Time for another open thread.  That old one was getting longer and longer. 

Get ready for the bruhaha thats about to start.  The Republicans are coming, the Republicans are coming!  There are a lot of newcomers who are going to soon realize it isn’t quite as easy as it looks. 

So, will there be amazing legislation or will we go back to gridlock?

104 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………..Wed. 1/5/11”

  1. Starry, where on earth have you been? Elena and I were just remarking on your absence. Welcome back.

  2. Starryflights

    I’ve been all over the globe. Good to be home, thanks for the welcome.

  3. Cindy B

    Distinguished 4-H Alumni include:

    Astronauts Alan Shepard and Ellison Onizuka, Author John Updike, TV personalities Johnny Carson, Nancy Grace and Steve Doocey, Garfield Comic Creator Jim Davis.

    Better Homes & Gardens Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karol Nickell, Union Pacific Railroad President Ed Bailey, Phillips Petroleum CEO Glenn Cox, PetSmart CEO Philip Francis, Singers Faith Hill and Dolly Parton, NFL Players Reggie White and Hershel Walker.

    Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust, Drexel University President William Gaither and University of Kentucky President Art Gallaher were all in 4H when they lived in Virginia.

    Vice Presidents Walter Mondale and Al Gore, Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles, US Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis.

  4. Raymond Beverage

    IN THE BEGINNING – there was Monopoly Money!

    And now Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you – Marshall Money!!!

    http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/jan/05/prince-williams-bob-marshall-wants-state-study-mon-ar-755658/

  5. marinm

    I’m curious to know what rate of return the Bank of Virginia would be able to offer?

  6. Raymond and Marin, see new post. This guy never stops, does he?

  7. It seems that someone is whining about how they was treated on this blog elsewhere, on another blog. boo hoo.

    I find it really amusing that the ‘whine site’ is where people are calling long time posters on their ‘home’ blog an idiot. Another is making fun of someone’s attire. Someone else is mocking another’s religion. The blog owner is name calling someone who just wanted to voice her opinion to her elected officials.

    Kinder and gentler for sure. NOT.

  8. Cindy, is the gang summit meeting for city residents or is it for the community in general?

  9. Big Dog

    Apologize for answering for Cindy, but while the gang summit meeting may
    focus on recent incidents in the Manassas area, everyone is invited to attend.

  10. Thanks Big Dog. That issue could just as easily hop the city/county line. Unfortunately, things like that never seem to remain contained.

  11. Lafayette

    Thanks, Big Dog. I especially appreciate the use of “Manassas area”. 🙂

  12. Raymond Beverage

    It’s impossible to say with 100 percent certainty whether the patient would have died anyway, Gellerman said, “but we do know that his condition has gotten more severe since he was taken off the list.”

    Nothing like a “Talking Head” for a hospital…the person had Hepatitis C, and even if given a transplant, that is the one version of the five kinds of Hep where it comes back because it can hide in the kidneys, and even within blood cells’ DNA. Nasty little bug it be!

    Unfortunately, this one makes news because of the Affordable Care Act and funding of Medicaid & Medicare. This is not the first time any of the Regional Donor Consortiums have made this kind of decision.

  13. Morris Davis

    Looks like those “death panels” we heard so much about have come to pass … courtesy of TP darling Jan Brewer. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/News/arizona-transplant-deaths/story?id=12559369

  14. Morris Davis

    Weeper Boehner said the repeal of Obamacare is the Republican’s top priority in order to preserve “the best health care system in the world.” According to the World Health Organization, while the U.S. ranks #1 in spending on health care we rank #37 in health care delivery http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/ and according to the CIA we rank #49 in terms of life expectancy. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html I wish the Republicans would stop talking about the best health care system in the world and focus on America’s health care system instead.

  15. Yep. Its amazing how budget cuts in a government program will cause rationing. Oh, wait…..someone mentioned that might happen?

  16. Donor programs often involve rationing.

  17. Morris Davis

    Pete Sessions (R-TX) made to the party at the W Hotel Tuesday night where lobbyists and special interests paid $50,000 for VIP tickets (a mere $2,500 for ordinary working folks) to mix and mingle with their newly elected public servants, but then he (and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA)) missed the swearing in ceremony Wednesday on the House floor. I’d say keep the change, but it looks like business as usual. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/136501-gop-lawmakers-cast-house-votes-despite-missing-swearing-in

    1. @Moe, It just had to be one of them bad ice cubes. You gotta watch those lobbyists and special interest folks.

  18. Starryflights

    I cannot believe that the republicans selected Boehnor as the front man for fitting government spending. He is an earmark machine and a recipient of corporate America.

  19. Wolverine

    Sour grapes.

  20. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    @Starryflights
    I realize facts mean nothing to liberals, but Boehner has never taken an earmark.

  21. @slow–never ever taken an earmark? What are you calling an earmark?

  22. Amazing! The GOP has been in in control of the House for less than 48 hours and already the unemployment rate has dropped to 9.4%! 😉

  23. @Cargo, the stock market hasn’t celebrated yet. I am just waiting.

  24. All kidding aside, a lot of that “good news” is that many have just stopped filing claims or stopped looking for work. I’m one of those invisibles.

  25. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Moon-howler :
    @slow–never ever taken an earmark? What are you calling an earmark?

    Well I suppose it depends on what the definition of the word “is” is!

    1. @Smartass,

      Would you consider new roads in northern virginia an earmark at the federal level?

