Bad
“There is only one thing we have got to do in the stimulus, and that is how can we create jobs,” said Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, as he left the meeting. “I am a little concerned by the way that Mr. Summers and others are going at this in that, to me, it still looks like a little more of this trickle-down, if we just put it in at the top, it’s going to trickle down. A number of people in there said, ‘Look, we have got to have programs that actually create jobs and put people to work.’ ”
Sounds like the standard Chicago School/Neoliberal formula.
Whatever the final plan looks like it needs to be big, bold, and fast. Otherwise...
But then we have the Republicans:
“It’s very important as we go ahead that we find the right balance,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader. “Yes, our economy needs help. But at the end of the day, how much debt are we going to pile on future generations?”
Gosh, Weepin' Johnny, you haven't been concerned about massive debt over the last eight years so what changed?
At any rate, if Obama does intend to do what it takes to garner significant Republican support then the game is already over and Obama has lost.
Think big, Mr. Obama.
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ADDED: Krugman and DeLong are disappointed and nervous.
.
We all know what changed. The Democrats are in charge, and if there's one thing Republicans understand it's this: can't let the Democrats look good because that means Repubs will never get back into power.
They will spend as long as it takes obstructing the process because they don't have any other choice.
As the Republican Party stands, why would any normal, average person vote for them?!
Posted by: gyma | January 09, 2009 at 02:53 PM
My lament for years now is that we need a conservative party. But there are no Everett Dirksens or Hugh Scotts anymore - just an agglomeration of Joe McCarthys.
Sad, really.
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Posted by: spork_incident | January 10, 2009 at 09:02 AM