Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : The Obama - Clinton Disaster -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pompsander who wrote (7484)	2/24/2009 11:45:23 AM
From: longnshort	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 103300

Spending bill stuffed with earmarks David R. Sands and Christina Bellantoni, THE WASHINGTON TIMES Tuesday, February 24, 2009 President Obama on Monday vowed to reel in wasteful Washington spending and blasted deceptive "accounting tricks" used by the Bush administration to fund the Iraq war even as House Democrats released a $410 billion stopgap spending bill studded with thousands of pork-barrel projects. The 1,000-plus-page spending bill provides a fat target for deficit hawks. It includes hundreds of pages of earmarks - pet spending projects inserted by lawmakers, ranging from $185,000 for coral reef research and preservation in Maui County, Hawaii, to $55,000 in meteorological equipment for Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., to $9.9 million for science enhancement at historically black colleges in South Carolina. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, defended the spending blueprint that is needed to fund more than a dozen Cabinet departments for the final seven months of the federal fiscal year. She said the increases were needed to fund programs and policies starved for dollars under President George W. Bush. It is a $30 billion, or 8 percent, increase over comparable budgets for the same departments in fiscal 2008. A spokeswoman for House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, Wisconsin Democrat, said each earmark included in the bill was spelled out and linked to the member who had requested it, a disclosure practice that began when Democrats regained control of the House in 2006. "There aren't nearly as many earmarks in these bills as there were when [the Republicans] were in power, and unlike those days, every earmark is listed, every sponsor identified, and the public has a chance for real accountability," said Kirstin Brost, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obey. At the White House, Mr. Obama, who sharply attacked earmarks on the campaign trail, did not take a stance on the thousands of items included in the bill. "Let me not get ahead of a discussion with him, not having seen or not have had lain on his desk what Congress might ultimately send him," press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. Speaking at a summit called to review the nation's teetering fiscal situation, Mr. Obama offered a stern warning to budgeting of the past and pledged to reinstate pay-as-you-go rules to cut the $1.3 trillion federal deficit in half by the end of his first term. "The pay-go approach is based on a very simple concept. You don't spend what you don't have. So if we want to spend, we'll need to find somewhere else to cut," Mr. Obama told economists, union leaders, policy wonks and lawmakers from both parties.

To: pompsander who wrote (7484)	2/24/2009 2:24:50 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	1 Recommendation Respond to of 103300

In tough economic times, Obama decides not to buy new helicopters By Jimmy Orr \| 02.24.09 features.csmonitor.com Lead by example. That’s how it’s supposed to happen. While the American people are cutting back — not buying that new dishwasher or holding off on upgrading their Roomba or only going to Taco Bell once a week — know this: President Obama is doing the same. He’s decided not to purchase 28 new helicopters. Fiscal responsibility The president announced this penny-pinching move at his “fiscal responsibility” summit yesterday. It seems that updating the fleet of 28 new helicopters (who would have just one?) would cost $11.2 billion. That’s $400 million a piece (an increase of $124 million per helicopter). Spare change when you compare it to the economic stimulus package passed earlier this month, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Obama said he’s asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to conduct a review of the helicopter situation, calling the increased costs “an example of the procurement process gone amok.” McCain How’d the discussion start? Well, first of all, rumors that Obama needs a new helicopter because he damaged the existing one when he hit his head on it are not true. Neither the president nor the helicopter was damaged. (You can see this story here). The guy who wanted Obama’s helicopter brought it up. Senator John McCain. “Your helicopter is now going to cost as much as Air Force One,” McCain told Obama. “Mr. President, we are going to have to make some tough decisions about not only what we procure but how we procure it.” “Well John, I mean this,” Obama replied. “This is going to be one of our highest priorities. By the way, I’ve already talked to Gates about a thorough review of the helicopter situation. …The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me,” he said to laughter. “Of course, I’ve never had a helicopter before….You know? Maybe I’ve been deprived and I didn’t know it.” Upgrades Don’t feel badly for President Obama though. It’s not like he’s flying in the equivalent of a ‘76 Pacer. But it’s easy to see why he might want the new model. Popular Mechanics reports that the new ones have a longer range. With three engines they can travel up to 350 miles compared to the current 100-mile range. The upgraded helicopters have sound- and vibration-reducing systems, missile protection, and seating for 14 passengers. Plus, what would a helicopter be without a kitchen and a bathroom? True, like living in the Stone Age. But for these amenities, Obama’s going to have to wait. But everyone’s gotta cut back.

To: pompsander who wrote (7484)	2/24/2009 2:51:04 PM
From: PROLIFE	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 103300

closet leftists are punks. It just keeps me from calling punks what they really are, p****. punks have no class, punks will agree to the murder of millions of children while being too chicken** to talk about it, yet punks pour over every word said by a state Governor, hoping to find something that they can slobber over all because she happens to be a woman. the poll came from the newyork bankrupt slimes, so what the hell do you expect? I told you once and I will tell you again. Stop hanging around Buffy, you are starting to be too much like him and no one deserves to be that stupid, ok?