David Weigel | October 3, 2008
That's what a week of buttonholing, dealing, and pressure wrought in the House. Twenty-six Republicans became supporters, as did 32 Democrats, so a total 73 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Republicans voted to ram through the new bailout bill. Compare it to the last roll call, and what changed?
Some safe liberals flipped. Barbara Lee (east
Bay area of California), Neil Abercrombie (Honolulu), David Wu
(Portland and northwest Oregon), are among the very liberal
Democrats who will never face a stiff challenge in their districts
from the GOP. They all switched to "yes" votes.
The black caucus moved. Andre Carson (Indianapolis),
Emmanuel Cleaver (Kansas City, MO), Elijah Cummings (Baltimore),
Donna Edwards (black DC suburbs in Maryland), Al Green (Houston),
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Chicago), Sheila Jackson-Lee (Houston), Carolyn
Cheeks Kilpatrick (Detroit), Bobby Rush (Chicago), Bobby Scott
(Richmond, VA), and Diane Watson (Los Angeles) all went from "no"
to "yes." Add in Barbara Lee and you've got 12 Black Caucus
members, more than a third of the total Democratic switchover, who
did what Barack Obama told them, against sentiment in their
districts. If their intent was to make McCain look weak in
comparison, I think it worked.
Some Republicans were bought off. Florida's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was apparently won over with an extended tax deduction for states without an income tax. Other Republicans were won over with a version of the Craig-Wyden earmark for rural schools.
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And my Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) stood solid as a rock against this
crock.
Too bad I can't brag about either of my Senators.
I could brag on both my Senators (Mary Landrieu D-LA & David Vitter R-LA) and my Congressman (Steve Scalise R-LA), but frankly considering the way they vote on most everything else I just don't have the heart. They don't leave much to brag about when it comes to so much other legislation.
Add in Barbara Lee and you've got 12 Black Caucus members,
more than a third of the total Democratic switchover, who did what
Barack Obama told them, against sentiment in their
districts
So they flipped based on racial "solidarity" and against the wishes
of their constituents.
Double fail.
Of course it came down to payola and politics - there is no
clear answer to the question of:
Which is worse? This miserable bill and more massive public debt
followed by insolvency -
(or)
a credit gridlock and economic collapse?
Dave and Epi,
How can you both be so bigoted? I have never seen such racial
hatred in these pages since . . . since I don't know when!
My rep flipped. I expect Northup will have a commercial drilling him over it in about 5 minutes. Not that she would have voted any different, but she can at least say she would have.
Facebook is probably not the best venue for politics, but let's
punish the politicians who voted for this monstrosity:
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28888303533
I don't know who I respect less, the spinelss losers who flipped
their votes over a little candy or persuading or the full retards
who always liked the idea.
Regardless, when we all go to hell in a handbasket, none of those
who voted for the bill will take responsibility. They have all
issued CYA statements saying "I hate this bill. Worst bill ever.
But I can't help it. Economists tell me I have to do something."
That way, they can always say they "spoke out" against the
bill.
That's what a week of buttonholing, dealing, and
pressure bribing wrought in the House.
There
Ford (the company) asked my rep to change his vote. Apparently
Ford was having no problems selling cars until the credit tightened
up just recently or something.
Liberal democrat == Big business
Not that that is a surprise or anything.
I just asked my business partner what the appropriate thing to
throw in the Potomac river would be (I figured tea doesnt quite
work).
His response - congressmen.
Sounds good to me.
Where is the friggin' stock market rally, now that the money boys have just been given everything they wanted and then some?
robc,
Traditionally dollars are thrown across the Potomac. Which would be
quite appropriate as the federal government seems to want them at a
value suited to no other purpose. Of course if you're a stickler
for authenticity, history demands they be Silver Dollars. If you're
fortunate enough to be in possession of any, I'd suggest hanging on
to em.
