Once again the Pravda Columbian engages in epic fail as they provide cover for Brian Baird: In our view, Feb. 15: Only ‘Less Bad’

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Fortunately, I'm on a diet, and the Pravda Columbian's sickening, self-serving pap, written as if the author was a paid democrat staffer, caused an immediate loss of appetite.

As we all know, in this cycle, this newspaper ONLY endorsed democrats for ANY open seat, from President on down to state representative. That means that they have endorsed Baird, again, even though he has epic-failed on the two largest issues facing us here now locally, (This moronic, unneeded and massively wasteful bridge-replacement and the organized criminal enterprise known as the megacasino) entirely because of his party affiliation... which exceeds any other criteria in the Pravda Columbian's editorial cubicles.

And now, our congressional delegation has sold us out. And now, our representatives have voted "yes" on a bill that, THAT THEY COULDN'T have EVEN READ.

So, what does our criminally negligent, in-the-leftists-pocket, crusading newspaper DO about that?

Nothing.

They have worked extremely hard to allow Mr. Baird to excuse, to ooze, to try and justify his malfeasance. I can't wait for Sen. Murray and Cantwell to join with him in that,

I STILL need to know, and you've made no effort to ask, how is it that either Baird, Cantwell or Murray could POSSIBLY vote for ANY bill they haven't READ! (Although, Michele Malkin has taken a swipe at our worthless cow of a senator's lies in that regard)

"On Friday, not even our members of Congress were given adequate review. "We’ve been hammering this bill around for three weeks," Baird said, "but still, the compromise bill should have had further study."

THEN WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR IT??????????

I've read the articles and reviewed the blast email Baird sent out... and his failure to stand up for us and demand adequate time to review the bill and research the outcomes remains unexplained.

Our Congressman and our senators voted for one one of the largest, if not THE largest, spending bills in our country's history, and they didn't READ IT FIRST?

For that violation of our trust, there is absolutely no excuse. And your failure to hold them accountable goes to your not-even-clever efforts to front for the people you've supported for election.

You people flipped out over Mielke voting "no" on a million dollar grant of what you sickeningly referred to as "free money." Baird, Murray and Cantwell vote "yes" ON A BILL THEY HAVEN'T EVEN READ, WHEN THAT BILL WILL COST US AROUND $1.2 TRILLION... AND NOT A PEEP IN HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE! "Double standard" PALES in comparison!

There's no reason to postpone any decision about the basic idiocy of voting in to law a bill that hasn't been analyzed, PARTICULARLY when the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that this bill is not only NOT needed, but will have a HARMFUL effect on the recovery.

This sorry, underhanded effort to excuse the absolutely unjustifiable votes of Baird, Murray and Cantwell, represents yet another symptom of the demise of this newspaper, a newspaper that violates every known journalistic tenet concerning facts and fairness, every day.

It's no wonder they're facing such an abysmal future.



In our view, Feb 15: Only 'Less Bad'
Massive federal stimulus bill nothing to celebrate

Sunday, February 15 | 1:00 a.m.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was approved by Congress on Friday reminds Brian Baird of a popular saying he heard in Spain. "The saying is ‘menos mal,’ which translates literally to ‘less bad,’" the Congressman from Vancouver said in a telephone interview Friday. "The stimulus package only makes the recession less bad."

In other words, it’s nothing to celebrate. Whether it’s something to lament probably won’t be known for another year or even longer. All that Americans really know today is that this unprecedented spending of $787 billion in public money is only intended to be a painkiller. If only it didn’t cost so much to make something go away.

But the regional perspective provides a more optimistic view. Our state could benefit significantly from the stimulus bill. As Kathie Durbin reported in Friday’s Columbian, the compromise bill is expected to deliver $500 million to the state for highways, roads and bridges; $175 million for new transit projects and an estimated $2 billion to speed the cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation. Also, Washington likely will receive $2 billion for Medicaid funding for the next two years; $3.25 billion in borrowing authority for the Bonneville Power Administration to expand the Pacific Northwest power grid; $175 million for transit projects; $64 million for worker training; and millions more in numerous other areas.

The impact of the stimulus package could result in $2 billion to help our state solve its projected revenue shortfall. Still, the result will only be "menos mal." In the next few months, that deficit for 2010-1011 could be $8 billion.

More, if you can avoid gaging.

Baird blows it: he screws us with his vote on the Generational Indebtedness Act.

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Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) is my congressman. He has, in the past, shown flashes of common sense, and on occasion, great personal political courage, to include voting "yes" on the rather idiotic Schiavo Bill.

He has also shown what amounts to great political cowardice: he has failed to take a position on the greatest economic challenge facing Southwest Washington, perhaps in our history: the development of the corrupt and massive economic black hole known as the Barnett/Mohegan/Paskenta Megacasino; and he has come out swinging against the Liquid Natural Gas Plant at Bradwood Landing... WHICH ISN'T IN HIS DISTRICT (Odd, isn't it (and quite easy to take a position when the outcome will not impact your own district) that this guy can be so damned concerned about something in another state, and remain silent in the face of the abortive Megacasino development)

But today, he's picked up the mantel of other local political morons who ignore the groundswell of opposition to the I-5 bridge replacement/loot rail con job, and he voted for the largest, most onerous, worst abuse of the American people in this nation's history.

It was the wrong vote. More importantly, Baird KNOWS it's the wrong vote. Unfortunately, he lacks the guts shown by the 7 honorable democrats who voted "no" in the House: Congressmen

Bright
DeFazio
Griffith
Minnick
Peterson
Shuler
Taylor

How do I know that Baird is aware he took the wrong vote? How do I know his vote terrifies him?

Because within an hour of taking it, he blast e-mailed everyone with a computer in the 3rd District with his reasons, such as they are, for doing so.



* Why I Voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act *



February 13, 2009

Dear Friends:

Today, I voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and I wanted to tell you how I came to that decision. Please click the link below to hear a video message from me. I would also encourage you to forward this message to your friends and neighbors.

Click here to watch my message about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Our country is facing some of the most disastrous economic conditions since the Great Depression. We are seeing more than 100,000 jobs a week disappear; unemployment numbers in parts of Southwest Washington have reached double digits. We have to get people back to work, and this legislation, while not perfect, takes major steps to ensure that happens.

I have long advocated that any recovery package include major investments in infrastructure and renewable energy. From roads, to schools, to waste water treatment plants, there is plenty of work to be done in Southwest Washington, and there are plenty of people willing to work. This bill provides the money necessary to get those projects moving. We are borrowing this money from our children, and we need to make sure they get something for their investment.

However, it’s important to remember that this bill is not a magic wand. Even if this legislation is successful, our economy will remain in a very fragile state. The conditions created by excessive debt on both the federal and personal level, our rising trade deficit, and the rising costs of energy all suggest that we will face painful economic times for some time to come.

It’s truly an honor to represent and serve you. If you ever need anything, or just want to let me know about an issue that concerns you, please feel free to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Brian

*CONTACT MY OFFICES *
Vancouver OfficeO.O. Howard House750 Anderson Street, Suite BVancouver, WA 98661Phone: (360) 695-6292Fax: (360) 695-6197
Olympia Office 120 Union Avenue, Suite 105Olympia, WA 98501Phone: (360) 352-9768Fax: (360) 352-9241
Washington, D.C. Office2350 Rayburn HOBWashington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3536Fax: (202) 225-3478
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The problem is this, Mr. Baird: This horrific, monumental waste of money WILL NOT DO WHAT YOU AND THE PRESIDENT SAY IT WILL DO.

And more importantly, you ignored the Congressional Budget Office, that indicated that this package is not only not needed, but it will, in fact, be HARMFUL to the recovery.

Let me leave you with these questions, Mr. Baird:

Did you read the bill?

And if you didn't... and you know you didn't...

Then how could you vote "yes," no matter WHAT it contains?




