Obama Says Economic Critics Should Show Him Ideas

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(01-09) 15:31 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

Facing unwelcome resistance from fellow Democrats, President-elect Barack Obama is encouraging critics of his $800 billion economic recovery plan to "just show me" their own ideas. With more than 11 million Americans out of work, Obama pressed Congress for urgent action Friday and said the U.S. is undergoing "a devastating economic crisis that will become more difficult to contain with time."

His warning was underscored by a government report showing that unemployment hit a 16-year high of 7.2 percent in December.

But congressional Democrats are making it clear they want to put their own stamp on the revival plan, despite the inevitable delays. Some Obama ideas, like a $3,000 job creation tax credit, might get scrapped.

Many Democrats aren't thrilled with Obama's business tax cut plans and are griping that there's not enough money in the measure for traditional infrastructure projects like road construction and water projects or for tax credits to promote renewable energy.

Under pressure, Obama aides agreed Friday to increase the money ticketed to energy tax breaks from $10 billion to $20 billion, according to congressional Democratic aides. The Democrats want $30 billion.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/08/national/w030547S50.DTL

[bemildred]

1. Gotta have that pork.

No "campaign contributions" in job-creation tax credits.

[Auggie]

2. Really -- put up or shut up

[pinto]

3. Negotiation between the Congress and the Administration are inevitable, and not unwarranted.

This may be a good first run of how things go, here on out.

[xchrom]

4. as long as it doesn't delay any plans in the pipeline.

they can all kissy kissy for days -- for all i care -- as long as needed help isn't delayed.

[Mz Pip]

5. I doubt his critics

have any ideas. Lack of ideas and any ability to think outside their narrow little box of deregulation got us into this mess.

Good grief, I'd love to come up with solution that won't drive the country farther into debt but no one seems to be coming up with anything. If BushCo had spent more time paying attention to this country as opposed to propping up Iraq maybe we'd all be in better shape.

[high density]

6. But they just want to do nothing like Hoover

Boehner was out there the other day crying about the deficit.

[AnnieBW]

7. That means you, Krugman!

I mean, I loves me some Krugman, but he's gotta put that Nobel-winning brain to good use and offer his own plan.

[shaniqua6392]

8. They are just pissed that he said there will be no pork or pet projects.

This needs to create jobs, jobs, jobs!

[Marie26]

9. Talk to Naomi Klein! nt

[Mudoria]

10. What economic crisis has Klein ever solved?

[Marie26]

14. The neocon-Friedmanite- free-market- privatizing- bankrupting- profiteering- spying- torturing one.

Otherwise known as the Bush Administration.

[Trajan]

11. Wait a second ... He isnt the fucking King .....

He HAS to work with a legislature, and THEY have a responsibility to perform their jobs on behalf of their constituents, which includes US ....

I happen to agree with some of the complaints of the Democratic congresspersons .... We DONT need 'Trickle Down', which some apparently view a few of Larry Summer's ideas .... I respect Tom Harkin immensely, and if he has a bone to pick with some aspects of Obama's plan, then Obama has to respect those disagreements ....

When Democratic Senators say "NO TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH", then THAT is their 'idea' .... When Tom Harkin asks for MORE stimulus for the bottom rung, and LESS 'Trickle Down' for the ultra rich, then THAT is the idea he is presenting : To say he 'has no ideas' is to co-opt a lame and fallacious right wing argument that has been thrown at Democrats for decades ....

The Democratic Senators who have complained about Obama's plan have every right to do so, and the complaints they make ARE their 'ideas' .... Obama should heed them ....

The Republican Senators can just go to hell .... Who cares WTF they want ? ....

[No Elephants]

12. He is saying only, "Show me a plan that can succeed better than mine." That is reasonable.

[SOS]

13. Two excellent plans are out there already

1. The plan advanced by David Cay Johnson in the current issue of Mother Jones.
2. The plan advanced by Michael Lewis on the op-ed page of the NYT.

But since both plans would inconvenience the Wall Street crooks, they are DOA.
Instead we will get a Congressional mishmash of tax cuts and "stimulus" that won't do sh!t.