Am watching JK on MTP

[ladym55]

JK doing an awesome job ... not sure what nation Kay Bailey Hutchison has lived in the past 8 years. She thinks our infrastructure is just ducky and that we've done a good job over the past 8 years. She thinks all of our defense spending over 8 years IS investment in our infrastructure.



And David Gregory IS PLAYING RUSH LIMBAUGH AS A REAL NEWS SOURCE!!! :wow:

[globalvillage]

1. Thanks

I won't get to see it until the replay at 5 on MSNBC. Kinda figured he'd do great, but it's good to have confirmation. :-)

Any more details?

[ladym55]

2. JK had done his homework, that was obvious

He focused on the need to create jobs now and the need to rebuild our infrastructure. He also pushed more than once for high-speed rail and public transit.

I had my usual frustrations with MTP. Kay Bailey Hutchison was allowed to sit there and present the Bush-Cheney record as GOOD for US infrastructure with no challenge. She indicated that defense spending was important to our country's overall economic health and that defense spending somehow improved our infrastructure. JK brought up the age of our schools ... he brought up the need to do something to help the poor ... and several times had to talk OVER David Gregory as he attempted to cut JK off midpoint.

I always appreciate how prepared JK is and how clearly he makes his points.

I'm still puzzling as to WHY David Gregory and MTP played a clip of Rush Limbaugh about how the Republicans need to stand against Obama's stimulus package, given how Limbaugh calls himself an "entertainer." It makes MTP look rather silly.

[ginnyinWI]

3. I think Obama wants Rush to be the head of the GOP.

So the more quotes the better--and the better to make them all look like nuts.

[TayTay]

4. Sen. Kerry clearly articulated what he wants in this package

This is form the transcript on http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003022311">CQpolitics:

GREGORY: So, Senator Kerry, how does he do that?

KERRY: Well, we’re going to have an open process in the Senate starting tomorrow. There will be amendments. We will bring amendments ourselves. I know we’re planning one with respect to transit, water, various infrastructure investments, and I think we’re going to add, frankly, to that ability to get money into the economy and put people to work immediately.

We have to create jobs, David. I mean, the key focus of the senators is jobs. And we want to create those jobs as fast as we can, put as much money out. I think we’re at about 75 percent of this money will now go out in the first 18 months. That’s good.

But we also have to invest in long-term job creation. So there’s money in here to create 10,000 libraries, laboratories, classrooms. There’s money in here to help get the Internet out, broadband, into communities that haven’t been able to afford it which, incidentally, was a plan of President Bush’s in 2004 but never implemented.

So if we can do these things, we can make our economy more competitive. But the most important thing is that we act.

One final comment, not only must we do this component of spending and creating immediate jobs, we have to have a sufficient safety net to help people who are hurting at the lower end, food stamps, extended unemployment benefits, all of those things are critical, and we need to fix the banking structure, fix the rules of the road, fix the question of the capitalization of the banks, and finally housing. Housing has to be a component of this.

GREGORY: But are you suggesting that the way you strengthen it is you make that target on creating jobs bigger? You have more of a focus on that than the House version?

KERRY: Yes, I think we can do better with respect to some of the immediate expenditures for jobs. We could expand -- for instance, we could do better, I think, on the energy grid. We could modernize faster, do some more to put people to work in those sectors. So I think that we could hopefully find common agreement about some ways to create jobs.

The Republicans are putting a full court press on getting money out to the top end of the economy and pushing thier trickle-down, supply-side theories again. This despite the fact that voodoo economics doesn't work and is part of the reason why we are in such dire economic straits.

The Republicans are attempting, in a way, to do what the Dems did in 2005 to kill the Social Security Privatization plans. They are not really offering a plan of their own and their main point is to insist that the proposed change is too dangerous and risks too much for too little. The media is giving them an assist. (The media gave the Dems an assist over time in 2005 and the Social Security plan went nowhere, thank goodness in that case.) The Republican plan is to nickle and dime the stimulus plan to death. Some of this will work.

I think that a counter approach that spells out what the "jobs" really mean is the right way to go. I think it's possible we may get a better bill out of this process, one that focuses more intently on infrastructure. We don't want to get bogged down in the weeds and get derailed over items that could pass on their own in later legislation. Focus is needed. I think Sen. Karry's remarks recognized that.

The Republicans now, like the Dems in 2005, don't need to have elaborate plans to succeed. They merely have to build the case that what the other guys are doing won't work and will spend money and get nothing in return. That is a relatively easy argument and one that sells easily on talk shows. (It is easier to prevent something from being done than it is to get something done.) A strong countr argument is needed and needed now.

[YvonneCa]

5. I agree on what you say about tactics. I just think the difference...

...is that the public was generally AGAINST privatization of Social Security, so when the Dems fought it that way, they had the people supporting them. With this economy issue (Stimulus Plan) I don't think the public...in general...supports what the Republicans (as an opposition party) want to do. I think they support Barack Obama and the Democrats. That has been shown in TWO elections (2006 and 2008) and ...despite all the chatter...is still true. We've had eight years of these guys. We really do want change...and the Democrats offer it.

BTW, the battle has been joined. I got this email and link this morning. :7

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economicmeetings/


Text of the President's email:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

YvonneCa--

The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will jumpstart our economy and put more than 3 million people back to work.

I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks. But I need your help to spread the word and build support.

It's not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know how it will affect their lives -- they need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability.

Governor Tim Kaine has agreed to record a video outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community. You can submit your questions online and then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to watch the video with you at an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

Join thousands of people across the country by hosting or attending an Economic Recovery House Meeting this weekend.

The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way.

That's why I've consulted with Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a plan that will address the crisis we face.

I've also taken steps to ensure an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Once it's passed, you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent.

You can help restore confidence in our economy by making sure your friends, family, and neighbors understand how the recovery plan will impact your community.

Sign up to host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting and submit your question for the video now:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery

Our ability to come together as a nation in difficult times has never been more important.

I know I can rely on your spirit and resolve as we lead our country to recovery.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

P.S. -- If you can't host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting, you can still submit your questions for Governor Kaine and then share the video with your friends and family this weekend. Learn more here:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery