Two stories from earlier today lead me to believe that a bit of a protectionist backlash is just around the corner.

First, Stimulus-Funded High Speed Rail Likely To Lose Money And Be Built By Chinese Companies:

China’s railroad giants are licking their lips at the thought of America’s large stimulus hand-outs for high-speed rail.

In preparation for their potential market, China Railway Group recently sent a delegation to America. China Railway Construction has already signed contracts with the transportation division of G.E., according to Caing.

Although U.S. state governments won’t want to pay Chinese firms with stimulus money, they may have no choice.

You can imagine how popular this would be.

Second, Obama to force U.S. taxpayer Stimulus money to “Buy Canada” - Destroying “Buy American”:

Since Congress wouldn’t back off of the Buy American clauses, weak as they were, in the first stimulus bill (ARRA), the Obama administration is going to destroy those requirements via executive order.

This probably won’t be quite as unpopular.

Enough stories like this, and a backlash is guaranteed.