Well, it’s been a week since the Inauguration and it looks like the Republicans are not going to do the right thing. It’s hard to exactly describe how one knows that. But the issue isn’t what they’re going to do – that’s becoming clear. The question is how we know their current behavior is planned obstructionism?
None of us would disagree that we have a huge problem on our plate. Every graph, every index points the wrong way. The Christian Science Monitor has some interesting data being collected on their web site. One example is a "hardship index" – attempting to show where the downturn is hitting the hardest [I haven’t located the raw figures yet, but the people compiling their data seem to be solid citizens].
As you can see, there’s not much question about whether we have a problem – it’s everywhere. At issue is what to do about it. Barack Obama wants a Bipartisan solution, but that’s looking dim to me. So back to the question, how does one tell the difference between a genuine disagreement over the course the country should take from politically motivated obstructionism? We can’t just say that they are being motivated by Party politics because they disagree with Obama’s approach. But there are plenty of other indicators.
- Their criticism is unanimous and monotonous. They all say the same things – that it’s too big and that it’s weighted for government spending rather than tax-cuts. Genuine disagreement wouldn’t be 100% nor would all objections be the same. These are "Talking Points."
- They distort history. There’s a strong revisionism of F.D.R.’s history. They are correct that he made plenty of mistakes, but the Republicans go against history in describing his mistakes – they reverse things pointing to the wrong policies as the errors.
- Their media is coordinated with their politicians. Rush Limbaugh and Fox News are hammering the same Talking Points as the politicians.
- They aren’t acting like genuine critics. The best example is Paul Krugman. A real critic stays with the problem, clearly states his reasons, compromises [see below]. The Republicans aren’t doing that.
- Their arguments are driven by an ideology. Government is too big. They wore that one out with Bush as the spent us into the poor house, then gave away 700 Billion dollars without even accounting for where it went. The ideology doesn’t match the problem. Hoover tried it for 3½ years with disastrous results.
- They are being generally obstructionistic. They pick at everything that Obama says [see below].
The low road is to engage them and argue against what they’re saying. The high road is to simply name what they’re doing and carry on without them. They’ll either keep on as they are or move our way. If they’re dead set on a negative campaign, engagement just gives them fodder for their bullshit. Let them wallow in it if that’s where they want to be. It’s their stye. I guess that one can just be sure the door is open if they want to get serious. Those are my thoughts. But Obama seeks an even higher road – hearing them out in good faith. He’s a kinder person than a lot of us, and his hope springs eternal. Good on him:
Obama Seeks GOP Help on Economy; McConnell Hopeful
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 27, 2009WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is making good on his promise to hear from Republicans as he pushes for swift passage and bipartisan backing of his massive $825 billion plan intended to jolt the country out of recession. The unanswered question: Whether the new Democratic president will actually listen to GOP concerns about the amount of spending and the tax approach — and modify his proposal accordingly.
With the economy worsening, Obama was making his first trip to Capitol Hill since his swearing-in last week for two private afternoon sessions Tuesday with House and Senate Republicans. A former Republican congressman who is a member of Obama’s Cabinet, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, was accompanying the president.
”The goal is to seek their input. He wants to hear their ideas,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. ”If there are good ideas — and I think he assumes there will be — we will look at those ideas. I think the president is genuinely serious about this,” Gibbs added.
The presidential spokesman would not, however, reveal what concessions Obama may be willing to make, if any, to demonstrate his seriousness about securing Republican support. Gibbs, however, noted that there already are tax provisions in the measure, mostly small business cuts, that are direct GOP suggestions to Obama and his economic team. ”We don’t have pride of authorship. We understand that this is a process of give and take to produce what the president believes is the strongest plan to get the economy going again,” Gibbs said.
In a sign that Obama may be willing to compromise, officials said the president made a personal appeal to House Democrats to jettison from the package family planning funds for low-income people. Republicans have criticized the provision as an example of wasteful spending that would neither create jobs nor otherwise improve the economy. A decision on the provision was expected Tuesday.
Ahead of the meetings, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Democrats for holding up progress on the bill. ”We’re anxious to help him,” the Kentucky Republican said of Obama. ”Frankly, the biggest problem is with his own party, the Democratic Party, which seems to be drifting away from what he said he wanted, which is a package that is at least 40 percent tax cuts and earmark free.”
”We think the country needs a stimulus,” McConnell said on NBC’s ”Today” show. But he also said that he believes most people do not believe it will be accomplished through projects like ”fixing up the mall”…
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