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Specter: Stimulus deal 'best we can do'
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | February 7, 2009 | Thomas Fitzgerald

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: economy; porkulus; rino; specter; specterthedefector
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To: Zakeet
He just wants his fair share o' da pork.
"Pork" is NOT a verb.


81 posted on 02/07/2009 6:54:04 AM PST by SparkyBass
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To: Zakeet

ok - so who is running against Specter, and where do we send the money?

Ditto for Lieberman - he is SO off my nice guy list.


82 posted on 02/07/2009 6:54:23 AM PST by Scotswife (GO ISRAEL!!!)
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To: bray
bray wrote: You may as well retire now Arlen, since they are going to bury you in your election. Time to start a Rebel Republican movement.

They won't get rid of Arlen until he dies, he has been doing this type of thing all his career. I would love to see it happen, but PA is very Democrat. Those of us who are conservative (at least in the Eastern counties) are scorned.

83 posted on 02/07/2009 7:03:57 AM PST by Old_Grouch (61 and AARP-free)
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To: Zakeet

We need to get in touch with republcan senate leadership and tell them that if Specter, Collins and Snow don’t lose their seats on ALL committees we won’t be supporting republicans at all in the future. If leadership can’t get a handle on these “mavericks” then they aren’t leaders.


84 posted on 02/07/2009 7:07:18 AM PST by McGavin999
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To: Zakeet

In this case, better NOT to “do” than to “do” what is proposed.

Thanks a lot you idiot RINO for mortgaging the future of my children and grandchildren.


85 posted on 02/07/2009 7:52:29 AM PST by RatRipper
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To: raybbr

“Not this time. :(”

No kidding. I guess I was hoping for a miracle, and should not be surpriesd when it didn’t materialize.


86 posted on 02/07/2009 8:03:15 AM PST by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Zakeet
Kennedy's drinking friend should have left many years ago.
87 posted on 02/07/2009 8:06:03 AM PST by org.whodat (Conservatives don't vote for Bailouts for Super-Rich Bankers! Republicans do!)
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To: SECURE AMERICA

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.”

Funny Lieberman’s bestest buddy in the world McCain is POd
about this Porkulus bill, seems like you are putting old
party interest ahead of the country Joe.


88 posted on 02/07/2009 8:18:02 AM PST by edge10 (Obama lied, babies died!)
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To: Zakeet

Best we can do? Typical Rino view. All too often doing nothing is the best you SHOULD do.


89 posted on 02/07/2009 8:23:38 AM PST by yazoo
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To: edge10
Lieberman, in a news conference...

Good thing many Freepers, Hannity and other whores like him pumped that joke up a few years ago when he was running as an independent. Why didn't we try to pick up that seat? How many people deluded themselves with false HOPE that he'd change parties. With whom does he caucus?

The stupid party, indeed. You get the government you deserve.

90 posted on 02/07/2009 8:32:30 AM PST by MichiganConservative (You are a slave. The government is your owner and master. For many slaves, it is also their god.)
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To: Joe Boucher

He is NO conservative a poser is more apt.

I disagree. We all knew exactly what he was. A compassionate conservative, who loved the country. His big problem was the lack of reciprocity. The morally bankrupt dems took full and delightful advantage, of someone who only sought the best for the country.

Lesson learned. Not regarding President Bush, but the honorless democrat SOB’s that inhabit government and the country at the expense of the rest of us. The expense we are just seeing the tip of as we speak, the rest is yet to come.

I happen to believe that if not sooner, certainly in the hereafter, George W. Bush will be exonerated fully and the party of deciept and their willing accomplices will pay dearly for their treachery. I hope sooner rather than later.


91 posted on 02/07/2009 8:34:33 AM PST by wita
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To: wita; Joe Boucher

someone who only sought the best for the country AS HE SAW IT.

Not a conservative in the true sense, but I believe his motives were pure, unlike the power crazed dems where the ends justify the means and the country be damned.


92 posted on 02/07/2009 8:48:11 AM PST by wita
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To: Zakeet
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."

No, Arlen, sometimes the best thing to do is NOTHING, so more thought can be put into the best solution. The citizens of this country will not punish those who don't rush into 'solutions' that are nothing of the sort.

93 posted on 02/07/2009 9:08:33 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: Zakeet
So the "best we can do" is take the excesses of a greedy selfish generation and dump all of the suffering on our kids and grand kids...now that's what I call responsible government.

The Republic is lost...at the very least it's lost it's mind...if not it's soul.

94 posted on 02/07/2009 9:08:41 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo (I hear the words of Jefferson louder and louder as each day passes)
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To: 2001convSVT
Tomey had a real chance to beat this guy in the Republican primary, but he was through under the bus, just for party unity.

Then Toomey ought to try again, since President Bush isn't running the party any more. I can't think of a better time.

95 posted on 02/07/2009 9:10:34 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: wita

President Bush allowed Ted Kennedy to write the education bill. NEVER vetoed a spending bill. And as I see it didn’t do too much to halt any abortions.
Conservative an he should not be uttered together.


96 posted on 02/07/2009 12:24:09 PM PST by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: MichiganConservative

NO MORE PORKULUS!!!!

97 posted on 02/07/2009 12:29:24 PM PST by Colonial Warrior (Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.)
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