Vice President Joe Biden, back on March 28: “The Recovery Act, as we call it, provides a necessary jolt to our economy to implement what we refer as ’shovel-ready’ projects, meaning projects that were on the books that were needed in the municipalities and the states that would improve the quality of life for our constituents, the competitiveness of our businesses, but were unable to be funded.”

Vice President Joe Biden, earlier this week: “But the act was intended to provide steady support for our economy over an extended period — not a jolt that would last only a few months.”

Between Obama claiming that he hasn’t signed any tax increases into law, and “Joltin’ Joe” insisting the stimulus wasn’t meant to be a jolt, it is clear that the administration’s aim is to hope the entire American public has the attention span of the protagonist in Memento.