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Samantha

(9,314 posts)
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 02:10 AM Jun 2013

Late night rumblings from Inside the Beltway -- a lulu of an idea!

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2013, 08:49 AM - Edit history (1)

In the South, an often heard term is the word “corker.” That slang term is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “something that will stop any debate on the subject.” Merriam-Webster prefers to define that term as a “hummer, knockout, lollapalooza, lulu.”

In recent times when I visited with my step-mother in Tennessee and she made flattering remarks about Bob Corker, all I could think to say was I would imagine it would be awkward being a politician in the South having the last name “Corker.” She laughed and shrugged it off. Bob Corker is a fine, Christian man and everyone loves him, she said.

My silly wisecrack came to mind this evening as I watched the rerun of Chris Hayes’ show. He covered the latest compromise being floated which might allow passage of the Immigration Bill.

Chris Hayes tossed the idea around with Ezra Klein trying to explain why the inclusion of all of the additional border guards and equipment (which costs a gazillion million dollars) has suddenly appeared as a compromise in order to try to promote Republican support of the bill. The humorous part came when Hayes' initial focus zoomed in on Bob Corker. To illustrate the bizarre incongruity of the possible inclusion of a gazillion million dollars to the Immigration legislation, Chris showed several video clips of Corker "preaching" austerity. "We all know Washington has a spending problem ... yada, yada, yada. Onward with the cuts!"

Whoa, politicos! Suddenly Corker no longer has an inclination to continue down the austerity road because he might be willing to get on board with the Immigration legislation as long as this compromise is included. The compromise in Corker’s small mind will send the right signal to all the right people, thus providing political cover for Corker's posterior (loosely paraphrasing here) to support this bill! Apparently, dollars for food stamps are Biblically forbidden like the fruit from the forbidden tree but a gazillion millions dollars to cover Corker's political posterior is manna from political heaven! Forget austerity!

So to eliminate possible political exposure in the next election, the appeasement platform may be mounted by Corker and other like-minded Republicans. Consequently, Republicans supporting the legislation can point to the increased border guards and equipment to prove to the people who really matter the United States Government has got that border covered to squash future crashes from people wanting to come here illegally to take our jobs or to smash us like a bug.

When quietly questioned, one unnamed person (perhaps an unidentified Union official?) interviewed in connection with this sudden willingness by Corker and others to sign on to the spending of the gazillion million dollars despite our dire financial straits was quoted as having said words to the effect, "We don't think this is the perfect solution to this problem; however, it will add a lot of jobs and create a stimulus to the economy, something the Republicans have been unwilling to do up until now. So we are just going to roll with it.”

It is a lollapalooza of an idea but perhaps that is what Washington needs to get the real Corkers and other Republican hummers onboard…so I am just going to roll with it as well.

Sam

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Late night rumblings from Inside the Beltway -- a lulu of an idea! (Original Post) Samantha Jun 2013 OP
What a read -- I'm in awe of how great your OP is. pacalo Jun 2013 #1
You are so great to say that Samantha Jun 2013 #3
So pacalo how are you leaning towards this legislation? Samantha Jun 2013 #7
I think their priorities are twisted... pacalo Jun 2013 #8
I do not understand how he keeps getting elected Samantha Jun 2013 #9
K&R nt Mnemosyne Jun 2013 #2
Twenty senators are now working feverishly to finish the amendment! Samantha Jun 2013 #4
"We don't think this is the perfect solution... we are just going to roll with it" Rec'd n/t Catherina Jun 2013 #5
I want to point out that my beloved son-in-law has a green card Samantha Jun 2013 #6

pacalo

(24,721 posts)
1. What a read -- I'm in awe of how great your OP is.
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 04:34 AM
Jun 2013

If our lawmakers saw fit to spend, what will turn out to be, trillions of dollars on NSA facilities/expenses/sub-contractors to spy on everyone, Corker just confirms how twisted their priorities are. We weren't supposed to know, much less discover, that they would rather drain the federal budget on security while drowning in a sea of debt the very people they are so concerned about protecting. It's twisted. I thought I'd heard it all.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
3. You are so great to say that
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 08:45 AM
Jun 2013

Last edited Fri Jun 21, 2013, 09:47 AM - Edit history (1)

I was watching the Bill Press show and caught the tail end of a discussion on this issue, and the person he was interviewing was making fun of this decision. Hey, I say roll with it and explain it later. We need all the economic stimulus we can get! It is a rare moment when Republicans are willing to give us what we need, but understanding it is only because the gesture benefits them politically is their cooperative hand out, we should take it, don't you think?

People as kind as you, Pacalo, make DU a better place to visit.

Sam

PS I am sorry, Pacalo, I forgot to mention that I agree with your thought that this is twisted. It definitely is. But I am going to contort myself to go along because of the rationale given by the unidentified commentator.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
7. So pacalo how are you leaning towards this legislation?
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 12:41 PM
Jun 2013

I need to ask so I can kick my own thread! Posted it at a really bad time last night, and I was so hoping it would get more exposure! I so enjoyed writing this one. Maybe you can give me an answer and kick my thread for me??

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
9. I do not understand how he keeps getting elected
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 04:59 PM
Jun 2013

He serves the corporate interests in Tennessee and leaves the poor and middle class defenseless.

Thank you for posting on my thread.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
4. Twenty senators are now working feverishly to finish the amendment!
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 09:05 AM
Jun 2013

But oh noes, some are speaking out against it! I know this is rather unorthodox but we need that stimulus for the economy. This issue is now being discussed on First Read (MSNBC).

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
6. I want to point out that my beloved son-in-law has a green card
Fri Jun 21, 2013, 09:40 AM
Jun 2013

He came here visiting from Chile one summer, loved it so much he wondered if he could stay. He applied for a job and was hired within a couple of days because he was bilingual. He met my daughter some months later, they married and I now have two wonderful grandchildren, a beautiful little girl and very handsome little boy. They are bright, polite and fun to be around. While I recognize this is not the best of solutions, I think the Hispanic people realize what benefits the economy works for us all, and when it comes to Republicans, get it when you can.

My grandchildren have joint citizenship, but my son-in-law has chosen not to pursue citizenship by virtue of his marriage to an American citizen. He wants to earn it on his own and his employer has been sponsoring him. He is nearing the time when he can apply. And when he does become a citizen, I will be there to celebrate.

This topic is receiving a lot of discussion today and apparently there is going to be a border guard every 1,000 feet. Staggering. But I am just going to choose to look at it as all those new jobs feeding our economy and making things better for all of us. Without this lulu of an idea, the Immigration bill might not even be able to be brought to the House floor for a vote.

I passionately think this legislation deserves a vote, and I am hoping so much it passes.

Thank you for posting on my thread.

Sam

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