GOP Might Back Stimulus Bill - With "Changes"

[Shiver]

Not So Fast: GOP Might Back Stimulus Bill With Changes
Ryan Grim, Via Huffington Post
January 27th, 2009

Republicans are still open to supporting a stimulus package in the House, a GOP leadership aide tells the Huffington Post, despite reports that they will oppose it.

Reports by Politico and the AP that Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting to oppose the stimulus bill are accurate, the aide said. But Republicans will appeal to President Obama today to make changes to the House bill, holding out the possibility they will still support the final package.

Obama meets this afternoon with the entire Republican conference. "I think what our big moves will be today are to ask the President to help us. Help us make this plan better so that it will put Americans back to work," said Boehner before the meeting.

*snip*

House Republicans appear sensitive to criticism that they rejected the stimulus before meeting with Obama. Yet a Democratic aide said he doubted the sincerity of the Republicans' new openness. "Boehner already said he wouldn't vote for it, so why are they bothering to meet with the President if they've already decided they will oppose?" he wondered. "Will they even say what they want now or just constantly moving the goalposts?"

Full article at above link.

[Jennicut]

1. They are coming off as total obstructionist a-holes.

[Shiver]

2. As opposed to being just plain ol' a-holes

Who says the Republican party no longe rhas diversity? :rofl:

[Barack_America]

3. They ARE obstructionist assholes.

;)

[Deja Q]

5. Then they should be told to drink a gallon of prune juice.

[Barack_America]

12. McConnell looks like he already does.

On a daily basis.



Get thee to the nearest bathroom!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. between them they could pay off some of the national debt

I'm sure the Bush family and their corporate pals are worth a few billion - we taxpayers' should get a big refund.

[Jennicut]

31. Yup, they are. Rethugs have no idea how NOT to be a-holes.

[ErinBerin84]

4. yeah, same as earlier report.

They said that they weren't going to support the plan "as is". Well, plenty of concessions have been made to them, and I hope it's right that Obama is saying no to more tax cuts.

[sohndrsmith]

6. If Obama presented more than he knew Republican's would accept,

with the expectation that certain things would be denied/opposed... that's called successful negotiating.

Doing anything less would be foolhardy. Still, I think Obama is pulling out all the stops because he understands the urgency of the situation. But if the GOP thought they were dealing with a simpleton or someone who was not a skilled negotiator, they are in for 8 years of being in a state of shock...

They couldn't be that naive......

....could they?

...... ?

[traxster]

9. Yes the can be that naive!

[sohndrsmith]

11. Cool! ... I think... ...I'd prefer rational discussion, but naivete is better than

greedy bullying... so, yeah...

Cool! : )

[Shiver]

18. What I'd love to hear

come out of one of these meetings is something like this:

Boner: "Remove _______ or you're on your own... Mr. President."

President Obama: "Bite me."

or

Boner: "Remove ________, Mr. President, or we walk."

President Obama: "Alright then, blank is gone...."

Boner: "Excellent, now we're negotiat-"

Obama: "...and will, instead, be replaced with another $50 billion for a construction of a nationwide bike path project."

Boner: "That's not going to work, Mr. President..."

Obama: "One or the other, Boehner. You also have the option of biting me."

:rofl:

[geek tragedy]

7. Yeah, if he makes it a Republican plan and promises

to triple carbon emissions.

[Shiver]

10. That's why I put "Changes" in quotation marks

The changes the Republicans want are simple and singular: they want the Bush tax cuts made permanent, and Obama won't do that.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. DON'T BACK DOWN, PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!

[global1]

8. I'm Wondering If The Obama Adminstration In Drawing Up This Stimulus Package Purposely......

added elements to it that they knew the Repugs would reject. This way they could pull them out and look like they are making compromises to get them to vote for it.

I think that Obama is a good chess player and was a couple of moves ahead of them with this stimulus package. At least I'm hoping that is the case.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. I don't understand. Looks like he may cave to me. Please explain this strategy

because I want to be proven 100% wrong.

[Shiver]

20. It's part of negotiating

Offer up more than you really want in the beginning. The opposition will latch onto - hopefully - the items that aren't absolutely necessary, and you can make the show of "conceding" those items. They will think they have achieved a victory, and you will have gotten all that you wanted all along.

There's also the possibility that no concession will appease them, in which case you go for all. And then there's the third possibility, that they'll want less taken out, and you end up with more than you originally planned.

If that doesn't make sense, ignore everything I just said and read the post right below this one. :P

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. That makes sense to me. So, you think the strategy is that Obama and the Dems

asked for much more in the beginning, knowing fully well that the Repugs wouldn't go for that. So the Dems scale back what they initially wanted (making it appear that they are conceding when they aren't). The Republicans, on the other hand, can push the narrative that they still have the upper hand but they don't because the concessions provided by the Dems are not substantial. Sounds plausible. I guess I understand what's going on.

[Shiver]

27. Essentially, that's what I think is going on

The potential benefit is in the possibility that the House Dems end up with more than they initially wanted. The idea is, of course, to not let it get below the "bare minimum" - ie, what they initially wanted.

Using SurferBoy's metaphor below, that would be if the person buying the car managed to talk us down to $19,500 - it's incredibly close to what we wanted, but we gave up more than we should have, and they ended up getting ever-so-slightly the better of us.

[4lbs]

22. Think of it as a negotiating the sale of a car.

You, the seller, are willing to sell it for $20,000.

However, you mark it up to $25,000, knowing full well you aren't likely to get many buyers at that price.

But, you state you are willing to negotiate. So, you "compromise" with a buyer down to $20,000 which was the price point you originally wanted.

The "buyer" thinks they got a deal, because they got you to go down $5,000 on the price. However, you won because you sold it for your actual desired price.

Or think of a store with an item that costs $20. They can't sell many at that price. So, they raise the price $5 to $25, and then advertise they are now going to sell it for 20% off! But, $25 minus 20% is back down to $20, the original sale price. However, the buyer thinks they got a deal because it's 20% off!

[Shiver]

23. Listen to him, he explained it better than me

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. I GOT IT! I GOT IT!! The Repugs think they've checked mate Obama and the Dems

but their concessions aren't substantial, and the Dems are willing to accept $20,000 rather than $25,000. To those looking from the outside in, the Dems appear weak and conciliatory because the lousy corporate media allows the Republicans airtime to brag about how much they've swindled from the Dems. I just wish that the Dems would do a better job framing the narrative because they often look weak or as if they are conceding too much to the Republicans. I guess I'm so used to the Democrats caving that it's hard for me to see anything different from their conventional behavior.

[global1]

32. Here's Just A Slight Variation On All Of The Explanations Here....

If I were the Dems I would include items in the package that I know for sure the Repugs couldn't live with - take the contraceptive issue here. Knowing full well that the Repugs will focus on the contraceptive issue and get the media to make it a focus and contention point. As this situation plays out - if I were the Dems I would concede that issue and say to the Repugs - you got me - your right - we'll take it out.

Makes the Repugs feel like they accomplished something for themselves and their base - gives them a win. BUT - all along the Dems anticipated that and put it in just to provide the Repugs with a warm feeling in their tummy.

It's like a chess player anticipating how his opponent will react to his move and thinking two or three moves ahead and then making an initial move to get his opponent to react the way he wants them to.

Makes sense to me.

[Downtown Hound]

14. Roll over the fuckers Obama

You don't need 'em. If they try and filibuster, then let the American people just see what a bunch of asshats they really are. Make no concessions to them. It'll only embolden them the next time.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Gee, the GOP rethoric is already changing....

from before going into the meeting.

[Thrill]

17. Obama playing this perfect

[TeamJordan23]

21. Pace (R-IN) was on MSNBC. He said Obama was very gracious; places blame on House Dems

if they all decide to vote No b.c. house Dems are not willing to compromise in their viewpoint.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. He's just carrying out the RepubliCON plan. McConnell, Boehner already

said what their strategy is: to *APPEAR* to be gracious towards Obama, conciliatory and cooperative, while at the same time, obstruct as much as possible everything that the Dems want to do.

[LittleBlue]

25. This was a brilliant tactic. Add something repugnant to neocons

that really isn't very urgent or necessary, and then drop it in a show of "bipartisan unity", making them look partisan for taking the bait. :evilgrin:

[Cleita]

29. The House doesn't need the Republicans to pass it, do they?

I say tell them to STFU and get out of the way and that goes for Nancy Pelosi too if she can't do it. Time to give Boehner the cold shoulder.

[Life Long Dem]

30. I see... they will oppose the bill and back the bill all in one article

I guess that's one of predicting the outcome. :rofl:


"GOP Might Back Stimulus Bill with changes"

And

"Boehner already said he wouldn't vote for it, so why are they bothering to meet with the President if they've already decided they will oppose?"

[Arkana]

33. Hey Republicans!

How about this: you back the goddamn stimulus bill, and Obama might forget your name when it comes to targeting your district for 2010. Fuckers.

Of course, I can't say the same for Tim Kaine and the DNC...if they paint a target on your ass, then too fucking bad.

[Shiver]

34. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now THAT is bipartisanship! :evilgrin: