It has not been the happiest time of late for area conservatives. So when the opportunity arises for finding humor in everyday political situations, we need to seize it.
We learned over at Sam Hieb's blog today some pretty funny circumstances surrounding several of our local progressive legislators.
First, we learn that Senator Kay Hagan is seeing fit to support the SCHIP expansion even though it relies on tobacco taxes. She had apparently promised to "find a compromise" on this particular type of taxation which is of great significance to North Carolina. Imagine some of her supporters feeling pangs of disappointment and despair as she votes in Washington against her home state's economic interests in order to expand a welfare program. But she was such a good soldier, if we had only known...
And then we learn that Senator Hagan was dead wrong about the Senate swimming pool being closed to women. But hey... the false accusation and the demonstration of bravado standing up to the good-old-boy system in the Senate made for some great media attention early in her term. If you are Senator Hagan, it doesn't matter if you err, because your political intentions are pure.
Hey, maybe Don Vaughan's elevator didn't get stuck after all.
Meanwhile, recall that the city of Greensboro is trying to prevent the Jordan Lake Rules from coming into effect. This is a set of environmental requirements that would generate severe costs for Greensboro. Pricey Harrison is our environmentalist state legislator, and reportedly she is refusing to help the city with the effort to oppose these rules.
In some respects, it is pretty ironic that the liberals in our Greensboro city government are seeking to evade the requirements of environmental regulations. Does anyone remember how the city has engaged in self-promotion over its adoption of various "green" practices and technologies? Does anyone remember all the positive publicity the city was granted because of that? But hey, even Greensboro progressives have their limits-- and then they find out that old Pricey, a member of the club, won't go along.
Finally, Under the Dome has been asking various state legislators what should be done to close the devastating $2 billion budget gap in Raleigh. They approached our own Alma Adams. The outcome?
What two things would you cut in the state budget? Adams said she doesn't have any idea yet where to start cutting.
Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "Hopefully we won't have to do that," she said.
Let not your hearts be troubled. It should be apparent to the reader that Representative Adams has complete command of the situation.
Alma Adams is unaware that the State of North Carolina, unlike the federal government, can not simply print money and create a federal debt. She does not seem to realize that their only choice is cut spending or raise taxes and fees.
Posted by: Stormy | January 29, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Perhaps she is waiting in a hopeful fashion for that big, fat stimulus check from President Obama.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | January 30, 2009 at 06:32 AM
Good point, Joe. I forgot that there was an option #3. A Federal Sugar Daddy, who can print money.
Posted by: Stormy | January 30, 2009 at 09:23 AM
The problem with all of this that everyone is avoiding is that the stimulus is a one-time infusion of cash. If they get some federal money in 2009 and avoid options 1 & 2, then what happens in 2010? Are the Federal Sugar Daddys going to hand out a $1 Trillion "stimulus" every year? At some point, don't you have to bite the bullet?
Posted by: Stormy | January 30, 2009 at 09:28 AM
Indeed, you do, Stormy. But Adams apparently is not yet bothered with little details like these.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | January 30, 2009 at 09:35 AM
Since Obama is going to save the Oconomy by paying everyone's light bill and car payment maybe he will come down and tell her where to cut.
Adams is too busy counting her money from the civil rights money pit to concern herself with actual governing.
Posted by: Delow24 | January 30, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Joe wrote: "it is pretty ironic that the liberals in our Greensboro city government are seeking to evade the requirements of environmental regulations. Does anyone remember how the city has engaged in self-promotion over its adoption of various "green" practices and technologies? Does anyone remember all the positive publicity the city was granted because of that? "
Reality check: The politicans you speak of are LINOs (Liberals in name only) and are the very people behind Greensboro's latest round of greenwashing. To call Greensboro's local leaders liberals is tantamount to calling Joe Guarino a witch doctor and as a liberal who ran against these very same people you now call liberal I consider your use of the L word to be... Well, in poor taste. -Billy Jones for Mayor 2007
Posted by: RecycleBill | January 30, 2009 at 08:03 PM
PS. Here's the link I speak of: http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/greensboro-greenwashing-again.html
Posted by: RecycleBill | January 30, 2009 at 08:04 PM
Billy, I appreciate what you have to say. And I understand fully the point you are making. :)
Posted by: Joe Guarino | January 30, 2009 at 08:35 PM