Another Obama nominee withdraws
This time it’s Judd Gregg, the Republican senator from New Hampshire. Apparently the round peg wouldn’t fit in the square hole.
Citing “irresolvable differences” on economic issues, Sen. Judd Gregg announced today that he is withdrawing his nomination as Commerce secretary.
“We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy,” Gregg said in the statement released by his Senate office.
In his statement, Gregg thanked Obama for the nomination, and said, “I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.” But he also noted that he disagreed with Obama on the stimulus and on issues relating to the Census.
“Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy,” Gregg stated.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs expressed the president’s regrets.
“Senator Gregg reached out to the president and offered his name for secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace and move forward with the President’s agenda,” Gibbs said in a statement.
“Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart.”
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108 comments Add your comment
AmVet
February 12th, 2009
5:46 pm
Confusing times. Confused senators.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
5:51 pm
That statement from Gibbs almost makes it sound like the Obama administration had nothing to do with this appointment.
Pogo
February 12th, 2009
5:59 pm
First thing, good move to replace your Mort Downey Jr. look-alike photo on your blog Jay. What is troubling though is the current photo looks very familiar. Have you ever done a bowel-cleansing product commerical? Maybe not. It will come to me sooner or later. As far as Senator Gregg, he looked into the abyss and he didn’t like what he saw. Smart move. So Jay, continue on trying to tap out your little daily doses of Obama heroin tring to keep the jaded masses addicted to the saviour. The 12 step program begins in 2011.
getalife
February 12th, 2009
6:02 pm
Didn’t pay his taxes.
Audit Congress IRS.
Class of '98
February 12th, 2009
6:11 pm
Jay, why not post a blog discussing Obama’s practice of hand-selecting jounalist to ask hand-selected questions during his press conferences?
Can you fathom if Bush had done that? It would have been front page news all over the country. Saturday Night Live would have recurring skits about it.
But, since it’s the messiah who does it, no problem huh?
Midori
February 12th, 2009
6:14 pm
Or better yet, why not a post about Obama not selecting partisian hand-picked male prostitutes who like to be “tops” who pose as journalists during his press conferences?
AJC/DNC Management
February 12th, 2009
6:16 pm
He was disgusted by the new administration’s tactics.
Welcome to the club, Senator Gregg.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
6:18 pm
and what tactics would that be, Andy?
Perhaps the tactic of treating people like human beings?
Tactics like that?
Jay
February 12th, 2009
6:30 pm
Class of ‘98 asks:
“hy not post a blog discussing Obama’s practice of hand-selecting jounalist to ask hand-selected questions during his press conferences?
Can you fathom if Bush had done that? It would have been front page news all over the country. Saturday Night Live would have recurring skits about it.
But, since it’s the messiah who does it, no problem huh?”
Fortunately, ‘98, we don’t have to imagine what would happen. We already know what would happen: NOTHING.
Bush did exactly what you describe. And nothing happened. Nobody made a peep, which is why you didn’t know about it. Now, i know you won’t take my word for it. So whose word would you take? Let’s try to imagine the most credible source possible for a conservative such as yourself: It would be, say, Bush’s White House spokesman. Appearing on … a Fox News show? With Bill O’Reilly?
Well, we just happen to have a transcript of Bush White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on the Bill O’Reilly show:
O’REILLY: Now, in other press conferences, they just look around, and they go, “Oh, right, right, right.” And they go, “This one, that one, this one.” Correct?
FLEISCHER: Well, George Bush never did that, and I don’t know how Bill Clinton did it, but it’s a bad idea to reward the guy with the loudest voice.
O’REILLY: OK. So –
FLEISCHER: Writing it down gives the president more control.
O’REILLY: So George Bush came in with a — with a list of guys he was going to call on?
FLEISCHER: Yeah, I used to prepare it for him. I would give him a grid, show him where every reporter is seated.
getalife
February 12th, 2009
6:31 pm
“One main stumbling block to the purchasing of troubled assets has been pricing, specifically how does the government price a diverse set of assets in a way that does not put the taxpayer on the hook. However, this should not be the standard by which we judge the efficacy of the plan, because a more prolonged deterioration in the
economy will result in a higher terminal unemployment rate and a greater deterioration of the tax base. As such, the decline in tax revenues will crimp many of the essential services provided by the government. Ultimately, the taxpayer will pay one way or another, either through greatly diminished job prospects and/or significantly higher taxes down the line to pay for the massive debt issuance required to fund current and prospective fiscal spending initiatives.
We think the government should do the following: estimate the highest price it can pay for the various toxic assets residing on financial institution balance sheets which would still return the principal to taxpayers.
One leading economist described the memo to TPMmuckraker as a “ransom note” to the US government”
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/deutsche_bank_analyst_pay_a_good_price_for_our_ass.php
Economic terrorists.
AJC/DNC Management
February 12th, 2009
6:31 pm
i r o diM: Subverting democracy?
No big deal, huh?
Remember long ago when I said the liberal’s (banned word?) mission in life was to destroy the power of the United States?
Watch as it happens.
KKK Management
February 12th, 2009
6:43 pm
The liberals single purpose focus to destroy the United States of America must be stopped by us sensible conservatives! It is all Obama and his illegally elected terrorist henchmen care about. Be forewarned America!
getalife
February 12th, 2009
6:45 pm
Well, the Commerce Secretary would have to be a gop fully supporting the economic terrorists.
Someone like the peanut CEO pleading the fifth for killing nine people.
Perhaps one of the two Ga. Senators.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
6:47 pm
Andy,
you need a diaper change.
Same as Vitter.
Word is that he and Gregg were fighting to see who the hooker would change first.
You need to stand in line along with them.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
6:48 pm
I just read the first two banned words down below. Poor Chadly is going to be banging out 10,000 word manifestos all night with nothing showing up. Does that fall under some torture definition?
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
6:50 pm
When I read about Obama shuffling around control of the Census, I figured it was only a matter of time before Gregg made his dissatisfaction with that change known. He voted to abolish the agency at one time so why would he be bothered about scaling it back now? Not enough power, most likely. Some people are highly motivated by the prospect of power and control over large amounts of taxpayer dollars. I suspect Gregg — like most Republicans — is one of those people.
poor "conservatives"
February 12th, 2009
6:53 pm
crying like little babies. they lost their election. now they are banning their words and they’re gonna take their buddies off the radio. what will they do with the entire AM frequeny out of business. what next? i am sure that the gov’ment is making plans to bust down their doors and take their guns.
Bosch
February 12th, 2009
6:55 pm
I need to clean up my typing. I wonder if Jay has issues with traditional bad words. Like I’ve said before, I think they are simply sentence enhancers.
I’m still reveling in my techno savvy self.
Bosch
February 12th, 2009
6:57 pm
RW,
“If you can replay it and watch your monitor there should be subtitles where you figure out what you said in Japanese”
Do ya’ really think so? This html IS magic stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised.
I wish Paul was here, so I could brag.
Hey Midori! Guess what? I’m techno savvy!
Bosch
February 12th, 2009
6:59 pm
The real news story of the day:
Is David Beckham really going to move to AC Milan? Why should they do something that dumb, and most importantly, why do I even care?
Midori
February 12th, 2009
6:59 pm
well, Bosch – we always knew that, didn’t we?
I like this filter thing.
I can’t wait to see Andy lose his mind.
Oh, wait………….
gttim
February 12th, 2009
7:01 pm
Maybe Obama will now see that the GOP does not do partisanship. It was a horrible pick to begin with and you knew Gregg was going to do something to try and embarrass Obama. Nice how he released his statement just as Obama was getting ready to give a speech. Those guys just can’t help themselves. Maybe when they get their clocks cleaned, once again, in 2010, they will start to figure it out. The American people are not buying their games anymore.
Class of '98
February 12th, 2009
7:05 pm
Jay, I remember David Gregory and Helen Thomas asking Bush more questions than anyone. Are you saying Bush specifically selected those pinkos to ask him questions?
Obama is pre-arranging what journalists will ask what questions. Bush merely pre-arranged the order of the questions.
That’s a big difference.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
7:08 pm
Class,
the “big” difference is the journalists you named don’t advertise in dirty magazines to do sex acts on men for money.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
7:12 pm
Communist,
from where I set, and from what I see, the GOP doesn’t need the Democrats help in marginalizing themselves.
they are doing a pretty good job themselves.
