What Would Jesse Do?

Editor's Note: Jesse Helms was a five-term legislator known as "Senator No," because of his unreconstructed conservative views and attempts to block federal government initiatives. The following is part of an occasional series asking, as to current issues, "What would Jesse do? -- or say?"

• Issue: Supporting the $819 Billion Stimulus Package. What would Jesse Do (and Say)? "Folks, especially young people, do not need any more 'stimulating,' except within the confines of a traditional, het'rosexshul marriage." Perhaps more importantly, Senator Helms simply would not have supported the TARP (even though it should benefit big North Carolina based banks) in the first place and he certainly would not have caved to the demands of the new administration and the Democrats in the newest and latest spending craze intoxicating much of Washington.