The Right is Winning Today

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, currently being debated in the Senate, was passed last week by the House of Representatives. If enacted, the economic recovery plan will be one of the biggest and boldest pieces of progressive legislation in the past forty years.

Bernie Horn has summarized some of the highlights at OurFuture.org:

**$142 billion for a middle-class tax cut
**$47 billion to extend unemployment benefits
**$16 billion to expand food stamps
**$17 billion in one-time payments to low-income Americans
**$26 billion to expand access to health care
**$87 billion to help states pay for Medicaid
**$24 billion to modernized health information technology
**$46 billion to fix bridges and roads
**$80 billion to improve public education
**$19 billion for school construction
**$14 billion to make college more affordable
**$32 billion for clean energy

There's much more. All together, the Obama plan is expected to create or salvage three to four million jobs while keeping the nation's economy from sliding into a lengthier and more severe recession than what we're currently facing.

The legislation is a big priority of President Obama, who devoted his radio address last Sunday to making the case for prompt passage of the bill. All major liberal non-profit and labor groups are supporting it and several recent polls suggest that a plurality of the American public are generally supportive.

Nonetheless, as Horn reports, "Here in Washington, DC, the word on the street is that the Right is killing us with phone calls to Congress. One congressperson said the calls are running 100 to 1 against the Obama economic recovery plan. The legislation is now on the Senate floor. If Senators perceive that Americans side with Obama in this fight, that will strengthen the power of progressives in the debate and we'll get a good bill. If, on the other hand, Senators are feeling the heat from conservatives, then our advocates will be weakened and we'll get a lousy bill. That's just the way things go on Capitol Hill."

As the invaluable Fact-esque blog wrote yesterday "This is the Superbowl of Activism and We're Losing Big." Progressives need to hit the phones and fast. Call your Senators toll-free at 1-866-544-7573 and demand immediate passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Comments (73)

1. I would like to encourage Congress to increase funding for fighting global poverty. The Borgen Project (www.borgenproject.org) has some great facts and ideas to help global poverty. $30 billion to eliminate global poverty. $522 billion on the U.S. defense budget. There are 800 million people that go to sleep hungry every day, 300 million are children.

   Posted by cougar_gal06 at 02/03/2009 @ 1:36pm

2. Thanks for the link and info COUGAR. I'll ck it out.

   Posted by Peter Rothberg at 02/03/2009 @ 1:37pm

3. Peter, I will say this much, $14B to make college more affordable is not going to take the sting out of the high cost of tuition. IMO, money like that would put a fire under the Board of Regents to hike the fees even more. Not to mention the money will increase a number of college sport franchises.

   Posted by ACook at 02/03/2009 @ 1:43pm

4. I just got off the phone with Sen. Schumer's office (lines were busy in Sen. Gillibrand's office). It felt good. I've never done anything like that before. The staffer who picked up my call (I mentioned my name and that I was a constituent and a registered voter who voted often) said that his DC office was getting calls on a 50-50 split, so I hope people are getting the message.

   Incidentally, anyone contemplating this who wants some more ammo, Mark Zandi, the Chief Economist at Moody's Economy.com (no liberal presumably) offered a good argument in favor of it at http://tinyurl.com/c7qj4w

   The text of HR 1 is at http://tinyurl.com/c9tdkh

   Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 2:26pm

5. Good call, PETER ROTHBERG!

   Your insights and progressive activism is greatly appreciated!

   Posted by Metteyya at 02/03/2009 @ 2:27pm

6. Posted by ACook at 02/03/2009 @ 1:43pm | ignore this person | warn this person

   Actually, the $14 billion is slated to make up the long-standing shortfall in the Pell Grant program. The maximum award given depends on the total funding available and has actually been going down, in real dollars, the last several years. Even at today's levels, they still make up 1/3 of a year's cost at a public university. http://tinyurl.com/cacch5

   Are you really telling me that bringing that percentage up to, say, 40-45% isn't going to make a difference, especially to families with incomes of less than $20,000/year, who get the lion's share of them?

   Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 2:31pm

7. Listen to the Right-Wing Radio, PETER...

   it's going to pass.

   I heard Thune and McCain on Sean Insanity yesterday. When he asked about filibusters or if the bill could be defeated....the hemming, hawing, and rhetorical flourishes could have buried a rogue elephant. They were "hinting"..."No...it's going to pass."

   Also heard Pat Roberts (R-KS) say "We know we're going to lose 2-3 Republicans on the bill."

   If they're saying that to the Republican base...it means it's true OR that they're going to lose even more Republicans when the vote comes.