TnGelding
February 12th, 2009
7:16 pm
Jay
February 12th, 2009
6:30 pm
Thanks for saving me the trouble.
As for Gregg, it makes him look bad. He looked awfully sheepish at his press conference. Why does he think he can just go back to the Senate like nothing happened? He needs to step aside and let his tentative successor be sworn in. The arrogance of these folks, Obama included, is disgusting. I guess he thinks the Senate can’t function without him.
Jay
February 12th, 2009
7:17 pm
‘98, Fleischer says quite explicitly that he gave Bush a list of journalists to call on. Sorry about that. It seems that some on the right are trying to make a big deal out of something that the previous president did as a matter of course.
And if Bush didn’t call on Gregory and Thomas, who the hell did?
Also, Commie, I’ve got to pull your post. Please, three or four paragraphs at most, then a link.
Paul
February 12th, 2009
7:21 pm
Jay
wow – citing an O’Reilly interview where he got Fleischer to tell the practices for picking questioners. If he got the goods, good on him – but some people here are going to have trouble believing it’s the truth ’cause it came from Fox. Wait – it uses Bush to show Obama’s following tradition – maybe they’ll accept it.
Regarding Gregg: it wasn’t solely economic issues. Part of the statement is “it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me.”
Given the Obama Administration announced their plan to move census responsibility from Commerce to the White House, I’d say Gregg was the one blindsided. He was wise to withdraw – what does it say about him when the White House relieves him of one of his major responsibilities before he’s even sworn in?
AJC/DNC Management
February 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
It seems that some on the right are trying to make a big deal out of something that the previous president did as a matter of course.
hehehehehe
Yeah, like firing attorney generals, extraordinary rendition of terrorism suspects, spying on domestic communications.
Spin us a new tale of demokrat “purity,” bwahahahaha, oww!
Stop it!!!!
CommunistAJC
February 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
Jay,
the link would not post. Thanks
CommunistAJC
February 12th, 2009
7:29 pm
Midori,
well maybe you should get off the toilet. From where you’re sitting I mean. Anyway, do me a favor and don’t respond to my postings. From the remarks you made the other day I don’t really want to hear from you.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
7:30 pm
Who do you think should accept the Gospel of Fox, Paul. You so funny.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
7:38 pm
Commie,
why are you so obsessed with bodily functions?
great mind you’ve got there.
So, I’m supposed to cry cause you don’t want to hear me?
LOL!!!!
Are you and Andy related?
He can’t post without calling names, and you don’t want to name a post.
You guys make a great tag team.
Paul
February 12th, 2009
7:42 pm
Taxpayer
It depends if it’s a news program, a commentator or a political entertainer. But given Jay used it as the source for this thread, that’s good enough for me.
Eleanor Rigby
February 12th, 2009
7:45 pm
Washington really is turning into a circus, isn’t it? It would be funny if it weren’t true. Let me get this straight, Senator Gregg (Republican) doesn’t want to work for President Obama (Democrat) because of ideological differences, and he just now thought about that? Hmm, it get curiouser and curiouser. It’s still not as curious as all those public servants who don’t want to pay taxes. Anyway, I don’t even care any more.
I’m sorry to say, I don’t really like your new picture Jay. It’s so shadowy, it makes you look sinister. I like the picture of you on the Opinion page. You look like a nice young man in that picture; the kind I would like my daughter to marry. I see the same old crew is here, with all their neurosis and personality disorders. You should name your new site “Dr. Bookman’s Bathroom Wall”. Please excuse me for being so ugly myself. Maybe I’ll change my screen name to Maxine.
Paul
February 12th, 2009
7:45 pm
Hey Midori
Leaving tomorrow to help celebrate my mom’s 85th birthday. We got to talking last holiday about why is it we wait a year to eat food we really like? So she wanted a turkey. Guess who’s the cook? Gonna have about 17 people there, down to and including great grandkids.
Do me a favor, will you? Whenever you post to Bosch, be sure to end with the countdown for when Battlestar Galactica comes on. Please? Have a drink first, it may make it more bearable.
Oh, and if I get a set of handcuffs for Valentines, you can be sure I won’t say “Neat! Another set!”
Mrs. Godzilla
February 12th, 2009
7:54 pm
Paul,
Give your momma a hug for me. My Dad turned 85 on December 7th and we had a great party.
