Legal Commentary

More On The "Bipartisan" Stimulus Negotiations

By Big Tent Democrat

I know you might be getting tired of my obsession with the economic stimulus, but I can't help it. In any event, it seems to me that the Democrats are getting their act together. On CNN right now, David Axelrod, when asked by Wolf Blitzer "what was more important, bipartisanship or passing a bill," Axelrod said "this is not a process question," the issue is economic recovery.

Speaker Pelosi echoed that thought:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday dismissed calls for bipartisanship as “process” arguments extraneous to passing a stimulus bill — and warned Senate Democrats against slashing proposed increases to education spending.

And Leader Reid is also in the fray:

Sens. Ben Nelson and Susan Collins just wrapped up a meeting with Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Senate Democratic leadership meant to hammer out details of a compromise stimulus package. Asked how she was feeling as she left the meeting with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Collins responded, "Not as good as I felt earlier."

Reid presented the bipartisan group with his own set of stimulus cuts, said Nelson after the meeting, which had been drawn up by the Senate appropriations committee. "As you might imagine, they had a different idea of how to go about this," Nelson said.

Indeed. Reid has said "enough" to the pushback from Republicans and Republican allies like Ben Nelson. Now here is a funny thing about Ben Nelson, he does not have a coherent thought in his head on the economics of the stimulus. As discussed before, his idea is to be closer to the GOP than the Dems. The efficacy of the stimulus is the last thing on his mind:

The final package, said Nelson, is likely to be significantly lower. "I think it will be below 800 [billion]. For me it's not symbolism, it's an economic matter. At some point it's just too big," he said. Asked by the Huffington Post if that meant he thought 800 billion was the specific point at which it was too big, he said, "It's whatever gets 60 votes, 61 votes." The final package, said Nelson, is likely to be significantly lower. "I think it will be below 800 [billion]. For me it's not symbolism, it's an economic matter. At some point it's just too big," he said.

Clearly, Ben Nelson has not the first bit of knowledge about economics and he is talking through his hat. He is the very model of a Centrist poser. Reid is calling his bluff. Take out the tax cuts if you are serious about the "too big" nonsense.

The Dems seem to finally have their act together.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 06, 2009 (boomark / email).