The Recovery Act's Republican Fans

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025110.php


THE RECOVERY ACT'S REPUBLICAN FANS.... Ask just about any Republican in Congress for their thoughts on last year's stimulus package, and you'll hear largely the same message -- the word "failure" would be thrown around quite a bit.

But ask Republican governors, and a different message emerges. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) spoke to CNN's Candy Crowley yesterday about the state of the economy. McDonnell touted some recent gains in the commonwealth, prompting Crowley to ask if he'd give President Obama any credit for the progress. He replied:

"Well, I think there is plenty of credit to go around. We've got some good fundamentals in Virginia. We're at about 7 percent unemployment. But I think the stimulus probably helped a little bit. Our strong economic development initiatives have helped a lot. It was probably a team effort."

He added that he believes "in the short run some of the stimulus funding has helped us in some of the areas."

Obviously, I wouldn't characterize this as a glowing endorsement, but McDonnell's line is clearly distinct from the standard Republican talking points, which continue to insist, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, that the Recovery Act not only failed to make a difference, but actually made things worse. Virginia's governor seems to know better.

But also note how common this sentiment is among Republican governors. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (R) has offered some praise for Obama's recovery efforts, as have Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, back when he was still a Republican. He seems reluctant to admit it out loud, but Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) seems to love the stimulus as much as anyone in the country, rivaling the support of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who's offered unqualified praise for the stimulus.

Maybe Republicans on the Hill should have a chat with Republican governors? They're offering two very different messages on one of the biggest issues of the day.

—Steve Benen

[dkf]

1. Of course the Governors loved it. It saved them from making hard decisions.

Obama prevented them from having to put their political asses on the line. What's not to like about that?

[nightrain]

2. isn't the "job-less recovery" crap getting to you yet?

When's the recovery going to hit regular people in a significant way? Like jobs. Actual un/underemployment is somewhere in the 18-20% range. The bailouts primarily assisted corporations, nice for them, how about some jobs now? or don't we have enough money for that because of invading and occupying foreign countries and devastating them? Seen "Rethink Afghanistan"?

[babylonsister]

3. I take it you are not one of the people who are grateful

their job was saved. There are lots of them out there, you know.

But you seem to be a chronic complainer. Do you have any immediate solutions that would actually work? Realistic ones?

I bet not.

:fistbump:

[RBInMaine]

5. Good reply !

[nightrain]

6. single payer, jobs programs, infrastructure repair. stop using contractors. stop invading

and occupying other countries. support unionized teachers. for a few. your premature celebratory snotty-ness is noted, not unexpected. Desperation huh?

[nightrain]

14. crickets....

[RBInMaine]

4. First, there have been jobs created and saved. Millions. The economy IS expanding but slowly. Much

more needs to be done, but we aren't going to get out of an 8 million job loss overnight. While not as bad the Great Depression, that took 12 years and a world war before it was over. Please see the whole picture. What about job loss in the UK, Canada, elsewhere in Europe, parts of Asia, etc. This is global.

[nightrain]

7. again, isn't the "job-less recovery" crap wearing thin?

[phleshdef]

8. No, because it doesn't historically differ from any other recovery.

Jobs are the last thing to pick up and its a fickle time during that transition.

[nightrain]

9. Obama could have started with a real jobs program which would

have positively impacted peoples' economic stability. But, he chose to bolster corporations.

So sad. Such momentum lost.

[phleshdef]

10. So instead of refuting my point, you just spit out vague policy ideas & bland talking points.

[nightrain]

11. Awwh...that all you've got? do you recall that FDR started out with a robust jobs program which

was very successful?

Looks like you're picking a fight. I don't do your kind of baiting.

[phleshdef]

12. FDR's jobs program is irrelevant to the fact that in EVERY recovery...

...jobs are the last thing to pick up. This recovery looks very much like all the others so far, in historical comparison. Stop trying to avoid that point. Just admit it and move on. It will be a lot less painful for you that way.

[nightrain]

13. please review your Am history as to when, in FDR's term he got the jobs

bill done and moving.

(when you have to be snide it means you have poor arguments)