Republicans delay vote on unemployment extension

A comment from someone out there:

"The Republican Party has chosen the wrong group, and time, to pick a fight over the federal deficit spending. I am a Republican who is in favor of cutting the budget but why did the Senate Republicans choose now, when many of our fellow Americans desperately needs our help.

We see so many former colleagues, neighbors, families who have worked all their lives now scrambling to find a job. These are not lazy folks unfamiliar with hard work; many have never collected unemployment in their life. It sickens me that the Republican members of the Senate, which so freely funnels billions overseas to Israel, Iraq, Egypt, and Afghanistan, speaks of the deficit when it concerns our own citizens. The Republicans in the Senate never seemed concerned with the national debt when they discussed providing bailouts for Wall Street, banks, automotive corporations etc but seem quick to turn their back on American workers.

I received a call yesterday from the RNC asking me for another donation to "take back Congress in November. This time I said no based on their stand against working Americans. I said I couldn’t support the RNC, this time due to the stand taken by the Senate Republicans on this issue. They did not have enough votes for a fair fight on this issue so the Republicans chose to resort to holding the Senate hostage by filibuster. Now I read this morning that the Senate Republicans are going to hold the bill up on procedural issues for 30 hours. I am left to wonder how this act is helping the deficit as the Senate Republicans maintain, or is the real goal to continue a foolish political game at the expense of some of our fellow citizens.

The sad reality is that because of petty politics many American people are made to suffer. The fact that we are dealing with OUR PEOPLE and should stand with them is being lost so the Republicans can dig a bigger hole to point at in November is so disappointing. Working Americans need to tell our elected officials that we need to support Americans here at home who will spend the money here in the United States supporting U.S. businesses and STOP sending money overseas to support governments who kill American service men and woman.

Being patriotic is not just standing up when the National Anthem is played, it means standing with our fellow Americans during tough times as our founding fathers did to create this confederation of states.

God bless America and ALL its people…..

William Edgars, CEO"

[link to voices.washingtonpost.com]

Pull all the other crap out of the bill and it most likely would pass!

"If Republicans want to delay this vote until nine o'clock tonight and play politics on the backs of out-of-work Americans, that's their sad choice," Manley said. "One way or another, Democrats will make sure this safety net reaches the people who need it."

Reid himself also lashed out at Republicans in a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, saying that the decision by the GOP brings "shame" to the Senate.

"But more than that, it hurts the very people we were sent here to help," Reid said. "Why would someone in public service do such a thing? Why would they be so callous? M. President, I simply don't know. I am at a loss."

[link to www.rttnews.com]

Why Republicans are taking 30 more hours
"When you take a vote on cloture -- a vote on whether the Senate can then move to a vote on passage -- there are a few odd rules you have to follow. The first is you have to wait two days between when you file for a cloture vote and take a cloture vote. The second is that the minority can take 30 hours of post-cloture debate. Usually, they don't. What's really the point?

Today, Republicans are. The practical effect of this on the unemployed is that people whose unemployment benefits expired weeks ago will have to wait slightly longer before their benefits resume. If they've got bills due, it means they're reliant on short-term loans at incredibly high interest rates. Given that Republicans say they support unemployment benefits and just oppose increases in the deficit for things that aren't the Bush tax cuts, it's quite a cruel way for them to press their point.

The effect on the Senate is that it eats up time that could be used to do other things, like consider nominations, debate other pieces of legislation, work on the mundane bills that keep the government running, and all the rest of it. This is what Sen. Kent Conrad calls "slow-walking," and it's effective: The more floor time Republicans can chew up in procedural maneuvers like this one, the less time there is for Democrats to actually accomplish things. And the less Democrats can do, the less the American people will think of them."

[link to voices.washingtonpost.com]

After Obama signs the bill it will be another 7-10 days before the checks are sent out.

Where, oh where, were the Republican's when Hillary Clinton went over to Pakistan with the first check for $500 million with a promise of $7.5 Billion of our money?

Where, oh where, were the Republicans crying about "paying for things first", when they sent our men and women over to Afghanistan to build electrical power stations, and protect the Chinese workers who are building that railroad that leads to the next silk road?

I'll tell you where both the Republicans and Democrats were - INVESTING in the stock of those corporations who are building nations with the people's money and lining things up to enrich themselves, while destroying the lives of middle America.

Both parties conniving with their former Washington buddies who are now called "lobbyists", carefully planning and maneuvering their moves to steal from the public while setting themselves up for a big juicy payback!

Barney and Chris set things up for the bankers and Fannie Mae, the same way Phil Graham set things up for Enron!
Remove the safeguards, smash and grab your retirement funds and investments with intent, accomplices to theft in my opinion.

The hell with both of these parties, they are today and always will be lying thieves. We, the people, need no representation from crooks! We need to lock them up where they can no longer hurt innocent, hardworking people.

I am tired of being an economic slave!

Ah, unfortunately very well said!

Because that's they way the game has always been played!

Geesh, and people keep voting for these actors?

The Party of NO says..."No!"

