Wut ifn it don't work?

[Alsatian]

What happens if Obama and the Democrats stuff an $800 B Economic Recovery Act down our throats and it doesn't do what it is supposed to? Is there going to be a reckoning, or will the press give these guys a pass on this like they did Obama during the presidential campaign?

Of course . . . most patients and most economies recover if for no other reason than the natural curative functions in the body and the economy. You have to administer very bad medicine(or stimulus) to poison an economy. Still, what if the economy just goes into an extended funk, you know, like it did during the Carter years? Ya, that's right, I'm talkin' the 11% unemployment, 14% mortgage rates, all in a sweetened context of steep inflation. Couldn't happen I don't suppose . . .

[James B]

Drastic inflation and china may repo us.

[burniegoeasily]

I think if there is no results with in a year, Obama is done. The congress will turn Red and he will be a lame duck untill we can vote his sorry butt out.


Now another question along these lines. What if the economy naturally levels off, in spite of Obama's plan.Does he get credit and afforded more power to expand government to an even greater degree? The sheep are blind.

[Lanse couche couche]

The answer is simple. If it doesnt work, then Obama will be portrayed in the media as a hero whostruggled vainlyto clean up a mess that was 100 percent the fault of George Bush. Then when the economy corrects itself in a few years he willstill be hailed as hero who led us out of the mess that was 100 percent the fault of George Bush. It is pretty much win win for him.[]

[Alsatian]

ORIGINAL: burniegoeasily

Now another question along these lines. What if the economy naturally levels off, in spite of Obama's plan.Does he get credit and afforded more power to expand government to an even greater degree? The sheep are blind.

Are you kidding? Of course he will get credit if the patient recovers inspite of the spending bill. Who is going to call him to account -- the New York Times?the Washington Post? CNN? And as I suggest above, I would guess that unless the spending package is really bad . . . the patient will probably recover: positive growth will resume.

But there is a real chance that the patient will NOT recover. $800 B is a LOT of money. Shooting that stuff into the mainline can cause inflation. Interest rates can shoot up. The Chinese may turn sour on buying US bonds.

Personally, I'm thinking that if this bill passes with as little Republican support as it has had to date -- 0 Republicans in the house, 3 RINOs in the Senate -- the Democrats are going to have MAJOR exposure. This exposure is going to be amplified not just by the lack of Republican support, but the whole tenor surrounding the passage of the bill -- Obama's prime time evangelizing on the bill, Pelosi and Reid convoking in backrooms in the dark of the night to hurriedly compose a mash-up of the house and senate bill versions, presumably with little Republican involvement. If it doesn't work, and if it comes to be viewed as a self-serving profligate spending package . . . and the economy drags and sags. I think the Democrats are going to be accused of the "Tax and Spend Socialist" label. Of course, card-carrying Democrats (some of whom follow these forums) will not buy, but the cross-over moderates will. Bad news for the Democrats.

[Alsatian]

ORIGINAL: burniegoeasily

I think if there is no results with in a year, Obama is done. The congress will turn Red and he will be a lame duck untill we can vote his sorry butt out.

I don't know if it would go down that way. It is a nice dream that I like to think about. My comment is that this was one of the greatest weaknesses -- if not THE greatest weakness -- of the Bush administration. Why the need to set course without trying to build buy-in and winning cooperation? Why not try to build this Economic Recovery Act with Republican cooperation?

[burniegoeasily]

ORIGINAL: Alsatian

Are you kidding?

That was a hypothetical question.