Stimulus Package Fails To Unite Parties

By: Dan Farber
Topics: Economy

4793278It looks like President Obama will sign a stimulus package bill, as he predicted he would by President's Day, February 16. It won't be with the fanfare he had hoped for in accomplishing his first major piece of legislation, which in this very difficult economic time is akin to an emergency landing on water.

Despite efforts to create an atmosphere of civility and bipartisanship, Mr. Obama only managed to convince three Republican senators to come over his side. Even public support for his economic plans has waned over the last few weeks, a reminder that 47 percent of voters didn't check his name on the ballot and that changing the partisan attitude in Washington will take far more than inviting the opposition to the White House to watch a football game.

In response to a question about bipartisanship during his prime time press conference

Video:
Obama On Building Bipartisanship

this week, Mr. Obama said, "You know, when I made a series of overtures to the Republicans, going over to meet with both Republican caucuses, you know, putting three Republicans in my cabinet — something that is unprecedented — making sure that they were invited here to the White House to talk about the economic recovery plan, all those were not designed simply to get some short-term votes. They were designed to try to build up some trust over time."

"And I think that, as I continue to make these overtures, over time, hopefully that will be reciprocated."

Mr. Obama is resolute and persistent in trying to change the atmosphere in Washington over time. At this juncture, however, he is not having a lot of luck. Today, his Republican nominee for Commerce secretary, Judd Gregg, had a change of heart and bowed out of the position, citing irreconcilable differences in philosophy that would not allow Mr. Gregg to be himself.

"I couldn't be Judd Gregg and serve in the Cabinet," Gregg said during a brief press conference this afternoon. Given Gregg once voted to abolish the Commerce Department, it's not all that surprising that he came to perceive himself, with the help of his Republican colleagues, as a fish out of water in the Obama Cabinet.

For Mr. Obama, salting his Cabinet with some Republican DNA, in hopes of bridging the divide and diminishing the rancor in Washington, is part of his strategic plan. He will need to go back to the drawing board.

Dan has more than 20 years of journalism experience. He has served as editor in chief of CBSNews.com, CNET News, ZDNet, PC Week, and MacWeek.
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by stimulus4non February 13, 2009 5:40 PM EST: The stimulus package will not work! How do I know, because the government is not looking at regulating the banks. They have already abused the first monies that they have received: parties, bonuses and buying other banks. Now, they have turned to the American people and are raising their interest rates on credit cards. Hmmm, if they had a hard time paying the minimum payments, what will a forced increase do to them. The banks must feel that they did not get enough bailout money so the have to take any potential tax cuts the American people will get.....even before they get it...... I have two credit cards: Capital One and Chase. I have never been late and usually pay more than the minimum. Both of them have increased their rates and minimum payment amounts. Well, I just paid one off and will have the other one paid soon, so it will not really impact me. However, I am sure there are millions that are living off them and instead of spending money like the government wants us to, we will be paying any extra handouts to the banks..... I guess the oil companies got us last few years and now it is time for the financial companies to put the screws to us.....Good luck America, but no stimulus package will work unless the government starts controlling the banks.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 13, 2009 5:25 PM EST: I hope Pelosi and Reed have snuck in provisions in this bill to tax churches and take away Peoples rights to own arsenals of firearms. Also, maybe a special Republican tax that would assess the cost of the Iraq war (and, veteran benefits) to all Registered Republicans that voted for George Bush and Richard Cheney twice!!; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 13, 2009 5:14 PM EST: The GOP has their own agenda.
Posted by andie52 at 11:36 AM : Feb 13, 2009

Yeah, it''''s called Treason and commonDEER Cents.

down to every last penny!!; Reply to this comment


by cg37102006 February 13, 2009 4:14 PM EST: Well, Pres Obama has tried to extend an olive branch of bi partisanship to the repubs. It has been slapped back in his face, the latest blow coming from Sen Gregg. So, from now on, the prez should just govern from the left and screw the repubs. We have the majority, so let us just ram through our leftist agenda. It is clear the repubs have not learned the lesson of the elections in 2008 and 2006, i.e., that America is way beyond their neo-con ideologies. So be it. If they are happy being the minority party , let them.; Reply to this comment


by masterballs2 February 13, 2009 3:06 PM EST: Why waste time trying to buddy up with the Republicans? They%u2019re a bunch of losers, so why would Obama want them on his team? He%u2019d be better off without them.

Republicans are just a bunch of Neanderthal thinking morons who have set this country back 50 years with their Stone Age policies of the last eight years. Furthermore, Republicans are a bunch of candy ***** who have botched the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After lying to get us involved in Iraq they failed to win the war by changing their focus to the oil of the Caspian Sea by using Iraq to gain a foothold in the region. They couldn%u2019t even do that right!

Republicans have cut and run at every challenge they%u2019ve faced, from Vietnam and Lebanon to our economy. So Obama would be better off pursuing his own agenda without these dumb *****.; Reply to this comment


by saveourecono February 13, 2009 2:38 PM EST: The "One - Year Mortgage Holiday" 8 Point Stimulus Plan as fully described at WWW.SAVEOURECONOMY.COM is the only genuine bi partisan Stimulus Plan, supported by 80% of the people in National Polls, that will actually work, to jump start our economy, solve the housing, credit, banking crises, create Millions of Jobs, stimulate growth and generate long term economic prosperity through out America!; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 13, 2009 2:37 PM EST: Republicans want Americans to continue to fail.
Americans that are broke, jobless, and desperate are exactly what the Conservative Big Business CEO Golden Parachute Party want to maintain their power and $money.; Reply to this comment


by andie52 February 13, 2009 2:36 PM EST: Stimulus Package Fails To Unite Parties

Not surprised at this. The GOP has their own agenda.; Reply to this comment


by credibility2 February 13, 2009 1:44 PM EST: If this is so vital and critical to remedy our economic demise, why then are Democrats so insistent on ramming this through even without a printed version so that all members of Congress can read the entire document and then make some informed opinion on it and subsequently vote objectively. The Democrats are being very partisan. And, Mr. Obama promised the citizenry that before he signed anything into law, that it would be posted on a website so it could be reviewed; this is what he apparently misled all of us about; no transparency now. I''d say that''s disingenuous at best.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 13, 2009 1:36 PM EST: Republicans covet the demolition of the American Middle Working Class and, will stop at nothing to accomplish.; Reply to this comment