What is Digg?47 Comments
- gronne, on 10/12/2007, -6/+51We always knew they'd be dumping their financial mess on the Dems. Then in 2008 the GOP campaign on the Dems not having straightened up their own mess yet.
What a country! - zweben, on 10/12/2007, -4/+45And the really sad thing is, a lot of people are actually going to fall for it.
- martalli, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29This is an unsurprising end to the least effective Congresses in memory. When Congress is only in session 2-3 days a week, how much can they possibly get done?
- hambend, on 10/12/2007, -5/+29Run the country, or knee-cap the dems? Seems pretty clear some Republicans would happily watch the country turn to ***** as long as it gets them re-elected.
Seriously, who would vote for people like that? - geronimo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24Sweet, now they can blame iraq and the overgrown government on democrats.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Sadly, just under 50% of voting americans.
- JayD16, on 10/12/2007, -3/+22You're kidding right? You're going to claim that the congress with the least amount of in session days in history just couldn't get these things done?
The middle of working on things?! Its not like this election came out of no where or that the democrats just showed up one day to surprise the incumbents. They've had as much time as any other congress to get these things done and guess what...they haven't and they won't.
Theres no doubt in my mind that this will be used in 2008 against the Dems for spending that half a trillion. Even if we get a surplus, which is impossible at the moment, I'm sure they would just turn it around and say it was Bush's doing and that if you vote Clinton her crazy free health care scheme will ruin it all. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22Anyone taking bets the republicans will attack the dems for spending the taxpayers money when these pending bills are approved?
- ZenMojo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21If you can't beat 'em, screw 'em.
- tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -4/+20I saw this story posted on digg a few days ago...it didn't get more than a few diggs...which is just plain wrong because I think this is huge. And it doesn't seem to be getting very much media coverage either.
It is outrageous that the GOP would leave this (a half million dollar clutter of unfinished spending bills!) for the Dems to clean up. They are mandated to do their job. A terrible show of bad character by the GOP...bitter on their way out the door...petty and irresponsible. A real class act showing by the Republicans. Collect your last taxpayer-provided paycheck and get the hell out already. - scabbers, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21The GOP are like some insane biker gang who make themselves at home in your house.
- tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18...edit on the amount of the clutter: a half TRILLION in unfinished spending bills
- Mootabolife, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17Reminds me of what my microeconomics teacher once said. The republicans are spending as much money as humanly possible to restrict democratic spending on public services.
Hmmm... - hobgobbler, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18worst
congress
ever. - tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11@Atomic1fire
...and so they go ...with nice scorched-earth tactics that will affect ALL of us. You approve? - tomboy501, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9So, since the Dems would do it...that makes it okay for the GOP to slack off? No wonder standards in Washington have dropped to all-time low-levels.
And here's another very honest and probably more realistic reason for the what appears to also be a straight-up strategy by the GOP:
FTA: Some Republicans also look forward to using unfinished budget work to gum up an early Democratic agenda that includes raising the minimum wage, negotiating lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries, cutting interest rates on college loans and repealing some tax breaks for oil companies.
"Other stuff may get pushed off the table," said GOP lobbyist Hazen Marshall, a former longtime Capitol Hill aide. "It kills (Democrats') message..." - AngryRepublican, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6*****. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****. *****.
That’s it. I’m done with the GOP. If nothing else, I supported them for their economic responsibility. Even in that department they were a bit shaky, but I stuck to my guns.
But this is inexcusable. This is the most bitter, hateful, irresponsible thing that a politician could do. Of the 11 budget bills they needed to pass in ‘06, they only finished 2. Now they want to wash their hands of the rest so that THEIR names won’t be added to this total filth? They spent less than 100 days in session last year, a new record. They spent days debating ***** like Terri Schiavo and they had plenty of time to get this done. I’d expect this kind of last-minute slacking from a Penn State frat boy, but not from the leaders of the most powerful nation on earth. This is suppose to be your JOB.
***** you, GOP. I’m officially a Libertarian now. - TheEditor1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Actually this is now suprise, every outgoing congress does the exact same thing. No story or big revelation here, sorry folks.
- Dotnetsky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5You guys aren't getting it: The Republicans lost credibility with their big spending, and they lost Congress in part because of it. But! -the Democrats not only went along with big spending, they'll continue to do the same.
Until the American People get FED UP enough to tell both sides of the aisle we won't stand for it any longer, nothing is going to change, because it has nothing to do with "which party". - evilbob333, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Damn straight. I was reading something about this at the Club For Growth (right wing hack organization blah blah blah). Still worth a read if you want to know the effect of this.
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2006/11/fiscal_champs_coburn_and_demin.php
With this Continuing Resolution, and if the Democrats extend it for a year, it will save $17 Billion dollars. Thats right $17,000,000,000.00. And thats from keeping Federal spending at its current level for a year. We ain't even talking about the money we are saving by not spending it on pork.
And all the Democrats have to do to look good is pass a continuing resolution for a year. It's a bastard of a trick on them. Don't pass a spending bill, and get your started on their new agenda. Or bog yourself down in spending and look as bad as the Republicans did. If I were a bookie, it would be even money. - ZenMojo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8Fix their *****, maybe?
You know, there has to be a certain sense that maybe the big broad solution is just to throw it all out and start over from scratch. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Democrats ran on making Congress more responsible when it comes to spending. Republicans just said, OK. Prove it!
Seems fair to me as Americans voted for exactly this. - syndicate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Seriously, do you people even know what you are talking about? Republicans decided not to pass any appropriations bills because a handful of fiscal conservatives decided to hold them up. They held them up because they were riddled with pork barrel projects for both Republicans and Dems alike.
I actually think that is commendable.
In regards to funding current government programs, the Congress will pass a "continuing resolution" funding everything at its current levels. If the big spending Dems want to up spending levels when they get power in a month they have the right to do so. But Republicans made the right call. They have finally put the brakes on big-spending Republicanism.
Too little too late, but its nice to see nonetheless. - Wavey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"The difficulties facing the [GOP] Senate became immediately evident when what should have been a largely trouble-free bill, a $94 billion funding measure for veterans programs and military construction projects, ran into trouble."
"Farm Belt lawmakers, led by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., tried to attach $4.9 billion worth of emergency farm aid to the veterans bill, producing hours of deadlock on the Senate floor."
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/WIRE/211150321/1117/news - ThaddeusGriffen, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Vote Libertarian!
- patience, on 10/12/2007, -8/+10The only reason they are dumping the spending bills is because they know
that their pork projects will now be replaced by Democrat pork projects.
This is nothing new. When the Republicans were in power, the Democrats
did not have a word on the nature of spending.
The Republicans are just being realistic.
Dems will veto their ideas anyway so why waste the time.
Guys: Appropriations bills are always a mess and are
NEVER finished on time. Its just how washington works.
This is the nature of appropriations in Washington. - ThaddeusGriffen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@TheEditor1
Sorry, I am not a tool that votes the party line, but votes for people that support minimal government intervention into my life.
Dems think that they know the best way to spend your money.
Republicans think they know what everyone's moral should be.
Libertarians think people can make their own moral and financial decisions. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6It's sad than an honest critique of our flawed two party system gets dugg down. That's digg for you.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@AngryRepublican: Been there, done that. What took you so long?
- cosmicv, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Given the same environment, everyone know the crats would have done the same thing...I love people who think one party is composed of angels and the other party are demons.
One day I'm gonna develop some way to advantage of these dupes and get rich -- oh wait, the politicians are already doing that... - JayD16, on 10/12/2007, -7/+8They wouldn't do the same thing...they would leave a surplus only to have it dashed on the rocks of a national refund.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Recommended reading: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/worst_congress_ever/page/1
That article explains in painful detail why the last congress has come to be known as "the worst congress ever" and the "do-nothingest" congress. - hlwoodcock, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3As a scientist that depends on Government funding for my research, I am not sure how I feel about this... on one hand I am pissed that the spending bill is not done so decisions can be made on my pending grants, but on the other I am more optimistic that democrats will fund extramural NIH research better than republicans have over the last 3 years.
In the end I am just keeping my fingers crossed for increases in the budgets for basic and life sciences! - omnithought, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Well, no one ever accused the GOP of being ethical or conscientious. They'd ***** on your carpet and then say it's your *****.
- AngryRepublican, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2But wouldn't that be BAD for them? Doesn't the GOP WANT their pork projects?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Sorry, this is *****.
The republicans had majority, and the congress did exactly what the President told them to do. The internal bickering only means that the leadership didn't care enough to whip the dissenters in to line. Also, this was not an isolated incident.
Read this. Please.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/worst_congress_ever
If that's too much reading, just read the section called "STEP TWO
WORK AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE -- AND SCREW UP WHAT LITTLE YOU DO", which starts on page 3.
Salient quote: "in every year that Bush has been president, Congress has failed to pass more than three of the eleven annual appropriations bills on time." - AngryRepublican, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2But to this degree? GOP congress did NOTHING. They were lazy on a whole new level.
- Papabile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Love your comments "AngryRepublican".... only it doesn't square with reality.
The House of Representatives passed all Appropriations Bills this past year incredibly early, by June. The US SENATE is the body that refused to move them.
Why?
Because "moderate" Republicans like Lincoln Chafee, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Specter would not agree to restrict the earmarking. The fact is that the Democratic party has had a woeking majority in the Senate since at least 1998 - siszam, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@ThaddeusGriffen:
No, vote Peace and Freedom party or the closest thing to it in your state. That way the government that is for the people and by the people will really work to the advantage of the people for a change. Libertarians are only a greedier version of Republicans. Both parties want more money in their pockets at the expense of others. - sam1729, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah, it sounds like they want to "cut and run."
- TheEditor1, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3@ThaddeusGriffen:
and waste your vote. DORK! - SuckMyDigg, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Time for a new government. This is asinine. When you have people vying for such outrageous positions of power hurting their own constituents to spite their election losses, it's time to reconstruct the government. Wipe out what we've got and start over with a new plan.
- jackminardi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3What were they expected to do?
- dgaspard, on 10/12/2007, -22/+12You guys are acting like the democrats wouldn't be doing the same thing. Honestly, you really need to stop being so loyal. Digg users seem like they put more blind faith in the democrats than most people do with religion.
The democrats only care about a different set of interest groups than the republicans do. They don't care about making this country or the people better. Jeez people, just think about it for a second. - geekee, on 10/12/2007, -16/+5Then don't approve them
- Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -22/+5you voted them out
dipwad
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