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DEL.ICIO.USEarmarks may get you one step forward — but four backward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s 1776! Celebrate? No. Express frustration. Anger. Despair, even.
The inability of politicians to wean themselves from earmarks, the single-member-designated appropriations that brought us Alaska’s famed “bridge to nowhere,” persists, despite repeated signals from fiscal conservatives. Republican politicians, even those considered secure, should take heed of the 10th Congressional District of Georgia, where physician Paul Broun of Athens came from 23 points down to defeat shoo-in “incumbent” Jim Whitehead of Evans two weeks ago.
Whitehead wasn’t the actual incumbent. U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood was until his death in February. But Whitehead had aura, money and organization. His defeat was a shocker.
Earmarks weren’t his downfall, nor a factor in the race. The point here is that voters are in what should be for politicians an angst-inducing mood and fiscal conservatives hate earmarks.
Even in Japan the frustrated voter phenomenon is seen. The incumbent Liberal Democratic Party sustained a crushing defeat in weekend elections, with “household names in the party falling one after another before opposition newcomers,” reported New York Times correspondent Norimitsu Onishi from Tokyo.
Earmarks and their persistence in the face of overwhelmingly negative publicity last year help to set a mood among the electorate that in Washington special interest provisions and pork have irredeemably gummed up the works. And despite flipping both the House and Senate last fall, nothing’s changed.
Democrats, upon gaining a majority in January, swore off the pork. Publicly at least. Behind the scenes, though, as the Los Angeles Times reports, they’re back. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid touted the elimination of earmarks in a $363.5 billion spending bill. The day after the bill was signed, the Times reported, he started lobbying agencies to fund the same projects the Senate had just stripped out.
The 1776 that’s not to be celebrated is not independence year, but the number of earmarks individual members of the U.S. House of Representatives slipped into last week’s defense appropriations bill. A 19-term Republican, C. W. “Bill” Young, who represents a coastal district of Florida stretching north and south of St. Petersburg, led the pack with 59 earmarks. He was followed by Democrat John Murtha, a 37-year veteran who represents a western Pennsylvania district in the vicinity of Johnstown and Pittsburgh, with 46 earmarks.
Clearly, the old guys don’t get it. But surprisingly some of the young ones don’t either. U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah is in the top 10 members of the House in defense appropriations bill earmarks, at 26. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco tossed in 15. Two Georgia Democrats had double-digit additions, with Sanford Bishop at 18 and Jim Marshall at 10. All three Georgians have major defense installations in their districts. Kingston and Bishop are on the Appropriation Committee’s defense subcommittee chaired by Murtha and Marshall is on Armed Services.
“On the earmarks debate, my philosophy is that you need to have sunshine,” Kingston said Monday, “you need to have scrutiny, you need to be able to tell people what you are putting in the budget and be able to justify it from California to Maine and back home, as well.” He continued:
“I’m not against earmarks, but they do need the scrutiny of the debate and that’s a good thing.”
Kingston said his earmarks come from requests offered up by the military affairs committees that support installations in his district, and some are for “gadgets” that the Pentagon thinks worthwhile, but doesn’t choose to include.
An example, he said, is unmanned aircraft, like the Predator, widely used in Afghanistan and Iraq, originally surfaced as an earmark inserted in the appropriations bill by Jerry Lewis, the second-ranking Republican on Murtha’s subcommittee. “Defense earmarks are a little less pork-barrelly and a lot more that the Defense Department is divided on what to do,” said Kingston, while visiting Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta.
Justifiable or not, earmarks are to members of Congress what roads are to county commissioners. Each one makes a friend at the risk of losing two — the two who paid the bill. And maybe two more — the two who read about the Road to Nowhere and went nuts.
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Comments
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
Good morning all. I believe I previously published on this blog an amazing exchange quoted in The Politico on July 7:
“Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, the fiscal crusader who’s never met an earmark he likes, questioned Democratic Rep. Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana on the House floor Tuesday about whether the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure actually exists - since, hey, it’s getting like a million bucks or something.
“Visclosky, who chairs the spending subcommittee responsible for the project, had to admit that, well, he didn’t have a clue.
“After a lengthy back-and-forth, Flake, complaining that his staff couldn’t find a website for the center, asked Visclosky, ‘Does the center currently exist?’
“‘At this time, I do not know,’ the Indiana Democrat replied. ‘But if it does not exist, the monies could not go to it.’
“And who could possibly be the sponsor of such an earmark? Yes, you guessed it, the man Republicans love to hate, Pennsylvania Democrat John P. Murtha.”
One more funny quote, from the WSJ: “Despite claims they would bring reform, Congress’s new bosses are acting like the old bosses. Last Friday, Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake sought clarification from House Appropriations Chairman David Obey about an incorrect listing of a NASA earmark in the Iraq supplemental bill. Rep. Obey responded: ‘The fact is, that an earmark is something that is requested by an individual member. This item was not requested by any individual member. It was put in the bill by me!’ In other words, Mr. Obey believes his own earmarks are nothing of the kind.” http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110009835
End of quotes, back to jbmlaw commentary. The earmarks deservedly cost the Republicans control of Congress eight months ago, so I do not suggest Democrats are the only practitioners; I will not even suggest they are worse than Republicans. Goodness knows CA Rep. Jerry Lewis and the Alaskan delegation preclude me from making that argument. But it looks like we only exchanged Lewis and Stevens for Murtha and Obey, with no upgrade at all. This free-spending is Potomac Fever, where people who hold some political power feel compelled to steal from the public treasury to reward their friends. It is a function of power, not party. Rep. Jack Kingston’s comments on comparative value of defense earmarks sound honest enough, but I think they miss the problem, the general circumvention of debate and discussion. Is anyone surprised that Congress is now held in lower esteem than at any time in the history of polling? To paraphrase the old Clinton-era line, “It’s the earmarks, stupid.” There are some good guys on the issue, the aforementioned Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. There are others, but they have never been in the “power structure” of Congress. Why not? Democrats are totally cowed by their leadership (there is no Democrat reformer on the issue of earmarks), so the only hope for reform will be from the Republican side; I have doubts about the validity of even that thin hope. The only way to control Leviathan is the old Reagan strategy, to cut off its food; which party favors tax increases? How do we stop tax increases?
By Kelly
July 31, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this
There is little dispute that earmarks are bad and that members of both parties are guilty. But, to determine the lesser of the two evils in this regard, keep in mind that when Democrats last controlled the Congress in 1994, earmarks amounted to $29 billion (approximately $35 billion when adjusted for inflation). In 2004, under Republican leadership, earmarks amounted to $53 billion (approximately a 50 percent increase).
That said, it’s still important to hold Congress’ feet to the fire.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/01/27/GR2006012700168.html
If anybody can provide a link with aggregate figures for FY2006 and/or FY2008, that would be helpful.
By Redneck Convert
July 31, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this
Well, we can get rid of earmarks if My President just runs the country like old Sonny does GA. Just let Congress meet for one day and put everything in the world in the budget. Then My President can go thru it like Sonny done this year and cut out this and that and change amounts and finally get a budget he likes. We can save a lot of money on paying members of Congress and never have a veto. Just because the Constitution says Congress has to pass the budget don’t mean a leader has to go along with it.
My buddy Jim Earl says most of our problems comes from being hamstrung by this Constitution thing. A president can’t even listen in to our phone calls or read our mail without some librul whining about constitution this and constitution that. The same goes for the budget. The libruls whine about how the constitution gives Congress the right to make the budget, but then they throw all kind of junk into it just because they think they can. I’m for My President treating the budget the same way he does the laws Congress passes. Right now he can just say when he signs the laws “here’s what I think Congress meant to do” and have things exackly like he wants them. Well, he can do the same with the budget Congress sends him.
What good is being president if he is going to be crippled by the Constitution? This ain’t some commie country.
Speaking of president, I decided a godly Republican will be elected president next year. The reason is the librul Democrats will run a woman and one of Those People, like old Newt says. Good Americans won’t vote for them. They may say they will vote for a woman or one of Those People, but when they get behind the curtain they will vote for a good white American man. Just like the people in Tenn. done last year in the senate race. The libruls may have a bunch of people browbeat about what they tell others about how they feel about women and Those People but things don’t change in the voting booth.
Well, yesterday was kind of dull on this blog. Other than Sister Dusty throwing off on my trailer and claiming I was kind of drunk on the fumes. Leastwise I learnt Debbie was 6 foot tall and a real stud. I reckon if she gets too much guff she can kick butt all over the place. Including TFTT.
By Reba
July 31, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this
jbmlaw wrote, “…the only hope for reform will be from the Republican side…”
Republicans had their chance and blew it. Not only did they not reduce earmarks, they took them to new heights.
This jbmlaw guy is shameless.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this
You cant make a silk parse out of a sows earmark.
‘muff said
By Anonymous
July 31, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
JBM: Apparently, the Republican strategy to “stop tax increases” is to drastically ramp up spending and run up an enormous deficit.
Now, which party has ramped up spending the most…? Their initials are “G.O.P.” if you’re stuck.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
Now Reba, we shouldn’t make any worse of Jbmlaw as a man than he is as a blogger. He saw Wooten’s article and tried to second it….he saw liberal comments and tried to flame them….some bloggers see pork as it is and say, “blame the democrats”, jbmlaw sees pork as it could be and blames Clinton’s interns……,
I dont know what I just wrote. Now I’m afraid.
By Republi News
July 31, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
WASHINGTON (CNN) — FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents searched the Alaska home of longtime Sen. Ted Stevens on Monday amid a corruption probe that already has snared two oil-company executives and a state lobbyist.
Dave Heller, an FBI spokesman in Anchorage, Alaska, confirmed that agents entered Stevens’ home Monday afternoon, but he referred further comment to the Justice Department.
Neither the senator nor any family members were home at the time, Heller said.
Stevens, 83, the Senate’s senior Republican, has been under federal investigation for a 2000 renovation project more than doubling the size of his home in Girdwood, Alaska, near Anchorage, The Associated Press reported.
The project was overseen by Bill Allen, a contractor who has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators.
Allen is founder of VECO Corp., an Alaska-based oil field services and engineering company that has reaped tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Anonymous, wouldn’t you take advantage of our legislative loopholes to enrich your cronies and yourself if you could?
The risk is minimal, and the only way to get caught is if you’re dumb enough to stand in front of a Michael Moore camera and say something.
Lets not condemn those who do what we all would do if we had the same opportunity to do it. (Benedict Arnold at a quite tea party in Boston shortly after handing out indian costumes)
By Redneck Convert
July 31, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Well, I see they already started throwing off on Godly Republicans this a.m. Not being satisfied with trashing Foley for wanting to be real good friends with pages or the godly Sen. Vitter for wanting to wear a diaper and paying a woman for making him put one on. When you think about it there ain’t nothing wrong with a man wearing a diaper. Its just like underwear, only the waist don’t stretch.
Anyway, I think the godly Sen. Stevens will come out of this OK. He just payed his bills in a kind of roundabout way. Got them sent to this co. 1st and then on to him. It don’t matter where the bills go 1st. Long as you pay them in the end. I bet Clinton done it 1st and set a bad example and led good godly people astray.
By Jeff
July 31, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
*“On the earmarks debate, my philosophy is that you need to have sunshine,” Kingston said Monday, “you need to have scrutiny, you need to be able to tell people what you are putting in the budget and be able to justify it from California to Maine and back home, as well.” *
I say we hold the guy to this statement. I COMPLETELY agree with it. But he’s a politician. So we must be wary.
By Harold
July 31, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Earmarks are left by irons and earwigs. Neither is good. Get rid of both.
