TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Promoting Stimulus In Indiana, Holding Press Conference In Washington
President Obama is holding a town hall event at 12:05 p.m. ET in Elkhart, Indiana, promoting the compromise stimulus plan in a county suffering from 15.3% unemployment. Then at 8 p.m. ET he will hold a news conference at the White House -- his first presser since being sworn in as president.
Biden Meeting With AFL-CIO Head Sweeney
Joe Biden is meeting in Washington today with AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, and is holding other private meetings.
GOP Finding New Life In Opposition
The Washington Post reports that Republican leaders are seeking a new energy in their minority status, as the party mobilizes to oppose President Obama's economic agenda. "It's not a sign that we're back to where we need to be, but it's a sign that we're beginning to find our voice," said Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). "We're standing on our core principles, and the core principle that suffered the most in recent years was fiscal conservatism and economic liberty."
CQ: Moderate Republicans See No Benefit In Helping Obama
CQ reports that moderate House Republicans may have a special reason to vote against the White House's stimulus plan: A fear of primary challenges from the right-wing Republican Study Committee. In addition, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) pointed out that there is a certain political freedom that comes now: "We no longer have to worry about being blamed for all of the problems of the president and his administration. Now, it's the moderate Democrats who have to worry about that."
Specter: We Can't Afford Not To Pass Stimulus
In a new op-ed piece, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) explains why he has broken ranks to negotiate the new stimulus bill. "I am supporting the economic stimulus package for one simple reason," Specter says. "The country cannot afford not to take action."
WaPo: Speed And Oversight Could Be Mutually Exclusive
The Washington Post reports that true efficiency in administering the stimulus plan may be close to impossible, thanks to the need for speed combined with staff cuts in the government procurement offices that occurred under both the Clinton and Bush Administration. "You can't have both," said Eileen Norcross, a senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, on the questions of speed and oversight. "There is no way to get around having to make a choice."
Holbrooke: Afghanistan "Much Tougher Than Iraq"
Special Afghanistan envoy Richard Holbrooke warned the Munich Security Conference that the Afghanistan War will be "much tougher than Iraq," with no easy resolutions. "There is no Dayton agreement in Afghanistan," said Holbrooke. "It's going to be a long, difficult struggle."
Feingold Asking Appointed Senators To Help Abolish Appointment Process
Russ Feingold is so far not having much luck in picking up support for his proposed constitutional amendment to abolish gubernatorial appointment of Senators. Feingold is specifically looking for backing from the current crop of appointed Senators, and so far has gotten a No from both Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and a "maybe" from Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Who Says the GOP Ain't 'Cain-sians'
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=6059
February 9, 2009 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
New Gallup Poll released this morning is showing that in fact it is Obama NOT the Congressional GOP who is winning the message war. I think the BEST thing that Obama did was to stop being accommodating to the GOP and go on OFFENSE as of Wednesday.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/114202/Obama-Upper-Hand-Stimulus-Fight.aspx
Obama has a 67% approval rating on how his is handling the stimulus bill while the Congressional GOP have a 58% disapproval rating.
Obama isn't fighting the GOP as a whole but he is waging the war once again against the Bush policies which are really unpopular. If he keeps his focus on that as well as promote the stimulus package as a JOBS BILL, he will be okay.
Obama is once again back in campaign mode where he really shines.
February 9, 2009 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I couldn't agree more. Take it to them. Call them out on how it's the Repugnuts who are putting partisanship ahead of what's in the country's best interests. And mobilize the machine -- the grassroots network of Obama's supporters.
February 9, 2009 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
That poll is gonna sting. I likey.
February 9, 2009 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans only quote Rasmussen.
February 9, 2009 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh.
February 9, 2009 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Remember last week when Hamas seized UN aid parcels intended for residents of Gaza? The UN now resumed aid service and is delivering food and supplies again. Hamas said last week's event was a "lack of coordination". YEAH RIGHT.
http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/02/un-resumes-gaza-aid.html
Maybe we'll finally have a stimulus bill soon?!
February 9, 2009 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
The thing that gets me about this op-ed is that he explains the cuts they made by saying they ought to be dealt with as part of the normal appropriations process, a catch-all justification that could be applied to any cut in any area. He doesn't really attempt to justify what they cut in policy terms, nor does he attempt to justify why they insisted on more tax cuts. While I'm glad he's on board, to me this shows the utter bankruptcy -- economic, moral, political -- of the so-called "moderates'" position. Ironically, their "compromise" -- because of how much it will weaken the impact of the stimulus --could actually cause Obama more damage over the long run than the Repugnuts who are just being asshole obstructionists.
February 9, 2009 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well we *are* talking about Arlen Specter here. He has shown himself to be a man of strong words and no will whatsoever to actually deviate from the strict GOP line.
Why should he be any different now? And why would we expect him to be?
February 9, 2009 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
True, true.