My rep voted correctly (Culberson, TX-7). John Cornyn wasn't getting my vote before, but now I'm motivated to vote so I can vote against him. (LP, of course, so nothing really useful.)
"Florida's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was apparently won over with an
extended tax deduction for states without an income tax. "
Can somebody tell me what that was? Is that referring to the option
of deducting sales tax paid in lieu of deducting state income
taxes?
My wife and I were getting ready to hit the ol' soup kitchen
before we started our regular day jobs of selling matches on the
sidewalk, when I noticed all my credit card companies are still
sending me "convenience checks" and still increasing my credit
limit.
Damn shame nobody can lend/borrow money anymore.
Damn, Courtney stayed strong. I'm amazed, but impressed. I guess if I ever meet him now, I'll just punch him in the face instead of the nuts.
Where is the friggin' stock market rally, now that the money
boys have just been given everything they wanted and then
some?
That's the beauty of it. They can always tell us how much WORSE it
would have been if we hadn't ACTED NOW.
I just got the weirdest email from Outback Steakhouse -- a
promotion thanking Congress for all their hard work. It broke my
sarcasm detector. Can't figure it out:
http://www.outback.com/email/congresstotable2008.htm
It's also interesting that, before it even became clear that this thing would pass, Citigroup and Wells Fargo started fighting over who's going to get to acquire Wachovia.
Transcript of press conference, March 2009:
Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.
My fellow Americans. Our plan to rescue the economy has failed, due
to our inability in October of last year to act quickly
enough.
The national debt is now approaching $42 trillion, home prices are
at pre-1960 levels, unemployment is standing at 36%. On a personal
level, I know several people who have had to sell at least one of
their yachts.
Therefore, in order to curb rampant inflation and unemployment,
emergency measures are in order.
Starting tomorrow, the U.S. dollar will no longer be valid as
currency. You may queue up at your local bank to begin exchanging
for the new scrip, which will be known as Fecals.
Fecals and USD's will exchange at the rate of...
(whispered aside: "Did everyone on the list already make their
1:1 exchanges? Good.")
....5 USD for 1 Fecal. Remember, in 30 days, US dollars will no
longer be accepted as valid currency, so please make your exchanges
in a quick but orderly fashion.
Thank you, and GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I'm already trying to contribute to the economy and taxes as little as I can, via barter and self-reliance. And now the little I do pay on taxes is going to pay off the stupid. Sometimes I wish I wasn't afraid to cheat on taxes and stop paying the Washington fuckers completely.
So some members of congress had a movement and passed this
bill.
It all becomes clearer now.
Traditionally dollars are thrown across the
Potomac.
Wasn't that the Rapphannock River, near the sign in Fredricksberg,
VA?
Well, my representative voted nay. Good for him. A nearby representative who is an acquaintance of mine (we went to K-12 together) also voted nay. Good for her.
I predicted it would eventually pass. I'd hoped it wouldn't, but
hope in one hand a shit in the other ...
GWB gives a present to Wall Street and 73 percent of the Dems voted
for it. So tell me blue teamers, why did we elect a
Democratic legislautre anyway?
So tell me blue teamers, why did we elect a Democratic
legislautre anyway?
For bipartisanship.
It's also interesting that, before it even became clear that
this thing would pass, Citigroup and Wells Fargo started fighting
over who's going to get to acquire Wachovia.
Right!
But only because on Tuesday of this week a tax change went into
effect that allowed a purchaser of distressed assets (WFC of WB
here) to gain some 25% on its write down of said assets. ($30
billion gain here)
(Disclosure - only HEARD about this change on Bloomberg - its
plausible but only adds to the mystery of the manuveuring behind
the scenes)
GWB gives a present to Wall Street and 73 percent of the
Dems voted for it. So tell me blue teamers, why did we elect a
Democratic legislautre anyway?
because when they rape us in the ass, they're decent enough to give
a reach around?
Tee-shirt idea for Wall Street execs:
I made a bunch of risky loans, and all I got was this $700 Billion
bailout...
From MSNBC: Will
bailout crimp Democrats' spending plans?
Answer: No.
Indeed, Obama made phone calls Wednesday and Thursday to several House Democrats . . . assuring them that, if elected, he will sign a new economic stimulus spending bill.
At Pelosi's press briefing Thursday, she indicated that the $800 billion is expected to be offset, in part, by congressional action raising tax rates on higher-income people.
You figure that wall street would show some apreciation and not
be down 150 points. (and net about 350 since this thing was
passed)
bunch of ingrates.
At Pelosi's press briefing Thursday, she indicated that the
$800 billion is expected to be offset, in part, by congressional
action raising tax rates on higher-income people.
Higher-income people... Wall Street Execs? So they'll be getting my
$700 billion back to... give back to Wall Street execs. Does this
strike anyone else as being a bit... incestuous?
Oh and re: spending cutbacks in lieu of this $700 billion
bailout... I. told. you. so.
We obviously need the government to spend more in order to stimulate the economy!
Kolohe - the Dow is diving but the financials are holding up
nicely.
Ag stocks like POT and MOS are off $30-$50 for the week. Energy and
industrials are getting killed as well.
I am down 8% for the week and I feel good about it.
Ow, my ass!
It's the American Structured Securities Rescue Act for a Prudent
Economy.
As you may have heard, filling the bailout bill full of pork
worked just as the Senate predicted. The House just passed
it.
Despite that fact that millions of Americans wrote and called to
say No!, the traitorous Senate and House (and soon to be President)
said Yes!
It is time for a housecleaning! Time to show them that they work
for Main Street, not Wall Street.
Based on quick analysis, it looks like there are 2-4 Senators who
voted Yes who are in tight races, and 3 or 4 more who are
vulnerable. In the House, the analysis is similar, 7 or 8
vulnerable races where a little bit of influence might make all the
difference. Perhaps many more considering the switchers.
Targeting these so-called "representatives of the people," with
print and radio ads highlighting their betrayal, could really make
an impact on their chances for re-election -- and put the fear of
constituency back into the Washington elite.
Are you interested in making it happen? There isn't much time
before the election, so it will take funds and effort. Can you
participate by offering time, skills or funds? Please make a pledge
to un-elect these traitors.
Contact the Constituent Response Team at
constituentresponse@gmail.com.
My rep (Mary Fallin, R-OK) voted no the first time (due, she
said, to the majority of her constituents being against it) and
then switched to yes today. I guess the constituents either a) all
changed their minds in the past few days or b) don't matter in the
face of that much pork.
I'm more disappointed in Senator Coburn, though. He ran on a
campaign of saying no to earmarks and then goes and votes for this.
Guess who I'm not voting to re-elect...
How good will it be for Obama that it turns out to have been the flip-flopping of the Black caucus the sold the country down the river?
Will bailout crimp Democrats' spending plans?
Hush, dammit. "Change", repeat after joe, "Change!"
Now HERE is a great gem of wisdom:
An increasing number of House Democrats, looking at Obama's campaign momentum, assume he will be president. But many do not believe his and their spending desires will be limited by huge debt, borrowing costs and inflation.
No, not that lack of money will decrease our spending, not at all.
What kind of f-ing morons are these people?
To whit, Pelosi, who's entire qualifications seem to be that she's
sleeping with a succesful real estate developer, goes on to
say:
"And if the bailout bill ends up costing the Treasury money, she said, "the financial services industry and those affected by this would have to make up that shortfall."
Ok, let me see if I got this right. We need to give them $700B,
because they're insolvent without it, and our economy will crash.
However, if it ends up costing us $700B, they'll have to pay it,
but this is like our bombs in Pakistan (the ones that only kill bad
guys) and them having to pay back the $700B won't make them
insolvent and taking $700B out of their collective asses to pay
back the treasury won't cause our economy to crash.
WTF? This is the speaker of the house?!?
I happened to have a Representative that stayed true to the cause.
Not that there is any solace in that, but it's something.
So, if the vote to go to war in Iraq can be laid at the feet of Repubs because a majority of Dems voted against it, can the bailout be laid at the feet of Dems because a majority of Repubs voted against it?
Thus ends capitalism in the USA.
We know have what? Corporatism? I don't know is there a word for a
system were profits are private and loses are public, that is other
than fucked up bullshit?
Please make a pledge to un-elect these traitors.
Sorry, I'm a bit broke just now. Something just came up.
For you knee-jerk Pelosi-blamers --
This entire "crisis" would have escaped her until a new Congress
came into focus had it not been for Paulson/Bush catching their
head on fire in the last week or so.
Thus ends capitalism in the USA.
We know have what? Corporatism? I don't know is there a word for a
system were profits are private and loses are public, that is other
than fucked up bullshit?
Not all losses, just the ones the Secretary of Treasury decides to
make public. And yes, there is a word for that.
I shoulda gone public sector. Teaching... Teaching pays pretty
well, I hear:
Seattle teachers to receive raises of 9-10%
Teachers with that education and experience will earn a total of $79,716 this year, up about $6,800 over last year, according to the union. (That increase includes a 4.4 percent cost-of-living increase from the state as well as the jump in supplemental pay.)
On the other key measure - supplemental pay for brand-new teachers - Seattle now ranks first among the 12 districts. First-year teachers with bachelor's degrees will earn $42,005 this school year, the union said, about $3,900 more than new teachers earned last year.
So that's why King County jacked my assessment up $51,000 when
housing prices are down over 18%! Now I get it. Fucking
government.
Shrike, I'm glad to see Pelosi arm-in-arm with President Bush on
this. I knew they could forget their differences.
So, if the vote to go to war in Iraq can be laid at the feet
of Repubs because a majority of Dems voted against it, can the
bailout be laid at the feet of Dems because a majority of Repubs
voted against it?
The Democrats are the party of the poor and the honest working
people, and don't you ever forget it.
So, if the vote to go to war in Iraq can be laid at the feet
of Repubs because a majority of Dems voted against it, can the
bailout be laid at the feet of Dems because a majority of Repubs
voted against it?
War! That's it! That will pull us out of this recession/depression!
It worked in WWII!
Oh wait...
So, if the vote to go to war in Iraq can be laid at the feet
of Repubs because a majority of Dems voted against it, can the
bailout be laid at the feet of Dems because a majority of Repubs
voted against it?
In the theory of reality, yes, but in the reality of MSM, no.
shrike,
And I should spare her in my wrath because Bush and Paulson made
her do it? You give me no reason to subtract her from my list of
people I don't want in government, sorry. Bush and Paulson were
already on it, and both are leaving DC, anyway.
this is the first time i have ever literally wanted to cry over a piece of legislation...
shrike, get real. Pelosi and the Dems have done...ABSOLUTE
FUCKING ZERO to stop anything Bush feels like doing, like, oh, I
don't know, the war, the bailout, telecom immunity,
wiretapping, etc.
It is so ridiculous that I am stunned by the fact that she is not
getting savaged for it more. But hey, partisan hackery goes a long
way.
My rep (Mary Fallin, R-OK) voted no the first time (due, she
said, to the majority of her constituents being against it) and
then switched to yes today.
Well, at least she tried to get it right the first time. My senior
senator (the esteemed Diane Feinstein, once considerer VP material)
went on TV to say her office has received 100,000 emails (yes,
that's right), of which 90,000 were AGAINST the bill.
However, she said (in stentorian tones), people obviously don't
understand what they're asking for -- and it's her responsibility
to vote the CORRECT way in spite of their pleadings to the
contrary.
I am not making this up. Where's de Toqueville when you need
him?
Democrats: Tools of Wall Street, purveyors of Corporate
Welfare.
Does that sting, Democrats? Huh? Does it? I hope it does, because
you will never live it down.
The idiot's already signed the bill! Jesus, can't he give us
some time to mourn or something? God, this is the worst
Congress-and-President combo ever.
I think this is how the Planet of the Apes gets started.
So that's why King County jacked my assessment up $51,000
when housing prices are down over 18%! Now I get it. Fucking
government.
Change! Just wait for the employee free choice act. What fun will
be had there!
I am not making this up.
I know you're not, I saw the same thing. Hilarious that someone
could even say that.
Does that sting, Democrats? Huh? Does it? I hope it does,
because you will never live it down.
No, man, this is "Change", didn't you see it was because of Obama
calling in the bro's? "Change!" It's a good thing. "Change!"
However, she said (in stentorian tones), people obviously
don't understand what they're asking for -- and it's her
responsibility to vote the CORRECT way in spite of their pleadings
to the contrary.
I am not making this up. Where's de Toqueville when you need
him?
When was the last time Feinstein voted against something that would
hurt her i-banker husband?
The cunt who represents me voted for it too.
Normally I would wince at this, but today...
In the immortal words of Johnny Rotten:
"Ever feel like you've been cheated?"
However, she said (in stentorian tones)
The tone of voice Feinstein uses just grates the fuck out of me.
She always takes a tone of voice like she's a kindergarten teacher
lecturing a particularly dim child.
Well, my representative voted against it, thankfully. Not like
my letter to him had anything to do with it, I'm sure. Just dumb
luck, I guess. My other local representative is dead
dead dead was not present.
58 whores. Before, some of these flip-floppers may have had principals, but to be bought off soooooo cheap by the so callled sweeteners..... whores, every last one of them.
I'm gonna sing The Doom Song now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqcn_TPu4qQ
The cunt who represents me voted for it too.
The cunt who represents me did the same, after a huge flip-flop.
She actually made me respect her by voting against it the first
time, and lost it all and more by voting for it this time.
FUCK YOU BETTY SUTTON!
Well, after both House members flipped, Hawaii's solidly
Democratic Congressional delegation went 4-0 for the amended
bill.
I'd call them all motherfuckers, but Hirono's female.
I'm not normally opposed to the use of the insult "cunt", but I really don't see what a representative's gender has to do with these yea votes. There are as many panicky Chicken-Little statist assholes who voted for the bill who are male as there are female, and probably more. So I really don't see any use in pointedly using the word "cunt" here, seeing as how judging by the demographics who voted for the bill, it is rather inaccurate. In other words, if we're going to use the term "cunt" let's be inclusive about it...they're ALL cunts.
Guys, me rep was Baghdad Jim... so uhh, although I sent letters,
I can assure you they fell on deaf ears-- or blind eyes...
whatever.
Doesn't matter. He's a tool of Wall Street, and giver of Corporate
Welfare. Democrats and their friends in Big Business.
In other words, if we're going to use the term "cunt" let's
be inclusive about it...they're ALL cunts.
So you're suggesting some form of 'cunt' affirmative action here.
Hmm... I'll get back to you.
Smacky -- the females who voted for it are cunts, the dudes who
voted for it are pricks, except for the gay ones who can also be
called cunts.
I can draw you a diagram if you're still confused ... :o)
This is an awesome piece of legislation that just passed. There
is no better way to boost the economy than to give tax breaks to
wooden arrow toy companies.
Can we please start addressing Paulson by his correct title,
Comrade Paulson.
On a side note, I feel pissed that this happened but not shocked by
any stretch of the imagination. It was only a matter of time. They
would have kept bringing this legislation back to the floor until
it passed.
Whatever happened to this part of the Constitution:
Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives;
All of this tossing of "cunt" about brings to mind a brutal but clever Derek and Clive bit from many years back. Seems strangely a'propos.
