Cleo's Mom

Didn't you hear? Joe the Plumber (who is neither) gave a major smack down to McCain saying McCain ruined his life and only used him because he represented the middle class. He says he doesn't owe McCain s**t. He also is no longer a big fan of Sarah Palin. While not an Obama fan, he did say that at least Obama is an honest politician.

This ought to keep everyone in stitches: Hypocrisy Alert: 71 House Republicans Take Credit for the Economic Bills They Opposed Welcome to the Hypocrisy Hall of Fame!The DCCC has kept a House Republicans Hypocrisy Hall of Fame, which has now grown to over 70 Members. These Republicans have been caught trying to Celebrate the benefits of projects they opposed in President Obama's recovery bill, the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. It's bad enough House Republicans want to go back to the Bush Administration policies responsible for the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, but they’ve also tried to get away with taking credit for the economic benefits in their districts they tried to prevent. House Republicans need to immediately let their constituents know the truth – will they come out in favor of canceling funding in their congressional districts from President Obama’s economic recovery policies or will they continue taking credit for jobs and local projects they fought against? house gop hypocrisy hall of fame Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) – "Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican who became famous after yelling, "You lie," during Mr. Obama's addresses to Congress in September, voted against the stimulus. Nonetheless, Mr. Wilson elbowed his way into the rush for federal stimulus cash in a letter he sent to Mr. Vilsack on behalf of a foundation seeking funding. 'We know their endeavor will provide jobs and investment in one of the poorer sections of the Congressional District,' he wrote to Mr. Vilsack in the Aug. 26, 2009, letter." [Stimulus Foes See Value In Seeking Cash, Washington Times, 2/9/10] Representative Mike Castle (DE-AL) – Castle touted the benefits of Economic Recovery projects in Delaware even though he joined every House Republican in voting against the bill when it was passed last year. [In the crosshairs, Politico, 2/1/10] Representative Patrick Tiberi (OH-12) – "I am sorely disappointed that the Cherry Valley Road Interchange will not receive stimulus funding." [News Release; 3/26/09] "Also facing a competitive race, Rep. Pat Tiberi, Ohio Republican, in October called the final Democratic stimulus bill 'loaded with [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi's grab bag of big spending wishes' and that it 'saddles future generations with mountains of debt.' He struck a different tone in a letter to Mr. Vilsack. 'While this project is intended to expand rural broadband in Alaska, I understand that the project could support businesses and jobs in communities across the country,' Mr. Tiberi wrote, citing one such company in his district." [Stimulus foes see value in seeking cash, Washington Times, 2/9/10] Representative Geoff Davis (KY-04) - On the same day Representative Davis issued a press release calling the recovery bill a failure, Representative Davis also issued a press release praising his work in securing over a million dollars from recovery funds for the Carroll County school system. [Rep. Geoff Davis Takes Credit For Stimulus While Baselessly Claiming It "Failed", MediaMatters, 12/21/09] Representative Bill Shuster (PA-09) - Representative Shuster attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a sewage treatment plant that was only possible because of Recovery funds. [Blairsville Municipal Authority launches plant expansion, Blairsville Dispatch, 11/25/09] Representative Shuster asked Governor Ed Rendell to use Recovery funds to reopen Scotland School for Veterans' Children, noting it could save about 134 full-time jobs. [Shuster wants to use stimulus money to reopen Scotland School, The Herald-Mail, 11/4/09 [*]Representative Eric Cantor (VA-07) – "Nearly half of the 30 organizations participating in a job fair Cantor is holding Monday in Culpeper were recipients of the stimulus." [Dems call Cantor a hypocrite on stimulus, Washington Post, 11/18/09] [*]The Culpeper Star-Exponent (Allison Brophy Champion) reports that Democrats are calling out Republican Whip Eric Cantor for what they claim is contradictory support of federal funding for high-speed rail in Virginia. The funding would be part of President Barack Obama's stimulus package -- the same stimulus package Cantor vehemently opposed earlier this year. [Dems: Cantor a hypocrite on high-speed rail, Culpeper Star-Exponent, 6/24/09] Representative Pete Sessions (TX-32) - Representative Pete Sessions showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Jack Kingston (GA-01) - Representative Jack Kingston has announced federal funding for his constituents without mentioning that the money comes from the stimulus program. [GOP won't turn down stimulus spending, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/18/09] Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10) - "I didn't support final passage but at the same time I wanted to make sure if we are spending that kind of money that much of that gets directed to Texas." [KVUE News; 2/22/09] Representative Michael McCaul showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Joe Barton (TX-06) - Representative Joe Barton showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Michael Burgess (TX-26) - Representative Michael Burgess showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative John Carter (TX-31) - Representative John Carter showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Mike Conaway (TX-11) - Representative Mike Conaway showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative John Culberson (TX-07) - Representative John Culberson showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Louie Gohmert (TX-01) - Representative Louie Gohmert showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Kay Granger (TX-12) - Representative Kay Granger showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Ralph Hall (TX-04) - Representative Ralph Hall showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Sam Johnson (TX-03) - Representative Sam Johnson showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Kenny Marchant (TX-24) - Representative Kenny Marchant showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) - Representative Randy Neugebauer showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Pete Olson (TX-22) - Representative Pete Olson showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Ron Paul (TX-14) - Representative Ron Paul showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Ted Poe (TX-02) - Representative Ted Poe showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Lamar Smith (TX-21) - Representative Lamar Smith showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Mac Thornberry (TX-13) - Representative Lamar Smith showed his hypocrisy after asking the Obama Administration for three billion in funds for NASA from the economic recovery act, which he voted against. Members of the Texas delegation signed the letter, including two Republican Senators and 19 House Republicans who all voted against the recovery act in February. [Texas delegation wants stimulus money for NASA, Houston Chronicle, 10/5/09] Representative Frank Wolf (VA-10) - Representative Wolf recently blamed Gov. Tim Kaine for being slow in spending economic recovery money allocated to their state. Wolf told reporters, "We could use that money desperately," however if he had his way, the money never would have been allocated in the first place. [GOP Blasts Kaine on Transportation Spending, Washington Post, 10/5/09] Representative Phil Gingrey (GA-11) - Earlier this month, Gingrey presented a giant check of $625,000 in stimulus funds to the city commission of Cedartown, Georgia, to help fund the installation of new sidewalks and infrastructure - funds he voted against in the economic recovery package. [Cedartown receives federal stimulus funds for Streetscape project, Cedartown Standard, 10/13/09] Representative Eric Cantor (VA-07) - The Culpeper Star-Exponent (Allison Brophy Champion) reports that Democrats are calling out Republican Whip Eric Cantor for what they claim is contradictory support of federal funding for high-speed rail in Virginia. The funding would be part of President Barack Obama's stimulus package - the same stimulus package Cantor vehemently opposed earlier this year. [Dems: Cantor a hypocrite on high-speed rail, Culpeper Star-Exponent, 6/24/09] [Dem's High Speed Hit, The Huddle, 6/24/09] [Cantor criticizes stimulus package, suggests alterations, Richmond Times Dispatch, 7/7/09] [Cantor blasts stimulus, defends rail request, Politico, 7/6/09] [DCCC sets sights on Cantor for 'hypocrisy', The Hill, 7/6/09] Representative Bill Young (FL-10) - Rep. Bill Young of Florida's congressional Web site contains a page with dozens of links to help Floridians "take advantage of federal stimulus money." [GOP opposes plan then seeks money, AP, 8/27/09] Representative Judy Biggert (IL-13) - Last Thursday, the House passed a $123.1 billion transportation and housing appropriations bill that included an 8 percent boost for the Section 8 housing voucher program and $4 billion for President Obama's high-speed rail initiative. It also included $1.5 million in funding for two projects requested by Rep. Judy Biggert -- a Metra Station in Tinley Park and freight-related traffic relief along Ogden Avenue in Aurora. ‘These important investments will create local jobs and help keep our area's road and transit systems working for commuters,' Biggert said in a statement Friday. ‘I'm very grateful to my House colleagues for recognizing the rapidly growing transportation needs of communities and centers of commerce in our suburban area'...one tiny detail -- along with the rest of Illinois' Republican delegation, Biggert voted against the bill. [Progress Illinois, 7/28/09] Daily Herald reported on Congresswoman Biggert’s hypocrisy in applauding recently awarded funding for Naperville to make infrastructure upgrades, when the money came out of the economic recovery package she voted against. [Stimulus Foe Biggert Supports Naperville's Use of Funds, Daily Herald 10/28/09] Representative Mary Fallin (OK-05) - Oklahoma Republican Mary Fallin asked Army Secretary Pete Geren to use $8.4 million in stimulus money for repairs to buildings at two Oklahoma National Guard sites. Fallin had called the stimulus a "Big Brother spending program" that didn't do enough to finance needed infrastructure projects. The money she and Boren sought isn't in the Pentagon's spending plans. [GOP opposes plan then seeks money, AP, 8/27/09] Representative Patrick Tiberi (OH-10) - "I am sorely disappointed that the Cherry Valley Road Interchange will not receive stimulus funding." [News Release; 3/26/09] Representative Don Manzullo (IL-16) - "Don Manzullo announced today he has secured $714,000 in federal funding to help improve health care services and higher education opportunities for residents at three institutions in Rockford." [News Release; 3/2/09] Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) - "I applaud this funding for the Bakersfield Federal courthouse. Over the years, we have faced many obstacles related to this project, but worked together as a community to ensure that this project remained a high priority and would come to fruition." [KERO 23; 4/1/09] McCarthy uses events like the one at Cal Poly to give lip service to renewable energy. [For Congressmen thinking green at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo Tribune, 5/29/09] Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) - Representative Ed Whitfield sent out a press release calling himself "a tireless champion for community health centers both in Kentucky and throughout the country." Yet, Representative Whitfield voted against the economic recovery package which provided more than $10 million to meet demand at Kentucky health centers and to build new ones across the state. [News Release; 3/26/09] Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03) - Representative Mike Rogers voted against his own legislation to protect the Little River Canyon National Preserve in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. [Roll Call Vote, 3/25/2009] Representative Dan Lungren (CA -03) - Lungren's change of heart might be related to the fact that the Democratic Congressional Candidate (DCCC) has identified that Lungren as vulnerable to defeat in the 2010 congressional midterm elections. [Elk Grove News - Sensing Vulnerability, Lungren Backpedals on Stimulus Vote, 8/6/09] Representative Dan Lungren sought millions in earmarks for projects in his district, then voted against the legislation to fund those projects. "I would not apologize for any of those (earmarks), but I would give them up if the president had vetoed the bill." [Amador Ledger-Dispatch; 3/17/09] As California's economic woes continue to threaten public services to the point where 47 pink slips were recently issued to Stockton police officers, Congressman Dan Lungren is coming under fire from the blue side of the aisle in Washington for his April 23 vote against "The COPS Improvement Act."