Political Scene: Economic "Stimulus" and the Primaries - January 29th 2008

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein

Just in: Star Press – Associated Press, January 29^th, 2008, Senate Democrats Plan Add-Ons to Economic Stimulus Package …

Senate Democrats will move to add a $150 billion economic stimulus package rebates for senior citizens living off Social Security and an extension of unemployment benefits, setting up a clash with the White House and House leaders who are pushing a narrower package. As the House planned a vote Tuesday on a plan that would speed rebates of up to $600 to most income earners – more for couples and families with children – the Senate was planning to draft its own measure with the add-ons, said senior Senate aides in both parties, speaking on condition of anonymity because the package is not yet final. The move was in defiance of admonitions from the Bush administration not to risk derailing the deal with changes, and it threatened to slow what was shaping up as an extraordinarily rapid trip through Congress for the stimulus measure.
Adding rebates for senior citizens living solely off Social Security checks – who are ineligible under the plan hatched by House leaders and the White House – would likely mean dolling out smaller rebates overall, shrinking the size of the payments from $600 to $500, according to a senior Senate aide. … The House plan leaves out some 20 million seniors, according to AARP.

Obama and McCain - Both Promise Change for America (?)

From BBC News, This news must be burning the Clintons up – Kennedy backs Obama ‘for change’ …

The seal of approval from the patriarch of one of America’s most prominent political dynasties could give fresh momentum to Mr. Obama, analysts say. The elder statesman made his endorsement public at a rally in Washington with the Illinois senator. Mr. Kennedy had reportedly been unhappy with the tone of the Clinton campaign. … Senator Kennedy is now expected to campaign with his son, congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, for the man who would be the first black president. … Analysts day Mr. Kennedy’s backing appears linked to criticism that ex-President Clinton’s campaigning on behalf of his wife in South Carolina may have been overly aggressive. …

“May have been overly aggressive”? We are talking about the Clintons here. This must really get their goat. Bill Clinton dreamed of rubbing shoulders with the Kennedy political dynasty family since his youth and he was an avid admirer of John F. Kennedy, as was most of the nation at the time. After all, in the eyes of the Kennedys, there is only room enough for one political dynasty and Bill is not married to any of their clan (like Governor Swartzenegger) - he is married to Hillary whose family roots were Republican - who also has developed a political family in the name of Bush.