From ‘Spending Bill’ to ‘Splat’
04 February 2009 5:00 am by Taylor Marsh
A source close to Daschle says “he didn’t have the stomach for the fight.” – George Stephanopoulos
Republicans crowned the stimulus the “spending bill.” It stuck. Stimulus morphed into Republican propaganda to hit Democrats on being big spenders, the stereotype they love to use, which takes a lot of nerve after big borrower Bush. Still, President Obama kept a hand outstretched for a economic rescue plan that bleeds neither red nor blue, even as the House became a PR nightmare for the non-partisan prez. Speaker Pelosi did her job, which has nothing to do with placating Republicans, regardless of what Claire McCaskill says and even though she’s right about the bonuses. There’s a larger issue at stake, but if no one fights for it who’ll know?
Meanwhile, a little media kerfuffle develops over one, then another, then another Obama cabinet nominee, finally landing on Obama’s health care champion, Tom Daschle, someone who knows the insiders and lobbyists inside the health care world, as well as the Congress backwards and forwards. Now, I know it’s revolting to some to have people who can deal with the riffraff, but health care isn’t like picking teams for dodge ball. Amidst this, Mr. Daschle picks up The New York Times one morning, forgetting this is about more than just him, suddenly dropping everything to scurry out stage left.
But when a notoriously venomous columnist starts quoting Kitt Bond’s words against the President, you know you’re in a very deep hole. After all, no matter how nice Mr. Bond, I sat next to him in a parade when he was governor of Missouri, he doesn’t exactly have the stature required to beat up on the new president, but he gave it a try anyway: As Senator Kit Bond, a Republican, put it, there were so many good targets that he felt “like a mosquito in a nudist colony.” I heard that on “Hardball,” too. Maureen Dowd pays no attention to the caliber of conservative she’s vaunting to Republicans main man status, someone who is now president of the tony Alfalfa Club, but has one foot out the door. Not exactly your up and comer. Kitt quipped to President Obama on Saturday, about creating a “Troubled Alfafan Rescue Fund.” Clearly, Republicans feel they’ve got their issue. Dowd has her target.
Even as he told the children his favorite superheroes were Batman and Spider-Man, his own dream of being the superhero who swoops in to swiftly save America was going SPLAT!
[...] The Democratic president has been spending so much time trying — and failing — to win over Republicans that he may not have noticed the disillusionment in his own ranks.
Betrayed by their bankers and leaders, Americans were desperate to trust someone when they made Barack Obama president. His debut has left them skeptical about his willingness to smack down those who would flout his high standards or waste our money.
“SPLAT!” Wow, and here I thought this far out from poppy Bush she’d finally give it up. But Ms. Dowd’s writing fetish for making all Democrats seem weak, unless they’re women, whom she makes into emasculating shrews, is in full gear. I guess Ms. Dowd doesn’t realize that Democrats can pass the stimulus without Republicans. That by reaching out and getting stiffed, President Obama doesn’t owe Republicans a thing, especially if he believes in the stimulus Democrats are working to pass. Dowd doesn’t realize that Obama was standing fully behind Daschle, even as the Dem senators decided to close ranks around him. Whose fault is that?
No doubt many believe President Obama admitting he “screwed up” was refreshing, especially after George W. Bush. That admitting a mistake will buy him favor with some. Wake up. Republicans framed the stimulus, then on a signature Democratic issue, without hardly a peep from Republicans, Obama’s HHS nominee fled the scene because of an editorial. Keeping in mind that it will take a lot of capital and clout to change health care, which will also be expensive, this combination was put in place to keep Obama’s domestic plans in check.
Senator McCain has now sent out an email, to accompany his online petition, with wingnut radio amassing because Republicans, with nothing but retread Reagan ideas (and a moose killin’ ethics challenged governor), have muscled their way on to center stage.
Tell me again who’s in the minority.
President Obama screwed the pooch and admitted it. He tried to honestly extend a hand of reconciliation to repugnantklaners and they attempted to chew his fingers off.
Perhaps because he himself was treated with defference by the media during the Primary he honestly thought that once elected the same rules would apply to his administration. They have shown otherwise.
One can only hope he,he has in the past, learns from these two mistakes and comes to the realization that he IS in fact the President of the United States of America and start acting accordinly.
The repugs have shown they are STILL repugs and not to be trusted nor counted upon to place country above party…CRUSH THEM.
The media has shown they will actually do their jobs and look into things, ESPECIALLY since a Democrat is in the White House. For GAWDS Farni sakes check people out before you announce their appointments!!!?
Him and his team want to know the life history of underlings applying for jobs but dosen’t ask CABINET level appointments if they have ano ooooooooo UNPAID TAXES?!?
Like I said, one can only HOPE for CHANGE and President Obama’s team gets their game back. They started out real strong. They stumbled over a bump in the road called the repugnantklan party. They almost tripped over their own feet on a couple of UNVETTED appointments.
It’s not even the first quarter, more like the first minute of DA GAME. LET’S GO TEAM!!!!
I’m shocked at how floundering Obama’s efforts have been so far.
Obama has not floundered. He hit a couple of bumps in the road. The one bump – Republicans – he has to learn that he doesn’t have to be bi-partisan once they show that they will not work with him as the House Repubs showed. He owes the Repubs nothing. He does, however, owe the American people leadership, even if the Repubs refuse to go along.
“Tell me again who’s in the minority.”
Why ? The Democrats , of course …
Apparently we are lead to believe that The Democrats were not voted in power last November because the country wanted to try a new path …
Rather, it seems we control the Congress and the White House because we just got lucky like picking up a $20 bill on the streets in this economy …
The way the MSM news is being shaped right now, it seems as if EVERYTHING the Dems try to do is put under the strictest criticism whilst the GOPs obstructionist talking points are parroted as if they were the words of the Gospel themselves …
How is the losing party going to realize that only a few months ago they were vastly rejected policy and electoral wise, IF the talking heads insist on adopting lackluster reporting … ?
The reason the Dems always end up on the short end of the stick is because they act like the minority party. Do they know what to do with power? I’m beginning to think not. They are letting the Repubs get the upper end and set the agenda which will mean the same ol’ same ol’. Unless they start hitting back hard the Repubs will have it their way and the Dems won’t even know what hit them.
I agree with you secular, how many times is Obama going to stick his hand out to get it bitten off by repugs? Repugs are going to play the same old politics that has worked for them over and over again. Obama has the good will of the people right now, so the hell with the repugs. Its time for the President to quit being Mr. Nice Guy, and start doing what we the people put him in office to do.
Jane Austen says:
04 February 2009 at 9:04 am
The reason the Dems always end up on the short end of the stick is because they act like the minority party.
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Almost seems like an inferiority complex. But I think Obama did the right thing following through on the bipartisan effort. Since the Republicans aren’t interested let’s move on and get things done.
angels81 – there are times to play “Mr. Nice Guy” and this is not one of them. This country needs bold action from our President and the leadership that goes with it. I would suggest that the Democratic Congress start acting like they have the President’s back and begin to “strong arm” those that oppose Obama. Damn, I’m so sick of weak-kneed pols.
GeoT – exactly. As far as I’m concerned they got their chance, now let the POTUS do his job.
if anyone needs Avatar lessons I’ve spent about 4 hours figuring it out… :=)
bb a little later.
Jane, I agree now is not the time for Mr. Nice Guy. I worry if Obama can stop being Mr. nice guy and tell repugs to go screw themselves. Democrats need to turn this around on repugs by framing them as the same old tax cuts for the rich crowd that they have always been. Repugs have nothing new to bring to the table, so lets not invite them anymore and move on.
Obama needs to get the “big dawg” into the game and let him reframe the stimulus to the american people. No one can do it better. I am surprised that a man who is so praised for his communication skills is doing such a lackluster job of translating this bill to the people.
IMO Dashchle is no loss. Healthcare is going to be a huge fight and not an exercise in making the insurance industry happy if it is to be any good. If he dosen’t have the stomach to fight for his own nomination how the hell is he going to fight for the american people?
Geo …it would be great if you could write us all a little lesson plan on what you have learned.
Taylor, don’t you find McCaskill’s public utterences a little embarrassing?
Lake Lady. You are right on point. Obama needs to bring the “big dawg” into the fight. Nobody knows how to fight repug bs like Bill. Obama put his hand out and repugs slapped it away, so I say screw them, and nobody is better then Bill to pass that message.
Good morning all. I heard on Olbermann last night (but Shuster was hosting) …Howard Fineman suggested Bill Clinton for HHS. Shuster’s eyes bugged out -”are you serious – is this a rumor!!??”
Fineman said no it’s not a rumor – just a suggestion – I think he’d be great. (I’m paraphrasing) Shuster and his terminal case of CDS was probably thinking “great, that will give me material for the next 4 years worth of shows.”
I agree with LL about Daschle.Putting the tax situation aside, it seems like he’s in the pocket of big healthcare companies. Add to it a wife who is a lobbyist – it just seems too messy for nodrama Obama.
Right now MSNBC is promoting that toxic unbalanced borderline personality Dowd and her “framing of Obama”. They have been all morning. Obama’s honeymoon is over with the cable guys, they are promoting one of their own, a village member.
There is a new book out ,Snark, that is said to devote an entire chapter to the iresponsibility of her writing.
nancy..not only that but he did not bode well for structural change at all,which is what we need in healthcare.
I’m a little worried, as I have been all along, that Obama has too much confidence in his own ability to persuade and get people together. Washington politics is not the Harvard Law Review,it’s hardball to used an over used term.
There is supposed to be a blog on Huffpo about the Snark book but I can’t find it. If you know the story please link it to me.
I think this week has been a reality check for Obama. The coronation is over, the lovefest is cooling and there is a tremendous amount of work to be done. Lincoln and FDR are long gone, he definitely should be asking Bill C. for advice.
I’m really worried that if the economy is in the dire straights that we have been led to believe, why would the Dems put anything even slightly resembling pork in the stimulus package. Items like birth control, although a very minuscule part of the bill, gave the rethugs an opening to distract from the task at hand. I thought we were smarter than that.
I don’t think there has ever been such scrutiny, predictions, obituaries for the first 15 days (yes, it seems like two years) of a President in office. Rachel Maddow mentioned this on her show last night, the MSM is missing the big story (the economy) that is crumbling around the American people, and concentrating on what is more ‘newsworthy’ in their opinion. Just keep people entertained with Blago, cabinet picks tax and nanny problems, and maybe, just maybe, they won’t notice that Rome is burning. Nowadays, the real news is scrolling by underneath the announcer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-g-kellman/the-snark-ascending_b_156809.html
Offering an anatomy of Maureen Dowd’s humor, Denby concludes that it lacks a heart. “Despite all her larks and inventions, she’s essentially sour and without hope,” he says of the New York Times columnist. “In brief, she’s the most gifted writer of snark in the country.”
You know, last night I was thinking about the Daschle thing. I was thinking to myself I wish someone like Bill Clinton would take over HHS because of his consumate political skills. And then lo and behold, Howard Fineman comes on and says the same thing! It was really strange. Not that Bill would do it. I think in times like these, we need fighters, not placaters. I was watching C-SPAN late last night and listening to a health care panel. Unless something substantial gets passed this year, we can kiss health care reform goodbye, too. It’s a real mess because the economy is worse than they thought. (although we have money to bail out the big bankers)
This has been my big worry about Obama, He seems to think that common sense will win out over politics. Until we change the players in Washington, both democrats and repugs, Obama is going to be fighting against the same old politics. We saw in the house that democrats were playing the same old game. They loaded up the stimulus package with a lot of pork, and played the payback game. Obama needs to bring a big stick to both dems and repugs if he really wants to change Washington.
Bill Clinton was always fiscally conservative. He understood the public’s view that the Democrats were wild spenders. He did more to reverse that negative impression than anyone in the Democratic party. Frankly, this bill restored the reputation. After watching Republicans run up the deficit, Democrats had a rare opportunity to vanquish that reputation once and for all.
Alas, that didn’t happen.
Now, it appears that it will be Republicans who slash out the irresponsible portions of this bill.
When Obama said, “I screwed up,” I noticed he wasn’t specific as to how he screwed up. Frankly, I think this was the bigger screw-up than Daschle’s tax folly.
Bill C. will not be “pushing” this stimulus package as written, anyway. That’s for sure. And the muzzle on Bill with Hillary’s new position is about to prove valuable to Obama. I can just imagine what he’d say if he spoke truthfully.
I still maintain that the current bailout plan amounts to pissing in the wind. Doesn’t really matter what they pass, because they all have their heads in the sand over how bad this is really going to be.
Thanks for the link Justlen.
Cramer on CNBC doesn’t think Geithner is the man for the job. I’d link something but I’m not savvy with the tinyurl.
Thanks justlen for the info on ‘Snark’, typical of me , I forgot where I heard about it.
I know I can be a squeaky wheel on some of my favorite subjects but I have felt from the beginning, that the resistence to Hillary in congress was because she represented real change. She would never have let Pelosi lard the bill with sure fire targets for the Repubs.
I know that the porkish stuff was small in the whole picture but look at the opening it has given the Repubs.
What the Republicans are offering is even worse, just more corporate tax cuts.
If President Obama has a plan to get us out of this economic mess and if the Republicans close ranks and become obstructionists, then he should have the backbone to take his majority and blast through the programs he wants. If the GOP filibusters, then take them to task for what they are…obstructing the change that the voters want.
Reid and Pelosi have to get the kind of monolithic support from the Dems that the GOP have shown. It’s put up or shut up time.
Yeh,Ann you are correct about that, WJC knew how to move the ball forward by being reasonable on spending and he has been vilified by the left for doing it.
I’m sorry but I really do not like Pelosi.She is snotty,and does not explan our imperitives in a palitible way all.
Audiegrl says:
04 February 2009 at 10:16 am
I don’t think there has ever been such scrutiny, predictions, obituaries for the first 15 days.
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When so many, including many Democrat’s, are expecting, even hoping that Obama fails, otherwise common occurrences become earth shattering, condemnation worthy sins. EVERY administration (see Bill Clinton) has growing pains… GW Bush just never grew up. Remember, 9.11 was on Bush’s watch, the economic melt down was on Bush’s watch. Now we’re just trying to repair the damage.
Geo ..you are sure right about that. Clinton’s transition met huge resistence.After that remember his balanced budget bill? I think two Dems lost their seats over it. Think what it did for the country.
JoeBeets says:
04 February 2009 at 10:29 am
If President Obama has a plan to get us out of this economic mess and if the Republicans close ranks and become obstructionists, then he should have the backbone to take his majority and blast through the programs he wants.
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agree, time to shift gears and floor it.
I went over to the NYT site and read Dowd,s piece and I have to admit that there wasn’t much I disagreed with. Obama seems to be not in charge of the stimulus package that he wants to see coming out of congress. It seems like democrats are playing the payback game, and repugs are doing what they always do, obstruct and cry tax cuts. Where is the President? Why isn’t he holding democrats feet to the fire and attacking repugs for just obstructing the process? Where is the President?
imperatives….
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 10:38 am
Geo ..you are sure right about that. Clinton’s transition met huge resistence.After that remember his balanced budget bill? I think two Dems lost their seats over it. Think what it did for the country.
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That’s what I admired about him the most, the balanced budgets and surpluses. But how did he get there? Didn’t he do what Obama is trying to do? Move toward the center and gain consensus?
Yikes, you’d have to be deranged to hope Obama fails (ok, Rush proves my point) Oddly, I think the group most disappointed by the first 15 days are the fervent, young Obama supporters, such as those found on DailyKos. The idealistic group that really believed that a “perfect” president had been elected. As a Clinton supporter, who has more grey hair than I’d care to admit, I know there is no such thing as perfection. I supported Bill Clinton, warts and all, and there were many warts. I never believed Obama was perfect, so I’m not too dismayed by the first 15 days – he’ll get it together – hopefully before the country implodes.
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 10:41 am
Where is the President?
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well he’s not in the Senate anymore and it seems more important to Pelosi and Reid to prove that they don’t answer to Obama than to get things done… it’s ridiculous.
nancy50 says:
04 February 2009 at 10:43 am
Yikes, you’d have to be deranged to hope Obama fails (ok, Rush proves my point) Oddly, I think the group most disappointed by the first 15 days are the fervent, young Obama supporters, such as those found on DailyKos. The idealistic group that really believed that a “perfect” president had been elected.
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disappointment is natural, it’s the media theme that seems to be already predicting a failure that is alarming. “The house of cards at 1600 Penn. Ave is collapsing” (heard that one this morning)
I’ve been watching the Senate on C-Span, and if I didn’t know better I would think the repugs still controlled the Senate. Democrats can’t seem to pass anything. Repugs have been able to block anything they don’t like, and Democrats can’t even hold there members together. It just seems to be the same old shit.
Lieberman needs to be stripped of his chairmanship.
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 10:48 am
The media is and always has been, out for themselves. They are all about ratings. I think it was great that Obama was on a interview blitz yesterday. Let people hear the news from him, not slanted by a cable news hack.
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 10:48 am
I’ve been watching the Senate on C-Span, and if I didn’t know better I would think the repugs still controlled the Senate.
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and don’t forget the Dems have been “in charge” since 2006….at least on paper. I’m beginning to agree with those that want less Mr. Nice guy and more “get on board or get out of the way”
Geo..I think WJC did seek consensus, but when it came down to it he had to power through with all Dems.That is when Newt and the earth scorchers took over congress.
Nancy it is not only ratings. This whole thing about the so called ‘liberal media’ is a myth. They may be liberal on social things but they are part of the elite class and they want their cozy nests to remain unruffled. Don’t ask them to sacrifice anything,like paying higher taxes.
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 10:55 am
Geo..I think WJC did seek consensus, but when it came down to it he had to power through with all Dems.That is when Newt and the earth scorchers took over congress.
I think Obama knows this all too well. He doesn’t want a repeat. However, he may have to power through the current legislation, if it is what will be good for the country. He basically said that is how he will be judged (and re-elected).
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 10:48 am
Spot on GeoT. That’s what I was talking about, the MSM over blowing each and every move with Obama, just like they did with him during the primaries and the GE.
They are acting like teenagers (see each daily press conference with Gibbs). I was really offended when they chose to cover the ‘2000 people show up for 35 firefighter jobs’ as a side-bar/human interest type of story, but the lead story is about Dashel, with Andrea Mitchell telling how emotional and disappointed Dashel was in his conversation with her. Big f-ing scoop Andrea. LOL
The story in the fall, where 40 thousand people showed up at a Colorado farm, that offered free vegetables, got the same treatment. Human interest story.
What they are missing, is that people are in big trouble and really scared. This week, in cities all over Europe, people are protesting the poor economy… in the streets, and demanding that their leaders do something to help them.
We need that activism here, to make sure they do what is best for working people and the millions of people who aren’t working anymore, but want to.
Obama speaking…MSNBC
President Obama:
We are going to take the air out of golden parachutes
lynnette says:
04 February 2009 at 11:02 am
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 10:55 am
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actually heard some Republicans talking about reviving Newt’s “Contract ON America” good luck with that.
Obama speaking with a flat voice and saying alot of nothing again. Oh well, they are having another cocktail party tonight in the WH – maybe that will help.
My two cents:
Way too early to write President Obama off yet.
But he has hopefully learned that there is no such thing as compromise with republicans. As Hillary could tell him, their only agenda is to bring down a democratic President. Recall that they woke up every day for 8 years with one goal: To destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton at all costs.
And Maureen Dowd is horrible.
Audiegrl says:
04 February 2009 at 11:03 am
We need that activism here, to make sure they do what is best for working people and the millions of people who aren’t working anymore, but want to.
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yes, I think we need to go back to the theme of: infrastructure= jobs and green economy =jobs, stimulus= jobs. keep it simple.
Can they please remove Peggy Noonan from Morning Joe? Waking up to her is not a good way to start your day. Is she even sane?
kris says:
04 February 2009 at 11:10 am
Obama speaking with a flat voice and saying alot of nothing again. Oh well, they are having another cocktail party tonight in the WH – maybe that will help.
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he’s never been in your top 10. :=)
c chicago says:
04 February 2009 at 11:12 am
Can they please remove Peggy Noonan from Morning Joe? Waking up to her is not a good way to start your day. Is she even sane?