[Dems, Lungren clash on COPS funding - Amador Ledger-Dispatch, 5/29/09] Representative David Dreier (CA-26) - Representative David Dreier said, "The nation relies on Southern California's infrastructure and innovation. Strategic federal investments in these areas will yield tremendous returns from coast to coast." However Representative Dreier voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which will provide $13 billion in tax cuts, nearly $4.5 billion in infrastructure investments, and billions more for job training and education programs in California. [Southern California on the Hill; 3/10/09] Representative Jerry Moran (KS-01) - "Four Kansas Republicans had earmarked requests in the package, but voted against the overall $410 billion package... Not only did Moran and Tiahrt vote against the spending bill when the House took action in February, they also voted last week for a measure that would have removed all earmarks." [The Hutchinson News; 3/13/09] Representative Todd Tiahrt (KS-04) - "Four Kansas Republicans had earmarked requests in the package, but voted against the overall $410 billion package... Not only did Moran and Tiahrt vote against the spending bill when the House took action in February, they also voted last week for a measure that would have removed all earmarks." [The Hutchinson News; 3/13/09] Representative Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02) - "Capito informed the group that roughly $1.5 million in neighborhood stabilization funds have been made available to West Virginia, and she said the situation that many are facing in the current financial times is heartwrenching. ‘It's just breaks your heart,' Capito said." [The Journal; 3/10/09] Representative Steve King (IA-05) - "Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, announced today that $570,000 for the U.S. Highway 20 widening project has been included in the federal stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama earlier in the week." [Sioux City Journal; 3/13/09] Representative Elton Gallegly (CA-24) - "Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, announced Thursday that Thousand Oaks will get $182,881 in community development block grants through the stimulus package... In addition to the stimulus money, Gallegly's office said money for other local projects has been included in a separate funding bill the House passed Wednesday." [Ventura County Star; 2/27/09] Representative Howard "Buck" McKeon (CA-25) - "Rep. Howard P. ‘Buck' McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) called the bill ‘not the example of fiscal restraint that we need right now.' Yet it includes McKeon earmarks such as $333,000 to assist Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in designing and building a helipad and $167,000 for the Autry National Center of the American West to help pay for a new Southwest museum facility." [Los Angeles Times; 3/5/09] Representative Jerry Lewis (CA-41) - "Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) declared: ‘I'm embarrassed by this omnibus spending bill.' Yet the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee secured more than $18 million in earmarks." [Los Angeles Times; 3/5/09] Representative George Radanovich (CA-19) - "Rep. George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) issued a statement on Feb. 4 declaring that he would forego earmarks... Three weeks later, Radanovich submitted a statement to the congressional record listing nearly $6.3 million in earmarks in the omnibus spending bill." [Los Angeles Times; 3/5/09] Representative Tom Latham (IA-04) - After voting against the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, Representative Latham issued three press releases congratulating himself for securing funds for projects at home. [Representative Latham's Press Release; 3/2/09, 2/27/09, 2/27/09] Representative Tom Petri (WI-06) - Representative Petri is a "strong supporter of the allocation" of $754,000 to restore and maintain navigable channels in the Two Rivers harbor, as "maintaining navigable waters in the area is essential for the local economy." [Manitowoc Herald Times; 2/27/09] Representative Petri voted against the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Representative Steven LaTourette (OH-14) - According to a press release from Representative LaTourette's office, LaTourette said, "I know our local departments are facing rough financial times, and there have been some department layoffs and hiring freezes across the state." It then continues to say that he "is pleased that some departments will benefit from this new COPS program." [Representative LaTourette's Press Release; 2/27/09] Representative Dean Heller (NV-02) - "We can ill afford to lose any jobs in Nevada, or anywhere else for that matter." [Elko Daily Free Press; 2/27/09] Representative Aaron Schock (IL-18) - "The biodiesel plant is ready to go. I want to call for a meeting with the state to guarantee $20 million in loans for the building of the plant. This could produce real jobs and a real stimulus in the next 30 days." [Peoria Journal Star; 2/17/09] "Last week, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock was in East Peoria to award the city's Police Department a $410,000 federal grant to update its aging in-car video camera systems and portable radios... that money was included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill that Schock, a Peoria Republican, voted against. [Peoria Journal Star; 6/29/09] Representative Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) - "This funding will provide much-needed assistance to local residents who are at risk of losing their homes or experiencing homelessness... I am pleased that our community will benefit from this funding." [Representative Bono Mack's Press Release; 2/25/09] Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08) - "Reichert acknowledges that the stimulus bill will deliver tangible good news to his constituents... ‘I feel a responsibility at this point to make this still work.'" [Boston Globe; 2/24/09] Representative Mike Coffman (CO-06) - "I see myself in two roles as a congressman. I think the first role as a policymaker in Washington and the second as an advocate for people inside this district and there are elements we'll probably be discussing - the mortgage proposal - there are probably elements that I disagree with that but if there's somebody in my district eligible for that, I'll fight to make sure they get them." [KUSA-TV; Your Show; 2/22/09] Representative Glenn Thompson (PA-05) - Thompson "said he hoped the residents within the county would benefit from the plan's massive spending and tax cuts." [Daily Collegian; 2/19/09] Representative Denny Rehberg (MT-AL) - "I'll do anything I can to make this work." [KULR-8; 2/17/09] Representative Frank Lucas (OK-03) - "We all need to work very aggressively to make sure that every community that qualifies should be a recipient of whatever we can find in that bill." [Edmond Sun; 2/18/09] Representative Chris Lee (NY-26) - "Rep. Chris Lee was opposed to a $787 billion stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday but said he would now fight for funds included in the bill for his district... ‘Now that the bill is passed, I obviously want to ensure I do fight for projects in western New York,' Lee said." [Democrat and Chronicle; 2/18/09] Representative Adam Putnam (FL-12) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] "'Just because you vote no, doesn't mean you don't get the money,' assured Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). ‘We will fight like tigers for us to get our share.'" [National League of Cities; 3/2/09] Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] "Miami Republican Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart also voted against the bill but secured funding - from $600,000 for Hialeah's police department to upgrade equipment to $6 million for the University of Miami's William Lehman Injury Research Center." [Miami Herald; 3/3/09] Representative Tom Rooney (FL-16) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09]"'The money's coming, Rooney said. ‘So I can sit on the sidelines or I can advocate for my constituents. I think it would be irresponsible of me not to fight for what I think is important in that money.'" [Palm Beach Post; 2/22/09] Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] "Miami Republican Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart also voted against the bill but secured funding - from $600,000 for Hialeah's police department to upgrade equipment to $6 million for the University of Miami's William Lehman Injury Research Center." [Miami Herald; 3/3/09] Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-05) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] Representative Cliff Stearns (FL-06) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] Representative Bill Posey (FL-15) - "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] Representative Pete Hoekstra (MI-02) - "If you know of someone thinking of buying first home, now may be the time. Stimulus incentive is very generous! Up to 8k! Check it out." [Representative Pete Hoekstra's Twitter page; 2/18/09] Representative Leonard Lance (NJ-07) - "Officials are hoping more federal money will soon be flowing to the Green Brook Flood Control Project. Under the terms of the stimulus plan signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama, infrastructure projects that are "shovel-ready" could be the first to be funded with economic recovery money. That's the hope of Rep. Leonard Lance, R-Clinton Township...'This is a classic example of a ‘shovel-ready' project,' Lance said after the tour." [mycentraljersey.com; 2/17/09] Representative Greg Walden (OR-02) - "I figure my job is to try and do whatever I can to clear the hurdles and get the projects going and the people back to work using these funds." [Mail Tribune; 2/19/09] Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-09) - "Luetkemeyer said the project is considered ‘shovel ready' and that's what the economy needs. President Darrell Krueger and Luetkemeyer discussed the educational benefits of the economic stimulus package." [KTVO-TV, 2/16/09] Representative Luetkemeyer referred to a loan and grant from the economic recovery as "critical." "Clearly, the 328 residents of Frankford will benefit from this grant and I appreciate the USDA's willingness to help this community." [The People's Tribune, 12/22/09] Representative Don Young (AK-AL) - "Alaskan Congressman Don Young won a victory for the Alaska Native contracting program and other Alaska small business owners last night in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. [Congressman Don Young's Press Release; 2/13/09] Representative Ken Calvert (CA-44) - "All of us in the Inland Empire will do what we can to direct as much money as we can." [The Press Enterprise; 2/13/09] Representative John Mica (FL-07) - "I applaud President Obama's recognition that high-speed rail should be part of America's future." [Congressman John Mica Press Release; 2/13/09] Mica was also one of "Nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no's, joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yesses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash." [Politico; 2/19/09] [*]McCain said during the campaign (about earmarks) that he would not allow them to happen and if anyone tried to get them he promised "We would know them by their names". [*]Well now you have the names of some of the biggest republican hypocrites.

