You know...

[ravan]

I think the house democrats are playing the senate republicans like a fiddle: load the bill with pork, enough to make any wannabe conservative squeal. Let the Senate gut all the pork, and pat themselves on the back for having "upheld conservative values" (unlike during the bush years) and be willing to then pass the bill. Result is the bill that the Dems wanted to start with.

Thoughts?

Comments

[bosn.livejournal.com]

Yay pork!

In a state where the cutting of essential services is the republicans idea of removing pork then I am all for anyone making bacon.

Pork is jobs. most of it anyway. And the house and senate republicans have no trouble taking the money they save on pork and giving there buddy's tax cuts to "help" the economy. They did it for 8 stinken years!

Gimme a big old helping of them pork rinds!

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Sounds about right...pretty sure Obama is behind this new tactic, and he plays politics Chicago style. Which is all about Machiavellian schemes.

Lets hope the Republicans never catch on.

[heethen-crone.livejournal.com]

Sweet indeed. I sincerely hope it's a rough road for the neo-cons for the next 8 years at least. Wonder how those "Pork cutting" Republicans felt about one of those banks they bailed out trying to use a big chunk of that money to buy a corporate jet? Oh yeah, lessee now. They're buying a jet some people get to keep their job for a while, someone gets ritzy transport, and a few salesmen get a big commission.

[jemyl.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Still, some of the pork can mean jobs for some areas. People wonder why I pay for my medicare supplement rather than trying for medicaid. They don't get that medicaid gets cut first. Others say old people don't pay enough for medical care. Hmmm, I will pay over $300 per month for medicare and my supplement plus pay a portion of my meds. That is for just one person. Without the supplement I would have to pay over $1000 for every ER or hospital visit, nomatter how long it was plus 20% of doctor's charges. Nothing which comes in a syringe is covered by medicare and therefore is not covered by my supplement either. My gross earnings is just under 1200 a month, but after medicare I get just over 1000. By the time I pay my mortgage and medicare supplement, I am left with just over $600 to live on. That is TOO MUCH to qualify for food stamps --- and Obama and many Republicans say old folks have to expect cuts too. Tell you what, Mr. President, just pack up and send me the leftovers from your "all American" luncheons, like the pheasant and duck etc. I'll find a way to use them, even if it is in a nourishing soup broth for my ramen noodles! LOL

Love you, Ravan! Did you get my email of Jan 30th? Peace -- Mom

[trogula.livejournal.com]

Disclaimer: I am a registered democrat, voted for Obama, and think that he was the best choice to make, given all other choices.

Normally, I don't speak up with political posts that anyone makes - I hate to get into faith based arguments. But...what the hell.

Anyone who holds your statement with any credibility is completely nieve. While some of what you outline may happen (if it does, it will be almost wholly accidental. Politicians pander to those who provide them money or influence, which provides election wins. While politics is de jure about "serving the People™" from a de facto perspective, politics is only about the cultivation of personal power.

This isn't the case for every elected politician - just every single solitary elected politician holding (or had once held) any national public office sense the very first US election, including each and every political "Sacred Cow" held by any and all parties.

[ravan.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know about species politicus. I'm cynical that way.

That's why I find it amusing when people talk about Chicago style politics as somehow dirtier that regular politics. It isn't, in the long run. It's just more a) crafty about it and b) honest about its goals.

In many ways politicians are like the rest of us: they can be trusted to do what is in their own best interests first and foremost. The trick is to pick ones whose personal best interests best align with yours, and the country's.

What amuses me is how the Obama camp is playing the pork barrel give and take. They seem to be better chess masters, but the game is still the same.