I just read a story posted on MSNBC's site reporting that "progress" has been made on the AARP.
From MSNBC's website:
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of Senators reached a deal Friday to cut about $100 billion from the $937 billion stimulus package, a development that could win enough GOP support to get the 60 votes needed to pass the bill, the group's Democratic leader said.
The article goes on to outline how this "bipartisan" group has managed to trim about $100 billion from the AARP in hopes of picking up the three or four votes that Senator Ben Nelson (D-capitulator) estimates are needed for the bill to pass.
Let's see, $100 billion for three votes.
That would be 33.3 billion dollars per vote. Such a deal.
More "bipartisan" bargains on the flip-
Oh wait, I was wrong. The "bipartisan" group is only looking for two Repuclican votes.
Says the good Senator:
"The hope is we'll pick up two more Republicans, and if we're able to do that then I think we'll have sufficient numbers to get a vote and pass the alternative," Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.,
What a heroic "bipartisan" effort! I'm almost in tears.Really.
$100 billion for 2 votes.Yes, that's right, 2 fucking votes.
That would be $50 billion for those two wonderful, feel goody-good, kumbaya inducing "bipartisan" votes.
Forgive me but I just can't get excited about that.
I suspect that there are others who won't be excited about the cost of such a good spirited, fair-minded, want- to- gather- around- the- campfire- together- and- make- s'mores "bipartisan" effort at passing such an important bill in a time of colossal financial ruin in this country.
Those dissappionted in this big-hearted gesture of cooperation and "bipartisan" trust would be the children who won't see their school built and won't be able to participate in head start programs.
Still others might not appreciate such warm goey "bipartisanship" when they realize that their bus route has been dropped and they now have no way to get to work.
When .$100 billion in funds to build schools and public transit has to be sacrificed on the altar of "bipartisanship" in order to put millions of Americans back to work and stop the mortal hemmoraging of our economy, I say that is a bargian we just can't afford.