LOL: it’s on from 3-6am out here on the west coast so I usually sleep through it.
Executive compensation is not the issue. To me this is smoke and mirrors. Throw something to the public to make them feel good.
Obama needs to show some resolve here. Remember in one of his books he said that people project onto him what they want to see? That is not a virtue when you are the Prez.
How come the msm isn’t up in arms about the pay to play that Judd Gregg is doing to join Obamas cabinet? How is this different then what Blago did? Gregg has said the only way he will join Obamas cabinet is if Gov. Lynch replaces him with a repug. Isn’t this pay for play?
oh, but c chicago she is beloved by the village. The surprise to me is Mica, has she ever turned on Obama.She makes me sick complaining of all the ‘welfare’ in the bill. I hope the first “Hoverville” starts on her precious farm.
You’re right GeoT but I really expect more of him than we are seeing.
Hooverville..
Angles ..I thought the same thing!
kris says:
04 February 2009 at 11:18 am
You’re right GeoT but I really expect more of him than we are seeing.
I can tell. at least the media is giving him “100 Days” or so all the banners say.
Kris, The guy has been President for 15 days. The old politics in Washington has been there how long?
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 11:15 am
Judd Gregg: live right now on CNBC
Chu is off and running:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-warming4-2009feb04,0,7454963.story
The Repubs want tax cuts for big business. I don’t see how that’s going to work because I think that big business will use tax cuts to shore up their bottom line and the hell with expanding their work forces. We’ve seen what the bailout did. The Captains of Industry still want to live the good life with their expensive junkets to “honor those who have made contributions to the company.” BS!! IMO unemployed Americans need jobs which = taxpayers. Get back to infrastructure jobs and green jobs, and offer tax breaks only to those companies who agree to expand their work force. Remember big business is no friend of the average American unless they can exploit them.
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 11:17 am
. The surprise to me is Mica, has she ever turned on Obama.She makes me sick complaining of all the ‘welfare’ in the bill.
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you’ll love my take on Mika: I think she suffers from a sort of Stockholm Syndrome from being partnered with Joe S. She has morphed into constant agreement with him to avoid conflict.
geot and angels -
I know. I am just impatient after the last few years.
I never thought I would wish they would bring back Imus, but Morning Joe has me longing for Imus.
kris says:
04 February 2009 at 11:25 am
geot and angels -
I know. I am just impatient after the last few years.
So am I kris but I have to look at the fact that Obama has been POTUS for only 15 days. It took GWB 8 years to take us down the path to ruin. We do need to be patient. I know alot of people are hurting right now but Obama must get it right. And the only way he can do that is if the American people keep the pressure on their reps and senators to come up with a stimulus package that is for the American people.
I just wish he would now tell the Repubs that he tried to work with them and it didn’t work so “I won, get over it.”
Kris, I understand, but my anger is at Democrats in congress who seem to want to play payback politics.
JA -
I absolutely agree with you. They have got to get this right because if they don’t we are really screwed.
Jane Austen says:
04 February 2009 at 11:24 am
Get back to infrastructure jobs and green jobs, and offer tax breaks only to those companies who agree to expand their work force. Remember big business is no friend of the average American unless they can exploit them.
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agree! seed money for industries that will grow and create jobs… a redirected auto industry that innovates, and modernize the power grid… just to name a few.
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 11:29 am
Kris, I understand, but my anger is at Democrats in congress who seem to want to play payback politics.
I’m worried that Pelosi is going to try to dictate to Obama in her own quest for power. I just get the impression that she is just as unwilling to work with Obama as the Repubs are.
Joe the Plumber is going to the Hill to advise the Repubs on the Stimulus package. I couldn’t make this stuff up…LOL
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 11:30 am
agree! seed money for industries that will grow and create jobs… a redirected auto industry that innovates, and modernize the power grid… just to name a few.
There’s too much emphasis on big business. And there are all kinds of jobs and innovative avenues to follow without bowing to the Repubs with huge tax cuts for big business. I just don’t trust that part of the stimulus package. This stimulus package should be about putting Americans back to work in good paying jobs, and please don’t offer any “hamburger flipping” jobs at minimum wage.
