Old Politics, Again

contentions ^ | 06.09.2008 | Daniel Halper

[dmh191]

The majority party in congress is pulling out all the stops to assist Barack Obama’s presidential bid. According to the AP, the Dems have juggled the legislative agenda to reflect Obama’s political platform:

Between now and Election Day, Democrats say they will use Congress to showcase the kinds of change promised by their presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

Of course, this is old politics — not the shiny new brand Obama likes to trumpet.

Whatever legislation Democrats offer, it will have been vetted for the benefit of the Obama campaign as is traditional between the congressional majority and its presidential candidate.

Those who believe that Obama has not laid out a detailed platform should keep an eye on Congress. These next months will offer some useful clues about an Obama presidency. But could this support plan actually hurt Obama’s candidacy?

The majority will pass popular pork-laden legislation and claim it is in the interest of working folks. There is also a GI veterans’ benefits bill and a plan to extend healthcare to children — both of which resemble the farm bill in terms of largesse. Additionally, we can expect another economic stimulus bill. What the Democrats will not discuss is how to pay for these measures. This is feel good legislation whose real costs will be deferred until after the election. (Some legislation is strictly for show, passed with the understanding that the president will veto it immediately.) It’s a way of pandering to the electorate without remedying the underlying problems — e.g. high price of oil, slowing economy, failing families. Most importantly, the majority is counting on the effects of this legislation to go unnoticed until after the election.

[Desron13]

Spot on. They have shelved the carbon cap and trade debacle until after the ding dong gets elected. Then the lunacy will begin in earnest.