Posted on 02/07/2009 4:29:41 AM PST by Zakeet
A small group of moderate senators including Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) reached the deal that appeared to assure Senate passage of an economic stimulus bill yesterday after more than 10 hours of near-constant private meetings.
Specter was in the middle of the action, with many critical talks occurring in his private "hideaway" office on the first floor of the Capitol.
Nobody involved was really happy, but there was a consensus that the group did not want to say no to the president or an anxious nation.
"Personally, I would prefer not to be on the edge of the pin, as so frequently is the case in this body," Specter said in a floor speech last night. "But I do believe we have to act, and under the circumstances, this is the best we can do."
In announcing that a tentative deal had been reached, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) credited Specter and Sens. Susan Collins (R., Maine), Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) and Joe Lieberman (I., Conn.) with saving the package.
"But for them we would not be here," Reid said, yielding the floor to the Gang of Four to detail the agreement.
Specter said that based on the calls his office had received, supporting the stimulus legislation is a "very unpopular vote." Some calls, he said, thought the bill had "too many expenditures" and others said not enough money was being spent.
Indeed, some conservative Republicans have vowed to punish Specter, who is running for reelection next year, if he votes for legislation that they consider wasteful.
Lieberman, in a news conference, said Specter and Collins "really deserve the medal of honor for what they've done here tonight. They've put national interest ahead of party interest."
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
“For want of a horseshoe nail the kingdom was lost.”
We could have saved the USA from BO’s Socialism had George Bush and the lemmings in PA not rescued that worthless weasel, Specter, when Toomey had a good shot at defeating him. Elections have consequences. George Bush’s legacy turned a bit rancid last night.
And shame of Joe Lieberman to!!!!!
If the is the best that he can do. It is time for him to LEAVE.
” “But for them we would not be here,” Reid said, yielding the floor to the Gang of Four to detail the agreement. “
And therein lies the rub. Had these two or three RINO jerks not caved, this travesty could have been slowed or stopped.
At minimum, they should switch their party affiliation to the DhimmiRats.
Ridiculous. Sad, but ridiculous.
Pennsylvania must get rid of them both.
It's been turning rancid for months.
43 protected us from Islamists then served us up on a platter to Congress.
Who the heck needs al Qaeda!?
PA's got the same problem NYS does: The major metro areas. Our red bits, of which there are still many, should secede from our respective states to form a new one. And leave the metro areas to fend for themselves.
If Specter thinks the stimulus is the best they can do, he is obviously too stupid to be in the Senate. This is just another massive dose of the poison that is killing us.
Sorry, the bill as it stood last night when the RINOs signed on was 827 billion. That is more that the House bill that got not a single R vote, and 11 D no votes.
The RATS also plan on passing another bank porkulus, and a housing porkulus, in the next couple weeks.
The next round is expected to add another 400 billion or so!
America, being 'sold down the river' by these poor excuses for Leadership, cannot stand!
“Moderates” ALWAYS put their own egos before the country, consistently and firmly projecting themselves as “heroes” whenever good compromises with evil.
Makes you almost wish that Chrissy Mathews had run against him and thrashed him just because of this kind of behavior.
Bush is/was Rino SCUM as well. Why does anyone even continue to think he was conservative in any way?
He destroyed the GOP, on purpose.
Indeed, some conservative Republicans have vowed to punish Specter, who is running for reelection next year!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That would be ME!
Not sure Bush destroyed the GOP but he sure didn’t do it any favors with his, “compassionate conservatism” b.s.
He is NO conservative a poser is more apt.
All he had to do was say “no.”
There was no pressure...what did he think Obama and the Democrats were going to do? Drop the bill completely? Pass it anyway?
Throw fits?
It makes no sense.
So, we must assume he supported the bill. Period. With every bit of Socialist Pork it contains.
Moderates are nothing but Enablers.
Let’s see if Hannity stands by his promise to support anyone who runs against Specter if he votes for this.
“Kennedy is expected to return, so currently, they only need 2”
I will not attempt to judge Sen. Kennedy’s soul, but I will say this. He professes to being Catholic, if anyone should be reflecting upon their mortality, it is he and if he is to seek atonement for his worldly acts .... well he doesn’t have much time. I pray for his peace and if it is required, his redemption.
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