GOP Howls to the Moon, Obama keeps on Truckin...

So after another Obama week, the GOP is starting to find its groove, so it seems. They are hoping for a 1993 redux. Will the Congress raise taxes, and pass stimulus spending over the entire Republican caucus? Will the Republicans use this as a club to beat the Democrats down in a sweeping back to power in 2010? It's possible. But let's have a quick reality check here:

Yes, the House of Representatives passed an $819 Billion stimulus package. Yes, all 178 Republican Congressmen and Women voted against it (along with 10 Democrats). But is this all just sound and fury, signifying nothing?

For the GOP Faithful--"We're BACK"

• GOP leadership did score a victory in its solidarity. Certainly, a break from the party in any way would have been a HUGE disappointment to GOP House leadership, after all of their bluster about what a stinking turd of a piece of legislation they think this is. And now Rush Limbaugh gets to be in the headlines as the self-fancied "leader of Conservative Dogma out of the wilderness, and return to prominence" (Which is a good thing, because I was worried he might have to console himself through other means). And they have had a chance to scream to the masses that their tax cut proposals are the only acceptable alternative.

For the Democratic Faithful, here's some reasons to stay calm...

• First, this is only the initial vote, pre-Senate Reconciliation. There still seems to be some thought in the Democratic circles that there are a number of willing Republicans to come out of the woodwork, once all is said and done, and a vote on the REAL bill comes up.
• Second, the Senate will not be able to filibuster this. Olympia Snowe, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, George Voinovich and others are too vulnerable in 2010 (in Voinovich's case, he isn't running, but is looking for help for hard-hit Ohioans) to be saddled with the "41st vote" label, against a filibuster cloture. Two Republicans will cave. That's all that needs to happen.
• Third, it may be moot. Judd Gregg is being wooed by the Obama team for the Secretary of Commerce position. In a transparent, but VERY shrewd move, Obama could take care of a few issues at once. Fill a Cabinet position, look bi-partisan, and get a 60th Democratic Senator into Gregg's seat in New Hampshire. We'll see how it plays out...
• Fourth, the sitting Republicans in the House are already the most conservative bunch ever. Why? Because anyone not from a deep red area has already been bounced out of the house during 2006 and 2008. All that remains is the Hard Right, Lower taxes or die, Laffer-only, Reaganite, who wouldn't vote for an Obama plan if their life depended on it. With no filibuster rules in the House, it may be a better play for Obama to approach the Senate with his efforts.
• Fifth, the ads are already out there. "Do YOU want to vote for the Senator/Congressman who represents the party of RUSH LIMBAUGH!?" The actions of Phil Gingrey this past week were so pathetic, it pains me too much to even repeat them here. But it does say something to the casual political observer, that a SITTING CONGRESSMAN would GROVEL at the feet of the mighty Rush Limbaugh, and beg forgiveness for having deigned to criticize Rush for being, well...Rush.

We are talking about Rush Limbaugh here. The man who hopes Obama (and in translation, the US Economy as a whole) fails. The man who was kicked off ESPN's Sunday football program after TWO SHOWS for making racially insensitive comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. This is the guy who has railed about morality, while developing a prescription drug habit, and skirting time for forging prescriptions.

Anyway, Limbaugh may play well in Red districts, but the problem is, that is only 46% of the electorate. He is radioactive in the rest of the country, and too many people in those states are voting in 2010 for a sitting US Senator.


In the end, Obama will continue to do what he has proven so adept at--WINNING. He will win this debate and get his bill passed. Oh, while no one was looking, he also got his way on SCHIP, the Geithner nomination, and looks like he will get Holder on board too. For all the hollering from the GOP about this and that, Obama has managed to get just about everything he has wanted thusfar...