After Stimulus Battle, Liberals Press Obama

[Turborama]

Source: Washington Post

President Urged to Compromise Less on the Rest of Agenda

By Alec MacGillis, Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

As President Obama prepares to sign a $787 billion economic stimulus package today amid gales of Republican criticism of its cost, he is also facing quieter misgivings from liberal Democrats who say the bill does not go far enough -- and who are already looking ahead to future legislation that they hope will do more.

Liberal Democrats recognize the package's scale and accomplishment, and they have defended it against Republican attacks. But they also wonder whether Obama could have used the opportunity of a large congressional majority and a moment of economic emergency to pass a bigger package, with a better chance of boosting the economy and with more of his priorities intact.

As Obama moves on to issues such as health care and energy, liberals are debating how to ensure that the stimulus outcome does not define the outer boundaries of his agenda, so that future legislation is not limited, as the stimulus was, by the demands of centrist senators such as Susan Collins (R-Maine), Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).

Some say Obama must aim higher next time, so that compromises produce a more satisfactory result. Some say he needs to take greater control of drafting legislation, instead of leaving it to Democratic congressional leaders, and needs to adopt a harder line with Republican legislators. And some say liberals and pro-Democratic interest groups such as labor unions must do a better job of pressuring moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats to back the president.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601149.html?hpid=topnews

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It really is worth continuing reading...

[depakid]

1. It's not "liberals" it's economists

Including quite a few nobel prize winners.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Like I've said. Obama's only friend is the American people....

republicans and self-proclaimed "true progressives" are in agreement about hating Obama, albeit for different reasons.

[Two Americas]

5. why do you keep promoting that false idea?

There are no self-proclaimed "true progressives" who hate Obama.

Why would you want to continue to pour gasoline on this fire, while you disingenuously and hypocritically lament it?

[BlooInBloo]

6. Sorry, you can't censor my patriotic dissent, lockstepper.

[ima_sinnic]

8. but we can find it ridiculous, wishy-washy noncommittal fence-sitter (nt)

[FatDave]

9. Everything OK, BlooInBloo?

You seem really confrontational lately.

[BlooInBloo]

11. You must be new. Welcome to DU!

[Better Believe It]

13. Why do you hate "patriotic" dissent from liberals/progressives?

[shanti]

3. legalize HEMP!

thank you.

[barb162]

4. There's no point dealing with the Republicans as their agenda

is such that the word "insanity" only applies. They really don't compromise; most are playing Tom DeLay's old game. I wish Obama hadn't wasted so much time on the stimulus because the Republicans kept pushing to get their agenda in and watering down the stimulus bill.

[Laelth]

7. What's with all the "some say" references in this article?

That's Faux News journalism. If the author of this piece wants to be a real journalist, he needs to source his assertions with the actual names of actual people. "Some say" just doesn't cut it.

And this is the Washington Post? Cripes!

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Turborama]

10. Plenty of sources within the article itself. n/t

;-)

[Laelth]

12. I'll look again. Thanks.

Faux has, perhaps, made me overly sensitive to the use of "some say."

:dem:

-Laelth