Meet the bosses.

[madfloridian]

GOP Sen. Susan Collins, shown with Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), has drawn the consternation of many fellow Republicans for her role on the stimulus plan. (By Melina Mara -- The Washington Post)

GOP Senator Played Pivotal Role in Tuesday's Vote on Stimulus

Six years ago, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was working to broker a deal with a Democratic colleague that would steer $20 billion in relief to struggling state governments when she was abruptly called into the office of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R). Waiting there was Vice President Richard B. Cheney, who had a stern message. In control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, Cheney warned her -- "very strongly," according to Collins -- Republicans were in no mood to compromise with moderate Democrats.

Collins chose to stand her ground and, with Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), won the aid they were seeking.

In recent weeks, Collins has once again been the focus of White House attention, this time as the central player in a deal that saw a massive stimulus package trimmed to below $800 billion in order to win the critical support of a trio of Republicans for the legislation.

Again working with Nelson, Collins was wooed directly by President Obama and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, drawing the consternation of many of her fellow Republicans in the process.

The Democrats control Congress, both Houses, we also hold the White House after 8 long years. Yet two major players appear to control the process...A Republican and a very very conservative Democrat. Amazing, ain't it.

There are 51 conservative Democrats, maybe a few more if you include both New Dems and Blue Dogs...they overlap.

From TPM:

There are 71 members of the Progressive Caucus. They decided not to fight because they could not get the White House access to get their views heard.

The final stimulus vote will be the true test of whether progressives are willing to cause trouble for the White House and their leaders by pushing for a stimulus they can support. Goodness knows the Blue Dogs aren't shy about speaking their minds -- and extracting concessions for it.

Late Update: Our own Andrew Golis was able to ask Grijalva today whether the progressives would back up their letter with a concrete vow to oppose any stimulus that too closely resembled the Senate version.

His response was understandable, but likely to take the teeth out of the effort: "I don't know. That gauntlet was necessary to throw down. Will there be the will to sink the package? I don't know."

There appears to be no power in numbers anymore. Just in how often one threatens to vote with the other side. The ones who do that, who threaten to give the power back to the GOP...they are the bosses. Apparently.

[sandnsea]

1. This is an excellent bill

You really need to get out of the house once in a while or something because you don't seem to find good in anything anymore.

[madfloridian]

2. Just like the old days.

Just like the old days here. Trying to make people feel bad for expressing sincere opinions. That's okay. I understand why you are doing it. Some of the parts of the bill are excellent. But the Senate took out so much that would help education and healthcare.

They did it because of the Dems who threatened to vote with the Republicans rather than leave those parts in.

I believe greatly in Obama, but I think those around him do not have his best interests at heart.

[sandnsea]

3. And the House put a lot of it back

Especially, education, and knocked out some stupid tax cuts to do it. There's still the Bush tax cuts to repeal to get a health care plan, and we can still implement a big alternative energy plan with some new oil taxes. This is more than I could have imagined we would get in the first month. The only thing I hope we still have is the Medicaid for the unemployed, it would be terrible to have lost that.

And you really do need to get out of the house because you really have gotten progressively more and more negative over the years. Just a friendly note, seriously.

[madfloridian]

5. You are being very judgmental. Like the old days.

You don't need to be insulting....there are nicer ways to say things.

I am very afraid for my country. My state is crashing around us as the Republicans ignore it.

They did not put back a lot of very necessary stuff. Very important stuff.

There is one thing I have never done here at DU...I have never insulted anyone. You had stopped it for a while.

It is just like the primary negative stuff all over again....both 2004 and 2008.

If you feel better...I have a thick skin.

[sandnsea]

6. No, I'm being serious

There's no other way to say it. You have gotten more and more negative as the years have gone by. Not judgmental or an insult. People have tried to say it to you in nicer ways, you're not listening.

And if you think you've never insulted anyone at DU - well, just, wow.

:wow:

[madfloridian]

7. Perhaps I am right. Did you consider that?

No, I don't insult. I defend myself.

I am backing off now, but this is out of line, sandnsea.

We are in a hell of a mess, and a small handful of people are allowed access to decide the fate of this country.

I supported Obama strongly, in fact you went after me about that. But I am not happy about the people around him who have his ear.

I stand up for my rights. If you feel the need to put me down please go ahead.

[stillcool]

4. Is this a surprise?

The only way the United States Congress will vote in favor of the people, is if the people get involved. I know people say it doesn't help to email or call anyone. Of course, we don't know what would happen if a small percentage of the 300+ million people we are actually did that..it's never happened. But then, there is no 'we the people' is there? It's us vs. them, vs. them, vs. them..and on and on and on.