stimulus

Have you ever argued politics with a conservative counterpart and felt as if you were speaking two different languages? Well, you were. In order to bridge the divide, we have developed some definitions in the hopes of making things a bit easier.
con-serv-a-tive [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] -noun: A liberal who has not yet figured out how to think for himself/herself.

Here’s some more evidence of Sarah Palin’s “fiscal conservatism”: according to Pro Publica ’s exhaustive database of the contracts, grants, and loans made under the stimulus, under her leadership Alaska led the nation in stimulus funds received on a per capita basis. Alaska’s per capita funding under the stimulus bill was $1,024.28. No other state came close, though DC rang in a strong $878.02.

In many ways, the discussion of race in America — particularly as it relates to today’s issues (the economy, health care, education) — brings to mind the parable of the blind men and the elephant . Different people have a firm grasp on part of the truth in the middle of the room — be it the tail, the trunk, an ear, or a leg — but no one seems able to look at the thing itself. Three examples of a similar phenomenon reveal some of the difficulties in our national discussion on race.

One day after a war of words between Sarah Palin and the state’s Republican Senate President over her grandstanding refusal of a portion of Alaska’s stimulus money, the state’s legislature weighed in : By a vote of 32-3, the House approved a resolution Friday accepting any money that Gov. Sarah Palin does not request from the state’s estimated $930 million share. Lawmakers say the measure would give them time to review the different categories of funds and determine if they are in the best interests of the state.

Earlier today, Sarah Palin decided to cut and run from a confrontation over her decision (a.k.a. political grandstanding) to turn down a portion of Alaska’s share of the stimulus money: Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) backed out a scheduled meeting Thursday with state legislative leaders who have publicly criticized her plan to turn down a portion of the state’s federal stimulus funds.

::: As you probably recall, funding for volcano monitoring was one of the top reasons that Bobby Jindal opposed the stimulus bill. Now, as Sarah Palin tries to one-up Bobby Jindal in the “I want the 2012 GOP nomination so I’ll reject the stimulus” game, a volcano in Alaska is conspiring to mock them both: Alaska volcano Mount Redoubt erupts 6 times WILLOW, Alaska – Alaska’s Mount Redoubt volcano erupted five times overnight, sending an ash plume more than 9 miles into the air in the volcano’s first emissions in nearly 20 years.

In the wake of this week’s House vote on the Obama economic recovery package, we learn that our brave new post-partisan world, as mcjoan wrote this afternoon , sure looks awfully similar to the old bitterly partisan world we’ve always lived in. And, as ever, we have the Republican Party to thank for this. Let’s not pretend that the House bill, which passed 244-188 with precisely zero Republican votes, was exactly a shining moment for the party (although the fact that it has passed at all is certainly something of a victory for the administration).

NEW YORK — Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama’s economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care. Their state treasuries drained by the financial crisis, governors would welcome the money from Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers are more skeptical of Obama’s spending priorities. The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov.