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A vote today in the Senate to ban earmarks for two years failed to secure the 67 votes needed to advance. The vote was 39 yes, 56 no. (A super-duper majority of 67 votes was needed due to the way the measure was filed under Senate rules.)
The measure was offered by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn and Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill and Mark Udall.
Only seven Democrats voted for the ban. They were McCaskill, Udall, Evan Bayh, Michael Bennet, Russ Feingold, Bill Nelson, and Mark Warner. (Bayh is retiring this year, and Feingold lost his re-election bid.)
Earlier this month, Senate Republicans voted -- amongst themselves -- to ban earmarks in a nonbinding resolution. But eight of them voted against banning earmarks. They were Robert Bennett, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Jim Inhofe, Dick Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Shelby, and George Voinovich.
Of those Republicans, six of the eight (Bennett, Cochran, Collins, Murkowski, Shelby, and Voinvoich) sit on the Appropriations Committee, which doles out the federal dollars. (Bennett lost in Utah's GOP primary; Voinovich is retiring.)
Who didn't vote? Republicans Kit Bond and Sam Brownback, who are both retiring this year. Oddly, Democrats Barbara Boxer, Barbara Mikulski, and Jeanne Shaheen didn't vote on earmarks, but did vote on another measure minutes later.
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Ding Ding, the Republican/Tea baggers are full-throated hypocrites.
BEV...
So, you're saying 50 years in Washington is a good idea? ...(maybe you can have it both ways, after all you are a progressive)
Progressivebagger!!!
Hiya Bev!
Looks like you've picked up another stalker... lmao
And demanding to BOOT! ;0)
Dense American-2366567
BEV...
So, you're saying 50 years in Washington is a good idea? ...(maybe you can have it both ways, after all you are a progressive)
Progressivebagger!!!
One thing I'll say you'd never last 50 years in Washington due to your cognitive dissonance; hammerhead. They're not all dysfunctional on the Hill. That's why elections count. If the person can't function they will be voted out. Does that settle your conflict?
You can't always get what you want when you' behavior is abnormal.
Would you please quit stalking me?
Progressivebagger!!!
What teh hell is that? some kind of vaccume cleaner??
Just trying to prove how each and everyone of you is a cowardly, double standardizing, progressive.
We've already established that Feisty is all of those things, so I thought I would make sure people see that you are too!!!
Now that that's accomplished, I did say that you and your progressivebagging friends are a SMALL minority of the general public, didn't I.
In case I didn't...You all are so done. Progressivebaggers!!!
Come on Drive by....It the toting of Progressivism.
And you're a demanding, trolling attention whore!
Who is not worthy of the time of day as exhibited by you continuing to post NOTHING but nonsense...
Feisty
What we have with Dense American-2366567 is failure to communicate. I guess the Tea Bagger manual requires stalling just to be seen and heard . LOL
Yea, that's right they did during the town halls!!!
Crazy, Crazy, Crazy, Crazy, Tea baggers.
True,
Progessives and Liberals have been around since the Founding Fathers. We won't be going away anytime to soon. But we sure wish you would, far, far away!
What we have here is the same old story that plays out on this vine EVERY day!
Bev or Feisty will make some irrelevant point (usually racist in nature)... Then engage in the personal bashing of ANYONE that does not agree with the nonsense.
Today that nonsense was that the republicans are the ones doing some evil on this vote... when actually what they failed to recognize (because they are SO BLINDED with hate for conservatives) is that ONLY 7 - yes that's right 7 - democrats voted for the ban on earmarks. Can you say obstructionist?
Then as usual they bash those that don't agree with them, casting them off by saying they are not 'worth the time' to respond to. OOOOOO.....
Today that target is True American-2366567. I will bet that just broke his heart. ;-)
And now that I have posted this... likely they will direct some of their venom at me...
Come on girls do your thing!
I haven't seen anything that Uninformed American has said that made any sense or any connection to anything that this thread is about.....just using Luntz' new word of the day? Calling the Democrats "Obstructionist", or is it the Progressivebagging word? I actually believe he/she is a paid operative of Karl Rove, or some T-bagging bunch of idiots who put their best (or worst) foot forward and now are getting it stepped on and just can't stand it that they don't control the world like a bunch of spoiled brats. Uninformed? Why don't you just go ahead and t-bag all those Republicans who didn't vote for the ban?
Feisty...you say
Who is not worthy of the time of day as exhibited by you continuing to post NOTHING but nonsense
I guess it is hard to give someone the "time of day" when you can't give a rational explanation to your double standards or answer a simple question. Let just call it nonsense and move on.
When I said "cowardly, double standardizing progressives" I forgot to say DEFLECTING!
Progressivebaggers!
BTW...wakeup1950437...progressives may have been around a long time, but you are still a VERY SMALL portion of this great nation. So, you don't have to go away, just know that you will NEVER take this country away from the VERY LARGE majority of True Americans.
Hey CATHY...
Maybe he is not bashing the repubs that voted no because they are so much harder to find with only 8 of them voting no while there were 49 dems that said no!
Oh yeah... and and don't forget the 3 dems that were too cowardly to even cast a vote!
Thanks for once again proving my point!
If I were you I would tighten the chin strap on your pointy tin foil hat...
It's gonna be a bumpy ride...
SOTB, I fail to see why it's the Democrats fault if Republicans make campaign promises they can't keep. They can't even keep their own people on the reservation for this one. It was a Republican promise that even a significant portion of the Republican caucus won't back. Deal with it.
John...
Did you REALLY say that?
You are aware that Gitmo is STILL open aren't you? (just one of many dem promises that are still undelivered upon - two years later)
Glass houses buddy ;-)
If I were you I would tighten the chin strap on your pointy tin foil hat...
It's gonna be a bumpy ride...
THANKS AGAIN FOR PROVING MY POINT!!!
Your bumpy ride is almost over.
I said that. Your party failed IMMEDIATELY after the election. Deflect, project, and blame the other side all you want, it happened. Conservatives wanted this, they don't get to turn around and whine about it.
Today that nonsense was that the republicans are the ones doing some evil on this vote... when actually what they failed to recognize (because they are SO BLINDED with hate for conservatives) is that ONLY 7 - yes that's right 7 - democrats voted for the ban on earmarks. Can you say obstructionist?
Sick-of-bickering...The progressivebaggers can't even read your facts. They will continue to dismiss anything that doesn't fit into their little bubble. Just like when you also said...
Maybe he is not bashing the repubs that voted no because they are so much harder to find with only 8 of them voting no while there were 49 dems that said no!
Oh yeah... and and don't forget the 3 dems that were too cowardly to even cast a vote!
John B.
49 dems said NO...can you say OBSTRUCTIONISTS?
Or is it OK with you because they are democrats and you think earmarks are good anyway?
John... you are obviously mathematically challenged.
The Senate is still controlled by the Loser Liberals. That ban was NEVER going to pass with 67 votes unless half of the dems jumped the line. (which we all know is never going to happen - bipartisan my arse!)
Don't be surprised if something like this doesn't come up again AFTER those Loser Liberals leave Washington at the end of the year!
whats in your throat?
I guess the Republicans shouldn't have made promises they can't keep. Not my problem. Failure is failure.
Failure is failure... something the current democratic administration is very aware of. :-) (LOL!)
And by the way... any failure in our government IS YOUR PROBLEM! It's a problem for ALL OF US you childish little man!
OH the irony... it always just a matter of time before their true colors bleed through... lmao
Someone help me out here... what's that old saying about glass houses? :0))
Sick of bickering...John is a childish little man who doesn't understand that failure on either side creates problems for US. (he thinks he's one of "them") LOL!!!
Maybe he's just not an American...just because his name tag says DesMoines, IA, doesn't mean he's an American.
HEY FEISTY....
YOU SAY-
If I were you I would tighten the chin strap on your pointy tin foil hat...
It's gonna be a bumpy ride...
I SAY...
THANKS AGAIN FOR PROVING MY POINT!!!
Your bumpy ride is almost over.
SickOfTheBickering
John...
Did you REALLY say that?
You are aware that Gitmo is STILL open aren't you? (just one of many dem promises that are still undelivered upon - two years later
Get real you dumazz. Its not like Obama could close Gitmo by an executive order or a wave of his hand. You guys who blame Obama for somebody elses' failure are just showing how much you don't know and can only resort to the kind of meaningless spittle posted above.
Frank H.
Why can't Obama use an executive order to close Gitmo...he uses one for evrything else.
How is NOT closing Gitmo "someone elses' failure"?
We maybe a small part but I'm guessing we are not. The Progressives are the ones who get things done with the most positive impact. Who look out for the less fortunate and who carry the work load for the silver spoon in the mouth crowd.
Golly Frank...
Did Obama promise to close Gitmo? Did he keep that campaign promise? That's all I am saying.
And again... glass houses... don't talk about blaming somebody else for your failures... all I have heard over the past two years is Obama blaming GWB... when in fact... In January of 2009 everything became Obama's responsibility... comes with the job. If he would accept that fact and quit whining and blaming Bush... just get on with the work of fixing... he would not be suffering the disapproval that he has suffered.
Just saying. It's his car to drive now and he had a clear road for two years with a super majority in both congressional houses.
What did he accomplish?
Oh yeah... a healthcare bill that even most democrats don't like was pushed down everyone's throats. Other than that... not much.
You libbies may get your turn to complain about the republicans after they take over the HoR in January... but for now this is ALL STILL YOURS!
And BTW... Even when the repubs take over the HoR in January... it will still require both sides to work together for ANYTHING to pass. Unlikely given that the Senate is still under democratic control and Pelosi and her cronies will still be around the House.
Wakeup...you say:
We maybe a small part but I'm guessing we are not. The Progressives are the ones who get things done with the most positive impact. Who look out for the less fortunate and who carry the work load for the silver spoon in the mouth crowd
You should stop guessing and read about the statistics...YOU ARE A SMALL MINORITY!
And you guys do get things done, like entitlement programs, 99 weeks of unemployment, etc.,etc.,etc.
They can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan...
America are you paying ATTENTION???
You've been snookered again... by the GNOPEE!
Honest observation, more Democrats than Republicans voted against the temporary ban. Can we agree that all parties, men and women want to "Bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan."
But...but... it wasn't the Democrats who've been hootin & hollerin about banning them and then turn around and vote for them!
No disagreement on my part about ALL of them wanting a piece of pork... just pointing out the hypocrisy that's all...
Looks like the FED best keep printing money, when it comes to spending money we see real "bi-partisanship", this nation is running on both borrowed time and money.
That got about as far as I thought it would. Just shut up people. The gov knows best when it comes to giving away our hard earned money. Trust those guys. Look at the stellar job they have done so far!..... And that gov employee pay freeze thing? Not a problem, since the cost of living increase isn't frozen nor is pay grade promotions. Nobody got a raise in base salary until they advanced in pay grade anyway.
you betcha, republicans who voted to kill earmarks will be happy this didn't pass. They all love the bacon.
They knew all along it wouldn't pass.
You are right, John... they did know it would never pass because even if ALL the repubs said yes they still needed at least 27 democrats to cross the line for it to pass... and God knows that will never happen!
Who's the obstructinoist?
It was the Republicans campaign promise, guess they shouldn't make promises they can't keep.
Call me after 419 more Republican promises die in the Senate. That's right, 420 bills passed the House and died in the Senate thanks to Conservative obstruction.
Good luck repealing the 20th Century.
It's amazing how the Repubs will cry "Obstructionist" when they don't get their way. At least we can use the phrase' "It takes one to know one" this time. This was all a distraction tactic anyway. They spouted about the temporary ban knowing full well it would never pass under the current laws of the Senate. Now we will hear nothing but how the majority of Dems voted against the earmark ban. The ban was never going to accomplish anything anyway, except to take our eyes of the ball.
This is a sad outcome... finally many senators are listening. The ones that are not listening on both sides of the aisle need to be defeated or removed from their position of power in the senate. Earmarks was never about the amount of money for the earmark itself. It is all about the corrupting process of siphoning money by attaching the earmarks to bills to get the votes needed to pass an otherwise unworthy bill. That is selling one's soul to keep their job. There must be other ways, albeit a bit more effort required to deal with the worthy pet projects in one's district or state. I guess R. Bennett,Cochran, Collins, Inhofe, Lugar, Murkowski, Shelby and Voinovich are dedicated to corruption as usual.
Earmarks are not all bad - unfortunately, they have become a convenient political football. Shouldn't local citizens be empowered to approach their local member of Congress to request help with local needs - such as the need for a traffic light at a dangerous intersection or upgraded equipment for first responders in their community? Or should these decisions be made in Washington?
Earmarks are not all bad - unfortunately, they've become a convenient political football. Shouldn't local citizens be empowered to approach their local member of Congress with a request for help with a local need - such as installing a traffic light at a dangerous intersection or providing equipment for community first responders? Or are these decisions better left to Washington agencies?
Those states like NY and California that have taxed the citizens to death and keep going to the feds for more money so they don't file for bankruptcy shouldn't get the federal funds. States need to be accountable for their own spending, not the federal government. In other words people who live in Georgia should not get stuck supporting the pet projects in NY. That's what ear marks are that's what pork is. Most of the time it is baloney that should never get to the federal level. If you or I were broke we would stop spending, things would be repoed. But for some reason our government chooses to keep expanding. It has to stop. We need to trim the budgets and make some sacrifices. Nobody has a money tree. We are now starting to see the effects of the "social money tree" in Europe and it is spilling over to our country. Get the "gotta have it mentality" out of your head and replace it with the "do I really need this" mentality and we would all be better off.
Federal earmarks are all bad, because it forces other people from other states to pay for a local pet project, the benefits of which they will never see. Furthermore, that money should be provided by the state government or local government, not the federal government. Every penny that the states receive from the federal level is a bribe, in no uncertain terms. For an example of this, no state has their drinking age set at 18, despite that being the allowed minimum by existing federal law, because of all the funding that the federal government holds over their throats should they dare to lower it. The federal system that this country was designed to have is one in which the levels of government with the largest land areas within their border make the least specific law and policy decisions, because people know how to govern themselves and their own lives better than someone who is 500 or 5,000 miles away. That is why we have local, county, state, and federal layers- to protect us in our own unique circumstances from someone far removed from our circumstances who can not understand why what they do, in naive good intentions (or, sadly, malicious intent), is hurting rather than helping.
Just e-mailed my Sooner Tea Party associates. We are reviewing candidates to replace Inhofe as I type....
Hey folks READ THE ARTICLE: 7, that's SEVEN DEMOCRATS voted FOR the BAN. I repeat: 7 DEMS VOTED FOR THE BAN. so...DING, DING, DING...Blame your heroes, libbies...
"Earlier this month, Senate Republicans voted -- amongst themselves -- to ban earmarks in a nonbinding resolution. But eight of them voted against banning earmarks. They were Robert Bennett, Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Jim Inhofe, Dick Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Shelby, and George Voinovich."
It's a Republican initiative. If Conservatives can't build enough bipartisan consensus to sell their own plan it isn't the Democrats job to do it for them.
And your point is?
No point in blaming the Democrats when 1) It was a Republican campaign promise and 2) It failed on a bipartisan basis.
