my state's governor rejects $700million stimulus

[ASUMountaineer]

we need alot of military spending we are in a war

An illegal war, that is doing nothing to "keep us safe." The politicians need to grow some balls and vote against funding--that's real support for the troops.

[dbackjon]

Commentary from today's Chicago Tribune - Strings Attached

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... 6570.story

Last month, Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly called "the stimulus plan." It gives billions of dollars to the states, but the gift has strings attached. One of its unique provisions changes state constitutions! That provision is unconstitutional, and its defect raises problems about the whole enterprise.
...
To receive that money, states have to add thousands of new people to the welfare rolls. In two years, the federal largesse stops, but the new welfare recipients are still there.
...
Because some governors might not accept the money, Congress added a unique provision, in subsection 1607(b): "If funds provided to any State in any division of this Act are not accepted for use by the Governor, then acceptance by the State legislature, by means of the adoption of a concurrent resolution, shall be sufficient to provide funding to such State."

If state law does not give the state legislature the right to bypass the governor, how can Congress just change that law? Where does Congress get the power to change a state constitution?

If true, governors might have good reason to refuse stimulus dollars.

In most states, the legislature controls the funding.


After the federal dollars stop, the states are free to change the eligibility again.

[wildkyle]

we need alot of military spending we are in a war

An illegal war, that is doing nothing to "keep us safe." The politicians need to grow some balls and vote against funding--that's real support for the troops.

i disagree the war in iraq was passed by congress but that is not the only war out there the war in afganstan is still being fought. i know obama is thinking about talking to the taliban but if he does that he will have more problems with congress

[ASUMountaineer]

An illegal war, that is doing nothing to "keep us safe." The politicians need to grow some balls and vote against funding--that's real support for the troops.

i disagree the war in iraq was passed by congress but that is not the only war out there the war in afganstan is still being fought. i know obama is thinking about talking to the taliban but if he does that he will have more problems with congress

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

[dbackjon]

i disagree the war in iraq was passed by congress but that is not the only war out there the war in afganstan is still being fought. i know obama is thinking about talking to the taliban but if he does that he will have more problems with congress

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

The United States was founded by people that did not want world empires. We acted that way up until the 50's, when the military/industrial complex took over.

[Biff]

You can bet that there are house Repubs in Columbia that are furious with the governor over this one. I am not a big government supporter, but when the nation is in economic crisis and funds are available, funds that WE have already PAID FOR out of our sweat and toil and then for certain leaders with egoistic ideals to come along and basically tell their constituents that they don't need it...nah, I got a problem with that.

He's simply raising his stock for a run at the white house in 2012 and he will get SLAUGHTERED if it's up to him to replace President Obama. I actually voted for Democrat Tommy Moore in the last SC governor's race because Sanford is such an idiot.

I like Sanford and he is the first governor, IMO, that I have seen (I'm young) that is financially minded. I think he has been good for the state.

I am all for not accepting the stimulus money. Handing out loans (we will have to pay it back) is not the way to solve our issues IMO.

[wildkyle]

i disagree the war in iraq was passed by congress but that is not the only war out there the war in afganstan is still being fought. i know obama is thinking about talking to the taliban but if he does that he will have more problems with congress

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

[AshevilleApp]

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

AlexAle?

[Col Hogan]

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

AlexAle?

Exactly what I thought...only without the brash anger...

[dbackjon]

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

No. This is an issue that transcends party.

We have not declared war since WWII, yet have intervened militarily in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Kuwait, Iraq, Iraq again, Afganistan, Kosovo, Panama, etc.

Constitutionally, IMHO, none were done correctly.

[wildkyle]

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

AlexAle?

what

[AshevilleApp]

AlexAle?

what

I guess not then. Good for you. Believe me.

[OL FU]

Interesting that we all holler for politicians to stand up for what they say they believe in instead of sticking their finger in the air and then when a politicians does just that (time and time again even against a state house that is owned by his party) those who supposedly believe as he does sticks a knife in him.


Whether you agree with Sanford or not, he has rarely waivered from conservative principles.


Thanks Mark. (Of course the republican state house will over rule you and will take the money so they can continue to spend like their DC mentors)

[OL FU]

You don't have to like him and you don't have to agree with him but to simply say that Sanford is doing this to position himself with the national republican party ignores history of being true to his fundamental beliefs.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/15/mark-s ... salam.html

Mark Sanford represents the counter-reaction. He is moving conservatism away from the delusions of pain-free prosperity and toward the rigor of self reliance. My sense is that this is not a move that will help Republicans win elections. Just as LBJ crushed Goldwater in 1964 by highlighting the many middle-class benefits he put in place, Obama will certainly try to do the same thing to an aggressive budget cutter like Sanford.

Yet this might be the political argument we need. At some point in the near future, we will come to the sudden, sharp realization that we're not as wealthy as we thought we'd be. And while no one wants to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, an evocative phrase that George W. Bush once deployed against congressional Republicans, we might eventually be forced to trim the benefits we provide to middle-class taxpayers, particularly ones provided through the tax system. Sanford seems like the only politician, Republican or Democrat, with the guts to make that case.

[ASUMountaineer]

Congress did not declare war, can you prove it did? Otherwise, they just allowed Bush to declare war by doing nothing but financing his unconstitutional war. The fact is, the "War on Terror" is not really doing that much, and has not been a success. Trying to build an empire will not keep us safe, in fact it will only alienate the world against us. Mission accomplished.

you know clinton got us into wars without it being declared so are you saying that clinton is guilty of it or let my guess that since clinton was a democrat he can do whatever he wanted to do

Let me guess, partisan hack? If you think I'm a Democrat...stick around, you're in for a rude awakening.

Yes, Clinton was wrong, any "war" not declared by Congress is unconstitutional in my [1 year of law school] legal mind. I will say, Clinton was more of a "conservative" in his eight years then Bush could have dreamed to be in his.

I am, what you would call, a Libertarian (I would call a real conservative). I believe in limited government, letting people live their lives (that includes people in other countries). I support personal responsibility, less government involvement, states' rights, and civil rights that are protected (not granted) by the government. I am against building an empire (this is not Rome), income taxation, unsound fiscal policy, and the neo-con mentality.

[OL FU]

Not that it changes the debate but the US has been in undeclared wars long before The period of time after WWII.


how long did we fight the Native Americans and how soon we forget the "shores of Tripoli"

[wildkyle]

wars have not been declared for a long time but that doesn't mean there needed. i think they should have declartions of war but the antiwar people will not allow the word war in

[houndawg]

wars have not been declared for a long time but that doesn't mean there needed. i think they should have declartions of war but the antiwar people will not allow the word war in

Yeah, buncha buzzkills, those anti-war types......

[dbackjon]

wars have not been declared for a long time but that doesn't mean there needed. i think they should have declartions of war but the antiwar people will not allow the word war in

You do know that there has been only one war in American history that did not generate significant anti-war protests, riots, etc?

And do you know which one that is, and why?

[OL FU]

wars have not been declared for a long time but that doesn't mean there needed. i think they should have declartions of war but the antiwar people will not allow the word war in

You do know that there has been only one war in American history that did not generate significant anti-war protests, riots, etc?

And do you know which one that is, and why?

wars have not been declared for a long time but that doesn't mean there needed. i think they should have declartions of war but the antiwar people will not allow the word war in

You do know that there has been only one war in American history that did not generate significant anti-war protests, riots, etc?


I would guess WWII, am I right?
And do you know which one that is, and why?

[dbackjon]

OL FU - you need to put your comments OUTSIDE THE QUOTES

And yes, you are right.

[OL FU]

OL FU - you need to put your comments OUTSIDE THE QUOTES

And yes, you are right.

Where is the help desk

[UNI88]

OL FU - you need to put your comments OUTSIDE THE QUOTES

And yes, you are right.

Where is the help desk

It's been outsourced to India but it looks like it's going to lose a number of gubermint contracts so it looks like it will be moving back. Any suggestions for a good location with a high number of intelligent, helpful people with reasonable income expectations?

[houndawg]

Not that it changes the debate but the US has been in undeclared wars long before The period of time after WWII.


how long did we fight the Native Americans and how soon we forget the "shores of Tripoli"

Trivia: The Treaty with Tripoli, ratified by Congress in 1790, states in so many words that "the United States are in no sense a Christian nation".

[wildkyle]

You do know that there has been only one war in American history that did not generate significant anti-war protests, riots, etc?

And do you know which one that is, and why?

You do know that there has been only one war in American history that did not generate significant anti-war protests, riots, etc?


I would guess WWII, am I right?
And do you know which one that is, and why?

true but things have gotten worse since vietman. the left only wants us to fight wars that do nothing for the us