The blog entry, <a href="http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2009/02/washington-post-crashed-and-burned-watch-bipartisan-edition.html" source="Grasping Reality" author="Brad DeLong">Washington Post Crashed-and-Burned Watch ("Bipartisan" Edition)</a>, lists the actual votes for the spending bill recently passed by the Congress and the Senate. <bq>The Obama bipartisan proposal receives 0 Republican votes in the House, and 0 Republican votes in the Senate. An extremely small group of posturing senators makes the plan materially worse -- reducing its likely efficacy as an employment boost by roughly 600,000 or so -- and it looks as though the final passage bill will get roughly 240 Democrats and 0 Republicans in the House, and 58 Democrats and 3 Republicans in the Senate.</bq> Of just over 300 'yeah' votes for the bill, 3 are going to be Republican. That's 1%. Let's get the definition of <a href="http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=bipartisan&gwp=8" source="Answers.com" author="">bipartisan</a>: <bq>Of, consisting of, or supported by members of two parties, especially two major political parties: <i>a bipartisan resolution.</i></bq> Though 1% <i>technically</i> satisfies the definition, it is certainly not in the spirit of it. Ergo, stop calling it a bipartisan bill. Just because the Democrats let the Republicans eviscerate it of a good portion of its job-creating power doesn't make it bipartisan. In fact, let's stop talking about the Democrats and the Republicans as if they are two separate parties. They all, once again, have put together a bill that consists of $400 billion of tax breaks---most of them probably going to you-know-who---and which does very little for 99% of the population. The banks have already gotten theirs, now it's Halliburton's turn---what other company is more experienced in large infrastructure projects? Just make it no-bid and cost-plus and everyone who matters will be smiling. In a half a year, when this extra trillion down the toilet has mysteriously failed to halt the looming depression<fn>, the Congress and the Senate (a few can be excused for good behavior<fn>) should be the first ones up against the wall when the revolution comes. <hr> <ft>Yes, yes, some of the best economic minds in the business---from various sides of the ideological spectrum---say that we should spend out way out of this crisis. They also wield a kind of inexorable logic and make it look viable on paper. But remember, it has to be executed correctly and skillfully. So forget about that. Whatever this group of idiots in charge employs will benefit only them and their friends in the short term, and tank the country further for the 99% of who don't matter.</ft> <ft>Bernie, Dennis? You're free to go. Everybody else? Get in the f$%king truck.</ft>