[Professor S]

To use a cliche: The proof is in the pudding.

If the bill succeeds, the Republicans were against a successful economic policy and they'll be crushed come 2010 elections. If the economy continues to stumble and fail for the next two years, the Republicans look like prophets that no one listened to and when the mid-term elections come, and they will gain seats quite easily.

This bill and the coming banking and housing bills are a huge gamble for both sides, and our political landscape will be shaped by the outcome for YEARS.

In any case, I hope that I am proven wrong by these actions by our legislature. Now that it whas bee passed I truly hope the bill succeeds, because in the end thats what everyone wants, we just disagree in what will succeed. My fear is that it will fail and fail spectacularly.