The party of "Hell No"

So Sarah Palin, on the stump for John McCain in Arizona, tells us today that the Republican Party is the part of "Hell No." Her reference of course was to the current administration's efforts to increase health care benefits to millions of Americans who are either uninsured or under-insured. Palin's hypocisy on the issue of public spending is well documented. But in case you need a reminder, I have thre words for you: "Bridge to Nowhere."

You'll remember that the bridge was a proposed project that was to link Ketchikan, AK with Gravina Island. Palin was a big proponent of the bill while there were federal funds available to pay for the majority of the construction costs. However, when the federal funds were reduced, Palin decided that Alaska shouldn't have to foot the bill and decided that the current ferry service was adequate after all. Curiously, she kept the money that was already given to Alaska. I wonder why the Tea Party never talks about that?

The point is that the money that went to Alaska's bridge project came from the federal government, which  came from taxpayers. The majority of those taxpayers will never visit Alaska, let alone live there. But the party of "Hell No" is really the party of "Hell Yes" when it comes to funds that will benefit them politically.

And lest we forget that the Republicans came into a federal budget surplus in 2001. The National Debt Clock was running backwards so fast 2000, that it was unplugged and covered with a curtain. After roughly 2 years of the "Hell No" party being in power, the clock resumed running in 2002, with a figure of 6.1 trillion dollars. It is now out of digits, because the national debt is at 10 trillion and counting. And the Republicans can't play the blame game here.

The FACT is that after 8 years of Bill Clinton, the country was doing well. A budge surplus for the first time in 40 years, and a reducing national debt. The GOP had the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court for 6 years.

From where I'm sitting, they did a pretty crappy job.