Jon Henke lays out the danger to Congressional Republicans of supporting Barack Obama’s stimulus package:
Here’s the calculation on fiscal stimulus: If Obama gets his way, he’s looking at massive, trillion dollars deficits, and much more government intervention in the economy. The public may tolerate this due to fears about economic crisis, but if it works out well and the US gets a relatively soft landing from the recession, then the costs will still be visible (deficit, intervention), but the benefits will be intangible (the crisis that didn’t come).
What’s more, the Democrats have only one possible solution to the massive deficits coming down the pike: increase taxes. (Object lesson: “We can spend more of your money” is the Democrats solution to everything)
If Obama passes the perfect progressive stimulus bill without much Republican help, he owns the spending, the deficits, the tax hikes and all of the pain that comes with it. Republicans will be happy to run against those problems in 2010 and 2012.
But if Obama buys significant Republican support for his bill, Republicans will own the deficits, tax hikes and intervention, as well. The stimulus bill will be for Republicans what the Iraq war was for Democrats - a policy they first supported, then regretted, then tripped over themselves to explain. The “they were for it before they were against it” ads would be inevitable and devastating.
This is exactly right.
Republicans cannot and should not refuse to work with the newly-elected President of the United States. If Barack Obama is willing to support a targeted stimulus package built around tax cuts (which are more effective than new spending in promoting economic growth), and which eschews wasteful pork-barrel spending that inflates the deficit to no good purpose, Republicans should be willing to cooperate eagerly.
If on the other hand, Barack Obama insists on pushing a bad plan that inflates the deficit without improving economic growth, Republicans must oppose it. This is not only the right policy, it is also the proper political strategy. If Barack Obama genuinely wants a strong stimulus package, he will show real flexibility. If not, let Congressional Democrats have the ‘credit.’
What happens if it is both?
antisocial Tuesday, January 6th at 11:51AM EST (link)I suspect its going to be both. Massive spending(infrastructure, education, green projects,new projects etc.) and tax cuts (including welfare).
I suspect lot of republicans will fall for it.
No you can’t - Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!
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Republicans who lost the Crap-and-Raid fight in the House -
Mary Bomo Mac (CA-45)
Mike Castle (DE)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
John M. McHugh (NY-23)
Dave Reichert (WA-08)
Do we really have any credibility on deficit spending?
I am the Living Liberally Coordinator for Portland, which means that I lied to all of you about being a Republican. Wednesday, January 7th at 12:32AM EST (link)I mean I personally strongly believe in oversight of all of our expenditures it just seems particularly disingenuous to me to be arguing that democratic deficit spending is bad when none of the same arguments were voiced for our deficit spending.
http://www.eriposte.com/economy/indicators/bush_deficit_graphic.gif
This chart from Reuters which is a reasonably reliable news source pretty clearly demonstrates that republican administrations are far more likely to spend more than democrats.
I would much rather see bridges to nowhere than numerous failed building projects in Iraq, Here we could at least be sure that the bridge would stay built for a reasonable time frame and that americans were being paid for their work.
I think that given the questionable track record the republican party has as the party of fiscal responsibility our messaging would be better served by offering an alternate plan. I think this spending package is coming regardless and that it behooves us to have an alternative. Merely tying it up in congress is just going to paint us as Herbert Hooverites, to slow to respond to a crisis and ultimately compounding it.
If we have clear alternatives we can make the dems own this recession / depression in 2010. Instead I think by watering it down we are merely providing them with an out when it ultimately fails. The real battle over the next 2 years is not about what legislation Obama passes it is instead about who owns the coming economic tribulations and by failing to have any ideas that can be contrasted against the dems we are giving away a real opportunity to make it their baby.
http://livingliberally.org/archive/5634/200811
Nope, but what better time to fix the problem?
bs Wednesday, January 7th at 12:35AM EST (link)GWB will be gone in 2 weeks. Virtually every conservative agrees that his spending policies were horrid. The fact that the (almost) past GOP president had poor policy doesn’t mean it has to continue.
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
we should also correct the record on Hoover
LJ "Beaglescout" Miller Wednesday, January 7th at 1:28AM EST (link)He meddled altogether too much, not too little, in the economy, and the reason that FDR won was because he promised to repeal Prohibition. Despite his meddling, the economy pretty much stabilized by the end of Hoover’s term. It took FDR to bring Unemployment up to 20% and create another 8 years of Depression in the US while Europe was recovering.
“Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.”
hi friend...
$peciallist Wednesday, January 7th at 12:37AM EST (link)I hope you don’t vanish now that I am talking to you…..
what do you mean vanish?
I am the Living Liberally Coordinator for Portland, which means that I lied to all of you about being a Republican. Wednesday, January 7th at 12:40AM EST (link)I’m still here.
http://livingliberally.org/archive/5634/200811
Do you know what the RS IQ test is?.....
$peciallist Wednesday, January 7th at 12:42AM EST (link)something I’ve been failing tonight?
See?....you vanished......sorry I talked to you
$peciallist Wednesday, January 7th at 1:04AM EST (link)at least I got my ‘reply to’ skills back…for now
And……note to self….quit replying to Leon with Moby pictures….it’s not good for you…
maybe...
bs Wednesday, January 7th at 1:06AM EST (link)??
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
Never talk to me again
Erick Brockway Wednesday, January 7th at 1:18AM EST (link)Scary, very scary…
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.”
Ronald Reagan
Join the RedState Strike Force
Chip in to get rid of “Babs” (Yes ma’am) Boxer.
still around
I am the Living Liberally Coordinator for Portland, which means that I lied to all of you about being a Republican. Wednesday, January 7th at 1:25AM EST (link)I just wasn’t really sure we were having a conversation about anything other than whether or not I was here, didn’t seem like there was much point in continuing the conversation.
http://livingliberally.org/archive/5634/200811
James Roe....mbecker is not here ....
$peciallist Wednesday, January 7th at 1:28AM EST (link)don’t bash my Bush!….
i work all day tomorrow…wait till then….
We need to take a good look at this trap
1SGinTN Wednesday, January 7th at 12:58AM EST (link)our Republican lawmakers are in danger of falling into. You and Jon Henke have stated the problem well.
I fear there are many without the same clarity of thought, however.
I have the distinct feeling that we are about to re-live the folly of the New Deal
if we are not careful. Especially since conventional wisdom deems the New Deal a good thing. Time to call forth the ghost of John T. Flynn.
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil