Which Congressman Wants $8 million to "market" wild American shrimp? [UPDATED]
By Erick Posted in Congress — Comments (110) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
It's in a subscribers only link at the Wall Street Journal. The Congressman wants $8,000,000.00 to pay for marketing of wild American shrimp and $2.3 million to fund research into shrimp-fishing.
These are but two of the Congressman's 65 earmarks sought thus far this year to the tune of $400,000,000.00. HIs chief spokesman pulled a Tom DeLay and said
"Reducing earmarks does not reduce government spending, and it does not prohibit spending upon those things that are earmarked," the spokesman said. "What people who push earmark reform are doing is they are particularly misleading the public -- and I have to presume it's not by accident."
Of course the Congressman in question is the patron saint of both the constitutionally pure crowd and the black helicopter crowd — Congressman Ron Paul.
PAGING RON PAUL SUPPORTERS: Please cite the Article, Section, and clause of the Constitution that gives Congress express authority to fund the marketing of wild American shrimp.
[UPDATE:] Holy Cow! Look at this porker. Unfreakingbelieveable. And people buy his "I'm a purist" crap?
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Which Congressman Wants $8 million to "market" wild American shrimp? [UPDATED] 110 Comments (0 topical, 110 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Thing of all the good things I could do with 8 mil? I could promote American wild shrimp and then some!
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The CIA has better politicians than it has spies - Fred Thompson
One thing you have to realize about Ron Paul is that he *proposes* earmarks for his constituents because he feels that's part of his job, and then he *votes against* what he proposes. I'm not kidding, that's what he does. So I still think he votes in line with the constitution, merely proposing an earmark isn't the same as voting for it.
...is when, in the instance of a constituent asking "what, if elected, will you get for me?", replies "Absolutely nothing."
It is having your cake and eating it too. If you earmark a bill you know is bound for passage, even if you vote against it, is a vote for more pork, more government spending, more economic intervention by those entities who are the least capable of managing the economy.
With all due apologies to every women's rights group under the sun, there really are some instances where "no" means "yes".
"I don't understand why the same newspaper commentators who bemoan the terrible education given to poor people are always so eager to have those poor people get out and vote." - P.J. O'Rourke
The only thing Ron Paul can do to reduce spending is vote against it, which he does. If the bill passes, despite his vote against it, then he proposes a share for his district. It does not increase spending one dime.
According to Ron Paul:
"Because earmarks are funded from spending levels that have been determined before a single earmark is agreed to, with or without earmarks the spending levels remain the same. Eliminating earmarks designated by Members of Congress would simply transfer the funding decision process to federal bureaucrats rather then elected representatives. In an already flawed system, earmarks can at least allow residents of Congressional districts to have a greater role in allocating federal funds - their tax dollars - than if the money is allocated behind locked doors by bureaucrats. So we can be critical of the abuses in the current system but we shouldn't lose sight of how some reforms may not actually make the system much better."
This does not violate the posting guidelines about "name calling" because I'm simply pointing out the obvious. You are so dumb, I won't even play with you.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
...while still lapping at the trough like everyone else.
Trying to have his cake & eat it, too.
Exactly why so many of us here rankle at him calling himself a Republican.
It's such a fine line between stupid and clever. - David St. Hubbins
a seafood heiress?
Sorry, but somethings......fishy here.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
"Personal foul...intentionally causing heartburn via the use of a very bad pun...fifteen yard penalty...automatic first down."
dude, you took it.......hook, ....line....
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
to NOT respond to the Mrs.908 scenario in the other diary..I can't do it...Mbeck is toooo funny!
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
To be fair to Congressman Paul (whom I do not support), most of the earmarked funding is going to the US Army Corps of Engineers, abbreviated in the documents as USACE.
But Vanadium Safety Readiness? And Wild Shrmip Marketing? And rehabilitating a boat for Texas A&M?
Or do you just feel you have a bandwidth allocation you need to use.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
When money goes to the USACE, it may have slipped by Rep. Paul as "defense expenditure" something that even libertarians can support.
But the other parts of the expenditure were more obvious pork. And the poster pointed that out.
Romney/Thompson 2008
Except maybe as the punch-line to a joke about Congress. The Army Corps of Engineers spends most of its time and money on extremely porky local projects that the Feds should not be involved in. It sure provides a great way to funnel free money into your district, though.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
They just bombed a beach in Jersey, after all.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Aug05/0,4670,ODDBeachOrdnanceFound,00.h...
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
My first triple five,
And from the same person who earlier accused me of being part of the Cindy Sheehan meme.
Thanks. Glad I could recover so soon.
:)
It's unlikely that one of the explosives would ever detonate, but it would be extremely dangerous if it did, said Keith Watson, the Army Corps' project manager.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
I might have written that myself if I hadn't been on various cold medications.
Sorry for using your bandwidth, Becker...
He is my Congressman. But I know a LOT of people who are working very hard to get him out of office come next spring.
Ohh Please. Ron Paul has the best record on spending in the history of modern congress. The Last 50 years. Methinks the GOP establishment is getting worried.
If you are talking about actual "spending". He has collected his salary for 20 plus years and has accomplished exactly nothing for the people of his district or the nation. He's voted "no" on a bunch of stuff, but he's not offered a single plan to reduce the size or the cost of government. He's not made a single ally in twenty years to help him do that. He's shown no leadership on reducing spending or the size of government.
He's made speeches, he's voted "no", he's done exactly nothing he couldn't have called in from his medical practice. He never really needed to set foot in Washington. The guy is the penultimate phony and ripoff artist.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
It's much easier to just drink the Kool-aid.
It's a lot easier to try to reason with Franz than a Ron Paul supporter. At least you could always take a rolled up newspaper to Franz as a last resort.
A couple more big mortgage banks shut down today and everybody else seems to be changing their guidelines. So, I'm playing with the infirm.
I don't reason with Franz. I just take orders and do as I'm told. Don't wanna be dinner.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
about Franz, anyway.
All kidding aside, (O.K., as much as possible),
Do you think the whole "subprime" mess is moving beyond subprime, and may be the political story that no-one really has on the radar yet, but will wish they had 6-9 months from now?
Subprime loans are still available, but generally not at 100% LTV. Subprime stated-income loans now require credit scores that are 40 to 60 points higher than at this time last year.
The big change is now happening in the "Alt-A" market. That's primarily loans that were "just miss" on conforming guidelines, high LTV non-owner occupied loans, and high LTV stated-income loans. Generally what we refer to as "niche" loans.
There are just fewer mortgage banks willing to take non-conforming (as in Fannie/Freddie) loans. Rates will go up, more loans chasing a smaller amount of $$.
Want to buy a new house? Better have a down payment. We're probably looking at 9 to 12 months to shake out the mortgage industry and then another period of time to shake out the real estate industry.
Over the last couple of years, in Phoenix, about 30 to 35% of the home sales were to investors or investment groups. A very high percentage of those loans were 100% financing and were ARMs of one variety or another. Those ARMs are now beginning to adjust upwards and many investors are getting cash crunched. Additionally, there is such a glut of housing on the market that people are getting desperate and dropping prices to get out from under houses. That causes ripples in the market across the board, because if you want to refi I've got to get an appraisal. If your neighbor sold his house for less than he paid for it, your house value just took a beating and you may not be able to refinance your adjusting ARMs.
All that said, it's a business cycle. Everybody got drunk and decided that the real estate market was going to go up exponentially for ever. Lender's opened up new niches for loans. (Last year I could get you 100% financing on a stated-income, stated-asset, wage earner purchase if you had a credit score of 600.) Reality just set in and lenders are now either paying the price (see American Home and Aegis) or are modifying their guidelines so that they will now lend you half the money you can PROVE you don't need. My only concern is that the jerks in Washington - or the States - are going to attempt to either bail out the industry, bail out consumers who are going to lose their home or regulate the industry so this "never happens again". The market will right itself. The regulators will destroy it.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
But there's still too many people, in my opinion, that don't "get it". Everyone always looks at the future as a trend line of the present. They clearly were doing those things when times were good. My fear is that they will continue to do that as things get worse over the next 12-18 months (my opinion), and thus, I don't think we're near the bottom yet.
I agree. However, "the bottom" is going to mean vastly different things to people in different parts of the country. Areas that had huge real estate run-ups will be in the shake out a whole lot longer than more traditionally stable markets.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
And I am planning on doing a little shopping this winter. All of a sudden the numbers are working again, and I can still get a 70% LTV for investment property with no doc all day long. SWEET.
Ont heother hand, mbecker is correct - if the gov't bails out these idiots, and it could well happen, I will go bananas...
shopping, don't buy investment property off MLS. Contact the REO departments of local lenders or mortgage banks and buy direct. MUCH better deals. Especially if you can take several properties off their books.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
NOVA isn't even remotely reasonably priced yet. It would take a year and a half of non-stop bad news to get it there. My wife and I don't think our current housing market can crash fast enough.
"Scott Thomas" - The New Republic's Winter Soldier
So I just put up a diary about this called "Other things we're not yet worried about, but should be".
I'm hoping some of the experts a little closer to the lending side of this equation can give me some reasons why my pessimism is an overreaction.
It has already gone beyond subprime. I think it isn't a bigger political story yet because (1) nobody wants to be accused of causing a panic and (2) it's too early - and way too complicated - to know just how bad it will (or won't) be for the housing market and the economy as a whole. Anyone who sounds too sure about it probably doesn't know what they're talking about.
On the other hand, there are more and more stories about it every day. There was a rather-colorful rant by the rather-colorful Jim Cramer about it last Friday on CNBC:
My "definitely" remark had to do with this going beyond subprime lenders. That has already happened, as other lenders are folding. What isn't so "definite" is where all of this is headed . . .
I'm building a lake home this fall. Hopefully all the trades will be fighting for my business and not try to rape me to make up for lost business!
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite
Well, his constituents think otherwise. He keeps winning reelection every 2 years by a landslide. They know him best. It's time for old traditional conservatives like Ron Paul to take back the GOP from the NeoCons. Big Government, endless wars, and mass immigration. That's the current GOP.
The ones that talk a big game about cutting spending and fiscal responsibility, while loading up the home district with Pork?
Yeah, that worked out real well for us.
There should be black helicopters and storm troops arriving shortly. Make it easy for everyone and try to get through the brainwashing quickly.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
In the first place, RonPaul™ is not a "conservative", he's a Libertarian. Digest that one then come back. Or not.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
2 trillion vs 8 million not much of an argument I prefer Pauls shrimp adventure compared to Bush's failed Iraqi fiasco.
You just HADDA do the RonPaul x3 thing didn't ya.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
How else was I supposed to get a suitable sacrifice?
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Who's the harpoon master in your absence, now that you won't be available to finish what you've started.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
for the Redstate Hall of Fame.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Before the hardback edition of RS HoF comes out, editors have my permission to insert the final line.
soli Deo gloria
New game I'm playing with these guys: Democrat or White Nationalist.
I'm guessing this one's a Democrat. "Adventure" just sounds so lefty.
The real tragedy is that federal taxpayer dollars are being used to fund this and hundreds of similar projects across the nation - period. This program would not be one bit more worthy of federal spending if it were allocated by a federal agency.
So in a sense, I can see what Ron Paul and Ramesh Ponnuru are saying when they argue that the attention paid to earmarks is well-intentioned by misguided. The real problem isn't merely the earmark process, it's the deep, fundamental betrayal of the Constitution that we've allowed Washington to perpetrate for nearly a century (thank you progressives!) as well as a nearly universal lack of understanding amongst the American people of the principles of federalism and limited government.
