McCain will support earmark-stuffed Senate Crap Sandwich; Obama: Me, too!
I’ve been listening to his economic speech in Independence, Missouri.
He has basically echoed Nancy Pelosi’s line that opposing the bailout is unpatriotic.
Here’s what he said:
We are square in the greatest financial crisis of our lifetimes. And I am pleased to report that today, I will be returning to the floor of the Senate to vote on a bill that marks a decisive step in the right direction. The original proposal was flawed. I urged additions of taxpayer protections, stronger oversight, limitations on executive compensation and more protections for people’s bank accounts. I am pleased that these are being added to improve the original bill. It took Congress a while, and there were costs to these delays. But they have awakened to the danger. And today, with the unity that this crisis demands, Congress will once again work to restore confidence and stability to the American economy.
There will be a time to fix the blame for all that has happened — especially in the case of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the abuses and political deal-making that corrupted those institutions. But our duty right now is to fix the problem, and that is the business that will shortly take me back to Washington. Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. Now, with this measure, we have another chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
If the financial rescue bill fails in Congress yet again, the present crisis will turn into a disaster. As credit disappears, students will no longer be able to get loans for college, and families looking for a new home will be unable to get a loan. New car sales will come to a halt. Businesses will have difficulty securing credit for operations and may be unable to pay employees. If we fail to act, the gears of our economy will grind to a halt.
This is a moment of great testing. At such moments, there are those on both sides of this debate who will act on principle. Of course, there are always some who think first of their own interests, who calculate their own advantage instead of rushing to the aid of their country. But in the case of this bill, I am confident there are enough people of good will in both parties to help see America through this crisis. And when the last vote is cast, we can be grateful to all of them — Democrats and Republicans alike — for helping to solve the crisis instead of merely exploiting it.
McCain has made his battle against earmarks the hallmark of his campaign. He couldn’t stop talking about them for the first half of the last week’s first presidential debate.
The Senate bill is stuffed with earmarks to grease its passage. I repeat:
- Film and Television Productions (Sec. 502)
- Wooden Arrows designed for use by children (Sec. 503)
- 6 page package of earmarks for litigants in the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident, Alaska (Sec. 504)Tax earmark “extenders” in the bailout bill.
- Virgin Island and Puerto Rican Rum (Section 308)
- American Samoa (Sec. 309)
- Mine Rescue Teams (Sec. 310)
- Mine Safety Equipment (Sec. 311)
- Domestic Production Activities in Puerto Rico (Sec. 312)
- Indian Tribes (Sec. 314, 315)
- Railroads (Sec. 316)
- Auto Racing Tracks (317)
- District of Columbia (Sec. 322)
- Wool Research (Sec. 325)
McCain supports them all.
Business as usual.
No earmark left behind.
***
I’m willing to be persuaded of the merits of a bill for “wool research”, or the merits of a billion-trillion-gazillion-dollar bill to save the planet from economic meltdown. But the same piece of legislation cannot plausibly contain both.
I suppose sophisticated insiders would assure me that regrettably there’s no possibility of earmark reform; this is just the price of doing business in Washington. But that’s why non-sophisticated non-insiders hold the political class in contempt. The same blowhards who run for office on a platform of lowering ocean levels and healing the planet then turn around and insist they’re unable to do anything about the one small area of human endeavor for which they bear sole responsibility.
If this is an emergency, hold the wool research. If it’s an emergency that’s got time for wool research, let’s chew it over for another few months.
***
Update 11:22am Eastern. Obama’s giving almost the same exact speech as McCain. We must act, greed and irresponsibility, can’t do nothing, we’ll protect the American taxpayer, etc., etc., etc.
Hypocrite Obama’s pouring on the class warfare rhetoric: GREED GREED GREED!
And yes, by the way, he’s still being advised by Fanniecrat Jim Johnson.
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Trackbacks
- Hyscience
- 1,000 Points of Wright
- The Other McCain: Senate bailout vote tonight
- Shopfloor » Blog Archive » Text of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
- Bailout Again Renders Folly….or B.A.R.F for short « Padna’s Ponderings
- The death of fiscal conservatism « The Right Daily
- McCain will lose the support of his base if he votes for this bill. | LOUNGE DADDY
- ridin’ with the king » politicians and bureaucrats: they just can’t help themselves
- Defeat the Cram Down Bullsh*t Bailout Bill: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 « Pronk Palisades
- The Crap Sandwich™: Now Fortified With Extra Porky Goodness! (Updated) | Counting Sheep
- We Have A New Bill; Lard-O-Rama Edition « Beltway Snark
- The McSenator Hurts His Presidential Campaign
- F3 Coalition - [Faith. Family. Freedom.] » Blog Archive » The McSenator Killing His Campaign
- The McSenator Hurts His Presidential Campaign | Adam's Blog
- Financial Crisis: Phone And Fax Numbers For All US Senators; More On What To Do - InterNACHI Message Board
- » McCain Rails against bailout earmarks, then votes for Tax Breaks for Puerto Rican Rum producers and Wool Research..WTF? Dvorak Uncensored: General interest observations and true web-log.
- Truth v. The Machine » Archives » Bet Sarah Thought the Bailout Sucked, Too
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This is from an email I received from the McCain campaign.
Don’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining.
Regardless, Obama gets “elected.” Hundreds of “community activists” are filling out multiple ballots as we speak. In some communities (certainly in battleground states) there will be more ballots than registered voters, but nothing will be done about it. The fix is in, and there is nothing than anybody can do about it.
With these earmarks, McCain and Obama are putting lipstick on the pig. Do they think we don’t see that?
What he’s basically saying here is that our country’s economy depends on people’s willingness to perpetually take on more debt. That scares the bejeezus out of me and I can’t believe I’m hearing this from the Republican candidate for president. This is supposed to be the party that helps people stand on their own two feet and debt does nothing but keep folks enslaved and beaten down!
What has this country come to?
While I know that the US is in a bad situation right now, I am beginning to question just how bad it really is. Some companies would have failed, but that may not have been a bad thing in the long term.
You really have to wonder about people’s credibility when those closest to this mess benefitted the most from immediate intervention to prevent some failures: http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/09/30/barbarians-at-the-gate/
McCain is pushing bipartisanship, and Obama is avoiding all responsibility. He just said that the Democrats brought more votes than promised to the House bill, and claims that it wouldn’t have done any good for him to have tried to persuade Republicans. He didn’t mention that the Congressional Black Caucus voted against the bill, as did 12 Democrat members of Frank’s committee – enough to have passed it. He couldn’t be bothered to try to persuade even the members of his own party, much less the other side, and he claims to be a uniter? Some leadership. This guy is the biggest joke that ever hit the campaign trail. Unfortunately, what he’s going to do as President, even as a sock puppet, isn’t funny at all.
I’m votin’ for Palin, and whatever baggage she brings with her can be dealt with later. Frustrating!
The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a Richard Coat because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance. A Richard Coat allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of Richards, and gives you a sense of security while you are actually being screwed.
The foxes are guarding the henhouse.
Michele, you really need to stop attacking McCain. That is, unless you believe an Obama Presidency would benefit our nation. This is a very important campaign. You may or may not agree with what McCain is doing, but just think of the alternative. If you are one of the complete idiots who believe Republicans or conservatives would somehow gain from Obama winning, just take a look at what his followers tried to do in Missouri. Just imagine for a minute an Obama Justice Dept.
Protest voters,
I have posted this before. It bears repeating. I understand your frustration with McCain. I do not disagree with you in the least. If I could wave my magic wand, Palin would be my choice.
However, we are in a restaraunt where you get chicken or fish. The chicken (McCain) will make you sick, but the fish (Obama) could kill you. You can try to order other things (Barr, Palin, Paul, etc.), but in the end the waiter is only going to deliver you chicken or fish, despite your wishes.
That’s reality. To avoid getting the fish, I reccommend highly that you order the chicken. God willing we can spend the next four years updating the menu.
Well, of course, I’m sure most of us will grit our teeth and still vote for the ticket simply because we can’t stand the thought of the Obamination in the White House. We had hoped Palin might be a huge influence on McPain instead of the other way around, but the prospects dim daily.
aren’t you just saying: how do you want the shaft, fast or slow?
Reporting his stances isn’t the equivalent of attacking him.
Nobody in their right mind believes that.
You’re preaching to the choir.
I think you know better than this. Why attack Michelle for reporting where McCain stands on this hot button issue? It isn’t her fault that he’s left many of his constituents in a lurch.
Again preaching to the choir. McCain is handing this election over to Obama. We don’t want that. We want him to divorce himself from the idea that bipartisanship for the sake of being able to say I’ve reached across the aisle isn’t necessarily a great thing. There are so many issues where McCain could just snatch up this election, yet, he doesn’t take the bait, for lack of a better term.
CNN just reported that they’re not going to vote until Friday morning.
PUSH HARDER!
That’s the stupid logic that keeps the menu limited to 2 choices.
Congratulations – you’re choosing fascism over socialism.
I wouldn’t brag about it….
I am right there with you but where else can we go to vent our frustrations? Our elected officials aren’t listening.
What shall it be…….
Death or Bonga-Bonga?
You had to know it wouldn’t be long before somebody defended McCain’s stance with Obambi’s worse. It’s all they have left.
McCain is in deep trouble. Polls are breaking heavy for Obama. The media is in the tank. Palin looks unqualified.
But mostly, its over for me because McCain is not on the right side of the bailout and he is not coming to the fore as a leader. We know he is a moderate. When he says Maverick what he really means is that he is a bi-partisan centrist.
I believe he could have won the presidency by rejecting the Bush-Paulson-Pelosi bailout. Even if the Federal Government needs to get involved, he could have led the charge to get the mark-to-market,insurance, and private investment changes that the bill will end up with. Instead he and Obamba simply say that the bailout is necessary.
Welcome President Obama. Welcome to the United Socialist States of America.
Perhaps, but “He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.”
Palin in the McCAin administration in any capacity is a chip in the game. It will not take a rocket scientist in the Republican establishment to understand WHO won for McCain.
We will have a place at the table and we can start the revolution from there.
Bingo!
I am sure MM could relate to another writer of truth, Cyrano!
Would you prefer we be ignorant of waht politicians are doing?
I personally prefer we know all about all candidates.
Again, I cannot disagree with your opinions. It is my opinion, however, looking at the political battlefield littered with the dead of third party movements that if the George Soros crowd can take over the Democratic Party, why not start the revolution to sieze the Republican Party.
Why build your logistical base up from nothing when you can takeover someone elses?
Again, my choice for a strategy. Nothing more. Von Schliffen I am not.
Taxpayer protections is one thing, billions in earmarks is quite another. This proposal is far more ‘flawed’ than the original due to the earmarks.
If McCain were wise, he would vote “no” for this silly bill.
you have to use the WRIGHT spelling…
F is the 6th letter in the alphabet:
(F)ranklin Raines
(F)reddie Mac
(F)annie Mae
Yes folks…..sign of the DEVIL 666!
I was watching Hannity and Colmes last night, and they had Steve Wynn on, the Las Vegas Casino owner of Wynn Casino
Lou Dobbs and Steve Wynn, and a few others are all saying the same thing. I wish I could find the video or transcript.
In Wynn’s words. NO you do not want all this worthless paper bought up by the Government, to be re capitalized. There are not enough bureaucrats to handle all this worthless paper, and we know from their past performances, they are not up to the task of handling this much worthless paper. What is wrong with our Legislature? They are ignoring every sound business principle. Wynn already said, there are ways to handle this with in the free market, if our Govt., tinkers with it, they will make it worse. This isn’t unlike the Amnesty Bill, the McCain/Kennedy Bill, our Immigration system is terrible. If they passed that Bill they would have flooded a dysfunctional bureaucracy, with more applications to file. The bureaucracy is not handling the load it already has. The Politicians are NOT Thinking this through, there are so many reasons, not to go down the road, they are choosing, and there are alternatives. Where are the cooler heads, that need to prevail?
flyoverman
your point is taken and I , of course, have no choice but to vote the McCain /Palin ticket for your reasons well stated. That being said,our loss would be dangerous dangerous and I’m just putting people on notice that I will loudly and , if necessary, violently fight for my country…. AGAIN>
I could not disagree more. If we don’t demand our candidate be held to a higher standard than typical “say anything to get elected” BS, then who will?
McCain deserves a lot of criticism here. A LOT. This is what conservatives signed up for. Just another lib in sheep’s clothing. If we say nothing, then no one will.
McCain just hammered the final nail into his own presidential hopes coffin by endorsing this boondoggle. Sorry you wasted your time and energy on this numbskull RINO, Gov. Palin.
This bill is a camel. A camel is a thoroghbred horse designed by a bi-partisan committee.
Rush was on the money attacking McCain’s “it’s hard to be bi-partisan” line yesterday. Just give up half of your beliefs and give the other side everything they want. Bi-partisan = gutless.
Mr. McCain: Reread your acceptance speech. It’s time to “stand up and fight” not make friends with the crooks who made the mess. Otherwise, start preparing your concession speech.
Nah, nah, death by bonga bonga.
McCain can’t just be his own worst enemy, that’s bad enough, he makes it onto our worst enemy list too.
What Democrats used to be, before they drank the liberal Kool Aid, liberaly.
Called my Senators but also called the McCain national campaign HQ. Was put through to someone in donations. Advised them that I had received a solicitation for a donation via e-mail, and was going to make a donation when the Senate version of the bill was raised.
I advised the campaign that McCain-the-Maverick’s support for such a slush fund of goodies makes him a hypocrite.
I advised the campaign that I was unsubscribing from their email list, and that I would be relexively voting AGAINST any incumbent, regardless of party, as a message to Washington that “Business as Usual” is not acceptable.
My GF is a registered Democrat and she called the Democratic HQ and basically said the same thing — that she was going to be volunteering to make sure that the incumbent in her area is voted OUT as a signal that “Business as Usual” is not okay. This was a huge Hillary area, and there is an independent running against the Democratic incumbent.
Don’t give up, keep calling the Campaign HQ as well as well as the National Campaign committees and telling them you want to throw them ALL out if this garbage passes.
