Boehner on stimulus: 'Oh. My. God'

Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:21 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress, Republicans

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
It's on. The $825 billion stimulus package unveiled by Democrats this morning has Republicans literally speechless.

"Oh. My. God," said a stuttering Minority Leader John Boehner moments ago at a news conference. He was reacting after having just read the provisions outlined by Democrats today.

$1 billion for community development block grants. $650 million for digital TV coupons. Billions for universities.

Boehner says that much of it isn't going to do anything to help the economy in the short term. He says the approach by Democrats is to "clean out every dime from the taxpayer," and that the nation can't "borrow and spend it's way to prosperity."

House Republicans held their own forum today in an effort to talk about their ideas for an alternative, which are largely centered around tax cuts and credits.

The Democratic bill will see committee action on Wednesday, or, as Appropriations chairman Dave Obey put it today, "The day after the crown prince is sworn in."

At her weekly presser, Nancy Pelosi, however, asserted that the package will save or create four million jobs.

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Comments

How come Republicans had no trouble with it when Bush "borrowed and spent" our way to disaster? Then it was sound fiscal policy, wasn't it?

I'd like to know what their proposal is, if they don't like this one.

CF, Philadelphia PA (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM)

HERE's THE CHANGE

CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN !!

'...And finally, Leahy asked whether the president has the authority to override the law regarding torture. Holder responded, "Mr. Chairman, no one is above the law. The president has a constitutional obligation to faithfully execute the laws of the United States."...'

From WashingtonMonthly.comn:

'...HOLDER ANSWERS THE WATERBOARDING QUESTION.... When Alberto Gonzales was the nominee for Attorney General, he went to great lengths to avoid describing waterboarding as torture, or even addressing whether the practice is legal. Michael Mukasey's A.G. nomination was nearly detailed by his unwillingness to address similar questions.

It wasn't a trick question. Today, Eric Holder answered it.

Holder's response was both unequivocal and encouraging: "If you look at the history of the use of that technique, used by the Khmer Rouge, used in the Inquisition, used by the Japanese and prosecuted by us as war crimes. We prosecuted our own soldiers for using it in Vietnam. I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, waterboarding is torture."

Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) followed up, asking if foreign countries would have the authority to waterboard U.S. citizens, if they deemed it necessary for their national security. "No, they would not," Holder replied, "It would violate the international obligations that I think all civilized nations have agreed to -- the Geneva Conventions."

And finally, Leahy asked whether the president has the authority to override the law regarding torture. Holder responded, "Mr. Chairman, no one is above the law. The president has a constitutional obligation to faithfully execute the laws of the United States."

These are obviously the correct answers. That the nation has reached the point at which these questions would even have to be asked, and Holder's responses come as something of a relief, is testament to Bush's legacy as it relates to the rule of law....'

That's A REAL CHANGE from Ashcroft, Gonzalez and Mukasey !!
THERE'S YOUR CHANGE !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:33 PM)

Boehner is right. The $350 billion TARP bill has put a tremendous strain on not only the taxpayers of today, but of the next generations. And now the so called "stimulus" package looks to be nothing more then a pay off to the Democrats union friends, environmental supporters, and teachers. That too will have to be paid for by the taxpayers.

Nothing is free liberals. What Obama and his klan are doing are borrowing from Peter to Pay Paul. What's that FRAM filter commercial say? "You can pay me now, or pay me later." But either, we will pay.

All Pork (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:35 PM)

Mr. Boehner should be working w Ms. Pelosi on improving the plan --- and NOT complain or obstruct. The Republicans are the ones who ran the economy into the ditch. Else the Republicans will go from a minority party to a fringe party - like the Whigs.

Carl, Westchester County, NY (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:38 PM)

The Democratic bill will see committee action on Wednesday, or, as Appropriations chairman Dave Obey put it today, "The day after the crown prince is sworn in."

Obey said that? I'm not surprised. He's been around long enough that he can say what's really on his mind. He's another one of those Democratic congressmen for life. Even some Democrats see how absurd this worshipping of Obama has become. And Daivd, Obama is a King, not a Prince. You'll be getting the memo stating that shortly.

Greg Halverson, Wausau WI (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:38 PM)

'...Oh. My. God," said a stuttering Minority Leader John Boehner moments ago at a news conference. He was reacting after having just read the provisions outlined by Democrats today....'

Let's spend this money on WAR instead
How about 'smart bombs' ?
How about some funding for Halliburton ?

