Congressman McKeon calls stimulus fund reporting “laughable”

Congressman McKeon released a video today calling the Obama Administration’s Recovery.gov website “laughable.”

“Where is this money going? Where are the jobs?” McKeon asked in reference to the reported $224 million CA-25 has received.

McKeon should know better. Just last week, he toured a lock factory in the SCV that hired 38 additional workers after receiving $2.5 million in stimulus funding.

The Signal report on that tour says that McKeon “conceded in the case of Pacific Lock” that “the [stimulus] program is working.”

What’s more, The Signal reported just yesterday that federal stimulus funds have “saved nearly 350 jobs in the Santa Clarita Valley’s five budget-strapped school districts.”

And if the Congressman really cared to find out where all the money was going, he could call his close friends in the SCV business community, who are reaping millions of dollars in benefits and incentives from the City of Santa Clarita’s “21 Point Business Plan for Progress,” funded in part by federal stimulus dollars.

Are there problems with the reporting on Recovery.gov? Yes. But the site is being updated all the time. Errors are to be expected on a project of this scale.

But clearly, if Congressman McKeon cared to find out “Where the money is going” he could talk to any one of the hundreds of people whose jobs have been saved here and elsewhere by an act of law he voted against.

It’s doubtful that the people whose jobs have been saved by this act consider it a laughing matter.

Comments (34)

MikeNovember 18, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Well, if he had decided to worry about facts at all he might have actually thought about those kinds of things. Fortunately, he’s only worried right now about getting snarky shots off that make him look good to the GOP base that will need to re-elect him if the Dems really try to boot him out next election. And people wonder why nothing ever gets done? All this infighting is just stupid, no matter which party it’s coming from…

Kevin D. KorenthalNovember 18, 2009 at 8:28 pm

Oh, I think you are arguing on very thin grounds Jeff. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office seems to think that this is a pretty big deal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125858473074554505.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news

GangFangNovember 18, 2009 at 11:45 pm

Mike: Brilliant. I agree 100%. Kevin: Not so much. We all know there is no way any opposition will ever admit the current administration is making ground and reversing Bush trends. It’s no wonder level headed folk have just started to ignore the responses to positive change. It’s just so…..predictable. And funny!

Bill ReynoldsNovember 19, 2009 at 8:57 am

Defict UP + employment down + hope/change down + troop morale down, divided by poor healthcare plan = Obama’s rapidly shrinking popularity/poll numbers.

GangFangNovember 19, 2009 at 9:43 am

He’s in it for the popularity and poll numbers! I knew it!

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 9:48 am

So are the 38 new lock makers just standing in the corner. What a damn joke. If the business owner had locks to make the owner would have hired people without the stimulus. Unless the owner is just building his inventory in hopes sales will increase. If that is the case, watch for the 38 to be cut lose. Buck is a damn joke. Stop giving our tax dollars away.

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 9:50 am

BR, you are correct. Obama is rapidly destroying our country.

MoneyNovember 19, 2009 at 9:59 am

Sorry to break it to you old timers (maybe the memory is slipping, but bush already destroyed this country. Obama is trying to clean up eight years of bush’s negligence. It’s going to take some time.

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 10:49 am

money, how long are you going to play that tune? How much worse is Obama going to make the situation before he begins to fix what Bush did? Can you identify one good move he has made to improve the situation? Don’t let your youth mislead you.

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 10:55 am

I know what keeps Obama awake at night. Let’s say we spend our $2 trillion in stimulus and get a couple of quarters of weak growth. Then once the effects of the stimulus wear off, we slip back into a deep recession, setting up a classic “W.” Unemployment never does stop climbing. This happened to Roosevelt in the thirties. So congress passes another $2 trillion reflationary budget. Everybody gets wonderful new mass transit upgrades, alternative energy infrastructure, and bridges to nowhere. But with $4 trillion in spending packed into two years, inflation really takes off. The bond market collapses, the dollar tanks big time, gold goes ballistic to $5,000, and silver explodes to $50. Ben Bernanke has no choice but to engineer an interest rate spike, taking the Fed funds rate up to a Volkeresque 18%. Housing, having never recovered, drops by half again. This all happens in the 2012 election year. Obama is burned in effigy, a Mormon is elected president, and the Republicans, reinvigorated by new leadership, retake both houses of congress. Bye Bye Obama.

GangFangNovember 19, 2009 at 11:16 am

I want what you’re on, Cash. I could use some time in fantasyland.

navigatorNovember 19, 2009 at 11:37 am

“The bond market collapses, the dollar tanks big time, gold goes ballistic to $5,000, and silver explodes to $50″ I guess I’ll hang on to my collection of gold coins for a while longer. Thanks for the heads up Cash

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 12:18 pm

GF If you are living with Obama you are already living in a fantasy land. Save your money kid’s. Then again, don’t, it will be worth less soon. Nav. unless you think you will be able to buy food,etc. with gold coins, hording gold won’t help much.

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 1:03 pm

$66K a year to make locks. Nice work Obama.

Bill ReynoldsNovember 19, 2009 at 3:02 pm

GangFung, wake up and smell the coffee, Prez B. Hussein and his idiot czars are destroying America. Only non achievers appreciate socialism… Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v5Kjmc8FI

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 3:13 pm

BR, were those poor white trash types that were asking for Obama money?

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 3:26 pm

A lot of us watch this man almost every day and never knew he was paralyzed. Dr. Charles Krauthammer Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News. He is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children. Last Monday was a profound evening; Dr.. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views .. He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post. The entire room was held spellbound during his talk. I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said! If you feel like forwarding this to those who are open minded and have not drunk the Kool-Aid, feel free. Summary of his comments: 1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn’t show his emotions. It’s very hard to know what’s behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment.. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time. 2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton . He has a way of making you think he’s on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES! 3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can’t be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada . 4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn’t care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada .. God forbid! 5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can’t work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he’s a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says. 6. Obama doesn’t really see himself as President of the United States , but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America , as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies! 7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist. 8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future.. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state’s rights. 9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don’t have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn’t work, nor will the stimulus package.These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama’s allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above. 10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was. 11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it’s under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it’s between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy.

Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 4:34 pm

Cash: Get under your bed until 2012, and I will tell you when it is safe to come out!

Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Cash: May I also suggest an investment in adult diapers. The change of an accident goes way up when you live in that kind of pants peeing fear.

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 5:52 pm

Timmy, UC just increased tuition 32%, and the kids are whining! I live in reality not fear; you may want to consider doing the same. How is the landscape business doing these days. Your job on the block yet? Don’t worry, you can always fall back to writing articles for the local non new, newspaper. Me, I have not worked for many years, and see no need to think about working. Besides, if my funds run out, Obama will take care of me. The adults among us will not need diapers. Save your money Timmy.

Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 6:12 pm

Cash: Working? Cash I have three jobs, not including the unpaid hobby! Also on the UC increase. Talk about a media driven event! The increase is set in over two years and actually brings UC instate tuition in line with other states. The UC system has over 200,000 students and generally a handful show up to protest the regents meetings. (UCLA got a little bit higher, probably with lookie loos that hoped someone would get tasered or shot by the UCLA police.) So 99.99% of the students and their parents realize these increases are necessary to fund the UC system in light of necessary cuts in the state budget. (We are two of them.) The UC system is still the best in the world for the money. Check the Chinese University league tables! So are people so upset about the increases they are boycotting the system. CSU system applications up 53% year on year after 30% fee increases.

JeffNovember 19, 2009 at 6:26 pm

HIgher education’s cost structure is just as distorted as the health care system. Did you know UC only gets 24% of its funding from the state? Suck on that you free marketers

cashNovember 19, 2009 at 8:26 pm

Timmy, all is not well. I understand why the increases were made, but thanks for the tutoring. The point is that the state is in trouble and we will continue to see fees and taxes increase. Keep up the good work, we need as many of you high income earners as we can find. Jeff, who do you think should pay for your kids (dog in your case)education? Where would you draw the line in leveling the playing field? What kinds of issue would fall below the line and what would be above the line. For example, should everyone be paid the same salary. Should all institutions of higher education cost the same to attend? Should we all have 1000 sq. ft homes? Is it OK for me to eat steak while you eat chicken and your neighbor eats hot dogs because our budget allow? Where should we draw the line? Seems the have nots or have not so much are starting to scream. Should they have to earn their way or should they just demand that others make their life better for them. Are you willing to sell your Subaru and split the proceeds with someone you don’t know that may need a car, to help them buy a car? Where would you draw the line on this socialist approach to governing. Jeff, I think you would have been happier if you had continued your work at the church.

JeffNovember 19, 2009 at 8:44 pm

“Jeff, who do you think should pay for your kids (dog in your case)education? ” The state. Back in your day, UC and CSU was free! We were the envy of the world. How come we could do it then but not now? Where’d you go to college cash old boy? Did you get financial aid or did your daddy pay your way? ” For example, should everyone be paid the same salary.” Nixon backed a Johnson plan to pay every American a minimum salary every year, regardless of work status. Not saying I’m down with that but it proves a point. On the flip side, would you eliminate minimum wage? Why or why not? “Should all institutions of higher education cost the same to attend?” No. Private colleges can charge what they want. “Should we all have 1000 sq. ft homes?” Of course not. I aspire to have a house of about 2500 sq. ft. soon baby soon. “Should they have to earn their way or should they just demand that others make their life better for them. Are you willing to sell your Subaru and split the proceeds with someone you don’t know that may need a car, to help them buy a car?” Who are these people I should split the proceeds of my Subaru to? The 10% who are unemployed, aka the people who had jobs but lost them when the economy crumbled under Bush? “Where would you draw the line on this socialist approach to governing?” I’m comfortable with how California was in the 60s regarding education, with the Clinton years, and with Obama’s health care package. Clearly government can’t deliver iPods, washing machines, refrigerators and cars like the private sector can, but clearly, the private sector can’t deliver affordable health care. “Jeff, I think you would have been happier if you had continued your work at the church.” The Catholic church, at once a great monarchical institution with socialistic tendencies you mean? Before Catholicism went off the rails into right wing fantasy land, it was a liberal and economically progressive institution Cash old boy. PS stop sounding like my dad

GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 1:58 am

I’m living with Obama. He makes awesome pancakes, always pees with the seat up, and we both enjoy burning American flags every morning after coffee.

GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 2:03 am

I imagine Cash and the like sitting in soiled underwear, moldy Slurpee cups and stale donuts covering every available space…..just waiting for a chance to argue with someone ON THE INTERNET. We’re moving ahead with or without you chumps, so how about you just get the hell out of the way? Either way, we’re driving this steamer.

Bill ReynoldsNovember 20, 2009 at 8:08 am

Since you are also guilty of arguing on the Internet, Gangfing, listen up: clearly, your crowd is drivin’ “this steamer” right into the toilet… just ask the UCLA kids and/or the 10% unemployed.

GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 9:33 am

Guilty. But I’m not relishing the time spent doing so, buddy boy. And you’re wrong. It’s straight into “the socialist, abortion loving, bleeding heart, gay agenda pushing, god hating, Bill Ayers loving, government takeover toilet. Duh!

cashNovember 20, 2009 at 9:51 am

Jeff, your dad must be a fine man. Thank you for the response. It is clear that life does not always seem fair. I think we all experience that in one way or another. At the end of the day, the winners are those that try hardered and have a little luck to boot. Fact is no one wins when it’s over and their box is closed.

cashNovember 20, 2009 at 9:53 am

Guilty. But I’m not relishing the time spent doing so, buddy boy. Of course you don’t.

JeffNovember 20, 2009 at 9:56 am

cash did you make money during the Clinton years? Were the Clinton years good for you?

GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 9:59 am

Yawn.

GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 10:00 am

*That yawn was for Cash-hole, not Jeff.

cashNovember 20, 2009 at 10:06 am

On the flip side, would you eliminate minimum wage? Why or why not? forgot to answer I believe the wage that is paid should be commensurate with the skill and knowledge required to do the job. I also beleive employees should be rewarded (money)for their contribution to the company success. I say this with the knowledge that some business owners will take advantage of people.

MikeNovember 18, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Well, if he had decided to worry about facts at all he might have actually thought about those kinds of things. Fortunately, he’s only worried right now about getting snarky shots off that make him look good to the GOP base that will need to re-elect him if the Dems really try to boot him out next election. And people wonder why nothing ever gets done? All this infighting is just stupid, no matter which party it’s coming from…
Kevin D. KorenthalNovember 18, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Oh, I think you are arguing on very thin grounds Jeff. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office seems to think that this is a pretty big deal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125858473074554505.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news
GangFangNovember 18, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Mike: Brilliant. I agree 100%. Kevin: Not so much. We all know there is no way any opposition will ever admit the current administration is making ground and reversing Bush trends. It’s no wonder level headed folk have just started to ignore the responses to positive change. It’s just so…..predictable. And funny!
Bill ReynoldsNovember 19, 2009 at 8:57 am
Defict UP + employment down + hope/change down + troop morale down, divided by poor healthcare plan = Obama’s rapidly shrinking popularity/poll numbers.
GangFangNovember 19, 2009 at 9:43 am
He’s in it for the popularity and poll numbers! I knew it!
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 9:48 am
So are the 38 new lock makers just standing in the corner. What a damn joke. If the business owner had locks to make the owner would have hired people without the stimulus. Unless the owner is just building his inventory in hopes sales will increase. If that is the case, watch for the 38 to be cut lose. Buck is a damn joke. Stop giving our tax dollars away.
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 9:50 am
BR, you are correct. Obama is rapidly destroying our country.
MoneyNovember 19, 2009 at 9:59 am
Sorry to break it to you old timers (maybe the memory is slipping, but bush already destroyed this country. Obama is trying to clean up eight years of bush’s negligence. It’s going to take some time.
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 10:49 am
money, how long are you going to play that tune? How much worse is Obama going to make the situation before he begins to fix what Bush did? Can you identify one good move he has made to improve the situation? Don’t let your youth mislead you.
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 10:55 am
I know what keeps Obama awake at night. Let’s say we spend our $2 trillion in stimulus and get a couple of quarters of weak growth. Then once the effects of the stimulus wear off, we slip back into a deep recession, setting up a classic “W.” Unemployment never does stop climbing. This happened to Roosevelt in the thirties. So congress passes another $2 trillion reflationary budget. Everybody gets wonderful new mass transit upgrades, alternative energy infrastructure, and bridges to nowhere. But with $4 trillion in spending packed into two years, inflation really takes off. The bond market collapses, the dollar tanks big time, gold goes ballistic to $5,000, and silver explodes to $50. Ben Bernanke has no choice but to engineer an interest rate spike, taking the Fed funds rate up to a Volkeresque 18%. Housing, having never recovered, drops by half again. This all happens in the 2012 election year. Obama is burned in effigy, a Mormon is elected president, and the Republicans, reinvigorated by new leadership, retake both houses of congress. Bye Bye Obama.
GangFangNovember 19, 2009 at 11:16 am
I want what you’re on, Cash. I could use some time in fantasyland.
navigatorNovember 19, 2009 at 11:37 am
“The bond market collapses, the dollar tanks big time, gold goes ballistic to $5,000, and silver explodes to $50″ I guess I’ll hang on to my collection of gold coins for a while longer. Thanks for the heads up Cash
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 12:18 pm
GF If you are living with Obama you are already living in a fantasy land. Save your money kid’s. Then again, don’t, it will be worth less soon. Nav. unless you think you will be able to buy food,etc. with gold coins, hording gold won’t help much.
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 1:03 pm
$66K a year to make locks. Nice work Obama.
Bill ReynoldsNovember 19, 2009 at 3:02 pm
GangFung, wake up and smell the coffee, Prez B. Hussein and his idiot czars are destroying America. Only non achievers appreciate socialism… Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v5Kjmc8FI
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 3:13 pm
BR, were those poor white trash types that were asking for Obama money?
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 3:26 pm
A lot of us watch this man almost every day and never knew he was paralyzed. Dr. Charles Krauthammer Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News. He is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children. Last Monday was a profound evening; Dr.. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views .. He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post. The entire room was held spellbound during his talk. I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said! If you feel like forwarding this to those who are open minded and have not drunk the Kool-Aid, feel free. Summary of his comments: 1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn’t show his emotions. It’s very hard to know what’s behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment.. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time. 2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton . He has a way of making you think he’s on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES! 3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can’t be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada . 4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn’t care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada .. God forbid! 5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can’t work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he’s a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says. 6. Obama doesn’t really see himself as President of the United States , but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America , as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies! 7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist. 8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future.. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state’s rights. 9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don’t have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn’t work, nor will the stimulus package.These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama’s allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above. 10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was. 11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it’s under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it’s between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy.
Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Cash: Get under your bed until 2012, and I will tell you when it is safe to come out!
Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Cash: May I also suggest an investment in adult diapers. The change of an accident goes way up when you live in that kind of pants peeing fear.
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Timmy, UC just increased tuition 32%, and the kids are whining! I live in reality not fear; you may want to consider doing the same. How is the landscape business doing these days. Your job on the block yet? Don’t worry, you can always fall back to writing articles for the local non new, newspaper. Me, I have not worked for many years, and see no need to think about working. Besides, if my funds run out, Obama will take care of me. The adults among us will not need diapers. Save your money Timmy.
Timothy MyersNovember 19, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Cash: Working? Cash I have three jobs, not including the unpaid hobby! Also on the UC increase. Talk about a media driven event! The increase is set in over two years and actually brings UC instate tuition in line with other states. The UC system has over 200,000 students and generally a handful show up to protest the regents meetings. (UCLA got a little bit higher, probably with lookie loos that hoped someone would get tasered or shot by the UCLA police.) So 99.99% of the students and their parents realize these increases are necessary to fund the UC system in light of necessary cuts in the state budget. (We are two of them.) The UC system is still the best in the world for the money. Check the Chinese University league tables! So are people so upset about the increases they are boycotting the system. CSU system applications up 53% year on year after 30% fee increases.
JeffNovember 19, 2009 at 6:26 pm
HIgher education’s cost structure is just as distorted as the health care system. Did you know UC only gets 24% of its funding from the state? Suck on that you free marketers
