Davos Notes: Contrition, Paralysis, and the Embrace of Faith and Philanthropy Take Hold

As usual, even in the most dire circumstances Arianna manages to make us smile with her colorful depictions (cheap cologne on a disco Lothario! I love it!).



The bottom line is that no one has the answers and as the President has alluded (and Robert Reich has come right out and said) we are going to have to do a lot of experimenting.



The great irony in all of this is that the folks who make us most uncomfortable are those who act as if they have the answers, both Republican's and Democrats, because the American people know we're in a fix with no simple answers. If tax cuts were the answer, surely the billions in tax cuts over the past 8 years would have produced a roaring economy. Fortunately for us, the person who gives us the most comfort in all of this is the person is our President, who has been the most flexible in his approach.



Like many folks, my first reaction to the vote in the House was, "to hell with the Republicans, take all the tax cuts out and lets have a Democratic bill." However, more and more I have a sense that a United front between Democrats and Republicans will have a psychological impact that is critical to tamping down the fear that is paralyzing the economy.
About Davos
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Judd Gregg: Commerce Secretary?

As a Democratic State Senator during the time that Judd Gregg was Governor of NH and after he had won his Senate seat, I butted heads with Judd Gregg on more than one occasion, so it will surprise some folks that I think he would be a first rate choice for the job.



Judd Gregg is a loyal Republican, but he is also a man who would not hesitate to put country ahead of party in the current crisis.



Gregg has shined during the grueling ordeal of confronting the economic meltdown. I'd be proud to stand up for him, were he to say "yes" and the country would be well served.
About President Obama
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Obama: Wall Street Bonuses "Shameful" (VIDEO)

Time for a Hall of Shame.



The Obama administration should publish a list of the top executives who perpetrated this fraud on the American people. They should be shamed in their communities and throughout the nation.



At a time when many folks are worrying about their next meal, these scoundrels have stolen the food from the mouths of their children.
About Financial Crisis
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Achieving a Unified Front

Bi-Partisanism Involves Style as Much as Substance.

"Old habits die hard."

These are the words of President Obama when asked to comment on the fact that not a single Republican voted for the 2009 Stimulus Bill in the House.

Strictly from a pragmatic - outcomes oriented - point of view. If the Stimulus bill had been written by a bi-partisan group of Representatives, based on the core principles of the parties and their electoral success, the bill would probably have looked much like it does right now. So why the lopsided vote?

Republican leaders point the finger of blame at Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They say that they were shut out of the process. At the same time, at the urging of President Obama, the size of the tax cut component reflects their principle ideological position on the stimulus.

Without question, the bill also contained some provisions bound to be questioned for their stimulative effect. Democrats from their perspective pointed out that the bill has two key purposes to stimulate job growth and to reinvigorate the underlying economy through strategic investments meant more to enhance America's competitiveness in the long run.

Both sides continue to act as if they hold the magic key to unlocking a new era of American competitiveness. When in truth, no one knows what will really work in this environment. It may be that only the President - who ultimately bears responsibility for the success or failure of the policy - has the courage to move beyond politics right now.


"Wash Day on the Upper Peninsula"


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A Hole Worth Digging?

Lets face it, party leaders on both sides have a lot to learn about being bi-partisan. Nancy Pelosi isn't in line for winning the Post-Partisan medal of honor either. But Republicans, having gone from an ocean liner to a dinghy in the last two elections are now proceeding to drill holes in the bottom to prove that they are still relevant.



President Obama, with the best of intentions, may in fact be "loving the Republicans to death". The more he reaches out to them, the more desperately their leadership searches for reasons not to cooperate - while bending over backward to make us believe that they want to. At the same time, Obama's approval numbers among Republican voters are on a steep upward trajectory, further isolating the national party leadership from their last remaining vestige of a constituency.



The American people are a lot smarter than most politicians give them credit for.



The President knows that no one has all the answers. His goal, clearly, is to get Republicans and Democrats to create a united front, standing together as Americans against the challenges ahead. If a partisan vote is the ultimate outcome of this stimulus, it won't be because the President didn't lead. It will be because at our darkest hour, the Republican party leadership chose partisan sniping over healing the nation. The outcome will be years of wandering in the wilderness for their party. Pray it doesn't also mean years in the economic wilderness for our country.
About Obama's First 100 Days
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Learning to Be Bi-Partisan

Lets face it, everyone is going to have to learn a lot more about being bi-partisan. Nancy Pelosi isn't in line for winning the Post-Partisan medal of honor either. But the Republicans, having gone from an ocean liner to a dinghy in the last two elections are now proceeding to drill holes in the bottom to prove that they are still relevant.

Meanwhile, President Obama, with the best of intentions may in fact be "loving the Republicans to death". The more he reaches out to them, the more desperately their leadership searches for reasons not to cooperate - while bending over backward to make us believe that they want to. At the same time, Obama's approval numbers among Republican voters are on a steep upward trajectory, further isolating the national party leadership from their last remaining vestige of a constituency.

The American people are a lot smarter than most politicians give them credit for. They know, for example, that (as Robert Reich put it a few weeks ago) if anyone tells you that they know the way out of this mess, they are lying to you. They know we are going to have to conduct a series of bold experiments, not because we want to, but because the alternative is just too frightening to contemplate. They are relieved that President Obama is at the helm but they do not expect miracles, they simply expect action.

The President knows that no one has all the answers. His goal, clearly, is to get Republicans and Democrats to create a united front, standing together as Americans against the challenges ahead. If a partisan vote is the ultimate outcome of this stimulus package. It won't be because the President didn't lead. It will be because at our darkest hour, the Republican party leadership chose partisan sniping over healing the nation. The outcome will be years of wandering in the wilderness for their party. Let's pray it doesn't also mean years in the economic wilderness for our country.

Following the Stimulus Package

A simple guide for following the progress and provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also commonly known as the Stimulus Package and Stimulus Plan.

If you've been cruising the web trying to find information on the specifics of the Stimulus Package, you've likely been cursing all those pundits who talk and talk and talk but never take the time to tell you how to follow the progress of the plan.

Here's a few tips to help:

1. Recovery.gov
Put this website at the top of your favorites for later. Right now you won't find anything there except an introduction, but in an unprecedented effort to keep government accountable as we try and find our way out of this mess, the Obama administration has set up this website where all Americans will be able to go and keep up with the progress of the effort after the stimulus package passes.

2. LIS.gov
Right now the Library of Congress, legislative services site will take you directly to HR1 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as it is currently written in the House of Representatives and S1 The Senate Version. The Senate version is a bit harder to find but by following the menu links to the Senate and the "Active Legislation" link on the Senate page you will get to S1. Links to both the House and Senate versions are included as live links below.

By the way - for teachers, professors and others looking to use the crisis as a teachable moment, the Library of Congress also has a special section called Resources for Teachers. Its a general resource so you won't find specific teaching aids related to the Stimulus package but you will find information that will help to make the process much more understandable.
HR1 House Version
S1 Senate Version

For those unfamiliar with how a bill becomes a law, the two bodies will pass their respective versions and then a committee of conference (sometimes known as a compromise committee) will be appointed to craft the final version that both bodies must endorse before the final bill goes to the President for his signature.

"Moonrise Over Loveland"


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