So, John, I guess, bipartisanship only applies when the democrats want something. Is that what you're saying? Heaven forbid we blame them for anything.
Life is rough...get a helmet.
Don't need a helmet....got a job.
It may have been a republican initiative but since this congress is STILL a super majority of democrats, EVERYONE knew it could not pass without the democrats doing the right thing... which as we see (once again) they failed to do.
I am not even sure that we can say that this bill was a republican initiative... it was after all sponsored by 1 republican and 2 (TWO) democrats!
As it turns out the dems won't even vote for their own bills if the republicans are voting yes.
Who is REALLY playing the role of obstructionist?
Democrat and bipartisan... two mutually exclusive terms!
Wait so what you're saying now is that if any of the Republicans don't follow lockstep with the party then the entire party is hypocritical? But if they had all voted the same, you would say that it is just blind obedience....
I think the larger story here isn't the number of conservatives who voted against this but the number of Liberals. Liberals who obviously didn't learn anything a month ago when a rather large number of them lost their jobs...
But dont let any of that get in the way of what you are preaching, I mean lets face it, even if every single Republican Senator had voted for this, and only seven Democrats did, it still wouldn't have reached the 67 vote requirement. But that's okay it's still all the Republicans fault.
Reality Check - .....bipartisanship only applies when the Democrats want something....
Please tell me in what way was anything the Republicans did in the last two years "bipartisan"? Why are 700 bills held up in the Senate? Why was the Republican mantra "hell no". Don't give us that uh, uh, uh, ooooooooo bipartisanship only applies when the Dems want something. Why would we want to act in a bipartisan manner after two years of Republicans wanting to crash and burn everything that was put forward (even by Republicans or co-sponsored by Republicans who then voted "no") and putting holds on Start Treaty, DADT, and everything else they've said no to. Why don't YOU get a reality check.
Nearly 1 out of 5 Republican legislators vote against it but it's the Democrats fault...so much for the Party of Personal Responsibility.
Hilarious, Conservatives are already failing and already trying to figure out how to make it someone else's fault.
I guess the ban on ear marks in Senate doesn't really matter anyway.
Seeing as how it will pass in the house, with a Republican majority, and the house will then kick all the bills back to the senate that contain "Pork", so the earmark ban can still be achieved. Because no legislation gets through unless it passes both the House and the Senate. And I know this will be lables as "obstructionist", But really, isn't everything?
Reality Check-1104333
"Don't need a helmet....got a job."
....Of the Butt-variety??
I find it entertaining that morons like John want to claim that the conservatives are "already failing" when in fact... the conservatives have not yet assumed power in the HoR.
In all reality... this failure still sits on the shoulders of the current, democratically controlled congress.
That's ok though, John. You SPIN this any way you need to in order to feel better cuz in January your not going to feel so well. :-P
You're awfully bent out of shape over something that you claim doesn't matter.
Nah... I'm not bent out of shape... Just laughing at you and how you are trying to spin this thing...
And I never said this doesn't matter... I think it does. It is necessary for the good of our nation.
But the truth is the current democratically controlled congress voted this bill down... not the incoming congress. One last partisan hoorah for the lame duck democrats. They would rather 'make a point' than to do what is right for this country.
Now... I am done with you (little man) we have beat this horse (or maybe donkey) to death.
Feel free to have the last word since that is what REALLY seems to be most important to you :-)
I just e-mailed my associates in the Sooner Tea Party. We are reviewing possible candidates to replace Jim Inhofe as I type........We accomplished more than you think: Feingold GONE Bennett GONE RUBIO is coming to Town!!
Politicians are just not that serious about the deficit. Sure this earmark suspension for two years would be a drop in the bucket compared to say extending the tax cuts permanently, but it should have had the votes to pass. I agree that all earmarks aren't bad, in fact some are important to bring resources and jobs to their constituents.
Interesting that the vast majority of Democrats voted against the temporary suspension. As a democrat, I would have like to see it pass. As usual Feingold did the right thing in my opinion.
