Try to keep our party message straight in your head:

[jpgray]

1. The Republicans are irresponsible hostage-takers; they are willing to destroy the economy for political and financial gain.
2. We should compromise with Republicans whether they will budge or no; we should form grand, bipartisan bargains with them at any cost.

1. Stimulus was the proper answer to high unemployment and sluggish growth; lack of demand was the problem; the stimulus worked.
2. Anti-stimulus is the proper answer to high unemployment and sluggish growth; the deficit is the problem; anti-stimulus will work.

The last one in particular annoys me--were we wrong when we passed the stimulus, and now admit the GOP was right all along, or are we wrong now to embrace austerity, and submit to doing what we know is wrong for political reasons? Either way, we look like chumps.

[BeFree]

1. It is a game

A stimulus beginning next year will be better placed to make political gains. The first stimulus was forgotten already even tho it did lots of good and is doing good. So now Obama is laying off and acting all nice and shit. Result will be seen as a repuglycan failure leading to withering support for them.

By January, people will be clamoring for stimulus and even Boehner will go along to get along. Tbaggers have worn out their welcome. Then it will be time.

[Hydra]

2. Both approaches were wrong

The stimulus was basically a Republican set of tax cuts + a blunting effect for stats so they didn't have to cut services.

In other words, treading water and praying for rescue.

Austerity is wrong for the same reason- we're not dealing with the problem, we're using a Republican "fix" and praying for rescue.

No calvary coming, and we really don't them them anyway.

We need public sector jobs. NOW.