Article

2010-02-23 Home Front: Politix

New U.S. senator helps Democrats advance jobs bill

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2010-02-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 WTF is this snark all about? Why on earth should highway spending in a time of double-digit unemployment be viewed as objectionable?

This is exactly the way to stimulate the economy and put people to work in short order. The problem with the stimulus was that very little of it went to actual infrastructure projects. Had most of it gone to roads, bridges, retrofitting buildings for improved energy conservation and the like, we'd be in better shape today.

Posted by lex 2010-02-23 07:25|| 2010-02-23 07:25|| Front Page Top

#2 Because none of it is going to happen in a time frame that does any good, lex. Takes forever to get through the regulatory nonsense even for highway projects that make sense.

Posted by Steve White 2010-02-23 07:50|| 2010-02-23 07:50|| Front Page Top

#3 Hey, Asshole Brown, send me my donation back.

Posted by HammerHead 2010-02-23 08:33|| 2010-02-23 08:33|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't know Steve. Where I'm at, we had counties with infrastructure projects already covered with paper and processes to go with Pork I. The problem was that none of the money went to those, instead went to provide the Teachers' Union a year of avoiding the reality of layoffs and personal cuts. Some places the paper is already in the stack, it's the special interests at the capital that insures that it doesn't happen.

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-02-23 09:17|| 2010-02-23 09:17|| Front Page Top

#5 Smell it do you? Warm Rhino spoor. Watch your step.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-02-23 09:18|| 2010-02-23 09:18|| Front Page Top

#6 The five Rino voters:

Scott Brown, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and retiring Sens. George Voinovich and Kit Bond.

Plenty of paper left to add the earmarks...

Posted by Muggsy Glink 2010-02-23 12:27|| 2010-02-23 12:27|| Front Page Top

#7 --Jobs bill (In Name Only)-- just another 'stimulus' ; where is the balance of last years Stimulus? continuing to snooker most of US?

Posted by Tom- Pa 2010-02-23 12:49|| 2010-02-23 12:49|| Front Page Top

#8 I'm so sick of this calling everyone who doesn't vote how YOU want a RINO bullshit. You sound like a bunch of whiny lefty's who are pissed 0bama is not communist enough. Lest you forget, he was elected to represent the people of Massachusetts, not you. It is his job to do what he feels is in the best interests of his constituents and the US in general. Not you. I supposed if a person is for smaller government but doesn't tote a Bible every time they go hunting and believe in creationism they are obviously a RINO. It is common knowledge in the field of economics, that a well-crafted (not that this one necessarily is) stimulus would have gotten us out of this mess earlier. The truth is, most of you just want the Democrats and Obama to fail, no matter what the cost. Party first, America second, huh?

Posted by BubbaFett 2010-02-23 12:53|| 2010-02-23 12:53|| Front Page Top

#9 Nice heartfelt rant. I hope you find work in Massachusetts soon.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-02-23 13:10|| 2010-02-23 13:10|| Front Page Top

#10 It must have looked good for Mass residents. Isn't that who he was elected to represent?

Posted by bigjim-CA 2010-02-23 14:31|| 2010-02-23 14:31|| Front Page Top

#11 Yeah, Bubba, and he apparently "feels" it's in the best interest of the country to squander more tax dollars on pork.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-02-23 14:49|| 2010-02-23 14:49|| Front Page Top

#12 Folks, Scott Brown was elected in Massachusetts, not Idaho. Of course he is going to be on the more liberal wing of the party. He said as much while campaigning. Of the types of proposed jobs bills, highways work and tax cuts are a reasonable response. This is not the end of the world. Stop being so strident. Save your powder for the bigger issues of medicare and social security reform.

Posted by remoteman 2010-02-23 17:50|| 2010-02-23 17:50|| Front Page Top

#13 Thanks for the perspective remoteman. It's just a bit disheartening to see the Senator's first significant vote be cast in such a manner. Defeating socialism will not involve a compromise or... them winning a few, us winning a few. We must keep them off balance, staggering, dropping to one knee, then flat to the mat and then keep them there in order to prevail. I don't want this sickening commie virus coming back in my, or my families lifetime.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-02-23 18:01|| 2010-02-23 18:01|| Front Page Top

#14 He's only finishing Kennedy's term so he's got two years, not six, to make an impression. This is the way he's got to play it here if he wants a shot at going back. It's Massachusetts, Jake, not Texas.
Considering the alternative we had, Barbara Boxer Lite, I don't regret voting for him. Who would you rather have down there?

Posted by tu3031 2010-02-23 18:39|| 2010-02-23 18:39|| Front Page Top

#15 The RINO problem is in states where we should be electing conservatives (Arizona, South Carolina, Utah come to mind). In Massachusetts it's a miracle to have a Republican Senator at all. If all he ever does is vote against ObamaCare he'll have served his country and his state well.

Posted by Iblis 2010-02-23 19:23|| 2010-02-23 19:23|| Front Page Top

#16 Any of you jacobins care to recall the origins of the national highway system, or which party's president championed it for national defense among other reasons? Has it occurred to you that there are some legitimate and massive capital expenditures needed to make and keep a nation powerful and great, among them basic infrastructure? Or that our infrastructure in state after state has gone to sh*t over the last several decades?

Put away the partisanship for a second and stick up for the home team. We're all Americans here.

Posted by lex 2010-02-23 19:51|| 2010-02-23 19:51|| Front Page Top

#17 Reality, dammit. Did you expect Ronald Reagan II or even James Inhofe II? That would never happen in Massachusetts. He's the best we can get for the area. Now Lindsay Graham.....

Posted by Frank G 2010-02-23 21:04|| 2010-02-23 21:04|| Front Page Top

#18 A jacobin? I sure don't recall the interstate highway system being sold as a stimulus or jobs program. Maybe you can tell me about all the infrastructure that still needs repairing since Biden last came to town.

If we need to fix infrastructure, lay out the need and fund it. If we need stimulus, lower taxes.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-02-23 21:15|| 2010-02-23 21:15|| Front Page Top

#19 The point of massive capex for highways and the like is the multiplier effect. Better, faster, less clogged, more extensive roads, bridges etc enable economic development and generate very high ROI. As to timing, building roads is simple and fast. Of all the ways to create lots of jobs and get money flowing through the economy in the midst of a de facto credit freeze, building highways is surely one of the most effective.

Posted by lex 2010-02-23 21:59|| 2010-02-23 21:59|| Front Page Top

#20 Oh, please. If this guy only casts one vote against the death care bill he will have earned his pay.

Posted by rammer 2010-02-23 22:41|| www.blogoram.com 2010-02-23 22:41|| Front Page Top

#21 Every Republican that calls this guy a RINO in a major publication's comment section generates substantial glee amongst the liberal faithful. MSNBC's band of nuts is touting that Brown is being labeled a turncoat. None of it helps. Better to respect the man's decision, especially since it is not financially significant, than to give the other side the impression we won't tolerate anyone who does not toe to a very specific and narrow line.

Posted by remoteman 2010-02-23 23:15|| 2010-02-23 23:15|| Front Page Top

#22 I had a lot of respect for Scott Brown when he was elected as Senator and I still do. Personally, I think this is the kind of bipartisans compromise we could use plenty more of, on both sides of the political aisle, and I think by and large this is what the American people want to see more than anything else. At least the guy has the balls to go against the grain of his party. A RINO does this make him, necessarily, I think not. Still too early to tell.

Posted by eltoroverde 2010-02-23 23:29|| 2010-02-23 23:29|| Front Page Top

00:07 Last Breath Farm Resident
00:01 AlanC
23:51 Last Breath Farm Resident
23:29 eltoroverde
23:23 Shieldwolf
23:15 remoteman
23:09 Frank G
23:09 AlanC
22:59 Glenmore
22:51 Glenmore
22:41 rammer
22:32 Free Radical
22:25 Frank G
22:23 badanov
22:22 Frank G
22:19 Frank G
22:10 Frank G
22:08 49 Pan
22:05 3dc
21:59 lex
21:59 Sgt. Mom
21:56 Eric Jablow
21:56 Pappy
21:49 GirlThursday