Let's spend the money invading a country that wasn't involved with 9/11 !
How about Venezuela ?

On 9/11, George Bush is a lot like Abraham Lincoln's bodyguards:

Mr Lincoln has NOT BEEN SHOT AT since that unfortunate incident at Ford's Theater

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:38 PM)

Boehner is upset because there is no assistance to the tanning industry, thus forcing Representative Boehner to take complicated sun lamps with him when he travels. Our hearts go out to him for his principled stand on the issues that Americans care most about. Instead of that namby-pamby "stimulus" talk he feels strongly that our national emphasis should be on tax breaks for the wealthy and higher military spending on unneeded weapons systems marketed by those who donate to his campaigns.

Arthur, San Francisco (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:40 PM)

> $1 billion for community development block grants <

This is a payoff to the "Community Organizers", much of it will go to the Chicago area I'm sure. This is used to pay for the churches and for the pastors that spread their bilge of hate to the minorities, telling them to vote Democratic so they'll get even more handouts. Don't think so? Go ask Reverend Wright how he got the money to buy his $10 million dollar home. There just isn't that much money in the collection plate in the poor churches of Chicago every Sunday to support paying for that kind of home. Just where do you think the money came from?

Obama Is Full Of It (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:42 PM)

J MERLE STANLEY...
I'm just curious...
When you post, do you actually foam at the mouth ?

If so, I'd LOVE TO SEE IT !!

It'd be so cool !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:42 PM)

He knows what he's talking about -- he was partially responsible for us borrowing and spending our way into this rotten mess!

Kristian Cee, La Crosse, WI (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:43 PM)

Oh please. We've tried tax cuts and credits for eight years. The rich got richer; the rest of us lost our homes, our jobs and the dignity of our country.

Community block grants will benefit the middle class, but it will take a long time to see results. I say nix the millions for digital TV coupons.

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:44 PM)

After 6 years of running our country into the ground with needless wars and wasteful spending (we literally have BILLIONS of dollars of unaccounted for spending in Iraq and Afghanistan) ...

After no oversight of our financial systems. . .

After giving lobbyists the keys to the White House . . .

NOW the Republicans say OH MY GOD? Seriously?

The hypocrisy of politicians knows no limits.

It is fun to nitpick things from the sidelines, but the truth is the Republicans had their chance and they BLEW IT!

Our jobs are disappearing, are wages are stagnant and our investments are vanishing.

Why does the Republican Party think that stimulus is good for Iraq but bad for America? Can anyone explain that?

__________________________________________
From the previous thread:

"Why is Eric Holder being held to a different standard? - Nashville_fan "
__________________________
Because Obama set the higher standard. You know, that Change thing he kept babbling about.

If you're not for Change, then you're against it. So why aren't the Liberals that voted for Obama asking that Holders name be pulled? -Jim Pitot, MA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jim,

The "babbled" change is working together for the good of the nation on things that we AGREE on. Not manufacturing a witch hunt about something ridiculous while we have real life economic, judicial, and human rights CATASTROPHES festering all around us!

There is not one person on this planet who has not made mistakes. Let's not mistake a higher standard with an IMPOSSIBLE standard.

P.S. The "If you're not for Change, then you are against it" line is classic "us-versus-them" Bush think. That kind of thinking doesn't work very well in the real world.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:44 PM)

== At her weekly presser, Nancy Pelosi, however, asserted that the package will save or create four million jobs ==

What is Nancy, a Stepford wife? She stands there chanting the very phrases Obama tells her to chant.

Create 4 million jobs? Maybe. But it will probably destroy 5 million jobs from all the taxes that will be going up to pay for it.

Glenn H., Mn (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:45 PM)

Bonehead will not support any package the Democrats put forward. He has been the leader in the house for obstructing any progress that will put this country back on track.

Jim, Mesa, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:45 PM)

Boner is such an idiot. After ramming the taxayers, especially the middle class for eight years, he suddenly gets religion and is horrified by large spending. Obama is preparing for the future, not just the next four or eight years but ten or twenty years down the road. This is money being spent in America for Americans, not the No Iraqi Left Behind screw up or no bid contracts for Bush's closest friends.

Face it John, you Repubs got your ass handed to you last November and change is coming. You no longer hold majorities in either chamber so you are just going to have to eat it. Payback is a bitch, isn't it?

Dave, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:45 PM)

Congratulations to Chuck Todd on his new book. I will probably read only two books on the Presidential campaign. Todd's book and the one now being written by David Plouffe. The title may be the "Audicity to Win". So I look forward to reading your book Chuck.

John Boehner never thought twice about voting with Bush on the Iraq War. We wasted billions on the war and the GOP kept voting in block with Bush.

Now we need to take care of ourselves, the auto industry, reduce unemployment, allow people to stay in their homes and what does Boehner say...Well now he is speechless, but when he gets his voice back he will say "No Way." And I guess that is why the GOP just doesn't get it. They are willing to spend billions on killing and allowing brave American service men and women to get killed in Iraq, but not willing to help middle class Americans. John, middle class Americans are sick and tired of your neoconservative ideology and you too can visit Bush on his ranch in Texas.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:46 PM)

Dave Obey is an a$$. The crown prince? What business does HE have calling Obama the crown prince? This is exactly why nothing gets done in Congress. They put the brakes on even before he can get started. What a jerk. Republicans sure do keep an open mind and put their country first, don't they?

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:51 PM)

As a Dem, I was more than a little disappointed to see the amount of what I regard as "pork" in this explanation. Someone needs to get out the boning knife and do some trimming.

Don, Tampa, FL (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:52 PM)

Just the fact that words like "crown prince" were part of the Republican counter, certainly demonstrates, or at least should demonstrate, to middle-class Americans, that they are not thinking of what is best for the country.

Want to save a lot of federal money? Get rid of NCLB, period.

Chandler W. (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:54 PM)

THE IDIOTS DEMS AND THIS IDIOT CALLED OBAMA WILL BE THE DEATH OF AMERICA & FREEDOM AS WE KNOW IT, THIS IS SHOCKING THEY TRULY WANT TO MAKE THIS A SOCIALIST COUNTRY, WE NEED SMALL GOVERNMENT NOT LARGE, THEY ALL SHOULD BE FIRED! THE DEMS THAT IS! GOD HELP US FROM THE EVIL ONES, THAT WOULD BE THE DEMOCRATS!

MARIA (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:22 PM)

Boehner - "Clean out every dime from the taxpayer"! Such indignation is a farce! In case he hasn't noticed, the taxpayers have NO money because of the last 8 years, and a complete lack of fiscal responsibility of the REPUKES!

Now, he want's to look-out for the taxpayer, and be a good steward of the economy...WHY, Just Why!?

He and the rest of his party just don't get it, and will not OWN THEIR MISTAKES!

Hurry 20 Jan 09

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:23 PM)

Why don't they distribute money to all taxpaying Americans instead of businesses that got us into this mess in the first place. We can then pay our bills, get out of debt, and go back to normal. Let these companies fail and other businesses open, isn't that the American way?

Tom Mascaro, Willimantic, CT (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:23 PM)

#1 boehner is a crybaby, drama queen. #2 obey needs to be fired at once.

j dalton (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:24 PM)

Well good. It needs to be this big otherwise we're going no place fast. But come on... Republicans are pushing for tax cuts... still??? When has that worked? We've got years of proof that's not the way to go.

J.Roo (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:27 PM)

Regarding Boehner's comments, I wish someone would remind him that we tried their tax cut/trickle down theory for years and it didn't work. The Bush years have put us in a very deep hole and it will take a great deal of diligence, patience and investment in the right things to pull us out. Let's give Obama's plan a chance to work before people start throwing stones at it.

CJ, San Ramon, CA (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:29 PM)

All was well and good when the Republicans were racking up the largest deficit in history while the middle class was disappearing anf the lower classes were expanding and going lower. As long as their buddies in huge business and the upper one to five % income brackets got their tax cuts and breaks, sometime time for taking jobs outside the country or charging the rest of us $4/gallon of gas and had their half million dollar retreats, private jets, golden psrachutes, even for failed ececutives, it was fine to put us all in very deep debt. Someone comes along and hopes to spend some money for the other 95+% of us, and it's suddenly irresponsible spending. I am not an economist, so I can't authoritatively speak on what is best, but I have been trying to learn. However, my BS and hypocrisy radar is really good, and it's coming in very smelly and very clear at the moment.

