It just struck me how important branding is and how well the Obama administration has used it in the brief weeks since Jan 20th. The $700 million “bailout” negotiated by the Bush controlled white house was given a negative connotation right from the beginning simply because the media and politicians very quickly called it a bailout. Of course, no one with self pride wants a bailout, and no one wants to give a bailout to to someone (in this instance, banks) who don’t deserve it.
On the otherhand, everyone does want to do something to “stimulate” the economy and hence a $825/$890/$(whatever it is right now) billion stimulus package seems to have much more general support than I remember the bailout package ever having. Sure, there is much more to these two packages, including their official names, but I just thought this was interesting.
Krishna Srinivasan 
Bush called his bill a stimulus, too. I think the more interesting point is that Obama is continuing Bush policies in the most important areas like the economy and defense. He also talked a lot about protectionism during his campaign, but met with Canada today to talk about free and open trade. (I’m not complaining, but I am worried that eventually his supporters will catch on and Obama’s going to have to overcompensate for his centrism to keep them from getting pissed off.)
What Bush called his bill, officially or unofficially, is not the point. What matters more is how the media branded it…