I'm not a Ron Paul supporter, but I don't want to see him lose his Congressional seat. While it's certainly arguable whether he is wise or consistent by pursuing earmarks for his district, there is no denying that he is one of the few voices in Congress that at least rhetorically makes the case for limited government.
I'd hate to have that solitary voice silenced over shrimp.
Please cite the Article, Section, and clause of the Constitution that gives Congress express authority to fund the marketing of wild American shrimp.
Agreed. And while we're at it, I'd like to see the clause that gives congress authority to establish Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Welfare, WIC, Food Stamps, Farm Subsidies, Foreign Aid, Pell Grants, etc.
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison
Under the pretense that Dems will vote for him because he's anti-war, and Republicans will vote for him because he's an "R",
Please tell me how you think the general public, Republican, Democrat, and Indy, will respond to the following statement:
"Vote for me, Ron Paul, because I will eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Welfare, WIC, Food Stamps, Farm Subsidies, Foreign Aid, Pell Grants, etc"
This place has more dumb kids in it than Free Republic. Check out Human Events today. Great interview with Ron Paul. Jettison the NeoCon mad bombers.
Can you elaborate what being a former liberal who now supports right-wing policies has to do with bombing people?
In deference to your long account status, you may petition us via the Contact link for reinstatement when you're prepared to start playing well with others.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Not targeting any particular Congressman, but the disclaimer on all the earmark requests says "I certify that neither I, nor my spouse, have any financial interest in the project."
Question, Don't these projects make the district happy, which in turn helps in the re-election of a Congressman? If they don't help you get re-elected, help your district and continue your employment why request them? If they in fact do all of the above how can one possibly state that they have no financial interest in any of these projects?
There may be no direct interest, but there is an interest in the projects being undertaken and it is financial.
"Cowards cut and run, Marines never do"
Sure. NeoCons think we should use our military to enhance a Global Democratic Revolution. The earliest NeoCons were all former Trotskyites. Global Revolution.
Please try to use it
...when they see me they'll say, "There goes Loren Wallace,
the greatest thing to ever climb into a race car."
Name names. Tell us what makes one a "NeoCon".
Frankly if your account wasn't over 2 years old, I'd think you were just Mobying (and I still think it's possible). Just make it clear who you're talking about and what views you are ascrbing to them.
And I, for one, have NEVER been a Trotskyite.
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.
Replace the word "Neocon" with "Zionist."
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
Trotskyite!!! I know you're trying to turn this into a Jew thing, but there are plenty people that buy into the snake oil Kristol sells.
Why its obvious you are a lackey of the reactionary running dog right wing oligarchy. Don't worry comrade the Cheka are on the way.
Seriously it would help your arguments if you knew what the labels you apply actually meant.
There is a giant difference between the belief that there should be one world government communist in nature and of the scope of mill's leviathan, and the observation that democracies are inherently more peaceful thus promoting democratic revolution promotes peace.
Let me ask, Just where do you stand on supporting Democracy abroad ?
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
You are limp wristed, raving fool who's only contribution to life would be baying at the moon. Not bad for an ignorant, bigoted jerk who has no clue about much of anything you've chosen to bore us with.
Go sit in the back yard and drool.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
But a very nice follow up just the same.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trotskyism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_revolution
Please let me know how promoting socialism and communism is the neocon agenda.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
What tone is that. Pointing out how disasterous for the GOP and Conservatism NeoCon ideology has been. They want conservatives to give up the fight against Gay marriage, and illegal immigration. In other words, junk the cultual wars at home in quest of some Global Democratic revolution. No thanks! Ron Paul is the only true Reaganite in the race!
>>>Ron Paul is the only true Reaganite in the race!<<<
That explains everything.
...when they see me they'll say, "There goes Loren Wallace,
the greatest thing to ever climb into a race car."
a jerk.
Just so I've got all my bases covered here:
Hey JimBobTex! I really don't know what my REALLY! insult you. I'm not interested in a dialog to find out, so I want you to read the following line and impute from me to you the maximum insult available...
jlajsofho cwncowfoi jrfowjfo wjow jfwej ujr09q wifpew
Got it, Bubba?
