At Least Our Goof Isn't Our Goof
Justin Katz
Can we pause for a moment and be thankful for one thing — that this guy is a Democrat?
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said earlier, as the moderates struggled to complete their deal, "I couldn't care less about bipartisanship." Whitehouse said getting an economic pump-priming bill passed quickly was more important than drawing Republican support. The question of whether the bill gets support from few Republicans or many Republicans "is a sideshow," Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse also said he believes the Senate bill is too small to accomplish the amount of economic stimulus needed.
In another indication of the fraying tempers in this week's debate, Whitehouse angrily denounced Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma for his efforts to block certain projects, including one at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
"He mocked a zoo that belongs to the City of Providence," Whitehouse said of Coburn during a Senate speech. Coburn, who has made a specialty of attacking spending programs he considers wasteful, had earlier won a large bipartisan majority for an amendment that forbade spending on any gambling casino, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center or highway beautification project. ...
"Is the senator who offered this so infallible? Does he know so much about other states that he's never even visited that he can impose his views?" Whitehouse asked about Coburn after the Senate adopted his amendment on a 73-to-24 vote. Reed and the rest of the New England Democrats present joined Whitehouse in opposition to the amendment.
I'd suggest that Republicans pondering a run for national office keep an eye on Sen. Whitehouse's spot. I've a feeling that, when the political caravan begins to turn, Whitehouse is going to run straight into a ditch.
"Is the senator who offered this so infallible? Does he know so much about other states that he's never even visited that he can impose his views?"
Senator Coburn could round up, not just lots of people who have visited RI, but lots of Rhode Islanders, who would immediately and cheerfully confirm his view that this and all zoos fall squarely in the category of pork and not economic stimulus, unless you're defining economic stimulus as appropriating and spending our grandchildren's hard earned money on highly questionable projects to get certain politicians reelected.
Oklahoma has Sens.Coburn and Inhofe.We have a useless,born to the manner fop,and an ethically compromised(putting it nicely)little money-grubber who has had his hand out for "campaign contributions" to the same industry he oversees.And he saw nothing wrong with it.What a pair of scumbags.Too bad we can't exchange for Oklahoma's senators.
See you at the polo field,Sheldon,ta ta and all that.Oh yeah,forgot about your love for trapshooting,sheldon,while you try to disarm us "hoi polloi"that you deign to serve out of noblesse oblige.
I know I'm repeating myself,but he is the epitomy of empty suited arrogance.
Reed, Kennedy, and Whitehouse embarrass me to the point where I tell people I'm 'just visiting'.
Gee, Joe, where's a guy supposed to get his campaign contributions if not from the industries he regulates??
Besides, it's not like anything bad happened on his watch ... oh, wait.
I'd suggest that Republicans pondering a run for national office consider a move to Sen. Whitehouse's district.
At Least Our Goof Isn't Our Goof
Justin Katz
Correct me if I am wrong but the voters in R.I. vote for both U.S.Senators so there is in essence no district. Or the district as you put it is the State of R.I. The distinction (and I know you meritocracy fans are booing) between Senators in a state is based on seniority, as in; Senastor Whitehouse is the junior senator from R.I..
Now maybe what Justin would like to see is a Republican who moves into R.I. to capture (or buy) a Senate seat.
Just an error in terminology while putting up a quick post this morning. Although, I will confess that, when it comes to Rhode Island, I am pro–carpet bagger.
Linc Chafee cared about bipartisanship, but you couldn't get rid of him fast enough.
Schadenfraude all around.
As a carpet bagger, Justin , are you suggesting New Jersey politics? Union City? Port Newark? Bayonne?
We have much in common with New Jersey:
Democrat control of government.
Public sector union control of the Democrats.
History of mob influence, including within the unions and Democrats.
Punitively high taxes to feed the above.
Consistently rated as one of the worst states for employers, and so
An economy declining well in excess of national averages.
See, e.g., "How rapacious government withered the Garden State"
http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_2_new_jersey.html
Interesting. Obama is touting bipartisanship, moving forward, forget about the past. I heard all these Obama supporters chanting "HOPE" and "CHANGE". So I guess what I'm getting from that, based on people like Whitehouse and Pelosi is "We hoped we could change but nope, we can't".
