First thoughts: Seeking bipartisanship

Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:07 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Seeking bipartisanship: Since winning November’s presidential election, Obama has named two Republicans (Bob Gates and Ray LaHood) to serve in his cabinet, met with John McCain and attended a dinner in his honor, and listened to GOP ideas on the stimulus. Today, he makes an additional effort to extend a hand to Republicans when he travels up to Capitol Hill. According to NBC’s Mike Viqueira, Obama will meet with House Republicans at 12:15 pm ET, and then with Senate GOPers at 1:25 pm. Another sign of compromise: As part of the stimulus, the White House has apparently agreed to fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, which would cost an estimated $70 billion, boosting the total current cost of the stimulus to nearly $900 billion. But Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell hinted on TODAY that agreement to this idea -- pushed by Senate Finance Committee ranking Republican Chuck Grassley -- isn't enough. Will the president acquiesce on anything else? Does he need to? By agreeing to include a few Republican ideas, the White House may have the talking points they want. If they don't get the bipartisan support they would like, then expect to hear the spin from the West Wing along the lines of, "It was a plan with bipartisan input," or something to that effect. By the way, Obama and the Democrats got a more complete study from the CBO, which now gives them more leverage in the stimulus impact debate after an initial CBO report was being used by the GOP to hammer away at the Democrats.

Video: Obama heads to Capitol Hill seeking to convince Republicans to get behind his $825 billion stimulus package.

*** How will Republicans respond? Of course, bipartisanship is a two-way street. The Los Angeles Times gets right to the conundrum congressional GOPers are facing. "For Republicans, the economic debate is the first test of how they will play the weak political hand they were dealt by the 2008 elections. They have proven willing to oppose Obama's stimulus plan so far, but some Republicans worry about the risk of confronting a popular president during an economic crisis, when their party's power is lower than it has been in more than a decade.” Just what does the GOP do? This is a big week for the party, as it selects a new leader on Friday. It does seem as if McConnell wants to work more with Obama than House Leader Boehner. Of course, this simply could be the reality where Boehner has a more conservative caucus he's leading in the House than McConnell's leading in the Senate. McConnell knows he'll have Republicans vote for Obama's stimulus; it's possible Boehner won't have that many. Imagine this scenario: More Senate Republicans vote for Obama's stimulus package than House Republicans. Possible? More likely than you think, given the ideological makeup of both caucuses. Also worth noting, Rahm Emanuel has a dinner with some moderate House Republicans tonight.

Video: TODAY's Meredith Vieira talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about Obama's stimulus package.

*** A strong signal: In his inaugural address, Obama pledged to reach out to the Middle East. He sent another strong signal by 1) sending special envoy George Mitchell to the region and 2) giving his first TV interview from the White House not to American TV network -- but to the Arab news channel Al Arabiya. Obama made little news in the interview, but its symbolism was the news in and of itself. “I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away,” Obama said. “And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals.” More: “Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.”

*** Rangel back in the news: Is this a sign of things to come for Rangel? Per The Hill, “Peter Welch (Vt.), a new Democratic member of the House ethics committee, gave back nearly $20,000 in donations he received from Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who is under investigation by the panel for an array of ethics charges.”

*** RNC Chair race update: Hotline yesterday released its survey of the 168 RNC members who will choose the next chairman of the Republican Party. Current chair Mike Duncan leads with 25 committed supporters, followed by former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele with 17, South Carolina Party chair Katon Dawson with 12, Michigan chair Saul Anuzis with 11, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell with 10, and ex-Huckabee campaign manager Chip Saltsman with no solid votes. The Web site ‘YourRNC.com has it Duncan 35, Dawson 19, Steele 18, Anuzis 15, Blackwell 13, and Saltsman 0. First Read has been working on our own count over the past couple of weeks, and we’ll release our tally tomorrow.

*** Slow and Tedious: If yesterday was any guide, the recount trial in Minnesota -- which could last for weeks -- seems about as much fun as watching paint dry. Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “The trial to determine Minnesota's disputed U.S. Senate election got off to a slow start Monday -- and then bogged down. The trouble came over testimony that workers for Republican Norm Coleman's campaign had marked or obscured copies of some absentee ballot envelopes offered as evidence. The acknowledgment provoked confusion and prompted the judges to demand the original documents… That turn promised to prolong a trial that Coleman lawyer Joe Friedberg predicted in his opening statement would be ‘extremely tedious’ and involve the examination of 5,000 ballots, one at a time.”

Countdown to RNC winter meeting: 1 day
Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 126 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 133 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 280 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 644 days

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Comments

‘YourRNC.com has it Duncan 35, Dawson 19, Steele 18, Anuzis 15, Blackwell 13, and Saltsman 0.
********************************************************

Ouch. Poor Chip Saltsman. That's gotta sting...

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:15 AM)

Again, Coleman is the one who is fouling up the process. When will journalists ask him when he is going to step out for the good of MN like he said that Franken should?

As to the Republicans? Let the sleezes show themselves for the obstructionist that they are. There will eventually be a blow back from the public.

newdayDawning (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:21 AM)

So what are the republicans to do? My guess is the moderate ones from contested districts will go with Obama, the conservative ones in "safe" conservative districts will go with Boehner. Chuck Todd's point is well taken that more legislation will be on the way which will involve banking regulations. Unpredictable how that will unfold.
One bottom line is do not underestimate our new President. He and his team know what they are doing. The media has to fill air space. The question is: Will the media become "snarky".

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:25 AM)

Bipartisan? McConnell is smarter then that. Let the Democrats pass this giant t*rd and let them get their hands dirty on something that is more then likey going to fail. Somehow the Democrats think they are smart then anyone else to spend that money. In truth, about 10 Democrats have come up with the bailout bill, and one of them is Pelosi, so right away the Democrats own the Idiot label on bill. Pelosi is running around telling people that hundreds of millions of dollars in the bill for birth control is part of the economic stimulus. Or, it's a pay off to a major Democratic contributor. You be the judge.

Lanny P., Holman, MS (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:28 AM)

Democrats get one crook appointed (Geitner) and now have to deal with another (Rangle). Blagojevich in Washington DC today? Might as well make it a three-ring circus.

AT Ross (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:30 AM)

I have really been disturbed by the attitudes of the republicans.

It seems their old habit of lying about the facts, and misusing information for gain and attention is starting again!

And again the media is helping this along.

And my fellow commenters here seem to be jumping on this same negative band-wagon.

We voted for President Obama because we saw that we all needed extra help. The stimulus plan is very well rounded and a good plan.

All the republicans want to cut taxes and do the same old thing that got us into trouble this past 8 years.

BULLETIN: REPUBLICANS CANNOT GOVERN AND HAVE NO PRACTICAL IDEAS. THEY DO NOT CARE FOR US REGULAR FOLKS!!!! AT ALL!!!!

All they care about is themselves and power. They are NOW IN THE MINORITY, so they are making a lot of obstructionist noise.

WE ARE IN CRISIS!! Let's get smart here and see what is going on!

Andrea, New York City (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:31 AM)

Stimulus bill started out at $800 billion, now it's $900 billion. Hasn't even gotten to the Senate yet either. After the Senate is done with it, it will be a trillion, and the compromise bill between the House and the Senate will be around $1.1 trillion.

Get your check books out America. We've got some bills to pay! Of course we've got that $500 we'll be getting from the feds to look forward to.

Marvin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:33 AM)

DON'T keep giving in to Republicans
Mitch McConJob will never compromise
He just wants to prevent the Recovery package from working

Forget the extra tax cuts and limiting the size of the Recovery package

BE BOLD !!
Size does matter
Mass Transit agencies are facing drastic cuts and increasing ridership..... HELP THEM

Forget bi-partisanship !!
It takes two to Tango, and the Republicans won't dance

Dance with the ones who brung ya !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:35 AM)

Sorry Texas !!
You lose
No influence for a Red State
No more hand outs, Texas
You picked the Dummy Party

From Salon.com:

'...Gimme a D for Texas

As Time magazine notes, when George W. Bush went back to Texas last week, he found a divided state Republican Party. Well-coifed incumbent governor Rick Perry faces an intraparty challenge from Kay Bailey Hutchison, who plans to leave the U.S. Senate before the end of her current term to battle Perry for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination.

What Time does not explain, however, is that Bush has returned to a state far different from the one he left eight years ago. A rapid rise in the Latino electorate promises to turn the state purple in the foreseeable future, and the Republicans have lost seats in the state legislature in each of the last three election cycles. But more importantly, having placed all its chips on the wrong party, in 2009 the state has ceded nearly all of its national influence.

For the past 80 years, no state has held more power in the federal government than Texas. Starting in the 1920s, there have been only 10 years when the Lone Star state could not claim the allegiance of either the president, the vice president, the Speaker of the House or the leadership of at least one of the two major parties in at least one of the chambers of Congress. There have been relatively fallow periods, like the years following the departure of the last two Texan presidents, LBJ and the elder Bush, from the White House. It has been nearly a century, however, since Texas has experienced the power vacuum it is feeling now that the latest Texan president has headed home. And that is almost exclusively due to the fact that Texas has become so Republican...'

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:38 AM)

After the bailout bill passes, we'll be nearly $2 trillion into deficit spending. That's about $6500 per man, woman and child in the US. So if you have afamily of four, you're on the hook for $26000. But, you all will be getting that $500 check from the government later on. Feel better now?

Tax Me Some More (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:38 AM)

The people voted for change because they were sick of politics as usual. The republicans refuse to recognize our demands for integrity, intellect, unity and putting our country first.
After nearly destroying our country these last eight years, they continue to be oblivious to doing what is right.
Their ill thought out tax cuts will do absolutely no good for the unemployed and middle class America.
Course, when have they cared about that.

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:39 AM)

The Democrats don't need those Greedy Repubs to pass President Obama's Stimulus Bill. The Repubs have no power in congress and senate because of their screw-ups in the past 8 years. Obama should just do whats best for this country and tell the Greedy repubs to go straight to hell, because thats where they belong..

gepa (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:41 AM)

HEADLINE === Mitchells Firm Lobbied for Dubai's Ruler in Camel Jockey Case =====

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) === George Mitchell, President Barack Obamas special Middle East ENVOY, was chairman of a law firm that was paid about $8 million representing Dubai’s ruler in connection with a child-trafficking lawsuit. =====
The DLA Piper law firm did legal and lobbying work on the case, which alleged that Dubais Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and another official used children kidnapped from other countries to ride as jockeys in camel races. ==== The firm lobbied federal agencies, members of the U.S. House and about two dozen Senate offices, including those of Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2006 and 2007, according to Justice Department foreign-agent disclosures.

OBAMA'S MIDEAST POLICY INITIATIVE A BRIBE? (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:42 AM)

"“Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.”
_________________________
I wish George Mitchell success. It takes ethical intelligent leadership 24/7, something that's been lacking in the Middle East for a long long time. No one in the Middle East cares or ever cared about the Palestinians. No one. Israel has always had our backing 100%. This is what has to change. Immediately. What Israel just did to the Palestinians is a sin. Pure and simple.

The entire Middle East has become very unstable because of Israel's massacre in Gaza. Bush and Clinton were in office for 8 years. Nothing changed. Israel is still the bully against a caged in people.

The media is not telling us the complete history here. But it's available if you're interested in reading up on it. The Palestinians firing rockets into Israel is not the beginning and end of this story, as the media likes to claim.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:44 AM)

Giving away the recovery for special interests ?
Don't 'compromise' with big business...

From HuffPost:

'...Stimulus Includes Tax Cuts That Obama Economists Panned As Ineffective

At least $23.8 billion in corporate tax breaks have been included in the $825 billion economic recovery package in order to win backing from key business groups and their Congressional allies, even though the team that put the legislation together believes the breaks have little value in stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

Top beneficiaries include banks, telecommunication companies, railroads and oil, hotels, casinos, and both commercial and residential real estate firms.

"Everyone knows these provisions are not going to do much, but some members of Congress need to be able to say 'the bill has a business tax cut.' So we put them in," said an Obama transition team architect, adding that the corporate breaks were carefully written to be temporary so that the drain on the treasury will be brief. According to another source: "This is just one of those things that you do to get a bill passed. It may not be pretty. We are talking about billions, but in reality it's only a tiny fraction of the whole bill."

One of the controversial corporate provisions was tried out earlier this decade, and critics have questioned its value in creating jobs or encouraging new capital spending..

Jason Furman argued -- before he became top deputy to Larry Summers on the White House National Economic Council --- that 2002 and 2003 attempts to spur the economy through accelerated depreciation of corporate investments, a process tax specialists call "bonus depreciation for business investment" or "partial expensing," was not "very effective in spurring economic activity."

Similarly, a detailed study of the same provision issued by the highly cautious Federal Reserve found that "examination of a sample of corporate tax returns and of survey data provides only limited support for the effectiveness."...'

Why pander to Republicans ???
Bi-partisan ??
Are Corporate tax cuts 'ear marks' ???

Just say No to McConJob

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:46 AM)

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:48 AM)

New York politics also remains completely insane. Two new polls were released yesterday and they showed Paterson's support has collapsed (and he is vulnerable to a Cuomo challenge) while Gillibrand is much more popular among Republicans than Democrats (http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/01/26/new-york-polls/).

Dan, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:49 AM)

It hasn't happened in the first 8 days of the Chosen One's presidency and there is no sign it will happen, period. Obama will stick with his own crowd.

Obama is a left wing radical, as far as I'm concerned, and a big media push and a mostly ignorant crowd of people who have no clue who he really is voted for him. The older pro-Obama voters suffer from Bush Derrangenent Syndrome. They can't get away from Bush. He haunts them wherever they go. Poor ingrates.

I am one who. like Limbaugh, wants Obama to do well only if he keeps taxes down and plays a moderate role in the presidency. Funding abortions overseas at a price of $500 million when we are supposedly in a recession is another example of an illogical way to waste taxpayers money. Obama is only following an agenda. He wants to bring us together but abortion is the biggest wedge that divides this country. And he signs the bill into law when the national abortion protest is taking place down the street.

That's a slap in the face of those who oppose abortion. Slick Willie did the same thing years ago.
A left wing cheap shot, typical of the Obama/ Clinton/Biden administration.

On the other hand, like Limbaugh said, if Obama is hell bent on pleasing his Daily Kos and Huffington Post buddies with outrageous and pork-filled policies ... then let his Clinton-filled administration fail big time.

Moon Dawg (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:49 AM)

Obama needs to move on from Republicans if they continue to give him overly dramatic grief on the stimulus. The package will pass with the GOP, so it may be time for hardball from the White House.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:49 AM)

I give Obama credit for trying to play nice with the repugnant ones but he will learn they do not play the bipartisan game. The Idiots of Ideology will whine about everything he does hoping to garner political favor. The tax cuts they want will not fix the economy, the bushwhacker's taqx cuts did little to spur the economy and have done great harm piling up massive national debt that now wastes more taxpayer money on debt service before paying for any entitlement programs that do stimulate the economy.

We need jobs, American jobs here and the spending on infrastructure and other projects will create jobs here. Tax cuts create more jobs overseas than here. We saw last year how the tax rebate was an utter failure in stimulating the economy long term.

I hope the Dems get the cajones to just pass the stimulus package without the repugnant ones signing on so when it works the Dems can take all the credit for fixing the economy the repugnant ones wrecked.

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:50 AM)

So the Democrats want the Republicans votes, but they don't want them to have any input or any say in the matter. The Democrats are treating the Republicans as if they were african-americans.

James Rackers, NM (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:51 AM)

If I was a judge in the Minnesota recount trail I would have thrown Coleman’s case out of court and declared Frankin the winner.

Curt, Moorestown, NJ (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:54 AM)

HAVE YET TO HEAR THE REPUKES COME UP WITH THEIR OWN VERSION OF A STIMULUS PACKAGE, OTHER THAN TO LOWER TAXES ON THE RICH; WHICH THE LAST 28 YEARS DOESN'T TRICKLE DOWN TO, BUT, TRICKLES ON WORKING CLASS AMERICA. IF YOU CAN'T COME UP WITH SOMETING OTHER THAN SMALL GOVERNMENT & LESS TAXES; GET OUT OF THE WAY, AND LET THE GROWN-UPS TAKE OVER. IT'S OBVIOUS THEY LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE LAST ELECTION WHICH WAS A REPUDIATION OF THEIR SPEND, SPEND SOME MORE, AND HOPE BIG BUSINESS BAILS OUT THE ECOMOMY; WHICH DOESN'T WORK.

YOU KNOW OBAMA RAN ON A BOTTOMS UP THEME THROUGH OUT THE CAMPAIGN, IT'S TIME FOR BIG BUSINESS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE WORKERS; HOW ABOUT CUTTING SENIOR MANAGEMENT & THEIR SALARIES, INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY DO THE WORK FOR A CHANGE?

JOHN CHICAGO (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:55 AM)

"Gonzo Gate" , it just will not fade away. Just yesterday the House Judiciary Committee, subpoenaed former White House advisor Karl Rove. He will have to testify about the Bush administration firing of nine US attorneys.However, should former President and DC idiot George "Worthless" Bush, have given "secret" pardons to Karl Rove, George Gonzales and Harriett Miers. They may never be prosecuted. FYI... pardons given by an outgoing President can be given in "secreat" and only becomming public once a person has been found guilty of a crime. So, what I'am saying, is George "Worthless" Bush may have "pardoned", hundreds or thosands of people without our knowledge. Go figure ! ... stay tuned.

Z (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:55 AM)

President Obama is a citizen of the world and as such, he treats every country as if it were our neighbor and not a perceived enemy. Most people want respect and that olive branch was extended by our President in his interview with Al-Arabiya. President Obama is tough when he needs to be but is always seeking a peaceful solution when possible.

There will be no end to the criticism of this interview by the right wingers. I applaude President Obama for tossing out the old book of Cowboy Diplomacy that clearly has not worked in the past. He is charting his own course that is starkly different from George Bush's world view. I could not be more pleased.

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:55 AM)

"If they don't get the bipartisan support they would like, then expect to hear the spin from the West Wing along the lines of, 'It was a plan with bipartisan input,' or something to that effect."
////////////
What a fine reporting this was? You wouldn't think the spin part was an opinion, would you? I mean, who would call it spin if you didn't? You don't think we have the capacity to decipher? After all, he's not reaching out. If they decide they want to be obstructionists, the white house can't say they reach out? If they do it's spin, right? Great Job! I got so much information from this piece. And you wonder why most people turn to other less prominent filters to get information.

Doles, Miami, FL (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:55 AM)

I hope President Obama apologized to the Arab world for our country's putting buildings in the way of hijacked planes-after all, 19 Muslims were killed because we heartlessly built in downtown New York, Washington D.C., and, of course, thoughtlessly left an open field in Pennsylvania.

We don't want them to resent us, do we?

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:56 AM)

After the bushwhacker screwed up the Middle East now Obama has the task of fixing his diplomatic screwups. It's way past time to stop supporting Isreal 100% when they treat the Gaza Palestinians like slaves and they keep them from getting humanitarian aid in order to live a good life. No wonder they support Hamas. We need a more evenhanded approach in order to sort out the Palestinian problem which will do wonders with the rest of the Muslim world.

The repugnant ones need to get the message that the majority of voters rejected their economic plans. We want what Obama and the Democrats have to offer and we will never forget or forgive the repugnant ones if they screw up the economic recovery just for their petty partisan political games. Time for the repugnant ones to stop putting their losing party and ideology ahead of the good of the country.

I like how Keith and Rachel have been covering how the bushwhacker lied to us about torture and domestic spying. Hopefully the criminals from the White House will go on trial for their warcrimes.

Prison for Criminals Bush and Cheney!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:59 AM)

My only disappointment with Obama's auto efficiency edict is that it isn't enough for me. I would hope that he orders all new cars to have at least 40 mpg, and direct that all cars built after a certain date, say, 2015, be either hybrid or plug in hybrid or all electric.

