Ablogination

Honestly, I don’t know which one is dumber than the other. Probably a three way tie with those who support them.

Watching Republicans lead the people astray with their lies and professional ineptitude becomes even more sickening when it happens right on your doorstep.

A fine gentleman by the name of Gary Gray, a journalist with our local newspaper, the Bristol Herald Courier, brings us news that the single most useless Senator (Lamar Alexander) and the new, decidedly inept TN-1 Congressional Rep Phil Roe are going around the area lying about the stimulus package.

The article appropriately begins with typical and fully expected deception from the Republican Liar’s Club…

Representatives for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and U.S Rep. Phil Roe, R-1st, told about 50 local business leaders on Monday that the response to the recently signed stimulus bill has been overwhelmingly negative.

Well yeah, only their supporters and the Rush Limbaugh “Rushtards” call them. The rest of us know it’s useless to try and reason with either one of them. Of course they offered no numbers so you can be sure more people supported the stimulus than they’re willing to admit.

Meanwhile, some asshat named Bill Snodgrass, Phil Roe’s “District Director” (whateverthefuck that is), is quoted as spewing “the response we’ve gotten has been overwhelmingly against the stimulus package.”
(as if anyone who called knew what the first letter of the plan was)
Snotgrass attempted to outline Tennessee’s stimulus funds which amount to:

1) $1.6 billion for TennCare.

2) $1.2 billion for K-12 and special education.

3) $600 million for highway and bridge projects.

4) $171 million in “flex-funds” to help with budget shortfalls.

Now we all know what the real problem is here. Republicans don’t want to take the money for several reasons which include:

1) Too much oversight. They will not be able to misappropriate the funds as they always seek to do.

2) They don’t want to be seen helping the “Nigga” fix things. Their Rushtard constituency might take exception.

3) They could care less about the people of NE Tennessee, our children, our land, or our future.

4) Sheer incompetence. What kind of idiots turn down Billions with a capital “B” when the state they supposedly care about suffers?

5) If Democrats help Tennessee’s economic strife it will not be politically advantageous for the Repigs in the next elections.

All in all, President Obama’s stimulus package will serve to slow the pace of the downward economic spiral eight years of Republican wasteful spending, warmongering, and outright Kleptocracy dropped us into.

Let’s get back to the numbers…

1) $1.6 billion for TennCare.
This would have the largest positive impact on the state’s economy. Funds allotted for TennCare would be spent on Doctoral services, prescription drugs, and medical equipment and supplies.
Most of the TennCare patients are children. Quite simply, anyone who objects to this is abusing our children. 2+2 still equals 4, people.

2) $1.2 billion for K-12 and special education.
Again, Republicans putting children last. Putting teachers last too as this aspect of the stimulus funding would pay lots of teachers, some of our most important citizens, wages that are closer to appropriate.

Keep in mind that Republicans love nothing more than a dumbed down voter base, so you can easily see why educational funding is something they actually fear and loath.

3) $600 million for highway and bridge projects.
God forbid we have safe, functional bridges and roads to drive on.

Road work creates jobs. That’s a well known fact in all fifty states.
Keeping our roads up to civilized standards maintains economic security, and since our intelligence personnel have determined that national economy is national security, it keeps us safe too.

• Our nation’s highways, transit systems, railroads, airports, ports and inland waterways drive our economy.
Enabling all industries to achieve the growth and prosperity that have made America strong and prosperous.

• A U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) study concludes that for each $1 billion of federal spending on highway construction nationwide, 47,500 jobs are generated annually.

• The USDOT study also states that every dollar invested in the nation’s highway system yields $5.40 in
economic benefits in reduced delays, improved safety and lower vehicle operating costs.

• Driving on roads in need of repair costs Tennessee motorists $787 million a year in extra vehicle repairs
and operating costs – $181 per motorist.

Those are just a few of many points.

4) $171 million in “flex-funds” to help with budget shortfalls.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

From the Commercial Appeal:

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s general fund revenue collections fell $74 million below projections in November, pushing the state’s shortfall through the first five months of the budget year to $380 million.

Sales tax collections were 10.3 percent lower than the same month last year, the largest drop on record. The lowest previous drop was 8.7 percent in 1961, said state Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz.

“We’re seeing a continued relentless deterioration in sales taxes,” Goetz said.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has told state agencies they may have to cut as much as 20 percent out of their spending plans to accommodate a shortfall that could grow to more than $900 million in the upcoming budget year.

As deep a hole as we’re in, you’d think every penny would count. But leave it to fiscally irresponsible Republicans to prefer sitting and doing nothing (Lamar Alexander’s specialty) to screw up even the easiest path to relief.
And that’s what they would do, nothing.

Are Tennessee Republicans offering us any way out of the financial perdition they helped lead us into?
Nope. Nothing.
No plan, no ideas, no effort and no organization.

Nothing.

President Obama and the Democratic party have stood up to the plate, wielded the biggest bat, and went for the fence.
That takes guts. Guts, brains, and a desire to do what is right for the nation and our people.
Republican leadership offers none of the above.

Progressive Democracy and results, or regressive Republicanism and more of the last eight years.
The only two choices we have.