COLUMNISTS 
Despite his clear electoral mandate and big Democratic majorities in Congress, politics is already blocking Barack Obama’s efforts to deliver a fast fiscal stimulus. The country’s political system was designed to force debate and delay action, and it works. Even when all of Washington agrees that speed is crucial – which it does – getting anything done is still difficult. Mr Obama has clout and his party is pretty much in control. But these factors are confounded by the sheer scale and complication of the stimulus plan.