If something like this can't pass there is NO WAY anything will be accepted when the debt commission report comes out tomorrow. People really do need to wake up about the deficit, although I am by no stretch a conservative or tea partier this should have passed. Although small it could have been a bipartisan acheivement that could have been used to build on.
On another note I wonder if Obama's request to freeze goverment workers pay will pass the Senate. It probably will because that pain will be felt by anonymous government workers and the rich Senators couldn't care less about them.
Well, if they are going to get serious maybe they should let the Bush tax cuts expire.
Agreed, let all the TEMPORARY Bush tax cuts expire. Raise revenue and decrease spending.
Also agree with Bowles-Simpson to raise the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax to help shore up Social Security.
Cut defense spending by 15% to 20%
Raise the taxable amount for capital gains from its low 15% bar.
That needs to be done, but if defense spending is not cut it won't have much effect. Defense spending accounts for about 53 cents of every dollar spent. Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, close foreign bases make other countries pay for their security, they can pay with cash, oil, minerals, whatever they have of value. No more free security, you want a US aircraft carrier stationed just off your coastline there will be a fee. No more free US security for US companies in foreign lands who take jobs away from Americans, and skirt the taxes to boot. Lets see how cheap that slave labor is if they have to pay for their security.
I completely agree with you Grump.
Unfortunately Foreigners are so finicky. A few years ago, Japan wanted the bases closed, and us to leave. It didn't take long for them to change their mind...
I don't think we do much good being the worlds policeman and enforcer. It's time for us to pull back.
I also don't think the Senate gets it. How many of those who voted against this were re-elected in 2010? I think the nation sent a clear message.
For the 8 Repubs who voted against this, 2 are gone in Jan. What I am wondering is how many of the other six were re-elected in 2010.
I don't know what to say about the Demos... Would have thought there would have been more support than that. Sure seems "me first" to me.
I agree there should have been more support by dems, but for many years I think congress felt like that is a part of their job to bring the pork back to the home state. Many of the "pork" projects are good, and benefit the citizens of the state, many simply line the pockets of the businessmen that contribute to a campaign. Lots of people complain but most are okay with the pork that comes to their state, and at this stage of the game anything that promotes employment will be forgiven. Even a bridge to nowhere, is a good idea if your a bridge builder.
This little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home to my district.
And his name was Maxwell! I LOVE that commercial! LOL
Can you save 15% on your car insurance? Does a congressman like pork!
YOU BETCHA! Preferably crisp... lmao!!!
Also too the bacon, the founding fathers gave us bacon, and the constitution! lets not forget the constitution, which of course tells us how to prepare the bacon our founding fathers so loved. Oops other hand, my bad. Real Americans love the bacon our country was founded on, thick cut, smoked and peppered, not the phony bacon bits of the communists, and socialists, or that ham that Canada calls bacon. We are going to take our bacon back!
Most federal employees already got their raises last year. Over 70 thousand employees have been added to the ranks so holding salaries is truly a joke. As far as earmarks and pork are concerned don't you think it is about time that if a state wants a pet project done that they should get that money from their own taxes? The federal government should not have their hands in as many pies as they do. That is the problem. NY and Cal are pretty much broke but it doesn't seem to matter. The whole country will have to support the reckless spending of these states. If you live in these states you know how reckless the spending is. So much so that businesses are leaving in droves because taxes just keep getting higher. All government needs to take a step back and CUT spending, stop asking for more money and feel the pain for a while. No one said it would be easy but if you noticed in Europe they are starting to realize the consequences of the "social money tree" experiment. Even England's parliment has members who have stood up to the evil that is destroying democracy and individualism. ENGLAND! Look it up check out the speeches and then ask yourself if you really want to keep marching down the road to what Europe is fleeing from. After bailing out Ireland, they are now bailing out Portugal and Spain will be next. They have no funding to accomplish this. The Global System is in failure because we as human beings have failed. We need to get back to basics. Get away from the "gotta have it" mentality and back to the "do I really need this" mentality instead or we are dead in the water. If you think being dead in the water is a fun place to be, take a look at the unrest in Europe. It is coming soon to a town near you.
