In Vino Veritas?

I've been reading and listening with interest the news reports regarding the passage of the $819 billion stimulus package passed in the U.S. House. The bill will be packed with vast amounts of individual programs, projects and the like. In short, many news organizations summed up the basic premise of the bill passed today: it will shore up existing, crumbling infrastructure, provide some tax relief to working class individuals and small businesses, refitting American schools, and so forth. President Obama , true to his inauguration address last week, extended an olive branch to Republicans in Congress to get this passed in a bipartisan manner. The passage of the House version of the bill came with no GOP votes for it.

In fairness to GOP House members, they did offer amendments to the bill that would've suited them and their constituencies (you know who I mean) that failed, also along party lines. Bipartisanship is a two-edged sword. This time, with President Obama ready to sign any bills that come his way, House and Senate Democrats have few incentives to cater (or kowtow in Senator Harry Reid's case) to Republican demands.

If I were President Obama, the House Republicans' actions today would make me think twice about agreeing to work with them in the future, especially about anything with the sense of urgency as an economic stimulus package. Thankfully, President Obama doesn't have my reservations or my level of cynicism.

I can only hope that Vice President Biden had an absinthe spoon at hand.

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