Just Wondering

[30ashopper]

John McCain

I was going to say, the people who vote against these things do so on principal. John McCain is one of the few that doesn't participate in the earmark bonanza. There are politicians that defend them, those that refuse to use them, and then there are those that say they will fight against them in a campaign and then don't. The last being the worst of the bunch. That bunch includes Barack Obama.

 

[Matt J]

I was going to say, the people who vote against these things do so on principal. John McCain is one of the few that doesn't participate in the earmark bonanza. There are politicians that defend them, those that refuse to use them, and then there are those that say they will fight against them in a campaign and then don't. The last being the worst of the bunch. That bunch includes Barack Obama.

Wouldn't that include John McCain? I haven't heard his ranting on the news about how these are bad things. Where's that ax?

 

[ASH]

I couldn't agree more. I am disappointed that 40% of those earmarks are from Republicans. I got a call last week from the RNC hitting me up for more money. I told the guy on the other end that I was not going to give any more money to them until our elected republicans started showing some fiscal responsibility. I can only hope that we all start holding those responsible for this mess accountable for their actions - both democrats and republicans.

So...if 40% were earmarks from Republicans, the other 60% would be from.........

I know, I just want to make sure everyone caught that.

It is truly a sad day when it seems like "responsibility" is in serious need of a government bailout.

 

[Linda]

So...if 40% were earmarks from Republicans, the other 60% would be from.........

I know, I just want to make sure everyone caught that.

It is truly a sad day when it seems like "responsibility" is in serious need of a government bailout.

It is also a sad day when some people seem more outraged about a cartoon (see racist cartoon thread) than broken campaign promises and out of control spending.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Wouldn't that include John McCain? I haven't heard his ranting on the news about how these are bad things. Where's that ax?

Are you serious? The reason they aren't showing him is that he is old news as he hasn't asked for one for, well I honestly don't know how long. He is once again trying to pass a McCain Feingold bill to address them. It's DOA though.

The 'old McCain' is back - John Bresnahan - Politico.com

 

[30ashopper]

Wouldn't that include John McCain? I haven't heard his ranting on the news about how these are bad things. Where's that ax?

Still chopping away...

McCain Loses Fight Over Earmarks - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

The Associated Press: McCain criticizes Obama over spending earmarks

 

[BeachSiO2]

Where's the outrage for the other 99.1% of the Omnibus bill that isn't earmarked for projects, but earmarked for programs. This is starting to look like we will allow the EXECUTIVE branch agencies to have all the money they want but Congress who writes the budget can't direct any money to anywhere. As I have pointed out in the past, if the 331 bridge is ever built with federal dollars it will take an earmark so not all earmarks are equal. It is funny to me that we spend so much time arguing about less than 1% of the total budget. Who's going through the other 99% and picking out waste?

 

[traderx]

Where's the outrage for the other 99.1% of the Omnibus bill that isn't earmarked for projects, but earmarked for programs. This is starting to look like we will allow the EXECUTIVE branch agencies to have all the money they want but Congress who writes the budget can't direct any money to anywhere. As I have pointed out in the past, if the 331 bridge is ever built with federal dollars it will take an earmark so not all earmarks are equal. It is funny to me that we spend so much time arguing about less than 1% of the total budget. Who's going through the other 99% and picking out waste?

That would be nobody. You cannot achieve a two trillion dollar deficit and debt equal to your GDP with folks looking over your shoulder and nitpickin' your spending programs.

 

[scooterbug44]

That would be nobody. You cannot achieve a two trillion dollar deficit and debt equal to your GDP with folks looking over your shoulder and nitpickin' your spending programs.

Which is the idea behind putting more info out there and having dedicated web sites - it's a lot harder to pull off fiscal irresponsibility w/ millions of people seeing where the money is going!

 

[BeachSiO2]

Which is the idea behind putting more info out there and having dedicated web sites - it's a lot harder to pull off fiscal irresponsibility w/ millions of people seeing where the money is going!

That's what they are "saying", but as I have pointed out regarding recovery.gov, it is not transparent. They are mixing and matching funding bills and there is no ability to link up legacy costs, and that's only for the stimulus anyway.

I am looking forward to seeing if the administration does establish websites for the regular twelve appropriation bills. However, even inside the funding bills themselves it often just lists what agency is getting the money and how much, not necessarily how it is being spent. Luckily for the President and Congress they have us all focused on a whopping 1% and the media is biting hook, line and sinker. This is how bureaucracy grows just a few billion at a time within the executive branch agencies while casting the spotlight on the 1%.