It's the Economy, Mr. President: A Collaborative Timleine

[m0585]

Hey all. I was interested in starting a collaborative timeline. The POD is in 2009 where President Obama pushes off on healthcare and focuses more on promoting and shoring up the economy.

February 5, 2009: "I feel that reforming the country's healthcare is a major priority. However, the American people elected this administration to tackle the woes of the economy and put the nation back to work. That will be the central priority of this administration going forward. In the coming weeks, I will request Congress to pass legislation that will be, in essence, a second WPA. This will be wages into the pockets of the American workers while addressing the crisis of infrastructure repair."-

President Obama in remarks to reporters during his first Cabinet meeting.

 

[ejpsan]

The problem with that scenario is that as soon as Obama was elected the mainstream media establishment and many conventional wisdom pundits declared that the deficit was the main problem and that spending needed to be slashed on social welfare programs.
Their idea of stimulus was tax cuts for businesses, not spending money on public works.
The stimulus that was passed had at least 1/3 of it dedicated to tax cuts that really didn't do anything.

 

[m0585]

The problem with that scenario is that as soon as Obama was elected the mainstream media establishment and many conventional wisdom pundits declared that the deficit was the main problem and that spending needed to be slashed on social welfare programs.
Their idea of stimulus was tax cuts for businesses, not spending money on public works.
The stimulus that was passed had at least 1/3 of it dedicated to tax cuts that really didn't do anything.

Obama seemed to be interested in pursuing infrastructure repair; in fact, some of the stimulus went towards those efforts. However, the administration put all of it's eggs in the healthcare basket. The perception that I got was that the stimulus package would take care of the economy and that no further action was needed. My idea has Obama realize/accept that the priority needs to be the economy and addressing the unemployment issue.

 

[m0585]

February 8, 2009: "What the President is calling for is nothing short than a massive handout. The American people need real solutions to the economic situation. Just tossing some money at a few roads and bridges and calling it fixing our infrastructure may look good to the media, but it doesn't solve the problems. I hope my friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle have a real and substantive plan to."-

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell during an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday


February 8, 2009: "It's interesting and telling that my friend Senator McConnell has an issue with putting the American people back to work, but had no qualms about bailing out Wall Street bankers who has a hand in the financial crisis."-

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during on Face the Nation

 

[m0585]

Is there any interest in this at all at far as a collaboration goes?

 

[jack_donaghy_is_the_shado]

Yes, please do continue.

 

[m0585]

[Oval Office meeting between President Obama and Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel; February 20, 2009]

Obama: "I really painted myself and the administration into a corner with that remark about healthcare a few weeks ago."

Emmanuel: "Not necessarily, sir. The economy is the pressing concern of the American people at the moment. Healthcare reform is well and good, but people want to be able to put food on the table first and foremost."

Obama: <sighing> "That's very true, but I've already been hearing about it from certain members of the party. 'We have major majorities in both houses and the White House for the first time in 25 years. Why are we delaying?' they're asking. They're not wrong about it either. Are we going to have those favorable factors after the midterms next year? Would it be best to try to push something through while we can??

Emmanuel: "Mr. President, I don't want to dismiss the concerns of those in the party who feel we should be more assertive on healthcare reform. But there are two things that need to be considered: 1) healthcare reform would consume nearly the entire domestic agenda. It would mean committee hearings and a drawn out process that would detract from efforts to help the economy. Especially if you want to focus on infrastructure efforts. 2) We'll hand the Republicans a rod to beat us over the head with the same way they did in 1994. I would recommend focusing on getting the economy going first. I think infrastructure would be a good place to start."

Obama: "So how can we focus our main efforts on the economy while not alienating those who want healthcare reform to be the priority?"

Emmanuel: "I actually have an idea on that, sir."

 

[m0585]

[February 23, 2009]

Voiceover: "This is CNN Breaking News!"

Wolf Blitzer: "Good Evening, I'm Wolf Blitzer, and we having breaking news. CNN has confirmed that the President will be requesting a prime time address for Wednesday evening, February 25th, at 9:00 p.m EST. Although details of the speech are unknown at this time, a White House insider has confirmed that the President will be speaking about a major domestic policy shift."

 

[m0585]

I would, again, like to extend an invite to other members for contributions to this timeline.

 

[eldandythedoubter]

I'm intersted.

 

[Deleted member 96839]

February 25, 2009: "Good evening. Last week, I signed a stimulus package that was designed to combat our current economic crisis and set our country on the path to recovery. While this bold action was a step in the right direction in growing the economy again, there are still millions that have been left unemployed and underpaid as a result of this recession. I am urging this country, ranging from the national legislature to state governments, to engage in a concerted effort to rebuild infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and airports and creating a National Jobs Administration. This does not mean other critical issues will be ignored. We plan to create millions in new jobs in renewable energy production, helping to tackle global warming; in addition, anyone who works in NJA projects will have access to federal health care programs if they so choose."-

President Barack Obama in a primetime Oval Office Address, 9:07 p.m.

February 26, 2009: In a show of commitment to revamping the economy, President Obama signs an executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10 per hour, phased in over time.

 

[Amadeus]

February 25, 2009: "Good evening. Last week, I signed a stimulus package that was designed to combat our current economic crisis and set our country on the path to recovery. While this bold action was a step in the right direction in growing the economy again, there are still millions that have been left unemployed and underpaid as a result of this recession. I am urging this country, ranging from the national legislature to state governments, to engage in a concerted effort to rebuild infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and airports and creating a National Jobs Administration. This does not mean other critical issues will be ignored. We plan to create millions in new jobs in renewable energy production, helping to tackle global warming; in addition, anyone who works in NJA projects will have access to federal health care programs if they so choose."-

President Barack Obama in a primetime Oval Office Address, 9:07 p.m.

