What is WRONG with these Republican Governors? Haven’t they been listening to Rush Limbaugh?
Or do they have some things that Rush doesn’t have at his microphone and that Congressmen elected to conservative districts don’t have — such as responsibilities to broad-based constituencies and a responsibility as administrators and problem solvers, versus practitioners of hot-button rhetoric?
Inquiring minds want to know about this:
Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama’s economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care.
Their state treasuries drained by the financial crisis, governors would welcome the money from Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers are more skeptical of Obama’s spending priorities.
The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, planned to meet in Washington this weekend with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other senators to press for her state’s share of the package.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked the phones last week with members of his state’s congressional delegation, including House Republicans. Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, the Republican vice chairman of the National Governors Association, planned to be in Washington on Monday to urge the Senate to approve the plan.
“As the executive of a state experiencing budget challenges, Gov. Douglas has a different perspective on the situation than congressional Republicans,” said Douglas’ deputy chief of staff, Dennise Casey.
To be sure, not all GOP Govs eagerly await big bucks from Washington.
This Huffington Post piece notes that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says he’d vote against the stimulus plan if he was in Congress; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, claims he might not accept all of the billions his state could be offered (and Santa Claus will slide down your chimney, too!); South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is the biggest critic and hasn’t even said he’d accept the money if he’s offered it (so he’s planning to leave elected political office as a career?)
Many states are now in fiscally hideous shape. And over the past few months, way before the economy’s October melt-down, governors of both parties have sounded the alarm by articulating the most serious, thoughtful and policy-centered concerns — generally speaking in a way that couldn’t be confused with echoing the talking points of a $38 million a year, well-fed talk show host who has a private jet that flies over their financially strapped states and populaces and he puffs on his cigar (which is probably Cuban..).
But this is the way the system works. The House of Representatives by design is more focused on narrower concerns…the Senate on broader constituencies…and the Governors are at ground zero in problem solving and responsibility. So most of them can’t be confused with “dittohead” listeners — or politicians.
BIG BONUS FOR TMV READERS:
Here are some “switched” jokes you can use at the watercooler (or keg, depending on where you work). These are stock jokes about being broke that have been rewritten for you to use so that you’ll be proclaimed as witty and topical.
HOW BROKE ARE THE STATES?
They’re so broke in California, that residents now go to KFC and lick other peoples’ fingers.
They’re so broke in Louisiana that kids can’t afford yo yos — only yos.
They’re so broke in Mississippi that the welcome mat on front porch say “Wel ”
They’re so broke in Ohio that bank are foreclosing on the homeless’ cardboard boxes.
We’re so broke here in San Diego that we have to take the trash IN.
They’re so broke in Illinois that some people who lost their homes now live in two-story Dorito bags.
They’re so broke in Florida that people are getting married for the rice.
They’re so broke in Massachusetts that burglars break into houses and leave money.
They’re so broke in New York that people go to communion just to go back for seconds.
They’re so broke in Michigan that people go into McDonald’s and put a small fry on layaway.
They’re so broke in New Jersey that kids can’t afford M&Ms. Only an M.
They’re so broke in California that Gov. Schwarzenegger’s bank asked for its calender back.
They’re so broke in Michigan that they can’t afford to pay attention.
They’re so bro in Florida that they can’t even afford the last two letters..
The states are all so broke they rob Peter and then rob Paul. (The banks rob Uncle Sam.)
MORE BLOG REACTION TO THIS STORY IS HERE
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.