ENOUGH of “Washington as Usual”.
Is there any way that the RNC Delegates can revoke the nomination from McCain?
I’m totally serious.
These people are criminals.
Redpill, time for a write-in campaign. We need a “none of the above” candidate.
Mr. President,
I expect you to be a man of your word.
You said in your last State of the Union Address on January 28, 2008:
On October 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm, 7thson said:
Can you imagine Mike Huckabee winning the Presidency as a write-in candidate?
He “majored in miracles”, remember?
I am totally down with this. Not sure about Huckabee, but at this point, I’d rather elect my dog than one of these dopes. (The dog’s name is Harley Davidson, by the way.)
Harley has my vote for now. Excuse me while I scrape a sticker off my rear window.
As of today I officially don’t care if McCain wins the election.
The Republican party is in shambles and has forgot the meaning of fiscal conservatism, individual responsibility, and limited Government. How would John McCain presidency differ substantially from a Barack Obama presidency? McCain capitulates on everything in the name of bi-partisanship. He would roll over every time Harry and Nancy demanded it.
What makes you think McCain would do what is necessary to deal with the immigration crisis? Has McCain the “Maverick” shown you that he can deal with the economic situation?
I am sick of Bush. I am sick of McCain. I am sick of the media. The only think I am sad about is the Supreme Court nominees that Obama will get to make. Then again, why should I beleive McCain would have picked a justice to my liking?
For the next 4 years at least this country is going to tack hard left. Maybe then the country will wake up and realize that Socialism has been tried and proven to be ineffective.
I need a modern day Mayflower and a new Plymouth rock.
I think I will go for the fish. But I think that before this is over, the Obama restaurant will be offering free fries and a medium drink with the fish.
This is what you get with a congress filled largely with “professional politicians” instead of leaders. We need leaders now, people with intelligence and vision. What we have are a bunch of people who lack the tools to do the job and they are in it way, way over their heads. They have spent too much time hiding money in freezers, playing around in restrooms, being wined and dined and whatever else, voting their own pay raises and feathering their own nests. This is a freight train running off the tracks and nobody can stop it. Hear that doorbell, it’s not the pizza man! It’s the man with the crap sandwiches that you didn’t order.
John McCain,
Have you asked your mother what she thinks of this bill?
I suspect that at least part of your motivation for running for President is that you feel you never lived up to the example of your father and grandfather. I suspect you think that by becoming President (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) you will have actually outdone the two Admirals.
But John, you’ll never achieve that dream if you vote in favor of this bill.
I ask again, have you asked your mother what she thinks of this bill?
I will be happy to start a revolution to sieze the Repubican Party as soon as I can gather up as much money as George Soros has so it is a fair fight. I don’t think I have a lot of hope, considering I am on Social Security and my savings. That is why, all I can do is pray. Actually, that seems the best plan right now.
I ordered my McCain/Palin stickers, but I haven’t put them on….
and perhaps never will…
I think that this is a lousy bill, and it’s a bill that I don’t want to have to pay for.
But I also understand that it HAS to pass, and it has to pass quickly.
This is the reality on the ground, folks.
It sucks, but there it is.
Those of you who blindly advocate overturning this bill in it’s entirety are IMO being incredibly naive, and extremely irresponsible. Those of you who think that we have all the time in the world to whittle the bill down to something that is 100 percent palatable, are just as irresponsible.
I’m already feeling the financial consequences of congressional inaction in my world, and I’m guessing that I’m not alone. I’d be willing to bet that I’ve got a lot of company here at MM…. people who are feeling upset about the irresponsible tone that this blog has been taking over the last few days who have stopped interacting here for just that reason.
John McCain is doing what must be done, folks. It’s simply irrational to use this bill to fuel your already out-of-control MDS. To not act on this bill and let the American economy go off the deep end, would be simply unforgiveable.
If you can’t understand that, then you have a very limited understanding of the American economy and what makes it tick.
Regarding McCain, the above poster is absolutely right, Michelle. I know you don’t want to hear it. Too bad.
The election is nearly upon us, and you need to stop hammering away at John McCain on every turn. It’s counterproductive, it serves no useful purpose at this juncture, and you’re doing a lot more harm than you are good.
Voter fraud and intimidation. Community organizers. A Soros-backed financial crisis. The corrupt, shameless MSM shilling for the O-boy and kneecapping Palin. So this is what O-boy meant when he said McCain has no idea what he’s dealing with.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayers for this great and free country. Help us to keep our precious liberties, to hold your truth high, and to remain a beacon of freedom for the rest of your fallen world. Amen.
And finally, Lord Jesus, please be with, and guide, and support and let your hand be upon your humble servant Gov. Sarah Palin tonight, as the principalities of light and darkness engage. Let her be your voice, your salt and light on this earth. Amen.