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Has Obama Done Enough?
Despite that cat blog posting you see below this one, Kevin is on vacation. At least, he's suposed to be on vacation. Expect him back with non-cat blogs on Tuesday. I'm subbing until then.
Okay, I know that Michael Jackson died, but there's a bill heading to a vote in the House this afternoon that's billed by President Barack Obama as a "historic first step" toward dealing with the threat of climate change. As I type, it looks like a nail-biter.
At the daily White House press briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked what Obama was doing today to help pass this legislation. Gibbs said that the president had made "a few" calls to House members. A few? Does that sound like a big push? We weren't given many more details. But it certainly didn't seem as if Obama is pulling an all-out LBJ. Was the White House trying not to attach Obama's prestige to a cap and trade bill that might crash and burn? Hard to know what's going on behind the scenes. But I certainly wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall in Rahm Emanuel's office—unless, of course, Obama is there. (Smack!)
I wonder if Obama and his team have made efficient use of Obama Nation—that is, those millions of people who supported his campaign. Yesterday Organizing for America—the offshoot of the Obama presidentical campaign, which is housed within the Democratic National Committee—sent out an email to its list (of presumably millions), asking followers to visit a website page that shows how to call your representatives and what to say in support of the energy bill. It's a pretty spiffy and sophisticated web operation. Was it kicked into gear too late? Obama's millions were not fully mobilized prior to this late stage.
But you can't call this an error until the votes are counted. If the bill passes, the White House played it right. If not....
Meanwhile, Al Gore stayed away from the House today—there was some talk in Washington that he would parachute in—and posted a blog item explaining his support of the bill:
There is no back-up plan. There is not a stronger bill waiting to pass the House of Representatives. It’s time to get started on a plan that will create jobs, increase our national security, and build the clean energy economy that will Repower America.
Please contact your Member of Congress today.
Gore has not been a major presence in the debate on this bill. Democratic strategists must assume that he doesn't help much with those Ds or Rs on the fence. That's probably an accurate assessment. But if the bill flops, media commentators will be consumed with second-guessing how the White House and Speaker Pelosi handled it—if they're not busy pondering the Michael Jackson autopsy results.
You can follow David Corn's postings and media appearances via Twitter.
"As I type, it looks like a
"As I type, it looks like a nail-biter."
That phrase, I think you do not know what it means...
If the bill passes, nothing changes wrt climate. If the bill fails nothing changes wrt climate. What exactly is the tension here?
If there is any tension, it is exactly how aggressive and humiliating the Chinese/Indian pushback will be when they are called upon to "do their part" --- will they be saying "fsck you" in polite muted voices, or loud angry voices?
disagree
"But you can't call this an error until the votes are counted. If the bill passes, the White House played it right. If not...."
What's the point of having a database housing all those enthusiastic supporters if you don't intend to use it -- particularly for issues as important as this one? Two thoughts. First, they may be getting indications that the enthusiasm among folks in the database has diminished, and they're not as likely to come through when contacted. That's a problem, and, if true, Obama would have no one to blame but himself. Second, they might be holding their powder for the issue they see as even more important -- health care. This would be a big mistake, in my opinion, as the climate change (err... job creation) bill could serve as a way of priming the pump -- especially if it were to succeed in passing. Participating supporters would have that taste of success in their mouths as other issues came to the fore, while nonparticipating supporters would be encouraged to jump on board a successful outreach program. Increasing the margins of this first attempt at legislation would also have an effect on subsequent attempts. Every one of the folks who would have contacted his/her Congress-critter has two Senators to contact, as well, and the fact that they would have already contacted one congressional rep increases the likelihood that they'll continue their activism in the run-up to the Senate vote. No matter what happens later this afternoon, I think it's a lost opportunity.
Hello David: As this site's
Hello David:
As this site's resident Conservative, I have to say that I am really torn about which outcome I would enjoy more.
If the bill is approved, it's just another item on an increasingly long list of things that will never get past the Senate. Plus, given the fact that the bill will be incredibly expensive and will not have any meaningful impact on the emmission of "greenhouse gases", anyone stupid enough to vote for it will hopefully be voted out in 2010, which would mean the end of Democratic control of the House.
On the other hand, if the bill is defeated, it will be incredible loss for the environmentalist wackos and the rest of the "progressive movement" who will have no one to blame except Nancy and her "leadership" team. Only Democrats would be stupid enough to hold a vote on what they consider to be a high priority bill without knowing if they have the votes to win. As Bugs Bunny would say, "Whatta bunch of maroons."
Obama's Database
Yeah, it's sort of strange about the lack of energy bill appeals made by Obama's database people. Particularly because that database has been used a great deal on the healthcare front. I'm getting at least two e-mails a week for house parties, congress calling, etc. on healthcare. But in my admittedly faulty short-term (and long-term) memory I don't remember receiving anything about the energy bill.
Could it be that the Obama people are unhappy with the energy bill, as am I, and would just as soon not be associated with it? Kevin's a big cap 'n trade cheerleader but I have serious doubts that it won't be a magnet for corruption. I also see that big agriculture is getting some big breaks. It seems to me that if we're not going to make a serious attempt to do it right, then we might as well not bother doing a half-baked job. I do get the point, though, that at the least it's a beginning. Too bad that's all we can expect at this point.
Waxman-Markey Bill
For a good critique of the bill, see:
http://www.cejournal.net/?p=1990
Maybe it would be good for
Maybe it would be good for Obama to start going down in flames. His strategy of pushing ever so politely for bills that are so watered down that they accomplish nothing is doing the nation no good. The stimulus bill is a good example: yes, better than nothing, but only barely as it will not provide enough stimulus for the American people to feel better about the economy, but enough deficit to begin the process of resurrecting the Republicans (though they may prevent that from happening themselves).
What the people who voted for Obama want is action -- everyone else can stick it.
Reply to Dsknee
Good man ! The emperor is nude ! What to do now ? Is waiting the smart thing to do ? Actually , he was not elected to makesense of the economy ....but rather to deliver moral sense to this very destructive and violent nation . He is certainly failing at that .
I donated and gave my email address ...
... and I've not received a single email. Just a data point, for what it's worth.
Has Obama done enough
Obama has done enough . It is imperative that he should not do anymore . A couple of days ago he killed 80 people attending a funeral , with unmanned drones . The only sane and legal thing to do is to arrest him .