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| Home Front: Politix |
| Conservative Democrats sour on spending |
| 2010-07-21 |
| Two years ago, Kathy Dahlkemper,, a mother of five from Erie, Pa., won a seat in Congress on a pledge to do something about the national debt. Then she went to Washington -- and immediately voted to increase borrowing by nearly $1 trillion. Back home, Dahlkemper, a Democrat, has no trouble defending her support for the stimulus package, which economists say probably saved the nation from disaster. I've seen at least two other articles today with phrasing that's either identical to that "economists say probably saved the nation from disaster" or close enough to it that there's no difference. I didn't see the same phrasing yesterday or last week or last month. I'm guessing it just came out on the Dem talking points this morning. "I didn't think I could live with myself if we had gone into a depression," she said over iced Pepsi at the Eat'n Park diner. "We were on the right side of history with that vote." Now, however, the recession is over and people want the borrowing to stop. Although the jobless rate tops 10 percent in parts of this sprawling district of farmers and blue-collar workers north of Pittsburgh, Dahlkemper said there's no more sense of emergency about the economy. "The sense of emergency, at this point, is focused on the debt," she said. As President Obama presses for more spending to prevent a relapse into recession, Dahlkemper is one of dozens of moderate Democrats who are frustrating that effort, forcing Obama to downsize some proposals, pay for others and ditch some altogether. Although Obama blames Republicans for blocking legislation to extend emergency jobless benefits and other stimulus programs, conservatives in his own party were among the first to balk. Like Dahlkemper, many are new to Washington, part of a wave of more than 50 Democrats elected to Congress from conservative and swing districts since 2006. Swept into office on a tide of disillusionment with President George W. Bush, they have become ripe targets for by supporting Obama's economic policies, drawing criticism from Republicans who paint the president as a free-spending, big-government liberal out of touch with heartland values. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #13 At last check US Debt is officially a mere 83% of GDP - DAT STILL LEAVES 17% TO REACH DA MAGICAL 100%. Or twas it 90-93%??? Anyhoo, to wit... * ION > WMF > "DEUTCH WELLE" GERMAN MEDIA: CHINA'S WORLD REAL GDP IS REACHES 2/3 OR 13% OF US WORLD REAL GDP, BUT REMAINS HIGHLY FRAGILE/VULNERABLE DUE TO UNCERTAIN BUBBLES OF ECON GROWTH. 2010 Real GDP as based on 2009 figures. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-21 23:23 |
| #12 As a former sailor, I must ask people to stop saying that Congress is spending money like a drunken sailor. As someone here once pointed out, a drunken sailor stops spending money when he runs out of money. Congress just borrows more. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-07-21 22:41 |
| #11 But then again, I don't spend money like a drunken sailor on saturday night. Big-Jim, i resemble that remark. But your saturday is like Obumble's recovery, there ain't no capital. ( yep, here all week) |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2010-07-21 22:09 |
| #10 I've seen at least two other articles today with phrasing... The main phrase going around is "pulled back from the brink". |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-07-21 19:55 |
| #9 "We were on the right side of history with that vote." They have to believe that because otherwise as a responsible intelligent adult with a soul they'd have to face the fact that they've participated in the greatest theft in human history for party and patronage. Has anyone else in history looted the losers any greater to shower 'their' people with bread and games? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-07-21 16:05 |
| #8 "We were on the right side of history with that vote." Wall St. sure thanks you. I haven't seen jack-sh*t out of it though. But then again, I don't spend money like a drunken sailor on saturday night. |
| Posted by: bigjim-CA 2010-07-21 15:40 |
| #7 swksvolFF, d00d, stop worrying so bad, take a break...... Put a chicken in the oven, set it and forget it! Get the pocket fisherman and go for a ride in yur Roncco. Catch 'em slice 'em and dice 'em. You know how! Use the GinSue. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2010-07-21 13:50 |
| #6 I thought the term "Conservative Democrat" had the same oxymoron qualities as "Moderate Muslim". |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2010-07-21 11:51 |
| #5 Mr. Popeil, I'm in trouble. Need your assistance on the double. Oh no! Now how am I gonna make My old vinyl car top look like new? Mr. Popeil! Tell me, what am I s'posed to do? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-07-21 11:03 |
| #4 This isn't an article (wapo) it is an advertisement disguised as reporting. Must be time to pop smoke. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-07-21 11:01 |
| #3 I'm guessing it just came out on the Dem talking points this morning Journolist lives! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-07-21 10:47 |
| #2 "We were on the right side of history with that vote." I suspect a historical assessment at this point might be a bit premature, but certainly within the scope of the administration |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-07-21 05:51 |
| #1 the recession is over BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!™ |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-07-21 01:15 |