Americans Torn on Stimulus

A new USA Today poll shows Americans are torn on the stimulus.
I totally get this. After years of being lied to by the Bush administration, it's hard to trust government, even though Obama is at the helm. We still have a culture of greed and all the greedy politicians and businesses have their hands out for the stimulus money, that's obvious, so on one hand, there doesn't seem to be a way to spend it responsibly, and on the other, many people need help fast.
So the stimulus is only good if the people who receive the money do what they're supposed to do with the money but, seeing as our culture of greed will take a long time to shake, chances of that are slim. Obama needs to tell us how, in detail, how the government is going to dole out the money-- who's getting it? States, cities? How's it being given out? How will the money be tracked? What safeguards are there to ensure that wicked politicians aren't somehow lining their pockets?

USA Today: Two-thirds of those surveyed predict that Obama's package of tax cuts and new spending would boost the nation's economy, at least by a little. When it comes to their own family finances, though, half say it either would have no effect or even make things worse.

"It's sort of paradoxical: They're both supportive and pessimistic," says Charles Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies public opinion.

Then there's also this.

Obama Meets With Vermont Governor

Obama's meeting with the democrats and Robert Gates and Hillary gets sworn in. Judd Gregg as commerce secretary could be announced soon. Michelle meets the staff in the education department.
From Politico:

Late morning, President Obama will meet with Governor Douglas of Vermont in the Oval Office to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. There will be a pool spray at the top of the meeting. In the afternoon, President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary Gates in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. Later, President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Congressional Leadership in the Roosevelt Room.'

THE VICE PRESIDENT TODAY: '[T]he Vice President will travel to the State Department for the ceremonial swearing in for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Vice President will deliver remarks. '

THE FIRST LADY TODAY: 'On Monday afternoon, the First Lady will visit the Department of Education to meet the staff. She will be joined by Secretary Arne Duncan and will deliver brief remarks.'

REPUBLICAN TO REPLACE JUDD GREGG IN THE SENATE – AP's Philip Elliott: 'President Barack Obama is expected to pick a Republican senator, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, as his commerce secretary soon. But officials expect the state's Democratic governor, John Lynch, to fill Gregg's Senate seat with another Republican. 'In other words, whoever is appointed to replace him would caucus with Senate Republicans, so I think it would have no impact on the balance of power in the Senate,' Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate's minority leader, told 'Face the Nation' on CBS.'

Obama and republican governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas

McCain Can't Decide Who To Be

McCain voted against confirming Timothy Geithner after saying he would. Read about that here.
Geithner was easily confirmed.
John McCain's trouble is he can't decide whether he should side with the republicans, most of whom seem to be on the conservative end of the spectrum, or whether he should be a "maverick." McCain seems to easily succumb to peer pressure as witnessed by the Sarah Palin pick.
I read an article that said Mac is Back. Don't think so. He's acting just like he did during the campaign, trying to appease at the sake of the greater good.
McCain says he won't vote for the stimulus bill as is. What he doesn't say is that he and many republicans will ultimately affirm the stimulus bill. They're just trying to gain power through politics instead of substance. Just like the campaign, just like the last 8 years. Do they think we're not watching? 
Republicans tried to embarrass Obama?

Politico: In the party’s first organized attempt to embarrass President Obama, Senate Republicans voted in unexpectedly heavy numbers against Timothy Geithner for Treasury secretary on Monday night, even though he was easily confirmed.

The vote was 60-34, with 30 Republicans opposed. Geithner was quickly sworn in Monday night at the Treasury Department, where President Obama praised his new secretary.

“At this moment of challenge and crisis, Tim’s work and the work of the entire Treasury Department must begin at once,” Obama said. “We cannot lose a day because every day the economic picture is darkening here and across the globe.”

But the nomination vote gave conservatives an opportunity to rail against Geithner, as conservative talk radio rallied a flood of calls to Capitol Hill on Monday opposing his nomination. A majority of Senate Republicans heeded those calls, making it clear that Geithner may have a credibility gap with the GOP.

If republicans are listening to conservative talk radio, they're in some real sorry shape. Obama has the terrorists rattled and the talk radio types running scared, afraid that their power, post Bush, will fade. Talk radio types have something in common with the terrorists. What do you know. 

In this video, Sen. Mitch McConnell says Obama is having trouble getting democratic support. 

Rahm Emanuel Gets Bipartisan

Obama's serious about the bipartisan tone. But is it important to have bipartisan support of the stimulus package? Yes. The democrats should listen and consider republican ideas, as well as make compromises, so long as the integrity of the stimulus bill remains intact.

CQ Politics: The president's top aide, Rahm Emanuel, has invited a group of moderate Republicans to a private White House meeting Tuesday amid a Democratic push to add bipartisan flavor to an $825 billion economic stimulus package making its way through Congress.

The smaller confab is scheduled to take place after Obama and Emanuel meet separately with large caucuses of congressional Republicans and congressional Democrats on Tuesday.

