Breaking News from The Hill: Pelosi backs down in spending battle (caves to Bush again)

[dajoki]

Pelosi backs down in spending battle
By Alexander Bolton | Posted: 12/12/07 11:50 AM
December 12, 2007
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-backs-down-in-spending-battle-2007-12-12.html

In the face of stiff opposition from powerful fellow Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has abandoned a proposal she supported less than 24 hours ago to eliminate lawmakers’ earmarks from the omnibus spending package.

Pelosi told the Democratic chairmen of the House Appropriations subcommittees, the so-called appropriations cardinals, that earmarks would stay in the omnibus and that Democratic leaders would accede to cut spending to levels demanded by President Bush in order to save 11 spending bills from a veto, said sources familiar with a meeting that took place in Pelosi’s office early Wednesday morning.

<<snip>>

By leaving earmarks largely untouched and agreeing to Bush’s budget ceiling, Democrats have capitulated in their spending battle with Republicans. In the end, Democrats realized they would not be able to muster enough Republican votes to override Bush’s veto. The president vowed to reject any spending package that exceeded the $933 billion limit he set.

<<snip>>

As recently as Tuesday afternoon, Pelosi endorsed House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey’s (D-Wis.) proposal to yank all earmarks from the omnibus in order to save an estimated $9.5 billion. The money would have been used to minimize cuts to domestic programs important to Democrats.

When asked Tuesday afternoon if Obey’s plan was off the table, Pelosi replied: “Not from my standpoint.”

[rockymountaindem]

1. But it isn't about the Iraq funding yet, right?

We're gonna cave on that later in the week, correct?

[Emillereid]

2. Congressional democrats have lost all credibility - this kind of behavior

is going to cost us the election next year. Democrats don't stand for anything - they might as well pack up and go home.

[izquierdista]

3. Caving is news?

At this rate, if the Republicans don't lose ALL their seats in the next election, they could still stymie Nancy by the last remaining one giving her a cross look.

[ORDagnabbit]

4. and what can we do about this? nothing

the system is stacked against the citizen from active participation in the process.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. And God forbid, we should try to hold them to their duty to constituents and country!

If they have a (D) after their name, they can do no wrong and any effort to hold them accountable is Democrat-bashing, pure and simple. Just ask around this board.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[izquierdista]

6. Democrat Submissive Urination

Democrats, like humans, are social animals. Similarities in human and democrat social structure (e.g., living in groups, extended care of the young, communal hunting) have contributed to democrats becoming "the working man's best friend." However, the many differences between democrat and human social behavior and communication can lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and what humans consider "behavior problems." From a democrat's perspective, for example, submissive urination is perfectly normal; but corporate owners have real concerns about this behavior.

What's Going On?

A complex communication system has evolved among democrats to help establish and maintain stable pack dominance hierarchies, which are essential for a pack to work together in caring for young, hunting, and defending territory. Dominant animals use vocalizations, gestures, and postures to communicate their status. Subordinate animals use submissive displays to turn off these dominant social threats. When democrats live in "packs" made up of their corporate owners and other humans, they use the same gestures to communicate. Problems arise when humans do not understand these gestures or expect democrats to understand things about human society that do not come naturally. For example, humans expect democrats not to eliminate inside the House. A 7lb Yorkshire democrat may not defecate in the room where it sleeps (i.e., its den) but may defecate on the Constitution because it sees the rest of the House as fair game.

Submissive urination is the ultimate gesture of submission. Submissive urinators communicate that they are absolutely no threat to other congressmen. In response to the submissive signals, dominant congressmen stop their display.

Submissive urination can be seen in democrats of any age or sex. It is most common in puppies, which makes perfect sense because they are automatically subordinate to all the adults in the pack. It is also more commonly seen in females and smaller breeds. Submissive urination occurs when democrats are confronted with facial expressions, body postures, or gestures that they perceive as a threat, including humans reaching for them; petting them on the head; leaning over them; talking to them in excited, deep, or harsh tones; making eye contact with them; or punishing them verbally or physically. In congressional communication, dominance gestures include staring, standing over, putting a paw across the back of another legislator's neck, and low growls. Democrats simply interpret human actions as they would another democrat's actions.

While submissively urinating, democrats usually show other submissive signs, including laying their ears back, tucking their tails, cowering, and avoiding eye contact. They may also give a submissive "grin" in which the corners of the lips are pulled back, exposing molars and premolars.



This should not be confused with an aggressive lip lift, which shows the incisors and canines. Some democrats roll onto their sides, exposing their bellies, while giving these signals and urinating. This is not a request for a belly rub; it is a request to be left alone.

Democrats that submissively urinate expect that their behavior will stop "threats" from humans, but well meaning humans continue leaning over, petting, and trying to comfort these democrats as they would another person. Democrats see this as a continued threat rather than a comforting gesture. Punishing these democrats will only exacerbate the situation. A typical scenario is the corporate owner who is frustrated because his democrat urinates on the carpet every time he comes home. Believing that he has "caught the democrat in the act," the owner scolds or otherwise punishes the democrat for what he believes is a housebreaking lapse. Thus a democrat that is already intimidated and trying to say with its only "words" that it respects the corporate owner's authority is met with further threats, resulting in more frequent and intense displays of submission.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Is anyone really surprised?

Bush demands; Congress caves. SSDD. :eyes:

[MuseRider]

13. Anyone who is

is either stupid or uninformed. I need to up my meds.

[Steely_Dan]

9. What Is The Problem W/ The Dems?!!

[Bitwit1234]

10. But they caved because they can't talk for themselves,,,he threatened

to lay off 100,000 government employees if they didn't give him a bill he liked...WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS WENT ON TV...BUY THE DAMN TIME, I AM SURE DEMS WOULD DONATE AND TELL THE COUNTRY JUST WHAT THE TURD IS DOING.

[Dr Fate]

16. Sounds creative and aggressive.

Therefore it should be no surprise that elected DEMS didn't do it.

[dajoki]

17. I'll donate n/t

[butterfly77]

11. I have always wondered ...

what in the hell were they thinking putting Pelosi and Reid up as spokespeople for the party. Its time for these enablers to go...

[Forkboy]

12. No way!

[trashcanistanista]

14. This was predicted by many DU'ers yesterday

in the Obey threads. No one should be surprised. I am going to start blaming San Francisco for not putting up a decent candidate to go after Pelosi's seat. She is up for reelection and they need to get off of their asses and do something. I will predict that my district as red as hell as it is now will turn blue with all of our hard work. If we can do it WTF is wrong with San Francisco?

edited to add: I am so pissed right now I have to step outside and leave the site.

[displacedtexan]

15. I'm going to say something... probably unpopular.

Most of my family's income depends on one of those "earmarks."
In fact, we've been panicking and getting resumes in order
because last year's Republicans stalled and stalled, resulting
in a 25% pay cut this year. Sadly, several programs had to shut their doors
because of the Republican crap last year. If Dems do the same thing,
we could lose votes in the districts affected.

Not all earmarks are bad. The one that puts food on our table dates back to the
Kerner Commission (Watts Riots) and funds after-school programs for at-risk kids.
Both Dem and Republican house members and senators support it through earmarks.

The corporate-owned media never mentions the good earmarks, just the ridiculous
"bridge to nowhere" sleazy Republican ones.

Therefore, I'm glad the budget deal will finally be over... even if I hate
BushCo's war with every fiber of my being.

[dajoki]

18. Agreed...

There are good earmarks that help people live as close to normal as possible. They really help you barely get by, but its something. But like you say: The corporate-owned media never mentions the good earmarks, just the ridiculous "bridge to nowhere" sleazy Republican ones. Many people need these federal programs and they have been cut enough already. My mother got enough from LIHEAP to buy 40 gallons of oil!! 40 GALLONS, THAT"S RIDICULOUS!!