Well, get ready to laugh some more at the hypocrisy of republican Boehner (a/k/a Mr. Coppertone): Re: healthcare debate Seems like Boehner was complaining about not getting input on the healthcare debate and not having them televised. Well, he was invited to a bipartisan healtcare summit next week and now he's worried about the size of the room, whether there will be tv cameras and whether it is a "set up". Are you kidding me?? The size of the room, a set up and tv cameras? Well, on that last note, I can understand how he would be nervous after the smack down Pres. Obama gave to the GOP at their retreat during a Q & A on tv. I do what I can to keep people laughing. :biggrin:

George Bush turned a surplus into a deficit by doing the following: 1) giving two tax cuts to the rich 2) starting an unnecessary war in Iraq 3) passing a huge medicare drug plan (pharma benefited) He did NOT have any way to pay for any of this. No one asked him, either. But we taxpayers pay for it. Because of the failed economic policies of the bush administration and alan greenspan, which included de-regulation for wall street - we now have the worst economy since the great depression. George bush is responsible for that. President Obama had to infuse money into the economy to keep it from completely collapsing. Most economist agree that the stimulus did this. The unemployment rate would be closer to 15% now if it weren't for the stimulus. The unemployment rate was increasing for the last year of the bush administration. For the last 18 months of the bush administration, the american people collectively lost $12 TRILLION dollars (lost wages, devalued homes and devalued investments) amounting to about $40,000 for each man, woman and child and no one in his administration has been held responsible for this. It took 8 years for bush to screw up america, and Pres. Obama can't fix it in one. The Iraq war will never be a success. Because it was an unnecessary war resulting in over 4300 deaths. There was no connection to 9/11, no WMD's. And the end does not justify the means. So there should not be any credit for this war by anyone. It should have never happened. Pres. Obama owns the Afghanistan war now. Even though he didn't start it, he has made the decision to escalate it and he will be judged on this. Since bush didn't address many of the problems facing American and just kicked the can down the road, Pres. Obama will be judged on those too: healthcare, clean energy, energy independence, global warming, wall street regulations, and job creation, among others. Though the conservatives are trying to rewrite history we cannot escape the profound and prolonged effect the failed bush policies has had on this country.

