Democrats count the cost of stimulus package the public never noticed

[go west young man]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/democrats-count-the-cost-of-stimulus-package-the-public-never-noticed-2121849.html

The Republican leadership made an astute calculation: there would be no mileage in helping the Democrats to "save" the economy, but there might be mileage in having opposed it, should its effects not turn out to be as positive as advertised. On Capitol Hill at the time, pundits declared that the Democrats now "owned" the economy.

Although left-wing economists argued immediately that the size of the stimulus was too small, Republicans pointed to the growing national debt – today approaching $14trn – as a reason to hold down the size of the package. The administration has had to back away from claims that it would create or save 3.5 million jobs. Even supporters have been unable to argue that the figure reaches 3 million, and the measurement is wide open to argument.

Amid the confusion, a Bloomberg national poll conducted a week ago found that, by a two-to-one margin, voters think taxes have gone up, the economy has shrunk, and that the billions of dollars lent to banks as part of the Wall Street bailout won't be recovered. In reality, the Obama administration cut taxes for middle-class Americans, is close to break-even on the bailout and has overseen an economy that has grown for the past five quarters. It just doesn't feel that way.





This article pretty much sums up the Republican strategy and how dumb so many Americans are to believe what Republicans tell them. They are essentially about to give the keys to the car to a drunk driver who has already previously crashed it.

[OHdem10]

1. BTW, Geitner and Romer both wanted larger stimulus. On CRose

a couple of weeks ago, Geithner reminded us that Obama had
said when he announced the package they were able to get
through congress--we may have to come back for more.

I sincerely hope the Democrats in Congress now appreciate
how very important it is, that get on TV and explain as
they go on legislation. When Republicans attack, do not
let it stand more than 24 hrs.

One of the most serious mistakes by both the Hill Dems
and Obama was not fighting back at the time and setting
the record straight. The Republicans were given free rang
to smear the legislation and distort.