To apply Jeremiah (8.20) to the stimulus ”The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.”

Instead of trying something new, the President seems to be desperately trying to find any same old/same old ways he can to borrow more money, call it stimulus, and direct it at things this time that will make jobs in a way he didn’t seem much inclined to the last two years. But the problem now defies that solution: millions of Americans in business simply do not trust or like this administration. It has talked, talked too much, and the private sector has listened, listened—and finally made up its mind.

Business anger is both real (the upcoming tax raises, the increased costs per worker for federalized health care, greater regulation, etc.), and psychological (the constant bashing of business and the wealthy, coming on top of the 2008 campaign rhetoric about ‘spread the wealth” and “downright mean country”, etc.). The result is that for many, now is the time to draw in one’s horns, horde cash, and wait till the November elections—in hopes for a new sober Congress that can stop the Obama redistributive change agenda. Thus the anemic so/so “recovery.”

Oddly, for Obama the best thing that could happen to him is a Republican take-over of Congress. He could far better play wounded fawn to his base, damning “them” for not allowing his progressive puritanism to go ahead, while privately sighing relief that the budget-cutting conservatives are both taking the heat at slashing out of control spending, while creating a climate for business to reenter the arena.

The result by 2012 might be sort of surreal, and not quite like the actively triangulating Clinton of 1995. Obama could both rail against the heartless opposition, not compromise with them, while privately hoping their dirty work that will lead to a genuine recovery that he can then take credit for by 2012.

In that sense, congressional Democrats should be afraid that right now they are the expendables who block an Obama recovery. Once 50 House Democrats or so are out of the way, and perhaps 9-10 Senators as well, then such noble sacrifice may well lead to salvation for Him.