By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
I’d be a little more generous than the “Great One,” Save Jerseyans, and you know how I fell about stupid weight cracks, but I do think he’s 100% right about one thing:
The $60 billion Sandy recovery bill is a pork-filled disgrace.
So after Rep. Peter King, Governor Chris Christie and other Republicans laid into Speaker Boehner over the Sandy package, Mark Levin took to the radio waves and laid into them:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWTPYCG90Z4
Mark Levin is a nine year old ignoramus who wants attention, probably from a lack of attention he got from his parents when he was actually nine.
Mark Levin is a buffoon who just says outlandish things to get attention and ratings. Just like Limbaugh and Hannity, he's an actor playing a character to profit from human stupidity and ignorance.
I like Governor Christie a lot, and I understand where he's coming from, but I think you and I agree more than I do with either Christie or Levin, Matt.
@Elaine And I think you're probably right! I've been feeling like a real political loner lately…
I'm sick of Levin's pejoratives and nasty nick names. Yes, Governor Christie is fat, we get it. Is it just me or does he seem like a child when he resorts to name calling?
Would love him to team up with Steve Lonegan so they can BOTH waste their time running in a primary election against Christie!
@Brendan Agreed re: the weight comment. Levin undermines his otherwise legitimate points about the Sandy package by going down that road…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNXRP6cHsKs
@Kathleen Primarily, we sent them there to (1) support and defend the Constitution and (2) execute their enumerated powers contained therein. Frankly, there's too much focus right now on Congress's omissions and not enough ire directed towards their grievous commissions! The pork in that bill is a damned disgrace… cleaning it up and providing efficient aid to victims aren't mutually exclusive ends. It'd be nice to hear one of our Republican leaders say that AND articulate it to the American people. If we keep accepting Democrat premises whenever the crap hits the fan, then we shouldn't be surprised when we continue to lose elections.
Instead of knocking Christie knock Washington. He did his job. Washington is not doing their job. They should give NJ and NY their money, it's a separate issue of its own. How long did they take to send aid money overseas for disasters and to Other US disasters. It's a disgrace what they are pulling in Washington . I wonder How much aid was sent overseas in the last 60 days automatically?
@Kathleen Isn't it possible that they're both wrong? This hyper-defensive posture that so many have chosen to adopt is counterproductive. Frankly, neither man used their respective remarks to give a wholly accurate explanation of the problem, and until Republicans start doing that and doing it well, we're never going to solve the core problems holding back this country.
During a disaster is not the time to play politics, when people are suffering. Send the aid to NJ and NY. Period! Congress can then return to their devil den and vote themselves another raise no one complains about
@Kathleen Critiquing the wasteful qualities of this bill isn't "playing politics." A huge percentage of the $60B package isn't even aid! People need to stop reacting emotionally for a moment, read the draft and prioritize what's best for the country. The Senate bill was published minutes before the vote. Didn't Republicans criticize the rushed, sloppy and wasteful qualities of liberal legislation like ObamaCare? Let's develop a little consistency here…
It's politics being played at the cost of NJ and NY victims of Sandy. No matter how you slice it.
Who added the Alaskan Fishery aid to the bill?
@Kathleen Break that down: whenever something bad happens, legislators should pass a gigantic spending bill with minutes to review it? No matter what's in it? I'm not "playing politics" by citing THAT attitude as the problem! We need someone in elected office to say it. The Governor would've been the ideal person.
It's all their fault in Washington, not NJ or NY, we are victims in NJ and NY asking for legitimate aid no more no less. -I will say it again. Washington is playing politics on the backs of victims of a disaster. It's up to the Speaker and Congress. We are at their mercy to send aid here! Get it Done! People are suffering and Every person in Washington is to blame.
@Kathleen I respect your passion and don't doubt your sincerity, but repeating the "blame Washington" mantra isn't a fact. It's an opinion. We're interested in root causes here, and the answer(s) are much more complicated. Consider the tax increases passed by Congress just days ago. Many of these NY/NJ politicians lamenting the plight of Sandy victims voted to raise their own constituent's taxes… where is the outrage on THAT point? A lot of those owners who just lost homes to Sandy will now send MORE money to Uncle Sam. In exchange for what? An aid package loaded with pork? Let's open our eyes to the truth.
@Matt seems there are 2 separate threads on same issue- same topic -copied by Joe Schlip-so some of my posts are in the other posted heading -I do not believe in pork additions, that is the stunt pulled in Congress. My point is if Congress cared about the people–the Aid NJ and NY asked for would have been passed as the Gov's of both States asked for, without the add-ons. But NO -ALL Congress and the speaker played politics, it's up to them to lay their foot down and ALL DEMAND no pork – So they are All to Blame in Washington- don't misdirect the blame to NJ!!
@Kathleen I agree that they waited too long. Absolutely. But why can't our state's federal/national/prominent leaders lend their voices to criticize the content of the bill, too? Not just the lamentable procedural issues? If good people don't use these opportunities to articulate the entire problem to the American people, then we can't be surprised when the wrong people continue to win elections.
I can't comment on what I am not privy to- the conversations behind the scenes. I have total faith in Governor Christie and trust his judgment. He has never disappointed yet.
@Kathleen He's a good man and a breath of fresh air after Corzine… but he's not perfect, and he's not always right. There's only ever been one perfect man! I prefer to question everyone's positions/actions in good faith. That's the duty of every citizen in my humble opinion.
No one is perfect and he has never pretended to be. Yes every citizen should be engaged and we all have arrived at opinions through our own eyes and experience etc. therefore, we will never be 100% on board with every issue or belief any one person does, regardless if a political figure or not. What gets me is your blaming him for the pork added by Congress–He said they can vote for the bill or against it, just vote. Get the aid to NJ, and NY, DO your job in Congress- that is what I heard from Our Governor. BUT Congress as usual could not even get it right and deliver emergency AId for NY and NJ without the drama or someone trying to get one over on another. They are ALL to Blame, every last one of them, every Party to blame in my opinion.
@Kathleen Reread our exchange… did I once blame him for the bill's construction? I'm frustrated because our Republican leaders haven't ARTICULATED the full problem underlying these recent controversies. Saying "they're all bums" is overly broad and, quite frankly, distracts us from zeroing in on the real core causations. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing," right? Sometimes, omissions are just as bad! We need conservative leaders to lead by articulating conservatism. What would I have liked to hear? Governor Christie and the Congressional delegation condemn the prolonged vote timetable AND the pork in the bill… demand a vote on the core priorities in it now but without the pork. A guy with Christie's skills and profile is the ONLY one who can make that argument and get people to listen. How can you possibly disagree with that?
I agree– I think he has already voiced his disgust
I still stand by blaming ALL of Congress because- it's not done. NJ and NY still no aid.
Part of the Sandy Pork Bill includes billions for NYC's MTA to prevent "future flooding." Look at these MTA rates and tell me why they should get federal funding in the Sandy bill:
http://www.mta.info/bandt/traffic/btmain.html#car…