Political Debate

Many contend that the President has lost or gotten behind the debate about the Economic Stimulus (or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). By and large I agree with this assessment. That said, I also think the President has looked strong and determined the last two days. 

One, line of argument he should have raised much earlier is this idea that Supply Side Economics (or more correctly Neo-Supply Side Economics) or as he calls them, "the failed ideas of the past." Basically, the President came out with the plan and said I'm open to all ideas. Bipartisanship is great, but he had just won an election. It should have been more along the lines of, "I am open to good ideas. But the scope of these challenges is unprecedented and the American people will not accept the failed ideas of the past."

The other thing that could have been done, is to open the debate with a much much larger package, like $1.2 or $1.4 trillion. This number would have been a sort of shock therapy to the psyche of law makers. This action would have made $100 - $300 billion in cuts seem reasoned, measured, and bipartisan. 

I'm not an expert of political posturing on the Hill, but I think have a pretty good feel for "Main Street." And if this sort of action was taken moderate Republicans would have been forced to concede to their constituents.