I keep on telling myself (and some of my friends) that I’m going to stop following national politics so much because it is DEPRESSING. And yet, apparently, I really WANT to put myself in a bad mood because I keep on reading about it. This morning, I briefly thought there was a little bit of hope when I heard about several democratic senators (who I think I will send short thank-you emails to later this evening) who are opposing the disgusting omnibus spending bill*.
How many of you even know about the $410 billion spending bill, which is an increase of 8% over last year?
Currently, the bill is blocked by critics, but some of the news reports I’ve read say it’s only temporarily blocked and will pass regardless. This means, government spending will include 8,500 earmarks. Obama campaigned on a platform of stamping out earmarks, but will he follow through and act on this promise? The explosion of earmarks began under a Republican control of Congress and the White House and with this bill, the Democratic Congress and House looks to continue this “great” tradition.
I was really worried that our government wouldn’t set aside some money for rodeo museums, honeybee factories and the Guam public library. There are about 100 other programs, too, looking for some funding boosts from this bloated bill.
Senator McCain more than just spoke out on this and offered a proposal to save $32 BILLION, wiping out $7.7 BILLION in earmarks. Sadly, even Republicans opposed McCain. When across the nation, we as a people are tightening our budgets in this recession, why is the government blatantly trying to increase spending? Voters repeatedly stated their belief that Obama was the best choice for our economy, over McCain. I may not have voted for either, but currently, Obama indicated “he would sign the earmark-ridden measure,” which McCain clearly opposes. Just a thought.
*Indiana Senator Evan Bayh (D) seems to be leading the protest and I agreed with what he said here: “No We Can’t.”
Sciolist in the City of Salt and Saints 
I don’t follow it close enough, probably. But, every little thing I hear or read I get more and more frustrated. I wonder if all those friends of mine (all over FaceBook) who touted about history in the making on Jan. 20th realized what kind of history Obama was going to make? And I keep wondering the same thing about the nation-wide household/community/economic belt-tightening and then I read in People magazine (of all places) about Michelle Obama hosting the big “Governer’s Ball” and all about her fancy crabbed stuffed menu choices and many-coursed meal… I bet that was cheap..
or I hear about the President in things like this from February: “According to the Fox National News channel, in 2004 it cost $57,000 an hour for Air Force One to be used by the President. Obama was in Arizona this week. That’s 10 hours with the head wind and the Senators are still wondering what the trip was all about. The math is easy here folks. That’s $570,000 in 2004 terms.”
Nice. Obama talks about how he want’s to start making sure that all the lights are turned off at the White House, but let’s run to Arizona on my big fuel-hogging, carbon-burning airplane to tell the people of Arizona what I could’ve told them in a Press Conference over satellite, and spend a half-million dollars to do so.
Makes you long for a King Benjamin, doesn’t it?
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“or I hear about the President in things like this from February:”
This was a fine sampling of the usage of English of this statement and of saying good things and having good grammar and all of that stuff that I like to do with editing of words in the English language and of grammar and run-on sentences. I good writer.
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It gets even better, Clancy… Obama stayed at a hotel that was $3,000-$4,000 a night, but it was a really good political move cuz the hotel’s facing foreclosure: http://www.luxist.com/2009/02/19/obama-stays-at-hotel-in-foreclosure/
And nice English, very nice.
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eh, if I was President, I’d be gallivanting around in my own 747 and staying in posh motels.
Only pulling in 400k and a bunch of people look to you as the savior or anti-christ. Thats a lot of pressure, pressure that a Holiday Inn Express bed will definitely not relieve.
I’ll let you join the entourage Larrie. Secretary of MLS or something(Presidental blog spell-checker? my affirmative action hire?) . 99% of the country will think it has to do with Real estate listing reform or something.
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You could do that as speaker of the house… might be an easier achievement. http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/11/nancy-pelosi-the-jennifer-lopez-of-congressional-travelers/
Secretary of the MLS sounds perfect for me. And I’m fine with being the only white, mormon, single woman in your administration. Kaakun in 2012!
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