I have been on femara for breast cancer since 2003. It did not cause heartburn from me, but being filled too much did. When I got an unfill, the heartburn resolved. This heartburn occured despite being on nexium. I would say to anyone who has consistent heartburn to get an upper GI to see what is going on. You could have a hiatal hernia or you are just too tight. It is dangerous to put up with constant reflux and heartburn. The esophagus is not made to withstand the acid. It can cause cellular changes which can lead to esophageal cancer. I know of what I speak, because my husband died of esophageal cancer at age 56 from years of heartburn and GERD and he tried everything to treat it. Don't put up with being too tight to lose weight. It is not healthy.

Congratulations on your baby girl! It sounds like you had a rough time of it but I hope both you and your baby are doing well. Congratulations, again and take care and enjoy your new baby.

Rein in spending with "Pay as you go": Well, you'd think with all the yapping the republicans and teabaggers are doing about spending that this bill would be supported by them. Not so fast: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: February 6, 2010 I am curious to know why Sen. Richard Burr, an avowed fiscal conservative, a man who is always telling us that he wants a balanced budget and despite voting for almost every deficit increase that the Bush administration requested, voted against the pay-as-you-go budget rule ("Roll call," Jan. 31)? This is the plan that was in place during the Clinton years, when we balanced the budget. That pay-as-you-go legislation was eliminated in 2002 in order to allow President Bush to run his tax cuts for the wealthy through and subsequently allowed the Republican legislature to pass the incredibly expensive Medicare drug act with absolutely no way to pay for it — plus start and conduct two wars — again, with no way to pay for them other than to borrow from future generations of Americans. Now, after all the crying and teeth-gnashing from conservatives about spending increases, Burr, instead of showing approval for a return to the pay-as-you-go system, voted, along with all 39 other Republican senators, against that plan. Could it be that Burr is more interested in playing politics than he is in a balanced budget? So we had pay as you go under Clinton and enjoyed a budget SURPLUS, then pay as you go was eliminated by REPUBLICAN bush so he could give more money to the rich and start two wars he couldn't pay for. That created a deficit that Obama inherited. Now Pres. Obama signed a bill Friday reinstating these pay as you go budget rules. So, it's the democratic presidents who reigned in spending, as will Pres. Obama, and the republicans who spend like crazy (to help the rich and start wars, among other things). And not a single "I'm so concerned about spending" republican senators voted for this bill. WHAT HYPOCRITES.

Here's the policy and attitude under the bush administration that got us into the mess we are in today - the mess that Pres. Obama has to get us out of: Cheney to Treasury: "Deficits don't matter" Former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill was told "deficits O'Neill, fired in a shakeup of Bush's economic team in December 2002, raised objections to a new round of tax cuts and said the president balked at his more aggressive plan to combat corporate crime after a string of accounting scandals because of opposition from "the corporate crowd," a key constituency. O'Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter," he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: "We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due." A month later, Cheney told the Treasury secretary he was fired. That's right - the republican policies are to allow corporate greed and scandal (which we taxpayers pay for) and to ignore deficits (NOW THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART) when they happen under republican presidents, and to fire whoever tells them the truth.

By LeighaMason: So our current economic crisis can be traced directly back to deregulation of the markets. Greed has to be held in check by regulations. You are so right. And that is my other mantra (the first being that without hypocrisy the republicans would have nothing) and that is: Regulate, baby, regulate. As if we need to take any advice or opinions from the conservatives or the economists they quote - their policies are what got us in this mess. So they should just sit on the sidelines, be appropriately contrite and shut up.

You said you weren't going to particpate anymore and then you did. Another conservative lie. And yes, I cut and paste, but AFTER a thread has gone off in a different direction. I started this thread and don't want to see you take it in another direction.

Republican hypocrisy and medicare: When the healthcare bill in the senate contained about $400 billion in cuts to medicare (eliminating a lot of waste and duplication) well the republicans were all over it - yapping about death panels, rationed care, etc.. Using the scare tactics they are so well known for. All of this came from Newt Gingrich, among others. But he personally tried to ram through deep cuts in Medicare in 1995 and went so far as to shut down the federal government to bully Pres. Clinton to accept those cuts. But even as they are decrying the democratic healthcare plan they are trying to push their "Roadmap for America's Future" put out by republican Rep. Paul Ryan. This roadmap is of an economic agenda that hasn't changed one bit in response to the economic failures of the bush years. It calls for privatization of social security (how's your 401K doing?) and doing away with medicare for those currently under 55. They would be given vouchers (republicans love vouchers) to purchase for-profit private health insurance instead of being able to get not-for-profit medicare. The CBO has already analyzed this plan to mean for those over 55: higher premiums for some, reduced benefits for others. In other words, cuts in medicare. But yet the republicans yap about the democrat plan as if they really care about medicare. What hypocrisy!!

Extend bush's tax cuts? That is the answer to everything from the republicans. That's what contributed to the deficit under bush. And to one of the messes Pres. Obama has had to clean up. This thread is about republican hypocrisy. You said you were not going to participate anymore. Great! But stop hijacking this thread with your cut and paste articles from conservative websites.

Pattygreen: And you ignored this, except to say that "he had to spend all that money to get us out of Bush's mess". Because that's true. I have offered a number of charts, graphs, etc.. and facts that show that the stimulus was needed and it worked. It added to the deficit, but it was still the right thing to do. And most economists agree with me, not you.

There are agencies, like the CBO, who analyze these things. They don't just put out opinions, they deal with real numbers and facts. That's their job to do this. But once again, when the facts dispute your opinion, you ignore them.

You might not agree but that doesn't make you right. Because you're not, you're wrong. Exclusive: Obama stimulus reduced our pain, experts say By Paul Wiseman and Barbara Hansen, USA TODAY President Obama's stimulus package saved jobs — but the government still needs to do more to breathe life into the economy, according to USA TODAY's quarterly survey of 50 economists. Unemployment would have hit 10.8% — higher than December's 10% rate — without Obama's $787 billion stimulus program, according to the economists' median estimate. The difference would translate into another 1.2 million lost jobs. But almost two-thirds of the economists said the government should do more to spur job growth. Suggestions included suspending payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, increasing spending on infrastructure, enacting a flat tax on income and extending jobless benefits. The economists expect the jobless rate to remain in double digits until the third quarter. David Berson, chief economist at PMI Group, worries that the housing market and the economy will suffer when the government's tax credit to first-time home buyers expires in April and the Fed stops supporting the housing market by purchasing mortgage-backed securities by March 31. Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services, is relatively optimistic. He sees unemployment falling to 8.9% by the fourth quarter of this year. Cheney says other economists are "nervous Nellies," shell-shocked by the length and depth of this downturn. They've forgotten that "the deeper the recession, the faster you come out of it." But Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial, says creating jobs is tougher than it was the last time unemployment passed 10% in the early '80s. The reason: The 1981-82 recession was engineered by the Federal Reserve to tame inflation through high interest rates. The Fed brought the economy back simply by reversing course and cutting rates. This time, the Fed has pushed short-term rates to near zero and has flooded markets with money. But the financial system is so damaged by the Wall Street meltdown that it isn't converting easy money into loans and economic growth: "It's like the Fed is dropping money from a helicopter and it's getting caught in the trees," Swonk says. The economists don't expect Fed chief Ben Bernanke to take his foot off the accelerator — and push rates up — until the third quarter. So they don't expect any change in the Fed's zero-interest-rate policy when its Open Market Committee meets Tuesday and Wednesday. "Bernanke and his colleagues are very committed to doing the right thing," Cheney says. They learned from Japan's long 1990s slump, during which policymakers kept declaring premature victory and raising rates and taxes: "It's really important not to snuff out a recovery before it gets going." I wonder if any of those 1.2 million whose jobs were saved by the stimulus are the ones holding up the signs that say "teabag the liberals before they teabag you"?

But you keep missing the point that we tried it bush's way (the conservative, give tax cuts to the rich, way) and are living with the disasterous results. That's why the republicans and neocon economists have no credibility when it comes to the economy.

It's not just my opinion, the economists, who study these things, say it. You have to spend during a time of recession to get money into the economy, to get banks loaning money again to small businesses so they can meet payroll and buy inventory, etc.. Money moves our economy and it wasn't there before the stimulus. The stimulus helped get the economy moving and saved or created millions of jobs.

The stimulus was very effective and most economists now say so. Even the hypocritical republicans who voted against it and then accepted the money in their districts say so. Then they praised the stimulus.

Diane Feinstein didn't run for vice-president and doesn't have presidential aspirations and isn't called upon to be a spokesman for any political movement. She isn't putting herself out there as some leader of anything. If she considered a run for president, I am sure the neo-cons would be out there with both guns blazing. The now closed Palin thread offered many concrete examples of why not only liberals, but most republicans and most americans do not think Palin is qualified to be president. Poll after poll shows this. She appeals to only a very small, select group of people.

Yes, there are ways to prove it. There are all kinds of people (they're called economists) whose job it is to analyze these things. They have said the stimulus is responsible for the economy having been prevented from going "over the cliff" and turning around. As I have said before, when the facts don't support your opinions, you just ignore them.

That's fine by me. But my original posts were relevant to what is going on in the political arena today. You had to dig up old stuff about Barbra Streisand and Gloria Steinem. So I was compelled to respond in kind.

The current deficit is, for the most part, from the bank bailouts, which started under bush. Then the stimulus which was necessary to undo bush's disastrous economic policies (i.e. de-regulate wall street) and keep the economy from the free fall. Almost all the economists agree that the stimulus stopped the free fall of our economy and helped turn it around. CBO estimates that unemployment would be 25% without it. But Pres. Obama gets very little credit for helping our economy because all of a sudden the conservative right and republicans care about the deficit and they yap about it daily. And yes, everything would be much worse without what Pres. Obama has done. And that counts for something with me.

No one cares about the conservative spin on the Obama administration's agenda. The republicans had their chance. They had almost 8 years and we are living with the results of their failed policies. So they are the LAST people to be giving advice on how to run an economy. Obama had to clean up bush's mess. That costs money. Plus he is investing in jobs and the economy and our country's future. Getting the economy healthy and back on track is the best way to reduce the deficit as well as getting healthcare reform.

You are including the 70 million who are under age 18 and most likely be covered under s-chip programs. But even if a government run health plan would be extended to all americans, I believe they could handle it better than the private insurance companies are handling it now. And without rationing care Oh, that's right, they don't have to worry about handling it, they just have to deny claims that result in people dying. :thumbdown: If you had a government plan and they denied you care the first thing you would do would be call your congressman. As scared as they are about getting re-elected all the time, the last thing they would want is angry constituents going public with denied care. They would make sure that didn't happen. They want to get re-elected. Under private insurance, your only recourse is to sue. Lengthy and expensive.

The deficits under Pres. Obama are the result of his cleaning up bush's messes. So they wouldn't be as high if bush had done his job right. BTW - latest poll: only 7% of people blame Pres. Obama for the current economy while 37% blame bush. I agree.