Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, January 27, 2009
News Bipartisan!
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 9:46 AM
If the GOP knows that opposing Obama's stimulus package will result in the media reporting that Obama is failing—failing to reach out effectively, failing to lead in a bipartisan fashion—what incentive does the GOP have to do anything other than lie and obstruct and jerk Obama around?
House Republican leaders are urging their rank and file to oppose the economic stimulus bill heading for a vote on Wednesday, delivering their appeal hours before President Obama heads to the Capitol to seek bipartisan support.
Obama shouldn't be faulted for "failing" to work with people who won't work with him. He will be, of course, but he shouldn't be. What remains to be seen is how many of these fool's errands Obama intends to run.
2
Hopefully, just enough to impress upon the voting public exactly which side of the congressional aisle is the one doing the foot-dragging.
Clearly, the GOP hasn't learned the lesson of both the 2006 and 2008 elections: the public expects RESULTS. Any attempt on their part to impede getting things done is not going to be viewed as positive, and they're going to suffer the consequences if they don't get that through their thick heads.
We tried it their way for nearly eight years, and given those results, their continued intransigence is not only the height of arrogance, but borders on a political death-wish.
Clearly, the GOP hasn't learned the lesson of both the 2006 and 2008 elections: the public expects RESULTS. Any attempt on their part to impede getting things done is not going to be viewed as positive, and they're going to suffer the consequences if they don't get that through their thick heads.
We tried it their way for nearly eight years, and given those results, their continued intransigence is not only the height of arrogance, but borders on a political death-wish.
3
While that might be true on FOX, if Obama hits back--and hits back hard--using the bully pulpit on all the other networks to make it clear the GOP is standing in the way of progress, it can be a WIN, not a FAIL.
What irritates most people (including the rank-and-file Dems) is when the Dems show spinelessness in the face of GOP challenge. It's up to Obama and his crew to push back--effectively and clearly--after a good-faith bipartisan effort is rejected by the Republicans.
What irritates most people (including the rank-and-file Dems) is when the Dems show spinelessness in the face of GOP challenge. It's up to Obama and his crew to push back--effectively and clearly--after a good-faith bipartisan effort is rejected by the Republicans.
4
Remember you have all those fat white male southern Senators who just ain't happy with some n*gger in the White House. They ain't happy about it one bit.
Obama should say that a vote against the package is a vote for racism.
Obama should say that a vote against the package is a vote for racism.
5
Think Obama is giving the GOP all the rope it needs to hang itself.
Oh, the howls from Rush when they figure out what they did to themselves.
Oh, the howls from Rush when they figure out what they did to themselves.
6
The republicans will probably discover pretty quickly that all their press are belong to O. He's just going to be more effective in selling his narrative than they are, so if it boils down to spin vs spin they lose.
Obama has a simple narrative to use: normally we negotiate by adding spending. The republicans say they want less. Ok, lets talk about what to cut out. Best case scenario is that he backs them into aproving 50-100 million less overall but also with no added pet projects to sweeten the deal to pick off votes.
Obama has a simple narrative to use: normally we negotiate by adding spending. The republicans say they want less. Ok, lets talk about what to cut out. Best case scenario is that he backs them into aproving 50-100 million less overall but also with no added pet projects to sweeten the deal to pick off votes.
7
I'd be more impressed if he wasn't offering to cut the family planning money for low-income folks to appease the Republicans. Screw bipartisanship, just put it through.
8
I'm with @3. If they won't play, he'll kneecap them after a while, and they'll become even less popular. I bet a lot of moderate Republicans, like Collins and Snowe, will either break ranks, or even change their party affiliation to stay on the right side of things and keep their seats.
11
You girls are giving Obama way too much credit.
His total lack of legislative experience will show when it gets bare-knuckle.
Obama is no LBJ, a shrewd tough coarse but effective legislative ringmaster able to get bills passed, and that's too bad.
Obama is more the JFK type, pretty boy fancy speaker motivate the kids but get pushed around in Congress.
And that's too bad.
His total lack of legislative experience will show when it gets bare-knuckle.
Obama is no LBJ, a shrewd tough coarse but effective legislative ringmaster able to get bills passed, and that's too bad.
Obama is more the JFK type, pretty boy fancy speaker motivate the kids but get pushed around in Congress.
And that's too bad.
12
Obama's not dumb? Okay? Right? We know he's not dumb. He beat Clinton. He beat McCain. He's not going to be played by a Class-A moron like Eric Cantor.
You might not be able to see Obama's strategy but you have to know by now that he's prepared.
You might not be able to see Obama's strategy but you have to know by now that he's prepared.
14
Obama is going to listen to them.
And then make sure a vote is forced by Thursday.
Why?
Because he's President by a 2:1 margin.
And they're not.
And then make sure a vote is forced by Thursday.
Why?
Because he's President by a 2:1 margin.
And they're not.
15
"For the first time in more than a generation, every state in the union saw its unemployment rate rise last month.
"According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, all 50 states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate increases compared with the previous month and the prior year.
"December marked the first time every state recorded a rise in monthly unemployment since the bureau began keeping such records in 1976."
"Income worries dragged down consumer confidence to a record low in January..., according to the monthly Conference Board index reported Tuesday.
"The January consumer confidence index fell to 37.7 from an upwardly revised 38.6 in December. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected a January reading of 38. The data go back to 1967."
Congressional GOP have completely lost touch with reality. Dan is right, it is time for Obama to quit running these fool errands.
"According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, all 50 states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate increases compared with the previous month and the prior year.
"December marked the first time every state recorded a rise in monthly unemployment since the bureau began keeping such records in 1976."
"Income worries dragged down consumer confidence to a record low in January..., according to the monthly Conference Board index reported Tuesday.
"The January consumer confidence index fell to 37.7 from an upwardly revised 38.6 in December. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected a January reading of 38. The data go back to 1967."
Congressional GOP have completely lost touch with reality. Dan is right, it is time for Obama to quit running these fool errands.
16
Still, the O stimulus plan remains no great shakes. Should it pass speedily there'd be no way to redirect responsibility if (when) it has no meaningful effect on the economy. The Dems can bank any further Republican obstructionism to help them point fingers.
17
the bill passes the house with NO gop support. they only need 2 gop senators. why do they want them on board? blame for the fallout obviously.
19
I don't think Obama has ver been in a fight before, let alone angry. He needs to at least unleash the dogs of Emanuel & Pelosi and start kicking the shit out of these fucking Republicans. Take as much power away from them as possible. Fuck bipartisanship. When have we ever had any? If I controlled the country for the day I would illegalize political parties.
20
Republicans are so used to getting everything they want, and democrats are so used to capitulating, it might take time for both sides to acclimate to this new political world. Hopefully not too long.
21
Fuck the republicans. The Democrats could be bipartisan with the Greens or Socialists.
Not like the Democrats actually need more votes to move this through.
Not like the Democrats actually need more votes to move this through.
22
Wow... So the Republican minority is playing the game by the same rules the Democrat minority did for most of the Bush Presidency.... Shocking.
I'm sure that the Stranger agrees that Bush shouldn't have be faulted for "failing" to work with people who won't work with him. He was, of course, but he shouldn't have been... Right?
I'm sure that the Stranger agrees that Bush shouldn't have be faulted for "failing" to work with people who won't work with him. He was, of course, but he shouldn't have been... Right?
24
on a side note, why does the phrase "Obama's stimulus package" excite me so much?
Bush's packages were never very stimulating, or at least according to Laura...
Bush's packages were never very stimulating, or at least according to Laura...
25
Tell me again how the Government paying for more birth control for more poor people will stimulate the economy?...
26
The conflict between bipartisanship and partisanship has always been thus. Partisanship is almost always easier but it can backfire. In the end, the one with a better game wins. No news here...
27
@22, When Republicans took over, they didn't do it this way. They shut the Democrats out of the drafting process completely so there was nothing they could criticise. A completed bill as thick as a phone book would be handed to the Dems for a vote the next day, and its title would be something like "Defend America Act".
28
@25,
The money is going to Medicaid, and here's the shocker: Medicaid covers contraception. Health care spending does help the economy, because when people can't work, they don't make money, they can't spend money or pay taxes, and they become even greater burdens on government and charity. The Republicans, as per usual, are being useless dickweeds by seizing on the fact that states need a bailout, Medicaid needs to stay solvent, and it just so happens that Medicaid covers a vital health care component.
The money is going to Medicaid, and here's the shocker: Medicaid covers contraception. Health care spending does help the economy, because when people can't work, they don't make money, they can't spend money or pay taxes, and they become even greater burdens on government and charity. The Republicans, as per usual, are being useless dickweeds by seizing on the fact that states need a bailout, Medicaid needs to stay solvent, and it just so happens that Medicaid covers a vital health care component.
29
I think most commenters are misreading Obama. He's serious about being president of ALL the people, and working toward bipartisan solutions. After the bitter partisanship of the past 20 year, all everyone knows how to do is spit across the room at each other. He'll keep coming back to the Republicans (and evangelicals, and gays and progressives, etc.) until we all realize that there's another way, a way that's not based on "who's my enemy."
31
Obama knows you wanna look cooperative on the surface (since this country is beholden to The Giant Soft Center, not the idealist/partisans on the Right and Left edges), but be fighting bareknuckled behind the scenes (with Rahm doing the punching).
He's no legislative-lightweight ala Carter. You'll see.
He's no legislative-lightweight ala Carter. You'll see.
32
Also, @28, it will be used overseas in places like Africa, which will mean our trading partners won't have all those orphans, and might buy some of our junk.
33
Obama is light years ahead of Republicans. They are betraying themselves for the petty, small minded and backward men they are and it will be reflected in the next election two years from now. This is how obama's outreach will work for him, not against him.
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