It was a pithy comment. There was the new President seated at a long table today with Dem and Republican Congresspersons. Apparently the Republican contingent was arguing that he needed to sweeten the stimulus program deal for them. Spending one third on tax cuts is not good enough for them. How about cutting back the infrastrcuture to nothing, and upping the tax cuts? That's what we did back in the Bush administration, and that is why our economy is so stable and reliable now. (note lame attempt at humor on my part)
Obama replied "I won." Yes you did win, Mr. President. You have a majority in both houses of Congress, and you get to live in the White House. And the way it works is, when you are crafting a budget, and policies, and priorities, the party that is out of power does not get to dictate to you. They do get to rant about the dangers of socialism on Fox, and yes they get a seat at the table, but there are consequences to elections, and we might as well point that out now as a reality check. This stimulus program that you crafted is not an example of wild eyed extremism. As I mentioned, a third of the cash goes to tax cuts, it is ALREADY a compromise.
Okay, I guess it was a short honeymoon. I'd like more civility, sure. But I would also like a bit of realism.
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Comments: 61
I'm gonna tap my toe and look-see.
You won, they lost. Implement what your supporters want. We will vote for you. Those who want to force your hand are never going to vote for you.
Clinton tried to get along and that only made the GOP ideologs feel more empowered and they steam-rollered the guy to the point of embarrasing the whole Country and teaching our children on national nightly primetime news about stuff way beyond their years. Most of our Presidents were out of bounds with their wedding vows but that was not their oath of office. But the GOP used it to waste Billions of our dollars harassing Clinton, knowing those dollars were loaned from foreign countries making our Country weaker. How ashamed their parents should be. Get their way, get power, promote personal greed and all while claiming such virtues upon themselves. Obama needs to learn a lesson and take calcium to stiffen his spine. His heart is in the right place but this is put up or shut up time and the Country cannot last if he shuts up on what is in his heart.
I thought the Democrats had the majority............
If Obama does not start taxing the wealthy corporate owners then he will lose his hold on the public and will be seen as just another say anything politician to get a vote.
The GOP has no right to question any stimulus package Obama comes up with, its the GOP and democrat porkers that play cronyism like Dodd has done with the banking commission that need to step back, shut their mouth, and pay attention to the one person that has a real interest in bringing us out of the economic downfall "THEY" started.
People that follow party lines Dave are the most dangerous people to our republic because they are so quick to condemn any good that will be accomplished by the other side. Its like if my party says so it has to be right. I thought we had enough of that kind of party politics with Bush and we sure do not need to try to drag Obama into that kind of failing process.
And Kim, I'd do some reasearch on 'bigotry.' You might start with the old Fool who spoke at his coronation, or Reich, for a delicious sampling...
Bush is not a Conservative; OVERSPENDING is a LEFTIST behaviour. And, when Bush behaved as a Liberal, he was WRONG. I couldn't care LESS what people 'call' themselves, or what Party they CLAIM to represent. They are what they DO, not what they SAY that they are.
The "republican" Party is a misnomer; it is filled with Liberals, who do the very sort of things that you Love...
If Obama is getting bad economy advise, dont blame it on the Republicans,,, he has an advisor that he hand picked who wants to hire cheap black labor... In his speech he says, that he doesnt want the jobs to go to white construction workers or overpaid professionals.... him and Rengel want the jobs to go to low income people... So, isnt this saying, we can get cheap labor? Even though a professional or a white construction worker may make these bridges, houses, buildings safer... we have to create jobs and get low income people a job making cheap wages... and the sad thing about it is, most people will say this is such a good idea, without even thinking, cause all they see is color... Yay, the white people dont get the jobs... But, I wonder how many Mexicans will get these jobs too... they may not go to the blacks...
Another thing is if anyone is racist it is the ones that Obama choices to be friends wit as Rich pointed out....what a sham.....trying to make America feel sorry for you to get your vote.... about as low as Hilly and the I am woman vote.....
He'll hire an Illegal to go paint a fence; "hey! I've created a JOB!" Then, he'll send that same Illegal across the street to paint another fence- "Hey! I've created TWO jobs!"...and so on.
Infrastructure is an equally dead-end. Once the bridge is finished, the bridge is finished. That job no longer exists.
Leftists aren't quite sharp enough to discern this sleight-of-hand.
Like everybody, I certainly enjoy tax breaks. Will they stimulate spending and investment? If not, then they become another burden and loan from the Chinese. It's a gamble. Given the results from the Bush era tax breaks evidently increase debt, not reduce it. Yes, yes, curb spending, entitlements, etc., but that does not happen does it? So ideological jackasses bray about tax cuts even while the glaring light of political reality demostrates the concept is nonsense. I'm am so fucking tired of this argument, yet the RWNs seem to feed on it like manna from heaven.
FDR proved if you put money into the hands of people thru job creation they will spend it to improve their quality of life. If you insure a growing wage in the middle class the consumer economy picks up and money moves. If you follow Republican/conservative dogma more and more money is in fewer and fewer hands and the economy slowly grinds down. It's been true since 1776 and true today, yet it appears we are forever inflicted with those too dumb or plain stupid to figure it out.
By the way, I do not wish to suggest in this post that we are descending into the 2010 political campaign while the echoes of the inauguration are still in the air. But to a certain extent, the gloves seem to be coming off about the stimulus program. And to a certain extent, I marvel at the gall of certain Republicans.
For me and many others, that kind of reminder is hopefully enough for the Repubs to remember they are now the opposition and must start acting like it. Going along with the Dems on such spending plans would make it increasingly clear they are not an alternative to the Dems but a minor adjunct to them. That will not help them come 2010.
And for those who for whatever reason still believe in the FDR Solved The Depression Myth, try reading something on period jobless rates. The only thing most of the spending/regulation of FDR did was prolong the misery.
Nobody should be listening to anything the GOP has to say on anything, all they want is a free ride on the working public and to bring us into big government socialism.
Tax cuts. That's all they can get to come out of their limited minds. Sheeesh. Just cut taxes to zero for everybody, forever. China will stop lending to us and we will sink into anarchy.
This power-grab disguised as "infrastructure building" is a load of rubbish. Wake up, Chris. GROW up, Chris. Government does NOT produce; and, therefore, cannot PAY, or CREATE "jobs." It can merely STEAL MORE MONEY from Taxpayers. Obama is an imbecile to believe this. You are, if you believe it, as well.
Think, Chris. Government PRODUCES NOTHING.
BTW those of you that are to young to know or remember the income tax was initiated to pay for WWII and then was supposed to be stopped so why does either party push it like its written into the constitution?
Government produces nothing is right all it does is create a long list of crony supporters that rob the public blind like the GOP just did again.
If the shoe were on the other foot, would Pelosi be dumb enough to make such a demand? I'll have to think that one over.
Opposition parties facing a president with that kind of popularity are ill advised when they try to pressure him to conform to their wishes.
And, I'd be content to "mix is up" with you anytime. ;)
The problem is that even if he won, he has many favors to pay off to many powerful people. We sadly live in a 'quid pro quo' society and government and politics is more so than any. Don't expect that those people will give Obama a free ride. They will want their money's worth.
House Republicans have very little to say about outcome, they have not enough votes. Senate could make it ugly, if they choose to filibuster. However the filibuster could end up hurting them.
Consider this: During the election Obama outflanked and outmatched every Republican slime attack. Again and again Obama hung McCain and the RNC by their own pitards. What makes you RWNs think he's not at it again? The guy is at 70% approval rate yet the Repubs bray about the same failed BS again and again. He's gonna let them. He's gonna make a few concessions then spring the trap. He's step on the stage, unfurl his elegance and pin the entire disaster upon the Republicans. They will looks absymally partisan and stupid defending themselves. He then succeeds, early in his Presidency, sending a clear message to the RNC: play ball or face extinction. You guys are your own worst enemies.
The Republicans need to realize that is Obama's favorite game, poker.