Key Republican Governors Like Palin Oppose the Obama Stimulus Package

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So, will the Thrilla from Wasilla pretend to be AGAINST the stimulus package before she's FOR it ?

Did anyone tell her there are no 'bridges to nowhere' in that bill ?

'08AMA of HI 3:44PM February 20, 2009

Stimulus Bill explained

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations! You now understand the stimulus bill."

Gadzooks 8:53AM February 20, 2009

Thank God that Jindal is thinking about refusing this bill. Anyone who supports abortion, which is almost all of these democrats that voted on this stimulus bill will have to face God at the end. At least our leader in louisiana seems to be following God which is our true leader, not Obama.In the end all of our decisions will be questioned by our lord. Think about it!

Leyla Russo of LA 7:48AM February 19, 2009

They are all drugged out waiting for their next oil extortion check.

Dave of MI 10:38PM February 18, 2009

lemme get this right:

Palin thinks it's ok for taxpayer money to be given to her to reimburse her for living in her own home, but she opposes taxpayer money being given to Americans to improve the economy.

Hhmm. She's a real piece of work.

Disgusted of IL 3:50PM February 18, 2009

The world economy hinges on this stimulus package and what does Obama do? He gives us a huge welfare bill. Bush should have never gone to Iraq, and Obama should have never signed an $800 Billion dollar welfare bill. It's just one bad decision after another. In 2 - 3 years all the politicians will be saying that they never supported this kind of stimulus. Those with real vision are separating themselves now.

Sam of TN 2:21PM February 18, 2009

Amazing that people don’t realize that Governor Palin wears two hats. As the governor of Alaska it would be irresponsible for her not to accept that part of the stimulus package which involves “entitlements” in that this is a state run program with half the money from federal funds. An example of one of the entitlement programs is MEDICAID, a collection of some 50 health programs for the poor, but there are many more. How could any governor refuse such funds when they are being disbursed to every state as part of stimulus? The second hat is an ideological one that we all know to be true. When you dispense free food, housing, health care and money to people on the basis of need, it can addict people to government programs and the nation collectively assumes the consequences for an individual’s bad choices. For example, if an individual fails to learn to read and write and there are no jobs for those without these skills, is it society’s responsibility to care for them? Particularly as individual consequences for are needed for free society to function.

Bob Nelson of OR 12:27PM February 18, 2009

Mark Sanford is the only one who has consistantly spoken out against this pork laden package.He has provided the calm and steady leadership the GOP (and the country) truly needs. While the President is running around like "Chicken Little" telling us how we are about to end civilization as we know it, Governor Sanford is urging us to stay calm, do the right thing, and straighten this mess out. He realizes that the country needs to take serious steps to get out of this mess. Let's cut spending, cut taxes,and help those who are truly in need.Piling on every pet project on the wish list is killing us! Also,having the President act as the Pessimist-in-Chief is not helpful. He needs to portray calm,steady leadership in the face of crisis (like Lincoln, FDR, JFK, and Reagan did). Mark Sanford has been telling us that we will need to take some tough medicine- but the U.S. can do this! We can provide the leadership and example the World needs to pull out of this mess.Finally,for those who say the GOP helped run up the tab and get us into this mess (which is true)- look at how Sanford has consistently cut government waste by setting a heck of a good personal example. If Barack Obama is the "One"- then Mark Sanford is the "lone voice crying out in the wilderness"! Sanford truly is a good man who is looking out for our best interests and our children's future!

john McMenimon of NY 11:37AM February 18, 2009

Stop the BULL if you oppose it so much. And want to do the right thing besides vVOTE AGAINST IT FOR IDEOLOGICAL REASONS DON'T TAKE THE MONEY FOR THE SAME IDEOLOGICAL REASONS!!!!!THEN I WILL THINK YOU REPUBLICANS HAVE SOME PRINCIPALS.TIL THEN JUST SHUT THE HELL UP.

Ed of DE 7:04AM February 18, 2009

The Flaw in this article is visible in this sentence: "But some of the most influential Republican governors—including those most likely to run for president in three years—opposed the package" It is no coincidence that the 2012 Republican frontrunners are the same governors who oppose the Stimulus--Palin et. al are certainly acting with their future ambitions in mind. Abandoning the Republican hardliners at this point would be political suicide for anyone hoping for a nomination in 3 years.

While it is true that the New York Times neglected to list the governors who opposed the Stimulus, this article is hardly an expose. The article did mention that some governors opposed it, and Palin is the most obvious choice for someone who would.

Alex H. of MO 1:57AM February 18, 2009

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Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger

Robert Schlesinger is managing editor for opinion at U.S. News and World Report, overseeing all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters. E-mail him at rschlesinger@usnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rschles.

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