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:59 AM)

Symbolism over Substance - thy name is Obama.

The Celebrity President (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:00 AM)

900 Billion. This is not stimulus bill - it is an entire hog of pork. How can it be a stimulus if most of these "programs" will not become effective until 2010? The recession will likely be over before this theft of our children's future inheritance even finishes. What a horendeous idea. If any Washington politician had any sence of shame or decency, they would quit before passing this nightmare.

We are stealing from our kid's piggy bank to pay for their condoms. Unbelievable. Is this the change we voted for? Sounds like just more, a lot more, of the same. In eight years Bush put this country 1 trillion in debt. Obama hopes to best that record in his first 100 days. Terrible - Epic fail.

Obama like's to say words matter. I have this little nugget for him. He is wrong. Words do not matter, actions matter. The only people who think words matter are liars trying to convince you the apple you see in front of you is a banana. Well this stimulus is a pig, and no matter how much lipstick you put on it, it is still a pig. Obama and all the rest of the sychophants in Washington know this, but they need to dress it up to try to sell eveyone else in this county this pig.

I am ashamed of our leaders. I am ashamed of those who voted for them. The politics in this country suck. And the more it "changes" the more it stays the same.

Mycroft, Dystopia, USA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:03 AM)

There's nothing wrong with attempting bi-partisanship and listening to the opposition. But in the end, there's also no sense in compromising basic democratic values to kow-tow to a few republican blowhards, like Boehner, who are essentially powerless, except for the noise they make. Listen politely, invite them to board the train, and then if they don't, leave without them. Sooner or later these petty little emperors will realize they're standing on the platform without any clothes.

Anna Molly (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:03 AM)

Pat, Boston, MA

Pat, I agree with you. I was shocked when I saw 60 Minutes last week and what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. I'd like to see any American be o.k. with Mexican or Canadian soldiers moving in and out of our homes whenever they felt like it! Where is the media?

New Independent (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:16 AM)

I guess we have no choice but to spend our ways out of this economic mess. We'll have new roads and bridges, green infrastructure, and lots of bills for our children and chidren's children to pay. I trully hope the Bush tax cuts, aka corporate welfare plan, is allowed to expire, so we can pay for this stuff.

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:17 AM)

Coleman and his army of hot shot lawyers from DC think they can come in and ask for the moon,and then except it on a silver platter.The votes have already been counted, by a pool of judges from the twin city's. who ruled on this .So now as a stall tactic they want to go every one of them, one at a time.Please get real,Norm ,next he will want every one that voted to be added to his witness list,so his shooters can try to determine who you voted for.What a waste of tax payers money.WE may see another election cycle in 2010 before the repuks will except there loss.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:20 AM)

Hey Z, didn't Congress already subpoena Karl Rove and didn't he IGNORE it? And I think nothing was done to him. What a joke. If it was one of us we'd be rotting in jail. Just goes to show, "justice for all" is not true!

New Independent (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:21 AM)

"after an initial CBO report was being used by the GOP to hammer away at the Democrats." you failed to mention this "initial" report was false, not true, invented. american citizens voted overwhelmingly to repudiate the gop's tried and failed economic policies of limited, small, ineffectual, laizzes faire government serving only the needs of the wealthy, connected and powerful. either the gop is part of the solution or they are the problem and the american citizens will hold them accountable.

sbv creswell, oregon (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:21 AM)

My apologies to the Republicans for the actions of The Obama Trauma. Like the Nascar drivers, he's on a constant left turn.

Thanks again to W.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:21 AM)

Hell hath no fury like Barack Hussein Obama.

Tombstone Shadow (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:23 AM)

How do tax cuts help people who have been recently laid off, and no longer have any taxes to cut?

Why is the Republicn party still clinging to the debunked "tax cuts solve all problems" approach, and why is the media sitting back and allowing them to do so unchallenged?

What is the Republican Party willing to compromise on? What bipartisan signals have they sent?

I hear alot of complaining, but what do GOP solutions look like?
Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:48 AM)

Republicans are for extending unemployment benefits and additional money for the EITC.

And, why do you care about Republican solutions? Democrats are firmly in charge, and it's their show, and their responsibility.

L. Tess-Roberts, OK (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:25 AM)

I would like to think that the election of President Obama was a signal that the American public doesn't want the same old bipartisanship we've seen but instead wants Washington to work together to solve the serious problems which threaten us all. If I am correct and the Republicans don't get this message, I think we will all find out at the midterm elections. I don't think the administration should quit trying for bipartisan solutions, but at a certain point the train has to leave the station whether the Republicans are on board or not.

Go Steelers!

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:27 AM)

Obama goes on record as officially being the first President afraid of Rush Limbaugh. Clinton never seemed to care about him.

I guess that really says a lot about our new leader, or is there something to hide he thinks old Rush might uncover.

Why So Serious?

Pete, Salinas, CA

I thought the exact same thing! Really laughable.

Sugar Ray, Downington, PA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:29 AM)

ONCE AGAIN SICK DISGUSTING REPUBLICANS HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT EVERY ISSUE, GET OVER IT YOUR PARTY IS NOT IN POWER ANYMORE THANK GOODNESS.

GREG REMINGTON (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:30 AM)

"By the way, Obama and the Democrats got a more complete study from the CBO, which now gives them more leverage in the stimulus impact debate after an initial CBO report was being used by the GOP to hammer away at the Democrats." -First Read
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Democrats got a "more complete study from the CBO"? According to "my sources" the initial CBO report which First Read and the rest of the media are shamelessly plugging DOESN'T EVEN EXIST!

What say you First Read?

How can something like this happen?

Who is verifying your info before you "report" it to us?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/tv-media-cited-bogus-cbo_n_161161.html

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:31 AM)

Spewing the phrase "I won" doesn't really come across as "Seeking bipartisanship", if anything, he sounds like the spoiled Ivy Leaguer that he is.

Superpower, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:34 AM)

Hip Hip Hurray! We can all expect tax breaks and amnesty for the next few years with Geithner on-board heading up the IRS!

You go Obama! You Da Man!

Josh Larson, FL (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:35 AM)

It is absolutely amazing for me to see so many people wanting to p*** on the stimulus plan without hearing all the specific. The trickle down philosophy did not work for the simple reason of greed and corruption - those who have the most want more and will continue to step on others to get their way. CEO like Thain will think nothing of spending 1m to refurbish an already plush office, on the one hand and on the other downsize a man trying to support his family on $40g's a year. That is why we need regulations to prevent this type fo corporate gluttony.

Where is the $325 Billion bailout? (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:37 AM)

I think a real debate should be whether we should get rid of our fractional reserve system and move to a 100% reserve requirement system. This could help avoid the misallocation of resources in a system which we now know is known to contain "boom" and "bust" cycles normally attributed to periods of low interest rates. Low interest rates creates more credit in the systems than should normally be and has money chasing "bad" investments. Interest rates should be set by market forces, not a central bank.

As a disciple of Hayek and researching the "Austrian theory", I would at least like to have an honest nationwide debate on this issue. Let talk about this.

Cuz even though we perceive ourselves as a free country, one of the last parts of this economy still under "central planning" is the Fed.

I would at least like to have an open and honest debate on this issue. This may not happen in these next 5 years, but let's look at maybe 10-20 years down the road.

How's that for thinking "outside the box" and pushing the envelope.

Regards,

Rob, from Iowa (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:37 AM)

Spewing the phrase "I won" doesn't really come across as "Seeking bipartisanship", if anything, he sounds like the spoiled Ivy Leaguer that he is.

Superpower, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:39 AM)

Anna Molly (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:03 AM)

I concur with your thoughts Anna Molly. The Republians are playing politics while Obama is atttempting to seek some compromise and to listen to their ideas and opinions. But I suppose that those on the right will say that Obama does not care about or want bi-partisan cooperation unless he allows the Republicans to run his administration and gives them all they want. The Republicans do seem to forget now and then that they had their a--es whooped in the latest election. For those neo-cons here, don't take my word for it, take that of the American voters who elected Obama "by a majority". And is that now how we do things here in the States?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:43 AM)

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