The Washington Monthly

July 26, 2009

BIDEN WANTS TO 'SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT'.... The administration's conservative detractors, throughout the Spring and early Summer, had a consistent line on the stimulus package: this isn't going to work. Earlier this month, the line shifted a bit, and was no longer speculative. Recovery efforts, the right had decided, were already a failure.

In fact, as part of the public relations offensive, Republicans and conservative activists started shaping their attacks as if the stimulus' failure was a foregone conclusion. "What should we do now that we know the stimulus didn't work?" they asked. "Who can we blame for the lack of success?"

Well aware of how memes work, White House officials seem to appreciate the need to push back against this, before it's the media's preferred conventional wisdom. A concerted defense of the recovery efforts seemed to begin in earnest in a couple of weeks ago -- making clear that the administration wouldn't concede an inch to those who helped create the economic collapse in the first place -- and will apparently continue.

To that end, Vice President Biden has a piece in the New York Times today, noting that he wants to "set the record straight" because "the nature of the Recovery Act remains misunderstood by many, and misconstrued by others."

The op-ed doesn't necessarily break new ground for those who keep up on current events -- the stimulus package cut taxes, helps states, saves and creates jobs, invests in infrastructure -- but it's a fairly persuasive overview.

The Recovery Act is not the cure for all our economic ills -- no single piece of legislation could be. But how many government initiatives can point to both large numbers of projects coming in under budget and a Government Accountability Office finding that we are ahead of schedule in key areas?
It is true that the act's effort to address multiple problems simultaneously makes it an easy target for second-guessing. Critics have argued that the tax cuts are too small (or too large); that too much (or not enough) aid is going to rural areas; that too little (or too much) is being spent on roads. Recently, some have even criticized the act for helping support soup kitchens and food banks.

But the way I see it, our balanced approach recognizes that there is no silver bullet, no single thing, that can address the many and complex needs of America's vast economy. We need relief, recovery and reinvestment to cope with our multifaceted crisis -- and only 159 days after it was signed by President Obama, the Recovery Act is already at work providing all three.

Biden twice mentions projects coming in "under budget," which, under the circumstances, isn't exactly the best argument to make in the context of government stimulus. Nevertheless, the larger pitch is a good one, and the larger point -- the administration isn't going to back down in defending the recovery efforts -- remains clear.

—Steve Benen 9:15 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (9)

Comments

Nevertheless, the larger pitch is a good one . . .

Yeah, but I still cringe whenever I hear that Biden is stepping forward to say something.

Posted by: SteveT on July 26, 2009 at 9:27 AM | PERMALINK

A Modest Proposal for Water Boy Joe to take back to the team bench and share with the coaches:

A Jobs Program. The beginnings of a guaranteed employment right for citizens of this country. But for starters, just a brilliant 4th leg to the construct to pull the country back off its knees.

The three existing legs:
You got yer stimulus -- provide biz for private and public enterprises

You got yer upcoming healthcare for all -- which saves money and relieves some strapped employers around the country.

And you got yer stolen billions and billions disappearing into the country's financial institutions never to be accounted for -- thanks to the thuggery of the Bush administration, and continued by the Manchurian financial advisors in the Obama admin.

Now we need a focus on jobs. Employment. The opportunity for people who are fighting for survival -- and have been for some time -- to move up to a level of job security that was lost back when Ronald Rayguns replace Jesus in the panoply of American gawds.

Git to it!

Posted by: neill on July 26, 2009 at 9:45 AM | PERMALINK

A large part of the stimulus, maybe around half, was tax cuts. Whose fault is it if that didn't work?

Posted by: skeptonomist on July 26, 2009 at 9:55 AM | PERMALINK

"Thunder Stealer"Neill sure is quick on the draw. And 'Right on, bro.'

From a personal point of view, I can attest to the abject failure of everything and anything Obama is doing.

Because, see: I planted this damn fruit tree seedling SIX WHOLE MONTHS AGO. Watered it. Sprayed it. Watched it. And-NOTHING! NADA! ZILCH! No shade, no apples. I shoulda stayed in bed. . .

Posted by: DAY on July 26, 2009 at 9:58 AM | PERMALINK

Funny how, now that the DJIA is zooming and even formerly moribund stocks like Ford (F) are way up (thank "God" for me, ;-) so few conservatives want to accept that as a sign that the Administration must be doing something right, if all those investors feel thus inspired. Yes, the "wisdom of the market" etc, remember?

Posted by: Neil B â™ on July 26, 2009 at 10:33 AM | PERMALINK

Harumph! Biden, indeed, when we could have had Captain Edwina SP Smith of the SS Alaska, who just yelled, "WomAn and children, first", in Juneau, this day.

Posted by: berttheclock on July 26, 2009 at 10:38 AM | PERMALINK

Great post by neill and followed by a good point from skeptonomist. I work for rich people. I see a lot of them these days, sitting around waiting, content with the millions they made for the last 15 years, and determined not to allow Obama to threaten their citadel.

And, DAY, thanks, I just realized why my ash tree is dying!

Posted by: Capt Kirk on July 26, 2009 at 11:13 AM | PERMALINK

One of the aspects of planting natives is the slow developing root structure. However, if one is patient and waters them in properly, the native will outlast so many imported varities. But, many are impatient, write them off and get out their shovel. These are the "Instant Gratification" types who should only plant annuals. The impatient ones should, also, only plant summer Impatiens.

Did lose a Stewartia once because I failed to realize it is an understory tree and needs shade from the brutal August sun.

Reworking our economy is akin to planting said natives. Don't get those shovels out, yet.

Posted by: berttheclock on July 26, 2009 at 11:35 AM | PERMALINK

Too small. Too slow. There won't be a second bite at the apple. The stimulus package is going to *look like* a failure even if it is a success in dollar-for-dollar terms (which I am sure it will be). Shaving off three or four percentage points of unemployment is not nothing, but compared to the ten and twelve percent unemployment we're going to have for the foreseeable future, no one is going to care.

If I had to sum up Obama's domestic policies in three words, it would be these: More Improvement Needed.

Posted by: FreakyBeaky on July 26, 2009 at 4:40 PM | PERMALINK