WSJ Busts GOP On Stimulus Hypocrisy w/ FOIA

[ratty88]

If you didn't hear (or read) about what was in the stimulus, how is that the president's fault? I read the CBO projects, which the stimulus has reached.

All anyone needed to do is read the CBO summary.

But of course, its the president's fault for not being louder than fox "news" lies?

[laughingtiger123]

Hey, genius, watch the video of Obama talking about how he has been to all 57 states.... LOL and you voted for this incompetent ego freak who never managed anything and never met a payroll. Talk as much as you want... as the economy takes a bigger turd, you will run out of excuses and look like the hateful, name calling teenager-minded fool you are. Admit it... YOU SCREWED UP.

[gingerXLL]

TO ALL IGNORANT STUPID RETARTED AMERICANS

do u know who were the young turks? why TYT chose this name? ha????????? maybe they should change it?

READ ABOUT the young turks in the 19th century who commited the Holocaust of the Armenian people. WIKIPEDIA will help u if you know to read.

does it remind you something about Cordova initiative?

[zeinnaja]

@gingerXLL I believe the reason Cenk Uygur decided on the name "The Young Turks" is because he is young and he is Turkish/American.

[primoabruzzi]

The entire temporal leadership of today's catholic church are clones of Anton Pavelic... a genocidal Croat.

They worship Pius XII as God himself, and give sweet talk to the poor and powerless, and big support to genocidal dictators like Pinochet, Franco, Pavelic, Hitler and every warmonger that ever lived.

[fret2424]

The government PAYS farmers to grow corn, and now everything, even soft drinks are made with corn.

How is this NOT socialism?

The (R) senator from AL blocked 70 of Obama's appointees to leverage a multi-billion $ defense contract for privet companies in HIS state and a new FBI building (the FBI didn't want).

How is this NOT socialism?

The president want's to create a vehicle for affordable health care insurance for ALL Americans.

Some how that's the end of America?

I'm confused!

[weirdoweirdo]

Socialism is everything that's bad, along with angry kittens!

[fuzzybekool]

Listen. I am done argueing with you socialist nut cases. None of you even looked at the various democratic health care bills.

Any sane American would be appalled at the provisions contained in over 1000 pages of the crazy bills. I copy and pasted where you will go to jail if you refuse to participate. That should end the debate. If you continue to defend it, then you are not American. Plain and simple.

The voting booth will be the decider. Take care.

[SleepySkeptic]

Okay, first of all someone disagreeing with you doesn't make them any less American, and you don't get to declare who is American seeing how your ancestors most likely came from Europe. But thanks for referencing your claims, I will look into it.

[owl975]

I'm confused, how does having a different opinion make someone not an american? We have a lot of "socialist" programs in the US. Libraries, Fire department, the military, medicare, the police, the roads. Those sections you cited DON"T EXIST!!! You can't go to prison for not participating.

[maverick9026]

@fuzzybekool hahah dude youre crazy

[fuzzybekool]

SleepySkeptic , You might have to pull out the progressive spin hand book to refute Pelosi's own Bill.

If you want, I can copy and paste where Obama Care forces senior citizens to submit to 5 year end of life planning sessions. So I guess it is also ok for the Government to plan my parents death ? or mine ?

Are you progressive liberals fucking nuts ? And you wonder why the American people are fighting this ?

[HiltownJoe]

I just wonder how (especially conservative) Americans define patriotism?

Obviously letting poor citizens die from easily curable diseases, in the name of freedom (because Healthcare is Socialism) is patriotic.

Please give me a lesson in citizenship because I don't seem to understand what patriotism means in America.

[Magnumanxxl]

Everybody who has a job pays for Medicare that means ur not free. 

[GrownupPhan]

Maddow had a better segment on this. It pointed out that the worse offense than asking for local projects is both claiming the stimulus created no jobs and claiming credit for local jobs that were created by the stimulus. i.e. that the stimulus both did and did not create jobs, depending who they're talking to.

[zibbadow]

Yes she did . MUCH better . A couple of different shows so far and I would say a LOT more to come .

[leykisfan1]

@ fuzzybekool - did it take you all day to think that up? You act like conservatives are the only people who work. I know plenty of conservatives that are lazy morons..... you know who they are... you vote for them...

[dduca37]

glad Ana isnt on the show as often now THANK GOD she is a one-sided easily swayed women

[dekotable]

Hell yeah, and i don't know what's with all the people saying she's hot. Must be a lot of ugly people in your area.

[HiltownJoe]

Well you have the wrong perspective.

A liberal with a job demands to pay for the health care for someone without a job.

Ever thought from this point of view?

[fuzzybekool]

I do understand your point. But since the founding fathers debated long and hard on your perspective, and CORRECTLY knew, such a perspective would ultimately lead to bigger government, less freedom, and increase the threat of tyrannical rule, they ruled against that persepctive.

Listen. Our Republic was created to give us Liberty. Liberty can not be broken into pieces. You want to pay for someone's healthcare ? Go ahead. BUT AS AN AMERICAN I CHOOSE NOT TO. IT'S CALLED FREEDOM

[wtfdoihavetodohere]

What does paying for someone else's healthcare (and everyone else paying for your healthcare) have to do with freedom?

[fuzzybekool]

@wtfdoiahvetodohere - You don't know ?

You want to buy someone healthcare with YOUR money ? By all means, you are FREE to do so.

But I must also remain FREE to not want to give MY money to buy someone else healthcare. Simple enough ?

Liberty is Liberty. Freedom is Freedom. We are born equal. That doesn't mean we will die equal. We are all responsible for ourselves. Government is not my daddy.

2 + 2 = 4.

[moulingalette]

@fuzzybekool Yeah, and that damn government better stop buying police services, roads, firetrucks, defense and everything else.

[HiltownJoe]

@moulingalette nice point.

@fuzzybekool America is still one of the wealthiest countries in the world. And America claims to be the most patriotic country in the world.

As a citizen wealthy patriotic country you have to think about what is the least standard of living you want to see in your country.

I would be ashamed to see anyone in my country die because he cant afford 10bugs antibiotics to cure his pneumonia.

btw. no one is born equal. Some are born rich and some are born poor.

[wtfdoihavetodohere]

@fuzzynotcool - Hmm...

So perhaps you don't use public roads and bridges or go to public parks; don't use public libraries or call the police or the fire department? You know, since you are "responsible for yourself", and all that...

Are the people still "free", who payed for all of those things with their tax dollars?

[fuzzybekool]

@wtfdoihavetodohere. Them things you mentioned there are peanuts compared to entitlement spending.

We owe the the people now and in the future when they retire on Social Security and Medicare a staggering 30 trillion dollars. We are broke ! We would have to clone 50 million more american workers and get them all jobs, then rob them of their money to pay entitlements to everyone on the rolls.

And now we want to add obama care?

Common Sense tell us that it is not sustainable.

[gizmo2084]

The "peanuts" you talk about are still taxes. And are still supported by the state. Now, according to YOU we must abolish all forms of government and live FREE!

I think it's important for you to understand is that there isn't enough money to go around, period. And there will always be a government that provides a saftynet.

Our problem is that personal spending are based on Reannomics that taught the people that "credit" was good. Credit is just a euphemism for "debt."

[SleepySkeptic]

Good point. Letting the people die is preferable to "socialism".

[fuzzybekool]

@SleepySkeptic - Good one :) Under Obama Care, Americans would go to jail for not purchasing forced health care. Sweet deal ! Do what the government tells you or go to jail.

Obama won the election with the votes of many of the people you pinheads are argueing with now. Yes we wanted change and health care.

But Obama Care will never pass, and even if they force it with reconciliation. Many states will nullify it, and the Democrats would be toast in 2010.

