This, despite the fact that President Obama has made concession after concession on the package. This, despite the fact that President Obama invited and worked with Republican leadership from day one on this one. This, despite the fact that President Obama has extended an olive branch to Republicans since day one. None of this would make a single Republican think that this might be a good bill.
Now I know that many Republicans feel that the stimulus was not a great bill, but you honestly expect me to think that every singe one of them refused to get on board?
From a purely political point of view, they made an major tactical error – by opposing the stimulus package proposed by an extremely popular president, Republicans have put themselves on thin ice. Furthermore, aside from the usual far-right pundits and supporters, I am willing to bet the majority of Americans feel that President Obama did quite a bit to reach out and work with Republicans. By spitting in President Obama’s face, they have effectively and distinctly shown that they care more about party politics and less about solving the problems of our nation.
The stimulus package will pass and it will be signed into law. What is less clear is how President Obama will treat Republicans in regards to future legislation. Indeed he only needs to woo one Republican senator at any given time to pass just about anything (assuming all Democrats are in favor of the measure); Obama can either ignore outcry from the right, or continue to have them involved in issues. The former is the quickest route and the latter would hold true to his promise of changing things in Washington.
I hope that a third option will come about – one where Obama listens to and incorporates Republican ideas and, in return, Republicans actually support legislation.
At some point Obama will have to spend political capital, but as it stands, he has plenty stashed away. All this vote did was show that the Republicans are petty and small.
You know, even as a Dem, I have big reservations about this bill. It’s huge, it seems rushed, and it’s kinda scary because it may not work at all. But, you’re exactly right. The GOP showed that all they care about is unified party opposition to the President. They can have their reservations, as most of us do, but I don’t think that every one of them was so opposed that they couldn’t support it.
Hello Curtis. I think it would be mistaken for us to say that bipartisanship failed this time around because of the way congress voted on a certain bill. Bipartisanship does not determine what a person believes so as to effect the way he/she votes. Rather it should affect the bill making process. I believe that too often people confuse the terms bipartisanship and compromise. A more proper title for this post would be, “Whelp, so Much for Compromise”.
Jonny,
I have to disagree – the manor Republicans chose to act after concessions were made by Obama and the Dems shows that true bipartisanship is still a long way coming. This does not mean that it can’t come about in the future, but I am concerned by the actions we saw on this bill.