Money, Money, Money, Money...Monaaay! And Other Rants

Super Tuesday oozed into What-everrr Wednesday as the Senate swallowed a Valium on the proposed stimulus package for the American economy. At issue was $44 billion in add-ons to the original House package. Benefits to seniors and disabled vets, tax breaks for renewable energy and coal companies, plus an extension of unemployment benefits increased the cost of the package to more than $200 billion. Even though a majority backed the measure, the 58-41 margin fell short of the 60 votes needed to bypass procedural hurdles. Both Senators Clinton and Obama flew back to vote for the package, but McCain did not. Maybe not a great move for a candidate perceived as weak on economic matters.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/06/news/economy/stimulus_senate.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes
Now, are Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, grandstanding to appear fiscally responsible? Or are they just trying to stick it to Democrats? Or are Dems being fiscally irresponsible give-away artists? How about 'all of the above'? For my part, this is funny money, anyway. Mike Huckabee has a point when he says that a rebate-laden package that borrows money from China to buy goods from China is a great stimulus package-- for China. Agreed. But if you do decide to give out spending cash to jump start the economy, it's a safe bet that low-income seniors, disabled vets and folks depending on unemployment checks will put that money right back into the system. More upper middle-class folks are more apt to reduce their credit card debt or simply sock it away, which completely defeats the purpose. And all supply-siders (Republicans, mostly) believe that tax breaks are the only real way to stimulate the economy. So why oppose tax breaks for renewable energy and coal companies that will help us get off foreign oil? For $44 billion? When we spend that in a few months in Iraq? It sounds fishy. And word is, that this could hurt a number of Repubs in upcoming elections. Can anyone say, "19% approval rating?" Love to get your feedback on this one.

If you're a Hillary supporter, you can't like this: in answer to a reporter's question at her press conference yesterday, Sen. Clinton confirmed that she had dipped into her own pocketbook to loan her campaign 5 miiilllion dollars. The full story is that some staffers are working without salaries and that much of her post Super Tuesday campaign strategy is based on her dwindling funds. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23037431/ No wonder she wants 40 debates in 21 days. She can feed her staffers in the CNN Green Room. Obama, on the other hand, is still raking it in. In addition to the $32 million he raised in January, he's apparently on pace to raise a similar amount in February. Now here's the problem with mistrust. For those of us who marvel at the political acumen of the Clintons, it's hard to believe that this poorly-timed story is not part of choreographed plan. It seems like a misstep, but the Clintons rarely make them in these situations. I mean, when was the last time she easily admitted to an opponent besting her in any area of politics. And coming off a strong night, why would you let a story about your campaign's weak financial health dominate a news cycle? Is it a cry for help? Weird.

Don't tell me Democrats don't know what they're doing. Sending New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson packing as a Presidential nominee seems wise--now that his state is taking two full days to count 130,000 votes! California counted 130,000 votes in five minutes! Are New Mexico's census numbers from 1970? Wow. Richardson's bureaucracy makes FEMA look like Fed Ex.

And finally, one last (probably not) rant on the Zogby California polls. Obama with a possible 13% lead? I mean, come on! What's the point? They spend more time spinning their results than the candidates. "Well, sometimes the undecideds don't come forward until...blah, blah, blah". Oh, well, their ineptitude gave birth to this blog-- to let the people speak so no one would try to guess. So I should be grateful. And I am.

Let's hear a few rants of your own. Click on "comments", by-pass the google sign up and hit the nickname or anonymous button. Thanks.