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
William Kristol is the epitome of a NeoCon. Since the mid 90s he's been advocating war with Iraq, Syria, Saudis , Iran etc etc. Use our military to establish free democratic regimes. Well he got his war in Iraq and it is a disaster. Now he's pushing for us to go into Iran. Why any Republican, or Conservative listens to this guy is beyond me. By the way, his father Irving was an early Leon Trotsky man. And to this day has never apologized for supporting an ideology that resulted in over 100 million dead in the 20th century.
Erick,
Your post about Ron Paul is way off the mark. Are you telling me that spending trillions of dollars on an unnecessary war is the same as a few million dollars in earmarks? That's pretty funny. Please keep up these ridiculous attacks on Dr. Paul. It's a sure sign his campaign is gaining momentum.
Allan Bartlett
is that this Ron Paul campaign is a freaking joke....much like the man himself....how's that for on the mark?
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
Absolutely! RonPaul™ is scheduled to break 1% in the near future.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
1% of adults. Subtract those not registered for various reasons (convicted felon, off the grid to avoid paying income tax, under 18, foreign national *cough* wanting us out of the Middle-east), though....
No, he's not saying $8 Million equals "trillions", which is a dubious estimate anyway.
What he is saying is that your guy is a fraud, hypocrite, poser, and porker.
The man votes against everything because it isn't specifically in the constitution, then pads his district with tens of millions in earmarks, just like everyone else. He's part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Not that we would expect any objectivity from the RonPaul disciples. It's a hot day, help yourself to a double serving of the Kool-Aid.
You're such an idiot. Ron Paul has the most fiscally conservative record in congress over the past 50 years. He gets named the taxpayers best friend year in and year out.
I do not think that name calling was really warranted or advised.
Wubbies World, MSgt, USAF (Retired):
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("An argument is a sequence of statements aimed at demonstrating the truth of an assertion.); }
...a classic "bait and switch" defense.
If you cannot explain, or are embarrassed by, the topic you are confronted with, you bring up a completely different topic that you claim is worse, and then redirect the topic of discussion to the new topic.
This helps a person avoid uncomfortable or indefensible topics.
Though I must admit this was a fairly crude attempt at it. You need a smoother transition into the new topic if you want it to sell. A longer dissertation of arguments will help considerably.
Wubbies World, MSgt, USAF (Retired):
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("An argument is a sequence of statements aimed at demonstrating the truth of an assertion.); }
Do we put Ron Paul stories up just to bait his supporters in so we can bat them around a little bit (I like mbeckers drop kicking a puppy analogy best), OR, does Moe have a new "Blam" stick he needs to get sighted in. Either way its amusing.
"Do you feel lucky? Well, do'ya punk." - Harry Calahan "Dirty Harry"
If that's what you call batting Paul supporters around, it's obvious your batting average is only 194
Yep. All my life. But in 2004, I just couldn't pull the lever for Bush's second term. He had so betrayed conservatism that I voted for the Constitution party nominee.
I'm just out for a day at the ballpark, a spectator only. Mbecker and Jdub are doing the batting. From the stands it looks like their leading the league in both hits and forced errors.
"The only way to negotiate with your enemy, is with your knee on his chest and your knife at his throat." - Anon.
inside of the plate...I love it when someone tried to groove junk high and tight...he gets the head of the bat out quickly.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
and I'm just not gonna have time to play with this particular idiot. If he's still around later in the week we can skin him and bake him in the sun.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
I held my nose and voted for him in 2000. But after 9/11 he turned into Super NeoCon. And no one has grown the government more than Bush. He has been a disaster. Possibly the worst President in history.
Where is the strength of your convictions, man?
What will they say when they see you waffling?
soli Deo gloria
Forrest Gump is a strong shrimp lobbyist now that his shares of AAPL have done pretty well. What? He ain't real?
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite