UPDATE: More Conservative Stimulation

Given that Boehner has said vote no, anyway, I'd say we should keep the condoms in. And more SUPERTRAIN.
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(The SUPERTRAIN thing is about the stupid two senators per state thing, which was the single thing the founders got wrong. We got way too much high fructose corn syrup, and way too little useful railways.)

Listening to the hopelessly partisan GOP instead of public opinion and reasoned policy analysis. Bad for America, good for praise from David Broder.
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Meanwhile, the GOP is going to oppose the bill anyway.
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Ugh.

I think it is past time for Obama to just do what's right and ignore the repuglicans (h/t PA):
President Barack Obama is coming to the Capitol later today in a bid to curry favor with congressional Republicans. But it appears GOP leaders have already made up their minds to oppose his $825 billion stimulus plan.
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House Republican Leader John A. Boehner and his No. 2, Whip Eric Cantor, told their rank-and-file members Tuesday morning during a closed-door meeting to oppose the bill when it comes to the floor Wednesday, according to an aide familiar with the discussion.
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This should dampen the mood for an early afternoon meeting with the president, who is making the trek to hear Republicans' input on the legislation before Wednesday's vote.
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Steve Benen has a modest proposal: I have one relevant question: since the House GOP isn't interested in passing the bill anymore, can Democrats make it even better now? The White House has been willing to make all kinds of concessions to win over Republican support, but it's not enough. Since the GOP is going to vote "no" anyway, why not make the bill as effective and progressive as possible? If there's no point in the majority party offering unwelcome enticements to those who'll remain obstinate anyway, then pull the enticements and let the majority party do the right thing.

Can you blame them...the problem with the GOP is that no one's better at harping on a point until it drowns out all logical arguments. I mean what sounds better.."umh, millions of dollars spent on condoms...who does that help?" vs "this amendment simply provides states with the ability to continue family-planning services already offered with minimal bureaucratic assistance."

I minimize the overall point, nevertheless, for the sake of something being passed quickly I almost want to say, let the Repugs have it and drop it from the package.

I think this is a good strategic move on Obama's part.
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We don't need to get the stimulus package caught up in any more ideological conflict than is already inherently there.
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Fight that battle separately.

Obama is simply getting played (or possibly rolled) by the repugs, and needs to put a stop to it now. Via TPM: McConnell: Republicans Are More in Line With Obama Than Dems

I think the GOP would do better to craft their own stimulus policy then simply coast along and vote no on the Democrats legislation. The GOP are doing themselves no favors by continually shooting proposals down, but offering no ideas of their own. Well, beyond saying more tax breaks of course.

Looks like the babysitter just gave in to deamnds for one more cartoon before bedtime.

Obama caved to one major Republican sore spot in the stimulus;I don't blame Boehner and the GOP leadership for imagining another scenario where Obama rebukes his own party in the name of "bipartisanship."

http://www.political-buzz.com/

The constant kow towing to Boehner and McConnellMcCain will end up alienating Progressives. If Republicans are ready to go toe to toe for their "beliefs" why should we place such a high value on "bipartisanship". What does "bi-pa" mean at this time? To me it looks like caving in. One quibble with KT: The Republicans will dish out their TPs no matter what. Doesn't it always come down to sex with the Right? Condoms, indeed.

K Tizzle
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Just wondering how this jibes with your whole "talking heads don't make a difference" take.

Plus, I'll bet federal permission for states to offer family planning services (the requirement Obama is allowing to stand) will be about as hard to get as a cold Diet Coke.
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O/T: Is there anything creepier than that frozen smile Eric Cantor pastes on his face? Other than Boehner's prematurely orange skin, that is?

Disagree, KT. The GOP is wrong on the merits, wrong according to polls, and has never been politically weaker. The right thing to do, politically and morally and for the future good of the country and the GOP, is to purge the rottenness from the system.
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Your response is a direct criticism of Joe Klein's point yesterday that Rush Limbaugh is irrelevant. Of course he is not. He rules the Republicans' world and, by extension, yours.

"It deprives the Republicans of a talking point that could have gotten real traction on cable and talk radio. (See also: Midnight basketball)"
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That's probably the worst posiible reason. As if cable and talk radio will now move on to substance. (see also:1994-2009)

Well, to reinforce KT's point, everyone is assuming that taking the family planning money provision out of the stimulus bill means it is permanently dead. Not so! Right after the stimulus passes, the House and Senate will take up Fiscal 2008 appropriations (everyone's forgotten that the federal govt is operating right now under a continuing resolution from last fall that expires at the beginning of March). There will be an omnibus bill, and quite likely the family planning money will be in it--without nearly the muss and fuss.

Oh good, so the same tactics work. Tell the Big Lie enough and it becomes true.
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Obama is probably making the right tactical choice - get the thing passed. But this will only encourage them.
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I wouldn't mind GOP opposition if it were principled but they know that particular talking point is crap. Don't they? I guess I should never misunderestimate the stupidity of a Senator.

7oaks: One quibble with KT: The Republicans will dish out their TPs no matter what.
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sgw: Just wondering how this jibes with your whole "talking heads don't make a difference" take.
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atrios: I'm always amazed at how mainstream journalists never acknowledge that anything they do could possibly have an impact on anything.
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The result of this "debate" is entirely in the hands of the media, and the talking heads in particular. If they discuss it honestly, and frame it as Elvis did above, the public will understand what is happening perfectly.
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But, of course, what they are doing is this: Matthews: Government Support for Family Planning "Sounds Like China"

Art - Th' senators no be stupid - they still be controllin' th' wind, so t' speak, an' navigatin' th' ship still through th' manipulation o' th' press. It be so easy t' do tha' a half-daft cabin boy be capable o' carryin' it out. All they have t' do is run their usual bilge pot up the line, an' th' press will dutifully "report" it. So th' sails be set an' anythin' tha' may come after in th' way o' correctin' be lost in the gale force o' th' initial crap a flyin'.
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So long as th' press be such willin' puppets, an' th' majority party be so inept an' willin t' run up th' surrender flag at th' first sign o' skirmish, nothin' be changin' here.

KT: First Prize for Gracious Concession. Awfully decent and all that.

Yes, KT. I must say it's a breath of fine, sweet air to read a reporter who actually concedes a point every now and then. Usually all we get from your peers is excuses, misdirection and (when all else fails) sullen silence and stonewalling.

Josh: The McConnell/Boehner plan is to fix the Bush mess by pushing through more of the former president's policies. Again. Totally clear. I don't think they'd even deny it. Why is this off-limits to say out loud?

By the way, can I just point out that every good American and every good Democrat out to kick Chris Matthews right in the ass? (Paraphrasing Goldwater on Falwell).

Sigh. "out" = "ought." Can't even blame the lack of preview.