Senate votes to keep spending millions on stimulus signs
Ever since the “American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009″ kicked in, it was obvious that a major part of the stimulus would be paying people to design, manufacture and put up signs alerting taxpayers where their “stimulus” money was going. You’d have to spend a fortune on an investigation to find a better example of a self-perpetuating sinkhole — and then spend even more money on signs announcing the findings of your investigation — to top this.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, and many others, want to keep spending millions on the stimulus signs because to stop doing so would be to deprive us lowly taxpayers the honor of seeing where our money is being spent (we know it when we see it, Babs, no sign necessary) — and one of those areas is the signs themselves:
They’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stimulate the economy, so Senate Democrats said Wednesday they might as well spend millions putting up signs to highlight where the money is being spent.
The road signs, which let motorists know the paving and construction projects they see are being paid for by the $787 billion economic stimulus program, have popped up across the country. In a 52-45 vote, the Senate decided the signs should stay.
“Why on earth would you want to hide from the American people the fact that the recovery package we passed is putting people to work?” asked Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, who took the lead in defending the expenditure. She said stimulus spending is beginning to improve the economy and charged that Republicans and Democrats who voted to strip out the funds are angry about that success.
If we insist on paying money for signs bragging about where money is being wasted, how about a few million to put up some “Buffoon at Work” signs outside some Senate offices? If there’s a more necessary make-work program, I have yet to see it.
Boxer spinning the spending of millions of our dollars on these signs as a service to taxpayers reminds me of Charles Rangel, whose throws down almost $800 taxpayer dollars a month for a car lease because driving a cheaper car would be a sign of disrespect to his constituents.
Senator Boxer, given the economic conditions that have only worsened since the beloved stimulus passed, every time I see one of those signs now, no matter where it is, this is the perceived scenery:
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I see one of these ARRA signs every time I drive from SF to Sacramento for government business. I would love to see the Titanic sign along side.
The pelosi stimulus is an epic fail. Odopey had no clue what it was just that it had a big number. very big.
This admin is a laughing stock, and not the kind of funny that would even get a laugh at comedy club in yuma.
electing this dillweed for president was the biggest mistake in the history of the world.
I heard Chrissy Matthews was going to market Tingle pants…
“Stimulus tingle pants”
only colors available are “brown nose khaki” and “in the tank green”.
And Oreilly should apologize on air for 3 weeks straight for saying about 100 times that Odopey was “better for the economy” during the election.
what were you smoking mr oreilly?
good flippin grief.
just His Royal Odopeyness record from the 100 million squandered with Ayers should have been a big enough clue for even a Harvard Grad to understand that Odopey was a clueless crook.
$3000 per sign it said on the news,does NOT HELP the people that need it. [We are from the government and we are here to help] what a joke !!
Geeze, all the stupid signs need to say is “Here’s the Hopey Changey I buffalo’d you into… “suckers”
and all these projects would have been done anyway via pork.
If they think they can run health care, fix all the other broken government run programs first.
like say go postal! fix it and maybe just maybe we can trust you ignorant crapweasels to actually work efficiently and accomplish something other than change a menu in the Congress cafeteria….
ending rant with take your Czars and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
How about let’s just say this: “No campaign signs on the taxpayer dime!” Because that’s what these signs basically amount to, with their little Recovery.gov logos and all…
They are posting signs on projects that were started before the ARRA was even past. To the Dems making signs is just like printing money.
Passed not past. Need to proof better.
The graphic is rather apt. To paraphrase an old saying, the current economic recovery would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
There appears to be some fine print on the sign. It’s hard to make out but I think it says:
People like Boxer are the reason that our tax dollars aren’t spent efficiently.
People like Boxer are the main reason mental institutions were created.
Didn’t Algore supposedly invent the internet so we can find out what projects are being funded by the “stimulus.” Also to install a sign you must use massive amounts of energy therefor destroying the planet with C02.
How about a sign in front of the local ACORN office:
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Just build the roads you idiots. I know it is my tax dollars paying for it. No need for a sign telling me how great you are.
Just remember that everytime I see the sign, I get pissed off and not a tingling feeling in my leg.
I hope these signs end up marking the graves of the Democrats who brought us this fiasco. (Figuratively speaking of course. We are living in a zeitgeist of violence and I dont want to make Nancy cry.)
Every spending bill that Congress passes should be calculated at the per taxpayer cost.
Then an equal amount should come out of the personal income of each Congresscritter who voted for it. Directly. As in they have to write a check or use a debit card.
That would slow down the spending really quick.
“You Children and there childrens future being spent here in the name of Tax and Spend”
And we will wonder why they will hate us.
Which republicans voted for it?
Some among the chattering classes are taking it upon themselves to spruce up the Spendulus signs:
There, fixed that for ya.
It really is sad to think that our first black President will also go down in history as our worst.President.EVER. And that includes Jimmah Cahtah. I know that those signs were the work of Congress, not the POTUS. But he is supposed to be in charge. His inexperience is not only destroying our capitalist society, but will also get us killed with his inept foreign policy decisions. For the love of God, get this doofus out of the White House!!
These economic illiterates (whaddya expect from communists?) think increased government spending is economic growth.
I’ll be glad when this kakistocracy finally self destructs. It will be worth the price we’ll pay.
I have never seen a congress that is run so badly. It reminds me of a little kid in a store, with a gift card…spend, spend, spend. I agree with Happyscrapper. It’s sad that we have a black president now who could end up the worst president ever. I had hoped that our first black president would have been a statesman, and a real experienced leader. Now, we have a man trying to be set up a socialist system with him in charge, where his policies are not to be questioned, lest one be called a “racist” or other names.
I get the urge to find a paintball gun when I see one of those.
I was speaking to one of a former employer yesterday (in the building industry, of all places) and he complained about the lack of true infrastructure improvement. It seems that a lot of this stimulus money is going to mill and resurface the two main highways in my area (U.S. 50 and U.S. 13) but they’re not addressing the bridges which are falling apart because the process takes too long and is mostly done behind the scenes. You don’t see a big stimulus sign slapped in front of the office of the engineering firm designing the new bridge.
So they’re taking a few weeks to do stretches of road that weren’t in bad shape to begin with – it’s not like the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware have severe winters – meanwhile the state of Maryland has such a budget shortfall that state funding for roads to my county was cut 90 percent! Apparently the state highways can be in fine shape but just try getting to them.
Wasn’t it Reagan who preached to us that it didn’t matter who got the credit as long as the deed was accomplished? Obviously we’ve come a long way from that with these millions wasted on self-congratulatory signs.
To answer a comment above, all 40 Republicans voted in favor of killing the signs along with five Democrats. Needless to say, my two worthless Senators were all for wasting the money since Governor O’Malley puts his name on them too.
If you want a REAL stimulus, how about listening to those of us who were by your house last Saturday and letting the private sector do its magic!
Michael Swartz
http://www.monoblogue.us
Just last night, I noticed one of these on a road leading to where I graduated from high school and where I now run in the evenings. Oddly enough, I didn’t see a “project” anywhere near the sign. What a fricking waste of money.
Exit question: can we commission some Titannic signs to be posted on the doors of ACORN offices around the country?
If the stimulus plan was actually working, they wouldn’t need an ad campaign to let people know. Just another one of their smoke screens to fool the people into thinking things are actually getting done. Their usual MO. I don’t believe a word that comes out of the mouths of anyone in DC, and I certainly don’t believe the stimulus plan is working because I see a stupid sign. Yes, there are plenty of morons who buy into it, just as they bought into the lies Obama told in order to get elected. But anyone with a brain knows the truth.
Barak’s Billboards. A simple and daily reminder of getting what we vote for.
Everywhere I go, they mark the spot where the traffic comes to a complete standstill, just like the economy.
Obama Highway & Transportation Department - Building fewer cars that travel on freshly colored roadways that still lead to no jobs.
I like that! Why don’t you e-mail it to them and tell them you are just trying to be helpful in formulating the perfect mission statement for them.
What a bunch of nonsense. Those jobs were already there. Construction jobs have always been budgeted and taxed appropriately. Those projects are supposed to be paid for everytime someone buys a gallon of gas.
And they’ll all be collecting unemployment once the winter weather hits…. like they do every winter. Here on the east coast, they might be looking at another month of work.
Here’s a sign I’d like to put up.
“Hey Odopey, Bite me!”
It is amazing our wondeful elected can spend millions on signs, but can not find funds for our military or missile defense.
L
Its well and good to complain like this on blogs, but we all ought to be calling local talk shows, writing letters to the editor, posting politely on liberal message boards in a search for recruits, and calling our representatives.
We need to follow Saul Alynski’s “Rules for Radicals” against the left and mock those folks whenever possible. If fail to dislodge these powerful people in the next two elections, the country we have known will be gone.
the shame of this story is that these stupid damn signs cost $3000 each due to gubmint paperwork, union contractors, gubmint mandated regulation paint that only one producer carries (some dems brother in laws company) and 25 highschool dropouts who now work for the gubmint to lean on shovels while the backhoe operator digs the hole to put the signpost up. a recent story on gubmint efficiency comes to mind. a dog was killed on a railroad track running through the city which gave us thomas eagleton and stuart symington. the city self insures. the gubmint employee wasn’t about to go down the tracks and place the dog into a trash can and haul it back, so he jumped on the cities brand new $250k backhoe, and proceeded down the tracks to get the dead dog. along comes a train, and our intrepid worker jumps for his life, leaving the backhoe to damage not one locomotive, but two. total cost to the city millions of dollars, but hey, the worker was fine and kept his job. all’s well, just raise taxes.
Then the president would be best compared to a baby with a live hand grenade.
The SEIU is doing a sign push in Sacramento and I love how they titled this article at the Sacbee.
SEIU shows softer side with lawn signs in Sacramento area
Opps left the “l” off at the end, the correct link is.
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2193709.html
There’s a Shovel-Ready sign in Glenwood Springs (CO) as you exit off I-70. There’s no project anywhere in sight. That intersection is a nightmare to navigate because of the resort, the Springs swimming pool, the eateries all around, the only way to exit to get to Aspen —
I would say that the sign is a perfect example of how gubmint will eventually destroy the economy and no one will be able to afford a vacation.
We’ll be Shovel-Ready for the Grave.
There’s only one sign I would like to see. . . STOP
Off topic but…
Article in today’s NYT while predictably misreading the significance of the grassroots upsurge at least understands an important truth that the current leadership still refuses to acknowledge:
Bingo. We don’t need THIS Republican Party. We voted them out of office TWICE. If we can’t force them to clean house, we will go elsewhere and they will cease to exist.
We aren’t wrecking the Democrats only to pave the way for the McCain/Bush crowd to weasel back into the driver’s seat. Personally, I am still angrier at the GOP than I am at Democrats.
Another important quote from NYT article:
Don’t stay home next time. Vote “none of the above” by not voting for the Dem or the Rep. It matters. Voting “Hell no!!!” counts. It denies our opposition a mandate. Don’t worry about what others plan on doing, do it yourself.
This crapweasel president and his thugs have been trying their best to transform our beautiful country into a socialist “big government” liberal puppet show. After viewing the damage that has been done after only one year, I think that the only way to stop the destruction is to attack them on all fronts using demonstrations, tea parties, Fox News, signs, placards, phone calls, emails, faxes, and anything else we can think of. If we keep up the attacks for the next 2-3 years and force them to expend assets to defend themselves, hopefully there will be more of America to save come next elections time. When that time comes, we need to get off our butts and vote these scumbags OUT OF OFFICE.
I find it hard to beleive intelligent people are still watching Mr. BORE(O’Really), he’s been in Odopo’s pocket from the get go. I stopped watching the BOR after a bad habit of more years than I care to say, I tuned in the other night to see and hear Ann Coulter…Oreally was so boring and agitating I turned him off again and won’t go back unless MM is a special(very special) guest…and I don’t see that happening, MM has to much pride to lower herself to that panderer for viewers.
Ok, all done ranting about Oreally, can’t stand the guy anymore.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS
AT WORKbeing wasted.Unfortunately, I think that our president and his wife have sort of an Oedipus complex thing going on between them. Freud described it as the male’s (Obama’s) castration anxiety (caused by oedipal rivalry with the father) and the female’s (Michelle’s) penis envy.
Unfortunately, I think that our president and his wife have sort of an Oedipus complex thing going on. Freud described it as “castration anxiety” (caused by oedipal rivalry with the father) and the female’s penis envy.
Oops. Double post mistake.
Yes, and Michelle Obama was on the All Barack Channel last night on the De La Raza Awards Show to announce some new government web site for latinos – sisepuede.gov or something whose purpose is probably sucking up taxpayer dollars. I wasn’t paying close attention – but they had a couple of great musical acts!
The level of corruption going on in the left is staggering and the fact that they are in control is mind numbing. Not only the fact that Americans elected what is fast looking to be the most corrupt administration in modern history, but the fact that so many of them are acting surprised makes me think that perhaps we do not deserve this country. I believe that the next 3 years are make or break for this country.
Had to renew my medical license today. It’s nothing more than a tax so I can work…so I can be taxed on how much I make, and how much I spend, or save, and if there is anything left, so my family can be taxed when I die. This has become an absurbity. Now, I see they want to spend all that money to brag. Enough is enough. I can only “hope” that there is a “change” in the government next year, and put an end to this buffoonery.
So none of that money goes to credentialing and medical review boards so that patients can have some assurance that their doctor is qualified and competent?
Does any of that go to continuing education to ensure that my doctor is up in the latest medical techniques?
That doesn’t make any sense at all. Many conservatives stayed home or voted “none of the above” last time because they didn’t like Obama or McCain. But liberals didn’t do that. How do you think Obama got his mandate in the first place? Do you think that if we do the same thing again in the next election it will turn out differently? That’s the definition of insanity.
The silent majority of conservatives have finally awakened from their slumber. Now is the time to leverage that new interest in politics to take back the Republican Party and elect real conservatives, beginning with the primaries. If Republicans end up nominating more McCain types, then you might have a case for voting “none of the above”. But why concede defeat before we’ve even started?
I am encouraged by the increase of people in various states who are opening investigations into their own neighborhood corruption. FOX has been “hounding” (pun intended) Mayor Nagin of New Orleans about some of his corruption and a few of the Governors are going after the bad guys. Maybe this is taking off…but only the beginning. The smut of corruption in this country is so horrendous, we need to use a strong bug killer on these cockraoches!! The truth is coming to light!
Pasadena…I also think we can’t just “not vote” or vote “none of the above”!! What good will that do except elect the wrong person. I would rather have a say in who is elected. If I vote “none”, I am not voting at all. NO.NO.NO!! You are very adamant abour your position, but I believe you are mistaken. We need to find the best candidate, work for that candidate, and VOTE for that candidate. Obama MUST be defeated in the next election, if he isn’t impreached and jailed first.
We drove from Clearwater, Florida to Ca through Tx, AR, NV, and Back going up through Yellowstone, and we saw a few of these STUPID signs and NO ONE working!!!!!
Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!
I will admit I am a bit drunk. But what I want to say is that Spanish cuisine is freaking amazing. Simple ingredients prepared simply.