   They'll throw out red meat and point out the "$20 million for museums"...but they're not saying they'll stop it.

   And even if none of that is true, but there's no filibuster...it passes.

   Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 2:36pm

8. Mask

   I'm inclined to agree--I'm not sure the small but potentially decisive Specter-Snowe-Collins "group" will want to filibuster against this.

   However, given the importance of the bill, I'd rather not take it for granted.

   Remember, "it isn't over 'till it's over"

   Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 2:37pm

9. Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 2:37pm

   Any two of those three (Specter, Snowe, Collins) could simply vote to end the filibuster...and it passes.

   But again, I'm actually listening to what the Repub Senators are saying on THE most friendly Media (Hannity, Fox News, etc.)...and it's not "Yeah, yeah. We're going to stop this thing anyway we can!"...it's

   "It's a terrible bill...$3 million for park benches...terrible!"

   "Will it pass Senator?"

   "Uh, well, Sean, we're working to see if we can get some more tax cuts and some small business credits for any business making over $5 billion a year, and we'll have to go to Conference of course"

   "Will you filibuster it, Senator?"

   "Uh,erm, well Sean, the process is complicated and I don't want to discuss any possible strategies until we see what the total package is like!"

   "But, you're going to vote against it, right?"

   "UHM, ER...UH...well, Sean, obviously I oppose the bill in its present House form!"

   (Note: saying nothing about what they'll do with the Conference version!)

   Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 2:47pm

10. MASK -- I trust you to keep track of that stuff for this thread:)

    Posted by Peter Rothberg at 02/03/2009 @ 2:54pm

11. Posted by Peter Rothberg at 02/03/2009 @ 2:54pm

    Read your Sun Tzu, PETER.

    Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 3:39pm

12. Mask,

    Have you had a chance to get a take on the reliability of the traditionally borderline Democratic Senators Landrieu and the two Nelsons?

    Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 3:41pm

13. Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 3:41pm

    Not likely to lose them. No point in remaining in the Democratic Party if you're going to backstab a popular new Democratic President first time out of the box.

    Another key thing to remember is...

    there are TEN Repub Senators from states that Obama WON.

    Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 3:53pm

14. put the ball in the repugnants' court. see who cracks.

    if none crack - they lose!!!!

    if two crack - they don't lose!!!

    what a choice...

    callin' tonight...its easy and matters, even though any idiot pol has to do is look at some targetted opinion polls if the welfare of the country ain't enough.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 02/03/2009 @ 4:22pm

15. Posted by ibbleblibble at 02/03/2009 @ 4:22pm

    Call Darin's Senator, Richard Burr.

    He's up in 2010 and he only beat Bowles in 2004 by 5 points and his approvals are in the 30s and the Dole loss must have REALLY put the skeer into him....along with North Carolina's rising unemployment.

    He's a true blue conservative who could snap to save his ass in 2 years.

    Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 4:42pm

16. "The Right is Winning Today"

    posted by Peter Rothberg on 02/03/2009 @ 1:31pm

    If they are winning, I would hate to see what you call losing.

    Kinda reminds me of bad, bad Leroy Brown.

    Posted by Benchrest at 02/03/2009 @ 5:15pm

17. PETER!!!!

    " American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, "

    You are a smart fellow...where is the recovery part of the list? What is being recovered? see any jobs that will jump out at you based on this list?

    Where is the reinvestment part of the list? Reinvested in what? Whats the return? Investment produce returns? If they do nit, then it is just a loss or just spending!!

    You really do not think this will..."STIMULATE" THE ECONOMY OR THE BUSINESS SECTOR?

    You should be protesting this as wasted spending that will be cut in a few years when the currency collapes...come on...

    **$142 billion for a middle-class tax cut **$47 billion to extend unemployment benefits **$16 billion to expand food stamps **$17 billion in one-time payments to low-income Americans **$26 billion to expand access to health care **$87 billion to help states pay for Medicaid **$24 billion to modernized health information technology

    **$80 billion to improve public education

    **$14 billion to make college more affordable **$32 billion for clean energy

    **$46 billion to fix bridges and roads **$19 billion for school construction

    Recovery? Stimulus?

    The above 2 are the only items that will create any kind of job and would spur economic activity in the business and manfg sector...

    The other list is nothing more than transfer payments..welfare..increased spending and nothing coming back to grow or invest for future job creation .. I would veto the complete porker..

    this is pork and increase spending..nothing more.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/03/2009 @ 6:38pm

18. **$142 billion for a middle-class tax cut **$47 billion to extend unemployment benefits

    Wealth transfer..no jobs created just more money spent..no results to be m easured.

