True... right up to the point where you start making concessions to the other side.

When you start taking things that you wanted out of a bill, or putting things into a bill (even though your advisors don't think they'll be effective) because the other side complains, Then you're stuck with the Bipartisian label.

Matt, I think that implies a sort of fundamentalism about the legislative process - as though the first draft of a bill is perfect or all advisors agree.

there's a difference between compromise and capitulation. Taking out the birth control stuff is compromise - it IS a good idea & will be included in another bill. The GOP can decry it all they want, but chances are that it will pass.
Cutting business taxes AGAIN will not create more jobs, not in the numbers we need - trickle down economics does not work. If they want to raise net profits on businesses so that they can hire more employees, then they need to get employers out of the health insurance business. But cutting them in this stimulus bill? That, to me, is capitulation, 'cause the only reason it would be done is to shut up the whiners - who are going to whine no matter what anyway

Lee, I have to concede that point somewhat.
Not every first draft of a bill is perfect.

But when I see quotes like this:

""Everyone knows these provisions are not going to do much, but some members of Congress need to be able to say 'the bill has a business tax cut.' So we put them in," said an Obama transition team architect,"

I have a tough time believing that those tax cuts were included in the bill because Obama thought they were the best thing for the economy.

They were put in for appeasment and political expediency.
Which is not neccessarily a bad thing. But don't pretend it's not bipartisian capitulation.

I just read a story at the Washington Times (proudly serving the propaganda needs of Moonies and other fascist whack jobs everywhere) about Holder promising to not prosecute those that committed torture based on DoJ OLC opinions.

I observe that he did not promise to not prosecute those that wrote the opinions or those that directed that the opinions be written.

If they want bipartisanship, then they should first make the GOP into a political party. Currently it is a cult of squirrelly fringe christofascist whackadoodles pretending to be a political party, with Rush, Bill and Sean as official spokesclowns. They ignore everyone that is not a christofascist. This includes moderate republicans, fiscally conservative republicans, and all democrats. Their definition of bipartisanship is that everyone must cave to their demands or else. They will not support *any* idea that did not come from them.

Will the real conservatives (fiscal conservatives, remember them?) create a new party to fill the void?

Lee, I'm curious. I admire Obama in many ways. But your posts where you constantly speak of the Prez as some sort of Godlike combination of Superman, Galahad and Jesus Christ make me gag.Is there anything, anything at all that would ever get you to admit that Obama might just not take regular moonlight strolls on the potomac by the light of his halo?I mean I'm all for him so far. But you sound like a scientologist talking about L. Ron Hubbard.

Git -
>>I just read a story at the Washington Times (snip) about Holder promising to not prosecute those that committed torture based on DoJ OLC opinions.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2009/01/kit-bonds-remarks-about-holder-not-so.html
The implication of the piece is fairly clear: Holder promised Bond to eschew prosecutions, and Bond promised not to block his nomination. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Judiciary Committee -- which approved Holder today -- strongly denied that such an exchange could have occurred.

I've never described him that way. He's the best, most unique politician I've ever seen, though.

wait. obama doesn't walk on water?! it's like i don't even know him at all...

I'm with Thom Hartman on the idea that tax cuts for business do not create jobs. However, I am all for tax cuts for small businesses to help them stay in business. Small businesses, not large companies masquerading as small business. Mom & Pop's and the like. Of course, this brings us back to health care. Mom & Pop's can hire good employees without the expense of having to offer health plans.

I think Obama is going to spend the rest of this week listening to the Republicans. They will perceive this as their chance for more concessions/bullshit/obstructionism. Then next week, Obama will start to push back hard, perhaps appealing directly to the public with a "look, I've given these guys every opportunity to participate and they've responded with Politics As Usual. We're moving forward without them." Or something to that effect. They will wear out his patience on this, and then he will beat hell and guts out of them.

Why is it that people think that those of us who don't think Obama is doing anything wrong (yet) are worshiping him? Lee's assessment is perfectly reasonable - Obama's character and temperment lend themselves to Lee's interpretation. Whether this is the right approach or not is a separate discussion, but I think one is allowed to appreciate these characteristics in the President as intrinsically good to have in a president - the same way we recognized a lack of intellectual curiosity to be an intrinsically BAD quality to have, in either a president or vice president. One doesn't have to be worshiping the president to recognize that he has qualities we appreciate and that he's persisting in demonstrating those qualities...

QT

excellent comment QT

Obama is trying to teach Folks that Pragmatic Problemsolving is the only path right now...and yes, that means alot of listening and Problem solving, and yes, lee nailed it, Compromising.....I have read the Package- and to be honest I don't think the Repugs ( Boner and Cantor) read it...they are busy trying to get Airtime and Soundbites- but alot of the plan would indeed benifit people facing Unemployment- we are up to 100,000 this week....and it is ONLY wednesday...

Obama is trying to teach Folks that Pragmatic Problemsolving is the only path right now...and yes, that means alot of listening and Problem solving, and yes, lee nailed it, Compromising.....I have read the Package- and to be honest I don't think the Repugs ( Boner and Cantor) read it...they are busy trying to get Airtime and Soundbites- but alot of the plan would indeed benifit people facing Unemployment- we are up to 100,000 this week....and it is ONLY wednesday...

Great comment QT. You said it so well now I don't have to bother...