I have made my tortilla Espanol. And now I shall move on to my gambas al ajillo.
Oh…I mean ARRRRRRGHH! I have made me tortilla Espanol, matey!
Oh wait… what I really meant is:
ARRRRGHHH! If ye want stimulus spending, invest in rum and cheap wenches, matey!
This summer a friend and I went on a long road trip, Houston to Memphis, across Tennessee and up through West Virginia (for golf and whitewater rafting), to Pittsburgh for a family reunion, back through Ohio and Kentucy and back to Houston. We saw at least fifteen of those signs alongside the interstates we travelled.
Here is the $64,000 question for you kids. What is the one thing we NEVER saw at any of those sites?
C’mon, guess what is the one thing we never saw??????
Ahoy, Chappy!
You just wait ’til I get home, break out the gin and tonic and cut loose with the pirate speak!
The only thing that surprises me is that we do not seem to have another set of signs that say:
“Coming to this site soon – A sign to announce that your stimulus money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 will be spent here”
chap – you could so easily highjack this thread by talking food and spirits (pick your poison). And, we’d let you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGECIFa9rJM&feature=related
Chaps,this one is for you!
Oh wow. That is excellent!
I have me wee bitty shrimp peeled and deveined! I have me guindilla chile seepin’ in me olive oil over verrrrrry low heat to seep its flavors out. And AYE!! I have me sweet onions roastin’ in the oven, ready to sprinkle the caberales cheese and pine nuts over them!
ARRRRRGHHH! IT’S A TAPAS FEAST YE ALL!!!
Ahoy, chaps, Me have fallen under the influence o’ the sullen wench Michelle Obama and bought some Lacinato kale from Whole Foods. Made it for the first time last eve as a “crisp” and found it t’ be quite intriguin’. Gar.
I have a confession.
I used Pirate Helper.
http://www.talklikeapirateday.com/translate/index.php
Mind you, I have NEVER used Hamburger Helper or chili starter.
We be on the same page, matey! But I have not explored that yet.
Tell me, have you used saffron?
If we can get enough people over here for a random party, turn up the pirate theme, serve up the Spanish cuisine and I’ll bring Tuscan kale crisps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM1NUGlo2ww&feature=related
I believe, being the old-timer that I am, that Robert Newton is the one who “invented” pirate talk, in his movies. The above is definitely his invention.
ARRRGH! I have but a wee pinch left of saffron in me larder. Enough for mayhaps one more use!!!
If ye want a true treat for the taste buds, I have to point ye to this recipe for garlic shrimp.
I do make some modifications, however. First, as I alluded to before, I seep the pepper in warm olive oil to release its flavors. Just throw the chile in the olive oil and cook over very low heat for about 20 minutes.
Second, I actually increase the sauce proportions by about one and a half. This is only because the sauce is so good, ye will want to be soppin’ it up with some crusty bread. Argh.
Seriously. If anyone wants a true taste of Spain (this recipe is from the preeminent Spanish chef in the US, and the chef/owner of my favorite restaurant in the world) that is really easy to prepare, this is the one.
NOO WAIT!!!
I meant to link to this recipe!!!
graysonnet, it is so lovely for you to attend!
Please regale us with your memories.
That larder has to be quite small.
Do you mind if I ask, how do you store such a pinch? In a glass jar? In a plastic bag?
It is just in the little glass container that I had bought it in. Maybe 10 strands or so left.
WALK THE PLANK!!!!
It’s Cooking with the Stars! The next reality show!
I know I feel that way when I cook.
You get snaps for stylish response.
Snaps, I am fine with. Sparkles? …well lets just leave those to kingfish.
Oh, I am SO glad you mentioned Kingfish.
I would have been devastated if you had not.
He will be here when he fulfills his commitment as supremely good daddy to his brood,
Anyway, I have not cooked with saffron yet and am so jealous of anyone who has.
I’m just mad about Saffron.