    **$16 billion to expand food stamps

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$17 billion in one-time payments to low-income Americans

    Wealth transfer..welfare payment for breathing..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$26 billion to expand access to health care

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$87 billion to help states pay for Medicaid

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$24 billion to modernized health information technology

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$80 billion to improve public education

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.

    **$14 billion to make college more affordable

    Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.More English majors that are unemployable?

    **$32 billion for clean energy

    More spent and no jobs or results to be measured. Spent by who? Where? what kind of energy?

    This is pathetic...and most here are celebrating...

    I hear fiddle music and smell something burning...

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/03/2009 @ 6:43pm

19. $30 billion to eliminate global poverty. $522 billion on the U.S. defense budget. There are 800 million people that go to sleep hungry every day, 300 million are children.

    Posted by cougar_gal06 at 02/03/2009 @ 1:36pm |

    We can't be the worlds police nor its free grocery store...SOME responsibility has to rest with the country these people live in and the govt they have in power...

    I am willing to help but am not interested in sacrificing my childrens security for anothers countrys failure to take care of its own people...after all, we are talking about GLOBAL poverty...lets bring in the GLOBE...maybe re educate some life styles and practicers that might contribute to the issues of low food productions..

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/03/2009 @ 7:04pm

20. Are you really telling me that bringing that percentage up to, say, 40-45% isn't going to make a difference, especially to families with incomes of less than $20,000/year, who get the lion's share of them?

    Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 2:31pm

    Yeah. Everytime the Feds boosts the Pell Grant funds, Board of Regents across the country raise their fees.

    How else do you think they're able to pay football and basketball coaches those huge salaries?

    Posted by ACook at 02/03/2009 @ 7:34pm

21. The bill as produced by the House would not pass the Senate. The Senate will make significant changes and pass that. Conference will produce the final result. What they have now would be a disaster for Obama because it would not stimulate anything except the takers of society and the unemployment rate would continue to rise. The only thing it would produce is inflation, just in time for the mid terms. I believe Obama is demanding major changes to this pile of crap to at least give the nation a chance.

    Posted by pyeatte at 02/03/2009 @ 8:22pm

22. Yeah. Everytime the Feds boosts the Pell Grant funds, Board of Regents across the country raise their fees.

    How else do you think they're able to pay football and basketball coaches those huge salaries?

    Posted by ACook at 02/03/2009 @ 7:34pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Except that they've been raising those fees even over the last few years when Pell Grants weren't increasing.

    Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 9:02pm

23. yourjommama wrote: "We can't be the worlds police nor its free grocery store...SOME responsibility has to rest with the country these people live in and the govt they have in power..."

    so why we still in Iraq?

    oh, that's right--they got oil!

    Posted by urmygyro at 02/03/2009 @ 9:22pm

24. "Wealth transfer..More spent and no jobs or results to be measured.More English majors that are unemployable? "

    The Pell Grant program has been underfunded for years. This makes up the shortfall.

    "Wealth transfer..no jobs created just more money spent..no results to be measured. "

    This is a demand-side recession. The most efficient way to stimulate consumer spending is through the funding of extended unemployment benefits, expanded foot stamp payments, support for the food stamp program and the COBRA subsidy. The economic model at Moody's economy.com indicates a one-year boost in GDP of $1.63/$1.00 of UI benefits, $1.73/$1.00 of food stamp benefits for example. People in financial distress are more likely to spend additional money.

    Likewise, the infrastructure spending will give a $1.59/$1.00 boost in GDP. Further, the infrastructure needs it. The 2009 ACSE report card on infrastructure had grades ranging from D- to C+.

    Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 9:27pm

25. Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 9:27pm

    I doubt the results will be what you believe...I beleive we will have a worthless currency and more people living off fewer producers with more working and depending on govt....the exact opposite of the FF vision.

    Posted by YourJomamma at 02/03/2009 @ 9:30pm

26. Let me see if I have this straight - Democrat House. Democrat Senate. Democrat president. And they can't get this bill passed? It must be a real stinker.

    Someone recently mentioned a poll that showed Repub approval ratings in the 20 -25% range. So why can't the Dems get this through?

    Maybe there are a lot of Dems who are trying to kill it.

    Posted by twillie at 02/03/2009 @ 10:11pm

27. "Let me see if I have this straight - Democrat House. Democrat Senate. Democrat president. And they can't get this bill passed? It must be a real stinker. "

    A simplistic analysis. There was no problem passing it in the House. There is likely a majority for it in the Senate. The question is 1) will the Republicans filibuster and, if so, 2) can the Democrats muster 60 votes for cloture.

