Update: The Senate, by the cooperation of only three Republicans[1], invoked cloture thereby allowing the passage of a stimulus bill which now proceeds to conference committee with the House. Senator Ted Kennedy rose from his sick bed in Hyannis Port to be present for the crucial vote.
Even with majorities in both houses of Congress, 44 is in a pitched battle to get his administration's stimulus bill passed. One reason the opposition is so fierce is that corporate media talking heads are providing cover by pushing the discredited conservative line of "tax cuts only". Well they should since these media hirelings occupy the upper reaches of the income tax tables. Nor will you see them paying for groceries with food stamps anytime soon. Rush Limbaugh's patented drug induced nonsense about "porkulus" is being repeated by supposed objective journalists who ought to know better. Between February 2 and February 5 during the Senate debate Republicans were on the air touting their party line 75 times contrasted to Democrats who were interviewed on air 41 times. During the House debate cable outlets hosted GOP leaders by a 2 to 1 margin[2].
[1] Specter, Snowe, Collins
[2]Think Progress Report, February 10,2009
[1] Specter, Snowe, Collins
[2]Think Progress Report, February 10,2009