Arlen, Olympia & Susan
The "moderate Republicans" ride to the rescue.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Olympia Snow (R-ME) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) are the "moderate" Republicans for this episode of the long-running story line we'll call "cave-in".
These are among those on whom we can usually rely to thwart whatever conservative effort seems about to take flight. The usual suspects often include a few others such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and, yes, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Somehow a few of the usual suspects seem to have developed a slight case of "backbone". McCain has actually formed a PAC that seems pointed toward making some conservative moves, but we've thought that about him before, haven't we? Time will help us better understand him, if we have the time.
So the "moderates" have spoken and we can safely assume that the Senate version of the "stimulus" bill is all better now. After all, they managed to help slash $110 billion from the behemoth to get it down to a meager $820 billion.
Wait a minute, didn't that bill come across from the Pelosi House with a price tag of "only" $825 billion to begin this story line?
I suspect that we may, someday when it is too late to do anything about it, come to understand that this version was nearly as bad as Nancy Pelosi's version, or maybe even worse.
This is the Senate, after all, that refused to approve a bill that would've taken a whack at "pork" and they defeated it by some 2-1. Gotta love those earmarks written in disappearing ink.
Why is it that I cannot feel good about this bill or the other bill? Is it because it is being crammed down our collective throats in the name of saving the nation? And being done so by a group of people who are either neophytes on the one hand or seasoned veterans of getting most things wrong on the other.
There are no "warm fuzzies" to be found in this equation.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Olympia Snow (R-ME) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) are the "moderate" Republicans for this episode of the long-running story line we'll call "cave-in".
These are among those on whom we can usually rely to thwart whatever conservative effort seems about to take flight. The usual suspects often include a few others such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and, yes, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Somehow a few of the usual suspects seem to have developed a slight case of "backbone". McCain has actually formed a PAC that seems pointed toward making some conservative moves, but we've thought that about him before, haven't we? Time will help us better understand him, if we have the time.
So the "moderates" have spoken and we can safely assume that the Senate version of the "stimulus" bill is all better now. After all, they managed to help slash $110 billion from the behemoth to get it down to a meager $820 billion.
Wait a minute, didn't that bill come across from the Pelosi House with a price tag of "only" $825 billion to begin this story line?
I suspect that we may, someday when it is too late to do anything about it, come to understand that this version was nearly as bad as Nancy Pelosi's version, or maybe even worse.
This is the Senate, after all, that refused to approve a bill that would've taken a whack at "pork" and they defeated it by some 2-1. Gotta love those earmarks written in disappearing ink.
Why is it that I cannot feel good about this bill or the other bill? Is it because it is being crammed down our collective throats in the name of saving the nation? And being done so by a group of people who are either neophytes on the one hand or seasoned veterans of getting most things wrong on the other.
There are no "warm fuzzies" to be found in this equation.
Posted by The Curmudgeon at 2/7/2009 6:51 AM 
Categories: Politics,Taxes,Quality of Life,National Issues
Categories: Politics,Taxes,Quality of Life,National Issues
Nice job on this one Al. These three ought to be ashmed for abandoning the principles of their party just to gain the spotlight.
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