WOW!

The stimulus bill passes the House 244-188 without a single Republican vote. The London Telegraph's Toby Harnden claimed the Republican actions were a slap in the face to President Obama, who vowed to end this intense partisanship. President Obama spent most of yesterday entertaining and cajoling Republicans in both chambers. Later he entertained a bipartisan group at the White House. Throughout the process he claimed to want ideas from the Republicans, who are frankly exhausted and without any creative suggestions.

The Republicans kept quoting a Congressional Budget Office report that said most of the stimulus package would not be spent until 2010. The problem--there was no such report. The CBO had to issue a statement that they ran computer models on a small part of the project before its final version was submitted. The last several days we have been treated to a barrage of media stories on $250 million on condoms,the same for STD research and the such, which the Republicans fueled. For their part, they submitted their own stimulus plan that consisted entirely--yes entirely of tax cuts.

Now Drudge proclaims with a photo of Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer "Own It". Now let's think about this. The United States is in the most serious economic situation since the Depression and in fact may be in worse shape. A new President comes in and spends an inordinate amount of time courting Republicans and they vote against his plan. This plan was in fact a compromise that incorporated enormous tax cuts suggested by the Republicans. Now, let's say it doesn't succeed. In a far worse situation, do Republicans really believe the people will come flocking to them? Is there any record to show in deep recessions the American people turn Republican? They aren't slapping Obama's face; they are committing political suicide.

Can the Republicans actually stop the stimulus in the Senate. They can vote against it but they can't stop bringing the bill up. Senators Olympia Snowe and Judd Gregg have already given interviews about how impressed they were with Obama's presentation and how he has an integrated view of the economic situation and he could explain how each part worked together. Now these two may vote against the bill for their own reasons--but I doubt it. But if there are only two-three Republican Senators, who believe this is a serious situation, then the bill comes to the floor and the Democrats have the votes to win handsomely.

Some progressives are arguing that the Democrats should revote the stimulus bill stripped of all the tax cuts except those favored by Obama and add in some of the spending that had been omitted. I see the logic and the justice in this position.

At this point in the game, Obama needs Republicans on the reform of social security--which can easily be done to ensure funding into the next century. Here the Democrats have to be vigilant so as not to cut benefits and refuse to extend once again the age eligibility. There is absolutely no need to cut social security if taxes on people earning above $250,000 are increased. The major issue where Obama needs Republicans is the area of health care reform. This is because any proposal now must be self-sustaining and have long-lasting bipartisan support .

After the bill passes the Senate, Obama may want to send a message to the Republicans of a different nature. Just quietly start investigations and prosecutions of Bush officials without much comment. That's the Chicago way!