As I mentioned over the weekend, I’ve seen a lot of Republicans on TV complaining that spending programs that demonstrably do create jobs do not create jobs, like buying new and more energy efficient vehicles for government workforces, etc. But where I’ve really seen the press dropping the ball is doing some simple arithmetic on the spending items Republicans say constitute the wasteful spending in the bill.

Now, the tell in my eyes is that almost all the criticisms I’ve heard are about budget items in the millions. And when you’re talking about a bill with over $800 billion in spending, you just have a hard time getting to any substantial percentage of the total spend with such relatively small items.

Now, here’s a representative list from Rep. LoBiondo (R) of New Jersey …

$1.9 billion for high-level physics research;

$1.5 billion for universities to improve their biomedical research programs;

$600 million for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to purchase new satellites to improve weather forecasts;

$600 million to buy new cars for federal government workers, adding to the existing inventory of 640,000 vehicles; and,

$335 million for education and prevention programs regarding sexually transmitted diseases.

Separate criticism has been directed at $75 million for smoking cessation plan.

Set aside whether you think these line items are worthwhile. (And it seems obvious to me that it’s good for the economy to buy more vehicles for the government fleet, when our auto industry is cratering and demand for cars is flatlining.) But just add those up and you get a total — $3.51 5.01 Billion — out of $819 Billion.

The pretty simple fact here is that the Republicans are not willing or able to criticize any of the substantial amounts of spending in this bill. They’re focused on a few tiny parts of it. And too few people are pointing out that these amount to maybe one or two percent of the program total.

Last week the House of Representatives passed the $800 billion-plus stimulus package, but without a single Republican vote of support. This week the bill goes to the Senate for consideration. It’s sure to be just as intense a debate as last week’s, and for a preview we turn to a roundup of the Sunday morning talk shows …

Full-size video at TPMtv.com.

We’re going to have more on this shortly. But as this political battle over Daschle unfolds, it’s critical to remember that Daschle has been a critical figure for Obama for some time. Well, before there was any discussion of building a cabinet or even starting a longshot presidential bid. Daschle lost his seat in the same election Obama entered the senate — 2004. And as Daschle was closing up shop, a number of his key staffers went over to Obama to get his senate operation started, most notably Daschle’s former Chief of Staff, Peter Rouse. Rouse is now an Obama ‘Senior Advisor’ whose office is just a few steps down from the Oval Office.

Whatever you make of the substance of the tax and lobbying issues threatening Daschle’s nomination, I think it will take quite a lot for Obama to pull the plug on his nomination.

Mitch McConnell signaled yesterday that some kind of deal is in place that would allow President Obama to pick Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) as Commerce secretary without costing the GOP a Senate seat, even though New Hampshire has a Democratic governor who would appoint Gregg’s successor:

This just doesn’t smell right, on several levels.

The DCCC is running radio ads against 28 House Republicans who voted against the stimulus plan. That and the day’s other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.