Party Line

With the House of Representatives and Senate giving final approval to the massive stimulus bill Friday, and President Obama prepared to sign it early next week, the question now is: Just how soon might Americans begin to feel its benefits, and when will they know whether it's working?

Few things bring politicians together like a crisis. And by just about any measure, the worsening economy qualifies as one of those rallying events -- the gross domestic product just declined more than it has in 26 years, the number of people receiving unemployment benefits reached the highest level in at least 41 years, new-home sales dropped to the lowest level on record, the list goes on and on.

Donald Manzullo, a House Republican from Illinois, has proposed a $5,000 voucher for anyone buying a new car. Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, favors a temporary suspension of the payroll tax. Jim DeMint, a Republican senator from South Carolina, wants to permanently cut the federal income tax. As Republicans fight President Obama's gargantuan economic plan, they have plenty of ideas.

President Obama and his congressional allies took a modest step toward reshaping the nation's healthcare system Thursday as the Senate passed legislation to expand health insurance for children. But rather than building momentum for the sweeping healthcare reform Obama has promised, the victory on Capitol Hill -- a largely party-line vote, 66 to 32 -- marked a rocky start for what many hope will be the biggest reform campaign in a generation.

In the first major test of President Obama's ability to push his ambitious agenda through Congress, the House on Wednesday approved the largest attempt since World War II to use the federal budget to redirect the course of the nation's economy. Obama had worked hard to gain bipartisan support for the $819-billion stimulus package, beginning to negotiate possible compromises with Republicans even before entering the White House. But the measure passed on a strict party-line vote, 244 to 188.

Re "Her own party line," Jan. 17 The Times writes of Dianne Feinstein that "California's senior senator will not be taken for granted or hew to the party line." In my opinion, Feinstein should be "taken for granted," and perhaps is a Democrat in the same sense that Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman were Democrats. She pretty much signed off on President Bush's domestic wiretapping. I signed an on-line petition asking her to support the impeachment of Bush. I received a reply indicating that she found impeachment divisive and therefore would not support such a measure.

Skip the frigid temperatures in Washington, D.C., and celebrate the inauguration in Hawaii later this month when President-elect Barack Obama's hometown of Honolulu marks the historic occasion with aloha spirit -- and a spate of parties. The biggest celebration will take place at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, site of the official Aloha Inaugural Ball sponsored by the Hawaii Democratic Party. The Jan.

There are those who say this is not the time for a big Hollywood bash -- the economy is too down, the fears are too high. Mike Goodridge, the vice president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which puts on the Golden Globe Awards, would not be one of those people. "I think everyone wants a party at the moment," Goodridge said this week. "There's such a gloomy feeling around town. Hopefully this can be a catalyst to have some fun."

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) as his Transportation secretary, a key role in an administration that has signaled plans for an ambitious public works program, officials of both parties said Wednesday. A spokesman for the Obama transition team declined to comment, as did LaHood. But his nomination, which is expected to be announced soon, would fulfill a pledge Obama made to name a Republican to his Cabinet. Although Obama has asked Defense Secretary Robert M.

The museum visitors file past black-and-white photos from the early 20th century showing Tibetan children in filthy rags begging for food on the streets of Lhasa. They click their tongues at a display case with a wooden cage for imprisoning disobedient serfs and wooden blocks used for crushing fingers when the cage wasn't punishment enough.