Stimulusmania: Support for bill dropped 12 points in January, says new CBS poll; Update: Senate calls it a night

posted at 8:12 pm on February 5, 2009 by Allahpundit

No wonder The One’s in such a hurry to ram it through: The longer this thing rots, the more people end up running from the smell. A bare majority still support it, CBS notes — contra Rasmussen — but that’s the only stimulus-related good news here for Democrats:

Eighty-one percent of Americans say the stimulus bill should be a bipartisan effort. Just 13 percent think it is okay for a bill to be passed with only the backing of the Democratic majority.

There are signs that Americans are receptive to Republicans’ push to increase the proportion of tax cuts in the stimulus bill: Asked whether higher government spending or tax cuts for business would be more effective in ending the recession, 59 percent choose the tax cuts. Just 22 percent prefer more government spending…

The public is not optimistic about the impact of the economic stimulus bill: Just 21 percent believe it will significantly shorten the recession. An additional 18 percent believe it will shorten the recession slightly. Forty-five percent say it will not shorten the recession at all.

Madam Speaker assured Obama tonight that she’s got his back. We’ll see how that holds up when he comes asking for another trillion for TARP II, especially since (again per CBS) a slim plurality now opposes any further bailouts.

The Senate vote is expected tonight but no one knows when. Over/under on the roll call is 10:15 p.m.; over/under on the bill itself, which is still being written, is $815 billion. Treat this as an open thread if you’re watching the floor debates on C-SPAN2. While we wait, here’s Grahamnesty continuing his big day with a golden moment on the floor versus Barbara Boxer.

Update: Reid’s decided that the debate on whether to drop $800 billion should extend another couple of hours, so he’ll see you tomorrow morning.

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Carol Liebau who worked with him at HLR said that by that time it was largely a popularity contest and not based on merit. She also said he did very little while there, like the bare minimum of work.

goat on February 5, 2009 at 10:53 PM

Yes. I’ve posted the New York Times article about his HLR election many times, since it is so amazing. I guess one more time won’t hurt anyone …

First Black Elected to Head Harvard’s Law Review

By FOX BUTTERFIELD, SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: February 6, 1990

Change in Selection System

Mr. Obama was elected after a meeting of the review’s 80 editors that convened Sunday and lasted until early this morning, a participant said.

Until the 1970′s the editors were picked on the basis of grades, and the president of the Law Review was the student with the highest academic rank. Among these were Elliot L. Richardson, the former Attorney General, and Irwin Griswold, a dean of the Harvard Law School and Solicitor General under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon.

That system came under attack in the 1970′s and was replaced by a program in which about half the editors are chosen for their grades and the other half are chosen by fellow students after a special writing competition. The new system, disputed when it began, was meant to help insure that minority students became editors of The Law Review.

After seeing the idiot messiah’s WaPo article, there’s no question that BHO has gone nowhere on his merits, since he has none of any consequence.

progressoverpeace on February 5, 2009 at 11:29 PM

We are sooo screwed….

unseen on February 5, 2009 at 11:35 PM

this is what you get when the bills do not go thru committees, do not get marked up, do not get discussed, debated, worked with. granted most of those bills are bad but they are no were near as bad as this one. Calling new senator tomorrow. this is assine.

unseen on February 5, 2009 at 11:36 PM

Wah wah wah. Lord forgive me, but what an a-hole. He’s still campaigning w/his “this is the moment” crap. And I thought one of my ex-friends from college was the biggest downer I’ve ever met.

Mark Levin played some of the speech earlier, and Barry kept talking about how the Repubs were voting against this and that, and not once did he mention the condoms, or ACORN, or HOLLYWOOD, or the other leftist garbage in there. He is a charlatan trying to sell out my future and that of my niece and nephew, and hopefully the Senate has a spine like the House did.

Oh, and believe it…all of these videos and speeches will be his downfall. In this one, he’s sweating and stumbling over his words. It’s only a matter of time before he can’t help himself and has a fit of rage.

Dubn8tr on February 5, 2009 at 11:38 PM

Geraghty has a link to this CNN story.

Here’s something to help you smile:

Unhappy voters jam Capitol Hill phone lines

The recent debate over the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus plan and revelations of tax problems by three Obama administration appointees have voters angrily jamming phone lines on Capitol Hill to air their frustrations to their elected representatives.