Let's see, we can't raise taxes. And we can't cut defense. And we can't reform entitlements (and even if we could, any savings generated wouldn't be realized until years if not decades down the road).
So how do we deal with our budgetary crisis? Oh yeah, earmarks! That ought to amount to an insignificant but symbolic drop in the bucket... except... what? We can't even cut those out now?
The Global system is in failure because Americans or Uropepeans can't compete with 200 dollar a month wages for skilled labor and 23 cents an hour for unskilled labor.
I have no problem with earmarks in general. Some of them are for good and neccessary things. The problem is in the process. Hanging earmarks on bigger bills where they won't see the light of day and sheltering the Senator or Rep from having to explain what they are asking for. Horse trading to get what they want in one place and then voting for someone else's crap.
Straight up or down votes would solve that issue right away.
One thing for sure. With all the talk about what an insignificant amount it is, we are still talking BILLIONS of our dollars.
Would somebody call communist China and ask if the greatest capitalist country in history can borrow enough money to keep the lights on for a couple of more months. Again.
And yet you morons continue to elect these swine. You are incapeable of shame, and are lower than bile.
drama on broad-way.... watch teabagger town criers act 1 scene 1....earmark ban failed to pass.
Gump...you are right about the cheap labor. STOP buying cheap products from China and start opening plants back up in the USA? As long as we keep buying fom China they will keep sending from China. We can not continue to be a country of consumers, we need to be a country of producers again. China is now going through the industrial revolution. Only difference is that they are doing it globally. We started within our own country. We need to get back to it. Provide jobs, solid pay. Live within our means...huh? Can we even do that? I hope so because we are way beyond the tipping point as far as deficit goes. By the year 2012 our deficit will be greater than our GDP! Wake up Americans...this is not just a government problem. It is our problem as citizens.
I hear you. People need good jobs, they spend everything they make anyway, pay income tax, sales tax, ect. The unemployed pay little or no taxes and need government services. The heartbreaker is telling the young people that they will never have the standard of living they grew up with at this rate. I meet young people every week with college degrees looking for any kind of job, any kind. How do you tell them they are in a global economy, which really means they are competeing with somebody who lives in a hut and does not wear shoes for jobs that would not cover a weeks worth of lunch money in America. I am about to tell them to learn Chinese so they can temporarily work for an American company as it relocates in China. How do you tell them that they are in a service economy which means if you have a MD or law degree you can provide a service that will pay your bills, other than that the service economy means you will be bussing tables and asking if you can freshen that drink.
Okay, here's your research:
Republicans mentioned above article:
Robert Bennett (R) Utah fired in the primary. Mike Lee (R) elected. See January and upcoming til 2017.
George Voinovich (R) Ohio has quit--I mean retired. Rob Portman (R) elected. See January and 2017.
Richard Shelby (R) Alabama was re-elected. He probably has a Tea Party Target on his back, too. 2017.
Lisa Murkowski (RINO) Alaska was re-elected on a write-in. She is a sore loser (primary). 2017.
Richard Lugar (R) Indiana is up for re-election in 2012. Indiana Tea Party also searching for candidate.
Susan Collins (RINO) Maine is up for re-election in 2014. Does Maine have a Tea Party? Hummmmm.
Thad Cochran (R) Mississippi is up for re-election in 2015. I know Mississippi has a Tea Party. Searching.
James Inhofe (R) Oklahoma is up for re-election in 2015. As previously stated Target is in place.
Democrats in above mentioned article:
Evan Bayh (D) has quit -- I mean retired. Dan Coats (R) elected. See in January and upcoming 2017.
Michael Bennet (D) Colorado previously appointed, now elected on his own merit. 2017.
Bill Nelson (D) Florida is up for re-election in 2012. Florida Tea Party searching for another Cuban success story. So all of you Progressive Haters know ahead of time, the Cubans all ready have experience with Socialism/Marxism/Classism so save your energy.
Claire McCaskill (D) Missouri is up for re-election in 2012. She may have sponsored this particular bill along with Coburn, but Missouri Tea Party is searching, too.
Mark Udall (D) Colorado is up for re-election in 2015. He also may have sponsored this, but Colorado Tea Party is searching, too.
Mark Warner (D) Virginia is up for re-election in 2015. Virginia Tea Party searching for candidate.
Russ Feingold (D) Wisconsin --FIRED! Ron Johnson (R) elected. See in January and 2017.
The Democrats who could not manage to vote on this particular bill, but did make the vote on another:
Jeanne Shaheen (D) New Hampshire is up for re-election in 2015. I pause to remind New Hampshire readers of your state motto: LIVE FREE OR DIE! Tea Party Nation will be glad to help you help yourselves.
Barbara Boxer (D) California was re-elected. 2017. California is going bankrupt. Enough said.
Barbara Mikulski (D) Maryland was re-elected. 2017. Maryland readers see the remarks on New Hampshire.
As for the Class I Senators up for re-election in 2012, Tea Party Nation is focusing on 21 Democrats and 2 Independents to defeat and 10 Republicans who may have forgotten their principles and why they were elected in the first place. We knew it was going to be slow to begin with, but we are NOT going away. Did any of you Progressive Haters consider that 683 REPUBLICAN state legislators (state senators and state representatives) were elected changing 19 formerly Democratically controlled state legislatures to REPUBLICAN controlled legislatures? Remember Obama's "created or saved" jobs with the 2010 Census? Can you say RE-DISTRICTING? I knew you could. All politics are local and we who are involved in the Tea Party Movement have very long memories. We are watching, taking notes, and getting ready for 2012.
TEA UP !!
Sooner Tea Party
Wow, that was so well thought out, it almost made me think I wondered into the wrong forum...
Thanks for the information.
Looks like we will have to wait until 2011 and sell a little harder. Maybe we can get obama to put pressure on his fellow democrats. Wasn't one of his 2008 election platforms on eliminating earmarks??
The people on this board that actually care about positive discourse need to learn how to recognize forum trolls and ignore them.
Those same people also need to learn how to have a conversation or disagreement without blaming or name calling.
If that started happening, we might actually have some enjoyable debates about actual merits of policy and practice.
Both sides have positives and negatives. Neither side can do it alone. Unfortunately, people are so blind to these facts that they have shut down to the potential of other points of view. This paradigm of American discourse makes me very sad indeed.
TL;DR? Don't feed the trolls and don't be a troll if you actually care about the points you want to make.
Good day to you all.
I have to say that the mentality of a lot of people in this country has gone from "I can do this" to "I can't do this, help me". We have no one to blame but ourselves for the position we are in. We sat back saying not in America and now we are clinging to the edge in America. The same politicians get voted in time and time again for several reasons not the least of which is that less than 30% of eligible voters even vote. Districts had been realigned in such a way that it is almost impossible to vote incumbants out of office. If there is any citizen movement at all it should involve 3 things. 1. Demand a Constitutional convention that imposes a 2 term, term limit for every single political office in this country That would eliminate, pork, favors, special interests, "retirement benefits". 2. Demand from this point on balanced budget spending. Each bill to stand on its own. Up and down votes 3. Change out the TSA for private security at all airports. Private security with bomb sniffing dogs, will eliminate what is going to become a unionized federal security entity. WRONG MOVE! Private security will open up nearly 70,000 jobs right now, spark the private sector jobs, increase enrollment in CJ programs across the country and would be a perfect fit for veterans coming home from service. Who better to discern the intentions of people? They know what to look for and they are quick to react. Just a few things to consider.