The GOP just wants it PAID for from the money that O hasn't wasted YET lol.. the Dems want to add it to our debt. Which one makes the most sense?

What makes the MOST sense - pass the bill and stop holding Americans hostage.

Include a provision in the bill that allows for discussion of how it will be paid for to immediately follow the passing of the bill. That no other business will be conducted until the means to pay for it has been found.

And finding that money is pretty simple - stop foreign aid just to start. Apologize to the planet and just tell them that as much as we'd really like to help - we're too poor and OUR people need the money right now. Once we're prosperous again, we'll be glad to help as always.

If that's not enough money - time to withdraw all US troops from foreign soil. Sorry planet - you're on your own!!

And so we don't have soldiers sitting idle, we can station them on the Mexican border and protect our land from the invasion. This will free up some border security people to hunt down the illegals and bus them out of the country. Which will free up millions of jobs - and now Americans can get back to work and rebuilding our economy to what it once was.

There! How much more simple could the answer be? All the politicians need to do is start putting America and her people FIRST.

if the US Government would stop all foreign aid $$$$$$$ going to africa,israel, brazil,kenya, etc there would be plenty to pay for the unemployment extension and have $$$$ left over.

just stop all welfare/housing/food stamps/free medical to illegal immigrants and you would have 25% of it ..

Last Edited by Nailer45 on 07/21/2010 01:50 PM

Yeah,

why can't we take care of our own and let those countries take care of themselves.

[link to www.usaid.gov]

Time to worry about AID to OUR PEOPLE!

Anyone ever heard of Pay Go??

OOPS, forgot this too...

USAID/PAKISTAN ECONOMIC GROWTH NEWS RELEASES

2010

* Pakistani Style Dazzles International Buyers In U.S.-Sponsored Exhibition
June 26, 2010
* U.S. Assists Pakistani Women Entrepreneurs
April 9, 2010
* U.S. Provides Rs. 7.2 Billion for Low-Income Families
March 4, 2010
* U.S., IBA Launch Center for Entrepreneurial Development
February 23, 2010
* U.S. Relief for Bolton Market Traders
February 16, 2010
* U.S. Provides $16.5 Million To Upgrade Power Plant
January 13, 2010
[link to www.usaid.gov]

Ever hear of taking care of your own backyard first?

sorry OP but ragging about the 'party line' is irrelevant.

as Republicans/Conservatists, aren't they suppose to be acting like that? Trying to CONSERVE funds, especially when there aren't any left to really spend?

I mean, isn't that their JOB to nit-pick over those details?

And thus why liberals/Democrats are called "liberal". Aren't they suppose to have a more laid back approach even if it means being irresponsible?

I mean, Let's just call it like it is, m'kay.

What you should focus on is that BOTH parties tout the same line and work for the same people (illuminati), so all this blame on the "republicans" for Americans not getting their welfare 2.0 is bull****.

We all know there is no difference between either party but looks like all those who voted OBUMMER (when they should've at least voted Ron Paul or not at all) want to blame someone for why everything is so effed up. Anyone but THEMSELVES.

It's a game the Democraps are playing because they sweat losing big time this November. They will do anything to make the Repubs look bad, and morons like you fall for it line, hook, and sinker. This is a trap the Democraps are baiting to get fools like you, who know nothing, fall for their tactics. Wait 'till the health care fiasco kicks in and you will be forced to buy health insurance whether you want it or not or face a fine and jail. Wait 'till you wear those moccasins. Then you'll be crying a different tune.

Dick Cheney said "deficits don't matter" -- and the W administration practiced that. Don't you think all this anti-debt bullshit is rather transparent?

What the hell do you think Pay Go does? It is supposed to save our kids from the debt we keep piling on them.. dumbass

But we can't think any less of them. I'm maxed out.

I'm all for helping out when you need a hand but FFS, 2+ years of UI? This is welfare.

Also this whole statement is coming from Harry Reid's spokesman? Oh god. You've got dems in the senate that aren't on board for this.

There's still 300bil in the bail out prog, why not use that?

Whomever cares about USA workers should vote to end all outsourcing and put on Tariffs on all imports NOW
See how fast the Unemployment problem will be solved!!

Because that's the demoncraps' campaign slush fund and they know they're gonna need that before November.

It is the re-classification of welfare for budgeting purposes.debate..Anyone who has been out of work for 99 weeks will face grave adversity in trying to get employment...

Do not take nothing for granted..Eventually after these extensions people will drop of the dole..Welfare?

Well in Michigan if I understand correctly you need to either get schooling or be applying for employment to receive welfare..and it is NOT a lifetime option..

Then what Section 8 - hard core unemployed - but you see states are already overburdened with social issues and budget shortfalls...

Then what? I was really taken aback a couple years ago when I met a carpenter who made stools and chairs etc..and could not sell his work (which was quite expectional - that means QUALITY) and was reduced to selling packaged socks on the cheap at out local flea market...

The repukes don't get campaign donations from the unemployed so the unemployed need to be exterminated.