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Have you heard about the marsh mouse? The little swamp critter that got $30 million of stimulus bill spending thanks to Nancy Pelosi? Of course you have! The mouse was highlighted on Drudge and chortled over by Glenn Beck. One Republican congressman actually dandled a toy mouse in debate.
The story’s not false exactly. The stimulus money really does contain money for wetlands restoration. One of the wetlands that might benefit really is located on San Francisco Bay. And the marsh mouse really does live there.
So the Republicans who promoted the mouse story came closer to the truth than Nancy Pelosi’s spokesmen did when they blasted the story as a “fabrication.” I’m prepared to bet my share of the Obama tax cuts that the mouse will indeed get its money in the end.
The problem with the story is not that it was false. The problem with the story is that it was stupid.
The US economy has plunged into severe recession (94% of Americans describe economic conditions as “bad,” according to the Feb 2-4 CBS poll, and 51% say conditions are getting even worse).
President Obama and the Democrats have responded by steering the US radically to the left. Since World War II, the federal government has most years spent less than one dollar in five of national income. Once the stimulus gets underway, the federal government will spend more than one dollar in four. The cost of everything the Democrats want to do comes closer to one dollar in three.
We’re facing more regulation of everything from high finance to the ordinary workplace. The Democrats are expanding Medicaid to crowd out private insurance. The federal government wants a huge new role in redirecting private investment in transportation and energy in the name of “green jobs.”
And facing all this – we’re talking about mice?
Could we possibly act more inadequate to the challenge? More futile? More brain dead?
We in fact have a constructive solution to offer, one that would deliver more jobs faster: the payroll tax holiday, an idea endorsed by almost every reputable right-of-center economist. But that’s not the solution being offered by Republicans in Congress. They are offering a clapped-out package of 1980s-vintage solutions, including capital gains tax cuts. Capital gains! Who has any capital gains to be taxed in the first place?
Almost 70% of Americans say that President Obama will change the country for the better, the CNN poll found Feb. 7-8. Asked whether President Obama is doing enough to cooperate with Republicans, 74% said yes. Asked whether Republicans are doing enough to cooperate with President Obama, 60% said no.
In every poll I’ve seen, hefty majorities approve of President Obama’s economic performance. Approval numbers for congressional Republicans remain dismal.
If we’re to make progress in 2010, we have to look serious. This week we looked not only irrelevant, but clueless and silly. Quite a job for a little mouse.
HLMencken // Feb 16, 2009 at 9:56 pm
As a Democrat, I am absolutely thrilled by the behavior of the Republicans in Congress. It reminds me very much of my own party between the election of Reagan and the rise of Gingrich in 1994. First it was denial, then it was anger. After ‘94, there was a lot of bargaining.
Republicans, you’re going to lose the Senate in ‘10, and you will get your clocks cleaned in ‘12. If the economy improves, you’ll be seen as having opposed the measures. If it worsens, the public will blame it on Bush and will target your resistance to change.
In many ways, it won’t be fair. But that’s how it goes. Life is going to be very, very unfair for your side, and the things your people are doing right now are digging your political grave even deeper. In particular, do any of you even begin to realize what an utter public relations disaster the oily John Boehner is for you?
No, I guess not!
Chekote // Feb 16, 2009 at 10:11 pm
“In particular, do any of you even begin to realize what an utter public relations disaster the oily John Boehner is for you?” I will take Boehner over Pelosi any day. The Bush bogeyman is gone. The Dems can’t hide behind him anymore. It’s showtime. And I can’t wait until commercials featuring Schumer and Obey saying that the American people don’t care about wasteful spending. Porky amedments indeed.
petty boozshwa // Feb 17, 2009 at 3:04 am
I have to agree with Mencken – Boehner might not be in Scott McClellan’s category, but he’s definitely not the best visual our party has to offer. His mellifluous baritone and sunlamp tan make him appear to be a misplaced used car salesmen who’s traded in his porkpie hat and plaid coat. Why not Flake or Cantor? We need to hit the reset button..
larryo // Feb 17, 2009 at 8:31 am
So, Chekote, am I to believe that the only place we part company is over tax breaks for Sam Walton’s relatives?
larryo // Feb 17, 2009 at 8:40 am
“If the economy improves, you’ll be seen as having opposed the measures. If it worsens, the public will blame it on Bush and will target your resistance to change. In many ways, it won’t be fair.” Oh, I don’t know, HL – it seems like just desserts to me. Look how 9/11 was exploited to wage a war of opportunity for which we will all be paying for decades in ways we don’t even foresee yet. There is way too much for which they must atone, and fairness is never a factor in the development of the conservative agenda – I don’t see where they should get much consideration on that basis.
