Eight founding fathers of the Petulants took the stage Tuesday morning in the Senate TV studio to provide an update on their latest cause: The defeat of the nuclear arms treaty with Russia. The New START treaty has the enthusiastic support of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the rest of the top military brass, not to mention all six living secretaries of state who served in Republican administrations.
But the Petulants do not care about Republican wise men. They do not care about the wishes of the uniformed military. What they care about is preserving the sanctity of . . . Christmas vacation?
"The fact that we're doing this under the cover of Christmas," complained Sen. Jim DeMint (P-S.C.), "is something to be outraged about."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (P-S.C.) was outraged. "Here we are, the week of Christmas, about to pass potentially a treaty," he protested.
And the leader of the group, Sen. Jon Kyl (P-Ariz.), is already on record saying the Democrats' legislative agenda amounts to "disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians."
Yeah, someone needs to ask Jon Kyl how many Americans have to work the week after Christmas. These are the same guys mind you are now continuing to block the 9/11 First Reponders health care bill.
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, citing cost concerns, is threatening to block a vote on legislation that would provide additional aid to those suffering from illnesses linked to the devastation in New York following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Oklahoma Republican said yesterday that he is trying to reach an agreement with the sponsors of the $6.2 billion measure that would allow it to proceed. He couldn’t say whether that would happen before lawmakers adjourn for the year.
“We’re working on it,” Coburn said. “It costs too much; it allows things to be covered that should never be covered, like sleep apnea; it pays way too much to health-care providers.”
Merry Christmas, brave men and women who risked their lives in the hours after 9/11 in NYC! Tom Coburn and the Republicans are giving you a huge lump of coal. Talk about a bunch of scrooges. The Republicans have framed exactly what the Party of No means better than the Democrats ever could.
And they promise it will be worse come January. Remember, the most important issue to Senate Republicans is Obama Derangement Syndrome. Hy The Village? Stop acting surprised by this. Mitch McConnell said that the GOP's goal was not to help the American people, but to make sure Obama was a one-term President.
Now you're seeing that plan in glorious action.
[UPDATE] And Tom Coburn gets whipped like a dog over this and gives in. The 9/11 bill passes on a unanimous consent voice vote.
[UPDATE 2] New START treaty ratified 71-26.
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[UPDATE] And Tom Coburn gets whipped like a dog over this and gives in. The 9/11 bill passes on a unanimous consent voice vote.
The Wall Street Journal:
Lawmakers for both parties met late into Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning to work on the details of the revised $4.3 billion package, a reduction from the original $7.4 billion legislation.
The bill would provide five years of health-care coverage and reopen a compensation program for those who became ill after working on the toxic debris pile or living and working nearby...
They also changed the method of paying for the program, removing a tax on foreign corporations and instead imposing a fee on certain countries that sell goods and services to the U.S. government overseas.
Two Republicans, Mr. Coburn and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, still objected, so the Democrats again lowered the cost and added other elements to satisfy them.
Who was it again that caved?
Only you would be proud of Coburn cutting health care assistance to our 9/11 responders in half.
I'm sure a lot of people will remember Coburn's "victory" here.
Yes, Coburn was very sensible in not wanting to pay for fripperies like masks to counteract sleep apnea.
Why should we care whether their airways are clear after hours? Let their wives continue to lie awake and listen for them to stop breathing.
Haha, Democrats, we win!
Only you would be proud of Coburn cutting health care assistance to our 9/11 responders in half.
Because we know that the federal government wouldn't make a mistakes in handing out billions of dollars, would they?
Oh wait, they would. If I remember correctly, the administration admitted to paying out $235 billion in erroneous unemployment and Medicaid payments over the last two years. Worse, it paid out a greater amount of these erroneous payments this year than last. What did the Democrat leaders in Congress do to fix the problem? Nothing.
Spare me your "concern".
Spare me yours. You clearly don't give a damn, but Republicans spent the last 9 years draping themselves in the flag whenever it was convenient.
When it came to giving residents of blue states like NY something useful and long overdue from the government, it's "FRAUD AND WASTE!"
Meanwhile, hundreds of billions in tax cuts for the wealthy will of course be spent 100% effectively in the economy.
Oh, Steviepoo, we can't spare our concern for you! If it wasn't for your brave stand against those mewling cops, firemen, and EMTs, who were just doing their jobs, for God's sake, literally tens of your tax dollars might have been wasted!
We worry about you because we care, Steviekins.
has steve ever done a post on his odious blog addressing all the fraud and waste in military contracting? i'd guess not. what a fucking jackass.
When it came to giving residents of blue states like NY something useful and long overdue from the government, it's "FRAUD AND WASTE!"
If to you money is no object, then why the hell didn't heartless Democrats pass a bill that was $100 billion? How about $1 trillion? After all, the liberal answer to everything is to throw more future taxpayer money at it, right? Can you believe how Democrats were such stingy bastards?
Meanwhile, hundreds of billions in tax cuts for the wealthy will of course be spent 100% effectively in the economy.
For the record, all income tax rates that have been in place since 2001 and 2003 remain the same; there were no income tax cuts. Had the Republicans not gotten their compromise bill passed, the Democrats would have raised everybody's income tax rates.
No. Do not put words in my mouth. I did not say "money was no object". What I am saying is that Coburn demanded the bill be reduced arbitrarily jest because he personally wanted to screw these people over. Coburn did this. He was the only one who objected.
There is a difference.
By the way, you closed another thread citing your infamous "facts", which aren't facts, just as you did above saying income taxes were cut for the rich, which wasn't the case. You do that a lot. I can name two off the top of my head. One was when you said the Arkansas primary election runoff only dealt with Democrats. I corrected you (since I voted in that election), but you never corrected your post. Another was when you said Republicans passed DADT. It took 30 seconds to tell you that it was Democrats who passed it, and signed by Clinton. Again, you never corrected your post.
Don't tell me that you're concerned with anyone or that you provide facts. Neither is true.
Don't tell me that you're concerned with anyone
Oh, Stevietoes, why you wound us so!? We just want to help you, and for you to be well.
*sob*
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