadership role for the GOP in the Senate:
Jim DeMint’s gentlemanly air and refined tone belie a power and an urgency in his words.
The stately senator from South Carolina sees America’s unique centuries-old system of freedom dying out.
And he thinks we may have to take to the streets to save it.
“I would think it’s time to start thinking about peaceful demonstrations,” he told us last week.
Seriously?
“Seriously.
“The power of the people is there. Freedom is in the people’s hands right now, and it’s about to slip through.”
Of course, the recent “stimulus” debate is what’s fresh on DeMint’s mind. Despite DeMint’s putting 15 aides on it overnight, no one in Washington was able to read the bill, which was the most expensive in American history — as well as being perhaps the most irresponsible.
emphasis-mine
About those demonstrations..the ball is rolling.
How long the momentum lasts or the numbers involved is anyone’s guess, but if things continue in the vein of the past month, one might think it would be a long time and many Americans.
Are the tears of joy turning to a bit of anger? Gee, that didn’t take long.
While reading and posting tonight hubby was watching a special on Fats Domino.
Thought I’d close this post with one of his best.
Friday Fly-By
February 19th, 2009
How about this for picture of the week?
Senator DeMint has shown great courage lately through his actions in the Senate. Calling for a vote on the Fairness Doctrine as early as next week would be another moment worth watching:
Sen. Jim DeMint announced that he will force a vote next week on a bill that prevents the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
The South Carolina Republican’s bill, the Broadcaster Freedom Act, is cosponsored by John Thune, R-S.D., and 27 others and will be offered as an amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights bill…
Let’s get it out in the open. America should see how each of their elected officials lean on this matter.
Cowards, huh? That’s a heck of a thing for a Attorney General of the United States to say.
Here is the best take down of Holder’s statement I have read to date.
If anyone can tie coffee, the courts and the porkfest legislation into one neat package it is Alfonzo Rachel..just watch:
Have a good weekend all. Hopefully by Monday this bug will have departed altogether. Maybe then this exhausting, exasperating monster will allow me to post something original and intelligent.
*Must Read* Regarding the Stimulus Package
February 9th, 2009
Via Kim Priestap at Wizbang:
Tom Daschle knew the reason why Clinton failed with his socialized medicine is because he actually let the American people in on what he wanted to do. Daschle advised Obama to sneak it in, which is what he’s done. Nationalization – and rationing – of health care is in the stimulus bill! Betsy McCaughy of Bloomberg has the details.
emphasis-mine
Please read the rest of Kim’s post and the article at Bloomberg.
The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.
But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”
Now, light up the switchboards and flood the email boxes of those elected to serve you in Washington.Let them know you do not want your health care solely in the hands of the federal government.
Important Information On The Stimulus Package
February 9th, 2009
Many thanks to reader INC for providing us the following links, each containing valuable information on the stimulus package which many of us hope to see go down in defeat:
Want read the proposed legislation (all 1588 pages) in its current form?
You may do so at ReadThe Stimulus.org.
Isn’t it interesting to read that the Congressional Budget Office believes the economy will recover on its own?
The Congressional Budget Office predicted that the current economic recession will end in the second half of 2009 without the trillion dollar stimulus.
SurgeUSA is chock full of links not only related to the stimulus bill, but to many other facets of government and other areas of interest to Americans.
Last, but perhaps the most important link, the contact information for the three Republican Senators who have at this point chosen to go along for the expensive ride proposed by the White House and the Democrats.
There’s not much time left for us to have our voices heard on this piece of legislation.
Please call, fax and/or email again today.
Posted in Congress, Economy, Senator Collins, Senator Snow, Senator Specter, Stimulus Package | 
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Do My Ears Deceive Me?
February 6th, 2009
If I had not seen it , I would not have believed it.
Senator Lindsey Graham speaking earlier today about the bloated Stimulus Package:
Now if we could only convince the likes of Senator Specter that this is a bad bill.
I called is office and they say he won’t vote for the package if he doesn’t feel it will stimulate the economy, however, after the Super Bowl invitation the past Sunday, he seems to have moved to the Left in his thinking.
What did I say? He moved to the Left? He seems to spend a great deal of time there.
