1/29 Roundup: 244-188, Porkulus, Flinty Chicago Toughness

Leader: 244-188

- The $819 billion stimulus package passed the House yesterday, despite failing to garner a single Republican vote. 11 Democrats also voted against the measure. The President's heavy lobbying in favor of the bill, particularly with GOP congresspeople, appears to have gone for naught, despite the warm reception Obama received during his visit to the Hill earlier this week.

- Bondad at Daily Kos highlights the hypocrisy of the Republican position on this bill. Suddenly, after years of massive deficit spending, the GOP has decided to become the party of fiscal conservatives-- at a time when massive government spending might be the only thing to save our economy. Manuel Roig-Franzia at the WaPo looks at the GOP's case of misshapen identity.

- Perhaps the strangest rider on the stimulus bill is the provision that requires all steel and iron to be purchased from American sources. The Senate version of the bill requires only American services and goods be used throughout. Many American companies are fighting the provision, calling it a war on free trade.

Economy

- International organizations, including the IMF, warn that this year will likely be the worst year for the global economy in about 60 years, and 50 million people are in danger of losing their jobs.

- Wall Street Banks paid out $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008, and it's possible used some bailout funds to do so. This was the sixth largest bonus total of all time, but the number one most galling total.

- Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says a new plan to bail out banks is in the works, and it could cost as much as $2 trillion or $4 trillion, depending on which paper you read.

- The Fed is taking steps to keep distressed homeowners in their homes by allowing borrowers to readjust their mortgages.

Politics

- President Obama had a bevy of congresspeople over to his home last night, reviving the long-dead White House cocktail parties. John Dickerson at Slate thinks the end of the teetotaling era is a welcome change.

- Rush Limbaugh penned a deeply odd Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal in which he recommends realigning the "porkulus" bill on 54%-46% lines (the electoral divide). "46%-- $414 billion-- will be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me," he writes. Rush was in the news recently expressing his hope that Obama fails as president. And remember in 2003 when he was pulled off ESPN for overtly racist remarks about black football players?

- Crooked Rod has requested to give a closing argument at his impeachment hearings (despite failing to appear throughout the trial). The Illinois State Senate can't wait.

International

- Yesterday I linked to a NY Times story saying that the new administration would take a tougher line with President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has a few issues with the piece's factuality. David Corn, writing for CQ, looks at the NYT v White House battle. Who's giving us the truth?

One More Thing

- Got your plans for Super Bowl Sunday yet? Looks like the hottest party in town will be up at the Naval Observatory, where Joe Biden will be hosting a VP SB Party.

- The president couldn't believe DC schools were closed yesterday on account of a little snow and ice. When it comes to cold weather, "Folks in DC just don't seem to be able to handle things," he said, and recommended they get a little "Flinty Chicago toughness." Jeane McManus, a former editor at the WaPo has some choice words for the president, including: "So welcome to Washington, President Obama. And thanks for the snow advice. I eagerly await August, to see if you can 'handle' a Washington summer. Remember: It's not the heat. It's the humidity." Here's Barack: