Obama Calls Meeting With Top Democrats on Stimulus.

[elleng]

Source: Reuters/NYTimes

'Facing opposition from Republican lawmakers to parts of his economic recovery plan, President Barack Obama called Democratic Congressional leaders to a meeting on Monday to drive home his message of urgency.

With hundreds of thousands of Americans losing their jobs, many their homes, and a rapidly shrinking economy, Obama is under pressure to move swiftly to get his nearly $900 billion plan through Congress by mid-February.

Senior Republican senators warned on Sunday their party was unlikely to back the stimulus bill without changes to cut waste and to ensure the package provides an immediate boost to the deteriorating economy.

"The thing I want all of them (lawmakers) to remember, and the thing I am thinking of every single day, is the thousands of people being laid off from their jobs right now," Obama said in an interview with the NBC television network.

"They can't afford politics as usual and old habits are hard to break, but now is the time to break them because we have an urgent situation."'


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/02/02/news/news-us-usa-stimulus.html?_r=1

[corruptmewithpower]

1. Republicans are on the road to obscurity.

"President Barack Obama called Democratic Congressional leaders to a meeting on Monday to drive home his message of urgency."

With all due respect to my president, this is the largest economic experiment in the history of the world, monetarily that is. I beseech our congressmen and senators take ample time to get it right.

[FrenchieCat]

3. California starts handing out I.O.U. as of tomorrow.......

The state is broke....and a few other states are about to follow suit.

It is already clear that Bush and CO. got us into this ditch.

I don't have a problem with Republicans slowing down the process, as that is what they will be remembered for as they catch they last dying breath to keep the Democratic Administration from helping the American people that Republican assholes and they dumbass theories have hurt.

[BanzaiBonnie]

4. Road to obscurity...

Especially with David Duke threatening to leave with, what was it he said, 90 % of the base because of the election of the new head of the party being a slap in the face.

[pattmarty]

7. I hadn't heard that, but if true I sure as hell hope it gets air & press time.

I have always said that todays (and for the last 30 yrs) Republican party is a throwback to the John Birch society and their followers. Back in the 50's and early 60's these types were ALL laughed at for being "nuts". Then came st ronnie and their thinking became "mainstream".

[aquart]

2. But they'll keep their raises and expense increases?

It IS business as usual.

[Demeter]

5. Oh! There's Another Party? How Nice of Him to Notice

Now, if we could get the media to devote some air time to Democrats, we might be able to exert some influence over the political processes....

[olegramps]

6. Yipes, No Honeymoon.

Obama is naive if he thinks that the Republicans are going to cooperate. Their sole intent is to destroy Obama. The Democrats had better launch an offense and make the case that the Republicans are the swore enemy of the working middle class. Enough of this Kumbaya crap. This is an economic war. It wouldn't break my heart of there were massive riots.

[geek tragedy]

8. Every time he talks to them it's to ask them to cave to the Republicans.

I hate to say this, but he should either go all-in on the stimulus or just leave it to the people with the stomach for fighting the Republicans.