I saw this today:
House Republican Leader John A. Boehner and his No. 2, Whip Eric Cantor, told their rank-and-file members Tuesday morning during a closed-door meeting to oppose the bill when it comes to the floor Wednesday, according to an aide familiar with the discussion. Boehner told members that he's voting against the stimulus, and Cantor told the assembled Republicans that there wasn't any reason for them to support the measure, according to another person in the room. Cantor and his whip team are going to urge GOP members to oppose it.
In a nod to the president, Boehner did point out that this is the third time that Obama has met with Republican leaders, compared with the zero meetings they've held with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — a now-familiar refrain from Republicans in the House. But Obama’s diplomacy clearly isn’t buying any votes yet.
Ask me if I give a damn.
Kos and Marshall @TPM make the clear point that there is no upside to Republicans helping. They only get upside if this fails and has Democratic fingerprints on it only.
But you know what: I don't believe that either.
Let's take this apart point by point.
(1) Republicans have decided to be the party of opposition.
The frank Q & A between a popular new president and a frustrated, out of power minority party was originally set up as a diplomatic outreach by a White House that has promised to be more bipartisan.
But as the week wears on, it’s clear that the GOP is finding its voice as a stout opposition party instead of the party of compromise.
Sen. John McCain started this week's pummeling, declaring Sunday that he would oppose Obama's stimulus package as written. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has kept up a daily din of opposition to the specifics of the package, mocking the inclusion of a mob museum and a water park, and demanding more discussion and transparency. Senate Republicans are also rallying against the Democratic version of a children’s health care bill being debated this week.
The nitpicking took its toll, and Obama on Monday privately urged House Democrats to remove a notable flash point: funds for contraception that had been defended by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on national television just a day before. The Democrats agreed.
Then this morning, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) went for the jugular, urging his members to oppose the economic centerpiece of Obama's first term just hours before the president paid the Republicans the compliment of coming to the Capitol for a private meeting — even before he did the same for House Democrats.
Obama's aides cast the visit as an outstretched hand — and it got slapped.
(2) Republicans will run in 2010 on the bailout and the stimulus not working.
(3) Conventional wisdom holds that 2010 will mean Democratic losses if the recovery doesn't begin; something that looks CLEARLY unlikely given the mess Obama inherited.
(4) Moving forward: the idea is that in 2012 if Obama hasn't moved the needle and we're imploding or facing a Depression quality crisis he'll be booted out.
JMHO: But not one of these CW setting pieces makes any sense to me AT ALL.
To begin with: Republicans are opposing a popular president who just won a referendum on this economic fight. Basically, in not signing on they risk being seen as obstructionist or WORST as do nothing Hooverites. Every House representative or Senator that doesn't vote for recovery will face a Bush/Hoover label in 2010 and 2012 IMO. That is the kiss of death.
Why was Roosevelt beloved? He took action. It didn't always work; but he leveled with the people. Worked to cushion the most vulnerable in the depression and won the trust of the nation.
The idea that people will forget that Obama and the Democrats inherited a mess from Bush is laughable. People know this was a Republican branded disaster and Obama is pulling KP. All the polls illustrate that fact. Which means if the recovery package isn't enough the question won't be why didn't this work; it'll be what should we try next. Which is why assumptions #3 and #4 are stupid.
Every democrat will point helpfully to recovery.gov and say we did this: SCHIP, infrastructure,and a host of other projects. Which is why the GOP is desperate to not have health care go through in 2009; because health reform guarantees democratic voters and is yet another thing democrats can point to that changes lives and cushions the vulnerable that republicans oppose.
You can't run on tax cuts in an economic tsunami when $70,000 jobs are being cut a day. You can't run saying Government has no role and no solution when the country is looking to Washington to help provide answers and relief and run a good campaign. We know this: John McCain tried it.
And THAT is the dirty little secret that no one is mentioning: conservative principles don't hold with the public. Hell, Bush abandoned them because he didn't want to be Hoover. Those left are essentially, in their opposition, becoming Hooverites. And we can win against Hoover any day of the week.
Reaching out is brilliant, President Obama. But go Big. Go strong. Do health care next. Fulfill the promises you campaigned on. And deal responsibly with the economic reality you face. Don't let the media psych you out as they go looking to build a Republican narrative.
At the end of the day, in 2010 and 2012, people are going to ask what did our elected officials do that made our lives better.
Through the Recovery act, SCHIP, green jobs, and hopefully universal health care Democrats will have a host of things to run on successfully.
What will Republicans say?
We said no for two years while the country fell apart? We need more tax cuts? Really?
As me if I care? We can win that fight.