Economic Stimulus Blues for the Blues

The Economic Stimulus Plan does not concern me, Democrats concern me. I have come to the conclusion that Democrats are so eagerly and meekly courting conservative consent for the Stimulus not because they want true bipartisan support or because they value their ideals, but because they honestly do not think it can work. They want someone with which to share the blame, because they have absolutely no way of knowing if any of this capital injection, infrastructure spending and, yes, tax cuts will do anything but put us in a bigger fiscal debt and without thousands of new jobs for working families.

In truth, there is absolutely no need for Dems to be bowing to the Boehners or cowtowing to the Kristols. Obama and his Democratic colleagues have a mandate. Americans trust them, by an enormous margin, to do what is right for this country. They have more political capital since of any party since at least the GOP post-9/11 or perhaps even the Dems in the 1930's. Yet, it appears again that the Democratic leadership is far too willing to listen to bogus economic theory and policy points by the same group that got us into this mess.

Let me be very clear. John McCain, his campaign, his party and every single economic philosophy to which they describe were roundly and completely defeated and decimated in this last election. So why in the world would anyone care, at this very moment, about what John "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" McCain thinks about the particulars of this bailout plan? This is the same man who, in the post-mortem for his election defeat, made it crystal clear to everyone in his party that the reason they lost the campaign was because American did not believe that their policies and philosophies were suitable for guiding the worst great, but temporarily imploding, economy. If anyone in the middle class (if it still even exists) give me one good thing that the GOP has done for them economically over the past 8 years, I, seemingly like every Democrats, am all ears.

Obama, in whom I believe completely and is perhaps the smartest political mind in the world today, recently said that he would listen to ANYONE who had a good idea about what to do to help this economy. Yet, he would rather turn a deaf ear to the recent Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman and instead bend before House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va) as he whines about planned parenting funding in the stimulus or to Charles Krauthammer predicting that the only thing being left behind in from this stimulus is a "dog run around the Potomac." Obama was fond of saying during the campaign that he only read his negative criticism, not his positive press. Well, by the way he and his Democratic colleagues are behaving, you would think they have flatly tuned out Krugman's big ideas and are instead captivating and handcuffing by the small politics of the floundering Right.

When first approached about the stimulus possibility, Obama mentioned that he hoped to win 70 or 80! votes for it shortly after his swearing in. Quite opposite of the way he is approaching the stimulus, he was shooting far too high, rather than the low plateau of 60 or less. Politically, perhaps that is a good move - go ahead and instill confidence in Republican opinion and the "Big Tent" philosophy Obama has been peddling for 2+ years. He even agreed to use up to 40% of the plan for tax cuts in an effort to appease. But it appears recently, that they only person who is committed to a "post-partisan" Washington is Pres. Obama himself. And now that the Republican roadblocks and petty petitions are soaring back - aimed at keeping seats in Congress at the expense of helping their constituents - it is time to forcefully bring these ploys to an end.

Yet, I am still uneasy about Democratic belief in the stimulus plan. Again, I understand they need political capital for future, more contentious votes on programs like the Employee Free Choice Act and various health care bills. But there will be no reason for these bills to be presented if we are neck deep in a depression, brought on by a fear of big decisions and a reluctance to reject unsound financial ideals.

Democrats have been crying and pleading, fund-raising and campaigning, organizing and plotting to formulate the dominant advantage they currently have. They have worked so hard to create these sweeping majorities and this mandate. And now, much as they have done over the past 2 years of power (in Congress), they hiccup. They stall. They psychologically cower to the GOP might because Democrats have done a better job of getting here because people are rejecting Republican policy rather than embracing the progressive agenda. They are here because of a magnificent, magnanimous candidate and his brilliant machine as they are because of good governance, sound policy and strong convictions. But, I believe, they got exactly what they wanted, exactly when they didn't want it.

This economy would be daunting under any political circumstances. And now, frankly, I think Democrats are afraid. Afraid that a wrong move now will hamper them publicly for 30 more years. Afraid that a stimulus that doesn't work will ostracize them further to their woods than Republicans are currently. Worried that all of the good will they have worked to so hard to build could crumble right in front of them. Worried that their moment in the sun could be followed by a complete and prolonged eclipse. And, really, who could blame them.

When you reach the top of the mountain after a many decades long climb, why would anyone be in a hurry to come off the summit. Today's Democrats have reached that peak. They are at the height of their powers, but only at the exact moment that the economy is ready to fall helplessly off the cliff. By dangerous times call for courageous action. Do not fret if Republicans scoff at sheer breadth and depth of the stimulus. They have so much less to lose. But you, Democrats, have everything to gain. Doing this stimulus right, the way you believe it should be done, will create jobs, empower consumers, rebuild our infrastructure and cement a permanent progressive politic for our country for a generation. Now is not the time to make amends or chum it up with the opposition. Realize that they will, much like the terrorist communities President Obama spoke about in his marvelous Inauguration speech, "be on the wrong side of history." We are a smart party, a capable party, the party of the people. Only we are situated strategically to rebuild America and give hope to all Americans.

You are here because we chose you to do what is right. We believe in your power to bring change to America and to make the tough decisions. We are ready to sacrifice and we understand that things may get worse before they get better. But, if that is the case, let it be because it takes times to get the proper amount of money coarsing through our country's veins and not because you are still paralyzed by the paroxysms of partisan hacks or your own fear of failure. Listen to those who saw this problem on the horizon and tried to warn us. Trust in the coalition you have built and let them lead with prudence and fierce compassion.

Sure, having consensus and a large voting majority behind this plan would help in so many future ways. But we must build that future starting today. I trust Obama and his financial team to build a wonderful, complex plan that will work like so many octopi to extend the benevolent, helpful hand of government to every corner of this country and restore the American Dream. Change is more that just the hope of bipartisanship or post-partisanship. Change is what we need in American right now. You are the change we need. Do not go through the motions of "politics as usual." There is nothing wrong with bringing others into the fold, extending your hand and your ear. But it is criminally wrong to allow petty bickering and, let me repeat, economic philosophies that have failed millions of Americans, to keep you from capturing this moment and strengthening America once again.