John Boehner — Speaker of the House
[forms index fingers into a cross] Doesn’t that title just make your blood crawl? [shudder] That’s even worse than those “President Palin” bumper stickers we’ve all seen.
K Street lobbyists are viewing John Boehner as a “good investment.” His unwavering opposition to anything and everything Obama wants, his ability to get his minions (formerly known as congressmen) to march in lockstep and obey his orders without question — Boehner will give America back to Wall Street.
He’s already leaning on a “kitchen cabinet” of lobbyists for more and more contributions to Republican congressional candidates so Republicans can capture the House this November.
If Republicans do capture the House and Boehner gets this promotion, they’ll have to change his job title to Blubbering Crybaby of the House.
It’s too easy to make fun of those two-faced Republican politicians who voted against the stimulus package, trashing it in the process, and then when the stimulus was passed — clutching and grasping at it like a crazed junkie. Rachel Maddow devoted an entire program to naming politicians who had voted against the stimulus, and then were photographed taking part in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for local projects that were Made Possible by that commie stimulus package.
This dead horse has been kicked enough already. Or maybe it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
When the stimulus was being debated, Texas Governor Rick Perry — a self-reliant rugged individualist — said that rejecting the stimulus money “was pretty simple for us. We can take care of ourselves…I am so concerned about the belief that has gained a foothold in our national consciousness that the best and only way to solve our nation’s problems is to drown them with taxpayer dollars.”
He added that Texas “should look a gift horse in the mouth.”
After Congress passed the stimulus, Perry “reluctantly” accepted the money, saying:
“I believe there are better ways to reinvigorate our economy and believe the bill will burden future generations with unprecedented levels of debt.”
Now — and this is where the drug addict comes back for “just one more fix” — the Wall Street Journal reports that Texas has a balanced budget this year because of the stimulus money that Perry refused and then reluctantly accepted.
What would Texas do if they had seceded? Apply for foreign aid from our Kenyan president?
Rick Perry — the former Badass Rugged Individualist — is now slumped on the sidewalk, totally disheveled, holding up a “Will Work For Food” sign.
Labels: John Boehner Speaker of the House, Rick Perry stimulus
posted by Tom Harper @ 7:21 PM
20 Comments:
A vivid picture of Perry.
Boehner and the just say no policy of the right have hurt our entire country. Tom somehow the Bonner should be held accountable.The Dems have to come up with a great candidate from Ohio. Beat his orange ass.;)
I just can't believe that there are so many people in this country that can't connect the dots.
Are they really that stupid or just that deluded?
Is there any hope left?
Don't be so harsh on Perry. Being well coiffed ain't cheap.
I have no use for hypocritical politicians of either party, and agree that Perry has lost all credibility because of this. This is the very thing that gave rise to the Tea Parties.
It wasn't about supporting the Republicans or Democrats but rather to hold politicians accountable. I do hope the Tea Party is taking notice of these hypocrits and plan to run candidates against them in primaries.
Good for him too bad other states bogged down with public sector jobs can't balance their budgets as well.
Tim: That would be ideal, Boehner getting defeated in his own district. I'm sure he's way too entrenched for that to happen. But it's another reason we don't want Republicans winning the House in November; as if there weren't already a zillion other reasons.
Rockync: Unfortunately I think connecting the dots is a skill that fewer and fewer people have.
Randal: I'll try not to hate him just because he's purdy.
TP: I appreciate your consistency. That kind of two-faced hypocrisy is exactly what we don't need from either party.
Lisa: Did you read the post? Perry balanced Texas' budget only because of that stimulus package that he hated and said he wouldn't accept.
Tom
How come Texas, a state that doesn't want the money can balance his budget and California, a state screaming for it can't?
Maybe Perry should be our Governor (just kidding) of if Meg Whitman really wanted to be the next Governor, she should just put her billions into balancing our budget.
It also tells me that maybe Perry was quite adapt at getting more money (pulling strings) then he lets on.
Erik
So hypocricy is unheard of in the political arena?
Geez, when are people going to realize it isn't about Republicans and Democrats, it isn't about all of our hypocritical elected politicians, it isn't about one side winning and one side losing. There is no "right side". There are just as many crooks and hypocrits on the right as there are on the left.
WE have to start holding our employees much more accountable. T.Paine is correct. This is an example of why tea parties were started.
Yes I understood that Tom and ok so it was hypocritical but what I was saying that states are so in debt before he stimulus that even with stimulus money they couldn't balance their bugets.
So that tells me that Texas was in better shape prior. States were forced to take the money even if they didn't want it. But Rachel Maddow is good at "fixing" the facts.
Erik: Interesting point. I'd guess there's a lot of that southern shrewdness involved with these red state governors who said "I don't want that commie federal government barging in here," and then "well, all right then, damn it, I'll take the money." And the whole time, they were clamoring for it and had every dime already spent before they even got the money. I wouldn't doubt that a bit.
Kate: I respect the real tea partiers, the ones that are genuinely concerned about government spending, government intrusion, and are equally appalled at both major parties.
The ones that I'm always dissing are the rightwingers who are just using voter disenchantment as a vehicle for their own agenda -- more trillions for the Pentagon, and the complete removal of any and all government regulations that protect workers' safety, the environment, food and drug quality, etc.
And Republicans have been shouting about "individual freedom" and "limited government" for decades while they triple the "defense" budget, intimidate and invade other countries and pass "Christian" laws to regulate every facet of what ordinary citizens do in private. That's why I'm so skeptical about the tens of thousands of people (whatever the number is) who were asleep all through the Bush years and are now out there protesting against "big government." Where were they before January 2009?
Lisa: Like the saying goes, "if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." No, states weren't forced to accept the stimulus money. There were a lot of news stories at the time about governors and state legislatures who accepted part of the stimulus money but "declined" certain other parts of it.
I'm all for Texas seceding and teaching their creationism away from the rest of us, and they could take the "Orange-man" as well. He surely takes drugs, I know, I think I used to look like him...
Were the GOP not doing such a wonderful job of marginalizing themselves, we would be well and truly screwed.
Oh there is a surprise, big corporations for republicans. I'm sure I am not alone saying this, do not fear the Boehner, he won't be speaker of the house come November.
I just hope Bill White is taking all this good stuff, and will use it against Governor Goodhair during the campaign. I thought GG was going to secede, he against that now or what?
I wonder if they will ever decide to start some kind of income tax there in Texas. Just saying, it could help with their budget or is that too logical?
Kate, once again, is dead on accurate.
Mr. Harper, I am pleasantly suprised that you have respect for what you characterize as the "real tea partiers".
Jess, you are crazy, ma'am! :)
Obama and the Democrats are just as much, if not more so in favor of corporate business than the GOP is. Look at the donor lists of the fortune 500 and tell me that the Republicans are the only recipients.
Further, like every good progressive does, you prescribe TAXES to solve a debt problem.
Instead, how about cutting wasteful, un-needed, or as in the case of Texas, not state-consitutionally authorized spending? Or is that too logical? :)
Kate is completely wrong with, "it isn't about one side winning and one side losing." The rich have been sucking the wealth out of the working class since Reagan. That is just what the Republican Party is commited to.
Fact.
Indeed I am crazy T Paine and I would not want it any other way. It is a good crazy though, so that matters.
Actually big business has historically given more and expected more of the repubs than they do dems. Why this year I read somewhere this morning, money is going back to the reps since the Prez is persona non grata with them. I think he may be just pissing them off, what with all this regulating he wants to get done to rein them in. I could be wrong, but I doubt that very much ;) Well they could do a tax/cut spending at the same time don't you think. Not like police, firemen and the like continually need funding or infrastructure or anything like that. I am not in any way a progressive, although I am. Liberal was turned into a dirty word by Reagan and now we have the Beckerhead trying to do the same thing with progressive. I am a proud liberal.
One thing I can say, when the right gets on message about something, see dirtying up the liberal brand, it sticks. Now all we (DFHs) need to go around doing on the other side, instead of conservatives, we should just start calling some of these people regressives, since that is where many of them want to do, regress back to some magical great time, that has never really existed. Well, it has but only in the minds of some.
T. Paine, if the 'real" tea partiers stopped and thought for a second, they would realize they and we have a lot more in common than they think. It is big business egging these people on, so they will remain big business.
Tom, I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but prior to January 2009 I was right where I am now. Just as verbal and outspoken against big government and spending waste as I am now. I think the difference is many more "regular" folks are now becoming verbal and outspoken too. I got signatures for, and campaigned for people, who I believed, were pro working class, not the rich, elite and big business. I went so far as to run for (and got elected) a local government position. Admittedly, it is a very unimportant position, but it's a way to get my feet wet and possibly become even more verbal.
Dave, I was not speaking of rich vs middle and poor classes. I was referring to Republicans and Democrats. There are equal numbers of wealthy, lazy, elitists on both sides. Talk is cheap, and as long as those who "talk the talk" don't have to give up their extrodinarily comfortable ways of life, they will continue to "talk the talk". Hypocrits!
Dubya, it is NOT the rich that are sucking the wealth out of the working class. That, sir, is an assertion and a demonstrably false one at that.
Rather, it is government that has sucked the wealth out of the working class with taxation and unnecessary regulation that costs businesses more money which is passed on to the consumer. (the working class)
Instead of blaming business for all of these ills when they are the ones providing services and products for fees that one can voluntarily choose to spend, why don't you blame your over-reaching goverment for excessive taxing that you HAVE to pay for things whether you choose to or not?
Jess, you are correct ma'am. There is a lot more in common than what might initially meet the eye of members of the Tea Party. That is why there is not an insignificant amount of Democrats and Independents also comprising this group. The Tea Party is comprised of Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, that are fed up with the foolishness and wastefullness of government.
"It is big business egging these people on, so they will remain big business."
Actually Jess you are correct if you had ever actually attended or spoke with Tea Party representatives
They are railing against big business alright,the business of the big lawyers and big unions making money off the backs of the working class who's taxes they depend on for their pensions and salaries.
In our county alone there are 95 municipalities and tons of waste,corruption and cronyism much of would never be tolerated or sustainable in a private sector business.
Just look to GM and Fannie Mae as an examples.
T Paine said:
“Dubya, it is NOT the rich that are sucking the wealth out of the working class. That, sir, is an assertion and a demonstrably false one at that.”
Well who RUNS the Government? It’s not us voters who cast it at a regular interval, may send them 20-100 bucks of our hard earned money, and (may) write letters and calls hoping to get them tolisten, it’s the Contributors, The big ones, The Businesses, the Billionaires, and their Lobbyist, IE the rich. They decide how much we have to be taxed and how much we pay – and then pass it on to Congress. Even when “the people” may get a small victory like a consumer protection bill, they are right on top of it and are exploiting it while the ink is still wet.
As I’ve posted before, you conservatives love to look at the tax numbers of how much they are supposed to pay and cry “foul”, why don’t you look at what they really do pay and you will find it’s a significant difference. “A Tax on us, fine we wont pay it and still pass it on to you as if we did!”
Erik
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