President Obama’s high-speed rail program has taken a lot of abuse because it isn’t just funding true high-speed rail; it’s also accelerating and improving service on moderate-speed trains. OK, guilty as charged. The program’s actual name is “High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail.” And now that Obama has redistributed the …
stimulus
If the Fed Can’t Save Us, Then Who Can?
Fed-watchers may recall that in my last post, I courageously risked my membership in the Ben Bernanke Fan Club by asking the chairman why he had failed to juice the economy enough to avoid sky-high unemployment. The boring …
The Democrats’ Communication Problem – Part 2
It’s just one poll, but Greg Sargent notices that a recent survey from Pew and National Journal indicates that the vast majority of Democrats don’t feel this has been a particularly successful Congress, legislation-wise. As Sargent notes, just 33% of Democrats believe this Congress accomplished more than recent Congresses. (37% said it …
We Need More Money! Wait – Maybe Not.
There’s not a better illustration of the priority divide between Republicans in Washington DC and those in the states than the Medicaid funding passed by the House today. In a 247 to 161 vote – taken after Nancy Pelosi called her members back from recess – the chamber just passed legislation that will provide $26 billion in …
National Politics and State Realities at Odds
Kevin Sack has an illuminating piece in the New York Times on the conundrum that politicians – especially Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats – face while trying to balance a fiercely partisan political climate against the woes of a sagging economy. Case in point: Medicaid, one of the most expensive programs in every state in the …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Home Again
…after 10 days in the Middle East and watching the Sunday morning talk shows. A few thoughts:
–It certainly was fun watching Governors Schwarzenegger and Rendell carve into pieces the puerile speeches delivered at the CPAC convention. The bites from Mitt Romney–who said not one net new private sector job had been created by the …
A Small Victory For the DSCC
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has not gotten a lot of good press recently. The stinging loss of Ted Kennedy’s seat to Scott Brown, the failure to recruit promising prospects such as Beau Biden and the spate of high-profile retirements from the upper chamber have all taken a toll on the group’s image. The legacy of Chuck …
Madison Avenue Loses To Silicon Valley In Stimulus Political Ad Race
Both Republicans and Democrats are up today with online spots touting or defaming the Recovery Act, which turns 1 today. Most notably, both parties have chosen to parody high-tech ads to make their point, with great effect. This spot is from the Democrats on the House Labor and Education …
One Year Later: Joe Biden’s Stimulus PR Fears Are Confirmed–Sort Of
We can say this for Joe Biden: He saw the stimulus backlash coming. As he told me last June, he penned a memo for the president as soon as the $787 billion Recovery Act passed, warning that public opinion could turn sour. Obama responded by charging Biden with the task of policing the massive project. “Last memo I’ve written him,” Biden …
Obama’s Human Resources
As the White House jobs summit gets under way today, here’s a story looking at congressional efforts for a jobs stimulus bill. Given the GOP tarnish on the last stimulus bill, members have pushed back hard at the suggestion that any future efforts might be labeled a stimulus. “I wouldn’t characterize it as a second
stimulus,” House …