While the House of Representatives have been locked in a wrestling match with the White House for weeks over the budget, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., KY) has been quietly forging a deal that would re-open the federal government – largely on the terms of the Democratic members. This morning, however, various sites are reporting on an added item to the deal: a $3 billion earmark for Kentucky. They are calling it the ‘Kentucky Kickback” and objecting to how these deals reflect the resumption of “business as usual” in terms of spending.
The money is for the massive Olmsted Dam Lock in Paducah, Ky., which is massively over-budget. The earmark would increase the appropriations for the dam from $775 million to nearly $2.9 billion.
It is worth noting that (while the over-runs should be investigated for breathtakingly poor management and dubious contracting practices by the Corps of Engineers) the dam itself is viewed as important to commerce along the Ohio river. There are also obviously good reasons to end the shutdown regardless any greasing of the skids by the White House with McConnell. However, the timing is being criticized as another example of how national emergencies are used by members to raid the treasury.
As cover, McConnell is sending reporters to Democratic members like Dianne Feinstein and saying it was their idea. In the end, it is not just the timing but the failure of the Congress to engage in meaningful oversight on the costs of such projects that is so disturbing. Once again, it would seem that the Corps either radically underestimated a project (showing utter incompetence) or failed to control the charges and over-runs of contractors (showing utter incompetence). Yet, everyone was saved by the shutdown. The money will follow to Kentucky like the endless roaring Ohio.
I am personally delighted that the issue was resolves, temporarily at least, with politics-as-usual. Pork has been the focus of every bill ever passed no matter what the name or subject of it, it’s the ‘politics’ in politics. We elect our representatives to go to Washington to get our state some pork. “Bringing home the bacon” is more than just a saying, it’s the job description. The noble pig should be our national freaking symbol. Helloooo, this was the first normal exchange to come out of this entire battle and I have no doubt a willful object lesson for the radicals in the House and the Ted Cruz faction in the Senate.
Here’s what the crazies in the House/Ted Cruz wanted. Contrast that with what they got:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/rachel-maddow-shutdown-republican-chart_n_4114662.html
Did the Chessman have gang signs?
“My black friends are pretty disappointed in Obama for the most part. They laugh @ this knee jerk racist shit. As I’ve said previously, one has a dark side and plays white guilter knee jerks like a cheap guitar. He goes too far sometimes and it ceases to be funny. He would have some folks here to the point they wouldn’t know whether to shit or go blind.”
You do have a talent for fiction though Nick, or does your wife write your stuff.
The most uninteresting man in the world, doesn’t often drink beer but when he does, who cares?
On every continent in the world, there is a sandwich named after him.
Said the dancing mosquito.
Bron, My black friends are pretty disappointed in Obama for the most part. They laugh @ this knee jerk racist shit. As I’ve said previously, one has a dark side and plays white guilter knee jerks like a cheap guitar. He goes too far sometimes and it ceases to be funny. He would have some folks here to the point they wouldn’t know whether to shit or go blind. I have to admit I would love to see it. And, getting back to “prick”..oh this dude can be a royal prick asshat. OMG, am I a racist???
Mosquitoes refuse to bite him purely out of respect.
I call people on knee jerk racism and I’m the prick, not the accuser? Well, if that’s a “prick” in Julietville then put me down for prick every time someone makes a scurrilous accusation. I don’t abide horseshit, you should have realized that by now. I will call someone on racism, homophobia, sexism, etc. I have here and elsewhere. And I’m tough, or a “prick,” w/ them as well. People throw around “isms” here so much they are quickly becoming meaningless and a joke. “Obummer” is not racist. I need more than “Obummer” to make that accusation. Apparently you don’t. C’est la vie.
“And I’m tough”
Those that are never have to say the words. Those that are insecure bullies repeat it endlessly hoping someone, somewhere, will believe them. How many feuds have you started in just these past two weeks? And yet you you to make people believe you are the victim. Well, you are a victim……of your own nasty self. I haven’t addressed you in two weeks Nick, I’ve ignored you, yet you keep attacking me and pretend innocence and moral rectitude. Yet you never laid a glove on me despite your faux heroism. I know you’re insecure about your education, but that isn’t the measure of intelligence. Logic is and you ain’t got it. You’re here and you ought to stop whining about how badly you’ve been treated. It doesn’t fly and it just makes you seem pathetic.
nick:
dont you have some black friends who are libertarians? I imagine they dont like the presidents policies very much either.
Why are you being such a prick?
I must be an anti-Semite because I don’t like you. How in the hell can someone simply calling our prez “Obummer” be racist? For many people, particularly black people, this prez has been a bummer. There’s not a racist or racial side to ” bummer” in any manner. Being a former wheel man for the notorious Chessman, and Ken Kesey hippie, you know bummer is a 60’s word w/ nothing to do w/ race. Supposedly smart people have never learned the very simple yet important “The Boy who cried Wolf” parable.
Actually Professor Turley, I think a more apt operative word than “incompetence” would be “corruption.” The wheels of D.C. are greased by money, lots and lots of money, OUR money. Until we get Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV), money will rule the day. And I’m betting the two BIG MONEY parties would NEVER agree to IRV.
(See Wikipedia for a good explanation of IRV.)
Bruce:
yeah, provide a source for that information.
will you include the % increase in food stamp and welfare recipients and the decline in personal wealth as well.
Those numbers are p*ss poor too.
In this situation it is dam if you do and damned if you don’t.
Mitch McConnell is a spineless coward and should be removed from office. And that is without reading the article.
Blouise, I’ll give you Byrd and raise you Ted Stevens. Byrd had longevity on Stevens, but he had nothing on Stevens year to year.
The racist card played on the first trick, not held for an opportune time, or a righteous time. OS just played the racist card right out of the shoot! BAMMO! This is why young people, who see adults being like OS, have made “That’s racist” a joke phrase. And that’s because of horseshit like this.
“And that’s because of horseshit like this.”
It’s rare to find a commenter who comments negatively on his own comment. Bravo Nick, you’re finally acquiring self awareness.
Nobody beats the pork Byrd was able to bring home to West Virginia for years … and years … and years …
And years
Juliet,
About the President’s name. That is just more of the racism that David insists is not the motivation for Republican operatives. Even when floating the meme of him being a Kenyan and Photoshopping pictures like this one:
http://retired.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/obama-witchdoctor-muck.jpg