Congrats to Democratic Leaders

[trumptman]

Bye bye earmarks (http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/11/D8LV029G0.html)

We all know they will return in time, but for now good riddance and kudos to the Dems for showing some budgeting bravery.

Often called "pork" by critics, their sponsors defend inserting the projects into spending bills by claiming that, as elected representatives, they know more about the needs of people in their states and government programs than the president or bureaucrats in the executive branch.

Such projects have exploded in number under GOP control of Congress over the last 12 years and at the same time have spawned a boom on Washington's K Street lobbying corridor, where consultants earn big fees by helping outsiders navigate the system.

BTW, this gets filed under the category of sore losers and the Republican leadership ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Democrats, facing a huge bind in having to complete nine unfinished budget bills at the same time they want to advance their own agenda, say they now plan to advance a single spending bill covering 13 Cabinet departments. The unappealing alternative was a time- and energy-consuming legislative slog just as President Bush's new budget and a $100 billion-plus Iraq funding bill are due to arrive on Capitol Hill.

Nick

[dmz]

If the DNC can make this issue their own, they would be unstoppable in 08.


But think of the withdrawal symptoms in D.C. :wow:

[SpamSandwich]

Whatever happened to "throw the bums out" applying equally to both parties? :D

[dmz]

Whatever happened to "throw the bums out" applying equally to both parties? :D
I'd much rather 'dry the bums out!' It would certainly be a flying pigs moment though.

[shetline]

...and a $100 billion-plus Iraq funding bill are due to arrive on Capitol Hill.
You know, $100 billion here, another $100 billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money.

[addabox]

The dems do have a chance to mark some real contrasts with the recent past-- transparency, fiscal sanity, and ethics seem like the low hanging fruit.

However, there is still way too much power concentrated in the old guard party apparatus, which just wants to keep playing the beltway game, pocket consulting fees and get invited to all the good cocktail parties, whether their political party is in power or not.

Some of the early signs are promising, some not.

Eliminating earmarks would be fantastic.

[midwinter]

We're All Gonna Die!!!!!!!

[BRussell]

That's big of you Nick. I have to say though that I have more skepticism of this than you seem to. Byrd weaning off of earmarks? Riiiiiight.

[franksargent]

:smokey:

Whoud love to see this happen, but won't believe it until it happens! It's called grandstanding, my gut tells me that there will be some earmarks, hopefully it will be mush less than in the past.

:smokey:

[shetline]

I expect Democrats to be less corrupt than the Republicans have been not because Democrats are pure as the driven snow by any stretch of the imagination, but only because Republicans had reached such levels of excess that it would be hard to match them.

Of course, I'm quite ready for media portrayals of the Democratic Congress as being terribly corrupt, where something like a single corporate-paid golfing trip will be treated as the moral equivalent, or worse, than all Republican dealings with Jack Abramoff combined -- especially of Fox News.

Golfgate! 24/7!

[SDW2001]

I expect Democrats to be less corrupt than the Republicans have been not because Democrats are pure as the driven snow by any stretch of the imagination, but only because Republicans had reached such levels of excess that it would be hard to match them.

Of course, I'm quite ready for media portrayals of the Democratic Congress as being terribly corrupt, where something like a single corporate-paid golfing trip will be treated as the moral equivalent, or worse, than all Republican dealings with Jack Abramoff combined -- especially of Fox News.

Golfgate! 24/7!


Wow..you've actually admitted that you won't believe anything negative about the Dem Congress. Good for you. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. :)

[midwinter]

Wow..you've actually admitted that you won't believe anything negative about the Dem Congress. Good for you. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. :)

BUT BILL CLINTON...!!!

[shetline]

Wow..you've actually admitted that you won't believe anything negative about the Dem Congress. Good for you. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. :)
Smiley or not, that's a pretty long stretch to get out of what I wrote. There's not even a hint that I wouldn't believe anything bad about the Democrats -- in fact, there's a pretty plain admission that I expect some degree of corruption -- to form the rough basis for your forced humor.