Governing from the center is fine with me as long as the Obama team gets things done. Rahm Emanuel said recently something like, “We are going to throw long and deep often.” The economic crisis gives them the opportunity to be bold on massive public works projects, including green energy infrastructure and jobs. Henry Waxman just took over House Energy and Commerce Committee, ousting Detroit lacky John Dingell. Gore is pressing for a new smart electrical grid, and he does have Obama’s ear. Looks like they are gearing up for a bold health care plan, too (at least in the Senate). They will easily blow through $2 trillion in debt the first few years, so they might as well get some lasting fundamental structural accomplishments out of it. Better than wasting $2 trillion on an unnecessary war, leaving us to inherit the wind.
My prediction is that Obama will pass several landmark pieces of legislation in the first three to six months. Here is Obama’s weekly address, released today, proposing creation of 2.5 million jobs over the next two years:
