As to the stimulus package.

The Senate will strip it down a bit from 1.3T down to about the 1.0T level. It will then pass. The conference bill will drag it back up to 1.1T or so.

This conference bill will pass the Senate with 2-5 GOP votes, it will pass the House party line. Obama will declare victory. Pelosi will declare victory. McCain will declare it was necessary. Baehner [sic?] will declare it's a boondoggle. We'll all go on doing pretty much what we've already done.

Is it more of an omnibus paying for loads of Democratic party favored changes rather than jobs stimulus -- yes. What did you expect? The won the election and they have the power. That's how the game is played.