HOUSE STIMULUS BILL PASSED, OVER "BI-PARTISAN" OPPOSITION: WILL OBAMA "PUT LIPSTICK ON THIS PIG?"

Watch the reporting of the House vote on the "stimulus" package, in the coming days. There will be much talk of Republican "partisanship," and how they're being "divisive" by their opposition. Little mention will be made of the eleven Democrats who sided with the GOP, making the opposition "bi-partisan." I hope the Senate, and Pres. Obama are paying attention, because there will be a signifigant backlash if this "package" doesn't undergo some serious revision before being forced on the country.


The president's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel, has close ties to Speaker Pelosi. He's expressed a desire to exploit a "crisis," or at least not "waste" one. Emmanuel's former colleagues in the House are using the cover of "stimulus" to shovel taxpayer dollars into a variety of wasteful, and often failing government programs. "Stimulating the economy" has become the "lipstick on the pig," as much as it was when Obama said it about the Bush economy, which was not known for it's spending restraint.


In the Senate, expectations are not high for the GOP opposition, but the House vote showed a more unified front than was expected. The Senate has a different process, and may come up with a very different bill. The problem is that the proposed bill is so huge, it has precious pork for every state. I look forward to seeing how my new junior senator from NY, Kirsten Gillebrand votes. Talk about being "thrown into the fire!" She can expect an email from this constituent.


The political situation here is interesting. Is the House plan the one Pres Obama favors? Why were the Republicans so unified, after meeting with the president days before the vote? What will the Senate pass, and how will it come out of the "conference" committee? I'll say this much: I haven't heard a "veto" threat yet, though public opinion is turning against the House version, as more details come out. Obama probably will be as compliant with the Democrat majority in Congress as Bush was with his party in control, so it's up to the Senate to at least mitigate this madness.


As for the media, they're feeding the "crisis" line, instead of putting this recession into context. This puts pressure for the rapid passage of the "stimulus," without thorough scrutinization. They also will continue to cast GOP opposition as "divisive," but they really can't call it "partisan" anymore, can they?

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