It appears to be something of a continuation of the bipartisan dinners Emanuel held with Republicans during his three-term stint as a Democratic House member from Chicago, and it is not clear whether the stimulus will be the focus of the meeting, one of many subjects or simply the $825 billion gorilla in the room.

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., said the invitation to the White House from the newly minted chief of staff sets a new tone. "That hasn't been done as much in the most recent Bush administration," Petri said.

Petri is among the Republicans who has yet to decide which way he will vote on a package that combines $550 billion in spending on education, infrastructure improvements, health insurance, unemployment benefits and other administration priorities with $275 billion in tax cuts. Read more.

Obama to Grant States Right to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions

Big day on Monday and another promise fulfilled. 
Obama will announce a couple of things regarding air pollution tomorrow, including granting states, such as California, a waiver under the Clean Air Act so that states can require tougher auto emission standards than EPA standards.
Seems kind of weird that you'd have to get permission to be cleaner.
California (and about 14 other states) requested a waiver in past years, but Bush denied it.
Read California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent letter to Obama here. 

On Tuesday Obama's expected to meet with republican caucuses regarding the economic package. On Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

NYT: President Barack Obama will direct federal regulators on Monday to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict automobile emissions and fuel efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday evening.

The directive makes good on an Obama campaign pledge and signifies a sharp reversal of Bush administration policy. Granting California and the other states the right to regulate tailpipe emissions would be one of the most emphatic actions Mr. Obama could take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy.

Mr. Obama stopped short of ordering the agencies to reverse the Bush administration policy, but they are widely expected to do so. Once they act, automobile manufacturers will quickly have to retool to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, and on a faster phase-in schedule. The auto companies have lobbied hard against the regulations and challenged them in court.

Here's what else Obama's announcing tomorrow:

Beyond acting on the California emissions law, officials said, Mr. Obama will announce that he is moving forward with nationwide regulations requiring the automobile industry to increase fuel efficiency standards to comply with a 2007 law, rules that the Bush administration decided at the last minute not to issue.

He will also order federal departments and agencies to find new ways to save energy and be more environmentally friendly. And he will highlight the elements in his economic plan intended to create new jobs around renewable energy.

Update 1-26 Obama's announcement:

Summers and Boehner on Meet the Press Jan. 25

Larry Summers, who heads Obama's National Economic Council, said on Meet the Press this morning that it's likely the Obama administration will let the Bush tax cuts expire next year. Republicans would like to let these tax cuts for the rich continue. Obama wants to give more tax cuts to the middle class.

What Obama is inheriting:

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House republican leader John Boehner says there's too much government spending in the plan.

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McCain Won't Vote For Stimulus As Is

MSNBC: WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain says it will take some big changes before he would vote for the Obama administration's stimulus package.

The Arizona Republican, who calls himself a member of the loyal opposition, says he can't vote for the proposal as it is now written. For one, he doesn't think it would do enough to put people back to work.

The former GOP president nominee also says he will push to make permanent the Bush tax cuts, which helped high-earning people. Those cuts expire next year. and President Barack Obama has said he would not seek to renew them.

Read the plan here.

Read the transcript of McCain's Fox News Sunday appearance.

Obama's First Weekend in the White House a Working Weekend

Update: Read details on the meeting here. 

Obama held meetings with congress on his first weekend at the White House. See Obama's weekly address on the stimulus package here. Read all 632 pages of the Obama administration stimulus package here. 

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Yesterday's meeting with congressional leaders:

The republicans response after yesterday's meeting:

Obama's Weekly Address Jan. 24

This is Obama's fourth weekly address. But this time, he speaks from the White House. The address revolves around... Jobs. It's all about jobs. 
Read about Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment plan here. At a new site, Recovery.gov, we will be able to see where our tax dollars are going.
Here is text of the draft of the plan to be presented on Monday.
Transcript here.

Obama Talks Jobs In Ohio Jan. 16

Obama is going to Ohio to promote his jobs package. From Change.gov:

Washington—On Friday, January 16th, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama will travel to Bedford Heights, Ohio, to meet with workers and discuss an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which would aim to save or create three to four million new American jobs and make the long-term investments needed to build a 21st century economy.

President-elect Obama will tour the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Company, a growing company with innovative production practices that manufactures parts used to construct wind turbines. President-elect Obama will discuss how companies like Cardinal Fastener and workers like those in Bedford Heights would benefit from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which would aim to create nearly half a million American jobs by investing in clean energy like wind power.

President-elect Obama will tour the plant and then hold a meeting with workers on the factory floor. The meeting is by inviation only but open to the press. The tour will be pooled.

Obama Team's Job Impact Report

The Eskimo dancers will be in the inaugural parade

It's kind of a geeky report. I'm going to have to print it out and take a look. You can read it here.
Here are the conclusions of the report:

This study has sought to investigate the likely job creation effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan currently under consideration. As emphasized at many points in the analysis, there is substantial uncertainty around all of our estimates. Nevertheless, we believe they can provide useful guidance as we go forward. Among the key lessons from the analysis are:

• The recovery plan needs to be large to counter the tremendous job loss that is likely to occur.
• The plan needs to include a range of components, such as direct government spending, state fiscal relief, and tax cuts to ensure that jobs are created quickly and throughout the economy.
• The range of components is also important for ensuring that both male and female workers benefit from the program.
• An aggressive recovery program is important for protecting all Americans from job loss, but particularly for aiding those groups disproportionately hurt by the rise in the overall unemployment rate.
• A well designed recovery plan will not only create numerous jobs, but also many jobs paying good wages and providing full-time employment.

Here's Christina Romer, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, talking about what kind of jobs will be created:

Obama's Economic Speech Jan. 8

Video below. 

Pretty much, Obama says the economy is going to need big money fast-- but not without oversight.
Here is the transcript.
Obama met with mayors before and after the speech:

Politico: NEWS RELEASE FROM THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS: 'President-Elect Barack Obama has invited a delegation of U.S. Mayors led by Miami Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Manny Diaz to join him on Thursday at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., for a major announcement on his economic stimulus plan for America. ... The mayors will attend a briefing with the President-elect in advance of his speech at George Mason University and will be available for one-on-one interviews immediately following President-Elect Obama's remarks.'

You might also want to check out CNBC's John Harwood's lengthy interview with Obama. They cover the economy, the former presidents' advice to him, Leon Panetta and BlackBerrys. Here's CNN's coverage of the speech:

CNN: "For every day we wait or point fingers or drag our feet, more Americans will lose their jobs. More families will lose their savings. More dreams will be deferred and denied. And our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse," he said.

Obama laid the groundwork for urgent action on his "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan," a plan he says will save or create more than 3 million jobs and invest in health care, energy and education, among other priorities.

Obama said his plan will immediately help jumpstart the economy by doubling the production of alternative energy within three years, improving the efficiency of federal buildings and homes, computerizing medical records, equipping schools with 21st century classrooms, expanding broadband across the country, and investing in science and new technologies.

The president-elect said the cost of his plan would be "considerable" and would "certainly add to the budget deficit in the short term." He did not put a price tag on the stimulus package, but observers have estimated it would cost about $800 billion.

"Government at every level will have to tighten its belt, but we'll help struggling states avoid harmful budget cuts, as long as they take responsibility and use the money to maintain essential services like police, fire, education, and health care," he said.

Here's another good story about why the republicans fear of debt is waaaaay too late, which is why some of them need to stop whining.

Bloomberg: After meeting with President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 5, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio welcomed the $300 billion worth of tax cuts Obama wants. He had reservations about the rest of the $775 billion plan.
“I remain concerned about wasteful spending that might be attached to the tax relief,” Boehner said. “Simply put, we should not bury future generations under mountains of debt.”
Where was he for the last eight years while the debt almost doubled, from $5.7 trillion to $10.6 trillion?
Under normal circumstances, Boehner’s concern about the long-term budget outlook would be laudable. Obama expressed his own concern in a Jan. 6 statement. He is to make a speech on the economy today.
These aren’t normal times though, and it’s obvious that the Federal Reserve’s strenuous efforts to ease the financial crisis and give the economy a boost with low interest rates haven’t been enough. More help is needed than the Fed can provide, as Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and his colleagues have acknowledged.

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Larry Summers on Obama's Job Creation Plan

Larry Summers, Director of Obama's National Economic Council, wrote in the Washington Post today about Obama's plan for jobs and how boosting consumer spending isn't going to cut it. I agree. Consumerism can't continue to prop up our economy. It's also destroying the planet. We need a real economy. Meanwhile, conservatives are whining about corporate tax cuts.

WaPo: Our president-elect understands both the peril and the promise of the situation and the importance of responding to changing conditions. That is why his economic team is crafting a broad proposal, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, to support the jobs and incomes essential for recovery while also making a down payment on our nation's long-term financial health.

A key pillar of the Obama plan is job creation. In the face of deteriorating economic forecasts, Obama has revised his goal upward, to 3 million. For one thing, significantly fewer positions would be created in the absence of any recovery plan. Second, more than 80 percent of these 3 million jobs will be in the private sector, including emerging sectors such as environmental technology. This is a bold goal. But economists across the political spectrum recognize that it is far less risky to stand firmly against the forces propelling our economy downward than to be timid in the face of a mounting crisis.

Here's the beef:

Some argue that instead of attempting to both create jobs and invest in our long-run growth, we should focus exclusively on short-term policies that generate consumer spending. But that approach led to some of the challenges we face today -- and it is that approach that we must reject if we are going to strengthen our middle class and our economy over the long run. Far from being an excuse for inaction or delay, the magnitude of the work ahead is all the more reason to begin that work.