dagblog - Comments for "Evaluating 2009: What The Dems Did Wrong, Part 1 - "It's Very Stimulating""

You're right, it's just a

DF — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:59:43 +0000

You're right, it's just a subtler argument that requires an understanding of the multiplier. And, if you do understand the multiplier, it's a very odd thing indeed that right-wingers argue 1.) against fiscal measures and 2.) for tax cuts as stimulus. It's an argument that makes absolutely no sense on a fundamental level.

Very good post, DF. I do

William K. Wolfrum — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:08:33 +0000

In reply to Evaluating 2009: What The Dems Did Wrong, Part 1 - "It's Very Stimulating"

Very good post, DF. I do think one ommission was that not only was the stimulus less than many believed it should be, it was also packed with tax cuts. The same tax cuts that the GOP will fight to death to say are the only thing ever necessary to stimulate the economy.

If unemployment ticks downward more as the elections come near, look for that to be a major talking point for Republicans - without us, you'd have never gotten those tax cuts, and they were the only part of the stimulus package that stimulated anything.

Reminds me of this post on

DF — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:17:16 +0000

In reply to It signaled to the GOP that

Reminds me of this post on TPM from last month.

It signaled to the GOP that

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:07:35 +0000

In reply to Evaluating 2009: What The Dems Did Wrong, Part 1 - "It's Very Stimulating"

It signaled to the GOP that Democrats were all too willing to negotiate from a position of weakness.

True that. I just spoke to a friend of mine who is married to a political appointee in the administration. My friend described a very low morale among the White House and Congressional staff. They were all waiting for health care to move off their plates. Now it's just sitting their like a big rancid meatball that no one will touch, and worse, there's a sense among the staff that nothing ambitious has a chance any more.

Great post. I look forward to the rest.