He recently split with his 70 year old girl friend, her parents thought
he was too old for her.
On Gregg
I understand he’s already announced he does not plan to stand for re-election in 2010.
Better to get the bad fits out early on.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
7:57 pm
Paul,
That’s just outright silly to use “news” as a descriptor for what FOX does. Even “entertainer” is debatable for anyone not of the Do Nothing Faith (aka, Republican Party).
AJC/DNC Management
February 12th, 2009
7:57 pm
It’s all a lie-
D’oh! Caterpillar CEO Contradicts President on Whether Stimulus Will Allow Him to Re-Hire Laid Off Workers. “The truth is we’re going to have more layoffs before we start hiring again”
I never seen a bigger KKKlown (banned word?) than this Oblahma, what a total bozo.
But he’s YOUR embarrassment, bwa
Hmmmmm
February 12th, 2009
7:59 pm
Who cares, this President is already a bigger JOKE than Jimmy Carter……
Paul
February 12th, 2009
8:05 pm
Midori
I have brothers a year either side. My younger brother was the breadmaker from 8 on. My other brother went for desserts. I was into main course stuff. We all had our own cooking utensils at that age. Mom said it was easier to teach us to cook than to keep kicking us out. I’m the only one it stuck with – and same happened with my kids. If stuff is going to get passed down thru generations, better stuff like that.
Good point about Gregg – or any candidate – if it’s not a good fit, get gone early. Key point is (and people forget this) – Pres Obama does not need to adapt to his subordinates – they need to adapt to him. It’s his presidency.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
8:07 pm
way to put me on the spot there, Paul
I’ll try.
and congrats to your Mom.
I just know your turkey will be magnificent
And I hope you “do” get a nice pair of cuffs. Made out of CHOCOLATE!!
AmVet
February 12th, 2009
8:14 pm
OK, so for the sake of argument, lets say this (reduced?) $789 billion stimulus package is bogota.
What IS the loyal opposition’s counter proposal?
I asked @@ the other night if there was a GOP alternative?
I mean something fundamentally different.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? (reprise)
Randy
February 12th, 2009
8:15 pm
“Issues relating to the census.” It is being widely reported that the White House now wants to run and control the 2010 reporting of the Census.
In the past the Commerce Secretary has basically controlled the funding and how the census is ran. Judd Gregg has long felt that the census could be better ran and for less money.
The other rumor is that minority groups were all over the Obama administration, feeling that a white republican could not be trusted.
Our new Presidents solution? Well, we’ll just turn it over to that trusted American Rahm Emanuel, which basically means that President Obama would now control the day in and day out taking of the 2010 census.
Three thoughts.
First, lets hope our new President leaves it under the Secretary of Commerce.
Second, I’m sure Jay is aware of this. So, the question is, did he intentionally not post an article that would include more detail or was it to draw it out in a post?
Again, I hope it is the latter. Otherwise, posting the article would be intellectually dishonest when it was posted. And we all know that Jay would never be intellectually dishonest.
Third, being center-right and not voting for this President, I hope he wins in a landslide in four years. Why? Simple, it means the country is doing great. We are Americans first! With this said, this administrations has had a sluggish start. I sincerely hope for this country that our President and this administration pick up their game and soon!
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
8:26 pm
House Republicans had the wisdom to continue to talk to the Obama White House. This made them look gracious, even as the president edged toward a “my way or the highway” attitude.
They also wisely put ideas on the table, such as cutting the bottom two income tax rates and small-business taxes while extending unemployment insurance and other safety-net provisions. With these proposals, Republicans generated news and made it possible for their members to be for something that made sense to their voters. It also helped that the same methodology that the White House used to claim that the Democratic stimulus bill would create four million new jobs showed that the Republican approach would create six million new jobs, at half the cost.
Couldn’t find Bueller, will Rove do?
rcs
February 12th, 2009
8:39 pm
I agree with Rove. Given the rules Pelosi imposed, the House Republicans played their best option. Right or wrong, time will tell.
Mike
February 12th, 2009
8:43 pm
Amvet –
Here is the GOP alternative proposal:
http://readthestimulus.org/CAMP_002_xml.pdf
RCH
February 12th, 2009
8:44 pm
Only three weeks and PresBO is coming unglued!
Mike
February 12th, 2009
8:45 pm
Jay –
Thanks for the censorship. Apparently accusing someone of “whining” is only offensive when done by someone who doesn’t share your partisan views. The post at 6:53 made it through, but hey he hates Republicans too, so I guess it is ok.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
8:49 pm
rofl!!
they are calling Gregg the “runaway bride”
LOL!!!
TnGelding
February 12th, 2009
8:51 pm
Paul
February 12th, 2009
8:05 pm
It’s his presidency, but apparently 535 members of Congress don’t understand that.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
8:52 pm
Midori,
What are “they” calling Daschle and what’s the difference in him withdrawing his name and Gregg withdrawing his?
Midori
February 12th, 2009
8:57 pm
RW,
Excuse me while I ignore someone who praises a greasy, filthy pig such as Karl Rove.
You both are severely credibility challenged.
It might help if you posted expertise by one who tied with a broken clock when it comes to the number of times he’s been right about anything.
Midori
February 12th, 2009
8:57 pm
oops –
make that one who is NOT tied……….
TnGelding
February 12th, 2009
8:59 pm
Who said what, when?
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6866999
Mike
February 12th, 2009
9:02 pm
Midori –
Perhaps the words of Mary Beth Cahill (Ted Kennedy’s former Chief of Staff) may have some more credibility with you:
“Judd Gregg was a surprising choice, a man of principle whose views on policy are directly counter to those of the Obama administration. It might have worked, but his abstention on the stimulus was the canary in the coal mine of future problems between the secretary of an economic agency and the president’s vision of how we get out of this mess. Gregg’s decision to step back was the right one.”
Or maybe Democratic pollster Doug Schoen may be of interest:
“This is a huge defeat and embarrassment for the Obama administration — particularly with regard to its efforts to enhance and develop bipartisanship. Moreover, Gregg’s withdrawal underscores how difficult it has become to bring both parties together to solve our nation’s problems.
Gregg has attempted to accept full responsibility, but the likely loser is President Obama.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203232.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
There are plenty of other points of view there as well, but as they aren’t coming from partisan Democrats, I am sure that you would dismiss them as “greasy, filthy pigs” or some other childish name.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
9:03 pm
Well,
If the Do Nothings have done such great things with the Stimulus plan, then why don’t they stop doing nothing and vote for the plan. I suppose they just don’t know how to get along and compromise with others even when it is in their own best interest to do so. After all, they are the minority party and they are not going to get their way on everything like they did under their leader, Bush.
@@
February 12th, 2009
9:15 pm
What’s a guy to do? Likely no commerce to manage and then no census?
I’ve tried really hard to see what it is about Obama that so impresses. I’m not seeing it.
On domestic/economic policy, I’m seeing some really dangerous manipulation goin’ on.
I wish it wasn’t so but you’d have to be blind, ignorant, or complicit not to notice.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
9:17 pm
Midori,
Asking what the difference is between two nominees that withdrew their names and why only one is deserving of a derisive nickname has nothing to do with Rove, but nice obfuscation anyway.
@@
February 12th, 2009
9:20 pm
O-:MG!!!
This place allows emoticons?
Say it ain’t so!
oldmac
February 12th, 2009
9:28 pm
Sound like Gregg got a peak behind the curtain at what Rahm and Obie were gonna try to pull with the Census and the stimulus told them all to go F themselves-in a nice way I mean.
HG
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
9:29 pm
I see that the stimulus package has a lot of tax cuts and credits and refunds to help people. In addition, it has a lot of spending to get people back to work. It’s a vast improvement over that trash that Bush and his Republicans pushed through when they had full control.
rcs
February 12th, 2009
9:32 pm
Taxpayer,
Where did you see it? The final version isn’t available yet. If you have a link to it, please post it.
Tank
February 12th, 2009
9:43 pm
Democrats in DC are subtly moving forward on plans to reinstate the “Fairness Doctrine”. Let me see, essential government control of the public airwaves. Dictating what is broadcast as opposed to letting listeners and advertisers determine what airs. Socialized health care and increased redistribution of wealth on the horizon. Funny, I spent 20 years in the Air Force, the majority of which was during the Cold War. And what the Soviet Union couldn’t accomplish, we are about to do to ourselves. Unbelievable.
