How Republicans Helped Nancy Pelosi Pass Another Unexamined, Pork-Stuffed ‘Stimulus’

[corbe]

How Republicans Helped Nancy Pelosi Pass Another Unexamined, Pork-Stuffed ‘Stimulus’

House Republican leaders actively participated in Nancy Pelosi’s successful attempt to deny the American people a public vote on the $2 trillion legislation.

By Christopher Jacobs
March 30, 2020

Ten years ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) infamously proclaimed that we had to pass Obamacare to find out what was in it. On Friday, she and her House colleagues enacted one of the largest pieces of legislation in American history, a more than $2 trillion bill that represented Congress’ third piece of coronavirus-related legislation, all while refusing to take a recorded position on it.

The first coronavirus bill, signed into law on March 6, provided $8.3 billion in spending to fight the virus; the second bill, signed into law on March 18, spent another $100 billion on testing, food stamps, paid family leave, and additional subsdies to to state Medicaid programs; and the third bill, which President Trump signed last Friday, contained a broader package of unemployment and economic bailouts to businesses and families.

That Pelosi would resort to such procedural chicanery should surprise few Americans. In 2010 she wanted the House to enact Obamacare without actually voting on the legislation—the so-called “deem-and-pass” maneuver—although she eventually abandoned that strategy after a massive public outcry.

But unlike the Obamacare debate, House Republican leaders and many rank-and-file members of Congress actively participated in Pelosi’s successful attempt to deny the American people a vote on the legislation. In so doing, they abdicated their responsibilities as lawmakers and leaders out of a mixture of fear and spite.

Members of Congress Are Essential

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https://thefederalist.com/2020/03/30/how-republicans-helped-nancy-pelosi-pass-another-unexamined-pork-stuffed-stimulus/

[txradioguy]

All hail the Uni Party!

[XenaLee]

All hail the Uni Party!

Nah.

All hail the effing idiots that either sat home and didn't vote GOP, or voted 3rd party or for the rats in 2018! 

[txradioguy]

Nah.

All hail the effing idiots that either sat home and didn't vote GOP, or voted 3rd party or for the rats in 2018!

Hardly.

Nope this rests squarely on the Congress critters on both sides of the aisle.  You can't tell the Republicans at any level in DC from the Dems...they've blurred into one.

And the one person that stands up to decry what is really in this "stimulus" bill gets dragged over the coals from members of his own party.

[Longiron]

Hardly.

Nope this rests squarely on the Congress critter on both sides of the aisle.  You can't tell the Republicans at any level in DC from the Dems...they've blurred into one.

And the one person that stands up to decry what is really in this "stimulus" bill gets dragged over the coals from members of his own party.

So TRUE 

[XenaLee]

Hardly.

Nope this rests squarely on the Congress critter on both sides of the aisle.  You can't tell the Republicans at any level in DC from the Dems...they've blurred into one.

And the one person that stands up to decry what is really in this "stimulus" bill gets dragged over the coals from members of his own party.

So essentially, you are claiming that it is the GOP that crammed the bill with pork?   Please provide a link/proof for that claim.   Cause from my perspective, it's the gdamned DemocRATS ....as usual, that are attaching non-relief pork to the bill and holding it over the rest of the country as ransome and/or blackmail, to get their way.   And the gdamned DemocRATS wouldn't have that power now if not for the effing idiots that gave them that power in the 2018 election.

[Polly Ticks]

Hardly.

Nope this rests squarely on the Congress critters on both sides of the aisle.  You can't tell the Republicans at any level in DC from the Dems...they've blurred into one.

And the one person that stands up to decry what is really in this "stimulus" bill gets dragged over the coals from members of his own party.

I SO wish Massie were my representative instead of that donkey's rear-end John Yarmuth.

[txradioguy]

So essentially, you are claiming that it is the GOP that crammed the bill with pork?   Please provide a link/proof for that claim.   Cause from my perspective, it's the gdamned DemocRATS ....as usual. that are attaching non-relief pork to the bill and holding it over the rest of the country as ransome and/or blackmail, to get their way.   And the gdamned DemocRATS wouldn't have that power now if not for the effing idiots that gave them that power in the 2018 election.

Well for one we don't know how much was crammed in their by either side in the bill that was crafted before Pelosi rode into town on her broom and magically produced her 1,400 page bill that ended up being the one that Trump signed and claimed it was "putting America first".

All that happened was that the numbers were negotiated down to a level both sides could tolerate.  If the Republicans agreed to what was in the bill...then you're dammed right they helped cram the bill with enough pork to fill every pig farm in Iowa.