Officials: Stimulus good for state Gregoire says plan ‘will create jobs’ for Washington residents

Thursday, February 12 10:21 p.m.

BY KATHIE DURBIN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

>>>>>>Interest in bill is high

Interest in how the stimulus bill will affect individual taxpayers was intense, judging from the 4,800 residents of Southwest Washington who took part in an hour-long virtual town hall hosted by Rep. Brian Baird Thursday from Washington, D.C.

Baird fielded phoned-in questions from 20 constituents on topics ranging from whether the stimulus package includes a tax credit for first-time home buyers (the Senate took it out, but now it's back in) to whether it includes money for a new bridge over the Columbia River (no, because it's not "shovel-ready") to whether people will get a stimulus check in the mail (they won't; instead, most will get a temporary reduction in their federal withholding tax, amounting to an extra $13 a week.)

Baird said he appreciated the opportunity to hear from constituents while he is stuck in Washington, D.C., waiting for the bill to come back to the House floor for a final vote. The House could vote today; as of late Thursday, no vote had been scheduled in the Senate.

He said that although he planned to vote for the stimulus, he was disappointed that the final bill did not include more money for infrastructure projects to create new jobs. The final bill includes $507 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief.

"If I had written the bill myself, we would have $150 billion more in infrastructure" and less in tax cuts, he said.

Right now, people are afraid to spend, he said, but investing in infrastructure will pump money into the economy. "You have to pay somebody to build a bridge, to repair a school roof or put up a transmission line."

More:

Martin at Politico Blows It: Showdown - Obama warns he's no pushover...

... except to the far left.

There's all kinds of ways to be a "push over," as, contrary to Martin's assertion, Mr. Obama has proven that he has been not only a "push-over," but the penultimate "lay down."

The problem for Mr. Obama is his perspective is so stilted, so warped, so arrogant that his insistence on, for example, carrying through with this idiotic porkulus program, a program that the Congressional Budget Office has determined to be unnecessary, that "bi-partisanship" (Defined by democrats as doing it their way) is simply not possible.

Yes, "urgency" is the reason that Mr. Obama has been engaging in the politics of terror. Unfortunately, an increasing number of his own experts claim there is not only no reason for urgency... but no reason to do this thing at all.

Mr. Martin claims

He reached out to Republicans in opening weeks and got little support in return. Monday night he instead used his prime-time platform to repeat on several occasions that he was inheriting a mess—both a huge deficit and a failing economy—and that spending some $820 billion was not his own preference for how to launch his presidency but the hand he had been dealt.

The first observation; that Mr. Obama "reached out to Republicans" early on is true, as far as it goes.

But when the only reason you reach out is to provide yourself with political cover for foisting on the American people the most horrific spending program in this Nation's history, how much support SHOULD you get?

Few statements of observation by a reporter, as accurate as they may be, are so self-serving and so blatantly arrogant.

That he "inherited" this mess is totally irrelevant. If he doesn't like the current situation with our economy... if it's too much for him to handle (and every indication so far is that certainly is the case) then he should quit.

Unfortunately, given the CBO's conclusions that no stimulus package is required since we will be leaving this recession in the second-half of this year, Mr. Obama's conclusion, related by Mr. Martin, that "....spending some $820 billion was not his own preference for how to launch his presidency..." seems, based on the facts of this matter, to be absolutely untrue.

As one reads this article, it's almost as if Mr. Martin was looking for a job in the White House, failing to use critical thinking and analysis to ask himself the questions that really matter.

Mr. Martin wrote, "To the Republicans who oppose his path, he offered a choice. They might be philosophically opposed to government intervention, even if millions are losing jobs and “most economists, almost unanimously” insist it is necessary. Or they might be partisan hypocrites, who did not mind big spending and deficits under
the last president but are prepared to let the economy “continue to tank” rather
than work constructively with this one."

The phrase "'most economists, almost unanimously' insist" this massive, pork-filled disgrace "is necessary" defies belief.

There is nothing approaching "unanimity." In fact, as I've pointed out, the CBO has indicated that not only is this package not necessary, but it also WILL be harmful to the recovery.

Mr. Obama has painted himself into a corner. He's made the mistake of losing his focus, which is to work to help ALL of the American people out of a situation our government, both democrat and Republican, helped get us into... in favor of a massive, pork-laden bill used to pay off his political buddies and supporters with a bill FILLED, contrary to Mr. Obama's assertion, with enough pork to process lunch meat for the next 1000 years.

He made that decision BEFORE the CBO came out with their conclusions that this package will ultimately only bury us in debt, a debt now, apparently, approaching $9.7 TRILLION.

Thus, my characterization of his effort as the "Generational Indebtedness Act," because, as I described it on Fox Business News with Stuart Varney, it will take untold generations to repay this bill.

And while the President has yet to discuss in any way that I can find what it's going to take and how it's going to be achieved, we WILL have to repay this, and Mr. Obama is tasking untold generations with that responsibility.

Under these circumstance, who in their right mind would come close to "supporting" this utter nonsense?

And if THAT "framing" strikes leftists as something of a stacked deck, it's one THEY may have to get used to, because unlike the president's babble on this issue, it also happens to have the benefit of being the truth.

The one critical flaw in both Mr. Martin's reasoning as well as the President's action is this:

Instead of this horrific waste of time and political capital; instead of this completely unnecessary show of brutish, arrogance-driven incompetence, the President COULD have embraced the CBO report; focused on regulatory reform and reform of the mechanism of oversight, thus allowing the market to straighten itself out... precisely like the Congressional Budget Office has concluded.

So, we must review motive as the basis for action. Clearly, the President's efforts in this matter are not based, or are only based secondarily, on assisting in the economic recovery. With the CBO conclusion out there, one need only view the beneficiaries of the President's largess with our money to see the true motives. And, inescapably, that conclusion is one of a basis of political pay off as the primary motive for his actions.

"Pushover?" With massive, if not insurmountable numerical advantage in Congress, how could it possibly BE a "pushover?"

Showdown: Obama warns he's no pushover
By JONATHAN MARTIN 2/10/09 4:19 AM EST

Yes, there will be time to change the politics of Washington and to give people wondrous examples of bipartisanship.

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But, no, not now, President Barack Obama made clear at his first White House news conference—not if it gets in the way of passing the stimulus bill on which Obama believes the nation’s economy and his own presidency will hinge.

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Urgency was the obvious message Obama was trying to convey to millions of Americans in the hour-long session. But to a smaller Washington audience—to both Republicans and skeptics in his own party—there seemed to be an equally unmistakable subtext: He is not a patsy or a pushover.

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He reached out to Republicans in opening weeks and got little support in return. Monday night he instead used his prime-time platform to repeat on several occasions that he was inheriting a mess—both a huge deficit and a failing economy—and that spending some $820 billion was not his own preference for how to launch his presidency but the hand he had been dealt.

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To the Republicans who oppose his path, he offered a choice. They might be philosophically opposed to government intervention, even if millions are losing jobs and “most economists, almost unanimously” insist it is necessary. Or they might be partisan hypocrites, who did not mind big spending and deficits under the last president but are prepared to let the economy “continue to tank” rather than work constructively with this one.

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More:

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Democrat Congressman Heath Shuler - Man of Integrity.

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Heath Shuler showed some guts today. And, he told the truth.

Glenn Thrush over at Politico has the quotes, but Shuler, a conservative North Carolina democrat, has shown more integrity and courage today then the entirety of the Senate Democrats sheepishly voting for this massive, colassal waste.. and the President conning us out of trillions of dollars of indebtedness that will haunt us for the remainder of this century and beyond.

For nothing.

Entirely in the name of partisanship, since no less than an entity than the Congressional Budget Office has state first, that this package is unneeded since we will begin recovery in the latter part of this year WITHOUT this horrific waste of money and second, that this massive waste of cash, which will includes the $78 billion already wasted, may actually HURT the recovery.

I am proud of Congressman Shuler for taking a stand that must be difficult for him given the tenor of his caucus. He refuses to sell out his principles, unlike his Republican counterparts, who sold their caucus out for 30 pieces of silver.

February 09, 2009 Categories: House Democrats Pelosi, Reid have "failed," Shuler says Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C) has further ingratiated himself with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not — by declaring that Pelosi and Harry Reid "failed" the bipartisanship test on stimulus. "In order for us to get the confidence of America, it has to be done in a bipartisan way," Shuler said in Raleigh following an economic forum, according to the AP. "We have to have everyone — Democrats and Republicans standing on the stage with the administration — saying, 'We got something done that was efficient, stimulative and timely.'" Here's the kicker: "I truly feel that's where maybe House leadership and Senate leadership have really failed." . More:

President Barack Obama is a liar.

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Good God... how long and how often have we heard it? Google the phrase "Republican"and "fear mongering"

Mr. Obama is shilling for a MASSIVE package of union pay offs. EVERY item in this package is designed to strengthen and increase UNION labor. They carried Obama's water like Gunga Din, and they're demanding their pay off in return.

This dung heap, this Generational Indebtedness Act, is no more a stimulus then Barack Obama is qualified to be president. It is absolutely the same waste of money represented by the massive bank fraud known as "TARP" and what has that done for us?

$138 BILLION just to Bank of America?

What a COLOSSAL waste of our precious tax dollars.

And that's the problem the Empty Suited One has. His credibility is sinking by the minute, because he's saying much the same crap now that he was saying then... and except for a new name plaque on the White House... what do we have to show for THAT debacle? And how does this mean Change! we can Believe in!

So, how is he going forward with this massive, unconscionable fraud against the American people?

Fear.

That's right, he's using the very same tactic so universally reviled by the left when Republicans played that particular card.

The difference?

Leftist hypocrites are remaining silent... because it's their interests getting paid back.

We do NOT need or want the Generational Indebtedness Act. What we want is accountability, and where is that in this massive fraud? What we want is individual responsibility: if you were stupid enough to buy a house that YOU could not afford, why should WE subsidize YOUR bad judgment? Further, why should WE subsidize the bad planning and loans OFFERED by these banks we're so busy bailing out?

Would the reverse be true? If real estate prices were continuing to sky rocket, and banks were continuing to make numerous financial killings; would, for example, the Bank of America have given the Treasury $138 billion this year?

Of course not.

Our failure as a country to apply the personal responsibility rule to those who caused all of this, both at the provider and end user level, is the thing that causes ME the most FEAR.

And the more our lying President shills for this massive waste of money, the more I am convinced that it's a bad deal for all of us... nationalized banks, socialized economies.

I would rather suffer the short, hard pain of allowing these banks and industries to fail at once and get it over with, than suffer the "death of a thousand cuts" that our esteemed, ignorant and continually Empty Suited president has in mind... for all of us.

Obama warns of need for stimulus bill right away

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 2 hrs 30 mins ago

Featured Topics:

• Barack Obama
• Presidential Transition

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that failure to act on an economic recovery package could plunge the nation into a long-lasting recession that might prove irreversible, a fresh call to a recalcitrant Congress to move quickly.

US President Barack Obama speaks regarding executive compensation in Cross Hall at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama Wednesday clamped a half million dollar cap on pay for executives of stricken finance firms who ask taxpayers "hat in hand" for bailouts, in a new bid to tame Wall Street excess.

(AFP/Saul Loeb)

In an op-ed piece in The Washington Post, the president argued that each day without his stimulus package, Americans lose more jobs, savings and homes. His message came as congressional leaders struggle to control the huge stimulus bill that's been growing larger by the day in the Senate. The addition of a new tax break for homebuyers Wednesday evening sent the price tag well past $900 billion.

Senate Democratic leaders hope for passage of the legislation by Friday at the latest, although prospects appear to hinge on crafting a series of spending reductions that would make the bill more palatable to centrists in both parties.

Obama painted a bleak picture if lawmakers do nothing.

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