Republicans maintained remarkable solidarity in their vote against Obama’s stimulus bill in the Congress. Coming so soon after the statement by Rush Limbaugh that he hopes Obama fails in his program for the country, one wonders if the Republican congress people have the same feeling and are trying to make their hopes come true.
From my perspective, it is hard to tell if the Republicans really are so hateful of our new president that they’re willing to place the nation in danger, or if they have honestly returned to their conservative roots. Confusing the situation was the action by Republican Senator Judd Gregg, who had been appointed by Obama as Secretary of Commerce. Even though he gladly accepted the position, just a few days later he decided that his economic philosophy was incompatible with that of the President. He certainly knew that before he accepted the position in the first place. Was his sudden reversal because of economic philosophy? Or was he instructed by the Republican hierarchy that his future with the party was in jeopardy if he cooperated with the Democratic President? We will never know I am sure, but it appears that radio commentator Rush Limbaugh has far more influence in the Republican Party than I once thought.
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Please. There are plenty of reasons to oppose the stimulus bill that have nothing to do with being "hateful" of our new president. That's as bad as saying that the 9/11 terrorists did what they did because "they hate freedom". Some of us have taken Bastiat's classic essay on "what is seen and what is not seen" to heart. I highly recommend reading it.
From what I've read, Obama says this $787 billion dollar bill will "create or save 3.5 million jobs". That's about $225,000 per job. This is supposed to be a good deal? Bear in mind, the money that the government spends doesn't descend upon us like manna from heaven. The government doesn't give us more money with the right hand than it takes with the left. Indeed, a moment's reflection might lead you to conclude that the opposite is all too true.
For me, one of the real benefits of the end of the Bush presidency is that some of the republicans are rediscovering their principles. Just a few weeks ago, Bush backed the bailout bill, so the republicans were falling all over themselves to back it. He was also pushing the stimulus package heavily. Bush was an unmitigated disaster for those of us who favor smaller government, and doubly so for those of us who also oppose the war. Now at least the republicans are rediscovering their role as advocates of smaller government.
As for Rush Limbaugh, I see him as more of a symptom than a cause. He doesn't form the opinions of his listeners so much as he rallies them. There's very deep sentiment against all this bailout/stimulus crap, and if the democrats keep pushing that stuff, they may end up regretting it sooner than they think.
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