    The fact that a filibuster is the only way to stop it kind of undercuts the "stinker" argument.

    Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 10:26pm

28. he fact that a filibuster is the only way to stop it kind of undercuts the "stinker" argument. Posted by brunowe at 02/03/2009 @ 10:26pm

    Not true. If the Dems look at their majority, and get complacent, thinking they can just ram anything through, they will run into walls like this. If they want to work on a bill that repubs can vote for, they will get it through Congress.

    Posted by twillie at 02/03/2009 @ 10:51pm

29. "Further, in arguing that tax cuts for businesses and high-earners are a more effective means of economic stimulus than government spending, Scarborough and company are exactly wrong. Indeed, as the Wonk Room's Pat Garofalo explains, "For each dollar spent on a capital gains tax cut, there is only a 37 cent boost to GDP, while for each dollar spent on a corporate tax cut, the return is an even more paltry 30 cents. Compared to the $1.64 return on a dollar invested in extending unemployment benefits or the $1.73 return from a temporary increase in food stamps, this is chump change.""

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 12:04am

30. The right is winning because....the empty suit "yes man" Obamanation Pres., the Undemocrat congress, and all forms of the national (in their hip pocket) liberal media is putting all their focus on conservative talk radio host RUSH LIMBAUGH!

    Way to focus on the economy in recession by trying to pass a partison political payoff bill as an economic stimulas bill that anyone who can read knows it for what it is! (except voters like darlaloon)

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 12:40am

31. "For each dollar spent on a capital gains tax cut, there is only a 37 cent boost to GDP, while for each dollar spent on a corporate tax cut, the return is an even more paltry 30 cents. Compared to the $1.64 return on a dollar invested in extending unemployment benefits or the $1.73 return from a temporary increase in food stamps, this is chump change.""

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 12:04am | ignore this person | warn this person

    -----

    1.Okay clueless, how many new jobs are created by increasing unemployment benefits and increasing food stamps?

    2. How many manufactoring plants, new business ventures, and other economic infrastructure that actually create new jobs and technology is created by either one of those benifits?

    3. How do these benefits increase GDP?

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 12:45am

32. 3. How do these benefits increase GDP?

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 12:45am | ignore this person | warn this person

    Wait a minute, yea, the GDP might increase because they would use your and my money from the INCREASES IN TAXES that are to follow to pay for their goods and services while we make less money and finally GO OUT OF BUSINESS to let others carry that burden!

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 01:27am

33. "1.Okay clueless, how many new jobs are created by increasing unemployment benefits and increasing food stamps?"

    not every provision in the stimulus package is designed in the interest of job creation. the primary impetus behind the package is.......to give immediate relief to the vulnerable (such as my girlfriend, who just lost her job today ). without unemployment benefits, millions of people will be looking for food, housing, etc. how do you intend to help these people, comanche?

    "2. How many manufactoring plants, new business ventures, and other economic infrastructure that actually create new jobs and technology is created by either one of those benifits?"

    you are the one who is clueless, if you cannot grasp the extraordinary significance of food stamps and unemployment. let me repeat: there are millions of people without work and food, and many without housing. what do you plan to do with them?

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 01:51am

34. to those conservatives against the package solely on ideological grounds: how do you intend to support the millions of americans without work, housing and/or food?

    do you want them to fend for themselves? if so, just say so.

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 01:53am

35. just remember, neocons, that many of your capitalist comrades are currently BEGGING for government hand-outs! (see: wall street)

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 01:54am

36. You REFUSE to answer how unemployment benifits and food stamps will rescue our economy from recession!

    How will that create jobs, how will it start or increase manufactoring, business ventures, technological advances, all of which will create more jobs and eliminate unemployment and nanny state welfare programs?

    You are not intrested in reviving and growing our economic future just increasing our DEPENDENCE on government handouts and over taxing our current failing industries to the point we have NO enconomy and are just maintaining a stagnant self perpetuating socialist state!

    Why do you think businesses are LEAVEING california like it is still on fire? They are going to other states where they won't be overtaxed by a failing WELFARE socialistic state! A nanny state is all that will be left of california if it continues its present course and you want that for the NATION!!!

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 02:15am

37. "You REFUSE to answer how unemployment benifits and food stamps will rescue our economy from recession!"

    wow, you are pretty dumb. "rescue" = food + money.

    that's all there is to it.

