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Letter from Arlen Specter
my email | 2 20 09 | malkee

Posted on 02/20/2009 12:45:53 PM PST by malkee

Dear Friends,

As you know, today the President signed into law the "Americans Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."

The vote on the stimulus package was a very tough vote because of the very large deficit we have and the very large national debt faced by future generations. But the economy is in a desperate situation. Just in the month of January we lost 600,000 jobs, added to the loss of 2.8 million last year. There are millions of people who are having their homes foreclosed. The economists tell us that if we do not act that the current severe recession could well develop into a full-fledged depression like 1929.

The agreement we reached was the best one we could under the circumstances. We were able to cut out $100 billion from the package and include 35% in tax relief in the overall bill. My preference would have been John McCain’s proposal, which I voted for, to have the stimulus package of $421 billion in tax cuts alone. I voted for the Reagan tax cuts back in 1981 and that would be the best course, but in a legislative body you don’t have exactly your own choice.

I was impressed with the position of the United States Chamber of Commerce which was for the bill very solidly. The Chamber of Commerce, obviously, is a very conservative, Republican organization which has its hands on the economy and what’s happening to many, many businesses and they were for it. All factors considered, I thought that action had to be taken.

I voted for it with reservations, as I have commented. One was I didn’t like the speed of the operation. When President Obama came to talk to the Republican Caucus and my turn came for a question I said, ‘Why the haste? Why do you have to move ahead on February 13?’ I reminded him of the bailout package of $700 billion where mistakes were made because the legislature didn’t go through what we call ‘regular order.’ The President responded that there was an emergency and that we had to act. Another factor which concerned me was that there is a good bit in this bill which should be in the regular appropriations process - important healthcare and education projects, but they ought to be in the regular budget where we establish overall spending and then make a determination of priorities.

My vote was cast recognizing the very substantial political peril that I face. I know that there are many on the Republican political spectrum who do not like the vote. I remember, obviously, the tough primary fight I had in the year 2004. But I felt in the final analysis, given the very severe consequences which might befall the country, that my duty was to look out for the public interest and not my own personal political interest.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: arlenspecter; arlensphincter; pork; porkuli; porkulus; rino; specter; sphincter; stimulus
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To: malkee

This guy is an absolute disgrace. I don’t what annoys me more...his utter contempt for the intellignce of so many of us, or his knowing and willful betrayal of the US and the American people.


21 posted on 02/20/2009 1:01:27 PM PST by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: mrmargaritaville

>>“Dear Senator Specter:

F You.

Sincerly;

A constiuent that is tired of bending over and grabbing their ankles”<<

ROTFLMAO

I hope you send that special delivery. This guy is as big a joke as Old Joe, what with his “magic bullet” theory.


22 posted on 02/20/2009 1:04:05 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners.)
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To: malkee

Supporting Spector’s reelection was the 2nd dumbest thing that El Presidente Jorge Bush did......


23 posted on 02/20/2009 1:08:20 PM PST by river rat (Semper Fi - You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: WayneS

Obama and Pelosi are not finished stimulating us yet...


24 posted on 02/20/2009 1:08:38 PM PST by ejonesie22 (Stupidity has an expiration date 1-20-2013 *(Thanks Nana))
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To: malkee

The only thing one needs to know about this slime-ball is that as a young attorney in 1964, when the Warren Commission could not figure a way to show JFK was killed by one gunman....Specter invented the single-bullet theory.

This skunk has lied about the assassination for forty years. Voting for socialism is not his only crime.

Remember....Arlen said....Kennedy was killed by a lone nut assassin who was killed by a lone nut assassin. LBJ and Hoover laughed all the way to the bank.


25 posted on 02/20/2009 1:15:46 PM PST by kjo
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To: malkee
You can use His Highness Arlen Specter's words against him:

I voted for it with reservations, as I have commented.

Sen. Specter, it is with reservation that I will vote for your opponent in the next primary. (You don't have to tell him that the reservations are for dinner.)

But I felt in the final analysis, given the very severe consequences which might befall the country, that my duty was to look out for the public interest and not my own personal political interest.

I also feel that in the final analysis, given the severe consequences which might befall the country, that it is my duty to look out for the public interest and not your own political interest and send my money and my vote to a real Republican.

26 posted on 02/20/2009 1:16:35 PM PST by AreaMan
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To: malkee

its amazing they try to spin this crap, well, we would’ve make a smaller stimulus plan. HOW ABOUT NOT ONE AT ALL!


27 posted on 02/20/2009 1:17:40 PM PST by 09Patriot (I am a MILITANT Conservative, compassionate conservatism got us NOWHERE)
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To: thethirddegree

thanks for seeing Murtha still there.


28 posted on 02/20/2009 1:18:30 PM PST by 09Patriot (I am a MILITANT Conservative, compassionate conservatism got us NOWHERE)
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To: malkee
Chamber of Commerce which was for the bill very solidly. The Chamber of Commerce, obviously, is a very conservative, Republican organization

Not so obvious anymore.

29 posted on 02/20/2009 1:19:55 PM PST by Minn (Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
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To: WayneS
How does that work out when we only have 350 million population, Nazi Pelosi?

Oh I see globally! /sarcasm

30 posted on 02/20/2009 1:20:08 PM PST by OafOfOffice
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To: NTHockey

I would tell him “Nuts” but I figured someone would accuse me of plagurizing Gen. McAuliffe.


31 posted on 02/20/2009 1:21:52 PM PST by mrmargaritaville
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To: malkee

Dear Jerk Specter:

Your vote affects all of us in this country. I hope, with all due respect, that you suffer the way you have now ensured that we will.

I hope you know how many people despise you, you have the gall to call yourself a Republican, but you are nothing but an Obama bootlicker.


32 posted on 02/20/2009 1:23:01 PM PST by Judith Anne
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To: malkee
We were able to cut out $100 billion

He suffers from poor math skills too.

33 posted on 02/20/2009 1:24:10 PM PST by razorback-bert (Will trade sex for ammo)
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To: malkee
Dear Arlen Specter,


34 posted on 02/20/2009 1:25:18 PM PST by musicman (Until I see a REAL C.O.L.B. BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: kjo

he is the same guy that got Ira einhorn off too.


35 posted on 02/20/2009 1:26:21 PM PST by 09Patriot (I am a MILITANT Conservative, compassionate conservatism got us NOWHERE)
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To: malkee
Bite me Arlen. Your time is coming...soon.

FMCDH(BITS)

36 posted on 02/20/2009 1:30:24 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: malkee

The dems have owned Magic Bullet Specter for years thus you can depend on his caving in whenever there is a close vote on anything. The only solution is his involuntary retirement next year.


37 posted on 02/20/2009 1:46:11 PM PST by Bigun ("It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Voltaire)
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To: malkee
The Chamber of Commerce, obviously, is a very conservative, Republican organization which has its hands on the economy and what’s happening to many, many businesses and they were for it.

No, Arlen. The Chamber of Commerce is a Wall Street organization which puts the interest of U.S. citizens and workers well behind their own interests and the interests of padding their pocketbooks. They were one of the leaders in trying to shove illegal alien amnesty upon us with no thought to the costs or even sorting out the bad apples.

You might call them a Republican organization, but they are not conservative, with the exception of some local affiliates who may claim some conservative members just like the NEA can claim some conservative teachers.

38 posted on 02/20/2009 1:49:43 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: malkee
I voted for the Reagan tax cuts back in 1981 and that would be the best course, but in a legislative body you don’t have exactly your own choice.

Invoking Reagan's ghost to cover his own sorry hide...

39 posted on 02/20/2009 1:53:13 PM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin is a smart missile aimed at the heart of the left!)
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To: malkee

I have heard - not recommending - that people are sending Sphincter a bag of pork rinds.


40 posted on 02/20/2009 1:54:20 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (Chevron 7 will not engage!)
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