The Long Term: How the RIGHT FEAR it, and HOW some on the LEFT just don't plain GET IT!

[FrenchieCat]

The Political Implications Of The Stimulus
....
The left claims that Obama's bipartisanship has failed. They argue his "centrist" compromises, as well as the failure to offer a bigger initial package, will fatally weaken the stimulus effort. Republicans see "glimmers of rebirth" through their opposition to the Democrats' plans. But both groups are missing the larger context.

Progressives are in the process of winning a transformative political victory that may be the harbinger of a new era of activist government. For conservatives, their unity might be cause for celebration; but from a policy standpoint they have suffered a decisive defeat.

The most striking element of the revolution that is taking place in Washington is how quickly it has occurred. Four months ago, the Democratic standard bearer made the centerpiece of his economic message a decidedly, non-liberal, middle class tax cut. No one was seriously talking about a massive spending package to revive the economy and had Obama made such a proposal then we would likely be discussing the finer points of the McCain Administration.

The shift is a result, in part, of the worsening economic recession; but the specific solution being favored by Congress is more a function of the trust that Americans have in President Obama (as well as the advantage of a Democratic-controlled Congress).

...

At the same time, Obama has changed the national conservation about taxes, away from the usual conservative mantra of broad income tax cuts, which disproportionately helped the wealthiest Americans, and toward cuts narrowly tailored toward the middle class. Not only is this arguably better from a policy perspective, but it could lead to a more progressive and egalitarian approach to reducing taxes.

While conservatives are putting on a brave face, steadfast in their opposition, they seem oblivious to the fact that the debate in Washington is no longer between big government and smaller government; it's between big government and bigger government. By supporting a slightly smaller stimulus package - and empowering centrist Republicans by giving them the credit for shrinking its size -- Obama looks conciliatory, while actually getting about 80-90% of what he wanted in new spending and tax reductions. Republicans, by holding out for only tax cuts and failing to offer any compromise that included government spending have painted themselves as political losers - a situation that could get worse for them.

MORE.... http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/12/the_political_implication_of_the_stimulus/

[damonm]

1. K&R!

Well put. Proud to be the 1st of many well-deserved recs.
Thanks for posting this, Frenchie!
:toast:

[FrenchieCat]

3. President Obama is not a reactionary thinking only about today's news cycle....

And at some point, we will need to recognize that and appreciate the long term goals being set,
and stop thinking in a Bush era reactionary mode.

[SIMPLYB1980]

2. I think most on the left get it,

just a few really loud ones that never will. Or trolls.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Naw. I'm seeing a litter of articles being posted faulting

the Obama Administration for not getting "Exactly" what it said it needed, and/or for not getting it right.

Of course, all of these armchair media quaterbacks forget the actual climate which has been created by our News Media. Guess it is convenient for the media to act as though the media isn't playing its own role in their attempts to manipulate public opinion, while President Obama is but one man, albeit a powerful one, but still one man.

[SIMPLYB1980]

6. Guess I'm just so use to not trusting the media that I haven't seen

much second guessing besides Krugman. Who I ignored even when he was supporting Clinton. The mans smart he just doesn't know shit about politics. Most people that I know in real life think that Obama is doing a great job, and the republicans are acting like fools. Even my republican family members, and friends (who most tell me they voted for Obama) think that the republicans are taking a plunge off the deep end. They need this stimulus as much as everyone else and they know it. Granted most of them aren't the freeper type, mostly they are moderate republicans that you can have a conversation with.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I believe that those Moderate Republicans are exactly the ones

that will provide President Obama with an overwhelming majority approval rating, and will allow to get things moving, while the more extreme wing of the GOP party stands on the sideline whining and becoming the party of "No".

[Cha]

5. Rec'd~Michael A Cohen gets it!

Not necessarily a bigger government but a smarter government says Obama in his speeches.

"Republicans seem to be basing their political aspirations on the hope that the stimulus package fails and the economy worsens. But there is an obvious flip side: what if it works? What if widespread deficit spending is seen as the solution to America's economic woes? Not only will Obama have won a short-term policy battle, he may win the political war as well."

[FrenchieCat]

8. Aye!

[Odin2005]

9. I posted this yesterday in GP.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5042347&mesg_id=5042347

[FrenchieCat]

10. I noted such....and felt that it was an excellent article,

that needed widespread posting! :)

[Cha]

11. Good! The more the merrier~

I would like to get this article Viral.