Republican Governors May Reject Stimulus Money to Score Political Points

As you look back upon the economic developments of the past 8 months or so, what do you see? Is it rampant unemployment, home foreclosures, Wall Street greed, and hardworking people betrayed by government indifference and/or incompetence?

If so, then you are obviously not a Republican governor. Because a whole handful of them prefer to see our financial crisis as a stage for a massive political stunt...

A handful of Republican governors are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package, a move opponents say puts conservative ideology ahead of the needs of constituents struggling with record foreclosures and soaring unemployment.

Though none has outright rejected the money available for education, health care and infrastructure, the governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho have all questioned whether the $787 billion bill signed into law this week will even help the economy...

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the No. 3 House Democrat, said the governors - some of whom are said to be eyeing White House bids in 2012 - are putting their own interests first.

"No community or constituent should be denied recovery assistance due to their governor's political ideology or political aspirations," Clyburn said Wednesday.

Sorry homeowners, schoolchildren, commuters and laid-off Americans. Although Rick Perry (R-TX), Mark Sanford (R-SC) and Sarah Palin (R-Russian Air Space) will remember to care about you come election season... well that's over a year away! Odd-numbered years mean political posturing season, and these folks will be damned if they let unemployment and poverty get in the way!

Ironically, the governors adopted this horrible idea at the suggestion of a Democrat. Paul Begala, a left-wing strategist and commentator, has already personally challenged South Carolina's Sanford to reject the money... and against the interest of his constituents, his own moral conscience and sanity in general, Sanford and his ilk are strongly considering such action!

Since the governors took the bait so easily the first time, we encourage Begala to now see how far he can go. For instance...

* He could tell Mark Sanford that if he really wants to reject President Obama's evil stimulus package, he could increase South Carolina's unemployment rate to 9.5% while maintaining its illiteracy rate at 15%.

* Or he could tell Rick Perry to increase Texas's uninsured rate to 24%, combined with some of the highest poverty in the country.

*Or he could tell the ubiquitous Palin to raise Alaska's high school dropout rate and STD rate to the highest nationwide.

Because you don't need a pinko socialist stimulus package for any of that stuff, now do you? Suck it, Barry! See you in 2012!