Their reactions are putting pressure on Congress and benefiting watchdog groups on both sides of the political aisle.

Capitol operators tell CNN Radio that phone lines have been jammed for the past two weeks, sometimes prompting busy signals.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, said calls on the sweeping stimulus plan jumped from eight during all of January to hundreds a day now.

In a sampling of 12 Senate offices, half had so many messages that their voicemail boxes were full.

It’s because of people like Betty Davidson.

“I’m very upset!” exclaimed the 63-year-old from Laguna Hills, California.

She called her senators Tuesday, frustrated with the almost $900 billion-dollar economic recovery proposal.

“What a joke!” she said.

But she is particularly incensed by news that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and former Obama appointees Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer didn’t pay their taxes properly in the past.

“They can make the laws, but they don’t have to abide by the laws,” she complained. “It’s only we taxpayers.”

… Seligman suggested that tax issues are raising the greatest ire.

“I think the average American is looking at their taxes during tax time and saying ‘Wow, I pay my taxes. Why aren’t these guys?’ ” she said.

That’s certainly how Davidson feels. She’s worried about shoveling debt onto her grandkids from the stimulus bill, and she is convinced Washington is corrupt.

“I’m just getting so sick and tired,” she said.

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:45 PM

progressoverpeace on February 5, 2009 at 11:29 PM

He can give a great soaring empty speech about nothing to drooling idiots with out a clue.

goat on February 5, 2009 at 11:47 PM

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:45 PM

Heh. I guess that this means that buyers remorse has started to kick in, huh? From the Peoples Republic of CA no less.

Damiano on February 5, 2009 at 11:49 PM

So when is the Republican leadership gonna stand up to the media mics and say: “Hey, Barry, don’t blame us if it don’t pass. The Dems have all the seats they need to ram it up our brown eye.”

Let them OWN it. Lock, stock, and barrel. You Dems want power, well, you got power. Use it or lose it.

Limerick on February 5, 2009 at 11:50 PM

He can give a great soaring empty speech about nothing to drooling idiots without a clue.

goat on February 5, 2009 at 11:47 PM

Very true, goat. He does have that going for him.

progressoverpeace on February 5, 2009 at 11:51 PM

Damiano on February 5, 2009 at 11:49 PM

There are some sane people left in CA. Those who grew up there must have a hard time seeing their beautiful state become the La La Land of the Left.

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:56 PM

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:45 PM

I just paid my sales taxes as a small business here in Ca. and have my property taxes coming due soon. I can take a little consolation in that I won’t be paying any other taxes since business has sucked here this past year. Obama wants to usher in the same policies that have killed Ca. for business and driven taxpayers out of state except Obama will drive them out of the country.

goat on February 5, 2009 at 11:56 PM

goat, I’m sorry to hear that. I do know about some of the groups that have left California.

My name is not Betty, but I feel like her. I did not yell, but I did speak at length to Bill Nelson’s office today (D-FL). I’ll call again tomorrow.

One of Martinez’ (R-FL) receptionists actually told me she didn’t know how he would vote!

Shut that switchboard down.

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:59 PM

INC on February 5, 2009 at 11:56 PM

Yeah, I love living here, non-native, but I am seriously looking at mailing in the keys to my little bungalow I love and heading back to Al. to start over.

goat on February 6, 2009 at 12:01 AM

I have relatives in CA. I haven’t been out there in a while, but it is a beautiful state. At least two families of the relatives were R voters–not sure about the third.

We lived up in the NE for about 12 years and came back to FL a few years ago. I’m glad we’re out of there–same thing as CA–some lovely areas, but the liberal ideas are deadly.

INC on February 6, 2009 at 12:05 AM

Ca. is in total meltdown right now after a spend-a-palooza and the only answer the Dems have is more taxes, regulations and more spending while the actual tapayers are running away as fast as they can. Is this the model Obama wants to follow?

goat on February 6, 2009 at 12:07 AM

…believe it…all of these videos and speeches will be his downfall. In this one, he’s sweating and stumbling over his words. It’s only a matter of time before he can’t help himself and has a fit of rage.

Dubn8tr on February 5, 2009 at 11:38 PM

It took Nixon 6 years to reach that stage, and Obama’s reached it in 2 weeks. Impressive. :D

ddrintn on February 6, 2009 at 12:08 AM

goat,

Evidently, yes. The Dems do not care what is best for businesses, for citizens, otherwise they would take a hard look at which ideas work. All they want is power.

And yes, I question their patriotism.

INC on February 6, 2009 at 12:12 AM

ddrintn, I hope that speech of O’s wakes some people up.

INC on February 6, 2009 at 12:15 AM

INC on February 6, 2009 at 12:12 AM

I agree, the Dems want a socialist command and control economy which is the entire essence of the global warming/climate change movement. I don’t question their patriotism but I do wonder where it lies, with Cuba, Russia and Velenzuela or the US.

goat on February 6, 2009 at 12:20 AM

The Magic Marxist and his Dhimmicrat cronies must…be…stopped.

Let’s roll.

ex-Democrat on February 6, 2009 at 12:32 AM

BO and MO: Proof that Affirmative Action Doesn’t Work

ex-Democrat on February 6, 2009 at 12:36 AM

The video linked below is too funny. Stimulus: Because all economies have performance issues…

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTc3NWQ5NDA5ZmE2MmNkM2FhZmY4Y2VmNzQ1MjYxZGY=

Speaking of performances: Obama shouldn’t have needed a teleprompter for his “Candidate as Elmer Gantry” pep rally speech. It was boilerplate, using all of the buzz words of his perpetual campaign. Now he adds the rhetorical device of “appeals to authority” by referencing the economists who have supported his lousy Keynesian rationale. The Alaska dig was a gratuitous jibe at the competition that worries him most: Sarah Palin. The Democrats are really worried about her political appeal to Americans.

The idiot Democrat Representatives that laughed on cue and pretend that their primary concern is their constituents haven’t a clue about being responsible to those they represent. Either these people are deluded about Obama’s vision, or they live in a parallel universe that doesn’t understand that spending plans have to be paid.

Every accusation that Obama made about the opponents of the bill; ie., Republicans is a flaw that his own party exhibits: playing games, partisanship, deceit, etc.

onlineanalyst on February 6, 2009 at 12:39 AM

I suppose all of you have access to a phone and know how to call your elected officials………………

……… and I mean ALL of them!

Seven Percent Solution on February 6, 2009 at 2:04 AM

This is turning out to be a Denny Grand Slam, Jimmy Dean, Pork-o-rama, Smithfield Smorgasborg, Vegas Bacon Buffet, Piggly Wiggly, Jones Farm, Mother of All Sows, The Other White Meat, Bratwurst in every pot, Allah Be Praised, Lord of the Flies, Pork-a-Thon!

I can smell the bacon when I open the front door. Try it. I bet you can too.

Mr. Joe on February 6, 2009 at 2:08 AM

Eighty-one percent of Americans say the stimulus bill should be a bipartisan effort.

That eighty-one percent better get their collective head out of their collective ass. If a majority of both houses of congress vote for this thing, absent a filibuster, it’ll pass with just as much force of law, even if it’s only 50% +1.

gryphon202 on February 6, 2009 at 2:35 AM

The message that needs to be sent out to the Senate is “If you’re a DO-NOTHING as opposed to a Stimulus Supporter, then you’re doing the right thing. I’d rather suffer the financial pain now then have it drag out forever into the future.” This is an opportunity where a Do-Nothing policy can be perceived in a positive light.

misslizzi on February 6, 2009 at 3:00 AM

$87 million for a polar icebreaking ship

al-Gorezeera has claimed there will be no need for this monstrosity.

Perhaps we could spend that $87 million on sunblock and beach blankets for Eskimo’s?

Mr Purple on February 6, 2009 at 3:18 AM

Well…well….well.

So I guess there is a difference between McCain and Obama after all.

I supported keeping banks afloat. I could see the reasoning there. After all this is a capitalist economy and it can not work without capitol.

But if the original funds were enough to stabilize the financial markets, then there is really no point in doing more.

I can remember the late 70′s and the early 80′s and we have seen nothing as bad as that. Somehow the economy survived that. The truth is it has been good enough long enough that most people really do not know what a bad recession is.

But spending this kind of money seems completely insane to me. Obama could just ask for the part of the plan that has an immediate effect, that would cut the cost by 80% right there and then add some business tax cuts. That would make a lot more sense.

