The trillion dollar economic stimulus bill passed in the House, but every Republican voted against it. Eleven Democrats joined the Republicans in opposing the bill. Hopefully Senate Republicans will be just as strong.
There are several reasons for Republicans to continue take a firm stand:
- Principle: This "stimulus" package is a scam. It will do little to help the economy. It will do much to help special interest groups. It is immoral to spend colossal quantities of cash for such dubious purposes, and to put the responsibility for paying for it on the shoulders of future generations.
- With massive spending comes massive inflation. There are better strategies for stimulating the economy, e.g., cuts in capital gains taxes.
- If the economy bounces back soon, the Democrats will take credit no matter how the Republicans vote.
- If the economy continues to flounder, Democrats and the MSM will blame George Bush and the Republicans no matter what the Republicans do.
- Obama says it's his way or the highway. Call his bluff. Show the world how bipartisan he really is.
Republicans: Don't vote for this bill or for anything that remotely resembles it! Show you have some principles...or at least fake it. Force the Democrats to stand on the courage of THEIR convictions.
More
Obama Hosts Stimulus Bill Cocktail Party
Obama's Blank Screen Deception
The Bipartisan Alternative to The "Porkulus" Bill
Update
My senator's response to my letter regarding his vote to confirm Geithner:
Thank you for taking time to contact my office regarding the nomination of Timothy Geithner to be the Secretary of the Treasury Department. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
Like you, I am concerned with the serious challenges we are facing in our financial markets, and how they are affecting our overall economy. The Department of Treasury plays a crucial role in the recovery process of our economy, and I believe it is important that we have a treasury secretary that understands our financial markets.
There is no question that having a Treasury Secretary nominee with perceived tax issues has been troubling. For that reason, I have spoken several times to Mr. Geithner, read every word of his testimony and his answers to hundreds of questions from the Finance Committee, and then called him again before the vote to ask him a number of very pointed questions. He answered those tough questions regarding his tax returns to my satisfaction. While, like you, my preference would be that we were not in the situation to even have to discuss tax issues with a Treasury Secretary nominee, I also think it is appropriate to give fairly wide latitude to presidents regarding their cabinet selections. At the end of the day, while the issues surrounding Secretary Geithner's confirmation are very important, after spending a great deal of time exploring the merits of his confirmation, I believe that he does pass the test of being qualified to be the Treasury Secretary.
Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me as I serve you in the United States Senate.
[emphasis mine]
Maybe I should be happy that he didn't really read my letter.
