"CENTRIST" PLAN, LIMBAUGH PLAN: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

A couple of percentage points at most, that's what the difference is.

Remember Rush Limbaugh's plan, as explained in a arrogant January 29 Wall Street Journal op-ed?

... Fifty-three percent of American voters voted for Barack Obama; 46% voted for John McCain, and 1% voted for wackos. Give that 1% to President Obama. Let's say the vote was 54% to 46%. As a way to bring the country together and at the same time determine the most effective way to deal with recessions, under the Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan of 2009: 54% of the $900 billion -- $486 billion -- will be spent on infrastructure and pork as defined by Mr. Obama and the Democrats; 46% -- $414 billion -- will be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me....

Now, what do we get in the Senate compromise deal reportedly worked out last night?

After hammering out a deal on a now-$780 billion stimulus package this evening, Senate leaders believe they have a bill that likely can pass a Senate vote some time in the coming days.

... Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said that compromise is 42 percent tax cuts and 58 percent spending, according to a Reuters report....

Talking Points Memo says $350 billion of the $780 billion is tax cuts. I calculate that as 44.87% tax cuts, $55.13% spending.

So, to sum up, here are the numbers:

Limbaugh's proposal: spending 54%, tax cuts 46%
Senate compromise, my estimate: spending 55% tax cuts 45%
Senate compromise, Kerry's estimate: spending 58%, tax cuts 42%

So our vaunted "centrists" stuck us with the Limbaugh bill, generously allowing perhaps a whopping 1 to 4 percentage points more in spending.

And the damn Republicans still won't vote for it, will they? Which means they're going to position themselves to the right of Rush Limbaugh, doesn't it?