While I’ve been a deficit hawk for years, doing a stimulus once, then being unwilling to do another one if necessary, is potentially disastrous

Based on a talk given last night by Galbreath here in Austin, I think this is an important point. His observations left me with the fear that the “clogged” or “frozen” banking system will remain so, after all the TARP money is gone. And it’s unclear that Giethner’s steps will be any more productive than Paulson’s.

There is a more than reasonable chance that further action will be needed beyond the steps in view now. It would be a very bad decision on Obama’s part to tie his hands now, before the effects of TARP and HB 1 (and whatever Geithner comes up with) show effect.

It’s one thing to get Republican votes in exchange for a compromise. It’s another thing to compromise and get nothing in return.

I’ve been screaming at the tv over this for the past couple of weeks while this “horse trading” has been going on. It appears that the horse has left town, and all the Democrats got was the shit.

Obama promised Blue Dogs that Pay-Go legislation would come up next in order to get their support.

And how did that little plan work out? I saw that 12 Dems voted against the bill. I assume it was the Dogs.

RE hychka @ 102:

I think (hope) Obama’s plan is to seize the middle and add it to the left, leaving the unwashed, bigots, ignorant, greedy and stupid (who did I leave out?) a clear playingfield of about 26% of the vote.

Same old, same old: “those lefties have nowhere to go, so we don’t have to give them anything” philosophy. We may not go anywhere vote-wise, but I, at least, am not going to be donating and working my tail off like I have been over the last 18 months.

I think (hope) Obama’s plan is to seize the middle and add it to the left, leaving the unwashed, bigots, ignorant, greedy and stupid (who did I leave out?) a clear playingfield of about 26% of the vote.

Yes, the House made some concessions and the GOP welshed on supporting a “bipartisan bill,” but no party ever progressed by being the party of “I want the president to fail! I’m for destroying America!”

Yesterday Nate Silver shared data on Senate voting that shows a filibuster may not be possible, depending on the issue, of course. If Obama can seize a few more “middle ground” votes by showing some compromise gets rewarded with “I want the president to fail! I’m for destroying America!” well…even Orin Hatch won’t be able to stand for that!

Give the strategy some time.