March 21, 2009
NYC Letter: The Enforcer
Day 60 of CHOPE
President Obama,I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort -- because nobody messes with Joe.
putting the fear of Joe in stimulus spending
JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS ADDRESS
WASHINGTON February 24, 2009 (White House)
Here is unmessible Joe on the NewsHour last Wednesday:
Vice President Biden had a new warning* for city and county officials today: spend the federal stimulus money wisely. The officials were in Washington for a day of schooling on the $787 billion program. Biden urged them not to use it for things like swimming pools, tennis courts, or golf courses. Mr. Biden:Because of the rules, the president and I can't stop you from doing some things, but I'll show up in your city and say, "This was a stupid idea." You think I'm kidding? This is the only part the president was right about: Don't mess with Joe, because I mean it.I'm serious, guys. I'm serious. I'm absolutely serious.
DON'T MESS WITH STUPID
Joe "Hi-Q" Biden Knows Stupid
Oh yes. Under threat of a damning visit from Joe Biden what city or county or state official would not think twice before misspending their stimulus dollars?
Sarcasm. Ridicule. And a pleading earnestness to be taken seriously. These are the powerul tools of oversight with which this administration has armed itself. [Pause.] Not to be a spoilsport, but we'd've preferred the overseer be vested with actual proscriptive powers to stop or prevent the misspending. We wonder at the deterrent ignominy of being called "stupid" by Joe Biden. An ignominy akin to being called a "tax cheat" by Tom Daschle.
Unfortunately the "don't mess with Joe" part is the only part Mr. Obama has gotten right. [Hard sigh.] Too bad for us about the other parts -- $787B of market-wrecking non-stimulus, TARP oversight (and this and this and this), a proposed $3.6 trillion budget, and the unstainable deficits he will wrought.
CHOPE.
Stupid. Stupider. Joe Biden.
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* Or maybe not so new.