AJC/DNC Management
February 12th, 2009
9:45 pm
Dems Break Promise To Post Stimulus Bill Online For 48-Hour Public Airing…
Say, wouldn’t it be easier to track the Kampaign promises the demokkrats have kept?
Seeing how few of them there are?
hopeandchange.duh
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
9:49 pm
Poor Gregg. He was just torn between being a Do Nothing like the majority of his minority party or doing something for we the people in the Obama administration. I see the Do Nothing in him won out.
gttim
February 12th, 2009
9:51 pm
“Democrats in DC are subtly moving forward on plans to reinstate the “Fairness Doctrine”. Let me see, essential government control of the public airwaves.”
Well, if the media is as liberal as you claim it is, why wouldn’t Republicans be pushing this bill so it wouldn’t be so liberally biased. Oh, I see. You have been blowing smoke. Again. You guys wrap yourselves in circles. What dopes!
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
9:51 pm
getalife,
Why limit your entertainment to just RW. Andy is a hoot too.
getalife
February 12th, 2009
9:58 pm
Taxpayer,
Yeah, I have been blogging with those two for years.
AmVet
February 12th, 2009
10:03 pm
Six million jobs. Four million jobs.
Yeah, right. Keep drinking…
The US Treasury (we the people) has already committed a staggering $7,760,000,000,000 — more than half of the US GDP — in funds for bailouts, guarantees, share purchases, insurance programs, swaps and more, all in the name of corporate welfare.
The corporate destruction of capitalism.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:08 pm
AmVet,
Roubini recommends that the best course of action would be to temporarily nationalize the banks. Then, they could be cleaned up properly and sold off to investors after all the hard work — work that the heads of the banks are clearly incapable of doing — is done.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
10:09 pm
AmVet,
I think you missed a subtle distinction. The 6 million job number just came from applying the same metric to their plan that Obama was using for the Porkulus plan. I don’t think any clear eyed thinking person believes either number and it’s the reason why Obama always says create or save. I think he knows this isn’t going to create any jobs, but he’ll come back at reelection time and tell us how many jobs he “saved.”
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:15 pm
If government spending never created a job, then why are there so many career people in the military and in DC, etc.
AmVet
February 12th, 2009
10:16 pm
Taxpayer,
I agree.
IMHO SaveOurRepublic is correct about the Federal Reserve.
Read the National Banking Act of 1864.
The war on consumers continue unabated.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
10:19 pm
Taxpayer,
Every day there are hundreds of thousands of jobs created and there are also hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. You can’t just add up the government jobs you create out of some spending bill without accounting for the jobs you lose by taking those same actions.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:26 pm
RW,
I never claimed to be in favor of some weird Republican math. If there are numbers that need to be added and subtracted, then so be it. As for the “every day” scenario, the net of all jobs created and lost has been quite negative for some time now. That’s how they come up with the unemployment numbers. I don’t think anyone need be too concerned about a government created job displacing any other job right now. If you don’t believe me though, just ask around.
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 12th, 2009
10:28 pm
I saw on TV tonight where some House members, of both parties, are holding up the vote until they get a copy of the stimulus bill to read. This is a good thing. Whether the bill passes or is voted down, they should at least read what they vote on.
AmVet
February 12th, 2009
10:29 pm
RW, I understand voodoo economics (I think).
And Mike I cannot possibly wade (at this point) through that 31 page pdf. Would you please summarize it for me?
Taxpayer, you recognize how some speak out of both sides of their mouths when they contend that the US government can do nothing effective, save killing our enemies.
I contend, that dollar for dollar, they suck at that as well.
Get Real
February 12th, 2009
10:31 pm
I think its about time Obama cut the republicans loose. He’s tried, more than other presidents would. They’re playing him like a rookie. Where are all these experienced aides, Rahm, Gibbs, Axelrod? Screw the republicans, their only goal is to get back in power. Odd, but they have something in common with Malcolm X: “By any means necessary!” If that means the economy, and this country overall goes in the tank then so be it to them. How can Johnny Isaakson put an amendment in the stimulus bill, then vote against the bill? He voted against his own amendment, what bull….. Cut ‘em loose Barack. They’re playing you.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:41 pm
“Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce,” the statement read. “He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways.” Gregg was for being a statesman that could reach out beyond his partisan party ways before he was against it.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
10:41 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe,
Apparently the spending portion of the bill has just become available on line in the last hour or so with thousands of pages of directives still unavailable and the Democrats are insisting on a final vote tomorrow evening. Let’s hope some of them band together and slow this thing down.
Taxpayer,
I think what you aren’t in favor of is any reasonable or rational discussion whatsoever of the merits of a piece of legislation that doesn’t put it into a strictly partisan box. As for Porkulus, at this point in time I could say it’s bad and you could say it’s great, but neither of us has a clue since we have nothing to read other than spin and even more sadly neither do our representatives that are going to vote on it.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:54 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe,
I think it wise to read and understand before signing on the dotted line. I wonder if the Credit Default Swaps market, for one, would exist in its current form if our elected ones had read and understood that little bit of legislation that Phil Gramm slipped in back in December of 2000. Further, how many people would have signed off on some of those absurd mortgages if they had really understood what they were signing. I mean 40 year loans with no money down and interest only for the first ten years, blah, blah, blah. What kind of scum bag would even put something like that out there in the first place. Some of the things that have gone on unabated for all these years is really just pathetic. Throw some peanut butter on top of it all and how can many people be expected to have much confidence in anything from Washington, DC, or big business, or the trickle down wealthy, etc.
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
10:56 pm
RW,
You are certainly free to think what you will of me.
Davo
February 12th, 2009
10:58 pm
Enter your comments here
Taxpayer
February 12th, 2009
11:00 pm
Good night folks.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
11:06 pm
Taxpayer,
Don’t take it personally, I’m only talking about your limited ability to debate on merit without your partisan labels. You may be a perfectly fine person otherwise.
Goodnight
Davo
February 12th, 2009
11:06 pm
Gah…
Take some time out from your busy day, Jay and spend some time decorating your new website.
It’s pretty bland to be hoenst. The interface hasn’t really changed but seems less personal. And, seriously, I am not gay but even a gay man would fall over looking at that picture.
v2.0 eagerly waiting
Tank
February 12th, 2009
11:11 pm
Current administration is looking at taxpayer funded foreclosure relief for those about to loose their homes due to their inability to meet monthly payments due to interest rate adjustments. Don’t care if it was due to “predatory lending” or greed on the home buyer’s part to get into a nicer home. When you signed your loan agreement, you knew it was too good to be true. You were as greedy as the lender. Neither you or the lender should be bailed out. It is just another form of welfare.
RW-(the original)
February 12th, 2009
11:18 pm
Cleanup in aisle 11:13.
AmVet,
There should be something called self control.
Davo
February 12th, 2009
11:30 pm
Nice Amvet!
They probably have your coordinates within 10 yards…
Life is for the daring
Davo
February 12th, 2009
11:40 pm
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Colbert_gets_anal_exam_in_honor_0212.html
Colbert undergoes anal exam in honor of Glenn Beck
OMG this is sooo funny!!!
Bosch
February 12th, 2009
11:47 pm
AmVet,
Way to go with the sentence enhancers!!! If I were in charge, I’d filter out words like:
“you just don’t get it”
that really bugs me.
Midori,
I’ll take care of the countdown, no worries. I take personal responsibility for mine and Paul’s BSG obsession – and there’s only six more weeks of this, but the producers at Sci-Fi are making a new show – I can’t make any promises after that.
And, Midori, you’d never believe it after seeing it tonight with my bragging about my techno abilities, I don’t like to brag, but I can cook too – actually pretty well. Like Paul’s mom, Mother Bosch made us all cook. I’ve found a magical machine called a crock pot; it’s the magical mystery meat machine!!!
Bosch
February 12th, 2009
11:48 pm
Midori,
Oh, and did you just watch the Daily Show? John Sununuonophagaluphaus just got spanked.
Swami Dave
February 13th, 2009
12:58 am
Let’s see if I am following events correctly…..
a) Senator Judd Gregg withdraws his nomination for Commerce Secretary due to “irrecocilable differences” with President Obama and his administration policies. Things must indeed be getting bad for the President when he now has candidates filing for divorce before the marriages! The good news is since he nominate a Republican for this post, at least, this parting of ways was on policy terms; not unpaid taxes or grand jury investigations. Hooray for progress!
b) Apparently, Congressional Democrats are planning to vote for final passage of the **Stima-Spendu-Lus** package as early as Friday morning. I guess those promises to allow a “48-hour review period” of the final conference product were just too much of a “change” that they really didn’t “believe in”. Why not call for passage of a bill that noone outside of the conference will have even read? I really can’t wait to hear from all of the Senators who vote for it claiming that it was “precisely what we needed” when they will not even have known for what it was they were voting! Surprisingly, our Congressional leaders will have been a trusting lot since they are signing an assortment of massive taxpayer-backed blank checks to an as-of-yet still undetermined group of government bureaucracies. Most of whom are already constantly identified as wasteful and free-wheeling with the taxpayer dollars that their organizations already receive. These folks have shown the restraint of drunken sailors on liberty already; this bill simply gives them more alcohol, less constraints, and drops them at ground zero of Carnival with a “be careful” wave.
c) Now, as reported by Politico.com, apparently Mark Twain is being given a shout-out to the grave by writers of this bill. He of the oft-repeated quote referencing “Lies, Lies, and Statistics”. As has been published from the original **Stima-Spendu-lus** package, the alleged job numbers that this bill is promising to create or save (*I do love how we have reframed “success” to include jobs “not lost”*) just do not seem to “add up”. When you add the number of jobs created or saved by state congressional district, many of the totals do not seem to equal the promised jobs numbers for the entire state.
According to Democrats, these are “rounding & totaling errors”. That might be plausible were it not for the fact that many of the errors are in states with ONE congressional district. It would appear that according to those who authored this bill – x + 0 x.
With all due respect, if these basics of simple algebra are beyond the skills of Congressional Democrats – Speaker Pelosi tells us “they won so they wrote the bill” – then they have no business attempting to plan / dictate spending of almost $800T (that we do not have).
As Jay said earlier this week, tomorrow is another day. Sadly, America will wake up with the same three leaders in charge of government. Soon, as Democrats continue their drive of our nation off this socialist cliff, America might look fondly upon the days that our economy was only “in the ditch”!
-Swami Dave
Swami Dave
February 13th, 2009
1:04 am
Sorry, learning to use the new blog engine…..
That would be “Lies, $@!* Lies, and Statistics” for the Mark Twain reference.
The problematic Democratic algebra would be x + 0 DNE x
Just to clarify
-Swami Dave
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
3:45 am
Why can’t you “conservaties” admit that Bush has already accomplished what you fear from Obama? He’s trying to salvage what is left or our republic. Nobody thinks the stimulus is going to fix all the problems, just make them less painful until consumer and investor confidence is restored. Democrats invest in children, the poor and infirm, and the economy gushes up. Yes, there’s pork in the bill, but it enriches lives and creates jobs just the same, as long as it is spent right here in the good old USA. So just get out of the way and let the Dems own it, and let the chips fall where they may. Or are you afraid it might succeed?
As for Gregg, good riddance. It was a bad fit from the beginning.
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
3:46 am
You might find this interesting.
http://www.cnbc.com//id/15840232?video=1031784249&play=1
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
5:54 am
Get Real February 12th, 2009 10:31 pm I think its about time Obama cut the republicans loose. He’s tried, more than other presidents would. They’re playing him like a rookie. Where are all these experienced aides, Rahm, Gibbs, Axelrod?
Yeah, start with those three RINOs he’s hiding behind and let’s get rid of them this morning.
gttim February 12th, 2009 9:51 pm Well, if the media is as liberal as you claim it is, why wouldn’t Republicans be pushing this bill so it wouldn’t be so liberally biased.
Rush Limbaugh is liberal?
Smoke another bowl, gttim.
hopeandchange.duh
Gerald West
February 13th, 2009
5:59 am
Good riddance to Gregg. Let him slink back to the Senate to join his Republican cronies, who are determined to obstruct the efforts to recover from the economic mess they have created.
Dave R
February 13th, 2009
6:22 am
This is what you get when you elect, as your chief executive, someone who has never been an executive in his entire life. Improperly vetted appointees who cheated on taxes, have ethics investigations on-going, or somewhat checkered past affiliations.
281 days as a U.S. Senator does not make you chief executive material, nor does a Harvard education. Hate to say, “We told you so” during the campaign, but we did. It’s amateur hour at the White House for the next four years.