Posted on 01/29/2009 4:09:23 AM PST by Schnucki
President Barack Obama got the $825 (or $1.2 trillion over a decade) stimulus package through the House of Representatives but the 244 to 188 vote is a hollow victory indeed. Without a single Republican voting for the bill, his high-profile visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday came to exactly naught - at least on the House side.
Obama vowed to change Washington and usher in a new post-partisan era. The the mood music and optics were pitch perfect as he trekked up to the Hill. Republicans praised his gesture, welcomed his sincere demeanour and appreciated his willingness to listen.
Problem was, he wanted only to listen and did not want to act on what Republicans said. When he was asked if he would re-structure the package to include more tax cuts, he reportedly responded: "Feel free to whack me over the head because I probably will not compromise on that part."
He apparently added: " I understand that and I will watch you on Fox News and feel bad about myself."
That's fine. No doubt Obama will indeed get beaten up on Fox News. But his failure to get even the squishiest moderate Republican - including the 11 entertained in the White House by Rahm Emanuel last night - to back him is not merely a big score for Rep Eric Cantor, Republican Whip, and the rest of the GOP leadership.
It also shows that it is not just Fox, the loony Right or Rush Limbaugh - or however else you might want to characterise the opposition in order to marginalise it - who had grave misgivings about the content of the bill.
The Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill badly miscalculated by treating the bill as a victor's charter. Not that it seemed to bother Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...
Good for the Pubbies. They finally fouond some gonads.
Why is it that the Brits have so much better reporters than the US?
FINALLY, the repubs give us something to smile about! They hold together like this a couple more times and I’ll actually think about supporting the GOP/RNC once again!
A slap, huh?
May there be many many more in opposition to this communist’s agenda.
The definition of “compromise” is for both sides to give up something. The RAT definition of compromise and “bi-partisanship” is for the pubbies to roll over and be dead.
Finally, maybe, hopefully, the pubbies will begin to fight back.
They did the right thing by not voting for it.
The bill is an 850 billion dollar pork feast.
ACORN, Planned parenthood. they have no business in the bill at all. Other monies written in so loosely its a grab bag. This bill won’t solve the problem it only increase our debt.Of copurse it dosnt bother Nancy Pelosi she isnt smart enough to get bothered.
I congratulate the Republicans ,and add It’s about time.
He really does feel omnipotent, does he not? The arrogance is breathtaking.
I am very pleased witb the GOP’s fortitude to repudiate this bad legislation en masse. They are listening to the taxpayers.
If this bill retains its porkage, then let it be owned by Red Nancy and the democrats- let the taxpayers send her and her boys the freight charge in 2010
House did fine....but I am starting to get a sick feeling when this moves to the Senate.
That sick feeling that Obama’s new buddy Juan McCain will try to step in a craft a deadly compromise and undo all that the house achieved by the smack down of Dear Leader.
I wish I didn’t have to think that....but I just know he will mess it up. He will make a big show of walking across the damn aisle.
“Feel free to whack me over the head because I probably will not compromise on that part.”
Thank You GOP, may I have another?
“If we do not hang together, we will hang separately.”
The GOP survivors in the House realize that they will be out of office in their Republican districts if they cave. Those who opposed the bank bailout bill last fall were right, as the $350 Billion failure of TARP has proven.
I’m sure the RINOs in the Senate (Specter, Collins, Snowe) will still provide BO with his fig leaf of “bipartisanship” so the Republican Party will own the failure that results from this Democrat pork bill.
Now it’s off to the Senate...I wonder what the Three Amigos are going to try with the $900 billion they have on the plate?
Quick get the x-ray machine! A backbone appears to be growing. The Senate MUST stop this bill, MUST show some guts, MUST show some conservative values.
That is what one of the MSM was reporting.
Obama asking Repubs to be bi-partisan yet the Dems have ignored that same request.
Also that on the Dem side they dont want to offend Obama so they are chewing away at Pelosi.
There is a reason Presidents sound ponderous and "Presidential". When they speak casually, like this, they wind up sounding stupid.
Ah, you forget the so-called Repubs in the Senate like Collins, Snowe, etc...
This gives Acorn enough funding to prepare for the domination of the 2010 and 2012 elections.
its time to take action to prevent another election fiasco, especially since nothing is being done about the recent one.
Obviously America is now an usurpers wet dream.
Looks pretty Partisan when you have no Republican votes.
Pray for America, Our Troops and obama’s Guidance
Looks to me that maybe the Republicans are ignoring a direct order from 0bama. Maybe they are listening to Rush. Since 0bama's pork fest couldnt garner a single republican vote, the Dim's own it. I just havent been able to figure out how they will blame the GOP for it. But I am sure Princess Nancy and Court Jester Reid will come up with something.
Even my dim congress critter voted against it.
(Of course, it was not a principled vote, the locals are violently against this monstrosity.)
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