Proper Prior Planning always includes Alternate Plan B

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

The media is doing everything in its power to kill this bill and embarrass Obama and the Democrats, regardless of the harm to the country.

I am skeptical the ability of Harry Reid to deliver the votes necessary. The very worst thing that could happen is if he calls for a vote and it doesn't make it. That will do incredible damage to Obama's political capital. I can't say this enough, if the votes aren't there, DON'T BRING THE BILL UP. Obama can say, this is a good bill, it will help the situation, but we can make it better. It is still urgent, but we can bring up a new and improved bill within the next few weeks that I think will answer all the questions and issues that have been raised by this current version. THEN:

Like so much of this battle, we have the steak, but the Republicans always seem to seize the sizzle. And, like always it is about the framing of the arguments. "Stimulus" is just a crappy choice of words from the get go. Calling it the Jobs and Economic Recovery Act would have gotten us of the gate in a stronger position to start with. I think we can still switch over to this label without a hitch.


I think it would be better if this bill were split into more easily and understandable chunks instead of the murky behemoth that it is (or at least that's how it's being presented by the MSM)There are distinct components to the bill. Those different aspects can all be called parts I, II, III, IV, etc.of the National Economic Recovery and Jobs Bill. If one goes down, it won't necessarily take the rest with it.

Part I - Economic Recovery Tax Adjustments/Incentives

PartII - Economic Recovery Assistance to the States

Part III - Economic Recovery Rebuilding the Infrastructure

Part IV - Economic Recovery Energy Initiative

Part V - Economic Recovery Jobs/ Education Initiative

Part VI - Economic Recovery Health Initiative (a great way to start sliding into health care reform - introduce Medicare for all on a temporary basis just for those who lose their jobs and don't have current healthcare. Let us test drive it as a temporary program)

Anyway, I am just saying that we have to have a game plan IN CASE the bill doesn't pass in it's present form. We have to know immediately what alternate Plan B is, when it can be presented and how to sell it, without incurring any short-term damage in this struggle.

[sojourner]

1. "we have the steak, but the Republicans always seem to seize the sizzle"

You have nailed it. Nice work - and are you in a position to get this to Obama's team? If so, please hurry!

[nichomachus]

2. Prior planning? As opposed to planning after the fact?

;-)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Phu. . . . . .s

Isn't that someone's motto?

Some people plan after the fact - Rumsfeld comes to mind.

But I get your point about the redundancy. Looking back in restrospect, I might have worded it differently. :D

[nichomachus]

5. And I didn't even mention

"alternate plan B." The very notion of Plan B is as an alternate. If it's not the alternate, it's Plan A.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. How can I escape your exacting eye? Perhaps with a comma?

Proper Prior Planning always include an alternate, Plan B.

Do you fall asleep every night after memorizing another chapter of Eats Shoots and Leaves? I mean that in a good way.

[customerserviceguy]

4. There's one big reason this bill is in any trouble at all

Who had any idea what was in it three weeks ago? Maybe the people who were sitting down huddled in a room writing it, but no one else. There's a lot of stuff in here to digest in a short period of time.

The last time we saw a "hurry up and pass this, don't bother reading it!" type of thing was the bank bailout bill. Three hundred fifty billion dollars goes out to Hank Paulsen's Wall Street and banker friends, and we still don't have a clue what they did with it beyond a few wild flings and a bunch of last-ditch bonuses.

If I were a Repuke, I'd use the tactic of "let's slow down and really read this thing" too.

[midnight]

6. The media has no responsibility to the people. The people

need to wake up and start doing their own collection of information, and make their own informed minds up. Who, When, Where, Why!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. I think many, many people are doing this much to the MSM's dismay. nt

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. Kicking because I never underestimate the possibility of being screwed at the last minute.

If the bill doesn't pass, we can make hay of the Republicans and the media and still move forward.

[Solomon]

10. I hear what you saying, but from my perspective, we got 'em

by the short hairs, and ought to press it home and move on. Everybody assumes there won't be more after this. They've already come out to say they will vote this in. Now's not the time to step back. That would be playing into their hands. Let's see what happens. If you're right, it will go the way you say it will.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. I hope we do have them and I agree with pass it and move on.

But, like I said, you need a back-up plan in your pocket because no one can underestimate the assholery potential that is still free floating out there. If it happens, then I say crush them with a back-up plan and forget about being "bi-partisan".