Obama Debuts and the Numbers Game Begins
On the first day after any congressional recess, the mood in Washington tends to be genial and relaxed, with reporters and aides swapping more vacation stories than legislative strategies. But today was different. The souring economy focused intense attention on the closed-door meetings that Barack Obama conducted with lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol.
After Obama emerged for his second public availability of the day, taking no questions, both Democratic and Republican leaders emerged to put their spin on what transpired. And while Harry Reid referred to the need for an economic recovery bill costing between $800 billion and $1.2 trillion, Mitch McConnell mentioned only one number: 40%, the share of the package that the Obama camp has said would go toward tax cuts.
But during the leaders' meeting with Obama, McConnell said, "there was no discussion about the overall size of the package. I don't think it's been determined."
The tactic is one familiar to savvy members of Congress: If they can delay public agreement on an issue, they win more time to shape it to their liking. The longer Republicans delay in accepting the size of the bill, the greater chance they have of shrinking it.
For now it appears that Obama's team is unruffled by the numbers game taking place. On Wednesday, when the House Democratic steering committee holds its first public forum on the recovery package, we'll be listening to see whether Republicans are finally ready to reveal the price tag they can live with -- and whether the new administration is ready to agree.
In six weeks, anyone want to bet that Republicans profess their alarm at the Democrats' hijacking of the process to promote profligate government spending?
Late Update: Here's the video of McConnell's remarks:
In six weeks, anyone want to bet that Republicans profess their alarm at the Democrats' hijacking of the process to promote profligate government spending?
Think the bill will take that long to pass?
January 5, 2009 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I think they are throwing around mid-February now.
So much for Jan. 21, a possibly slightly hungover Obama going to his desk to find 2 letters, one from Bush and one to sign into law.
January 5, 2009 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Accountability, oversight--the Republicans are full of shit to simply put it.
January 5, 2009 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next Friday is going to have some VERY UGLY economic numbers out. The unemployment numbers will be released and they are suppose to be the worst since WWII.
Once those numbers come out it should be interesting to see the jockying.
The bottom line is that possibly by mid February the Dems will have 58-59 Senators. At least 2 Republican Senators from states which are HURTING will go along with the stimulus package so this WILL PASS.
It is a matter if Obama wants to live with only 60+ Senators voting for it or is he really going to wait until he can get 80 Senators.
By February if this thing looks like it is going to be dragged out, the Dems need to quickly finish this thing and Obama should just accept 60+ Senators.
January 5, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will bet you a lunch it will be more than 2 republican senators. There are 8 or 9 that are very vulnerable in 2010 in states that are in big trouble. I bet obama gets pretty darn close to 80 senators, if not breaking 80 senators, on board and more than 3/4's of the house. The smart republicans will not want to be on the wrong side of this and obama will throw them a couple of bones to get on board. The situation is too dire.
January 5, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Most recessions have seen there worst well before the 13th month. In fact, we are only 3 months shy of having the longest post-war recession. This recession has been allowed to drag on with very little help from the government to stop the bleeding. Bush even threatened to veto a stimulus package proposed by the lame-duck Congress, effectively extending the length of the recession. This is what stubborn idiots do, sadly.
And it looks like the Republicans didn't get the message from the last election. By a single vote they will put the country through a ringer thinking they are scoring some kind of political point. The wound will be self-inflicted.
January 5, 2009 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama can put forward his post-partisan bill and give them a chance to go along. If they dare not to go along, then Obama should demand primetime TV time, blast the Republicans for their attempt to deepen the depression they caused and come back with a bill the Republicans like even less. We have a national crisis and if they won't go along, they're a bunch of traitors.
January 5, 2009 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
i wish, so not going to happen though.
January 6, 2009 1:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nicely written story, Elana! Welcome to TPM!
January 5, 2009 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's okay to call it a depression, because it is.
January 5, 2009 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tax cuts for whom?
Bush's tax cuts mostly helped the folks who got us into this mess. This is the time for Obama to use his political capital show who's really on the side of most Americans.
Republicans are not the Get Along Gang. It's time to stop thinking they are. Hardball, baby, hardball.
January 5, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it follows that the longer the Republicans delay, the more chance they have of shrinking the stimulus. Delay could just as easily play to Obama's advantage politically as he's got glowing approval figures and a mandate and Mitch McConnell has the personality of a dirty turnip.
Delay doesn't mean an infinite series of do-overs for the Senate Republicans. It can just as easily mean painting themselves into an unpopular corner where they lose the ability to shape ANY of the stimulus by losing control of the tiny but decisive moderate wing of their caucus.
January 5, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I KNOW people arent getting outraged at the thought of 300 billion in tax cuts, acting like it is there to assuage Republicans.
WRONG
1.Obama has mentioned EVERY SINGLE TAX CUT IN THIS BILL at some poine during the campaign. Especially the middle class tax cut and the tax incentives to companies that keep jobs. Did you people WATCH the campaign?
January 5, 2009 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest crock that McConnell is pushing is that the feds make loans to the states to pay for projects. If he is going to push that then why doesn't the Federal Government start funding all of the mandates that they have pushed on State and Local Governments without funding. Given that financial bonanza the states could then do all of the projects needed without borrowing any of McConnells money.
January 5, 2009 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
McConnell + anvil falling out of sky = Hooray!
January 6, 2009 7:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
McConnell + anvil falling out of sky = Hooray!
January 6, 2009 7:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
McConnell + anvil falling out of sky = Hooray!
January 6, 2009 7:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll take that bet because that's congressional Republican job number 1: Obstruct.
The veterans like McConnell aren't listening to the younger players like Pawlenty and Jindal, who at least understand what happened to the party in November. Guys like McConnell think that all they have to do is obstruct and make Obama and Democrats look ineffective and they can retake control of Congress in 2010 and retake the White House in 2012, and we'll be none the wiser.
For McConnell, it's not about serving the people of his state, or this country, it's about serving himself and his party.
He just doesn't get it.
January 6, 2009 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink