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Remember when that was a hot topic? Republicans vowed to fix it. Well, that isn’t going so well. In fact, it isn’t going at all. But eight of 10 panel members, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Mike Simpson, are still requesting them.
This is an interesting site. The link is for McMorris Rodgers’ requests. You can look up anyone you want. Here are Rep. Mike Simpson’s requests.
I like the transparency.
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Cindy H on November 05 at 1:46 p.m.
Lord I hate those things! They're so creepy with their greedy little pinchers and long, wiggly antennae. I loathe the way they scurry along the floor and hide in cabinets.
Yuck!
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Gary Crooks on November 05 at 1:47 p.m.
Yeah, earwigs are creepy, too. What's wrong with a bald ear?
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Cindy H on November 05 at 2:02 p.m.
Personally, I find bald ears much more attractive than hairy ones. Though they're probably more vulnerable to frostbite.
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Arch_Druid on November 05 at 6:39 p.m.
The GOP were all about “fixing earmarks” as long as they were the ones on the losing side.
But not if it means they still get to put their fist in the taxpayer pot of gold.
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richard on November 05 at 7:12 p.m.
What is interesting is that we have not seen political threads from Gary - the “left-wing health huckster” :-) - in a long, long time. Mostly just a witticism and, “post your thoughts here.”
Feeling a need to get back to fighting condition there Gary?
But as far as a “timely” or relevent political topic, I think you are way off base. Are you saying that is the most interesting or compelling political story of the day?
Maybe you need to get out of the ivory tower a bit more and circulate.
“Somethin's happin' but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?”
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Arch_Druid on November 05 at 7:17 p.m.
In short, “Richard,” attack Crooks for commenting that the GOP proved to be hypocrites on earmarks.
I'm still posting fellah.
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richard on November 05 at 8:44 p.m.
What is up your craw, Druid? And I am not. “fellah”
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nslopeofw on November 05 at 10:34 p.m.
Don't leave out Patty “I rank 12th in earmark spending” Murray.
http://www.legistorm.com/earmarks/det…
Just one more way to look at the transparency.
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Gary Crooks on November 06 at 10:24 a.m.
<<What is interesting is that we have not seen political threads from Gary - the “left-wing health huckster” :-) - in a long, long time. Mostly just a witticism and, “post your thoughts here.”>>
You can trace the paucity to layoffs. What was once a four-person department is now two.
Sorry to spoil the mind-reading.
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Gary Crooks on November 06 at 10:27 a.m.
nslopeofnw,
They all do it. No question. But it wasn't a big Dem issue in the 2008 campaign. Panel members were asked to refrain for requesting. Two out of 10 succeeded.
Me? I still think the issue gets more attention than it merits. We're talking 1.7 percent of spending in the 2009 budget.
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nslopeofw on November 06 at 11:45 a.m.
Yes, they are all the same. They start out talking the good line, but slowly slide into career politics. Too bad for those of us who voted them in. I guess we never give up hoping.
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Jeffrey_Grey on November 06 at 12:19 p.m.
nsl,
–— Yes, they are all the same. They start out talking the good line, but slowly slide into career politics. –—
Another of those instances where you and I find complete agreement.
Term limits, anyone? Seems to me that was another once hot item on the 'to do' list that quietly (and quickly) faded into obscurity.
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Chip Jones on November 06 at 1:10 p.m.
Sen. John McCain stands out as an exception in this regard – I do not think he makes any earmark requests, and has fought hard to get rid of them.
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Arch_Druid on November 06 at 6:57 p.m.
Generally have to disagree with that, McCain did in fact do some ear marking when it came to some kind of library or museum on the behalf of a fav U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
And “Richard,” nothing is stuck in my craw. But I did notice a great deal stuck in yours when Gary C. discussed the GOP hypocrisy.
There is no question that MOST members of Congress earmark.
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richard on November 07 at 10:19 a.m.
That would certainly have an effect, Gary, and I was not trying to be insensitive to the plight of newspapers. It was more the timing than anything and the relevancy of making earmarks a topic - or, more specifically the alleged failure on the part of a couple of Republicans to stem earmarks - when the Dems have almost total control of congress.
Sounded much more like a gratuitous jab at a couple of Republicans with more important issues on their plates, just after a very stunning - and telling - defeat of Democratic policies in Virginia and New Jersey. It looked as if it came out of the “blue.” (pun intended)
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richard on November 07 at 10:21 a.m.
So wrong again Druid. You once again fail to read with meaning and clarity.
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Arch_Druid on November 07 at 11:16 a.m.
“Richard,” I can read your meaning very well. There was nothing “stunning” about the defeat of two dems, one of whom by all accounts wasn't popular to begin with. At the same time, there is something stunning for the defeat of the GOP. The Marxist TEAbaggers proved that out by literally handing over to a Democrat a seat that had been reliably held by the GOP for one hundred years up in the North country of NY.
Just because you cheer on the defeat of a couple of Dems does say a great deal about your not looking at the larger picture of what radicals like the TEAbaggers did to the GOP as a whole. You should more fear the fringe lunatics and what they pose as a long term threat to the credibility of the GOP as a party than anything the Dems currently in power pose now.
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richard on November 07 at 8:48 p.m.
Oh, how incredibly wrong you are Druid. It was, indeed, stunning! These two states have not swung so far in such little time since … well, since 1993. And we know what happened in 1994.
On Tuesday past we saw with empirical clarity, the culmination of the Tea Party fervor and the Town Hall anger manifest itself in a “sweeping” motion, the ouster of two powerful Democratic governors - both in the mold of one Barack Obama
Stunning? That word is even too hollow to describe what we are both so fortunate to be witnessing. The American people, the work-a-day folks who are the backbone of this great nation, have been listening and watching. And while you continue to mimic the words of the media pundits and the arrogant Dems who discounted and “put-down” the Americans who spoke with their voices this past spring and summer … you have now seen that they did exactly what they said they would do … they “spoke their voices” at the ballot box!
But you and other Dems and liberals, it seems, are still drunk from last year’s victory; so much so that you turn a deaf-ear or don’t understand what has been said. But you do so at your own peril.
And that is fine by me.
Oh; and if you want to discount the Jersey and Virginia elections, and instead hang your hat on the shallow victory in upstate New York, I can only wish you good luck with that.
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spokelooneh on November 07 at 9:22 p.m.
History, which you don't want to repeat, informs us that under
Republican GWB and a Republican controlled Congress, earmarks were more numerous and far more costly than ever before in history.
Party of fiscal discipline? Not so much. Just the usual Rethuglican hypocrisy.
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Arch_Druid on November 08 at 6:50 a.m.
“Richard,” those were off year Governor races. So? Radical screechers like Krauthammer and others want to base a “Republican comeback” on two governor races. Big deal. Oh and New Jersey has swung Republicans for guv as often as it has swung Dems for guv. Virginia only for the first time voted in a Dem for Prez after reliably voting GOP for prez in a great many other years. You don't base much thought on history, do you? No more than Krauthammer does. Two governor elections does not a GOP comeback make unless the GOP start growing up and learning how to behave like adults.
And by the way, “Richard,” to a radical like yourself, even THIS conservative can seem “liberal” to you. Liberal I am not or you would hear me AGREEING 99% of the time with the vast majority of your particularly strident positions or making excuses for them. And then you would confuse that “liberalism” with your radicalism. That's your problem.
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richard on November 08 at 10:03 a.m.
Druid says -
<<Richard,” those were off year Governor races. So? Radical screechers like Krauthammer and others want to base a “Republican comeback” on two governor races. Big deal.>>
But it wasn’t just two governor races. In states all across the country, in little publicized local elections, county executive races, etc. Republicans won some very “stunning” victories for the same reasons they won big in Jersey and Virginia.
But you and others who maintain the illusion that Obama really is “Magic” are, as I said in my last post, welcome to continue the fantasy. Every poll continues to reveal that America is a center-right country.
We hear that the Republicans are a “broken” party and yet, they have effectively stalled the obscene health care bill for months now -despite the very slim vote in the House yesterday. It is not likely to be repeated in the Senante. Pretty impressive for a party of “No” and a party without a leader, that holds virtually no committee chairs, and is significantly outmumbered in both houses.
And that is because of a very simple notion. They have been listening to the American people over the past 10 months instead of mocking and marginalizing them. The astonishing display of arrogance of the Dem leadership this past summer - “astro-turf,” “angry mobs,” calling middle Americans “racist” - all because they oppose big government, big deficits, handouts and entitlements, and trying to move this nation to a left-of-center European-styled “paradise.” Is there any wonder the people are rejecting the Obama-wing in just a few months of his presidency?
Newsweek article: “What Coattails? Why right-of-center candidates are succeeding in the age of Obama.”
This article in the very liberal Newsweek also explains the significance of the victories you choose to minimize - similar to how the “radical screecher” Krauthammer did. The gig is up and all across the country Republicans are winning in significant numbers.
From the article:
<<Some restraint on taxes and spending in general, and on health care and energy policy in particular, would also have divided congressional Republicans and left the direction of the party in doubt.
But Washington Democrats chose a different route. While they have been peddling the story of Republican self-immolation, they have actually been creating the conditions for a Republican resurgence. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Reid have launched the country on a course of massive spending, a dramatic expansion of government, and a slew of new taxes in the midst of a recession. Finding themselves in control of Congress and the White House and so possessed of an unusual opportunity to pursue their ideological agenda, they have sought to make the most of it. But they have misjudged just how far to the left of the country as a whole the Democratic base now resides—and so, rather than strengthen their own brand, they have inadvertently done wonders to build and unify the Republican Party.>>
Read it and understand what the polls have been telling the Dems for months now. Act responsibly with our tax money, stop the federal government “grabs” of the economy, and quit telling the American people that bigger government is the answer… or you will be swept from office.
A very simple message that was ignored in 1993. We will see if they continue to ignore.
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nslopeofw on November 09 at 2:57 p.m.
History (1 year) has also proven that the Obama administration has already given us the biggest deficit in the history of our great nation. Go, Barry, Go!
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richard on November 09 at 6:25 p.m.
Stone-cold silence from the ostriches with heads in the sand.
Very understandable. When confronted with truth; blanket denials of the obvious are the only possible responses.
But I appreciate silence so much more than blathering; and it also improves the decorum of the blog.
I say thank you.
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Arch_Druid on November 10 at 9:52 a.m.
Actually, “Richard,” I wasn't posting yesterday. That is why there was “silence.” Why don't you take a look at such local elections as the CDA city council race where incumbents got back in over extremists?
Center right do you say? Center right means moderates! And MODERATES were consistently under attack by extremists like TEA party activists! You might want to get your facts together BEFORE you start crowing over “victories” by “center rightists.” What center-rightists? Christy didn't happen to be a “center-rightist.” But rather a religious activist. The TEA Party activists destroyed an NRA approved politician on the behalf of someone even MORE extreme and handed the election to a Dem in NY.
As for the GOP in Congress keeping the health care bill stalled for months, so? They CAN unite for all the things they are opposed to as far as Dem sponsored legislation is concerned. But they offer nothing of value that would convince anyone that they have a right to regain power by 2010. Big deal.
“Richard,” quit projecting. The fantasy is all yours.
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nslopeofw on November 10 at 10:12 a.m.
Druid,
We all admit there are some fanatics in the teagang, however, the media has done its best to point out the worst of the worst signs, every time. Not all of the T-gang are nutbags, just like all Democrats are not loony-liberals.
People who paint all T-baggers as loonies, are no better than those they put down. Many of them are regular people who don't like the way the liberals (try denying they are in power) are leading this country.
Just as you feel the need to put your opinion forth, Richard has those same American rights. For that matter, so do the T-baggers.
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Arch_Druid on November 10 at 10:26 a.m.
Nslopeofw, you might want to check other polls.
Yeah, “Richard” does have every right to post what he wishes. But ARE TEA party activists ONLY regular folks? About the only time these dudes could come out of the woodwork was after they saw the American electorate rush the GOP out of Congress AND the Presidency. To complain early on where they decided the Dems (not necessarily “liberal”) would lead the country as opposed to ACTUALLY leading or not the country, and where off-season elections are notorious for low voter turn out, could put their own people in. So?
The question still remains, why weren't these people complaining when the house was burning down over the last 8 years? “Regular folks?” My rear end.
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nslopeofw on November 10 at 10:47 a.m.
When i say regular folks, I mean regular republican folks. That would explain why they didn't come out of the woodwork during the previous administration.
As much as you hated the Bush administration, I liked them. I have never attended a political rally in my life. And (this will really scare you) I now find myself drawn to the Blue Dog camp. So, am I a loony, too?
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Arch_Druid on November 10 at 10:57 a.m.
Right, the regular REPUBLICAN folks weren't going to complain when the GOP in power burned down the house, Nslopeofw. They are only going to complain when the HOMEBUILDER who happens to be a Dem doesn't work fast enough to rebuild the house.
I didn't say YOU were a loony. But the liberal excuses being made now for people going off the deep end doesn't sound reasonable either.
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