Letter To Arlen Spector

This is a family blog, and primarily will continue to be one. The Recently passed stimulus package really has me bugged, though. The current state of the economy is a problem, and it has affected my family by slashing the value of our very small investment nest egg (for college and weddings, etc.) in about half.

Does government have to do something? Is President Obama correct when he says that only government can get us out of this fix? My answer to the first question is, "I'm not sure." My answer to the second question is, "Bull puckey!" Certainly justifying this stimulus package simply by saying that it is the "right size and scope" is like sending you daughter to a beauty contest in a clown suit and saying it is the right size and covers everything that needs to be covered (and so much more). This ignores that fact that it is ridiculous and will be mournfully ineffective.

This is already more than what I wanted to post, so let me say this. I was embarrassed by the three spineless republicans in the senate that voted for this package. Particularly embarrassing was the senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Spector. His assertion was that we had to do something and this package was the only one that he had the opportunity to vote for, so he did.

That leads me to the letter I sent to him on Thursday. It reads as follows:

Dear Senator Spector,

I read the explanation of your vote for the stimulus package. I also heard your interview with Sean Hannity on the air shortly before your vote. I can't say that I was disappointed in your vote, because I have come not to expect any better from you. It is beyond my comprehension how you, or any other elected representative could vote for a package that you haven't even read and simply state that it is "the right size and the right scope."

Saying that we had to do something and that is why you voted to do this is like throwing a drowning man a rock and saying that you had to throw him something. Although you would have preferred to throw him something that floats, the rock was all that someone would hand to you.

Watch out for Pat Toomey or some such challenger in your next primary. He very nearly took your nomination away last time around. This decision of yours will likely tip the vote next time around. For principled conservatives in Pennsylvania, there will be much rejoicing.

Tom Bueche

We have an opportunity here to draw a stark contrast between conservativism and liberalism. For those that think republicans need to become more moderate to win more elections, think again. JOhn McCain put that notion to bed. Will the republican party resurface as the natural home for conservatives? Now is the time to answer the call. Will republicans pledge now to stop the remainder of the stimulous package in 2010 if they are re-given a majority in congress? Sixty percent of this package's immense spending will have yet been spent by then. Or will the money be allowed to be squandered just like the republicans squandered their majority power over the past 10 years or so?