[SleepySkeptic]

Saying people would go to jail for not having it, let alone referring to it as Obama care, pretty much points you out as a moron not worth considering.

[fuzzybekool]

@SleepySleptic - Moron ? or are you pissed I read and watch people speak like the Demorcatic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. She is asked point blank in this press conference, will Americans go to jail for not purchasing health care. Watch the video and watch her dance around the question. It is a simple Yes or No answer.

Sorry, The truth hurts. I know. Search YouTube with the words - Pelosi Jail - and watch for yourself.

[SleepySkeptic]

I don't think she dodged the question, she made it clear to me that she thinks there should be penalties for not having healthcare, and she explained her reasoning for it clearly. You can agree or disagree, the question is what does the bill say. I'm pretty sure it doesn't say jail people who don't buy insurance. Unless you can back up this theory with something more substantial than one person's opinion, you will be seen as another conspiracy nut spouting off. Especially when you use tag lines.

[fuzzybekool]

The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirmed that the failure to comply with the mandate to buy health insurance in the Pelosi health care bill H.R. 3962 could land people in jail. Americans who do not maintain acceptable health insurance coverage and who choose not to pay the bills new individual mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income), are subject to numerous civil and criminal penalties, including criminal fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.

[fuzzybekool]

FROM THE PELOSI BILL ITSELF:

Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years. [page 3]

[wtfdoihavetodohere]

@fuzzybekool

Now and in the future? I am wondering what you mean by "in the future".

Secondly, US military spending is greater than all other discretionary spending combined. Should we therefore abolish the US military altogether?

Also, the founding fathers included via the General Welfare Clause in our Constitution, the right for our gov't to collect and spend tax dollars for social welfare.

Finally, the non-partisan CBO found that the Public Option would be "deficit neutral" anyways.

[gizmo2084]

@fuzzy

You say: that "Liberty is Liberty. Freedom is Freedom. We are born equal. That doesn't mean we will die equal. We are all responsible for ourselves. Government is not my daddy."

You can't have it both ways.

What do you do in the meantime for those that don't end up being equal? Let them rot in the streets? Because I assure you that their problem will become your problem if you do what I think you are suggesting which is to abolish all social programs.

[gizmo2084]

Did Regan create a limited and smaller government?

Now, as far as freedom. Why don't you stop paying taxes. Try that. Reading your absolutist comments is humorous.

The reason that I pay for others support is because sometimes members of your family will fall on hard times. And that safety is what a civil society demands. If you think that you live in a nation in which you control everything you are wrong. That's' a fantasy land.

[Doxi99]

Im glad Ana Kasparian isn't in this show today. God she is stupid firing her completely would improve the show significantly.

[tehant1liberal]

if cenk thinks its so wrong to benefit from what little good there is to be had in a democratic bill, then cenk should return all of his bush tax cuts that he "hates" so much, and then he should write thank you letters to obama for raising his taxes to the highest rate in US history. the thing is republicans ARE NOT IDEOLOGUES we wont let people suffer because of political differences (unlike democrats who have never cared about human suffering) so if you want responsiple government, vote (R)

[dekotable]

Do you actually follow politics or just watch fox news? Look up voting records, especially recent ones that show blatant reactionary obstructionism, and look up some facts on bush's tax cuts and obama's tax raises. You might actually learn something when you stop listening to morons on tv.

[madax132]

He doesn't think it;s wrong, he is pointing at the obvious hypocrisy of Republicans who vote against it then beg for the stimulus money. The bush tax cuts fucked up the economy, and killed funding for schools and infrastructure and we have some of the lowest taxes in the world. I'm sure the party that is against people who need welfare to feed there kids and doesn't want everyone to get covered by HEALTH care is the party we can trust. You are such a tool and republicans are corporate sell outs.

[Southwestrepresent]

@tehant1liberal the bush tax cuts only benefited the Rich, yes I guess the republicans backing of segregation in the south really showed how much they cared about human suffering

[beeshor1]

tehant

No one is criticizing republicans for taking the money for their districts. What is inexcusable is taking the money, bragging back home as if you're the one responsible for the money, then going on TV saying things like the stimulus was a complete waste and it produced no jobs. Well, either it produced jobs or it didn't. You can't go around lying and saying that it was completely wasteful while knowing damn well it did great things in your district. That's the major problem.

[slappnutts34]

the stimulus never works. they use it to pay their bills not to put money back in to the economy!

[TheScorpionKING24]

you stupid ass sand nigger go back to the gas station you come from keep down talking ice t..going to send your ass back to iraq in a gas can motherfucker

[gear116]

@hemlock10 It's not about them getting the stimulis money for their state, its about them bragging about it when they received it, when they talked trash about it before it was passed(and still do).

[Savior20061]

Agreed. Maddow explained this a few days ago with one of the younger Republican representatives.

[hemlock10]

It's like you saying that lower taxes are horrible and would hurt and then the law gets passed that lowers taxes and you not giving back what would have been taxed under the plan that you wanted. OF COOOURSE you'd keep the money even if you didn't agree with the fundamentals of lowering taxes. C'mon. Stop spinning this. We're all tired of the partisanship.

[occhamsrazor]

If they were so sure that the stimulus wont work and doesn't create jobs, why not decline the money and say that they would rather it be used to pay down the debt or deficit?

[blasphimus]

Because that would make the dems look like they are pretty good at running the country and that doesn't bode well for repubs. Simple partisan politics.

[hemlock10]

The arguement is invalid. The money is already taken from ALL of the people. These senators are just getting using the money that their constituancy has paid for. It doesn't mean that they have to like it.

[nyznicca]

no public option in the new bill proposed by oblahblah today.....its over....i officially hate this administration and this moron named obama!

[dizzymasekela]

Paul Ryan is snorting cocaine. A lot of it. That is the only explanation for the wildly cuckoo, fantasy-land budgets he's always thinking up.

[RealCaptainAmerica]

Cenk, the only thing I would add is I think Obama secretly knows what he is doing. The public has a very short attention span, and it doesnt make sense to have a "philosophical argument" for his case now for re-election in November 2012. He is better off getting things done, taking the attacks, and then in Summer of 2012, showing off the PROOF of what he has accomplished. The economy will have improved, he will take credit, and we'll be "winning" the war on terror. Game over, Obama wins again.

[narezul]

i think it was benjamin franklin who said it was as important to let people see you working hard as it was to work hard....or more so..... cant quiet remember, but you get the point.

[willia3r]

Ummm.... The deficit spending started under Ronald Reagan's watch, buddy.

[dieallday]

shit i thought it always was there since the ww2

and it kept growing since then

[willia3r]

Nope during WW2 when there was such a thing as TRUE patriotism People sacrificed by lending money to the government in the form of war bonds, gas & food rationing, metal recycling, & the super wealthy paid taxes at an 80-90% tax rate.

When Ronald Reagan got in he cut the tax rate to the wealthy by half while at the same time pursued the largest peacetime build-up of military forces in U.S. history to challenge the former Soviet Union.

Several tax cuts later, & the U.S. is now in arrears.

[dieallday]

thanks for enlightening me

[manhunt48]

Do you even read what you're saying?. . . Do you know EXACTLY what you sound like?

Take a look at some of the Extremist muslims (only the extremists). You comment almost mirrors the content of theirs.

[mtzlypk]

as far as detroit gop goes, why do you answer such racist stupidity....we have blind ignorance in our society..followers not thinkers!

[mtzlypk]

why do we let credit card companies charge loan sharking interest rates, banks control it, why doesnt our house and senate say thats unfair, because they are part of the problem. Why to many fingers in the money cookie jar.Its same in health care charges,why do we let hospitals charge 5.00 for an aspirin and make 4 or 500 percent mark up on anything you use, is that fair..of course not but does house or senate say straighten up NO, why not?