If their leader Obama wants bipartisanship, what's with the issues from the Democrats and comments like "we won"? If Obama had come out and said "Hey Republicans, stick it, it's my show now", then ok, I can see where the Dems are getting it from. But he didn't. He's doing the opposite. I guess nothing will ever change, despite what we hope for.
"I'd suggest that Republicans pondering a run for national office consider a move to Sen. Whitehouse's district. I've a feeling that, when the political caravan begins to turn, Whitehouse is going to run straight into a ditch."
...U.S. Senators don't have districts...they're elected statewide...but I'm sure you knew that.
"Is the senator who offered this so infallible? Does he know so much about other states that he's never even visited that he can impose his views?" Whitehouse asked about Coburn after the Senate adopted his amendment on a 73-to-24 vote."
Impose his views? Isn't that what President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Reid are trying to do with this horrible bill?
I am going to correct our sorry excuse for a senator, and defend one of the truly great senators in this country, Sen. Tom Coburn.
First of all, Sen. Tom Coburn has actually been to Rhode Island (as Andrew can attest, since he interviewed him). He was here in the summer of 2006 to be exact. He was the keynote speaker at the NFRA's Northeast Conservative Conference and Board Meeting which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. He loved his time here, and we loved having him.
How can you "impose" a view, which has just been voted upon? If he was a dictator and ruling by fiat, Wheldon Shitehouse's comments might actually make some sense. The guy has no sense of consistency, and his defense of this craptacular porkulus package shows he has no shame.
Lastly, I have never heard of one senator personally attacking another senator, because of a piece of legislation, especially on the senate floor. It's very unsenatorial, but what would you expect. He should apologize.
Rhody, Linc Chaffee was to the Republican party as Steve Bartman was to the Cubs.
"U.S. Senators don't have districts"
Sure they do. They're called "states". What is a district? Just an area of people with boundary lines drawn. Sounds like a state.
I believe Carcieri will throw his hat in the ring against Sheldon and cause quite the interesting tussle for '12. The Don is a little long in the tooth, but he could at least get the seat back to the GOP and then get someone ready in his party to keep it in '18, when he may finally be looking to head to Florida for good.
Shel's beatable if the GOP runs somebody just a tad more moderate than Carcieri (say, a pro-choice woman).
The Don's, I'll put it politiely, archaic views on social issues may not have been a big factor in his gubernatorial races, but would be in a Senate race.
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"Is the senator who offered this so infallible? Does he know so much about other states that he's never even visited that he can impose his views?"
Senator Coburn could round up, not just lots of people who have visited RI, but lots of Rhode Islanders, who would immediately and cheerfully confirm his view that this and all zoos fall squarely in the category of pork and not economic stimulus, unless you're defining economic stimulus as appropriating and spending our grandchildren's hard earned money on highly questionable projects to get certain politicians reelected.
Posted by: Monique at February 8, 2009 8:33 AMOklahoma has Sens.Coburn and Inhofe.We have a useless,born to the manner fop,and an ethically compromised(putting it nicely)little money-grubber who has had his hand out for "campaign contributions" to the same industry he oversees.And he saw nothing wrong with it.What a pair of scumbags.Too bad we can't exchange for Oklahoma's senators.
Posted by: joe bernstein at February 8, 2009 9:57 AMSee you at the polo field,Sheldon,ta ta and all that.Oh yeah,forgot about your love for trapshooting,sheldon,while you try to disarm us "hoi polloi"that you deign to serve out of noblesse oblige.
I know I'm repeating myself,but he is the epitomy of empty suited arrogance.
Reed, Kennedy, and Whitehouse embarrass me to the point where I tell people I'm 'just visiting'.
Posted by: Roland at February 8, 2009 10:24 AMGee, Joe, where's a guy supposed to get his campaign contributions if not from the industries he regulates??
Besides, it's not like anything bad happened on his watch ... oh, wait.
Posted by: Monique at February 8, 2009 10:31 AMI'd suggest that Republicans pondering a run for national office consider a move to Sen. Whitehouse's district.
At Least Our Goof Isn't Our Goof
Justin Katz
Correct me if I am wrong but the voters in R.I. vote for both U.S.Senators so there is in essence no district. Or the district as you put it is the State of R.I. The distinction (and I know you meritocracy fans are booing) between Senators in a state is based on seniority, as in; Senastor Whitehouse is the junior senator from R.I..