Well angels I have expressed my feelings about Pelosi and Reid for sometime. They are shameful in my opinion. Pelosi did not do the President any favors by moving that piece of crap “stimulus bill” through the House. Obama needs to rein them in quickly.
Jane, Pelosi has been one of the biggest disappointments for Democrats. She has done as much damage to the stimulus package then all the repugs put together. She is an old, divide and rule politician who cares only about power and party. She is no different then bush type repugs.
Audiegrl says:
04 February 2009 at 11:33 am
Joe the Plumber is going to the Hill to advise the Repubs on the Stimulus package. I couldn’t make this stuff up…LOL
I guess everyone needs his/her 15 minutes of fame although I think JTP has exceeded his 15 minutes and I’m really sick of him.
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 11:29 am
I just wish he would now tell the Repubs that he tried to work with them and it didn’t work so “I won, get over it.”
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I think he said something to that effect this morning.
angels81 says:
04 February 2009 at 11:36 am
Jane, Pelosi has been one of the biggest disappointments for Democrats. She has done as much damage to the stimulus package then all the repugs put together. She is an old, divide and rule politician who cares only about power and party. She is no different then bush type repugs.
And believe me when I say this – the Repubs see this and will use it their advantage. Pelosi, who was so for Obama during the primaries and GE, is playing right into their hands.
Gee JA, he now thinks that he’s “all knowledgeable” now that Pajama Media sent him to Israel.
re: limiting CEO’s salaries to $500,000:
John Thain’s (CEO of Merrill Lynch) Driver Made $230,000: Report
http://tinyurl.com/aersyk
Kris, I agree, its time that Obama gets control of the Democrats. He needs to take Pelosi and Reid to the woodshed and let them know that if they ever want to see anything that,s close to their hearts signed into law, they had better get on board. Democrats are in the position they are in because of Obama and not because the people thought Democrats were doing such a great job in congress.
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 11:37 am
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 11:29 am
I just wish he would now tell the Repubs that he tried to work with them and it didn’t work so “I won, get over it.”
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I think he said something to that effect this morning.
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GeoT – what worries me is that Obama is more in tune to persuasion rather than strong arming and I wonder if he has that ability. Some times you have to use “brute force” just like LBJ did with Civil Rights. I know what you’re going to say – that LBJ lost the South when he did that but these are different times and people are hurting so if Obama uses some “brute force” I don’t think too many Americans are going to hold that against him especially if he gets the economy up and running again. If he doesn’t this country is done for because we’ll become a country where the “minority elite” rule the serfs. Sorry that’s the way I see it. Like I said – we need to take this country back for us. As Taylor’s banner says – “We the people.”
Exactly right angels. Hope he has the courage to do it.
Ha! Geo…Stockholm Syndrome….my sister-in-law suffers from that, after years of living with my brother and having Faux News on in the background. She is irrational about the Clintons.
I signed up at wordpress now how do I do gravatar? Google it?
Betsy says:
04 February 2009 at 11:41 am
Gee JA, he now thinks that he’s “all knowledgeable” now that Pajama Media sent him to Israel.
Bets – if that’s the name of the media firm (I don’t get into this stuff too much because I get frustrated when I read some of the stuff out there, and pissed)that says alot for them and the type of “intellectual” that they employ. Ugh!
Obama said a couple of days ago if the economy doesn’t improve that he is a one term President. He gets it so the Congress better get it quick. I do believe there are elections next year.
GeoT – what worries me is that Obama is more in tune to persuasion rather than strong arming and I wonder if he has that ability. —– Like I said – we need to take this country back for us. As Taylor’s banner says – “We the people.
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Time will tell on his ability to be more agressive, and I’m hoping in the meantime Rahm is kicking some butt in the background. Obama needs to get his act together but Democrats in general need to decide a direction and go full steam ahead.
Jane, Angelachel wrote about that during the primary. Her argument was that Hillary understood the use of power better.She has not been writing for awhile but it is probably still in her archives.
Didn’t Pajama Media just go belly up?
LL – and angelachel was right on.
Sometimes I think we’d be better off with a Repub congress and Obama as President. It might be easier to compromise and get things done. Look what happened when Clinton faced a Republican congress. They did get things done and we were all in pretty damn good shape.
