Cross posted at slothropia.com.
This blog post from Paul Krugman is worth considering in light of what is happening in the Senate this weekend:
Now the centrists have shaved off $86 billion in spending — much of it among the most effective and most needed parts of the plan. In particular, aid to state governments, which are in desperate straits, is both fast — because it prevents spending cuts rather than having to start up new projects — and effective, because it would in fact be spent; plus state and local governments are cutting back on essentials, so the social value of this spending would be high. But in the name of mighty centrism, $40 billion of that aid has been cut out.
My first cut says that the changes to the Senate bill will ensure that we have at least 600,000 fewer Americans employed over the next two years.
The real question now is whether Obama will be able to come back for more once it’s clear that the plan is way inadequate. My guess is no. This is really, really bad.
Atrios found this for me and his billions of other readers.
Wanna know the difference between a "moderate" or Blue Dog Democrat and a Republican?
A Republican will face you as he plunges the knife into your gut. Blue Dogs will stab you in the back.
Is it not time for America to stop letting the tail wag the dog(ironic use of metaphor intentional)?