February 26, 2009: In a show of commitment to revamping the economy, President Obama signs an executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10 per hour, phased in over time.

February 27, 2009: Rush Limbaugh fumed in front of a microphone in his recording studio as his face turned beat red with rage: "We have a socialist in the White House! Our freedoms, our tax dollars, our way of life is being chipped away by this far left radical Democratic President! I predicted this would happen America. I told you that if we voted for Barack Obama the government would take our money and throw it all away to the bums on the street. People who don't work for a living! People who line up in droves - by the thousands - to vote for these big government liberals like Obama...like Harry Reid. Many of them even cheat at the polls to do it! Yeah that's right, I said it: voter fraud is real and it happens every day! That's how these liberals took over America! That's how we got a Democratic Congress. And as long as it stays there, Obama and Harry Reid are gonna keep taking away your money!"

Obama was shocked by the intensity of the backlash against him - not simply from talk radio, but from Senate Republicans who increasingly refused to cooperate with him on anything. He'd entered office expecting to work with both parties to find common ground and put the economy back on track. He'd gotten minimal Republican support for the economic stimulus. But now, not even three months into his presidency, the right wing tide was turning sharply against him. President Obama knew that he needed to act quickly to keep the public on his side. He needed to do something bold - not too showy, that wasn't his style. But he needed something grand, something unexpected, to prevent the far right from taking over the economic debate.

As the sun set on Washington Obama paced around the White House pondering his next move. He came to a portrait of Lincoln - one of his personal favorites. He gazed up at the Great Emancipator - so serene and thoughtful in his presidential pose. All Obama could do now was think to himself, "What would Lincoln do?"

 

[m0585]

[Oval Office meeting between President Obama, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel; February 27, 2009]

Geithner: "Getting back to my point, Mr. President, tax cuts might be a better way to go to stimulate the economy. People will take the earnings and go out and spend it on the economy."

Obama: "Or take that money and pay down credit card or put it away in savings. Both those are good things, but won't necessarily provide the boost we're looking for."

Geithner: "Infrastructure repair is important, but those would be temporary jobs; we would merely be shifting the problem down the road."

Emmanuel: "Temporary job, yes. But those jobs would be multi-month or year in duration. Not sure how many roads or bridges you've driven on lately Tim, but they're not in great condition and require a lot of work. Hell, car almost blew a tire this morning coming over the 14th Street Bridge."

Obama: <chuckling> "Fortunately for us and the car that wasn't the case. But in all seriousness, infrastructure repair does two things: a) provides upgrades and repairs to things that probably 90% of Americans utilize on a regular basis; and b) puts a paycheck in people's pocket. This won't take care of all of the economic issues, but at the very least it does show Americans that this administration is taking this issue seriously."

Geithner: "Two questions, sir: what's the price tag and how do we pay for it? You can better believe that Congress will be asking those two questions first and foremost."

Obama: "Then we should probably get Congress involved. Rahm, I need you to get some meetings setup with Congressional leadership in both houses...……….both sides of the aisle."

Geithner "Yes sir."

Obama: "Tim? I need you to be the point-man on this with Congress. Let's discuss specific numbers after your first meeting, but make it clear that infrastructure focus it the priority."

Geithner: "Yes sir."

Emmanuel: "One more question I would like to ask, sir: just to be clear, will there be any focus on healthcare at all during this Congress? My phone has been ringing the last few weeks from the Speaker's office. She wants to push forward on this issue while, as she puts it, "we have the numbers."

Obama: "I might have a workable solution on that. I'll be meeting with the Vice President this afternoon. I'll let you know the solution depending on how that meeting goes."

 

[eldandythedoubter]

Oh rush Limbaugh, if this works how much of your foot do you want to eat?

 

[m0585]

[White House Press Briefing; March 2, 2009]

Robert Gibbs <responding to a question on the administration's priorities on health care efforts>: "The President will be giving a press conference on March 5th on the administration's efforts to work a solutions to the healthcare crisis facing the American people. Stlll, the President has been clear that the main focus has been putting the economy into a good path that will ensure economic growth that provides direct benefit to the middle class. That's why this bill before Congress, which will pump almost $1 trillion into the country's infrastructure is so vital."

 

[PNWKing]

March, 3, 2009: Vince McMahon announces the sale of 30% of WWE to his close friend and confidant Donald Trump.

 

[Gabingston]

February 27, 2009: Rush Limbaugh fumed in front of a microphone in his recording studio as his face turned beat red with rage: "We have a socialist in the White House! Our freedoms, our tax dollars, our way of life is being chipped away by this far left radical Democratic President! I predicted this would happen America. I told you that if we voted for Barack Obama the government would take our money and throw it all away to the bums on the street. People who don't work for a living! People who line up in droves - by the thousands - to vote for these big government liberals like Obama...like Harry Reid. Many of them even cheat at the polls to do it! Yeah that's right, I said it: voter fraud is real and it happens every day! That's how these liberals took over America! That's how we got a Democratic Congress. And as long as it stays there, Obama and Harry Reid are gonna keep taking away your money!"

As someone who's dad listened to Rush Limbaugh back in 2009, that's exactly what he would've said.

 

[m0585]

I would like to resurrect this thread. Would anyone be interested in a collaboration?