I hereby call for a Bailout Boycott. Depositors should withdraw
all of their money from any bank that takes a penny of bailout
money. Debtors should, if possible, walk away from any debts owed
to those banks. Naked short selling should begin en masse on the
stock of those banks. Time to get creative, bleed them until they
break. Hey, the 700 Gigadollars are as good as gone anyway so we
might as well show them what a real crisis looks like.
Well, it's the thought that counts.
Compromise and bipartisanship always makes things worse. The bill that passed is even worse than the original.
If we keep calling craven Congresspeople "cunts", the cunts of
the world will rise up and smack us in the face.
So keep on doing it.
Well, if people were angry enough at the dickholes who voted for
this monstrosity to unseat them, that would be a net win for the
Republicans. But then again, most of the Democratic switchovers
were in safe Democratic districts, so I don't think the composition
of Congress will change due to this.
Quick note on the CBC. Most members are elected from safe
Democratic districts, so its sort of redundant to say safe district
Dems and CBC members switched.
J sub,
Fucking Cheeks, man. Fucking Cheeks.
By the way, do you know what she does in Congress? I've never heard
of her introducing any legislation. Seems like my kind of
congressweasel, but her big signs up all over Detroit during the
primary touting all the bacon he brought home would suggest
otherwise.
""""So, if the vote to go to war in Iraq can be laid at the feet
of Repubs because a majority of Dems voted against it, can the
bailout be laid at the feet of Dems because a majority of Repubs
voted against it?""""
You can. But it ignores the fact that both were a developed by
republicans in the Bush admin. If we use that logic in a
Executive/Legislative format, The Iraq war was R/R and the bailout
was R/D. Republicans hold two-thirds of the responsibility. It
takes two branches of government to pass a law.
On the bailout I fault both sides. I fault the yeas for their
votes, and I fault the neas for not working hard enough to get more
neas.
what stunned me was how biased the media is. every channel was
pounding the table to pass this bill. the same group controls our
markets, government, and media. it is dominated by rich jews (at
the helm of all media and wall street corporations).
this was the state of germany before ww2 - the same group, doing
the same thing.
next stop - runaway inflation (just like germany) - they have
turned out dollar into trash (see weimar republic...germany)
fyi - the federal reserve is a private company that is run for
private profits. our government cannot even audit them! (and 10 of
12 fed governors are jewish) how can 1% of our population (jewish)
control our federal government, all media, and our
money???????
this is outrageous and the cause of all of our malaise - they have
a different agenda than the 99% of us who agree that this bailout
was an outrage. see Ron Paul, our last best hope.
tell everyone about the fed being private....also we have to unseat
all who voted for the wall street giveaway
and no more arguments over dems/repubs - that is
counterproductive. what you have is a class war. the super rich
against all of us. the two parties are a mirage of choice. both
want more war, both voted for this bill, both want to protect
israel at all costs - total sellouts.
both parties and the media were exposed via this bill. they are THE
SAME. they are aligned with their masters, not with us, the
people.
things we can do to help:
remove money from banks -
spread the word about ron paul
spread the word about the federal reserve
unseat those who voted for the rip-off
use your fed dollars to buy gold and silver (you will profit
handsomly when the runaway inflatioin hits)
i read where one guy was writing messages on the federal reserve
dollars - to spread the message using their own paper
texasliberty,
I stopped reading your posts when you said "controlled by rich
Jews". What the fuck is it with you people and Jews? I know Judaism
is a busybody religion, but can you really think of one that isn't?
And I don't think that's your problem anyway. You people are the
ones that make libertarians look like weirdoes. If you would just
shut up, you could really help us a lot be default.
Wait a minute...texasliberty is a satirist, isn't he? Please God tell me he's satirizing.
God, economist, you're a fucking butthole. Obviously texasliberty is just speaking truth to power.
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