Stimulate, Don't Imitate

Here is the text of a comment I left on Change.gov. President Obama needs to pass the stimulus package as he thinks it should be constructed, and not with a view to placating the GOP by imitating their failed policies.

Please stop meeting the GOP halfway before they demonstrate a willingness to meet you halfway as well. We won the election by being faithful to our progressive beliefs, and the country voted for those principles. We as a people have rejected laissez-faire and tax-cutting economics and we want a real stimulus package. It seems like you are bending over backwards to negotiate when you should be dealing from a position of strength. The GOP is not going to play nice. They would rather see you fail, even if it means more pain for the American people.
If the GOP attempts to filibuster your plan, call on the American people to email their reps; that will give you all the political capital you need.
I agree that you should try to build consensus around long-range programs so that they have a chance to stick around past your Administration, but this stimulus package is short-term and should be the best proposal you think you can put forward, not a compromised version you hope will please the GOP.
We elected a progressive government on purpose, and we deserve the government we worked to get. Please remember that you owe your election to the people, and we need you to fulfill the mandate you were elected to enact, not earn brownie points with Mitch McConnell.