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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

News No One Could Have Predicted

Posted by on Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:31 PM

The stimulus package passes the House with ZERO Republican votes—this GOP obstructionism means that Obama will be dinged, of course, for his "failure" to deliver the bipartisanship he promised. But hopefully Obama will stop pretending now—hopefully we'll stop pretending now—that the GOP can be worked with in good faith.

 

Comments (21) RSS

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1
after the senate votes, obama should just veto the damn thing and reintroduce his original package without all the republican additions, and pass that instead. fuckers.
Posted by Judith on January 28, 2009 at 4:57 PM
2
you know, i wish people would notice that obama is bright enough to be playing out something, and it's probably something he'll win.

personally, i'm geeked to see how he will manage to politely feed them all their own shit, all the while looking like he would never do any such thing.
Posted by cranky on January 28, 2009 at 5:04 PM
3
How unpatriotic of the Republicans - not supporting the president at a time like this.

Why do they want to hurt America?
Posted by fawxer on January 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
4
He took things out they wanted out. Those things will be back. In the mean time the obstructionist Republicans will not get any credit for the economy improving. The American people also know the Republicans shoveled mountains of money at bankers who are giving themselves million dollar bonuses and golden toilets.
Posted by Vince on January 28, 2009 at 5:14 PM
5
LOL Republican "Good faith?" Tell me another one.
Posted by Auntie Dogma on January 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
6
If the republicans aren't going to support the bill (ie deny any responsibility if it fails) why should there be any provisions that they want. I'm not sure why they bitch about being included in the conversation when Obama does include them, and things they ask for in the bill, but they still wont compromise and support it. I don't understand why people aren't pissed that there are Republican elements (and Republican forced omissions like "Family Planning" money) that should be in there and are completely worthwhile endeavors. The Family Planning money should be put back in because will actually help society and those abstinence kids wouldn't be forced into saddlebacking.
Posted by gennaro on January 28, 2009 at 5:19 PM
7
Such wonderful news! Not even a gimme of a coupla votes would the Repubs spare. They are such toast, and this is a beautiful gift to Obama. Though I fear he is going to need it, and more.
Posted by tomasyalba on January 28, 2009 at 5:23 PM
8
Folks, the house bill doesn't matter. The final bill will be written by the Senate.
Posted by firewalkwithme on January 28, 2009 at 5:23 PM
9
@8, the glee is over the politics, not the bill itself.
Posted by tomasyalba on January 28, 2009 at 5:28 PM
10
@9 - understood. However, there's been lots of hand wringing over specific changes in the bill made to appeal to the Republithugs. That's premature until we see what it will take to get a cloture vote in the Senate. That is all.
Posted by firewalkwithme on January 28, 2009 at 5:37 PM
11
You'd think that in light of recent economic history these guys would start to re-thinking their ideological dogmatism. Am I in the twilight zone or are Republicans still arguing over Hoover v Roosevelt?
Posted by steve on January 28, 2009 at 6:17 PM
12
It is a two-fer:
GOP can ding Obama for not being bipartisan.
If the plan fails they can also come back and say "I told you so".

(if the plan works we will all be soooo happy no one will care who voted for or against it)
Posted by I love it when a plan comes together on January 28, 2009 at 6:25 PM
13
Shocking. Politicians acting all political. Voting NO on any type of package was the only safe bet for a R. They leave themselves the chance of looking good if the thing has zero effect. They will always be on the hook for pissing all over the economy.
Posted by realfi on January 28, 2009 at 6:29 PM
14
Memo to the Grand OLD Party: help lead or get out of the way. Looks like they chose the latter.
Posted by It Betta Work on January 28, 2009 at 7:18 PM
15
Are you kidding? This is perfect. The GOP has been quite public about being pleased with Obama's efforts to reach out to them, and they've spat in his face. This can easily be spun as a failure on the part of the GOP, particularly after this works. The 2010 ads will run along the lines of, "When you open your paycheck on November 1st, don't forget who voted for the bill that made it possible...and who voted against it."
Posted by Gitai on January 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
16
When your government is totally and completely bankrupt and your childrens children will never be able to pay even a portion of it, you can say, well, we tried. We voted against it. Have you read this thing? 80% of the crap in it will not stimulate the economy in ANY WAY. They are doing the smart thing. Covering their asses for when it all goes south.
Posted by Just Say NO on January 28, 2009 at 9:18 PM
17
It also dings the Republicans for not being bipartisan, and that will come back to haunt moderate Republicans trying to in non-Republican-safe districts in 2 years. The only Republicans left in the House are pretty much just safe-seaters, i.e. wingnuts from wingnut districts. Failure to reach out across the aisle will not endear the party to suburban voters.

The President should continue to make a strong show of seeking bipartisanship; he may irritate the far-left a little, but the damage will be greater to the Republicans for refusing to play ball.
Posted by Simac on January 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM
18
Gitai@15 has it right. Dan has it wrong. This played out *exactly* as the President wanted. Republicants come across as obstructionist dickwads. Again.
Posted by Big Sven on January 29, 2009 at 8:29 AM
19
But the question remains: where is this $ coming from?
Posted by let's invent money on January 29, 2009 at 10:56 AM
20
The Republicans believe that they can become boss by being obstructionist, just like this story below:

When the body was first created, all the parts wanted to be boss. The brain said, "I should be boss because I control all of the body's responses and functions."

The feet said, "We should be boss since we carry the brain about and get him where he wants to go."

The hands said, "We should be the boss because we do all the work and earn all the money."

Finally, the asshole spoke up. All the parts laughed at the idea of the asshole being the boss. So, the asshole went on strike, blocked itself up, and refused to work.

Within a short time, the eyes became crossed, the hands clenched, the feet twitched, the heart and lungs began to panic, and the brain fevered. Eventually, they all decided that the asshole should be the boss, so the motion was passed. All the other parts did all the work while the boss just sat and passed out the shit!

Moral of the story: You don't need to be a brain to be a boss -- just an asshole.

@19 asks But the question remains: where is this $ coming from?

Same place as the $3 trillion for the invasion of Iraq, and the $1 trillion bailout of the banks and AIG.
Posted by Friends don't let friends vote Republican on January 29, 2009 at 11:33 AM
21
I agree with #2.

This is the way Obama has ALWAYS been. And look where that got him...

Don't be so quick to assume he doesn't know what he's doing. Remember during the campaign when we were all calling for him to really go after McCain/Palin? (Yeah, I was one of them, too.)

He didn't - and came off as sane and competent and intelligent. (Unlike the people who bashed HIM.) It got him where he wanted to be.
Posted by Ayden/VA on January 29, 2009 at 2:13 PM

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