Lambert Strether at naked capitalism argues that the policies put in place in the early part of President Obama’s first term are the policies that the Congressional Democratic leadership and the Obama Administration wanted to put in place.
Lambert Strether at naked capitalism argues that the policies put in place in the early part of President Obama’s first term are the policies that the Congressional Democratic leadership and the Obama Administration wanted to put in place.
A shocking point of view!
Wow, that piece sort of strays into the weeds to highlight the hypocricy of the filibuster.
How about it wasn’t a mistake to invite Republicans to the table, because they weren’t invited to the table. When the majority party invites the minority party to the table, they meet behind closed doors and hammer out the outlines of a plan together. What do you want for this? In Illinois, almost every ethics reform involved inviting the minority party to the table. When its important, when you want to protect yourself, and when you want to have substantial agreement in place before outside interests try to interfere, you invite the other side to the table.
There are good reasons not to invite the minority party to the table, you might go lowest common denominator policies or excessive pork. You might not need them (which might have been true here if the House stimulus was written better and didn’t offend Snowe and other moderatoes)
Establishment Democrats and Republicans have more in common than they do in opposition. Particularly when it comes to serving their donors over the interests of their constituents.