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 11:46 am
I signed up at wordpress now how do I do gravatar? Google it?
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sign-in @ wordpress.com go to “my account” (upper left) and select “edit profile” “Gravatar” box is upper right
Thanks Geo…you understand I need instructions step by step:)
Obama promised us not small government, not big government, but smart government. Obama’s actions need to match the strength of his rhetoric. Which means that this bill should not pass until the fat is trimmed from it.
Obama’s biggest problem in the Senate is not Republicans, it’s his fellow Democrats: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/03/AR2009020304024.html?hpid=topnews
What do these things have to do with stimulus: $1.1 billion for comparative medical research, $350 million for Agriculture Department computers, $75 million to discourage smoking, $20 million in Interior Department funding, $400 million for HIV screening and $650 million for wildlife management? The answer is: NOTHING.
I did not expect much restraint from Congressional Democrats. But as Washington said, the senate is the saucer to the House’s cup: we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it. The Senate will cut a lot of this non-stimulus spending out, boost infrastructure spending, and the resulting bill will pass both houses with wide margins.
So this is not about Democrats versus Republicans, or whether Obama has the balls to steamroll opponents. It is about his promise to govern in a sensible, non-ideological way. Americans are holding him to that promise, and properly so.
Great post Ogenic….however, increasing wildlife management would mean hiring more people to do it, and upgrading computers would sell computers,keeping people employed. Not all of the out of work are construction workers.
Lake Lady says:
04 February 2009 at 11:57 am
Thanks Geo…you understand I need instructions step by step:)
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also: you need to use the same email address as you use on blog sites for the avatars to work.
So this is not about Democrats versus Republicans, or whether Obama has the balls to steamroll opponents. It is about his promise to govern in a sensible, non-ideological way. Americans are holding him to that promise, and properly so.
ogenec – I might agree with you if the Repubs weren’t going to stick to their ideology. They will and there are Repubs up here who are absolutely gleeful about the negative comments about the stim package and actually hoping as Rush does, that Obama fails. They do not want change. They want the status quo and that means playing to the money interests. Obama may want smart, non-ideological and sensible governing but the majority of Repubs are not about to let that happen. They’d rather throw out the baby with the bath water.
I just got my first communication from McCaskill since working on her campaign. Patting herself on the back for her recent comments…and…oh yeah …asking for a contribution.
Afternoon, folks. New thread…
ogenec says:
04 February 2009 at 11:58 am
So this is not about Democrats versus Republicans, or whether Obama has the balls to steamroll opponents. It is about his promise to govern in a sensible, non-ideological way. Americans are holding him to that promise, and properly so
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The first thing Michael Steele did was position the Republicans in an adversarial posture:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/us/politics/03web-nagourney.html?_r=3
they have no intention of participating in “governing in a sensible, non-ideological way.” So you’ve got one hand clapping…
GeoT says:
04 February 2009 at 12:11 pm
they have no intention of participating in “governing in a sensible, non-ideological way.” So you’ve got one hand clapping…
GeoT and JA, I agree that some — maybe even many — Republicans have no intention of working with us. But if you read the WaPost story I linked to, it’s clear that some do. Olympia Snowe for one. I think McCain can also be brought over. Maybe even Tom Coburn! Same goes for moderate Democrats, who also are queasy about this bill. Every dollar we spend now will have to be financed. So it’s imperative we spent $$ only on things that stimulate the economy, and the quicker the better. Otherwise, we are just borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.
LL, I agree that at the margin, some of the things I mentioned are stimulative. The Senate should definitely debate those. But many of them are not, and they need to be axed.
im glad speaker pelosi gets it-we won the repubs lost. so yeah tere is money needed for hiv prevention and pell grants but u know what-the gop lost. the gop funded the iraq wr. destroyed the remains of the great society.obama has defended today the house bill. he said this morning i won. the gop wont cooperate. why co-opt this package with tax cuts to begin is fuming. a real bill would be a trillion on jbs for all ameicans. as the nyt op ed says today-the obama team admits this and we will need another very soon. madisonian govt i hope is returnng. congress must be assertive. we have no kings.if obama wants something then he must consult congress.