Will John Boehner Really Say "Thanks But No Thanks" To Stimulus Funds?

The stimulus has passed. In addition to voting against it, Republicans are all over the airwaves trashing it.

The leader of their pack is John Boehner, the man with a tan. According to him, the stimulus will not create jobs. According to Michael Steele, the new RNC Chair, if you work and earn money, you do not necessarily have a job. According to all Republicans who voted no, this bill, with terrible ideas such as helping states pay for Medicare, assisting our elders and our children, is a disaster for our country.

Of course, the Republican Governors who are living this financial meltdown from coast to coast are just fine with the Federal Government coming to at least the partial rescue. As they ask for help, their Republican counterparts in Washington just say no.

Well, as we say on the sandlots, it's time for Boehner to put up or shut up. Or, as Sarah Palin more elegantly put it, "thanks, but no thanks".

Instead of wasting more words on whether the Obama stimulus plan will create jobs, or whether it is "just spending" (which, last time I looked, is what does create jobs), why not call Minority Leader John Boehner's and every no-voting Republican's bluff?

Submit an amendment to the bill stripping all money from the stimulus plan from Boehner's district. It should be the first in a series of "Thanks, But No Thanks" Bills brought to the floor.

Every Democrat would pledge to vote yes or no, exactly as Boehner votes.

That would insure that, if Boehner voted yes (i.e., stripping all the money from his district), the Democrats would give him what he wants. If Boehner votes no (i.e., retaining all the money already appropriated in the stimulus bill for his district), he gets that too. That is, Boehner gets exactly what he wants for his district.

Then, a "Thanks, But No Thanks" bill for Eric Cantor, and another for Mike Pence for good measure.

After that, any Member of Congress who goes on TV, does an interview, is quoted in the press, or stands in the well of Congress blasting the stimulus as not job-creating ought to be greeted the next day in Congress with the same "Thanks, But No Thanks" bill, with only the name and number of the district changed.

If the money is not going to create or save jobs, and is "just spending", as Messrs Boehner, Cantor and Pence have asserted, voting to strip out their district's funding should make no difference and, indeed, ought to be popular with their constituents.

Any money that is not spent in a nay-sayer's district ought to be spent in someone else's district. That way, the size of the stimulus package remains unchanged.

Will Boehner's tan pale as he confronts the implications of his own absurdities? Nothing like sunshine to expose hypocrisy.

Comments

[jjgg5]

I live in SW Ohio. Mr. Boehner does not represent my district. However, I'm represented by another inept Republican, Jean Schmidt. All of us Cincinnati area supporters of President Obama's election in November should band together to actively campaign against Boehner and Schmidt in the their next election. Hamilton County (Cincinnati) went for President Obama last fall. This was the first time that the county voted for the Democratic Presidential nominee since 1964. We have strength in our numbers and abilities. Certainly, our Republican Representatives are currently giving the ammunition to prevent their re-elections. Also, Republican Ron Portman (a George W. Bush clone) will be running for the Senate from Ohio. He worked as W's budget director for part of W's second term. Portman left the former administration because he had family problems? We don't want him as one of Ohio's two Senators. He falls into the Boehner. Schmidt and Eric Cantor category of outdated political ideology and questionable loyalty. Also, Representatives will you be refusing any funds from the President's stimulus for your Ohio districts?

[9liberal]

I would completely agree with this, except I am in Bonehead's district..I have never voted for him...I would never vote for him...I can't stand him and I frequently write into him telling him how ridiculous I think he is and that I'm tired of paying for his tan!!
I do think they should put up or shut up, but maybe there could be some kind of provision for those of us who have not and will not support republican garbage!!

[jsgaetano]

This seems like the PERFECT "Sandbox Experiment".

Let's let ALL the stimulus-bashing Goopers turn down the money, and all the stimulus supporting states can take the money. Then, a year from now, and then two years from now, we can look back and see how much improvement the various states have had.

This is the "Fiscal Conservatives" time to show us what they are made of ! Stick to your ideology- you can still vindicate your failed economic theories!

[SurrealPumpkin]

I can just hear Rusho on the subject of denying Americans their due. Why hand him and Boehner ammunition.

Laughter and ridicule. Start now and keep it up. Letters to the editor, letters to your representatives, letters to Boehner for that matter.

Start jokes and cartoons that go viral.

We are by no means weaponless.

