Obama & Pelosi MUST be defeated

I get a little more sick every time I think about the "spendulus" package that could be signed into law in mere days. However, I have not lost hope that there are some out there -- even Democrats -- who will stand up against this dangerously foolish package.

Case in point: Rep. Walt Minnick, a freshman Democrat Congressman from Idaho, has proposed an alternate and very reasonable plan to what is currently being sold to us as "necessary for the survival of our country". He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, which is a group of moderate and occasionally conservative Democrats. Basically, he is proposing a plan called START (The Strategic Targeted American Recovery and Transition Act). The plan calls for a "bare bones" pure stimulus deal of $170 billion that will put $100 billion immediately into the pockets of low to middle income Americans and then use the remaining $70 billion for basic infrastructure projects that create jobs. The best part? START would require any funds that go unused by 2010 be returned to the treasury. Quite a difference from the current plan, which says that once enacted, it cannot be undone. That's downright scary considering that there is no guarantee that it will even work.

Why have I not lost hope? Because this plan was proposed by a Democrat. Minnick was one of eleven House Democrats who voted against Obama & Pelosi's stimulus. We really only need either a couple Dems to vote no, or get the 3 rogue Republicans (including PA's own Senator Specter) who sided with the Dems to switch back. I think it's possible, considering that there are Democrats who don't support the plan....not to mention that public support for the stimulus package is collapsing.

We have got to find an alternative way to get the economy moving again...and I know that we can AND MUST do it without burdening future generations with the $1 trillion in debt that this stimulus package will place on their shoulders.

WHAT CAN YOU AND I DO?

• Read the stimulus bill here. Find out what you, your kids, your grandkids, and your great-grandkids will be paying for.


• Contact Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick and voice your support for his alternative plan at (202) 225-6611 or email.


• Contact one of the three Republican Senators who voted for the stimulus and let them know that you do not support their decision: Susan Collins of Maine (202) 224-2523 or email / Olympia Snowe of Maine (202) 224-5344 or email / Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (202) 224-4254 or email


• DO NOT GIVE UP. This fight is not over. Keep fighting for America! We can do this!

Don't let anyone convince you that this fight is over. If this fight was over, President Obama would not be traversing the country trying to tell us ordinary Americans that this is the right thing to do. They are scared. They know that they can still be defeated. And by God, I hope they are.