[uncthebest2005]

@DetroitGOP this is what's wrong with everything..you just care about gaining power and sticking it to the liberals..not helping the country. just please stop

[mtzlypk]

health plan for instance if i want national health plan then let me have it , if you dont want it ,use your own health plan.. the millions without jobs are going to need the national plan the rich and employed still have there own choice yes or no.. whats the problem??

[mtzlypk]

we are so brainwashed on two party system, we are being tared by one party and feathered by the other. ...americas demise is here , watch how our employees at house and senate are voting. If you did you would get rid of 90% of them and elect FOREST GUMP,you would have a better chance of getting something done..sad but so true.If we the public dont recognize we are the tool of the rich we are truely lost. we need to outlaw lobbyist and get rid of stock market. , thats a start .

[audadvnc]

Gov't Grants = Benefits for our district.

Pork = Benefits for other districts.

[socialgarbage2]

If a Senator or Representative from a state votes against a bill, then they should NOT be allowed to reap the benefits from that bill when it passes.

Fucking Hypocrites.

[HiltownJoe]

That would be simply stupid.

Imagine a situation where the GOP is in power and they push through a bill which is a total waste of money with to little effect.

Of course as a good Democrat you have voted against it.

But after the bill had passed against your will, would you like to be excluded from the benefits of this bills and just pay?

[socialgarbage2]

GOP = Gut Obama's Policies.

The constitution says we have the right to replace our government. Maybe we should.

[levantos]

7:21

[kefluv]

@singereli I still can't believe that dumb bitch didn't get WHY there is 2 Koreas. Has she NEVER seen an episode of MASH?

[occhamsrazor]

Think that she knew there were an east and west germany?  I doubt it.

[melowar78]

Fuck the GOP and all their brainless drones.

[NeoHellPoet]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaASCI500

[Richardgwm]

Every objective economic indicator performs better under Democratic presidents than under Republican presidents.

[MyTemporaryAccount88]

The only conservatives who read the WSJ are already smart enough to know what's going on. They are in on the game. The idiot conservatives who need to wake up to reality may have read a title or two from the WSJ, laughed at Obama, and decided it had too many big words in it.

So the real question on how many conservatives will wake up from this article is, how many conservative blogs etc will pick this up? My guess is around 0.

[Pellegrino80]

GOP = Got O Plans, also known as Got O Pussies

[celestialsalamander]

what does GOP stand for/ 'cos it seems like there should be an"r" in it somewhere

[ScoundrelLB]

Grand Old Party

[Tounushi]

@celestialsalamander

God's Only People

in their opinion.

[Omega231984]

Hey turks are you ever going HD?

[DragonCome]

@Omega231984

Yeah, I'm with you. Let's get full 720p on those videos! There's a lot of noise in the vids and, ahem... I always wanted to see Ana in full HD ;)

[freshhug]

Good Cop - Bad Cop

[ecwaufisxtreme]

How DARE the WSJ smack GOD's OWN PARTY of hypocrisy! This is blashemy! WSJ has lost massive conservative credibility! The GOP is NEVER hypocritical! We need President Sarah Palin to lay the SMACKDOWN on the WSJ with her GOD POWERS and slap some sense into them!

[billthebutcher2]

Dead on as ususal, ecw.

[MLCAVomb]

LMFAO, love the satire XD

[Melpheos1er]

You know this is not even funny anymore.

[zzzxxyy]

We have a long way to go before we get back into shape. Moderation needs to come back. Fuck the far left socialist commie assholes and fuck the far right tea bagging totalitarian douchebags.

[hippieCy08]

WSJ is busting GOP because Think Progress did an extensive research on Republicans hypocrisy....and Rachel Maddow did an amazing 2 week focus on Reblican hypocrisy and lies.....then Dems and mainstream media woke up from their comatose.

