Unstimulating

Consider this particular gem from The Times, commenting on the agreement by (cough, hack) "Republicans" to support the megabazillion socialist pork package cobbled together by the radical left under the guise of economic "stimulus":

"Mr. Obama also called the two Republicans (Collins (T-Me) and Specter (B-Pa), as well as Senator Olympia J. Snowe (I) of Maine, another Republican expected to support the agreement, to acknowledge that they were acting against pressure from their party and, one official said, to thank them for their patriotism in helping to advance the bill at a critical time."

Ah. So, now it is "patriotic" to bury our kids under a sea of debt to advance the socialist agenda. It’s "patriotic" to support a massive spending plan which will do precisely zip to assist the economy, but quite a bit to cast unprecedented deficits into stone. As Joe Biden said, it's "patriotic" to pay high taxes. Humpty Dumpty, please call your office.

Why, one wonders, don’t these traitors, boobs, and idiots dispense with the deception and get rid of that (R) after their names? I hope the Bushies, who did so much to ensure that Specter got returned to the Senate, when opposed by a sensible Republican in a primary, are happy with their handiwork. All in the name, then, of Party loyalty and unity. A lot of concern he shows for his Party now, eh? It’s sometimes difficult to determine whether it’s more embarrassing to be a Rangers’ fan or a member of a Party with such inept officeholders. The Democrats make no pretense of having any common sense, so one can excuse their behavior. We purport to be sensible, which is why it hurt so much to see an allegedly Republican Congress run amok, an allegedly Republican President spend like a socialist, and, now, these three clowns actually support the indefensible.

What, pray tell, is the least bit "moderate" about some $800 billion in new spending, on top of $700 billion for the "bailout", a hundred billion more for AIG, and the possibility of another $1 trillion lest Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completely tank? By covering this monstrosity with a veneer of bipartisanship (the real bipartisanship was in the House, where sensible Democrats and every single Republican joined to oppose this horrific proposal) these three folks (and, who knows? Perhaps a few other fools) simply deprive the GOP of the ability to lay the blame for this clunker precisely where it belongs: at the feet of our new President.

The GOP, theoretically, could have blocked this proposal outright, through a filibuster. As horrible as the policy is, they probably should have eschewed this tactic, although it’s a tough call. Instead, they should have given the Dems the one vote they needed for cloture – after cutting the best deal they could to pare it down – then refused to cast a single vote in favor, making it the wholly owned property of the Pelosicrats.

Let them crow about it. Let them run on it. Let them take the blame for its inevitable failure.

Thankful for small blessings. the bill will, at least for the moment, refuse to bail out profligate states like NJ. As The Times notes:

"The biggest cut, roughly $40 billion in aid to states, was likely to spur a fierce fight in negotiations with the House over the final bill. Many states, hit hard by the recession, face wrenching cuts in services and layoffs of public employees as they struggle to comply with laws requiring them to balance their budgets."

Aw, that would be terrible, wouldn’t it? NJ might actually have to reconsider whether it was really a good idea to add 58,000 new folks to the government payroll. If the cut survives, it will force the Democrats here to actually balance the budget without an early Christmas gift. Here’s betting, though, that enough "Republicans" cave to get that particularly odious goodie reinserted into the final product.

Summing up reality:

"We want to stimulate the economy, not mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren by the kind of fiscally profligate spending embodied in this legislation," said Senator John McCain of Arizona, the defeated Republican presidential nominee, who has emerged as a chief opponent of the proposal."

A little late. Where was that determination during the late campaign? But welcome back to the Party (for the time being).

We’re staring down the maw of multi-trillion dollar annual deficits. Obviously, having moved mountains to increase governmental spending and governmental employment, the Dems will not be inclined to cut one solitary verschnagel come budget time (except, of course, from the military). These new spending initiatives will lock in baselines, essentially for all time. (Just TRY to cut Pell grants or unemployment insurance levels back once the needs for "stimulus" evaporates. TRY to eliminate programs to further federalize health care. Ain’t agonna happen. Once people grow accustomed to sponging off their neighbors, they come to feel entitled.)

Why bother electing "Republicans" if, at the end of the day, they act just like socialists, er Democrats? If the people want this sort of idiocy, let them get it by electing True Believers. Let them suffer through negative economic growth, massive tax hikes, inflation, stagnation, and the huge, perpetual unemployment endemic in socialist paradises.

In all likelihood, the economy will rebound somewhat – it always does – and the left, as ever shameless, will take credit for it, despite having absolutely nothing to do with it. (C.f. Bill Clinton) But as we descend further down the road to Euro-socialism, the recovery will prove anemic and temporary. Perhaps not next year or the year after, but unemployment levels will creep up and remain stubbornly high. Inflation will rear its ugly head. Health care, increasingly under federal control, and "free", will be rationed, ala Britain or (say) Oregon (in which expensive life prolonging treatment is denied, but assisted suicide is covered). Taxes will increase markedly, especially on business and "the rich".

But we will all suffer together. No one will be able to escape through dint of talent or drive. So, there will be no gap between rich and poor, because we will ALL be poor. And the left will, finally, be happy, because we will ALL be miserable.