TO THE COTS
I've already noted that, in my opinion, the stimulus bill should have been written by the crack economics team in the White House and then forced through Congress. Now we have the House bill with too many easy targets for Republicans to attack and a compromise in the Senate that has let the Republicans water down the bill at the expense of the economic recovery.
Examples: cut in aid to states, a fast track economic help; too much in tax cuts, a weak economic help. And the total sum, already too small, has been reduced.
With Obama's bully pulpit eloquence, and with more spine in Congress, we should force the Republicans to demonstrate their intransigence and disregard for our economic distress. Vote for the best damn bill possible and make the Republicans do an actual filibuster.
OBAMA -- QUESTIONS
Maybe one of my 2 or 3 readers can help me with a few questions I have regarding some of President Obama's early decisions. First, let me say that it is absolutely wonderful to have a president who will restore real science, help women's rights around the world, put justice back in the Justice Department, and reach out to the Muslim world. And explain it all articulately.
But reaching out to Republicans? His efforts are admirable, even if without positive results. However, I don't know if the tax cuts offered in the stimulus plan are a sop to Republicans or a fulfillment of his middle class tax cut promise. Which is it? Whichever it is, President Obama must certainly take great care in making concessions for the sake of unrequited bipartisonship.
Seems to me that he has spent too much time trying - unsuccessfully - to get Republicans to cooperate and not enough time getting Democrats to fashion a fine-tuned stimulus plan targeted to the need for jobs and help for the housing market. With Larry Summers and the other hot shots on staff, the administration should have been able to get a good, strong plan without all of the extraneous programs and protectionist provisions.
Next, how will he manage the myriad lines of command he has created? Obama has Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State but also at least two special envoys to regional hot spots, George Mitchell for the middleeast and Richard Holbrook for Pakistan/Afghanistan. And, among others, A White House environmental czar in addition to the EPA. The organization chart will look more like a spider web.
Any help. anyone?
I've already noted that, in my opinion, the stimulus bill should have been written by the crack economics team in the White House and then forced through Congress. Now we have the House bill with too many easy targets for Republicans to attack and a compromise in the Senate that has let the Republicans water down the bill at the expense of the economic recovery.
Examples: cut in aid to states, a fast track economic help; too much in tax cuts, a weak economic help. And the total sum, already too small, has been reduced.
With Obama's bully pulpit eloquence, and with more spine in Congress, we should force the Republicans to demonstrate their intransigence and disregard for our economic distress. Vote for the best damn bill possible and make the Republicans do an actual filibuster.
OBAMA -- QUESTIONS
Maybe one of my 2 or 3 readers can help me with a few questions I have regarding some of President Obama's early decisions. First, let me say that it is absolutely wonderful to have a president who will restore real science, help women's rights around the world, put justice back in the Justice Department, and reach out to the Muslim world. And explain it all articulately.
But reaching out to Republicans? His efforts are admirable, even if without positive results. However, I don't know if the tax cuts offered in the stimulus plan are a sop to Republicans or a fulfillment of his middle class tax cut promise. Which is it? Whichever it is, President Obama must certainly take great care in making concessions for the sake of unrequited bipartisonship.
Seems to me that he has spent too much time trying - unsuccessfully - to get Republicans to cooperate and not enough time getting Democrats to fashion a fine-tuned stimulus plan targeted to the need for jobs and help for the housing market. With Larry Summers and the other hot shots on staff, the administration should have been able to get a good, strong plan without all of the extraneous programs and protectionist provisions.
Next, how will he manage the myriad lines of command he has created? Obama has Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State but also at least two special envoys to regional hot spots, George Mitchell for the middleeast and Richard Holbrook for Pakistan/Afghanistan. And, among others, A White House environmental czar in addition to the EPA. The organization chart will look more like a spider web.
Any help. anyone?
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