Sue Timko (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:29 PM)

Why Johnny Boner, it's the little guy finally getting his. You would have thought that it all was coming out of Johnny Boner's pocket. Aren't you the guy that came up with that neat little package for the working men and women in this country? You know Johnny? The one that you euphemistically titled the "Pension Protection Act." That was a great piece of legislation on your part! I never saw my pension drop in value so fast! Well it's time for you and your people to start walking across the flaming embers now Johnny Boner. You and your corporate friends have really done a job on this country Johnny Boner. Now it's time for all of us to start "paying the piper" on your behalf. You and your ilk are a virus on this fine country of ours Johnny Boner. I hope that your constituents finally see through you Johnny Boner and vote you and the rest of your friends out of office.

fixitup (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:29 PM)

Regarding the Bailout: We the tax payers have been saying the same thing for months now.

SCT, Fairfax, VA (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:30 PM)

Nancy Pelosi is an idiot. She has no idea about jobs.. or anything else for that matter.

Va Ind. (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:30 PM)

Sue Timko (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:30 PM)

Ditto John !! Prove it Nancy!! I'm not sure if this is what our PE has in mind, at least I sure hope not.
Obama needs to appoint a babysitter for our 111th Congress, the entire House and Senate has become a joke!!

Nelson in Va. (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:31 PM)

Sue Timko (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:32 PM)

Naturally the reidiots want to give tax cuts and credits. They care nothing for the middle class, on the corporations and ultra wealthy. They have proven it time and again, and hide behind guns, religion and fear.

William Estero FL (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:33 PM)

Hand ringing and moaning on the part of the Republicans is not only useless, it is counter productive. Irrespective of the fact that I am a lifelong conservative and have financially contributed to the GOP over the years, their failure to prepare properly for the sub-prime meltdown or have a viable grasp or plan to present was and is inexcusable and unconscionable. What America needs today is a belief that there is a plan and that plan will work. It frankly doesn't really matter if the plan is flawed or stupid. Instilling confidence in the consumer will do more to right the economy than any governmental program will do. That takes leadership, courage and an aura of confidence. Those are the very qualities that made Ronald Reagan an American icon. Naysaying and partisan bickering will only serve to continue to frighten the American consumer and perhaps push the economy to the point that it fully breaks. The Republicans had 8 years to get it right and they failed at every level. They were fired. My advice is to shut up unless you have a proven skill set and a bulletproof plan. Since it is clear that they do not have either the intellect, leadership or talents to lead this country out of its crisis, I would strongly suggest voicing a vote of confidence that everything will get better. If you do, it will. Driving the consumer back to the shopping mall is step one. Fail to do that and it is going to be a very long winter.

Bryan, Eugene, OR (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:34 PM)

I think the Republicans have done a great job of cleaning out the taxpayer and doing a majority of the work to get us in this mess. They prefer to do their borrowing from foreign countries and put us at their mercy. Thanks for trying to destroy the middle class.

Chris (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:36 PM)

Boehner is such a hypocrite. He and the do nothing Republican controled congress did nothing to improve the country when the were in power for 6 years. Now he is quick to criticize without offering any solutions how to get out of the mess he, Bush and the rest of the Republicans put the country in.

Chuck, Ohio (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:39 PM)

John Boehner and his party and it's feeble leadership and need for deregulating financial industries (like the mortgage industry) are the reason for the financial mess we are in now. I don't care what he thinks, he has no good ideas. All he wants is to cut taxes for the wealthy. Look around you, Mr. Minority Leader, your party's ranks are dwindling in the Congress because of you and your ilk, so cut the theatrics and try to stay out of the way of a solution

Jon, Providence RI (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:40 PM)

*Sigh* more posturing and theatrics on its way. I have yet to hear anything positive or constructive come from Boehner. Nevertheless I will diligently research the details on the proposed tax cuts and credits. Though if my memory is correct bush did the same thing in 2002 or 2003 I was in my early 20's and didn't pay attention to such things? I hope they are not proposing the same thing. However I'm hoping they will address the foreclosue issue and not just ignore it. This is more important in my eyes than anything else. It should not be left solely to the democrats to fix things.

erica p san antonio,tx (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:41 PM)

Who can say if the Dem package will work- I certainly can't say the Republican one has either. At this point it's worth a shot.

