Obama's Second Stimulus? The next Budget.

[denem]

It amazes me that despite countless references to Obama Chess, observers expect the Administration to cement their policy agenda in just one move. Between now and the Budget, as series of bills before congress is likely to contain further Signature policy, starting with Bankruptcy Reform. Individual measures are politically more difficult to oppose than a omnibus bill and the Federal Budget is another kettle of fish altogether.

Gibbs is not ruling out a second stimulus package? Read third stimulus.

[StrongBad]

1. A central campaign promise was to go through the budget "line by line"

I really want him to keep this promise as I do believe he'd find a lot of waste that could be better allocated.

[tabbycat31]

5. particularly with the defense budget

I bet he could spot a shitload of waste in there.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Whatever...

I'm sure that had team Obama offered a comprehensive program you would not be denouncing their stupidity for "cementing their policy agenda in just one move", you would be praising the genius of offering a comprehensive strategy.

So there's no real information flow here. It's just a parlor game to think up why whatever happens is the most ingenious thing ever.

[denem]

4. Do you see the stimulus package as a partial defeat?

Did Obama spend all his political capital on it?

[backscatter712]

3. I'm having no problem seeing this coming.

The stimulus that was signed into law today is a start.

Alone, it's about half of what this country needs to pull the economy out of its tailspin.

That means a second stimulus is just about a given.

I think Obama planned it this way because he knew that if he pushed for a 1.5 trillion stimulus, both Congress and the people would have sticker shock, and the bill would have been shot down. He's figuring that it's easier to swallow in smaller bites.

And my guess is that the next stimulus bill won't be called a stimulus bill - the Rethugs will go apeshit and fight like mad. Maybe the next one will be the home foreclosure relief bill, or a health care reform bill, or an energy and infrastructure bill - 50 billion bucks here, a hundred billion there, before long, you're talking about real money.

[Mimi Bernard]

6. I'm not sure that blue dogs would be very open to a second stimulus

They are very fiscally conservative.