February 9, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
February 9, 2009 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt, Jonze! I am having fun this morning imagining all those republicans trying to crowd together to stand on the head of that pin. Core principles indeed.
February 9, 2009 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, you mean to tell me that Republicans actually have principles?! I thought the trouble they were having standing on principles was caused by a lack of principles.
February 9, 2009 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Snarlin' Arlen is really positioning himself to be an enemy to the GOP, ain't he?
I'll wait to pass judgment myself until after Employee Free Choice comes to vote. He's probably the best bet for a GOP crossover on that, except maybe Voinovich
February 9, 2009 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Campaign Diaries just released the first Governor rankings of the 2010 cycle, with extensive analyses of all 38 (!) races - a stunning 17 of which will feature open seats. For once, Democrats will be on the defensive, as 14 Dem-held governorships are already vulnerable.
February 9, 2009 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I just got an email from the Republican running in VA stating he is in the lead next to his Dem opponents, Moran and Clinton's campaign manager. Thing is with VA, thanks to their 1 term limit, just one person can't do too much damage. Bad part about the one term is when you get someone like Mark Warner in there and he turns the state into the best managed state in the Country, he has to leave because of term limits.
February 9, 2009 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's why I think term limits are a huge mistake. It's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. It's a rare politician that does a good job, so why prevent him from doing a good job for the people. It is so short sighted.
February 9, 2009 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's the bad, but what about the good? Incumbency is a major advantage when in an election, and it often keeps bad politicians in there place. Term limits eliminate this advantage and allow for a more even playing field. Now I will agree that a one-term term limit is overboard, but I disagree with the absolution of term limits.
February 9, 2009 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about campaign finance reform that would virtually wipe out the advantage of incumbency? That would be the way to deal with it. Stop the money slushing around and it comes down to whether the politician is doing a good job representing his constituents or not.
February 9, 2009 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Dems will win in Virginia. YOu must understand NoVA LITERALLY CONTROLS THE STATE'S VOTING. NoVa ALONE decides who wins elections.
February 9, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans current mode reminds me of what Spaniards say when they walk into a room, "De qué se discute, qué me opongo. (Whatever you're talking about, I'm against it.)
February 9, 2009 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck off Mark Kirk. If you worried half as much about helping our country get out of the hole your party created as you do tryign to get reelected we might be in a much better place
February 9, 2009 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
ZOMG! Somewhere someone might actually waste money in a gigantic government appropriations bill! We'd better just not spend it at all! Or, wait, I know, we could put the ace waste, fraud and abuse inspectors who kept Blackwater, KBR and Halliburton running such a taut ship in Iraq on the job.
Seriously, at some point, somewhere, someone is going to explain that the meaing of the terms "waste" and "pork" are entirely upended when the economy is in freefall. Paying people to dig holes and fill them back in again isn't "waste" when the country's headed toward Grapes of Wrath territory.
February 9, 2009 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I appreciate what Feingold is attempting to do with his new bill eliminating gubernatorial appointments of senators, but he's ignoring the unintended consequences of this.
1) Elections are expensive. State budgets are already extremely in the red, as states made spending decisions based upon faulty tax revenue predictions artificially inflated by increased property values.
2) Election turnout is typically low in non-presidential elections, especially so in "special elections". Low turnout results in poor selections, generally IMHO. The counter-argument to this is that low turnout is better than the choice of one person, but the governor was elected to make decisions for the state and should be trusted to do so.
3) Appointments are often for 2 year periods or less. These days with election cycles running close to two years, would it be fair to suggest a special election may take 6 months? That's 6 months without a seated senator. With margins as close as they are, this is unacceptable. Look at the disaster we have without Franken currently.
February 9, 2009 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
***When TPM does talk to Johnson about the banking recovery issue I wish they would ask him that if he agrees that these banks are already too toxic to recover and our bail out money is just being thrown down a big black hole...how would he feel about the government starting 7-8 banks with that $350 billion as they would get the money out there to consumers and gain trillions back...and then when the economy was stronger sell the banks to the private sector.
BTW...the stimulus package can be paid for by just implementing a sales tax on wall street transactions like derivatives. It would gain the federal government that much money in taxes while the tax itself could be kept low.
There are answers...but the very greedy wealthy elite (and the senators they own) block their implementation.
February 9, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
CQ: Moderate Republicans See No Benefit In Helping Obama.
Nor do they see any benefit in helping the country since "benefit" to republicans is selfish self interests..."Yeah, but what do we get out of it?"
We had an ice storm in MO last week with freezing arctic weather preventing road travel etc. One week later it's 65degrees and I'm standing next to my motorcycle while a lady in shorts is shoveling snow off the grocery store parking lot.
This jobs package and our economic predictions ignore the upcoming weather seasons with droughts, floods, etc. reducing our food production. We don't have time to waste in jump starting the economy. If California goes down the "Grapes of Wrath" will seem like fairy tale.
February 9, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink