Stimulus Plan Meets More GOP Resistance

[babylonsister]

Stimulus Plan Meets More GOP Resistance
Obama to Reiterate Appeal for Bipartisanship

By Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 23, 2009; Page A01


Just days after taking office vowing to end the political era of "petty grievances," President Obama ran into mounting GOP opposition yesterday to an economic stimulus plan that he had hoped would receive broad bipartisan support.

Republicans accused Democrats of abandoning the new president's pledge, ignoring his call for bipartisan comity and shutting them out of the process by writing the $850 billion legislation. The first drafts of the plan would result in more spending on favored Democratic agenda items, such as federal funding of the arts, they said, but would do little to stimulate the ailing economy.

The GOP's shrunken numbers, particularly in the Senate, will make it difficult for Republicans to stop the stimulus bill, but the growing GOP doubts mean that Obama's first major initiative could be passed on a largely party-line vote -- little different from the past 16 years of partisan sniping in the Clinton and Bush eras.

"Yes, we wrote the bill. Yes, we won the election," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters yesterday, saying Republicans were not being realistic in their expectations.

Hoping to recapture the bipartisan spirit, Obama will host nine congressional leaders at the White House today for talks about the economic recovery package, which he has asked to be on his desk by Feb. 16, Presidents' Day. He also agreed to talk with House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and other GOP lawmakers next week about their proposals for more tax cuts.

Republicans have a long list of grievances.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012203961.html

[NJmaverick]

1. I really hope Obama can change the tone and get a more bipartisan spirit

it will be challenging though. I suspect the Senate will be more receptive to the idea, than the house. Esepcially when you consider Pelosi's partisan tone.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. Well the House Republicans are a bunch of morons.

Their entire argument against the stimulus package is that it isn't a huge tax cut. Really, I hope we're through with this idiocy. Bipartisanship doesn't necessarily mean entertaining stupid, unworkable ideas from ideologues.

[NJmaverick]

5. No question it's a challenge, but I still hope Obama can meet it

the GOP doesn't have to love or like the bill, but I am hoping they can reach a point of grudging acceptance.

[bluestateguy]

2. Opposition to the Commander in Chief in a time of war plays into the hands of our enemies

(do I REALLY need a sarcasm icon for the humor-challenged among you?)

[TlalocW]

4. Well, passing a budget on party lines worked out pretty well for Clinton

Not a single republican senator voted for it, and Al Gore had to pass a tie-breaking vote, if I recall correctly, and most economists say his initial budget is what superheated the economy. As usual, republicans would rather choose a washed-up ideology than being right and doing something to help Americans.

TlalocW

[walkaway]

6. hopefully the "economy" will start to recover within 24 months..

and the repuglicans will end up looking like the obstructionists that they are. The creepy dregs of this party needs to go anyway.

[SpiralHawk]

7. "We want America to fail." - Rush Limbaugh & allied Republicon propaganda puppets

Shock & Awe -

[MadHound]

8. Frankly fuck the Republicans

This whole "reaching across the aisle" schtick of Obama's is doomed to failure, as it will only lead to passage of more devastating legislation, or lead to endless delays while we cater to the minority.

Pass the goddamn stimulus package along a party line vote and screw the 'Pugs. What the hell else is a Congressional majority for?