The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Obama's Mandate

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According to this Washington Post poll, it's much less intimidating than I would have thought. Asked, "Do you think Obama has a mandate to carry out the agenda he presented during the presidential campaign, or should he compromise on the things the Republicans strongly oppose?" more Americans said he had a mandate, but only by a margin of 50 percent to 46 percent. Given his high approval ratings and Democratic control of Congress, Obama is pretty much going to get what he wants. However, this poll reminds us how tenuous the mandate is even for a tremendously popular president. Obama understands this, which is why he is eager to get Republican support that he doesn't need. For Republicans, there's no need to strengthen Obama's hand by giving him bipartisan cover for a bad bill that will balloon the deficit without helping the economy.

Comments

JP| 1.27.09 @ 1:48PM

Perhaps it is now dawning on our new President what he got himself into. The President and his party can pass this awful bill without one GOP vote. But with the worst of periods of unemployment still waiting for us, he knows the electorate is expecting him to deliver. Passing the "stimulus" package is one thing. Being held responsible for it is quite another. Despite his high initial poll numbers, President Obama has got to realize his popularity is only transient.

Much has already been done to address the causes of this recession (cash infusions, 0 interest rates, TARP). We may even be able to withstand the downturn without a "stimulus". That is, the economy could actually begin to improve before one nickel of "stimuls" hits the streets (So hopes Obama). But then again, the unemployed are taking this man at his word. If this bill passes without the GOP, and things do not improve but get worse, Obama is in serious political trouble, as is his own party.

The public wasn't too happy with the $750 billion TARP program; I'm sure they will be even less happy with the stimulus once the details are published. Having the GOP go along with it makes sense politically. It would ensure the GOP would no be a danger in 2010, and provide the Dems with cover for the next round of bailouts.