It is quite clear - abundantly so, that the Amerikkan Right doesn't care a whit about the national welfare. I am sure if the Avian Flu ever struck, and hundreds of thousands died because the health infrastructure funding was denied, the Reeps would simply say 'C'est la vie!'.

They need to get a copy of the Constitution and read the Preamble again. Specifically the sentence to do with: "promote the GENERAL WELFARE"

Reading through the bill, you'll quickly discover that this is a vehicle for the Democrats to push along all their ideologies. You'll see all kinds of references to parks, wild life refuges, Indian reservations, and of coure, STD's.

Not that these things don't deserve attention, but this bill is meant to stimulate the economy, not push the agenda of either party.

Why not spend more on new power plants (not only the "green" kind), oil refineries, water desalinization plants, things that will create long term jobs.

And wasn't a report released, giving US highways and bridges a "D-" grade? It said it would cost over 2 trillion dollars to fix them all. Why not focus mainly on fixing those and other things that TRULY need fixing? You'll have time for all your "pet projects" later.

Congressional Democrats, the time for compromise is over. Get tough.

If the stimulus plan fails, I'd rather it fail because the GOP was too stubborn, than the Democrats were too stupid.

If ACORN gets a dime of "stimulus" money, either directly or indirectly, watch out.

ACORN has done its job -- all too well. As a political advocacy organization, ACORN is major-league. As a community improvement organization, not so much. As a meaningful player in the economic life of the nation, less than zero.

ACORN watch.

As for the $335m Sexually Transmitted Diseases money, I think its a goner, too.

They may be stupid, but at least they're consistently stupid. Particularly when they go on one of their "needs of the few outweigh the needs of the country" tears, or, as in the stimulus package, a "pounds of cure make more sense to us than an ounce of prevention" rant.

I say no more compromises, submit the bill and let the right accelerate their headlong flight into obsolescence. Good riddance.

I thought that hack was marginalized by the election. Continuing to quote him serves to legitimize him again. I'm sure there's many other right-wing crackpot sites you can quote, and you can rotate them so that no one of them can gain any prestige.

Why are Republicans against spending approximately $1 per US citizen to fight viral infections?

That's a question 'Elephantman' needs to answer.

(What is the daily cost of keeping troops in Iraq, BTW?)

So where is the line by line analysis of the billions we have been frantically shoving into the G-Strings of our whoring financial system?

An added thought: the people who provide the services for health promotion are also people who need to keep their jobs. No one seems to get this. A program that ensures better health for the country also hires people to do that work.

Isn't it interesting that the GOP seems to have outsourced everything but their ability to vote against the Dems? It certainly looks that way as GOP Senators and Representatives did not pick upon the family planning and the health issues in the House bill until Drudge started talking about them.

Either the Republicans are becoming illiterate (a logical continuation of the anti-evolution stance?) or too lazy to read by themselves the bills they have to vote for!

Either way, here's wishing that they use the last power they have to vote themselves out of existence...

Good lord. Can someone from the Left please go over this bill and urge the deletion of anything that provides one penny of benefit to any pet conservative project or any entity residing in a wholly republican congressional district? We can cut the total bill AND screw these petty bastards in the process. A win-win if ever there was one.

These schmucks want to play games? Where's Rhambo? It's time to show them how foolish it is to bring a knife to a gunfight!

The Republicans have already gotten what they want - free bail outs for banks, insurance companies, and corporations. You know, contributors, friends, and relatives.

I'll answer your question for you:

Because STD prevention is already free or very affordable.

Obviously, not sleeping around and only having sex in monogamous relationships greatly lowers the incidence of STD's.

And if you don't have the self control to keep your sexual partners to a minimum, condoms are readily available at most drugstores, grocerystores, and gas stations. It might be wise to go to Sam Clubs if you REALLY need them.

And I'm sure if get rid of your Cable TV, you can afford them (heck, if you need THAT many condoms, you probably aren't watching much TV anyways!)

"Are Republicans in favor of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?" "Are Republicans against creating jobs for sex education and health workers?"

But of course the point is, if these are worthy societal goals and sensible governmental programs, then pass them in a separate bill that is not disguised as "Economic Stimulus." Vote on them and pass them, if they are worth it, based on health and governmental spending arguments. Please don't insult our intelligence that "STD transmission prevention" is a better economic stimulus than "GM transmission production."

Economic stimulus for robber barons, wall street pirates and incompetent banking managers? OK!

Economic stimulus for healthcare in any form, especially STD prevention? NO! BAD! SOCIALISM!!

When the hell will these morons realize that:

1) Abstinence only programs DO NOT WORK, and that people are better informed through scientific information which is presented in a frank and factual manner. Further, this kind of education negates the creeping strain of fundamentalism that infects all forms of "abstinence only" education.

2) Factual and accurate scientific information regarding pregnancy and STD transmissions benefits everyone, especially since:

i) Individuals and their sexual partners can make informed decisions in regard to sexual activity and pregnancy. They will use contraceptives, and when doing so will use them correctly - thereby reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, abortions and the social cost of adoption and unwanted children.

ii) STD rates will decline as sexually active individuals will be aware of correct protection methods, thereby reducing the spread of STDs. Currently, many STDs and unwanted pregnancy in teens has much to do with ignorance regarding safe sexual practices.

3) The overall social cost of a healthy society is a boon and not a burden. Think of how much of individual productivity is lost due to preventable illness, and how much stress is born simply because most Americans are woefully under insured, if insured at all? Universal healthcare, and spending on healthcare in general is not some political boondoggle or pork project- it is an investment in the greatest part of our national infrastructure- our citizens.

If the Republican party is dead set upon being wrong on every issue all pf the time, so be it. But they shouldn't be able to drag rational and caring people down with them.

And, as Mr. Koppelman has noted, there is much in this bill that will help many Americans in need. But, per usual, the GOP focuses on the one red-herring issue and throws the baby out with the bathwater.