Obama Threatens Dissenting Democrats with First Veto

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday tried to persuade Senate Democrats to get behind his plan for the second half of the $700 billion bailout, warning he would veto a threatened disapproval resolution, according to senators who met with him.

Obama on Monday asked President Bush to inform Congress of his intent to use the remaining balance under the Treasury Department's $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. Bush sent a request to Congress on behalf of the incoming administration.

Obama met with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill to make his case for how he wants to spend the funds and to rally support for his economic stimulus plan....Obama took about 15 questions, many of which were from Democrats skeptical of TARP, senators in the meeting said. Obama repeatedly promised to make the process more transparent, they said....

Republicans and Democrats have said they were upset by how the Treasury Department spent the first allotment of $350 billion. Those voicing concerns said they don't feel like there was enough accounting for where the money went. Some Democrats also said homeowners facing foreclosure aren't getting enough help.

Obama made clear that he doesn't want to issue a veto as one of his first actions in office, but he insisted that he has no choice, the senators said. Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Banking Committee, reminded fellow Democrats what a bad political situation it would be to pass the disapproval resolution and force Obama use his veto pen on it as one of his very first acts, the senators said.

While some Democrats said they felt more comfortable after meeting with Obama, others said they still have a lot of questions and are unsure how they will vote on TARP....

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/13/transition.wrap/index.html

[Idealism]

1. A Democratic politician with a backbone was an oxymoron for awhile there n/t

[tom_paine]

11. Still is. This is just playing. They will still toady appropriately towards Bushie Power.

We are now in the "Good Cop" of "Good Cop/Bad Cop"

Our culture of sex and drugs has been crashed. NOW it's on to service and sacrifice, a la Good Cop.

We peasants must sacrifice and serve so that the world is better for the Global Aristocrats yet unborn.

Say it after me, "Service and sacrifice."

Make the world a better place, peasants,for the Bernie Madoffs and Rupert Murdochs.

[bluecollarcharlie]

15. You posted this "service/sacrifce" elsewhere word for word on another subject....

Either change up or use a different program. Or ,failing that, be original. Sheesh.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. The voice of tom_paine is a distinctive and valued one here at DU. I don't always...

agree with everything he has to say, but I'm always gratified that he's there, providing his perspective and reiterating his idea, in the spirit of his DU user name, of what we should be as a people and as a country.

[frog92969]

2. If it was bu$h they'd offer up their first born

no questions asked.

Funny that

[sce56]

3. I think Obam should be asking the Banks to explain where the money went and why it has yet to help!

The whole TARP thing stinks of another Bush Family Rip Off of Tax Payer Money!

[slipslidingaway]

7. Me too!!! n/t

[tom_paine]

12. Now now, that's not very "post-partisan", is it?

:puke:

[marshall]

13. Part of it is being recycled back into the government coffers

To pay for the big shindig in DC.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. I think a whole lot more strings (that is, regulation) need to be attached

to the plan.

I'm uncomfortable, too, with the "here's a whole lot of money, do what you think best" approach. If they take the money, they're going to need to show, dollar for dollar, just how they spend it. Any other gov't grantee would.

[Abq_Sarah]

4. I'd love to see some real transparency

For instance, Congress should be required to make the full text of all bills public for 72 hours prior to voting. Let "we the people" actually read what they're voting on and contact our representatives if we're unhappy instead of releasing it hours before the vote. No branch of government should be a rubber stamp for another.

[Mithreal]

6. My congress person would prefer not.

He votes how the Democratic "leadership" tells him to vote. So much simpler that way?

He has been declared a DINO so maybe this will work out for the better during the Obama terms?

[tyne]

8. Good point and

AGREED!

[razors edge]

5. If he has no choice,

that means someone else is making the decision for him.

[Robbien]

9. probably lobbyists

for the bankers.

They want our money and they want it now and they want us to STFU.

[natrat]

10. fuck dodd-he's the crook who gave it away in the 1st place-they are all fucking crooks

[tomp]

16. still waiting for change. nt

[Libertyfirst]

17. Obama is making it clear they can help or get out of the way. n/t

[Romulox]

19. Thank god somebody is standing up for the American taxpayer. Call his bluff. Make him veto. nt