Realist // Feb 17, 2009 at 10:02 am
petty, it’s a shame that a guy like michael steele hasn’t been a better spokesman since being elected head of the RNC. saying that the government has never created a single job was a preposterous mistake. i live in AZ, and unfortunately, flake is not very popular even in his own district. he almost decided not to run for reelection. it’s clear that leadership has to come from congress. governors dont get daily face time. too bad bobby jindal isnt a senator.
coleman // Feb 17, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Less ideology, more ideas. It’s curious how grouchiness works on radio, but fails miserably on the tube. Boehner & Co. stand in front of the camera looking like they need a Tums.
Can’t we come up with some fresh thinking? Read more polls, listen less to Talk Radio.
larryo // Feb 17, 2009 at 12:29 pm
“Boehner & Co. stand in front of the camera looking like they need a Tums.” Thanks, coleman. There is nothing like a good belly laugh just before lunch.
MSheridan // Feb 17, 2009 at 12:45 pm
cronus, regarding your suggestion that the GOP leadership should return to the stance it took early in Clinton’s first term, I have to say that I don’t think that is a particularly good idea. It didn’t work for them then, and many of the comments then made look particularly stupid at this remove in time. See this post on CongressMatters.com: http://www.congressmatters.com/storyonly/2009/2/15/92441/0913/399/636
larryo // Feb 17, 2009 at 1:05 pm
MSheridan – same old wine and not a very new bottle, either. This should embarrass everyone on this blog who has made the same, tired dire predictions about the Obama stimulus package, but I would bet that it will not.
gerrysh // Feb 17, 2009 at 3:43 pm
zzz .. another “me too” / Dem Lite post from Frum
You really need to read these words from WFB:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDM1ZDEzZmQ4NjQ4OTFjODg4MTliOGY4ZmEzNDcyODI=
larryo // Feb 17, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Yes, indeed – all you “rugged individualists” somehow manage to be victimized or backstabbed every time, don’t you? Either “freedom” has been deprioritized in the schools or the communists have taken over the State Department. It’s always something, isn’t it? You don’t suppose it could be that you are just plain wrong, do you? Naw, that couldn’t be!
Reformist // Feb 18, 2009 at 1:26 am
Question I have for anyone that can explain it to me intelligently – why is it that the biggest concern here is winning elections/majority? What is the point? Seems to me that this is ALSO Backward Thinking…it is outdated, “1980’s vintage” politics. This Party needs to ask itself – what did it do to HELP Obama get elected? There is more responsibility to bear there…then could or should be placed on the Media. Those mindless morons are interested in ratings boys…much like your focus on tallying up “wins”. This Economy is CRUMBLING beneath our feet…and we want to talk about how we look? What on Earth will make you open your eyes? It is not only the Republican Party looking for “Leadership” – It is a hungry, tired and weary America CRYING OUT for Leadership that brings SOLUTIONS to the table. Seriously, if we are not part of the solution – we are part of the problem. It’s a fitting cliche, in these times more than ever.
Seems to me, that too many people in DC decided it was much more fun to be Rock Stars than Civil Servants. This party backlash has been 20 years in the making! “Look Serious”???? How about “BE SERIOUS”! Pop-Culture Politics is not only ignorant – it’s dangerous.
Ask your “supporters” to dip deep into their pockets, forfeit their retirement, spend more on gas than they can on food…to bail out Bankers with larger than life salaries…after you allowed a large portion of middle-class jobs to be shipped overseas in the name of Big Business Profits – and this is what we get. People that can’t afford to support you in the manner you are accustomed to, let alone themselves. American People are desperate for RELIEF. You can blame it on a mouse, if you want to. Fact is, it goes much much deeper than that.
But, hey, hats off to you, for keeping it business as usual. Maybe we can play the religion card a little harder next time…that’s gotta work, right?
My vote is to Man Up – and take this Country and its People seriously. Let’s start to shape our actions around doing what is right as servants of the People – not what is profitable for few. Let’s stop trying to gather anyone with an easily swayed opinion, let’s educate them on what we REALLY have to offer. And more importantly, let’s show them what we can DO…when America needs us MOST!
larryo // Feb 18, 2009 at 9:10 am
“Ask your “supporters” to dip deep into their pockets, forfeit their retirement, spend more on gas than they can on food…to bail out Bankers with larger than life salaries…after you allowed a large portion of middle-class jobs to be shipped overseas in the name of Big Business Profits – and this is what we get.” Exactly! Well said, reformist.
Michelle Malkin » The uniter: Scott Brown’s center-right-indie coalition // Jan 18, 2010 at 6:14 am
[...] bemoaned the “furious rejectionist frenzy of the past 12 months.” He accused the GOP of losing its mind and pouted that Republicans looked “clueless” and “silly” for standing [...]