[whoo689]

why is that version of the geico ad with the caveman only on Youtube?? Why not also show it on tv?o.O

[Ristar85]

simple. the Republicans vote against it because Obama is black.

[MrGnarus]

that grass is really bad news. it causes forest fires to spread rapidly and it kills other species of grass

[MrGnarus]

the hypocrisy is not voting against and taking the money but voting against the bill, taking the money, then going on tv to announce how bad the money

[HiltownJoe]

I have to disagree with you turks at this point. Even though you can question their intention in the first place you can't blame them for hypocrisy. If they let all the Democrats "waste" the money and would not take some to use it on Projects in their own states, they would be stupid.

Republican taxpayers would pay but get nothing in return.

[HiltownJoe]

Thank you.

[kokofan50]

the thing is in most states they have one person with a D in front of their name in congress. If you take the money then you sould at least be will to not take it . you're saying that just because they got something you want but don't want to look like it its ok

[CmdrTobs]

*Sigh*

I have read dozens of variations of that argument. Each time its presented as a fresh and robust counter point.

Nobody is saying don't get the projects that's foolish. Nobody is implying that for a minute. Just don't stand there telling voters you personally fought all the way and got it for them and stand there smiling with the 'big check' claiming its an excellent investment, when earlier you said all these investments are terrible.

Ask, get it. The end. Anything more is deceptive.

[Darrinh1965]

nobody is saying they should not take the money but don't be saying in one end that the stimulus is a good thing then going on a GOP platform and saying it is a bad thing common man you can't see the republicans have an agenda by doing that, you can't be that stupid man

[Capng123]

What the fuck... how does that make ANY sense? "You can't blame them for hypocrisy"!? Isn't that like saying you can't blame a rapist for commiting rape?

OF COURSE YOU CAN. You don't need to question anything, the very fact that they obviously had no intention of turning down the money is what MAKES them hypocrites.

Republican conservatives bill themselves as the morally superior political model. Well, where are their principles now? Nowhere. They never had any to start with, just hypocrisy.

[tomitstube]

excellent commentary cenk.

what's this crap happening on thursday? what can obama possibly accomplish with republicans? nothing.

this idea that republicans are fiscally responsible... is like saying herbert hoover cared about the unemployed, or that insurance companies care about the sick, or that exxon mobile gives a shit about clean air, or that clean coal is a real product, or that snagglepuss isn't gay, or that dick cheney isn't a fucking unpatriotic criminal and teabaggers are...

[johnedwards1968]

@stefminus I don't think you're paying attention! In their requests, the GOP highlighted the ways in which it WOULD work! The whole "it won't work" line of arguement is just silly public politics!

[jshooper]

it's not that obama is just now getting it....it's that the stimulus was ALWAYS going to take time to start working...so they had to wait a while to show the positive results....its just that they DUMBASS republicans and the media played this game...that the stimulus was supposed to save everything 5 seconds after it went into effect....the republicans knew what they were doing....calling it a failure before it even had a chance to work....its just that the public and media are fools

[Mplay1983]

Obama made the case multiple times but people are just stupid and uneducated and want to believe what they choose too.

[skdnow]

Sorry - not good enough. If they refuse the money - the money will stay in reserve, unspent by the taxpayer. So if they really wanted to help the taxpayers and not spend money, then they should refuse the money allocated for their districts. So this means they are being entirely hypocritical, which is unsurprising.

[thispigwenttomarket]

@skdnow I agree, from now on if you oppose a funding bill, your state gets no benefits from it.

[MegashadX]

"Apparently Obama has finally gotten the message"

How many times have I heard that one before.....=/

[privateryanify]

the only difference between obama's and bush's stimulas package is the color.

[tomitstube]

@privateryanify ~ now that was good. a simile i'd be proud of. obama shouldn't be plural. slight edit. : )

[seekanddestroy09]

time will tell if the stimulus worked