    "You are not intrested in reviving and growing our economic future just increasing our DEPENDENCE on government handouts and over taxing our current failing industries to the point we have NO enconomy and are just maintaining a stagnant self perpetuating socialist state!"

    ok, so you want to stick to right wing ideology. get over it. just as much as i have to get over my desire for my goverment to find 100% renewable energy within 10 years. or national health care. ain't gonna happen. gotta sacrifice. just like YOU have to sacrifice your dreams of a uber-capitalist state.

    "Why do you think businesses are LEAVEING california like it is still on fire? They are going to other states where they won't be overtaxed by a failing WELFARE socialistic state! A nanny state is all that will be left of california if it continues its present course and you want that for the NATION!!! "

    more people live in california than any state in the union. and we have a republican governor.

    your point? california is (by far) the most exciting state in the country. best beaches. best women. best marijuana. best parties. best food. best everything. so, you wanna dis california? the only other place worth a shit outside of nyc?

    Posted by darladoon at 02/04/2009 @ 02:38am

38. Enjoy your fools paradise while it lasts!

    Posted by comancheamerican at 02/04/2009 @ 02:58am

39. I would like to encourage Congress to increase funding for fighting global poverty. The Borgen Project (www.borgenproject.org) has some great facts and ideas to help global poverty. $30 billion to eliminate global poverty. $522 billion on the U.S. defense budget. There are 800 million people that go to sleep hungry every day, 300 million are children.

    Posted by cougar_gal06 at 02/03/2009 @ 1:36pm |

    Someone better tell cougar that since LBJ's Great Society, we have spent in the neighborhood of 6-7 trillion dollars here in the U.S. trying to eliminate poverty. Cougar thinks we can END global poverty by shelling out just 30 billion. Hey cougar, in case you haven't noticed, we still have poor people here in the States. I shake my head in utter disbelief that someone could post such nonsense.

    Posted by fram at 02/04/2009 @ 05:16am

40. $14B to make college more affordable is not going to take the sting out of the high cost of tuition. IMO, money like that would put a fire under the Board of Regents to hike the fees even more. Posted by ACook at 02/03/2009 @ 1:43pm

    ACook, we don't agree on much but you are exactly spot on here.

    Posted by fram at 02/04/2009 @ 05:25am

41. "How will that create jobs, how will it start or increase manufactoring, business ventures, technological advances, all of which will create more jobs and eliminate unemployment and nanny state welfare programs? "

    Because people in economic distress who are short on cash are far more likely to spend that money. Since this is a demand-side recession, increasing demand will rev up those businesses.

    Posted by brunowe at 02/04/2009 @ 05:33am

42. Peter - I see some so-called highlights, but where are the pork-filled lowlights from this so-called stimulus package? Most of the items in this stimulus will not create jobs immediately or stimulate the economy. Even the examples you cherry pick and cite above. If jobs are created, it is merely by coincidence. Most of the stimulus is not timely, targeted or intended to be temporary. This does not meet our president's stated intent, so the bill should fail.

    Give a man a fish feed him for a day............. teach a man to fish.......... What in this litany of pipedreams teaches anyone to fish or stimulate the economy?

    Posted by Weyld1 at 02/04/2009 @ 08:46am

43. I think we've got the Republican talking point for 2010-

    "If jobs are created, it is merely by coincidence."----Posted by Weyld1 at 02/04/2009 @ 08:46am

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 02/04/2009 @ 09:26am

44. rio,

    the best way to increase gdp is to totally deregulate wall street.

    pump, pump, pump!!!!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/04/2009 @ 11:14am

45. Posted by frosty zoom at 02/04/2009 @ 11:14am

    FROSTY,

    What COMMANCHE is likely to "explain" next is that if we free his Maximum Leader, Warren Jeffs, from the Big House where the librewl lynch mob is persecuting Him, we will realize outstanding growth in GDP. In COMMANCHE's mind, Wall Street and Main Street depend vitally on restoring Warren Jeffs's Compound to its natural order. Perhaps he will explain the air-tight details of his religious/economic visions in later posts...

    Posted by PhilMcCrevice at 02/04/2009 @ 1:41pm

46. End the pointless, political oil wars in Iraq and Afgan, and we save serious money for economic recovery.

    End our dependence on foreign oil, and the entire Middle East becomes not only a moot point, but an interesting place no one ever visits. Let the Iranians and Saudis drink their oil.

    Posted by nearlynormal at 02/04/2009 @ 4:02pm

47. Hard to get through in the late afternoon. I simply went over to my senators' websites and wrote them a note in their "Contact Me" section. May not be quite as timely, but I can't keep trying to get through.

    Posted by barnesgene at 02/04/2009 @ 4:35pm

48. Obama has been too nice - too "non-partisan." He needs to take the gloves off.

    Posted by FDR43 at 02/04/2009 @ 5:18pm

49. Another version of the Right Day:

    Obama's No Good, Rotten Day

    by Tom Bevan

    NPR.org, February 4, 2009 · Yesterday would have been a bad day for any administration, let alone a new one....But for the Obama administration, which recently proclaimed a "new era of responsibility" and promised to be the most ethical administration in history, it was a public relations disaster.

    Within the span of just a few hours Tuesday morning, President Obama saw two of his high-profile picks...withdraw for issues related to tax delinquency....

    "The president has confidence in the process," press secretary Robert Gibbs said....It's a good thing someone still has confidence in the process, because the rest of us are starting to wonder.

    "I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards," President Obama told CNN's Anderson Cooper, "one for powerful people and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes."

    Fair enough. But why, then, did Obama wholeheartedly support Daschle for days after the tax issue became public instead of asking him to withdraw immediately?...

    Two weeks ago Obama was basking in the glow....Two weeks later, the president who promised to bring change and a new kind of politics to the nation's capital finds himself supporting and defending Washington insiders who have made "mistakes" on their taxes and creating loopholes in his own shiny new ethics rules so certain lobbyists can work in his administration.

    It's no wonder we're now starting to see even some Obama supporters questioning whether this is the kind of "change we can believe in."...

    ...On Tuesday, at least, it was a fight the president lost.

    Tom Bevan is the co-founder and executive editor of RealClearPolitics.

    Posted by Happy at 02/04/2009 @ 11:10pm

50. February 3, 2009

    Dear Ms. Gibbas:

    Thank you for contacting me about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This bill was introduced by Representative David Obey [D-WI-7] on January 26, 2009 and passed the House two days later. This legislation, which is now undergoing further consideration in the U.S. Senate, contains a combination of spending increases and tax changes with a price tag to the taxpayers of over $800 billion.

    Some would argue that spending tax dollars on direct payments to citizens or investments in transportation and infrastructure can stimulate economic activity in the private sector. However, it is important to point out that only 4% of the spending in this bill would be on infrastructure. Only 5% would be on so-called "green jobs," another stated goal of the stimulus bill. The vast majority of the spending is unrelated to economic stimulus. Such spending includes $650 million to help with the transition to digital TV, $50 million to the National Endowment of the Arts, $44 million to renovate the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters, and $400 million for unspecified "National Treasures". There are billions of dollars set aside to purchase a new fleet of automobiles for the federal government, and there is money allocated to buy new computers and furniture for federal agencies.

    Most would have to admit that the above-noted spending items will do little to put money into the pockets of taxpayers, which is what I would consider to be a critical component of an economic stimulus plan. The total cost of this bill is nearly as much as the annual discretionary budget for the entire federal government. Even if the bill does create the 3 million jobs the incoming administration suggests it will, the bill will cost taxpayers $

    Posted by kgibbas at 02/05/2009 @ 07:34am

51. 2ND HALF OF MESSAGE the bill will cost taxpayers $275,000 per job created.

    For these reasons, I voted against the bill, and I suspect these were among the reasons that every Congressional Republican and several Congressional Democrats voted against it as well.

    In an effort to quickly move the massive spending bill through the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her leadership team refused to allow debate or a vote on an alternative stimulus proposal, of which I am the lead cosponsor. Our plan didn't have the unnecessary spending on federal government employees. Instead, it would cut taxes for middle class Americans and small business owners, and would change the tax code to provide better incentives for businesses to invest and create jobs in the private sector.

    I am convinced that simply "spending more" is not the answer to our economic troubles. The big-spenders in Congress have spent our tax dollars at an unprecedented rate over the past year, on everything from boondoggle bailouts to Wall Street handouts. As a fiscal conservative, I believe our first step should be fiscal responsibility. We should keep taxes low, eliminate government waste, and resist the urge to think that government programs are the best way to help grow our economy.

    I will pay close attention to how this issue develops under the new administration. I will continue to fight for fiscally responsible policies and not support any legislation that wastes the taxpayers' money. In the meantime, I hope you will find this information helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any other concerns or questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (202) 225-2676, or by e-mail through our website at http://jordan.house.gov.

    Sincerely,

    Jim Jordan Member of Congress

    Posted by kgibbas at 02/05/2009 @ 07:41am

52. Thanks Peter. We can now see what has been happening over the past twenty years because of Buckley v. Valeho. and redistricting. our politicians have become so parochial that they are motionless. For those who are screaming "class war", the war is over and you have won. Please throw us a few crumbs. The people at the top of the food chain don't have a clue what it means when they hear that millions of children are food insecure. That means that children are starving. When homes are foreclosed that means that people are homeless. 45 million plus without health care, because they are financially on the very edge. All thanks to voodoo and raising tides economics. My two senators, Snow and Collins seem to be the only two wishing to try to be nationalistic, possibly because my state is so universally poor that they understand. People in our state are burning their furniture to stay warm. Corker and Shelby are busy protecting their Toyota and Honda plants Lieberman is busy protecting his submarine plant and Israel, etc...

    The war ios over and tnhe priviledged class has won. Please throw us a few crumbs

    Posted by julien38 at 02/05/2009 @ 10:33am

53. corrections: "The war is over and the privileged have won"

    Buckley v. Valeo 1976 sorry

    Posted by julien38 at 02/05/2009 @ 10:44am

54. My husband and I own a small business (meaning as in him just him and me) - we have had to lay off employees because of the economy. Our health insurance is about $1200.00 per month and the last thing I need is a a tax credit to buy a new car (can't afford one!!) and a tax credit for a new home (no thanks mine is biught and paid for). When we bought our home we bought one within our means and one that would meet future needs as well as our needs at the time (meaning we didn't need 3 or 4 baths and 4-5 bedrooms) we have one credit card we pay off monthly and are pretty much the types to buy what we need when we can afford it (our children also seem to to have this same practice). My problwem now is if they don't do something to get people jobs and spending even after doing everything right we will be among the walking wounded. So after 8 years of mind boggling Bush and Cheney - I say give this a try - I'd love to get all the ridiculous stuff out of it but I don't ned ridiculous tax cuts in the process. God help us all - right, left and in the middle and God Bless America.

    Posted by mpnmar at 02/05/2009 @ 11:40am

55. tried the number and it is "busy". emailed Senators Snow and Collins. I love those two Honorable ladies.

    Posted by julien38 at 02/05/2009 @ 1:44pm

56. OINK OINK OINK this Bill is just PORK and has nothing in it to actually help Joe Lunchbox. It should fail.

    Posted by tucanofulano at 02/05/2009 @ 2:04pm

57. Can they just go away, after 8 years of nothing, blackcoptermedia.com, They already bug me. The new spokes model Lush, unreal. Someone get a grip!

    Posted by thesid at 02/05/2009 @ 2:46pm

58. Say a prayer for the stimulus package, and that the Republicans will do the right thing and vote YES.

    Posted by FDR43 at 02/05/2009 @ 5:26pm

59. neo-classical/free market econ,let alone its voodoo or supply side strain,is a bit like abstinence only sex-ed or Aristotelian logic,it works till it doesn't,in one case,or only in the classroom in the other.a reasonably competent government would already passed a stimulus bill aimed at stimulating aggregate demand,and alleviating all the needless suffering-what Veblen called "the slaughter of the innocent." voodoo won't do that-remember we don't have a European style social safety net to rely on.the repubs in congress remind me of an old oscar wilde chestnut-"america is the first nation to go directly from barbarism to decadence -bypassing civilization entirely." buddy,we can afford the stimulus bill,its our empire that we can't handle financially,or morally for that matter.peace.

    Posted by David Lucke at 02/05/2009 @ 7:58pm

60. I read the congress version of the bill. Easy read and it really sounds good. There is a tipping point to the economy, as our president said today. When we don't know, but it isn't weeks or months. Paul Krugman has it right. the economy is like a plane that has lost all power and dead stick landings are not always successful and rarely come with choice landing sites. Only masochist would want to do nothing. It's called bend over grab your ankles and kiss your "know what" good bye. Some of the republicans sound like they were just let out of mental hospitals to soon. Didn't they just wheel the Armey, Graham like economists out of the white house.

    Posted by julien38 at 02/05/2009 @ 10:49pm

61. I read the congress version of the bill. Easy read and it really sounds good. There is a tipping point to the economy, as our president said today. When we don't know, but it isn't weeks or months. Paul Krugman has it right. the economy is like a plane that has lost all power and dead stick landings are not always successful and rarely come with choice landing sites. Only masochist would want to do nothing. It's called bend over grab your ankles and kiss your "know what" good bye. Some of the republicans sound like they were just let out of mental hospitals to soon. Didn't they just wheel the Armey, Graham like economists out of the white house?

    Posted by julien38 at 02/05/2009 @ 10:51pm

62. $79 billion for State Fiscal Stabilization Fund

    States that are fiscally responsible (if that is possible) now have to pay for Californias ineptitude in government. Wrong.

    Posted by apoorspic at 02/05/2009 @ 10:59pm

63. This is the biggest fraud perpetrated on the American Public by the democrats under the guise of helping the little guy. The uneducated and ill-informed drones that voted for Obama looking for a handout do not understand what is occurring here. This is a power grab by the governing class to keep the rich under their thumbs and the poor asking for a perpetual handout by buying their vote.

    Posted by apoorspic at 02/05/2009 @ 11:07pm

64. I just got home from working 3p to 11pm at the hospital; an RN.

    I will call Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas to tell them to pass the Stimulus Bill. These Republicans are well known to all. One is so demure and follows the pack wherever and the other is "just say no", posturing and looking the fool. I will tell them that if they do not learn how to recognize the needs of the people and this country and GOVERN instead of play politics at which they are losing, I will use every ounce of my energy to turn Texas Blue again for her Governor's campaign and his re-election!

    I love having this opportunity! Thank You!

    Posted by nana4g at 02/06/2009 @ 12:59am

65. "The best social program is a job"

    Why don't you try earning money for a change instead of stealing it from the private sector.

    You are nothing but a bunch of out of work liberal arts school journalism majors who are shocked that your 2.8GPA and 6 years of smoking pot and general studies haven't landed you a cushy gig.

    You are angry at those who went to Princeton and studied hard and now work 120 hours a week in investment banking and want revenge.

    Obama is the thief-in-chief and has been the steward of more corruption and failure in 5 days than Bush did in his first term.

    You wanted an inexperienced, clueless-to-the-real-world, ivory tower wing nut as your leader...

    Well, you got him.

    Posted by Zamfeer at 02/06/2009 @ 3:10pm

66. BTW, I bailout of the banks pales in comparison to the complete failure of the federal, state, and local governments.

    Scrap the bank bailout, scrap the porkulus bill, give us a huge tax break, and let us go out and earn a living.

    The problem is that the dependant class (liberals) are too intellectual to mow lawns for a living and want a free handout.

    O-scam-a has never earned an honest dollar in his life, so it is really no surprise he is willing to chuck a trillion dollars into the government black hole. Hey, it's not his money!

    Posted by Zamfeer at 02/06/2009 @ 3:43pm

67. This would be funny if it weren't so very true:

    "...the Republicans can't be trusted on the economy and they can't be trusted to meddle with the recovery bill. I mean, they met with Joe the Plumber on the Hill this week to discuss the economy."

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 3:49pm

68. They have to keep their destructive dream alive, just like hsuB/cHeney are trying to do, lest they fully expose their responsibility for the biggest set of illegal blunders in US modern history-- very similar comment:

    http://tinyurl.com/ch83ko

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 3:51pm

69. hsuB - got a news flash for you and Keith Oberman, Bush is not the prez any more, O-scam-a is.

    Getting a little worried that the honeymoon is over, are we?

    Yup, time for the curtain to be pulled back on the 'voted present 170 time' aging college boy.

    He needs to act like a man and leader. Not scare people (perhaps he is the one scared that he has no idea how to do his job).

    Instead of reading Lincoln maybe he should try Ronald Reagan.

    I do pity you. You have waited all these years, invested all this time and money in liberal media to elevate the messiah to the White House hoping for your long-deserved free stuff, and not you are watching it evaporate in a cloud of tax evaders, business-as-usual Washington insiders, and the same parade of lobbyist and influence peddlers that have always been there.

    Posted by Zamfeer at 02/06/2009 @ 4:16pm

70. Zanfear,

    Raygun helped hsuB/cHeney ruin America for their corporate owners. Dead brainers like yourself and Rump Limppaw are helping the ainti-US Constitution unitary exec (petty dic'tatorship loving) holdouts. Our nation would be safer if you all were in Gitmo. 9/11 would never had happened if it weren't for the hsuB/cHeney negligent incompetence. You all are the real enemy of the American dream and the reason the world is suffering. New con repubs are nothing but greedy blood sucking ticks that need immediate extraction; not media attraction.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 4:35pm

71. Hey Zanfear,

    BTW, you lost-- BIG TIME-- get over it.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 4:38pm

72. http://www.pollingreport.com/obama_ad.htm

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 4:58pm

73. OUCH:

    http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm

    ____VS_____

    http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_dem.htm

    Posted by hsuBfools at 02/06/2009 @ 5:00pm