jobs plan - just theater, right?

[TheManWithAUsername]

I'm not asking rhetorically; I want to check my read of this.

Obama will propose a plan with stimulus spending, the payroll tax holiday, and unemployment benefits extensions.

He knows there's no shot of the first, regardless of what he puts on the table. The second has a chance, likely in exchange for something horrible like extension of the Bush cuts. The third is unlikely, though a possibility in exchange for more horrible stuff. It's not unlikely that nothing will go through at all, though, as the Reps want to wreck the economy to get him out of office.

If any tax cuts package goes through, he'll run on his "moderate" creds. If nothing goes through, he'll theoretically run on Reps being traitorous economic terrorists, which is in fact the case.

I say "theoretically" because it seems to be impossible for him to clearly and simply acknowledge that reality and to call out the Reps as the devoted enemies of the middle and lower classes. That's part of why I doubt my read - this all seems set up to make that political point, but making that point is so far out of his character.

Does that seem about right, or is there something more to this plan?

[takoma]

TheManWithAUsername wrote:I'm not asking rhetorically; I want to check my read of this.

Obama will propose a plan with stimulus spending, the payroll tax holiday, and unemployment benefits extensions.

He knows there's no shot of the first, regardless of what he puts on the table. The second has a chance, likely in exchange for something horrible like extension of the Bush cuts. The third is unlikely, though a possibility in exchange for more horrible stuff. It's not unlikely that nothing will go through at all, though, as the Reps want to wreck the economy to get him out of office.

If any tax cuts package goes through, he'll run on his "moderate" creds. If nothing goes through, he'll theoretically run on Reps being traitorous economic terrorists, which is in fact the case.

I say "theoretically" because it seems to be impossible for him to clearly and simply acknowledge that reality and to call out the Reps as the devoted enemies of the middle and lower classes. That's part of why I doubt my read - this all seems set up to make that political point, but making that point is so far out of his character.

Does that seem about right, or is there something more to this plan?

I'll see you, and raise you one. Namely, I think you're right that it will be theater, and I also think the press will review it as theater, rather than judging the substance.

But I am still enough of an optimist to think there is a possibility he will show some cojones and propose something that might actually help, and then follow through and fight for it. I'm not blind enough to think that's likely, but hope springs eternal.

[jsteele]

I predict that he will walk up to the podium, recognize all the important attendees, read an excerpt from a letter written by a six grader saying his dad needs a job, and then turn to Boehner and ask, "how high should I jump?". Boehner will suggest an appropriate height, at which time Obama will agree to a further six inches above that.

He will then call liberals fucking r*tards who need to be drug tested and challenge us not to vote for him.

[TheManWithAUsername]

jsteele wrote:I predict that he will walk up to the podium, recognize all the important attendees, read an excerpt from a letter written by a six grader saying his dad needs a job, and then turn to Boehner and ask, "how high should I jump?". Boehner will suggest an appropriate height, at which time Obama will agree to a further six inches above that.

He will then call liberals fucking r*tards who need to be drug tested and challenge us not to vote for him.

Yeah, you're probably right. Sometimes I'm foolishly hopeful.

[takoma]

jsteele wrote:I predict that he will walk up to the podium, recognize all the important attendees, read an excerpt from a letter written by a six grader saying his dad needs a job, and then turn to Boehner and ask, "how high should I jump?". Boehner will suggest an appropriate height, at which time Obama will agree to a further six inches above that.

He will then call liberals fucking r*tards who need to be drug tested and challenge us not to vote for him.

Jeff, you're a terrible cynic.

Wish I had some confidence that you're wrong.

[TheManWithAUsername]

Seriously, though. His words are already setting them up to take the fall, as they rightfully should, so it looks like a set-up, and that's his only real option anyway since he's already allowed them to ensure that the economy will be shit...

So is he actually going to run on them being lunatics? I can't really picture it, but what else is this about?