cashNovember 19, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Timmy, all is not well. I understand why the increases were made, but thanks for the tutoring. The point is that the state is in trouble and we will continue to see fees and taxes increase. Keep up the good work, we need as many of you high income earners as we can find. Jeff, who do you think should pay for your kids (dog in your case)education? Where would you draw the line in leveling the playing field? What kinds of issue would fall below the line and what would be above the line. For example, should everyone be paid the same salary. Should all institutions of higher education cost the same to attend? Should we all have 1000 sq. ft homes? Is it OK for me to eat steak while you eat chicken and your neighbor eats hot dogs because our budget allow? Where should we draw the line? Seems the have nots or have not so much are starting to scream. Should they have to earn their way or should they just demand that others make their life better for them. Are you willing to sell your Subaru and split the proceeds with someone you don’t know that may need a car, to help them buy a car? Where would you draw the line on this socialist approach to governing. Jeff, I think you would have been happier if you had continued your work at the church.
JeffNovember 19, 2009 at 8:44 pm
“Jeff, who do you think should pay for your kids (dog in your case)education? ” The state. Back in your day, UC and CSU was free! We were the envy of the world. How come we could do it then but not now? Where’d you go to college cash old boy? Did you get financial aid or did your daddy pay your way? ” For example, should everyone be paid the same salary.” Nixon backed a Johnson plan to pay every American a minimum salary every year, regardless of work status. Not saying I’m down with that but it proves a point. On the flip side, would you eliminate minimum wage? Why or why not? “Should all institutions of higher education cost the same to attend?” No. Private colleges can charge what they want. “Should we all have 1000 sq. ft homes?” Of course not. I aspire to have a house of about 2500 sq. ft. soon baby soon. “Should they have to earn their way or should they just demand that others make their life better for them. Are you willing to sell your Subaru and split the proceeds with someone you don’t know that may need a car, to help them buy a car?” Who are these people I should split the proceeds of my Subaru to? The 10% who are unemployed, aka the people who had jobs but lost them when the economy crumbled under Bush? “Where would you draw the line on this socialist approach to governing?” I’m comfortable with how California was in the 60s regarding education, with the Clinton years, and with Obama’s health care package. Clearly government can’t deliver iPods, washing machines, refrigerators and cars like the private sector can, but clearly, the private sector can’t deliver affordable health care. “Jeff, I think you would have been happier if you had continued your work at the church.” The Catholic church, at once a great monarchical institution with socialistic tendencies you mean? Before Catholicism went off the rails into right wing fantasy land, it was a liberal and economically progressive institution Cash old boy. PS stop sounding like my dad
GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 1:58 am
I’m living with Obama. He makes awesome pancakes, always pees with the seat up, and we both enjoy burning American flags every morning after coffee.
GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 2:03 am
I imagine Cash and the like sitting in soiled underwear, moldy Slurpee cups and stale donuts covering every available space…..just waiting for a chance to argue with someone ON THE INTERNET. We’re moving ahead with or without you chumps, so how about you just get the hell out of the way? Either way, we’re driving this steamer.
Bill ReynoldsNovember 20, 2009 at 8:08 am
Since you are also guilty of arguing on the Internet, Gangfing, listen up: clearly, your crowd is drivin’ “this steamer” right into the toilet… just ask the UCLA kids and/or the 10% unemployed.
GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 9:33 am
Guilty. But I’m not relishing the time spent doing so, buddy boy. And you’re wrong. It’s straight into “the socialist, abortion loving, bleeding heart, gay agenda pushing, god hating, Bill Ayers loving, government takeover toilet. Duh!
cashNovember 20, 2009 at 9:51 am
Jeff, your dad must be a fine man. Thank you for the response. It is clear that life does not always seem fair. I think we all experience that in one way or another. At the end of the day, the winners are those that try hardered and have a little luck to boot. Fact is no one wins when it’s over and their box is closed.
cashNovember 20, 2009 at 9:53 am
Guilty. But I’m not relishing the time spent doing so, buddy boy. Of course you don’t.
JeffNovember 20, 2009 at 9:56 am
cash did you make money during the Clinton years? Were the Clinton years good for you?
GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 9:59 am
Yawn.
GangFangNovember 20, 2009 at 10:00 am
*That yawn was for Cash-hole, not Jeff.
cashNovember 20, 2009 at 10:06 am
On the flip side, would you eliminate minimum wage? Why or why not? forgot to answer I believe the wage that is paid should be commensurate with the skill and knowledge required to do the job. I also beleive employees should be rewarded (money)for their contribution to the company success. I say this with the knowledge that some business owners will take advantage of people.