[electmobile]

Dems face dilemma on jobs plan

By Alexander Bolton - 02/09/11 06:04 AM ET

“I don’t know what we’ll do next,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate on Tuesday conceded that his party faces a dilemma as it tries to come up with a legislative agenda to create jobs amid a new political environment dominated by talk of cutting spending and reducing the deficit.

During President Obama’s first two years in the White House, Senate Democrats made increased federal spending the central plank of their jobs agenda, approving billions of dollars in new programs through the stimulus and other legislation.

But a midterm-election drubbing wiped out the Democratic majority in the House and left the party with only a slim advantage in the Senate. Now the party must find common ground with a new GOP House majority that has ruled out new spending as it works to cut billions from the budget.

Senate Democrats will meet at a retreat in Virginia this week to try and sort through their predicament.

Several of the low-cost jobs proposals that have floated in recent weeks are considered either too liberal or too Republican for many mainstream Democrats.

Liberals have offered protectionist proposals, such as requiring that the vast majority of goods purchased by the federal government be manufactured domestically.

Republicans have called for rolling back layers of regulation they argue have stifled the private sector.

Dems face dilemma on jobs plan - TheHill.com

Their stumped on what next to do. They shot their wad with a trillion dollar stimulus that failed which was supposed to keep unemployment below 8%, now they have no idea what to do next. Now that really destroys any confidence in the American people that the Dem's are capable at solving anything. However their brilliant at adding entitlements, like Obamacare, and borrowing and spending, and raising the national debt.

[Tryphadz]

Don't kid yourself.. neither party has any ideas right now.

[acissombiapse]

Not this shit again... you really think the Republican's have an original thought on this right now?

[venediene]

Thread moved.

[plalleste]

Both parties are at quite an impasse.

On one hand the Republicans don't know what to do because on the horizon they've got to release how they will fund the gov't through the rest of the fiscal year that ends in September, and on the other hand the cuts they're proposing can't possibly overcome the fact that they must raise the debt ceiling, which is something they don't want to have to do since they know what that will mean in their conservative districts and among the teabaggers.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are stuck in the minority in the House and so they're basically on stand-by with the knowledge that on one hand, cuts have to be made, but on the other, strategic investment absolutely must be advanced on things like the high-speed rail plan that would create numerous jobs. The Democrats aren't bashful about tax and spend in bad times, but they're only in the minority now so they've got their hands tied.

I think the Democratic party understands where the future is and how to get there, but on the other hand the bi-polar electorate wants spending cuts just as much as they want Medicare and Social Security and job creation to not be sacrificed in those cuts.

It's a tough assignment, but so far the Republicans have been shirking their duty, sitting on their hands and trying to avoid making tough decisions they must make in order to grow the economy since even they know that cutting the deficit and investing nothing in jobs can not equate to job creation, and so they're stuck waging culture wars and holding long debate sessions over bills that will give the oversight committee power to conduct oversight, which is a power they already have.

The Republicans have put themselves in the toughest position possible because after all they've campaigned on the last 2 years, there is no wiggle room left for them to walk anything back. The debt ceiling must be increased, and they'll hold their noses when they do it, and John Boehner knows he must do it, even if that means he accelerates the divide between establishment Republicans and the Tea Party by getting Democratic votes to do it.

[tobia]

Both parties are at quite an impasse.

On one hand the Republicans don't know what to do because on the horizon they've got to release how they will fund the gov't through the rest of the fiscal year that ends in September, and on the other hand the cuts they're proposing can't possibly overcome the fact that they must raise the debt ceiling, which is something they don't want to have to do since they know what that will mean in their conservative districts and among the teabaggers.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are stuck in the minority in the House and so they're basically on stand-by with the knowledge that on one hand, cuts have to be made, but on the other, strategic investment absolutely must be advanced on things like the high-speed rail plan that would create numerous jobs. The Democrats aren't bashful about tax and spend in bad times, but they're only in the minority now so they've got their hands tied.

I think the Democratic party understands where the future is and how to get there, but on the other hand the bi-polar electorate wants spending cuts just as much as they want Medicare and Social Security and job creation to not be sacrificed in those cuts.

It's a tough assignment, but so far the Republicans have been shirking their duty, sitting on their hands and trying to avoid making tough decisions they must make in order to grow the economy since even they know that cutting the deficit and investing nothing in jobs can not equate to job creation, and so they're stuck waging culture wars and holding long debate sessions over bills that will give the oversight committee power to conduct oversight, which is a power they already have.

The Republicans have put themselves in the toughest position possible because after all they've campaigned on the last 2 years, there is no wiggle room left for them to walk anything back. The debt ceiling must be increased, and they'll hold their noses when they do it, and John Boehner knows he must do it, even if that means he accelerates the divide between establishment Republicans and the Tea Party by getting Democratic votes to do it.

It sounds like a fair assessment of a very difficult situation!
It's so much easier to make campaign promises that include unrealistic financial plans than to look at reality and work across the aisle within a factual frame work!

[Pataacculako]

Teddy Roosevelt had it about right. Its easy to sit in the stands and tell others how to fight the battles. Its quite another to get into the arena. Republicans are having trouble making the adjustment.

"... It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ..."

The Man in the Arena - April 23, 1910 - Theodore Roosevelt Speeches- Roosevelt Almanac

[Wetekemieluth]

Teddy Roosevelt had it about right. Its easy to sit in the stands and tell others how to fight the battles. Its quite another to get into the arena. Republicans are having trouble making the adjustment.

"... It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ..."

The Man in the Arena - April 23, 1910 - Theodore Roosevelt Speeches- Roosevelt Almanac

Where were you and that quote when Bush was in office?

[ThisIsOK]

Both parties are at quite an impasse.

On one hand the Republicans don't know what to do because on the horizon they've got to release how they will fund the gov't through the rest of the fiscal year that ends in September, and on the other hand the cuts they're proposing can't possibly overcome the fact that they must raise the debt ceiling, which is something they don't want to have to do since they know what that will mean in their conservative districts and among the teabaggers.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are stuck in the minority in the House and so they're basically on stand-by with the knowledge that on one hand, cuts have to be made, but on the other, strategic investment absolutely must be advanced on things like the high-speed rail plan that would create numerous jobs. The Democrats aren't bashful about tax and spend in bad times, but they're only in the minority now so they've got their hands tied.

I think the Democratic party understands where the future is and how to get there, but on the other hand the bi-polar electorate wants spending cuts just as much as they want Medicare and Social Security and job creation to not be sacrificed in those cuts.

It's a tough assignment, but so far the Republicans have been shirking their duty, sitting on their hands and trying to avoid making tough decisions they must make in order to grow the economy since even they know that cutting the deficit and investing nothing in jobs can not equate to job creation, and so they're stuck waging culture wars and holding long debate sessions over bills that will give the oversight committee power to conduct oversight, which is a power they already have.

The Republicans have put themselves in the toughest position possible because after all they've campaigned on the last 2 years, there is no wiggle room left for them to walk anything back. The debt ceiling must be increased, and they'll hold their noses when they do it, and John Boehner knows he must do it, even if that means he accelerates the divide between establishment Republicans and the Tea Party by getting Democratic votes to do it.

Jason, what is it about the high speed rail system that would create "numerous jobs"? What significant benefit would we get from such a system?

[electmobile]

Not this shit again... you really think the Republican's have an original thought on this right now?

Remember unemployment was not supposed to go above 8%. if we hurried and passed a trillion dollar stimulus bill. Which by the way failed. Now the Dem's are out of ideas, don't know what to do, stumped, brain dead. Hope and change and all that failed carp. The Dem's have shown to be nothing but lip service.

Yeah the Republicans are trying to repeal Obamacare and stop spending, and put controls on the EPA, and other regulation that is hurting job growth. That's just for starters.