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
For benefit of our slower leftist friends, Jim did not publish the number you needed to read. While there are indeed 1,776 earmarks in the defense bill, there are 30,000 earmarks in all spending bills. For reasons we all understood then, the Democrats changed the reporting requirements on earmarks, to conceal authorship until the time of vote.
Source on the “30,000” - David Obey, quoted at http://www.opinionjournal.com/jer/?id=110010224
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
I am much encouraged by the comments of all of our leftists so far. If I read them correctly, they all agree that if Democrats are unable to reduce each Republican spending level are by at least $1, the Democrats ought to be thrown out of office, as “worse than Republican spenders.”
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
“Freedom is not the natural state of mankind. It is a rare and wonderful achievement. It will take an understanding of what freedom is, of where the dangers to freedom come from. It will take the courage to act on that understanding if we are not only to preserve the freedoms that we have, but to realize the full potential of a truly free society.”
Today would have been the 95th birthday of Milton Friedman. Somehow “earmarks” seems an appropriate topic, to reflect on Friedman’s legacy.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Our right honorable friends across the aisle would smoke pork to obscure Iraq, the only real issue.
What is the mission of the Saudi Royal Family’s puppet army in Iraq?
Data: Saudi’s oil fields are two quarts low, and no new fields have been found, and they think they’re running out of oil……
Wasn’t Osama Bin Laden a Saudi?
Extra Credit Question: Why doesn’t Al Queda have a Gay Men’s Choir?
By jbmlaw obfuscates
July 31, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Obfuscation Tactic: Don’t report on actual earmarks in the final budget for apples to apples comparisons with previous budgets - instead, report the number of earmarks requested (a fraction of earmarks requested make it into the actual budget), and while you’re at it, don’t specify who made the requests (requests are made by members of both parties).
Obfuscation Tactic: Don’t report the aggregate amounts of the earmarks (10 earmarks for 10 dollars costs taxpayers the same as 20 earmarks for five dollars), but report the number of earmarks instead (if jbmlaw likes actual earmark counts, look at the WaPo chart linked to in the 8:16 post where Republican tripled the number of earmarks included in final budgets).
Obfuscation Tactic: Don’t report verifiable numbers, but report a number that somebody pulled out of their a$$ for the sake of discussion.
Obfuscation Tactic: Use misrepresentations made on the WSJ editorial page to support your own misrepresentations.
By GodHatesTrash
July 31, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
That the redneck POS Kingston would have his greasy little hands out stealing taxpayer money should come as no surprise.
Gummint hater, until it’s time to steal. Trash.
South Georgia stumpbroke redneck trash.
By Curious Observer
July 31, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Yes, Milton Friedman underwent a remarkable transformation—from Keynesian economist to an advocate of an unfettered free market. And we have him to thank in large part for the invention of paycheck withholding. Every time you get paid and review your withholding statement, you can be grateful to Friedman that the government has spared you the trouble of mailing in your taxes. But then, jbmlaw doesn’t want you to know about that little fact.
By Dennis
July 31, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Interesting remarks from Mr. Wooten today, not typical at all. Not typical at all!
After all, what’s the public coffer for if you can’t give it away to special interests? Ordinary folks are supposed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, be self-sufficent, not expect any help from their government.
Mr Wooten must have gone to church on Sunday and heard some conservative, itinerant, firebrand preacher scaring the heebee geebees out of the congregation. Maybe got a little scared himself.
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Ross Perot would have ended earmarks once and for all, if he had been prez.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
Chris Hansen of Dateline NBC is doing an ambush-style special to expose dogfighting. He’ll walk into a set-up where a man is standing in a kitchen next to a poodle named FiFi.
“Excuse me, sir, what are you doing here?”
“Huh? Nothing, just was gonna walk my friends dog as a favor.”
“What are you hiding behind your back, sir, are those Scooby Snacks?”
“No” (Fifi jumps up and grabs the Scooby Snack bag and runs away)
“Well, I thought just in case…”
“Just in case? We have the transcripts from your internet chatroom where you were teasing and flaming this poor dog to make it viscious”.
“It was a joke, I didn’t really believe it was a dog on the other end of the chat….”
“Sir, you’ve got Scooby Snacks, a pooper scooper, and a taser. What am I to think? And what’s that around your neck, a dog whistle?”
“Okay, look, a friend wanted me to look after his dog while he was at work…”
Suddenly a team of dog catchers rush into the room and tackle the dogfighting creep.
By RCH
July 31, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Off the subject;
I heard the president of the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP saying we should not rush to judgement on M.V.. Strange, I didn’t hear that about the Duke 3. Lets face it, M.V. will never play for the Falcons again. Give it up.
By getalife
July 31, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
Jim fails to inform his readers on “the bridge to nowhere” Ted the tubes Steven’s house was raided by the FBI yesterday.
The gop culture of corruption continues.
The gop had total power and did nothing on ethics control but the Dems have.
Senator DeMint from South Carolina is blocking it.
He is gop.
Go figure.
Geez.
By Camus
July 31, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Earmarks?
It’s the Iraq, stupid.
Looking for the reason the Republicans tanked in the last election?
Iraq.
Wondering why the Decider is mired at 25% approval?
Iraq.
Everything else is just sideshow.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
Vick will be seen again in the Arena League
By Ron Paul
July 31, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
Vote Ron Paul if you’re serious about all this.
By time for the truth
July 31, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
The wholly unrepentant dog killing and torturing human scum Vick yesterday showed what a pathetic sorry excuse for a gutless pandering turd it is. Its blatant, nauseating attempt to appeal to simpleton religious blacks in some half arsed obtuse ebonics radio interview on some worthless thuggish hippety hop station was about as effective as that GLORIOUSLY AND DESERVEDLY defeated cut and run far left, completely phony “war hero” the treasonous sleaze bag Cleland would be in an arse kicking contest. Hearing the empty sound bites of Vick desperately invoking “god” reassuringly shows one just how far and fast this urban dog squeeze has fallen.
Doubtless now we’ll see the vile racist concerned racebaiting clergy puke up some half arsed “he’s just a poor black dog torturer and killer” defence. The naacp black hate group is already starting the bleating about Vick. The day the treasonous hatepig alcoholic DUI killer Kennedy admits he ran away and left Mary Jo to die is the day that black hippety hop thugs like Vick will take responsibility for their actions. Some snivelling black arsehole on TV the other day asserted that Vick had just made a “mistake” … this infamous corrosive Sick Willie Arkansas rapist lie has now entered the black/liberal lexicon of weaselish lies and babyish excuses to try and avoid the consequences of deliberate criminal actions.
Liberalism is undeniably a very sick and twisted mental disorder - one that needs to be completely eradicated - like small pox and plague have (virtually been)!!
By @@
July 31, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Well Jim, pork has been pretty much a part of the politician’s diet for a long time. One of those thingies that we tend to enjoy if they’re desserts showing up at our table. Sinfully delicious but everyone else should be on a diet.
The Republicans got caught with their plate full of bangers. They had to eat them in November. Now the public is seeing the Democrat’s weiners.
I’m a turnip Jim. You?
By RCH
July 31, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Analchord
If convicted ,M.V. will not be able to get a scrimmage game on a sandlot.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
What is the mission of the Saudi Puppet Army, (SPA) in Iraq?
Hint: The Saudis think they’re running out of oil.
By @@
July 31, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Republi News @ 8:38:
Mind if I “squeeze” Stevens’ response in there?
“My attorneys were advised this morning that federal agents wished to search my home in Girdwood in connection with an ongoing investigation.
“I continue to believe this investigation should proceed to its conclusion without any appearance that I have attempted to influence the outcome,” it said.
I’m kinda fond of that innocent until proven guilty argument. I’m patient that way.
By saywhat?
July 31, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
*Earmarks?
It’s the Iraq, stupid.
Looking for the reason the Republicans tanked in the last election?
Iraq.
Wondering why the Decider is mired at 25% approval?
Iraq.* Exactly what I was going to say. Earmark abuse was only a small part of the reason the GOP got fired. They were a small component of the overall corruption, which was itself second or third in line to #1)Iraq and #2)the high profile morality based ethical scandals. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that fiscal responsibility alone will be a deciding factor in who wins in 08.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
Vick better get a real legal beagle for his attourney, (a man’s best friend-of-the-court). If Vick is convicted on all counts, his sentences should be consecutively, not concurrent, because one good term deserves another.
somebody stop me, I’m out of control
By Doodlebug
July 31, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
Maybe a world-wide revolution over earmarks will be sparked and we will end up with the despotic TFTT and her lover jumbo bowel movement law as queen and king. Ahhh, one can dream.
By Republi News
July 31, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
@@ at 10:43: Excellent point, thank you! Just because Sen. Stevens DOES BUSINESS WITH CROOKS, that does not mean that he, himself is a crook. At least not until he pleads guilty like they did:
“Monday’s search comes two months after top executives of VECO admitted paying more than $400,000 in bribes to Alaska public officials.”
“CEO Allen and Richard Smith, the company’s vice president and top lobbyist, pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges in May, and VECO said it is cooperating with the federal probe.”
“Anchorage lobbyist William Bobrick also has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges stemming from the probe, and three current and former state legislators face bribery and conspiracy charges in the probe.”
Thanks for pointing that out!!
By AmVet
July 31, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Dennis, I noted your comments at 9:34 and have also noticed that Mr. Wooten is being surprisingly much more even handed now in his decrying of some in the GOP as well as all Democrats. Well, most Dems anyway.
I think that you are going to see more of this in the near future.
Even the more strident right-wing talking heads are broaching the heretofore unthinkable topic of holding the GOP accountable for some of the messes we now face as a nation.
This could bode well for the Republican Party. If they can somehow find a way to return to REAL conservatism, there is much hope for them. And these may be the first baby steps.
By Phartknocker
July 31, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Well, Doodlebug, they already have a love child, his name is Dusty.
By RCH
July 31, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Analchord
Maybe we should let M.V. play arena football. It has high walls all around it. About the same height as a pit. The opposing team can send their best defense in every time he plays. A defense made of pit bulls who see the number 7 as lunch. It will give new meaning to the phrase,”who let the dogs out.” LOL
By Freddy K.
July 31, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Lately it appears that Congress’s biggest accomplishment as usual is to waste time and money. Stop squalling about Bush Administration and move on. Do something worth while like huh, illegal immigrantes, these damn high taxes that we the people got screwqed into paying and do get crap for or maybe we ca find some other country to pay billions to so stop doing something they know is wrong like North Korea. Maybe they will waste billions and form 92 damn committees to wipe them big ole horse turd tears out of their eye cause Buch spanked their hands. Let’s just replace the whole lot and strt over with some that really care what we the people have to say and have have an interest in us.
By jm
July 31, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
well, after reading this I am eagerly awaiting Mr. Wooten’s editorial DEMANDING that Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson vote against the farm subsidy bill. I expect it around the time the weather page lists a freeze warning for hades.
By AmVet
July 31, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
One last thing about the corruption in DC, before I head out to a business meeting (gotta be a good capitalist to pay for all this, doncha know!)
I saw an interview with the crusty Bob Novak the other day and he proposed an idea that I have historically opposed - term limits for all in congress.
I’m beginning to think he is right.
He and Russert chuckled that without them on the presidency, Bill Clinton might be getting ready for a fifth term!
By time for the truth
July 31, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Its bloody amusing seeing the pathetically inadequate, lonely, attention seeking, paedophile yellowbellied queeralicious gutless far left dogturds puking up their trademark homo obsessed envious hate of their CONSERVATIVE BETTERS on here. Lets hope their/its AIDS virus proves hopelessly untreatable!!
By How Sad
July 31, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
The lovely Miss Glass, a voice of reason, compassion, and truth, is struck down in her prime. Yet the vile-licious TfTT spews his hate, no doubt, for decades to come. Nice world you live in Wooten lovers. Please celebrate heartily.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
If Vick makes bail, do you think he’ll flea jurisdiction?
By Jeff
July 31, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
AmVet:
I already impose term limits, at least in my small sphere of influence. If you have less than a 6 yr term in office and you’ve been in office for over 10 yrs (or your next term will put you over said mark), I WILL OPPOSE YOU AT ALL COSTS - even if I vote AGAINST the guy I’m replacing you with the next time he runs. Similar situation with 6yr terms, but I’ll give you 2 terms (total of 12 yrs).
By Jay
July 31, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Term limits won’t stem corruption at the legislative level any more than they’ve stemmed corruption at the executive level (e.g. George Bush and Sonny Perdue).
The answer is to end “corporate personhood” with a Constitutional Amendment. An Amendment shouldn’t be necessary since the Constitution doesn’t grant rights to corporations, but since corporatists on the Supreme Court see what they want to see, we’ll have to spell it out for them.
Google “corporate personhood” for more information.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
I have to say something about Vick. I’ve always considered that being an NFL quarterback was the greatest accomplishment any man could achieve. I was twelve when Y.A. Tittle reigned. I remember when the Giants lost the 63 championship to the Chicago Bears, and that photo of Tittle collapsed on the field, blood trickling down his face, in dejected defeat. I took it personally and it only added to my downward spiral that started just a few weeks earlier on Nov. 22. That’s when I started attending dogfights. (just kidding)
I didnt’ love a quarterback again until Hannah Montana’s dad, Joe.
Then came Vick. I had never seen the likes of Vick. Even though Blank was wasting him, it was fun to watch him pummel defenses. If Blank had put all his resources into a superior offensive line, and protected their franchise (Vick), and added one more guy in the backfield who could throw, then we would have three superbowl rings. Imagine a backfield with one good competent quarterback, and then Vick as a tailback. No defense in the world could have stood up to the endless possible combination of play action flea flicker plays (sorry) if we also would have had a front line to give the backfield that extra half second to execute.
Our defense has never been the problem. Our defense is fine.
I blame Blank 4 everything.
By catlady
July 31, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
“If Vick makes bail, do you think he’ll flea jurisdiction?”
Only if he comes up with the scratch to do it.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Bravo Catlady. Hat’s off gentlemen, A riffer.
By catlady
July 31, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
“If Vick makes bail, do you think he’ll flea jurisdiction?
Only if he comes up with the scratch to do it.”
The feds will hound him.
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
The feds? Vick doesn’t worry about them. Hell, the feds are still trying to capture Ma Barker.
By Dennis
July 31, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
By AmVet July 31, 2007 10:54 AM “Dennis, I noted your comments at 9:34 and have also noticed that Mr. Wooten is being surprisingly much more even handed now in his decrying of some in the GOP as well as all Democrats. Well, most Dems anyway.”
If that is the case, it took him long enough, didn’t it?
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By getalife
July 31, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Dems to bust GOP filibuster on lobbying reform
The roadblock gop are obstructing but Jim fails to write about this reality.
Catch that train Jim.
Geez.
By deegee
July 31, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
My earmarks are projects, your projects are earmarks. When are you going to get your earmarks out of the budget so I’ll have room for my projects?
By Analchord
July 31, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
If Vick does indeed end up with cell mates, will it be puppy love?
By Camus
July 31, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
@@ approvingly quotes Sen Ted Stephens as stating ““I continue to believe this investigation should proceed to its conclusion without any appearance that I have attempted to influence the outcome.”
This is certainly a laudable position. Perhaps he could convince Bush and Gonzales to take that position as well.
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
I regretfully notice that, since my last post, many of the leftists are denying the reality of their party’s breach of its commitment to America (i.e., embracing greater spending, and hiding responsibility for same.) We should insist that our Congressional overlords rein in their spending proclivity, and we should demand that President Bush shut down the government rather than agree to these unprecedented spending levels the Democrats propose.
By JD
July 31, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Congressional earmarks are graft one political party pays to another to advance legislation. The change in control of Congress has never altered this and will not until the voters make their wishes clear at the ballot box.
Neither poltical party is more culpable than the other on earmarks, they are complicit in the scam.
Nancy Pelosi famously said she would stop earmaks. Stopping earmarks became lost in her quest for a private 747 to fly her and her “posse”.
With a very few exceptions the entire 435 “Members” (what a great term for them) are guilty!
By Captain Freedom
July 31, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
The Captain enjoys a good belly laugh now and again, so it was wonderfule to see this riotous one-liner from the Godly Rep Kingston this morning:
“Defense earmarks are a little less pork-barrelly…”
Oh, the Captain wipes a tear of mirth from his eye when he reads that knee-slapper. And those pansy Islamoliberals say we True Believers are not funny.
By Miss Manners
July 31, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
How Sad: FYI — spotted this on the W2W website:
By time for the truth
July 30, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
At sorrowful times like this politics and world views for the bereaved shrivel into pretty meaningless clutter. To be so utterly unexpectedly and so swiftly robbed of life so young is always heartbreaking. At least Ms Glass is at peace now and painfree. Leaving her obviously very close family and friends to mourn.
Who knew?
By RCH
July 31, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Analchord
If Vick does indeed end up with cell mates, will it be puppy love?
Thats too much. LOL
By Jackie
July 31, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Anyone that is not blind should clearly see the earmarks are legislative bribery. The Repubs should vote to remove these legislative thefts from the SOP. Notice the number of Repubs that are under investigation and/or that have gone to jail for this indiscretions. Over and over again, they used the extra-legislative maneuvers to bloat the budget and advance their agenda. Now Dubya is crying those alligator tears stating the Dems are ruining his budget by proposing to spend more money than he requested for domestic spending. Funny that he has used his veto pen once for budgetary matters in his more than 6 years in office. Wonder what he was thinking when he spent almost $1 trillion dollars in Iraq with billion of dollars that can not even be accounted for?
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Dear Jackie @ 1:26, may we interpret your post as endorsing a shut down of the government, should Democrats propose higher domestic spending levels?
By jm
July 31, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
As the first candidate for reducing spending proclivity, I nominate reducing boondoggles in mideast countries.
By jbmlaw obfuscates
July 31, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
“…we should demand that President Bush shut down the government rather than agree to these unprecedented spending levels the Democrats propose…”
I regretfully notice that jbmlaw obfuscates.
With inflation, every new budget had “unprecedent spending levels”. However, every new budget does not create unprecedented levels of debt, unless of course, the Republicans are in charge. In the Democrats’ case, PayGo is back, and any new spending is paid for, usually, by eliminating taxpayer subsidies to big business.
And let’s not forget what Congress is spending money on — port, nuclear, chemical security, cops, food safety, prescription drug safety, children’s health insurance, and other areas that have been ignored since Republicans took over and diverted money away from such programs and to their corporate benefactors.
By Steve L.
July 31, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
If Mike Vick goes to jail, he is going to be a TROPHY for someone. He’s going to be assuming the position of canine submission.
By AmVet
July 31, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Jeff at 11:14, that sounds like sage advice, but alas I believe many/most voters just look for a D or an R and then reflexively opt for it, with seemingly little regard for the name that precedes it.
Term limits won’t stem corruption at the legislative level any more than they’ve stemmed corruption at the executive level (e.g. George Bush and Sonny Perdue).
Jay, I tend to agree and that is why I have opposed this “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” approach.
But I think what we have now are seasoned professional crooks, instead of novice crooks!
And yes, corporate welfare is to me one of the many dirty little secrets in this country that most people are fairly loathe to discuss without generating much righteous indignation and emotional protests.
It is of course a very complicated subject, with no real easy answers, but it almost amazes me how so many Americans fail to see they are being played for fools and with their own help and money!
Jackson Brown said it well:
Im going to be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Thought true love could have been a contender
By jbmlaw
July 31, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
Dear JO @ 1:48, you use tricky language too hard for me to understand. Do you think it is ok if the Democrats increase nondefense spending, or would that mean they are bigger spenders than the bad old Republicans?
By getalife
July 31, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Houses passes corruption bill despite GOP obstructionism
All aboard Jim.
By getalife
July 31, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
Anal is on a roll.
Now, roll over and play dead.
Geez.
By Jackie
July 31, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
@jbmlaw
As a man of letters, you should not make assumptions about anything. I clearly stated that earmarks were not a good thing and the Repubs have used them profusely. I also stated that Dubya had only used his veto pen once for budgetary items while the deficit has exploded. You do realize that we are borrowing money from the Chinese to fund the Iraq war while our employment opportunities go overseas because it is alleged we are not intelligent enough to do the job, even though we are the most productive workers in the world. You should know that the cost of education has exploded while loan costs have risen and those in executive positions in those companies have been charged with fraud. Sir, the earmarks are graft and corruption If it takes shutting down the government, what harm would it cause since the neo-cons believe that government is the problem? I do truly believe those folks who think like you truly believe that everyone else is not aware of the circular logic that is being used to advance this corrupt administration.
By jbmlaw obfuscates
July 31, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
obfuscator,
Your disingenuous question implies that you care about levels of government spending. However, your comments apologizing for the party that has spent like a drunken sailor, increased earmarks by fifty percent and burdened the next several generations with mountains of debt indicates that you are, in fact, an obfuscator.
By Freddy K.
July 31, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
Defense spending go up for maintianing and developing new weapons and America’s borders. Tell Iraq to step up and cut the crap or we are steping off and they can have their idiot arse bombers all to themselves. Send the illegal immigrantes back to where they came from, them what don’t like send their arse too. Stop bring new people here for the existing population to support in any way shape or form. For the countries that don’t like America or Americans tell them to kiss our arse and step off. Stop sending all these tax dollars to the penagon and oversea to all the countries and use it the help Americans and legal Citizens in this country. Get all new politicians, that will stop p** away money on BS commitees and hearing that don’t amount to squat. I got laid off or fired however you want to put it, not a damn one of showed up to questions anything, same as for the majority of us. They are lawyers, they will be alright. Worry about the little guys for awhile, instead of how to screw us out of more tax money and give the breaks to rich folks. Who ever told the federal government they could tax us anyway, I didn’t get to vote on it. Did you?
By getalife
July 31, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
“Today on CNN, in a preview of his interview with the Vice President tonight, Larry King said he asked Cheney about the allegation. “I asked the Vice President about that and the story that he was the one that asked him to go,” said King.
Three guesses… wait! No!
One guess. One guess what he said.
“[H]e said he had no recollection.”
How will history judge this “administration?” Forget all of us being dead.
We don’t know because no one will recall.”
Busted.
Impeach.
By Camus
July 31, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
Freddy K, noble defender of Nativist Americans, is clearly a proud supporter of “deport em all”, tighter borders, and a stance of “let em speak English or STFU”.
How ironic that his own post reveals a cretinous yahoo whose facility with the English language is about equal to 100 monkeys typing randomly. But then again, the xenophobes are typified by their lack of education and intellectual power.
To their credit, they do not let their crippling handicaps stop them trying.
For Freddy K’s benefit…you have just been called out as a dimwitted moron. Hope that’s clear enough for your limited language skills.
By time for the truth
July 31, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
After years of patient quiet research science/anthropology has at long last discovered the primary genetic source of the sleeping sickness of liberalism. Presumably this is also where the likes of Mrs Oedipus-NAMBLA -formerly of Gainesville GA now camping outside some kiddie summer camp in VT got most of its genes from!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml;jsessionid=XAVJMZQJRR0YTQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/earth/2007/07/31/scineanderthal131.xml
Any chance of curious peeping tom or its equally toxic alter ego camus getting a job here?
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/07/30/eastpoint0731web.html?cxntlid=homepagetabnewstab
By .
July 31, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content /metro/atlanta/stories/2007/07/30/ eastpoint0731web.html?cxntlid=homepagetabnewstab
By Curious Observer
July 31, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
Aw, TFTT. Dontcha love me any more?
By BS Aplenty
July 31, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Camus
Xenophobes aren’t necessarily dim on intelligence, Camus. The Germans, the Japanese, the Italians, the Israeli Jews and other xenophobic tribes are clearly intellectually gifted people. Not to mention that most Americans show xenophobic tendencies except for possibly you, Camus.
Even most Mexicans have preferences for the more Spanish-looking personas of their countrymen/women versus the more Indian mestizos. We all have preferences that border on xenophobic it’s just that some of us think we don’t.
By Pope rednecks - Amerikkka's Al Qaeda I
July 31, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
Greetings Woo-ten Klanners, and those decent folk who walk on just their hindlegs, it is We your Pope. A certain English fairy (Tinkerbelle for the Truth) links to an article about neanderthals interminging with humans…
tft-tranny, s/he of the swamps of Yorkshire, moved to America to interbreed with the rednekkkus dumbfawkus.
Thankfully, this disgusting experiment failed when her partner was given an enema, causing a spontaneous abortion. God in His Infinite Wisdom has rendered Tinkerbell unable to reproduce.
By Jackie
July 31, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
The earmark king in the US Senate is being investigated and his home raided by the FBI and the IRS today. Is this person a Dem or Repub?
By Honest Leadership, Open Government
July 31, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Today, the House passed S.1, the final House-Senate agreement on the Honest Leadership, Open Government Act. This is tough legislation designed to end the culture of corruption and restore accountability in Washington. The bill ends the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers and takes another major step toward making the 110th Congress the most open, honest Congress in history. This legislation will bring unprecedented transparency to lobbyists’ activities and is another major step to change the way business is done in Washington.
On the first day of the 110th Congress, we passed a landmark rules package that broke the link between lobbyists and legislators: no gifts, no private jets, and no meals from lobbyists. Together with this ethics reform, this legislation is a significant step forward in cleaning up the culture of corruption that plagued Washington in past years.
The New Direction Congress has begun a new era of open, honest government, returning the House to the people and putting the interests of everyday Americans ahead of the special interests.
The Honest Leadership, Open Government Act of 2007:
New transparency for lobbyist bundling campaign contributions: For the first time, requires reporting on lobbyists who “bundle,” or collect campaign checks for Members of Congress. Requires the Member’s campaign to report if lobbyist bundled more than $15,000 in campaign contributions semiannually for that Member.
Historic disclosure of other financial contributions to Members: Increases disclosure of lobbyists’ contributions to lawmakers and entities controlled by lawmakers, including contributions to Members’ charities, to events or entities honoring members, contributions intended to pay the cost of a meeting or a retreat, and contributions to Presidential library funds.
Lavish convention parties: Prohibits Members of Congress from attending national political convention parties held in their honor and paid for by lobbyists or their clients.
Ends K-Street Project: Bans the Republican K-Street Project, which prohibits private entities from hiring and firing based on politics.
Expands public disclosure of lobbyist activities: Doubles the frequency of the disclosure of Lobbyists’ Reports to four times a year. Establishes an online, searchable public database of lobbyist disclosure information. Requires lobbyists to disclose past executive branch and Congressional employment. Prohibits lobbyists from giving gifts and travel in violation of House and Senate rules. Increases criminal and civil penalties for violating the Lobby Disclosure Act to $200,000 and five years in prison.
Ends conflicts of interest and strengthening restrictions on post congressional employment: Requires sitting Members to disclose job negotiations for post-Congressional employment and to recuse themselves for purposes of a conflict of interest. It also strengthens the revolving door banning Senators from lobbying their colleagues for two years. Requires Members to prohibit their staff from having any official contact with the Members’ lobbyist spouse on behalf of the spouse’s client.
Strengthens Senate Ethics Rules, similar to already enacted House Reforms: Includes a variety of changes to Senate rules, including a ban on gift and travel by lobbyists, full disclosure of earmarks, points of order against out of scope earmarks and limits on secret holds.
Congressional Pension Accountability: Denies taxpayer-funded pension benefits to Members of Congress convicted of corruption while serving the American people.
Expands public disclosure of Members’ travel and finances: Establishes an online, searchable public database of Member travel and personal financial disclosure forms.
Disclosure of stealth lobbying: Closes a loophole in current law that permits coalitions — such as the one that funded the extensive “Harry and Louise” ad campaign that targeted health care legislation in 1993-94 – to avoid disclosing their clients.
By Steve
July 31, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
There were quite a few offensive Supreme Court rulings this year, but one of the more surprising decisions was in Ledbetter v. Goodyear, in which the court ruled 5 to 4 that workers who face wage discrimination only have 180 days to challenge the initial discrimination in court.
Slate’s Richard Thompson Ford explained the case quite well a couple of months ago.
“Pop quiz: Suppose you’ve just discovered your boss has been embezzling from you for years. Since the 1990s, he’s stolen 30 percent of the return on your retirement investments each year. When did your boss actually swindle you? How long do you have to sue? A) He swindled you when he first came up with the scheme — if you didn’t figure it out and sue him then, you’re too late and he can keep your money. B) He swindled you when he shorted you for the first time — if you didn’t find out and sue him then, you’re too late. C) He swindled you from the first year right up until the end, when you found out about it and took the b******* to court. D) Stop bellyaching; you’re lucky to have a job.”
Justices Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy embraced A, B, and D. Goodyear Tire intentionally shortchanged Lilly Ledbetter, a female employee, for two decades. The court majority said if Ledbetter wanted to challenge the discrimination, she needed to sue within 180 days of her first unfair paycheck — even though she continued to receive unfair paychecks for 20 years.
Today, the House took up legislation — the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — that would put into law a clarification — wage disparity based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability is not a one-time occurrence. Every discriminatory paycheck represents an ongoing violation. Employees would still have 180 days to challenge the discrimination, but from the last check, not the first.
The good news is the House passed the measure — 225 to 199. The roll call is online, but in terms of party, the vote was 223-6 among Dems, and 2-193 among Republicans.
The bad news is, Bush is still president.
Last week, the White House issued a statement of administration policy expressing the president’s intention to veto the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act if it reaches the Oval Office.
By Benan
July 31, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Congressional Republicans picked a bad time for a new series of corruption scandals. This happens to be the week in which both chambers are considering major new ethics reform measures.
The good news is, the House passed its measure today by a wide margin, 411-8. This is tough legislation designed to end the culture of corruption and restore accountability in Washington. The bill ends the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers and takes another major step toward making the 110th Congress the most open, honest Congress in history. This legislation will bring unprecedented transparency to lobbyists’ activities and is another major step to change the way business is done in Washington.
The bad news is, there’s at least one Senate Republican for whom chutzpah has no meaning. Republican Sen. Ted Stevens has threatened to place a hold on the Democratic-drafted ethics legislation just passed by the House and expected on the Senate floor by week’s end. The senator told a closed session of fellow Republicans today, including Vice President Dick Cheney, that he was upset that the measure would interfere with his travel to and from Alaska — and vowed to block it.
The same guy who’s likely to be busted for taking bribes is blocking the Senate from voting on an ethics reform bill? The mind reels.
By Freddy K.
July 31, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Camus, For such a pompus a* you type pretty good. So not educating donkeys has it’s benefits to creating more limited d******* like you. Now your turn to STFU and let’s roll on. Sir I will defend your right to say your piece although I may not agree with it, but would not lower myself to name calling unless provoked by some wand-dang doodle head with a pile dog poop for a brain. Now if you would care to have conversation or debate I would be happy to oblige. Otherwise I am finished with sort of crap, but when you look up your family tree, don’t let the monkeys crap in your face, since you sir can not think for yourself and only follow the mindless masses. Again I say,”STFU and sit back down on your brain for your hurt yourself.”.
By A question.
July 31, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
What would you call a presidential candidate whose interest group ratings include:
100% from Planned Parenthood
100% from NARAL
0% from the Illinois Association for Right to Life
0% from Americans for Tax Reform
100% from the NAACP
8% from the American Conservative Union
100% from the NEA [teachers union]
100% from Children’s Defense Fund [Hillary’s old group]
100% from NOW
88% from the American Immigration Lawyers Association
0% from the Federation for American Immigration Reform
100% from the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
100% from Americans for Democratic Action [gold-standard of old lefty groups]
0% from NRA
‘A’ from Illinois Citizens for Handgun Contro
Again, what would you call such a candidate? Surely that would be a left wingnut to any independent or conservative thinkers. Well, if he’s Barack Obama, and you’re Richard Wolffe of that liberal democrat kissing rag Newsweek, you’d call him a “centrist.” I suppose that’s fair and balanced in the mind of a leftist.
View video here.
By Camus
July 31, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Freddy,
Don’t engage in a battle of wit when you are an unarmed man.
Monkeys in my family tree! What are you, like 9 years old?
Bwahahahaha
By Anonymous
August 1, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
AQuestion: I’d call that candidate a great choice for America’s next president. Anybody that ticks off the NRA and the right-to-lifers that much obviously has a lot on the ball and will do great things for this country.
I look forward to four, possibly eight years of anguish, outrage, and futile teeth-gnashing from the neo-nutzis.
By AmVet
August 1, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
Honest Leadership, Open Government, thank you for that information yesterday evening. Great stuff. We’ll see if the “professional crooks” can be reined in some.
To me, this has been one of biggest of the numerous failings of the Republican Party’s neo-conservative movement - the unwillingness and inability to avoid bribes, corruption and a litany of other scandals.
I can’t know, but it is as if the GOP, especially in Congress who was on the outside looking in for so many decades, decided that in spite of their claims to be part of this “new” group who was going to clean up Washington, wanted to show the Dems they also knew a thing or two about dirty politics and dirty money and lots of it. They just hoped they wouldn’t get caught.
It is hard to believe, but were they so myopic and arrogant they forgot their party’s legacy from 1973?
And sadly GWB has demonstrated precious little actual leadership in earning the trust and goodwill of the American people in this area by keeping his troops in line and out of disrepute.
“After years of false statements and empty promises, it’s time for big changes in Washington,” Bush said. “We need a president who will finally stand up and fight against the lies and corruption. It’s time to renew the faith the people once had in the White House. If elected, I pledge to usher in a new era of integrity inside the Oval Office.”
So while it is true that he has apparently not cheated on his wife, one of his closest yes men should mention to President Bush that integrity involves a helluva lot more than oral sex.
So much promise, such poor results.
By Katharine
August 1, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Earmarks are the biggest Gordian knot in government, and Georgia’s governor and state legislature love them. The Georgia budget is a panoply of special programs, funds, earmarks, entitlements, etc. These line items bind taxpayer money to political rather than social agendas and prevent the flexibility necessary to serve local needs. If we could target earmarks in next year’s legislative session, I believe Georgia taxpayers would get better value for their money.
By WTF
August 2, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
Sometimes pork is tasty. Sure there are some really ridiculous earmarks, but there are also earmarks that fund the construction of libaries, pay for after-school programs, provide R&D funding for technologies to make the world safer, and develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The new rules requiring that a Member of Congress have their name listed with the earmarks they have funded should do a great deal to clean up the system and weed out the bad earmarks. People who think that things will just get done by the free market are kidding themselves. Even free-market capitalists rely on government matching funds to complement their venture capital investments, etc.