Posted by: Phil at February 8, 2009 1:50 PMNow maybe what Justin would like to see is a Republican who moves into R.I. to capture (or buy) a Senate seat.
Just an error in terminology while putting up a quick post this morning. Although, I will confess that, when it comes to Rhode Island, I am pro–carpet bagger.
Posted by: Justin Katz at February 8, 2009 2:16 PMLinc Chafee cared about bipartisanship, but you couldn't get rid of him fast enough.
Posted by: rhody at February 8, 2009 6:18 PMSchadenfraude all around.
As a carpet bagger, Justin , are you suggesting New Jersey politics? Union City? Port Newark? Bayonne?
Posted by: David at February 8, 2009 6:21 PMWe have much in common with New Jersey:
Democrat control of government.
Public sector union control of the Democrats.
History of mob influence, including within the unions and Democrats.
Punitively high taxes to feed the above.
Consistently rated as one of the worst states for employers, and so
An economy declining well in excess of national averages.
See, e.g., "How rapacious government withered the Garden State"
http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_2_new_jersey.html
Posted by: Tom W at February 8, 2009 8:39 PMInteresting. Obama is touting bipartisanship, moving forward, forget about the past. I heard all these Obama supporters chanting "HOPE" and "CHANGE". So I guess what I'm getting from that, based on people like Whitehouse and Pelosi is "We hoped we could change but nope, we can't".
If their leader Obama wants bipartisanship, what's with the issues from the Democrats and comments like "we won"? If Obama had come out and said "Hey Republicans, stick it, it's my show now", then ok, I can see where the Dems are getting it from. But he didn't. He's doing the opposite. I guess nothing will ever change, despite what we hope for.
Posted by: Patrick at February 8, 2009 9:37 PM"I'd suggest that Republicans pondering a run for national office consider a move to Sen. Whitehouse's district. I've a feeling that, when the political caravan begins to turn, Whitehouse is going to run straight into a ditch."
...U.S. Senators don't have districts...they're elected statewide...but I'm sure you knew that.
Posted by: Mike at February 8, 2009 11:30 PM"Is the senator who offered this so infallible? Does he know so much about other states that he's never even visited that he can impose his views?" Whitehouse asked about Coburn after the Senate adopted his amendment on a 73-to-24 vote."
Impose his views? Isn't that what President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Reid are trying to do with this horrible bill?
I am going to correct our sorry excuse for a senator, and defend one of the truly great senators in this country, Sen. Tom Coburn.
First of all, Sen. Tom Coburn has actually been to Rhode Island (as Andrew can attest, since he interviewed him). He was here in the summer of 2006 to be exact. He was the keynote speaker at the NFRA's Northeast Conservative Conference and Board Meeting which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. He loved his time here, and we loved having him.
How can you "impose" a view, which has just been voted upon? If he was a dictator and ruling by fiat, Wheldon Shitehouse's comments might actually make some sense. The guy has no sense of consistency, and his defense of this craptacular porkulus package shows he has no shame.
Lastly, I have never heard of one senator personally attacking another senator, because of a piece of legislation, especially on the senate floor. It's very unsenatorial, but what would you expect. He should apologize.
Posted by: Will at February 9, 2009 1:19 AMRhody, Linc Chaffee was to the Republican party as Steve Bartman was to the Cubs.
Posted by: jp at February 9, 2009 9:31 AM"U.S. Senators don't have districts"
Sure they do. They're called "states". What is a district? Just an area of people with boundary lines drawn. Sounds like a state.
I believe Carcieri will throw his hat in the ring against Sheldon and cause quite the interesting tussle for '12. The Don is a little long in the tooth, but he could at least get the seat back to the GOP and then get someone ready in his party to keep it in '18, when he may finally be looking to head to Florida for good.
Posted by: Patrick at February 9, 2009 11:32 AMShel's beatable if the GOP runs somebody just a tad more moderate than Carcieri (say, a pro-choice woman).
Posted by: rhody at February 9, 2009 3:06 PMThe Don's, I'll put it politiely, archaic views on social issues may not have been a big factor in his gubernatorial races, but would be in a Senate race.