Pragmatism versus Principle

There has been quite a lot of criticism levied against Virginia Governor McDonnell, South Carolina Governor Sanford and a number of Republican congressvermin for first complaining and campaigning against the stimulus bill and now lobbying to get more money for their respective states.

I think the criticism is fair against the Senators and Congressmen who publicly voted against the stimulus package while working to get money for their districts. That was sheer rank hypocrisy of the highest order. They should not only be called out for it, but the money should have been allocated in a way that there would have been consequences for their hypocrisy.

It is another thing when one is a chief executive of a government. Those people are supposed to be leaders and they are charged with doing what is best for the people who live in their area. The governors may not like having to take Federal money to prop up their school systems or for construction projects, but they have to do what it takes to put people to work.

This was in full display nearly 18 months ago, when George Bush had to swallow hard and propose a bill to keep the nation's (and the global) financial system from melting down. the real shame was that there were so many in his paty who were willing to see the global economy collapse rather than stain their conservative principles with a vote for what needed to be done. Those bastards need to be shamed and, if they were ones who voted against the stimulus but had their hands out privately for stimulus money for their districts, they need to be hammered hard for their hypocrisy.

The governors, though, didn't get to vote on the matter. Sure, they ran their mouths, that's what politicians do. Their actions are what truly matter and there, they are doing what is in the best interests of their states. Which is what a responsible adult would do.