Decrepit

Talking to some buddies this morning an interesting take on the Republican aversion to the stimulus bill was the main topic. Mainly it goes like this (note: I've been seeing this all over the place so I'm not trying to pass this off as original material, I'm just summarizing the conversation). Should Republican legislators (all of them actually) and governors (16 I believe) who opposed the stimulus bill be allowed to accept the funding? I think it's a pretty legitimate question, though I personally believe it to be impossible to impose such restrictions.

What's more is crap like this from Republicans such as Sen. Kit Bond in Missouri who voted against the stimulus but sent out a press release bragging about the new jobs he helped create with its passage. This goes beyond hypocrisy. There's something morally decrepit about these people. If there were a way to block Republicans from getting access to the funds I'd be all for it.

*Update:

Elana Schor at TPM points out four other Republicans all too eager to take credit for the stimulus bill, a bill they voted against.

Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO) - "Luetkemeyer said the project is considered 'shovel ready' and that's what the economy needs. President Darrell Krueger and Luetkemeyer discussed the educational benefits of the economic stimulus package." [KTVO-TV, 2/17/09]

Representative Don Young (AK) - "Alaskan Congressman Don Young won a victory for the Alaska Native contracting program and other Alaska small business owners last night in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. [Congressman Don Young's Press Release; 2/13/09]

Representative Ken Calvert (CA) - "All of us in the Inland Empire will do what we can to direct as much money as we can." [The Press Enterprise; 2/13/09]

Representative John Mica (FL) - "I applaud President Obama's recognition that high-speed rail should be part of America's future," [Congressman John Mica Press Release; 2/13/09]