Even 'Stimulus Skeptics' Should Back Obama's Plan

David Brooks counts himself among the "stimulus skeptics," but he's signing on to President Obama's plan to juice the economy. The president's proposals come from "the middle of the ideological spectrum," and collectively they help guard against the "truly horrifying" prospect of a double-dip recession, Brooks writes in the New York Times. Yes, it's important to work on long-term fixes, but the short term cannot be ignored.

"Personally, my bottom line is this," writes Brooks. "I think the president has earned a second date. He’s put together a moderate set of stimulus ideas. His plan may not be enough to jolt prosperity, but it might maintain its current slow growth." Next up: Obama must offer "serious entitlement reforms" to pay for all this and get Republicans to work with him. (The president continued his push for the plan in Richmond, Va., today, notes AP.)