This is just way way too much money.

Terrye on February 6, 2009 at 6:33 AM

I think Graham was committed to Mccain after 2000 and went along him to help get Mccain bipartisan-centrist cred. Now that Mccain has lost, he’s finally coming into his own. Glad to see him fight this so well. Thanks, Senator. Appreciate ya.

promachus on February 5, 2009 at 10:15 PM

Use the Senate email contact form and tell him directly. I did, and I live in NY. (I also wasted my time emailing Chuckie Schumer; I wanted to contact my new Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, but she doesn’t have a Senate email contact yet.)

RickZ on February 6, 2009 at 7:05 AM

I wanted to contact my new Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, but she doesn’t have a Senate email contact yet.)

RickZ on February 6, 2009 at 7:05 AM

Pffft. Like it matters what you say. She is a senator you peon. You will learn to do as you’re told by your betters? Capiche?

angryed on February 6, 2009 at 7:46 AM

NO COMPROMISES!!!

KILL THIS GARBAGE BILL!!!

NO PORK, PERIOD!!!

NO STD MONEY!!!

NO COMPROMISES!!!

NO RADICAL, FAR LEFT PROGRAMS!!!

VOTE NO, end of story!!!

That is my one and ONLY message to my Congressmen and Senators… THIS BILL IS TOXIC, let the Dems own it, lock, stock and barrel. NO compromises, even a watered-down Pork Bill ilke this will greatly HARM America, kill jobs and force radical left agendas and programs down our throats all in the name of “stimulas”. I have told them all that if they even VOTE FOR ANY PART OF THIS CRAP I will work to remove them next election, I will work against them in the primaries. I will donate money AGAINST their re-elections. This is the ONLY way to get thier attention, they only care about elections.

Mark Garnett on February 6, 2009 at 7:52 AM

Let them OWN it. Lock, stock, and barrel. You Dems want power, well, you got power. Use it or lose it.

Limerick on February 5, 2009 at 11:50 PM

If this bill is so critically important, pass it without Republican support. If it’s so great, Dems get all the glory. If it’s a disaster, Dems get all the blame. Plain and simple.

DrStock on February 6, 2009 at 8:04 AM

First of all… I found this deficit when I showed up, number one. I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow, waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.”

Jim Treacher on February 5, 2009 at 10:15 PM

He “found” it when he showed up — as in he didn’t know about it before? You didn’t come to the presidency from Outer Mongolia, Barry; you came from the U.S. Senate. If you had spent a little more time there actually doing your job (instead of campaigning for the next one), maybe you’d have known how deeply in debt this nation already is. Then of course, if you were too busy designing your phony presidential seal or practicing your “presidential” looks in the mirror to bother with your job as a Senator, there was always Google.

Rove was so right about this idiot.

AZCoyote on February 6, 2009 at 8:06 AM

The one fact that he can’t dispute is that the deficit he found wrapped in a big vow, he voted for it. It’s hard to have clean hands when you come from the Congress that gave us TARP. Nice try on the innocent, out of the loop act.

Cindy Munford on February 6, 2009 at 8:48 AM

AZCoyote on February 6, 2009 at 8:06 AM

Holy cow, I must have posted from page three, you said the same thing only better.

Cindy Munford on February 6, 2009 at 8:50 AM

Speaking of performances: Obama shouldn’t have needed a teleprompter for his “Candidate as Elmer Gantry” pep rally speech. It was boilerplate, using all of the buzz words of his perpetual campaign. Now he adds the rhetorical device of “appeals to authority” by referencing the economists who have supported his lousy Keynesian rationale. The Alaska dig was a gratuitous jibe at the competition that worries him most: Sarah Palin. The Democrats are really worried about her political appeal to Americans.

The idiot Democrat Representatives that laughed on cue and pretend that their primary concern is their constituents haven’t a clue about being responsible to those they represent. Either these people are deluded about Obama’s vision, or they live in a parallel universe that doesn’t understand that spending plans have to be paid.

Bill Sammon on Fox (interviewed by Greta Van Susteren) picked up on an important clip of BHO’s speech to House Democrats last night. Obama was mocking the characterization of the “stimulus” bill as a “spending” bill, and, although I don’t have the exact quote, he seemed to equate “stimulus” with “spending”, with an arrogant tone like “well, duh, yeah, spending is stimulus”!

