I couldn't grasp what the joke is till last night and I finally saw some information on the Republicans Senators who are going to be supporting the stimulus bill.
My internal worry has been cloture and it looks like that won't be a factor.
As Kossacks get frustated over Republican talking points (condoms and planting grass that are "not going to create jobs in the stimulus"), and Politico continues to wet itself over perceived broken love affair with Republicans I finally see what is happening - the joke is on us. We are finding out where the Republicans stand, and why Obama goes to Capital Hill with confidence.
First off, the stimulus will pass today in the House. No big deal. Republicans will look like they are not in favor of the stimulus a package which is supported by the public. A few dems will not vote for it as well, and maybe a few cross-over republicans will vote for it.
Secondly, Obama has already lined up one Senator for sure on the stimulus so cloture is assured.
http://www.politico.com/...
The chairman’s long courtship of Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe assures him of at least one Republican vote in his panel, and the typically soft-spoken Snowe was direct and forceful in giving her endorsement.
"We are in the vanguard of creating the jobs for the 21st century," Snowe said. "I think we have a twofer here, Mr. Chairman. I think we have the possibility of economic stimulus as well as economic transformation."
And other Republican Senators are lining up as well, including Judd Gregg who will have a tough fight in NH in 2010.
http://www.politico.com/...
Rising above the fray — but almost omnipresent — was Obama himself, meeting with rank-and-file House and Senate Republicans Tuesday and making his case that the floor votes ahead are just the first steps in a larger action plan to address financial regulations, home foreclosures and banks teetering near insolvency.
"His presentation was a tour de force," New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg told Politico. The top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, Gregg has been an outspoken critic of the level of new spending in the administration’s plan but said: "I felt much better. ... He’s clearly moving forward aggressively on all the different fronts. I was very impressed. If he puts it in the context of an integrated effort, I’d consider it."
The joke is on us, and the Republicans, who will look obstructionist when they vote against an economic plan to help a hurting country. Obama has the votes, political capital, and will to push through the stimulus without leaving the Oval Office. But he went out there to show the country he is a man of his word when he talks about being President of the entire country.
When Bush & Company refused to talk to Democrats, how did we feel - we became crazy because of this...Obama is a bigger man than me for doing this, but I see why he is doing this, when we already have the votes. He isn't using up political capital, he is buying more.
And us, on the blogger side, are frustrated with talking with the administration talking to Republicans. The joke is on us - Democrats have the votes, we don't need to do this. But, we look like the better party, the better leaders for talking to, and listening to the opposition. And the left pulling our hair for this is just funny at this point.