Obama Vs The Dems In Senate Re: Economic Plan: Good Cop/Bad Cop?

[Beetwasher]

Is this calculated? Obama will "cave" to the Senate Dems on the issue of the size of the tax cuts, in the meanwhile, they will debate the idea, educating the public WHY tax cuts aren't always good and why it's NOT good policy. A public educated on the idiocy of "tax cuts solve everything!" philosophy will have significant future ramifications.

[phleshdef]

1. No, instead I think this so called "rift" with Senate Dems is media manufactured.

Several of these Senators have been quoted as saying that there is a lot still in the works. The Obama team has been quoted as saying that they are open to changes and have basically indicated that the proposed plan is a starting point and not the ultimate ending point.

Basically, they are all doing their jobs. I think the media is taking even the slightest disagreements and painting them up as huge hurdles to the success of Obama's agenda.

If this were George Bush and Republican Senators having a back and forth on the details of a plan, the media would be praising the level of cooperative effort between the executive and legislative branch.

There really is nothing to see here. But you wouldn't know it by listening to or reading mainstream media.

[Better Believe It]

3. Nonsense ...Krugman and others are trying to apply pressure on Obama to .....

spend a lot more on infrastructure and a lot less on tax cuts, especially really dumb ones like giving a tax break to employers for every worker they hire during this crisis. They won't hire anyone just for a $3,000 tax break unless they really need more workers to handle the work load. And they would hire those workers anyway even without a tax cut.

Now what's so difficult to understand about that?

I'd favor spending all 300 billion to finance necessary work on infrastructure and other useful public works projects.

We need at a minimum 800 billion for these projects over the next two years to really make a difference and prevent this crisis from turning into a full scale depression.

[phleshdef]

4. Its not nonsense. You are buying into the exaggerative nature of the reporting on this.

[Beetwasher]

6. I Don't Think Obama Really Needs Any Pressure

This could be a very smart maneuver to neuter the Republicans arguments. By adopting their position, he controls the debate, and is then "educated" along w/ the rest of the public by a reasonable and adult-like Democratic party w/ guest appearances by the likes of Paul Krugman.

[lordcommander]

7. Obama is playing chess here. n/t

[Beetwasher]

8. Right

It feels like a calculated, coordinated effort at educating the public and neutralizing Republican opposition.

[MH1]

11. I agree. nt

[Beetwasher]

5. I Disagree

I'm beginning to think he's in total control and knows exactly what he's doing. Obama LIKES this script. He'll be convinced by his own party that "tax cuts cure everything!" is pure idiocy, w/ guest appearances by people like recent Nobel Prize winner in Economics Paul Krugman getting a BIG VERY PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT put on him to educate the public. Obama will reasonably be convinced of the error of his ways, along with a sizeable portion of a previously undeducated public.

[FrenchieCat]

2. It is possible......

as the GOP wants smaller stimulus, more tax cuts versus Dems wanting a larger stimulus with less emphasis on tax cuts. It is advantageous to Obama that there be debates and demands from both sides of the Aisle, not just with the Repugs. This way, when they all compromise, it will be somewhere in the middle. So, to some degree, yes, I think it is being encouraged that Democrats make objections as they see fit. Looking at Obama's presser today, he didn't seem to have a problem with it.

We should also note that Tax cuts come in different forms and are not always aimed at the same folks.

The fact that even some here don't understand the difference between trickle down tax cuts (given to the wealthy and large corporations as Bush did) and tax cuts aimed at Middle and lower wage earners (which is what Obama is proposing) are not all equal, and we should certainly be made to understand that......

[Beetwasher]

9. The Bottom Line Is Obama WANTS TO BE PERSUADED!!!!!!!

He WANTS a debate on WHY we should pare down the tax cuts and increase the size of the stimulus.

It's political kabuki/jujitsu/chess whatever. He adopts an initial position more akin to the Repubs, and thus, argues there side for them removing them from the debate. Then via REAL debate, gets "educated" along w/ the public as to WHY his initial plan is a bad idea. He then REASONABLY changes his position and "compromises" w/ the Dems to get what he really wanted along.

[mucifer]

10. The dem leadership in congress isn't too bright. However, Obama, he's different. I hope.