Republicans Find Voice in Opposing Stimulus: 'Oh, My God'

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House Minority Leader John Boehner needed only three words to serve notice that President-elect Barack Obama is nowhere close to achieving the big bipartisan vote on the stimulus package he wants so badly.

"There was no Republican input at all involved in what House Democrats outlined today," Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference at the Capitol. "I just took a moment to look over the draft from Chairman [David] Obey and the draft or outline from Chairman [Charlie] Rangel. Oh, my God.

"I just can't tell you how shocked I am at what we're seeing. You know it's clear that they're moving on this path along the flawed notion that we can borrow and spend our way back to prosperity."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/01/r...licans-fin.html

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Democrat: $825 billion not enough

The $825 billion economic stimulus package rolled out by Democrats on Thursday might not be enough to prevent an economic catastrophe, according to the chief architect of the package.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) also told reporters it may not be the last effort to use big government spending to spur the economy.

“This represents the largest effort by any legislative body in the world to take government action to prevent economic catastrophe,” Obey said, “and even that may be insufficient alone.”

[Dan J 277]

House Minority Leader John Boehner needed only three words to serve notice that President-elect Barack Obama is nowhere close to achieving the big bipartisan vote on the stimulus package he wants so badly.

"There was no Republican input at all involved in what House Democrats outlined today," Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference at the Capitol. "I just took a moment to look over the draft from Chairman [David] Obey and the draft or outline from Chairman [Charlie] Rangel. Oh, my God.

"I just can't tell you how shocked I am at what we're seeing. You know it's clear that they're moving on this path along the flawed notion that we can borrow and spend our way back to prosperity."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/01/r...licans-fin.html

So borrowing money just to blow it on non-economically productive endeavors is OK.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'll bet Boehner got made fun of a lot in school.

[NickD 202]

Democrat: $825 billion not enough

The $825 billion economic stimulus package rolled out by Democrats on Thursday might not be enough to prevent an economic catastrophe, according to the chief architect of the package.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) also told reporters it may not be the last effort to use big government spending to spur the economy.

"This represents the largest effort by any legislative body in the world to take government action to prevent economic catastrophe," Obey said, "and even that may be insufficient alone."

Can't the last administration get back all the money they blew somehow and use that instead?

[alienlovechild 75]

"There was no Republican input at all involved in what House Democrats outlined today," Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference at the Capitol. "I just took a moment to look over the draft from Chairman [David] Obey and the draft or outline from Chairman [Charlie] Rangel. Oh, my God.

Bush's administration lacked transparency and bipartisanship. Obama's different but I'm not sure how yet.

“This represents the largest effort by any legislative body in the world to take government action to prevent economic catastrophe,” Obey said, “and even that may be insufficient alone.”

Politics of fear alert. S.O.B.= Send More Bucks

[peejay 327]

“This represents the largest effort by any legislative body in the world to take government action to prevent economic catastrophe,” Obey said, “and even that may be insufficient alone.”

Is that their out? That the mean old Republicans didn't allow them to spend enough and that is the reason it didn't work? Better yet...what are the Europeans doing?

[msu17 0]

I'll bet Boehner got made fun of a lot in school.

Hehe that's what I was thinking too

[mRx 16]

House Minority Leader John Boehner needed only three words to serve notice that President-elect Barack Obama is nowhere close to achieving the big bipartisan vote on the stimulus package he wants so badly.

"There was no Republican input at all involved in what House Democrats outlined today," Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference at the Capitol. "I just took a moment to look over the draft from Chairman [David] Obey and the draft or outline from Chairman [Charlie] Rangel. Oh, my God.

"I just can't tell you how shocked I am at what we're seeing. You know it's clear that they're moving on this path along the flawed notion that we can borrow and spend our way back to prosperity."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/01/r...licans-fin.html

So borrowing money just to blow it on non-economically productive endeavors is OK.

It really makes no difference what the money is spent on, and I think that's the main misunderstanding that the Democrats have regarding our economy.

If 800 Billion dollars worth of real wealth and resources is diverted from the private sector, it really doesn't matter where it goes. No matter how worthy or noble the cause.

It's apparent that with the major infrastructure plan, the steel and construction industries will be the main beneficiaries of the stimulus plan. But what about the other industries that don't benefit from said stimulus? They are not even considered. Even the steel and construction industries, while benefitting, are clearly diverted from the private sector. The cost of steel materials and construction will undoubtedly be bid up by the influx of fresh paper, so what happens to the prospective business owner requiring the goods and services of these bid-up industries? He either pays the additional premium associated with the rising costs, or in most cases, cannot afford to use those industries. He is essentially forced to not exist.

Those hurt by the redirection of wealth and resources are not even considered by modern economists, nor are the long term effects even debated.

Money and wealth are no longer synonymous. When the government spends money, it is really taking wealth and resources from money-earning Americans.

[msu17 0]

Well 1 % of the population has 90 % of the wealth or something like that. Since there's one of them for every 9 of us, let's just gang up on them, give them a wedgie and steal their lunch money old school style!

[mox 298]

Well 1 % of the population has 90 % of the wealth or something like that. Since there's one of them for every 9 of us, let's just gang up on them, give them a wedgie and steal their lunch money old school style!

I like this idea a lot!

[Amby 490]

Well 1 % of the population has 90 % of the wealth or something like that. Since there's one of them for every 9 of us, let's just gang up on them, give them a wedgie and steal their lunch money old school style!

Just work your #### off and don't settle for mediocrity and then you too can be part of that 1%

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well 1 % of the population has 90 % of the wealth or something like that. Since there's one of them for every 9 of us, let's just gang up on them, give them a wedgie and steal their lunch money old school style!

[mawilson 2,133]

If 800 Billion dollars worth of real wealth and resources is diverted from the private sector, it really doesn't matter where it goes. No matter how worthy or noble the cause.

That would be true if they were using our tax dollars to pay for it, but they're just printing/borrowing

the money. Presumably at some point in the future they will use our tax dollars to pay off the debt,

but it's not like they are diverting the money from the private sector *right now*. Unlike the Fed, the

private sector doesn't print money.

Edited January 15, 2009 by mawilson

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It's apparent that with the major infrastructure plan, the steel and construction industries will be the main beneficiaries of the stimulus plan. But what about the other industries that don't benefit from said stimulus? They are not even considered.

One of the projects that ready to go is the new trans-Hudson rail tunnel connecting NJ to NY. While the immediate stimulus effect of this project will be to the companies that build it, if you think this tunnel won't have a lasting impact on the entire region, you're not thinking it through. This will open up western NJ and the Poconos to more development and eventual absorption into the "NYC commutable" area. It will also eliminate existing transit bottlenecks in Manhattan and in the existing tunnels. It's a long term win-win.