So all this debate about what is and what is not in the stimulus bill, and it sort of seems like with this report, the Stimulus Bill should write itself:
Because decades of underfunding and inattention have endangered our nation’s infrastructure, $2.2 trillion in repairs and upgrades is needed over the next five years to meet adequate conditions. That’s the conclusion of ASCE’s new 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, released today, which assigns an overall grade of D to the nation as well as individual grades in 15 infrastructure categories. Since ASCE’s last assessment in 2005, there has been little change in the condition of America’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems, and other public works. With the nation’s infrastructure receiving renewed attention from the White House, Congress, and the public as a vital part of an economic stimulus package, the Report Card offers informed guidance from professional engineers on where funds would best be spent.
If we are going to piss away a trillion or so, why not get something out of it.
And yes, while I am generally disgusted at the Republican opposition to the stimulus bill, because it is pretty obvious their opposition is rooted in little more than political opportunism, I am not sold on the current stimulus bill and seriously doubt it will accomplish anything. I am pretty much of the opinion we have passed the point of no return and are on the way to the bottom, and nothing is going to stop the slide. What should be the focus is restructuring the foundation once we crash completely, and making sure we put in place regulations and rules so that this never happens again.
But back to the point- if we are going to piss away trillions, I would like some bridges, roads, and other things that can serve us for the next century. I find it appalling that there is no real money for high speed rail or mass transit. Why are we not re-doing the entire power grid and throwing up nuclear plants?
We may be a “wealthy” nation, but we seriuosly have third world governance.
*** Update ***
Clearly the Republicans are right. What the stimulus bill needs are more tax cuts for this guy:
Trickle down, bitches.
Why No Defense?
Why isn’t Blagojevich allowed to defend himself at the impeachment trial? I doubt it would shut him up if he were allowed to defend himself, and I suppose he would still be running from interview to interview, but if he really isn’t allowed to defend himself, it seems rather unfair.
Or is he just lying about that, too?
Ice Storms and Generally Cruddy Weather
The sky is purple, there is ice all over the place (and the sidewalks are worse than the roads), and it is cold as hell.
I’m still livid about the Bank of America nonsense from last night. I really don’t know what to do with these people. I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked or surprised, but at this point I am not too far from supporting a drive towards nationalization of the banks and the financial system and the summary execution of the CEO’s in a public ceremony on the Washington Mall. I really don’t know what else to do. You try to maintain an appropriate level of cynicism regarding this stuff, and every time you increase your level, these jackasses come along and outperform even your worst expectations.
And do we get to start calling them welfare queens now? I mean, a couple stories of poor people with widescreens in government housing fueled several generation of hatred towards poor folks, what should this do:
When a company borrows billions from a nation of folks who are struggling to pay their basic bills and put food on the table and pisses it away on new offices, luxury jets, and getaways to resorts, something needs to be done. At the very least, there needs to be a new name for them, something akin to “welfare queen,” that we can use to brand these people for life. I am seriously sick of these people. And where are the religious nutters like Dobson? Isn’t “Thou shalt not steal” somewhere up on the list of commandments, or is he too busy dealing with the plague of the gay?
Going to be a long day.
Praying for fail
This is interesting. A Republican operative just sent Ben Smith an email admitting that Republicans hope the stimulus fails or that they can make hay out of some bullshit detail in it:
What if Son of the Return of TARP (or whatever name they’re giving this so-called recovery bill) doesn’t cause a rain of golden meteors and doesn’t create 25 million-bazillion new goodgreencollarhighpayingjobsforworkingAmericans? What if Obama gets stuck in the weeds defend all the left-wing crap shoved into this thing by his party? (Because you know in that with $50 million for the arts we’re gonna end up [unprintable] with a Federal Performance Art grant or some such nonsense.)
Obviously, Republicans hope that the economy is deep, deep in the shitter in 2010. That’s the only way they get back into power. They can’t stop the stimulus, all they can do is fuck around and try to score a few political points about contraceptives or “Federal Performance Art grant or some such nonsense” and then hope that the thing fails.
At this point, they’re actively rooting for millions of Americans to be out of work. They’re barely even pretending not to.
Shocking
This just can’t be true:
Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community’s top legislative priority.
Participants on the October 17 call — including at least one representative from another bailout recipient, AIG — were urged to persuade their clients to send “large contributions” to groups working against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), as well as to vulnerable Senate Republicans, who could help block passage of the bill.
If this is true, not another damned dime. Let everyone of them fail. Not one more tax cut to businesses with over 50 people, and in fact, raise their damned taxes. Send the money to unemployment benefits funds, because corporate America simply can not be trusted with anything. In the most serious economic crisis in decades, and these folks are spending the money to organize to crush labor.
Seriously, if this is accurate, these people are sick.
This Should Be Entertaining
News from the Hill:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) has launched a new political action committee (PAC) to support candidates nationwide, potentially laying the groundwork for an eventual White House run.
SarahPAC will support “Gov. Sarah Palin’s plans to build a better, stronger, and safer America in the 21st century,” the organization’s website says. “SarahPac will support local and national candidates who share Gov. Palin’s ideas and goals for our country.“
Sarah Palin’s “ideas”:
No doubt any money sent to SarahPac will be money well spent, Republicans!
*** Update ***
So I went to SarahPac to check things out, and, just like in the campaign, her “ideas” seem to be missing:
The links to the
hagiographybiography and to donate work, though. Funny that.Quote For the Day
Well, the paraphrase for the day, at least. President Obama responding to Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), asking whether or not they can find more middle ground on tax relief:
Obama says tax relief for some working families must come from payroll so even families who don’t pay income taxes get relief and they will spend it.
He said “feel free to whack me over the head because I probably will not compromise on that part.
Obama said that there will be time to beat him up and a time for politics. He said I understand that and I will watch you on fox news and feel bad about myself.
More of that, please. Shorter Barack Obama: “You’re likable enough, Rep. Camp.”
(via)