She’s just mad about me.
I’m a just a med about a Saffron
She’s just mad about meeeeee…
They call me mellow yellow (quite rightly).
I told Kingfish about my adventures with Tuscan kale and he was very hostile. Mainly because it was certified organic but also not boiler plate issue kale.
You be speaking my language! Big time! Love that song!
Chaps, true confession:
I am a saffron virgin.
Saffron is amazing when it is necessary. But in 99.99% of dishes, it would be lost.
Have you never had paella?
Just once in a faux Spanish restaurant here in STL.
I was disappointed in the authenticity of the food PLUS the guy I was with was undeserving,, a nut case.
To me paella is like a dream.
Something so authentic, so special,
like the clambake I heard about in movies.
Arrrgggh! These landlubbers be right pitiful bilge scum! Be off to the hoosegow and make license plates if you want to earn your rum!
Oh, wow! Lordy, lordy.
We must acknowledge a most suitable guest, Mr. Rogue Cheddar.
waiting for a response from the fellows…..
tick, tock , tick tock…
Ahhh….
First I will tell you about my first experience with paella.
I was doing an exchange program in Spain, Madrid to be specific. Toward the end of my stint there, the family I was living with made paella. This is a big deal and everyone, aunts, uncles, close friends, etc… are invited over. This particular paella happens to have whole soft shell crab in it. As in guts and all eaten whole. I was 17 and the most exotic thing I had ever eaten to that point was fried clams. I was a good guest and ate it. And…not too freaking bad.
Second part…my “dream” is St. Louis “snoot”. I was in St. Louis for about 4 days 3 years ago and I really wanted to go to this place called “Smokie O’s” which served authentic St. Louis BBQ, including snoot. I had exactly one day, according to our itinerary, when I could ditch my vegetarian wife and go. I walked about 1 1/2 miles across highways with speeding cars and through neighborhoods where I was certain I was going to be mugged to get there.
When I arrived…CLOSED!!! For a funeral, so I couldn’t be too mad. But sorely sorely disappointed.
Chaps, I could have left sooner but stayed here for you and you did not disappoint!
Hold on. I am reading a miracle.
Does St. Louis have to absorb all the guilt?
ms boxer forgets or refuses to mention of the private sector road construction that brought los angeles back to normal after an earthquake in 94 – here. the PRIVATE SECTOR built a major freeway artery underbudget and ahead of schedule. Government went to the private sector, because government was unable to be so expedient! Need it be said that the private sector can produce the jobs if only government would stop stealing the funds.
Chaps, SEE – I knew you could highjack the whole thread and turn it into a foodie trek.
Me and mine had homemade meatballs, homemade sauce/gravy from a gift of fresh tomatoes/basil/garlic from a neighbor. My childhood mentor, instucting me in her memories from Italy when I was a teenager, was salivating from heaven. A great teacher.
T’day if ye be shoutin’, “Surrender the booty!” you be gettin’ sued fer sexual harassment. Arrrrrh!
Raise the Skull an’ Crossbones, lads! Bring ‘er about, an’ run out th’ Long Nines! Stand by yer guns!
Hope be not a plan; changes sometime be bad! We be the civilian national security force! Break open the rum! We be the resistance, now! Boardin’ party stan’by! Arrrrh!
ECS
On September 19th, 2009 at 3:15 am, Common Sense said:
Every spending bill that Congress passes should be calculated at the per taxpayer cost.
Then an equal amount should come out of the personal income of each Congresscritter who voted for it. Directly. As in they have to write a check or use a debit card.
That would slow down the spending really quick.
Didn’t bounce their checks before? Take the CASH !!!!!
Chaps, I remember you telling that St. Louis story from a previous thread. Probably our dear departed monster thread. Boo hoo! Maybe it’s only in pergatory.
I will try the Spanish shrimp tapas recipe.
My favorite part of a paella is the steamed mussels. There never seems to be enough.