[eilish]

You have to admit, Repubs have us over a barrel. We the people can't force them to stand by their actions and words or we risk harming their homeless, starving constituents. This leaves them open to gleefully bashing the plan while accepting the money. Down the road, for every usage that has less success than hoped, they will gleefully vilify the plan again, proving they were 'right all along'.

[SurrealPumpkin]

We can start now and not let up laughing at them for being ridiculous. That will hurt them more then denying their constituents.

[coventry1]

We laugh so that we do not cry.

[thehonestpolitician]

well people...you know what to do in 2010...VOTE OUT REPUBLICANS!! They only care about their careers not the lives of their own district/state! - Isn't this the reasons why we vote them in?? OR do we only care about their 'so called' idealogy (which is ancient) which is becoming non-existent.

[SurrealPumpkin]

*RANT*

Dang! This thread is vicious and downright unamerican. Why would anyone think it's a good idea to deny fellow Americans badly needed assistance? Isn't that what Boehner and his friends wanted to do? When did America become a totalitarian society that demands conformity from everyone? The Democrats were reviled for not fighting harder against Bush and now we want to punish the constituents of Republican Congressmen and Senators because the republicans did what we wanted the democrats to do?

Are you really saying that Americans are not bound by any law their representatives voted against?

America never was and never will be monolithic. That is our strength not our downfall.

Boehner, et al. are jerks and I'm game for anything that slams them for it. I am NOT for punishing their constituents.

*/RANT*

[coventry1]

I agree--I don't understand how it can even be legal to deny constituents their federal benefits. The Republicans are grandstanding--they will not have the opportunity to say 'I told you so' to the rest of us, since they've had no better solutions, and can't seem to understand that tax cuts are spending.

They think it's about them--it's not. They've given priority to their ineffectual and narcissistic grandstanding over the real needs of their constituents.

I do not think all Republicans are doing this, or am I wrong?

I can't use the word Republican in a sentence without it turning into a rant.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Last time I checked, this is still the United States of America, One Nation, Indivisible. Our laws apply to everyone, not just the people that agree with us.

[demomntgirl]

Would those laws apply to ....
civil rights?
Constitutional rights?
treason?
War crimes?
Rape of American women, while working for ohhh let's say Haliburton, B&R, blackwater?
Illegal wiretaps of innocent American citizens?
And even worse wiretapping sermiceman/women in a war zone, when they call home?
Confiscation of guns from legal owners after Katrina?
Abuse of power?
Those kind of laws??
Let the laws apply to EVERYONE...and let the evidence lead the way to bringing charges against ALL who broke AMERICAN LAWS!

[SurrealPumpkin]

Yeah, those kinds of laws.

No one is making the defense that the laws don't apply to them because their rep or senator voted against it.

[BLinCincinnati]

"Any money that is not spent in a nay-sayer's district ought to be spent in someone else's district. That way, the size of the stimulus package remains unchanged."

That clause is what they'll latch on to as a reason to take it. They'll argue that their objecting isn't saving the taxpayers money because it will just be spent elsewhere. They'll use that logic just like they are doing already with other arguments. That if it's going to be spent anyway they'll take it.

To really put them in a box, remove that clause. Make them truly stand up on principle. Any funds they reject are simply not spent.

I know some will say "well if all the GOP refuse the money they'll kill the effect it will have". Yeah, maybe. But there is no way they would ever do that. And if they did... they wouldn't be in office much longer.

[Taiyo]

"I know some will say "well if all the GOP refuse the money they'll kill the effect it will have". Yeah, maybe. But there is no way they would ever do that. And if they did... they wouldn't be in office much longer."

Isn't that the point?

[SurrealPumpkin]

A challenge: Think of a way to "punish" Boehner that doesn't involve punishing his constituents. Contribute to his challenger come 2010?

Poster's with Boehner looking away from a pile of money, with big eyed children watching, Footer: Just Say No!

[Pimpinnati]

Thank you.

As one of his constituents I thank you for your rational approach that isn't throwing the baby out with the bath water.

[humanbeinghuman]

whereas i agree that watching the republicans, seemingly, oppose the stimulus on ideological, instead of practical, grounds, is nauseating, i believe that the system was set up for debate so that all ideas could be brought to light, even the dark ones. to punish the people in their district would be draconian, not american.

[Pimpinnati]

I'm a constituent of Boehner.

Should I and my neighbors be punished because of his ignorance?

Seems this punishes the hard working Americans that this bill is supposed to assist.

Short sighted if you ask me.

[BCubedReg]

You miss the point. This is what is known as "calling someone's bluff". If the republican's say they do not want the stimulus money, because their constituents do not support the stimulus, then your district shouldn't get the money. If you don't like that answer, then you, as a Boehner constituent need to voice your disagreement with Boehner via your VOTE!!!!

Do not blame the writer of this article because your district elected an @$$. There is an easy remedy to all of this. Voice your disagreement, and if Boehner does not see the light VOTE him out.

[Pimpinnati]

I get the point. It's just not acceptable to me. I should be punished and others should be punished because John Boehner is the Majority leader and he's our rep?

I've voted against John Boehner since I turned 18.

I've written John Boehner. I've spoken at length to family and friends against John Boehner.

Not every person who lives in a district votes for this person. Yet you advocate punishing everyone to spite him.

Short sighted. Pure and simple.

[BUTCHER111]

Well, you guy keep reelecting him. You get what you pay for. Or in this case, you get who you vote for.

[SurrealPumpkin]

32% of the people in Boehner's district voted for the other guy.

[Paul Abrams - Huffpost Blogger]

What you do is rally people in your district to tell Boehner to vote "no" on stripping the funds from the district. That is, this proposal gives Boehner a second-chance. The point is to expose his hypocrisy, and that will have far greater value to you. If you demolish his hypocrisy, the next bill will be so much better, as they stripped a lot of good stuff out, and stuffed a lot of meaningless things into this one.
(BTW, since you live in his district, I must ask if you have particularly sunny weather--where does that guy get his tan?!?)

[Pimpinnati]

Thank you for your reply Paul. Your thoughts are certainly worth considering.

I've attempted to expose Boehner to my friends and family. Some have even come around on the man I call Crocodile Tears Johnny. The true problem is most of this district does think like John. (At least those who vote)These are the people who cry socialism or communism yet couldn't properly define either. It's a cornucopia of ignorance here in SW Ohio. But this is my home for better or worse.

And no it's particularly sunny here in SW Ohio. I suspect my representative owns his own tanning bed as vanity is one of his many faults.

[DandaPanda]

sorta as you guys voted him in.

[RuthlessDictator]

I don't live in Boehner's district but I work there.

During the presidential campaign I would get a laugh every time I drove through one particular area (Rt. 747 in Liberty township). There were so many McCain/Palin yard signs there where Rt. 747 meets Rt. 4 I dubbed it McCain Row!

[Pimpinnati]

Consitutuent of Boehner's here.

Voted against him every chance I get. Not that it matters because all it takes to win in SW Ohio is to have the R next to your name on the ballot.

Guess I should be punished because John sucks at life? All my neighbors should be punished too?

[itmaybetoolate]

Do you have the option of a recall in Ohio?

Why not put together a petition that asks him to shut up about the stimulus, or better yet, to come out in support of it? Get as many signatures as you can, and, if possible, travel to DC to give it to him. Be sure to notify the local media.

You are his employer, after all. Call him on the carpet about this.

[Pimpinnati]

Ive written many a letter to Johnny. He could care less. He holds the safest seat in Congress. It's why he can be out front on this issue. Too many old men who are conditioned to walk into the voting booth and vote for the guy with the R next to his name.

I would love to see Boehner challenged in some shape or form but at the present time the demographics of his district do not allow for any challenge. Which basically allows him to spew out his nonsense daily without fear of repercussion.

[mmgbizgirl]

I'll call his bluff.

[Lawyer822]

GrahamInCanada, why not punish his district. His district are his constituents that put him in office. According to Mr. Boehner he speaks for these people. If he voted no then no money should go to his district or as a matter of fact to his state in the senators in his state voted no also. That money should go to the states and districts that voted yes. The people that put him in office are the ones that need to call these foo..ls should have lobbied them to vote yes...

[Pimpinnati]

I am one of his consitutents.

I did not vote for him. I voted for Nick Von Stein - Democrat

John Boehner has never and will never speak for me. But because I live in Hamilton Ohio I have to be punished?

Such short sighted thinking in this thread and by these authors.

[RuthlessDictator]

Hamilton and Middletown are ghost towns.

Fairfield seems to be doing well, however.