Bill Sammon basically made the argument that the mask has fallen away–Obama’s goal is not necessarily to “stimulate” the economy and create jobs, but SPEND taxpayer money, and Sammon wonders what voters’ (taxpayers’) reaction will be.

Obama was preaching to the choir here–why was he speaking to House Democrats (who already passed the bill) rather than Senators, whose vote is still in doubt? But did Obama, in a rhetorical flourish for his admirers, reveal his true intentions to swing voters who might have voted for him in November, but who reject socialism, and might be jamming Senate phone lines?

Hey Big Spender! Get your mitts out of my pocket!

Steve Z on February 6, 2009 at 9:54 AM

I don’t have the exact quote, he seemed to equate “stimulus” with “spending”, with an arrogant tone like “well, duh, yeah, spending is stimulus”!

Steve Z on February 6, 2009 at 9:54 AM

Yes. The idiot messiah actually made fun of people who thought there was a difference between a stimulus bill and a spending bill. I’ve never seen such stupidity so proudly displayed in public. Never.

Then we were treated to the Precedent running emotionally amok as he stamped his feet and cried that he wanted his toys, NOW!

Embarrassing beyond words. Not unlike his op-ed, though. That was equally childish and simple-minded.

Sheesh.

progressoverpeace on February 6, 2009 at 10:07 AM

I can see some fantastic RNC ads using the song “Hey, Big Spender”

The minute you walked in the joint
I could see you were a man of distinction
A real big spender
Good looking, so refined…

Will Michael Steele have the guts to do it?

rockmom on February 6, 2009 at 10:16 AM

Government spending nearly doubled under George Bush and the national debt tripled. Why did that not produce massive economic growth?

rockmom on February 6, 2009 at 10:18 AM

That video of Grahmnesty was great. Especially the last line: “If this is the change we can believe in America’s best days are behind her”. Good stuff.

BadgerHawk on February 6, 2009 at 10:30 AM

Government spending nearly doubled under George Bush and the national debt tripled. Why did that not produce massive economic growth?

rockmom on February 6, 2009 at 10:18 AM

An excellent point, that will be flushed down the toilet…what they assail Bush for, they want more of.

right2bright on February 6, 2009 at 10:38 AM

How bout this for stimulus,
Cut payroll tax by 50 %, for the next 6 months, Kill cap gain tax for 2 years.
Dont let the gov do the shell game or 3 card montey (SP)
and move our tax dollars from one Gov agency to another.
I called Fienstine and Woolsey told them this.

ColdWarrior57 on February 6, 2009 at 10:51 AM

At this point, I almost hope the thing passes as is. As bad as it will hurt the economy, the bloodletting in 2010 will be awesome.

Vashta.Nerada on February 6, 2009 at 11:04 AM

Drama queen lindsy more subdued today. Still whining about the process with no ideas. The President challenged the gop for new ideas. They got nothing.

getalife on February 6, 2009 at 11:28 AM

How bout this for stimulus,
Cut payroll tax by 50 %, for the next 6 months, Kill cap gain tax for 2 years.

ColdWarrior57 on February 6, 2009 at 10:51 AM

No, no, no. The idiot messiah has just informed the world that STIMULUS = SPENDING, noting that anyone who doesn’t understand this simple misstatement of fact are stupid. Tax cuts can’t be stimulative. So says the Precedent. Spend, spend, spend. There’s nothing to do but spend!! Spend on anything (as Keynes said that the government can bury paper money in jars, and hide these jars around the community. This way, individuals will have an incentive to go out and dig up jars of money, and therefore this will stimulate the economy.).

Good times.

progressoverpeace on February 6, 2009 at 11:29 AM

I can sum up the gop argument for the next 8 years with one word.

No.

getalife on February 6, 2009 at 12:10 PM

The public is not optimistic about the impact of the economic stimulus bill: Just 21 percent believe it will significantly shorten the recession. An additional 18 percent believe it will shorten the recession slightly. Forty-five percent say it will not shorten the recession at all.

I would have voted for non of the above. It will extend the recession just as it did in the thirties.

burt on February 6, 2009 at 12:27 PM

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