A week into office, President Obama spent nearly two hours today wrangling with Republicans in the House and Senate over his economic stimulus package. Republicans are still pushing for more tax cuts.
When a Democratic President walks into Republican conferences to explain his plan for two hours, something his Republican predecessor didn't do, let's hope they can together find enough fluff to cut so that everyone can agree on moving forward.
Whether the stimulus package is what is needed or not, whether it will work a bit or not, who knows? But if the Republicans stonewall him after this outreach and his willingness to listen to their ideas about the plan, we'll get an idea of how this will go for a while.
Maybe they're ticked about the "Mexico City" abortion ruling.
Bob Herbert had a good column today about Republican la-la-land mentality to be able to balance the budget and keep cutting taxes.
12 comments:
Actually, the lack of concrete response from Republicans was not that surprising, given that they have to answer to their constituencies, many of whom simply don't like the stimulus package. But many Republicans interviewed on NPR, even Cornyn, seemed legitimately moved that Obama took the time to meet with them.
What is more dangerous is the number of people in the Republican base that maintain a paranoid view of Obama as a secret socialist sent from Planet Claire. Take a look at this op-ed from Amy Lathem, a member of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners in Colorado (third column down from top):
http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/guestcolumnists/
These people will never wish Obama well, because they take their cue from the likes of Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, Limbaugh, and Malkin. The Economist said it best back in November: the Republicans are rapidly chasing intellectuals out of their party. They can either choose to oust the hate-radio conspiratorial wackos fighting imaginary culture wars, or bury themselves in lunacy and become irrelevant.
It really was strange hearing Reps gush over the meeting, knowing they were likely going to vote against the package.
Ahh, I ache reaching Lathem's words, knowing they do represent a lot of folks. Interesting that she talks a lot about liberties and the constitution, when in the last 8 years we have witnessed the constitution being swept aside to squash our rights in the name of a "higher cause" - fighting terrorism.
Well, they passed the package with not one yay vote from the Repubs. Couldn't get more cooperative than that!
Susan, the whole thing has my head spinning. Everyone has an opinion, but no one knows what will happen. We just haven't gone through this often enough to know what works. I have a sick feeling all this money won't do much, I hope I'm wrong.
From DC it sounds as though it's more Limbaugh and his ditto-heads.
I am impressed how he is inviting both parties in for more casual intimate affairs and ...I love the idea he doesn't wear a suit coat, and looks so informal.
you want to see something that is going to be like pulling teeth....wait till President Obama has to appoint a supreme court justice! Talk about a stalemate, it will take months
This might be slightly off the topic but I feel it is connected.. It is this Protectionist " Buy American" thing that is rearing its ugly head.. not a good thing!!! Just as the US is beginning to look a bit better in the world's eyes.. They decide to do this... they won't look good if they follow through with it.. we are all in this mess together and we all have to help each other out of it.. Are we suppose to just "buy Canadian" too!!! I don't think so... This is a time of working together.. remember the old saw.. United we stand... divided we fall...
While I wish we did a better job supporting our own economy, I agree this is a big mistake. How long will it take for the world to pull the same on us? This is not the kind of regulation we need. Besides, imagine the higher costs of domestic contracts, compared to importing steel from elsewhere, for instance. Are we willing to pay hundreds of millions more just to make a belated point about buying American?
crazy ol world we are living in, huh?
Oh my head is spinning. I read a New Yorker article about Iran's economy, and how complex it is, and how Ahmadinejad needs to open to the global economy. We can't hide in the sand any more. We are all interrelated, in vast ways.
Thanks for the link Ruth!
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