1. I think that "neurotoxin" covers it all.

Posted by: Fed Up on February 15, 2009 06:54 PM

2. Even if you don't like it, it will do a lot more for the people than the $700 billion that Bush threw at the rich bankers and insurance companies a few months back.

Okay, Bush only threw $350 billion of that $700 billion at the banks and insurers. Obama is trying to spend the remaining $350 billion a bit more effectively than Bush spent the first part of that.

Posted by: Richard Pope on February 15, 2009 07:46 PM

3. Left-coasters are so cute. They got what they wanted and no they are going to protest that.

Protesting that there is nothing to protest?

Posted by: Larry Sheldon on February 15, 2009 08:40 PM

4. Don't forget the GOP en masse (except for 3 Senators) voted against the largest tax cuts in history last week - will be fun to run those ads in the next election.

Posted by: Robert on February 15, 2009 09:41 PM

5. This is nice, but in reality about as productive as the demonstration for Bush & Cheney being prosecuted for war crimes.

The next election is a long way off. As it looks now, the Dems have no reason to run ads about obstructionism by the Republicans, but the rest of the story is there was no other choice after shutting the Republicans out of negotiations and ramrodding it down our throats. Future actions on bills may give them more of a cause to run these ads. I know that the Dems have their minds set on avoiding what happened to them in 1994. One problem: they refuse to look at themselves in the mirror and deny what caused it, leaving the door open to history repeating itself.

Posted by: KS on February 15, 2009 10:03 PM

6. "Remember the contract on America. Now there was a scam. How did that work out?"

What does that have to do with the Stimulus package ? Any financial fallout was miniscule compared to the Stimulus, "No Facts support your Fradulent Positions"; there you go again - defending the indefensible.

Posted by: KS on February 15, 2009 10:09 PM

7. Here's a quick list of projects Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma identifies as candidates for prime bacon status.

• $8 billion for high-speed railway (including an earmark for an Los Angeles to Las Vegas MagLev)
• $1 billion for the "FutureGen" not-ready-for-primetime near zero emission plant in Illinois
• $53.6 billion for the "state stabilization" slush fund
• $1.3 billion for Amtrak
• $24 million for USDA buildings and rent
• $176 million for renovating Agricultural Research Service buildings
• $290 million for flood prevention activities
• $50 million for watershed rehabilitation
• $1.4 billion for wastewater disposal programs
• $295 million for administrative expenses associated with food stamp program
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries
• $650 million for the DTV converter box coupon program
• $360 million for construction of NIST buildings
• $830 million for NOAA research and facilities
• $2 billion for Byrne JAG program
• $10 million to combat Mexican gunrunners
• $125 million for rural communities to combat drug crimes
• $1 billion for the COPS program
• $1 billion for NASA
• $300 million to purchase scientific instruments for colleges and museums
• $400 million for equipment and facilities at the NSF
• $3.7 billion to conduct "green" renovations on military bases
• $375 million for Mississippi River projects
• $10 million for urban canals
• $5 billion for weatherizing buildings
• $2 billion to develop advanced batteries for hybrid cars
• $3.4 billion for fossil energy research (possibly including an earmark for FutureGen)
• $5.1 billion for environmental cleanup around military bases
• $5.5 billion for "green" federal buildings
• $300 million for "green" cars for federal employees
• $20 million for IT upgrades at the Small Business Administration
• $200 million to design and furnish DHS headquarters
• $210 million for State and local fire stations
• $125 million to restore trails and abandoned mines
• $146 million for trail maintenance at National Park Service sites
• $140 million for volcano monitoring systems
• $600 million for the EPA Superfund environmental cleanup program
• $200 million to clean up leaking underground storage tanks
• $500 million for forest health and wildfire prevention
• $25 million for the Smithsonian Institution
• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities" (for "youth" up to 24 years old)
• $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD
• $1 billion for Head Start
• $32 million for home-delivered nutrition services
• $160 million for volunteer programs at the Corporation for National and Community Service
• $500 million earmark for the SSA National Computer Center in MD
• $220 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. and Mexico

I absolutely agree that the GOP can rightly be accused of being "johnny-come-lately" to any sense of fiscal responsibility. No doubt there.

Nevertheless, it's hard to argue with a straight face that every single one of these expenditures passes the "emergency fiscal stimulus" test. $650 million for digital TV? $2 Billion for hybrid car batteries? $140 million for volcano monitoring systems?

Any one of these may have untold merits and grand benefit to humanity. I'm not expert to say.

I do think, however, that by steam-rolling such a list of high price tag items through a willing and able congress that our new President is indeed opening himself up for at least a wee bit of justifiable skepticism for his earlier claims that "he would apply the budgetary scalpel" to untold millions of dollars in wasteful, unnecessary govt programs.

I'm waiting for aforementioned scalpel to appear.

I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by: Jack Turk on February 16, 2009 01:05 AM

8. I would be surprised if this 'protest' had a significant turn-out. I heard the lady (whose web site is referenced herein) on the Kirby Wilbur Show this a.m. and it didn't sound like she had a 'mass response' to this calling. I'm sure there will be some with signs and it may get token attention on the news, but I just don't see it being an 'outstanding' protest (relative to those of the '60's). This thing is too confusing for folks, it's like everyone is in a daze about (c/it be because it hasn't been read) and thus because of the shape of our economy presently the 'confused mass' is willing to take a chance on it (notwithstanding what it will do to our future generations). I wish them well and hope it helps to appease their egos; I will not be there as I have to continue trying my best to 'make a living'. :)

Posted by: Duffman on February 16, 2009 07:36 AM

9. Duffman, forget your old class- Communism and Journalism 101?

You don't need a big crowd. You just need a willing press and about 20 people to show a huge gathering.

Posted by: swatter on February 16, 2009 08:22 AM

10. "Even if you don't like it, it will do a lot more for the people than the $700 billion that Bush threw at the rich bankers and insurance companies a few months back."

Excuse me? Mr Pope, OBAMA was the one who flew back to Washington in the middle of his campaign to vote for the first $700 billion.

Posted by: pbj on February 16, 2009 09:18 AM

11. Michelle Malkin is having pulled pork from Longhorn BBQ delivered to the protest. I'll be swinging by on my lunchbreak to check things out.By the way, Hallucinations Support my Delusions: did you know that a chunk of this Stimulus mandates that physicians do not what is best for the patient but what is cost effictive. It is compliments of the tax cheat Daschle.

Posted by: mike336 on February 16, 2009 09:46 AM

12. I see KOMO-TV's website has an article about a bunch of state "Lackeys" protesting in Olympia. The headline is "several dozen protest" budget cuts.

However, not one word about the Westlake Rally, which looks to have attracted at least "several dozen" people.

Posted by: Enigmafan420 on February 16, 2009 04:01 PM

13. Obama is trying to spend the remaining $350 billion a bit more effectively than Bush spent the first part of that.

Oh, you mean as 'effective' as ACORN (a $5 billion handout) rounding up fake voters to increase the fake vote? Or a spending bill that times its most lavish outlays to match the 2010 election campaign, to cash in on those fake votes and buy as many others as possible? Why wasn't this fake 'stimulus' actually constructed to increase the near-term economy, and not just make a huge payoff to Democrat interest-groups two years off?

Your use of 'more effective' only works as a hyper-partisan slush fund. I'd rather see that Obama character act as President of all of us, rather than just Nancy Pelosi's political machine. Are you calling that partisanship 'effective'?

Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on February 16, 2009 05:36 PM

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