December 21, 2005
THEY JUST KEEP WINNING (via AWW):
Cheney Breaks Senate Tie on Spending Cuts (ANDREW TAYLOR, 12/21/05, Associated Press)
The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote.The measure, the product of a year's labors by the White House and the GOP in Congress, imposes the first restraints in nearly a decade in federal benefit programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and student loans.
"This is the one vote you'll have this year to reduce the rate of growth of the federal government," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, in a final plea for passage.
Democrats even managed to hand the Administration all the credit on an issue that had been riling people up.
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 21, 2005 12:19 PM
A good victory. They lost ANWR though.
Posted by: pj at December 21, 2005 1:15 PMDrive for show, putt for dough.
Posted by: oj at December 21, 2005 1:22 PM40 billion over ten years?
It will start to be meaningful when it's around 400.
Posted by: Bruno at December 21, 2005 1:33 PMBruno:
Exactly. Like having the bus hit you at 65 rather than 70 mph. Moral victory only.
Posted by: Rick T. at December 21, 2005 2:28 PMoj - ANWR would give us $600 billion -- that's the dough. Cutting $40 billion -- that's show.
Posted by: pj at December 21, 2005 2:53 PMANWR is just a symbol. There's nothing there.
Posted by: oj at December 21, 2005 3:01 PMThere's nothing in ANWR??
Then we can drill and find out.
Posted by: Sandy P at December 21, 2005 3:38 PMWe will eventually.
Posted by: oj at December 21, 2005 3:53 PMNotice too how Holy Joe Lieberman showed his true independence and maverick spirit by voting the Dem party line in all these votes the last few days. Yep, there's a guy I want in the GOP along with Chafee, Hagel, Specter, the Maine Twins and Keating-McCain.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at December 21, 2005 4:37 PMRaoul: Joe's a party guy. Would that the Stupid Party Senators were all more like him...
Posted by: b at December 21, 2005 4:47 PMHe wants not to have a primary challenger. Nothing wrong with a guy who follows party discipline on minor issues.
Posted by: oj at December 21, 2005 4:58 PMOrrin, Cheney breaking a tie in a 55-45 Senate is a defeat. Since I'm convinced you only pretended to read "Off Center," let me explain: when votes are close, Rove has to whip senators who don't want to vote for something that's unpopular with their constituents, as, indeed, drilling in ANWR is unpopular. The more times the Democrats get close enough that the Republican leadership has to put the screws on to get people to vote in ways that are politically damaging to them back home (ie, has to make them cry, if you will), the weaker their chances at reelection. Every vote where the Republicans can't get 55 is a disaster for the long-term health of their majority.
Posted by: Rick Perlstein at December 22, 2005 2:15 AMOrrin, Cheney breaking a tie in a 55-45 Senate is a defeat. Since I'm convinced you only pretended to read "Off Center," let me explain: when votes are close, Rove has to whip senators who don't want to vote for something that's unpopular with their constituents. The more times the Democrats get close enough that the Republican leadership has to put the screws on to get people to vote in ways that are politically damaging to them back home (ie, has to make them cry, if you will), the weaker their chances at reelection. Every vote where the Republicans can't get 55 is a disaster for the long-term health of their majority.
Posted by: Rick Perlstein at December 22, 2005 2:23 AMSome victory for conservatism, guys. Read this carefully:
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/12/21/172853/98
He pretty convincingly demonstrates that to get this through they made it easier to freeload off welfare.
Posted by: Rick Perlstein at December 22, 2005 2:48 AMrick:
How many times do you guys have to lose the Welfare debate before you figure out people like making poor people work instead of feed off the public teat?
Posted by: oj at December 22, 2005 7:28 AMHey, I'm just sayin'--YOUR "victory" is the one that made it EASIER for people not to work. I'm pro-work. Is Rove?
But really: "victory"? Cheney breaking a tie in a 55-45 Senate is a defeat. When votes are close, Rove has to whip senators who don't want to vote for something that's unpopular with their constituents. The more times the Democrats get close enough that the Republican leadership has to put the screws on to get people to vote in ways that are politically damaging to them back home (ie, has to make them cry, if you will), the weaker their chances at reelection. Every vote where the Republicans can't get 55 is a disaster for the long-term health of their majority.
Posted by: Rick Perlstein at December 22, 2005 9:49 AMRick:
When the GOP picks up 2-4 seats next November, will you call that a defeat as well?
Posted by: jim hamlen at December 22, 2005 12:03 PMAccording to Mr. Schmitt's analysis of the welfare provisions of this bill, those on welfare would work less in some states, and more in most states.
Net change, nationwide: More work done.
Therefore, to say that fewer people on welfare will be working is a fundamental misunderstanding.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://brothersjuddblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 23, 2005 5:32 AM