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 ...
I started a bit before '06, I saw a trend developing and started writing Congresscriminals but I did a lot of good didn't I! Man, at least there's a lot of FReepers of like mind...
:o]
“best we can do” is have you removed from office
I’m truly ashamed that this man is my Senator. The arrogance and ignorance of this man defies words. And no, I didn’t vote for him in the primary or in the general.
He is a traitorous dog!
These past two “stimulus” packages are just the beginning of Obama & Pelosi’s socialist experiment and “stimulus” packages. (By the way, does ANYBODY know where the first one they passed back in the fall went to?) We aren’t likely to know where this one is going either. Too big of a hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. - or else Obama will get angry and bawl you out.
He is truly a piece of pond scum and we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
The Bush legacy lives on.
Did they only get two “Republicans”?
Don’t let the opposition and criticism of this bill die because it passed. That’s what they’re banking on, that’s why they’re in such a hurry, to quiet the revolution. Follow every piece, how it’s being spent, who it’s paying back.
If they say it was bipartisan, agree. There were TWO guilty Republicans, THREE HUNDRED GUILTY DEMOCRATS AND A GUILTY PRESIDENT who shoved this down our throats!!
But party shouldn’t tear us apart on a bill as important as this.
Make that THREE HUNDRED AND TWO GUILTY TRAITORS AND A GUILTY PRESIDENT who shoved this down our throats!!
It has nothing to do with what’s good for the Country. It has to do with Specter’s political calculation, and the direction PA has moved.
Problem with his plan to be reelected, this is the type of issue which will get him beat in the primary.
So far we have Specter, Collins and Snowe in the Yay column, right? They dont call them RHINOs for nothing. Anyone care to guess how much stimulus pork will be going to their respective districts??? We can only hope thier colleagues in the GOP and their own constituents pressure them enough to vote no prior to the vote next week.
We'll see.
If that’s you best, you need to quit to let someone capable do the job.
The Republican voters in those states better start gearing up for primary challenges so we can replace these RINOs. It should not be very hard to unseat this handful as they were the ones who take credit for helping the Democrats pass Porkulus.
Reid has it right. Once the democrats get a couple of republicans to vote for this bill, history will not remember or care how many republicans voted for it. It will give the democrats the cover they need and it won’t be called a democract bill. Those three RINOs just killed the GOP.
You may as well retire now Arlen, since they are going to bury you in your election. Time to start a Rebel Republican movement.
Pray for America, Our Troops and obama’s Salvation
I will send no money to Republican Party organizations as long as people like Specter can make a claim to that money.
I hope PA gets rid of him in the next primary
we need to get rid of this RINO in the 2010 primary
Lets see if Hannity stands by his promise to support anyone who runs against Specter if he votes for this.
***I remember a few years back hearing Hannity offer to help Lieberman campaign. Couldn’t believe it! Joe might be tough on WOT but that’s it. And some conservatives wanted him to become a Republican! Was sick to see him campaign with McCain. Everything is upside down and inside out. My brain functions on right and wrong and the few brain cells I have left say this bailout is wrong.***
He is a total piece of sh**.
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