And that's exactly what they did...so yes this pork spending is as much on them as it is the Democrats...no matter how much you want to shift blame off of the GOP at all levels to avoid admitting the Republicans are just as culpable.

As for the 2018 mid terms...if you study voting history you would know that they always have lower turnouts than the Presidential election and only once IIRC has the party of the President in office actually gained seats during the mid term.  That happened with W in 2002.

Your blame is misplaced.

[txradioguy]

I SO wish Massie were my representative instead of that donkey's rear-end John Yarmuth.

Same here.  We just barely miss out on being part of the 4th District instead of the 2nd District.

[XenaLee]

Well for one we don't know how much was crammed in their by either side in the bill that was crafted before Pelosi rode into town on her broom and magically produced her 1,400 page bill that ended up being the one that Trump signed and claimed it was "putting America first".

All that happened was that the numbers were negotiated down to a level both sides could tolerate.  If the Republicans agreed to what was in the bill...then you're dammed right they helped cram the bill with enough pork to fill every pig farm in Iowa.

And that's exactly what they did...so yes this pork spending is as much on them as it is the Democrats...no matter how much you want to shift blame off of the GOP at all levels to avoid admitting the Republicans are just as culpable.

As for the 2018 mid terms...if you study voting history you would know that they always have lower turnouts than the Presidential election and only once IIRC has the party of the President in office actually gained seats during the mid term.  That happened with W in 2002.

Your blame is misplaced.

Uh, no.  My blame is right where it should be.   Yours, however.....

is right where it shouldn't be.

The damned bill wouldn't have had to be "negotiated down" had the effing idiots supported the GOP in 2018... and not refused to vote GOP to teach them a lesson or some other stuckonstupid excuse.   It's just that simple.   But too simple for you to comprehend, apparently.   

[txradioguy]

Uh, no.  My blame is right where it should be.   Yours, however.....

is right where it shouldn't be.

Yeah...ok.  Sure.    I know why you don't want to assign blame where it belongs.  It's a lame reason at that.

The damned bill wouldn't have had to be "negotiated down" had the effing idiots supported the GOP in 2018... and not refused to vote GOP to teach them a lesson or some other stuckonstupid excuse.   It's just that simple.   But too simple for you to comprehend, apparently.   

I won't ask if you really don't get it because clearly you don't.  You want to put blame on the mythical "anti Trumpers"...they are your go to boogey man for everything these days.  It's a pavlovian response.  And it's the wrong response.

No one was trying to teach Trump a lesson or the GOP by refusing to vote.  As I said historically since they've been tracking the stats the mid term elections have very low turnouts compared to the Presidential elections.  Our Presidential elections hover in the mid 50's as far as registered voter turnout.  You have to go back to before you or I were born to find anything nearing 100%.

And I'll say again only one time in my lifetime has the party of the elected President actually gained seats in the mid terms.  And that was 2002 when W was president.

But you go ahead and wallow in your anti Trumper conspiracy theory.

The fact of the matter is both parties from the top down OWN this bill and every bit of pork in it.  And they don't care that people are outraged at what they are finding in it.

[txradioguy]

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.”― Benjamin Franklin

[XenaLee]

Yeah...ok.  Sure.    I know why you don't want to assign blame where it belongs.  It's a lame reason at that.

I won't ask if you really don't get it because clearly you don't.  You want to put blame on the mythical "anti Trumpers"...they are your go to boogey man for everything these days.  It's a pavlovian response.  And it's the wrong response.

No one was trying to teach Trump a lesson or the GOP by refusing to vote.  As I said historically since they've been tracking the stats the mid term elections have very low turnouts compared to the Presidential elections.  Our Presidential elections hover in the mid 50's as far as registered voter turnout.  You have to go back to before you or I were born to find anything nearing 100%.

And I'll say again only one time in my lifetime has the party of the elected President actually gained seats in the mid terms.  And that was 2002 when W was president.

But you go ahead and wallow in your anti Trumper conspiracy theory.

The fact of the matter is both parties from the top down OWN this bill and every bit of pork in it.  And they don't care that people are outraged at what they are finding in it.

Not true.    The bill was an emergency relief bill that was being held hostage by the damned Democrats (as usual).   It was passed as is due to the urgency of the need.   You are off base on this.   Way off base.

And again, if the rats had not been voted back into majority control of power, the pork in the bill would not be an issue and we wouldn't be having this argument.   

[txradioguy]

Not true.    The bill was an emergency relief bill that was being held hostage by the damned Democrats (as usual).   It was passed as is due to the urgency of the need.   You are off base on this.   Way off base.

And again, if the rats had not been voted back into majority control of power, the pork in the bill would not be an issue and we wouldn't be having this argument.   

It's clear I won't be able to discuss this rationally with some who is being so irrational.  Good day.

Oh and the administration. (specifically the SecTreas) is readying round two of this so called "stimulus" because apparently $2 trillion wasn't enough.

Getting harder and harder for you to lay it squarely on your favorite boogeyman.

[truth_seeker]

The fact of the matter is both parties from the top down OWN this bill and every bit of pork in it.  And they don't care that people are outraged at what they are finding in it.

No argument, but the way the system works, most of the time is the majority rules.

Plus this was an unprecedented time.

From the GOP house minority there is only so much that can be realistically be expected.

[txradioguy]

No argument, but the way the system works, most of the time is the majority rules.

True.  But it could have been stopped at any point and a clean bill demanded by the majority in the Senate. Or the President.

Plus this was an unprecedented time.

Not a knock on you in anyway when I say this...but that was the same almost exact line used to shove TARP...the 2009 Recovery Act and any other piece of "emergency" legislation that needs to be passed right now.

From the GOP house minority there is only so much that can be realistically be expected.

The Senate and the WH should be the firewall against things like this.  And in the House who's gonna willingly speak up in the future after what happened to Thomas Massie when he tried to warn everyone about what was actually in this bill?

[Chosen Daughter]

Uh, no.  My blame is right where it should be.   Yours, however.....

is right where it shouldn't be.

The damned bill wouldn't have had to be "negotiated down" had the effing idiots supported the GOP in 2018... and not refused to vote GOP to teach them a lesson or some other stuckonstupid excuse.   It's just that simple.   But too simple for you to comprehend, apparently.   

I voted GOP in 2018.  I don't know any Republican/Conservative that would ever vote for a liberal. 

[Chosen Daughter]

Not true.    The bill was an emergency relief bill that was being held hostage by the damned Democrats (as usual).   It was passed as is due to the urgency of the need.   You are off base on this.   Way off base.

And again, if the rats had not been voted back into majority control of power, the pork in the bill would not be an issue and we wouldn't be having this argument.   

I guess what you are saying that if there is an urgency we should pass whatever Nancy wants.

[truth_seeker]

a willingly speak up in the future after what happened to Thomas Massie when he tried to warn everyone about what was actually in this bill?

And in 1980 John Anderson GOP opposed Reagan.

Later he became a Ralph Nder supporter.

Would you at least admit there are certain types, that like the limelight of being contrarian?

Lest you think I am just a "go along get along type, I was livid when Reagan did the 1986 Amnesty.

The lasting impact has been very significant.

It has been said, that if you can't stand to watch how sausage is made, don't watch laws being made by legislatures.


 

[truth_seeker]

The members of the GOP House picked Paul Ryan (failed VP candidate) to lead them as Speaker. His main duty was tax cuts, but little  else. He was far from helpful to his party or this President. I think his weak performance, contributed to losing the majority in 2018. Isn't he some kingd of lobbyist, now-still living in DC?

[Sighlass]

The damned bill wouldn't have had to be "negotiated down" had the effing idiots supported the GOP in 2018... and not refused to vote GOP to teach them a lesson or some other stuckonstupid excuse.   It's just that simple.   But too simple for you to comprehend, apparently.   

Like the GOP supported Roy Moore? Probable the most conservative constitutional candidate in the last 10 years.

The GOP has got nobody to blame here but themselves. They are spineless jellyfish that secretly want to be liberals and when given the chance prove it every time.

[txradioguy]

And in 1980 John Anderson GOP opposed Reagan.

I remember that. 

Later he became a Ralph Nder supporter.

Poor guy.  He chose poorly.

Would you at least admit there are certain types, that like the limelight of being contrarian?

Oh I agree there are a lot of those in both parties and IMHO they do it becasue the mdia will give them positive attention and book them on the SUnday shows.

Lest you think I am just a "go along get along type, I was livid when Reagan did the 1986 Amnesty.

I didn't remember it at the time...other priorities in HS you see...but as I've read about it later...it was a very bad deal...they played on Reagan's faith the Dem's would honor their word and they didn't...again.  That was the second time they screwed him over during his two terms on a "do this now and we PROMISE we'll do the other part later" kind of deal.

The lasting impact has been very significant.

IIRC he was the last one to have anywhere near  half of the Hispanic vote in an election and we've lost major ground since that amnesty deal was signed.

It has been said, that if you can't stand to watch how sausage is made, don't watch laws being made by legislatures.

I think less bills like this would make it to the floor much less get passed and signed into law if more people paid attention to how they are crafted. i.e. how the sausage was made.