Mandy, South Williamsport, PA (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:42 PM)

The republicans had their chance. After six years we have this mess. Time for them to shutup and let the adults have a try to straighten things out.

chuck b (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:44 PM)

THat wasn't his attitude on the first bail out to the fincial people, who doesn't know where the money went.

ken schneider fairfield , ohio 45014 (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:44 PM)

You have GOT to be KIDDING ME!!!! Community development block grants!!!??? $650 million... I'll repeat that... $650 MILLION!!!! in coupons for one of the biggest causes of intellectual dwarfism and obesity in this nation???!!!! What are these people thinking!!! Money to Universities!!! Like they don't get paid enough and charged enough to students already??!!!! This isn't a stimulous package or something that will help the economy, THIS IS AN INSULT, A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS A WHOLE!!! This is a total waste of BILLIONS.... BILLIONS!!!! of tax dollars, which the American public and small businesses are going to have to cough-up by paying their taxes, not the politicians!!!! How is this going to save or create four million jobs???? And ONLY 4 million jobs??? What about helping people who don't live in a University town?? Who cares or gives a rip if someone can watch TV... TELEVISION!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! How about relieving people of the burden of paying on their mortgage so those funds can be directed towards other things? Food, clothing, putting children through school and college, paying off credit cards, investing for retirement, paying for neccessary medical procedures which have to be done but aren't because it's to expensive or bankrupt families to keep a loved one alive???!!!! You think keeping the masses glued in front of the TV is going to boost the economy???!!! How is giving money to Universities going to help the nations economy????!!! Yeah, GREAT!!! We'll have the highest educated unemployed work force in the world!!!! These kids get an education but they won't be able to do anything with it because all the jobs are drying up because no one can afford to hire them!!!! These legislators don't have even the first clue what their doing or what to do!!! I guess their plan is just throw a ton of cash at something, ANYTHING, and it will all be ok.

Disgusted, Medford, Oregon (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:46 PM)

Too bad he didn't say that when he and his buddies were spending this nation into bankruptcy...one trillion on wars we can't win...trillions for his rich buddies and the back of his hand for the rest of us

Rick, nC (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:46 PM)

The Democrats stimulus pack is probably what is necessary to get our nation "Back To Work". Also much,much safer than job creation thru war, which was the way the Bush administration liked to do things.The Bush administration's bailout has dug an intentional hole so deep for Barack that for the first 6 months he'll probably feel like he's on a "Journey to the Center of the Earth". But by late summer 09 the economy should be on the way back.

Lowell Brailey,Richmond,Va. (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:47 PM)

Well what did you expect would happen when we turned the treasury over to the Dems?

Fred, Evanston, IL (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:50 PM)

maybe it's just my own naive understanding of it - but if we have an obesity epidemic in the united states which is only fed (pun intended) by sedentary behavior and costs health care and the government BILLIONS of dollars, not to mention what it does to families, why are we proposing $650M in digital TV conversion boxes? why don't we buy them an emergency radio in the event of the warnings they would need to get for tv and put the rest into physical education or getting communities moving? And why isn't anyone questioning how much the makers and retailers are making on these boxes? Sounds like a pseudo-bailout for Best Buy and Circuit City that sell these conversion boxes.

The way this Democrat sees it is $650M proposed to have poor people continue to sit on their duffs watching tv that will probably not have anything worthy or remotely educational since PBS and other public broadcasting will lose funding which will lead to more health problems these people can't afford to have (if they couldn't afford a converter box) but only line the pockets of the advertisers who sell gut-busting foods, entertainment companies that promote sitting on your duff, or the retailers who sell these boxes.

Kelly, Columbus, OH (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:52 PM)

We are doomed. Our two party system (both owned by the corporations and special interests) is failing. No answers except who can give a way as much newly printed money as possible to your favorite group.

dan san diego, ca (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:52 PM)

Do we as tax payers get to vote on this??? Why is it that we are just told what to do, after all we do get to vote in the elections. I do NOT want more of this printed money......Only those who vote for it should have to pay it back......Dems, spend, spend, spend. I am sick of this already!!!!!!!!!

Wendy L Elkhart IN (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:52 PM)

I hope that our children will not see this country destroyed by the well intentioned yet utterly stupid concepts congress proposes to stimulate the economy. We preach to our children about frugality - industry -and restraint during hard times. What parents raised these democrats and republicans who believe in spending more when you have less? The divisions between us couldn't be any clearer and its best reflected in that scene from the movie Titanic. You know - where two groups of people are headed in opposite directions looking for the way out of a boat that's already upside down.

mike heimbuch, Homer, Alaska (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:53 PM)

The only "cure" for us is to quit spending what we don't have, it will be painful at first but will be worth it in the long run.
The solution of getting people back into the mode of borrowing more then the need (much less afford) is not a viald one.

john, mesa az (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 3:54 PM)

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