Anyhow, thanks to Senator Graham for showing courage and not accepting a bill just because the current administration needs some sort of win.
I wonder if anyone told them yet that the Democrats will own this legislation and so far public opinion is not in their camp..or maybe they just don’t care.
A Recipe For Disaster
February 4th, 2009
Mix a lot of stimulus with far too much pork ..this is the result:
It certainly puts things into perspective don’t you think?
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford on “Stimulus” Bill
February 4th, 2009
This is the man I voted for and he hasn’t disappointed me yet.
Take a listen:
Obama wants this bill on his desk by February 16. That’s too fast for Congress to actually consider and write a sensible bill. If he had stayed in the Senate Chamber enough he would know that.
Take the time that needs to be taken to make a good bill that will create jobs and not fund every pet project that will get its attention in the appropriations process later.
Remember, haste makes waste.
Will They Love Us Tomorrow?
January 30th, 2009
You’ve heard by now that our standing in the world will much improve now that the evil George Bush is no longer in office.
A Democratic White House and Congress will create a love-in across the globe for certain.
Not so fast:
The EU trade commissioner vowed to fight back after the bill passed in the House of Representatives late on Wednesday included a ban on most purchases of foreign steel and iron used in infrastructure projects.
The Senate’s version of the legislation, which will be debated early next week, goes even further, requiring that any projects related to the stimulus use only American-made equipment and goods.
The inclusion of protectionist measures has quickly raised hackles in Europe.
Catherine Ashton, the EU trade commissioner, said: “We are looking at the situation. The one thing we can be absolutely certain about, is if a bill is passed which prohibits the sale or purchase of European goods on American territory, that is something we will not stand idly by and ignore.”
Despite the parlous state of the US economy, some major American firms, including General Electric, are also opposed to the Buy American stipulations, fearing reprisals from overseas and further damage to the global economy.
Bill Lane, government affairs director for Caterpillar, which has just laid off nearly a fifth of its 112,000 work force and is the tenth largest US investor in Britain, warned it was a dangerous step.
He said: “We are the first to recognise that if the US embraces Buy American then the whole notion of buying national will metastasize and limit our ability to take part in overseas projects.
“We are students of history. A major reason a very deep recession turned into the Great Depression was the fact that countries turned inward.”
Buying American is important, however, we must keep avenues of free trade open if we are to survive.
Let the love fest end and the tough days of governing begin.
When Opinions Really Do Not Matter
January 30th, 2009
Does this administration’s Press Secretary honestly believe members of Congress do not know each other?
“You know, the president also wanted last night to be a little bit more social, you know, so that individuals could better get to know each other and understand where they’re coming from in these legislative disagreements,” Gibbs told reporters Thursday. “But, again, you know, the president’s outreach on this will continue.”
emphasis-mine
Outreach? This man informed Republicans “I won.”
While the statement is true, this is behavior expected from a child, it is not befitting the President of the United States.
Are Republicans just supposed to roll over and play dead? Are they just to give a nod and wink to all proposals because the opposition won?
I for one am proud of the Republicans in the House for standing up to the Speaker and administration with regard to this pork laden stimulus bill. These folks are sent to Washington to fight for all Americans-not just special interests which support them in their political ambitions.
On Sunday, there will be a winner and a loser in the Super Bowl.
It’s a safe bet the majority of those interviewed from the winning team will have very complimentary things to say about their opponent.
Too bad we don’t have the same level of courtesy in Washington.
Stimulus For The Economy..Or Not?
January 28th, 2009
Some stimulus package huh?
The WSJ calculates that no more than 12 cents on the dollar in the trillion-dollar whale goes to actual economic stimulus, and that the rest go to Democratic wish lists for electoral advantage:
Access to the Internet is spotty today due to weather so please read at the above link for Ed Morrissey’s further thoughts:
The Journal discovers another “lu-lu” in public transportation, but not the kind you’d expect. Congress wants to spend $600 million on new cars for federal agencies. Do you have the money to buy a new car in 2009? Well, you won’t if this bill passes, but apparently a few thousand federal employees will enjoy that luxury, thanks to your tax dollars.