      How about expanding the Bay Bridge or building a tunnel to Cape May? Earmarks?

  26. Reps Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Pete Sessions (R-Tx) were off at receptions and missed the house swearing in ceremonies. Then they went and voted. Rep Boehner fixed the problem, after the votes were taken.

    So, what if these two congressmen had D after their names. Oh the moaning and howling and gnashing of teeth. Actually, it was pretty irresponsible considering all the hoopla made about yesterday.

    They probably didn’t really miss a thing. I am rather forgiving about such things though.

  27. marinm

    They screwed up and should’ve been kicked in the apples. No quarter regardless of -R, -D, -I, -L, -TP label.

    Oathgate. *sigh*

  28. Just had a thought. All of those Congressmen that got bribed to vote FOR HCR can now vote against it like they originally wanted to AND they get to keep the bribes…..

    From http://thevimh.blogspot.com/2011/01/marginalizing-obamacare.html

    In 2010, the Democrats passed ObamaCare by a 7 vote margin. In 2011, the Republicans passed the bill to repeal ObamaCare with a 55 vote margin.

    In each case, one side of the vote was bi-partisan. In both cases, the bi-partisan vote was against ObamaCare.

  29. Pat.Herve

    the did not pass the Repeal HCR bill – they voted on the rules for debate on the Repeal HCR, and set the stage for a vote next week. I just wish they were not doing this just for posterity and grandstanding, but they should actually be putting something forward for the replace part – repealing the law, without offering a SOLUTION is not prudent.

    re the two Congressmen that did not show up on day 1 to be sworn in – too bad they are not going to be recalled – I mean, to miss the first day after being elected to this position is an insult to the institution, and to the American people. Where is Hannity on this one.

  30. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Moon-howler :
    @Smartass,
    Would you consider new roads in northern virginia an earmark at the federal level?
    How about expanding the Bay Bridge or building a tunnel to Cape May? Earmarks?

    We were talking about Boehner. I know redirection is a favorite lib tactic. Now, there is no question what an earmark is, there’s a procedure to go about getting them. Maybe the projects you state were earmarks. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were. My point was about the original “Boehner is an earmark machine” comment, which was, like everything from that source, completely devoid of any sense of reality.

  31. Juturna

    “I know redirection is a favorite lib tactic.”

    You just can’t make this stuff up. I love this blog.

  32. Pat.Herve

    Boehner has claimed that he never has asked for an earmark – I believe him.

  33. Juturna

    Virginia 2008-2010 – $4,724,647,210
    Ohio 2008 – 2010 – $1,744,091,301

    Easy to believe.

  34. Juturna

    Marine Corp # 1 recipient of earmarks…., US Army, Air Force – these are the big recipients so what’s going on? Why does our military rely on earmarks? Maybe this isn’t an easy absolute – being for or against. Looks like a workaround to me. Neither party has a corner on most or least. Don’t tell me this is a complicated issue?

    Golly I’ve really been a big fan of McNews and oversimplification of issues that is ALL the rage now… we just might have to think and throw out some assumptions.

  35. @Slowpoke Rodriguez

    huh? Is there any proof that Boehner has never taken an earmark? Not sure what you just said to me. What sense of reality? I simply want a definition of earmark and verification that st. boner never took an earmark.

    Amended: Ok, I see he hasn’t taken an earmark and it is in a place I can believe. However, I am not sure that is always a good thing. The jury is out. Obviously the appropriations method often fails.

    I am not going to put a star in the saint’s crown yet. He is still in the honeymoon phase of his life with me. ewwwww..I wish I hadn’t said that. ewwwwwwww

  36. BS in VA

    “St. Boner” ? I blush.

  37. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    Bit slow on the uptake?

  38. Juturna

    MH – check out the link I posted. Shows Boehner at zero.

  39. Spelling has never been my forte.

    Good research Juturna.

    So are all earmarks bad? How else could we have pulled in 3 million to fight gangs.

  40. Appropriations should be a bill. If you want money, put in a bill. Don’t just attach an earmark to another bill. Yes, I’m simplifying it. Earmarks are an end run around the idea of going through all the motions of writing an appropriations bill for money.

    As for the military getting earmarks, hey, that’s the way tis been played in DC and the services all have needs and pet Congressmen. However, many of those earmarks are Congress driven, keeping money in their districts.

    Then there is outright padding, like the second unwanted engine for the F-35. Cantor was instrumental in keeping that one alive. If he keeps that up, the Tea Party is going to primary him. Just watch.

  41. Please take a moment to say a prayer. I received word that Army Spc. Christian Romig, a nephew of one of my sisters-in-law, was killed this week in Afghanistan. His vehicle was destroyed by an IED.

    I did not know him, but, I know his mother, though we have not seen each other in years.

    God Speed.

  42. Juturna

    Absolutely

  43. Juturna

    Nothing simple about appropriations very simple to say all bad or all Democrat/Republican fault. It’s one thing to not sponsor an earmark it’s another to vote for the bill that it is attached to. Nothing stopping folks from doing that and those are the records to look at. Sponsoring it is one thing approving it another.

    That’s a lot of money for the Marine Corps outside the regular appropriations process particularly as most of it is for captial projects. So what are they doing for ongoing operational costs? So when costing of services is completed I wonder if earmarks are included in the totals or if costs are grossly understated.

  44. @Cargo, absolutely. Condolances to the family.

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