Republicans abandon Bush on food, energy issues

[Terri]

By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
May 16, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress responded speedily to voters' angst over rising grocery prices and $4-a-gallon gasoline Thursday, bucking President Bush's veto threats with lopsided votes to boost food stamps and farm subsidies -- after ordering Bush to quit pouring oil into the nation's emergency reserves.

Republicans, worried about steep losses in the fall elections, abandoned Bush on the votes.

''If you're running for office this year, obviously you want to demonstrate that you can put up a record of accomplishment that's based upon working with both sides of the political aisle,'' said GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota. ''I think people, even those who don't necessarily represent farm states, also want to do something about energy and they want to do something about the high cost of food.''

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[84rules]

Yes, Sen. Thune, we do want to do something about it. But keeping food and gas costs high by wasting tax dollars on pork-barrel subsidies was never in our arsenal of solutions.

[Simmering]

That has got to be the stupidest comment I have heard from a Republican in the last 30 minutes.

So, let's distill Sen Thune's comments:

''If you're running for office this year, obviously you want to demonstrate that you can put up a record of accomplishment that's based upon working with both sides of the political aisle,''

Meaning: "Hi, I'm Senator Thune. I have no backbone and please do not ask me to be a leader. I'm not sure I can address an envelope without first consulting with my staff"

''I think people, even those who don't necessarily represent farm states, also want to do something about energy and they want to do something about the high cost of food.''

Meaning: "Thanks for the question! You know, we have no principles and we are willing to kow tow to any politically expedient request. All this just so that I can stand up in front of you, smile, and say, "Lookey what I did! Ain't that nifty?"

And Republican Party leaders are wondering why conservatives are threatening to stay home in November.

(Small rant below....I'll post a bigger one to the "rants" section)
I get weekly mail from the party, and every piece of mail is asking for more money. The constant requests are annoying in and of themselves, yet what makes the party think I'm interested in giving money to a group who is makes public statements similar to Sen Thune's? Knowing that the party is low on cash, I bet I'm not the only conservative who has decided to cut back on their contributions this year. Why would I want to give money to a group who ignore me?

[schillerbjr]

The Senate is turning into a "sesspool"!!

[azwhitewolf]

Simmering, BRAVO! on your "distilling". If you ever decide to brew your own beer, count me in to buy the first 6-pack!

I bet I'm not the only conservative who has decided to cut back on their contributions this year. Why would I want to give money to a group who ignore me?

In other news.... you have money?

I almost sent a check. But then I filled up my gas tank.

Oh, and McCain is running.

Maybe in 2012, the Republican Party can start inviting independent voters into the party using sound legal policy and common sense legislation, instead of chasing them like accident lawyers and offering them benefits that they don't offer loyal party supporters.

I responded in kind to such mail in 2004, and never requested to be taken off their mailing list. I haven't gotten ONE darn request for money this year. They don't even ask me anymore.

I'm still deciding if I should feel hurt about that or not.

[rangerrebew]

What is the difference between republicans and commiecrats in the politburo anyhow? The so called "republicans" are appeasers to the commiecrats and the commiecrats appeasers to the terrorists. Neither side is particularly blessed with backbone but the so called republicans have one made of rubber or some other material that is weak and vascillating.

[Charie]

About two-thirds of the bill would pay for domestic nutrition programs such as food stamps and emergency food aid for the needy. An additional $40 billion is for farm subsidies, while almost $30 billion would go to farmers to idle their land and to other environmental programs.

$70 billion for agri-business not to grow food?? This is utter fecklessness! And Republicans are going along with it? Have they all lost their minds? They haven't heard that there's a shortage of grain in the world? Why are our stupid legislators always so far behind the ball? They do rush these nitwitted programs through congress but never seem to catch a brain that perhaps the time never came for such hoaxes as ethanol and global warming, but there they are ready to throw our country into economic collapse by turning them into law.

I once sent money to John Thune but I'd never do it again!! Run for the tall grass, guys! Let the country go to hell and let the world starve! What do you care as long as you (maybe) will keep your self-important jobs!

And other environmental programs? Taking care of the environment with no thought for the future of our country and its people is what got us into this predicament to begin with and now they will exacerbate the problem with this foolish, unthought-out bill.

Is that what we need is a communist like Obama for a president to wake ordinary people up? He has all the people who expect to get something free from the government on his side already. He will raise taxes accordingly on the rest.

"There is only one way to kill capitalism. Taxes, taxes and more taxes."

~ Karl Marx

I see only disaster looming for the party, the people and the country!!

[Amawalk John]

I think I've begun to grasp the logic that Congress now uses to solve problems. I'm surprised it's taken what's left of the Republican party this long to figure out how it's done. First, it brands each problem a "crisis", then it prints more money.

What I don't understand is why Congress doesn't print much more of it. What use, really, is another $600 in tax rebates or $1,000 in food stamps, more or less? Why doesn't Congress just give everyone a billion dollars ..... during the four months prior to each quadrennial election?

That way, we would all, each of us, have thirty room houses and a vacation house at the shore or in the mountains .... or both. And servants to maintain our real estate ..... and our own corps of lawyers, accountants, mechanics, and security specialists to maintain and protect it all. We would all own Ferraris and fly our own Lear jets or Gulf-streams. And, of course, we would all have offshore bank accounts to help us avoid paying taxes.

Not only would no one have to worry about food or fuel, we would all, each of us, own controlling shares in a grocery conglomerate and an oil company.

We wouldn't have to worry about health care as we would all, each of us, have enough money to write out a check to the Mayo Clinic whenever we needed any medical attention. Private rooms? get serious! When we got sick, we'd each take over an entire floor of the best hospital in the land! And then, we'd sue the hospital and all the doctors for malpractice once we were cured!

Better make that two billion each election season, just to be on the safe side. After all, it's only money.

sarcasm/off

[TruckinJarhead]

What is the difference between republicans and commiecrats in the politburo anyhow? The so called "republicans" are appeasers to the commiecrats and the commiecrats appeasers to the terrorists. Neither side is particularly blessed with backbone but the so called republicans have one made of rubber or some other material that is weak and vascillating.

If we don't wake up as a nation, it will spell our doom. We live in scary times, my dear friends.

[TruckinJarhead]

AJ, you just described nirvana, or is it zanadu, or is it just plain ole insannity?