Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) participated in a blogger conference call Monday to discuss President Obama's stimulus package and its prospects for passage in the Senate.
NewsBusters associate editor Noel Sheppard participated in this discussion, and had an interesting exchange with the Senator concerning current tax receipt projections by the White House and what they suggest about the economy.
Those interested can listen here.
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Great interview, Noel
February 2, 2009 - 23:14 ET by thebutlerdiditThanks for including that. I am a native Alabamian, so to hear that one of our Senators gets it, is good. I think he was shocked by the well-informed and intelligent questions. I can just picture him chatting with the other Senators, and telling them how much more intelliegent and knowledgeable the bloggers are, as opposed to the usual interviews he gets. I also think he will be taking your ideas back with him, so you guys did a great service. Hopefully, you can get others on and speak to them. Make it a regular event.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
butler
February 2, 2009 - 23:20 ET by Noel Sheppardbutler,
Actually, this is a fairly regular event. McConnell's office has been setting them up for several years. They're just not all "worthy" of posting here. Make sense?
Regardless, glad you liked it. I sure did! :-) ns
Noel, I fully understand.
February 3, 2009 - 00:03 ET by thebutlerdiditLike most folks here, I've watched my share of C-Span. LOL. It ranges from boring to bizarre. Since I have only been here a few months, I wasn't aware of the practice, but if they are interesting, then, post away. Thanks for all you guys go through to keep us informed.
Di
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Noel, Are you the ONLY one asking these Questions? Yup!!
February 2, 2009 - 23:31 ET by upcountrywaterGreat interview, Watch out Sen. Jeff just may hire you away from NB...
So now we know what's going to happen.. A Carter/ 0bama misery index.
Good luck obama, getting an increased tax revenue,year over year; with tax cheats on your team.
FREEDOM
(D)
Kevin
February 2, 2009 - 23:41 ET by Noel SheppardKevin,
Well, if folks aren't going to jump in, I'm going to continue asking questions, especially if it's MY subject.
How many chances do you get each week to chat with an intelligent Senator? Carpe diem, ita?
Once I realized he was game, and enjoying it, I took every opportunity presented to dig deeper. Pretty cool, n'est pas? ns
Oui, tres bien.
February 3, 2009 - 00:08 ET by thebutlerdiditBut, how can he be intelligent? He is from the Sowuttthhh, for goodness sakes! You know we are all just inbred knuckle draggers.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Noel,Not only an
February 3, 2009 - 13:42 ET by Chris NormanNoel,
Not only an intelligent senator, but one who gets it. A lot of times you hear a GOP senator being interviewed and you get a sense that, although they are versed on policy, etc., there's a detachment from what the conservative mainstream is saying. It's like they're a few beats off from what's going on beyond their closed small world of the Capitol. It's hard to describe, do you know what I mean?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
$2.7 Trillion in '09?
February 3, 2009 - 00:59 ET by R D Helm$2.9 Trillion in '10?
$3.07 Trillion in '11?
$3.27 Trillion in '12?
What, pray tell, are these people smoking? They couldn't hit those numbers tax receipt-wise even if they were to pass the FairTax tomorrow morning, and we all know that isn't going to happen.
There are not enough wealthy people in this country, hell, maybe not even in this hemisphere, to cough up that much money no matter what type of draconian, economy-destroying tax increases they might come up with.
Our economy is contracting at this very moment, and may continue to do so for a while longer, yet these Gomers think the federal government is going to see $2.7 Trillion in tax revenues next year? Right, sure they will, but only if they sell a huge chunk of the US Navy to the Chinese.
The accumulated national debt is going to grow far larger, and exponentially so, as if it weren't large enough already.
Is it possible these idiot people truly believe that the "stimulus" bill currently before the Senate is going to somehow turn this nation into an economic juggernaut?
Is it possible that the Obama people are trying to rig it so that the incalculable huge future deficits, as well as the accumulated national debt, will make it politically impossible for any politician to seriously propose tax cuts of any kind?
What about the hideous inflation that is sure to result from the further devaluing of our currency due to the federal government's printing money 24/7?
What happens when the Chinese tell us to go pound sand and refuse to buy up any more of our debt?
What, exactly, did 65 million people vote for last November? I seriously doubt it was this insanity.
This is change, alright-change that is going to screw this nation right into the ground and make damn sure it stays there.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
I think Michael Phelps is furnishing
February 3, 2009 - 01:35 ET by thebutlerdiditthe chronic. It is the only explanation I can figure, Dave.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
I've got it!
February 3, 2009 - 04:19 ET by Chattychitoif the 65 million people who voted for Obama each sent in 100 this week to congress. they would have 6,500,000,000 to spend on stimulis. if they did that each year for ten years well you get the Picture. no ned for the Goernment to bail out. let the people bail them selves our.
Come on you 65 million who voted for spread the wealth practice what you preach.
Ask not what your country can do for you (65 million) but what you can do for your country.
That video from Daschle
February 3, 2009 - 01:23 ET by ConservativeRexThat video from Daschle saying we must always stop and catch tax cheats is just classic.
I reckon Obami figures it takes a tax cheat to catch a tax cheat. If so, he's way ahead of the curve.
Working folks (like me) are not ever going to get a break with the Obami team. I am not looking for one, so I tend not to be disappointed.
The only message I get from the Obami team is "get your butt back to work and get those damn tax dollars into Washington where they belong!! And don't gripe about it, you racist!! It's not your money anyway!!"
I have got a better Idea!
February 3, 2009 - 04:27 ET by Chattychitoeach person in america pays the Government 100 family of ten is $1,000 per year. No taxes, no nothin just pay to live here $100 per year.
Each business that maked under $100,000 per year pays $1,000 each to have a business here.
each besiness that makes $200,000 pays $2,000 and so forth so Trump, Gates and Obama they would pay more to do business here. each manwhould personally only pay $100 to live here each year too!
the Goverment woul donly have business income records only, not individuals. Census would keep up the records of howmany family memebers.
How much money would the Govt have each year if everyone volunteered to pay these amounts? Nothing more nothing less?
I saw Obama
February 3, 2009 - 09:06 ET by jackie3I saw Obama on tv last night. He said: "We need to dig out of this hole."
Now, I've never been to college and I'm just a stay at home mom but seems to me that Obama and our "wise" all knowing government seems to believe they can "dig out of the hole" by making the hole deeper.
Pretty soon America will dig itself to China!
Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
Idea!
February 3, 2009 - 11:06 ET by StarAZWhen we get to China, we can get some money.
"My Bloggers Are Better"
February 3, 2009 - 10:32 ET by BlondeOh man, NS.....that is THE truth! And ours is the best.
What a great question about baseline...talk about the left always re-setting the goal posts.
As to your follow up...his answer of "most members are personally panicked" was a great reply, as was the rest of his answer about panicking each time we face tough economic times.
Great work as usual, Noel. Nicely, nicely done.
Finally, I hope this interview, and others like it (bloggers) get some play. The old media is going to run screaming from the room, as mb says, with their skirts over their heads.
NS
February 3, 2009 - 10:37 ET by BlondeI just tried to contact Senator Sessions, to thank him for doing this interview, and his position on the bailout.
His senate.gov webpage is down. Any thoughts?
Hey ya'll
February 3, 2009 - 14:30 ET by BlondeI know the early-in-the-day posts sometimes get overlooked on a fast-breaking news day.
But Noel's interview (audio above) is spot-damned-on. And Senator Sessions obviously was impressed by Noel's questions...I'd imagine if we see Sessions in the Budget Committee, we're going to see Noel's words come out of his mouth.
It's well worth listening to...and I'd encourage you all to do so.