How Could They?

Where was the resistance in the first portion that was distributed to the careless Wall Street Bankers and etc.

momof4boys – The Republicans only got their fiscally conservative conscience back when they lost power.

Why should republicans vote on a stimulas bill full of “pork”, where the money does not benefit America nor create jobs, until it does it shouldn’t pass. Typical Democrat bill, SPEND SPEND SPEND. With more and more americans out of a job where is this money going to come from??????????????

Why would Republicans be afraid of Obama – give me a break – we don’t have to be afraid of anyone – we know what we believe and who we believe in and not once has Obama mentioned God. He has mentined Muslims. We are Republicans and we will hang in there. It is kinda sad to see Hillary Clinton standing behind Obama, you almost wish it was Bill back – at least he did not try to hide and he was a person people liked. ABC wants you to believe anythig, everything, stop watching them. We have.

ABC wants you to believe anythig, everything, stop watching them. We have.
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so why are you posting on the ABC news site?

They are deficit-shy, skeptical of large government programs and untrusting of Democrats, the president included. That is simply part of the shape of our politics.
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Be a fiscal conservative period, and leave your dislike of another party out of it.

The issue is that President Obama changed the plan based on what the republicans said they didn’t like about it. He took out some things, added more tax cuts etc. And then they still voted against it. What I see is a president who met them half way and left him standing there. At least he is trying to find common ground – which is more than we can say for the house republicans.

What happened to Obama’s promise to cut the pork out of these bills? I believe that was only a smoke screen. No it was an outright lie to the American people. The majority in control of Congress believe that most Americans are not too bright. This election proved they are right. We are going to have to suffer with what the ignorant majority has elected – an enormous debt for our children, grandchildren, and probably our great grandchildren. This is only the beginning.

Bush and his Republican pals totally broke our economy and now they have the gull to act like they know what is best?
It’s laughable.

“I watch Fox because they are the only fair people on tV today…….”
I truly thought you were being snarky. Please, tell me you’re joking.

The media fail to mention that even Obama’s GAO office says it will take more than 2 yrs to get these “rescues” to the people. I haven’t seen any polls that determine what % the public want to see this bill passed.

Gary: Nice analysis of polling data to show the underlying reasons for the vote. Most of the time the story goes beyond the topline results and this situation is no different. Keep up the great work.

Obama and the Dems are leading this country into an economic armegeddon. See you at the soup line.

Let me see if I have this straight. We need to give big business tax cuts to promote new jobs. Haven’t they had those tax cuts for the last 8 years? Ummm so what happened to the jobs?
Republicans are deficit-shy? (curled up in fetal position laughing) Excuse me -but wasn’t there a surplus when Bill Clinton left office? Skeptical of large government programs, would this include the wall street bailout under Bush?
I read complaints about who is overseeing/accounting for the spending of bailout funds — umm? Who do you think is going to do that if there aren’t regulations?
Personally I think the Republican Cronies are lined up behind McCain just like they were during the campaign, and just like the Wall Street Mongers they could care less how their behaviors affect this country.
Its time for the republican party to climb out of the box of group think, and start contributing to solutions instead of turning everything into a political finger pointing debate making noise to drown out common sense. Our country is in trouble, its time to brainstorm for workable solutions. Pick up the fight after we are on our feet. This country needs the input from both parties to resolve this problem.

All you need to know about “post-partisanship”: El Rushbo actually admitted that, if Obama’s plan is too “socialistic” he wants it to fail and the economy to break entirely.
Sort of like the patient with a potentially fatal disease who want to die because he doesn’t like the name of the medicine.
PATHETIC.

While not surprising,it almost gladdens me. I hope this makes people aware of how little the Republican think of the average American and how much they want President Obama to fail. He will not!! We will not. The Power Of One is a strong incentive and when you start and maintain a grassroots campaign the way we have it will only lead to a better time for us all. When Sarah Palin forms a PAC, I rejoice..this and Rush is what they have? Good

When is it going to become popular to “try thinking?” There is enough blame for this economic meltdown and tragic unemployment situation to be shared by everyone. As should any attempt at a solution. To debate what news source you “believe in” is laughable … try watching, reading and listening to several instead of the “one” that tells the “truth” as you see it … what’s up with that? I too, as one earlier person mentioned, am very close to being a “soup line” victim of this economy. But I’m not giving up – or picking sides. I’m going to continue to hold on to pride, a hard work ethic and yes, the hope that the politicians, corporations, and financial institutions will remember how powerful a voice the American people have. If they do not lead soon, our voices will get louder.

Its about time the Republicans stand up in opposition to the out of control spending of our government. I say “Way to go”!

Why can’t the people in the senate forget what party they represent when they are supposed to be voting for what is best for our country? It shouldn’t be about, you represent a different party than I do, so I am not voting with you. Aren’t they all supposed to do what is best for our country regardless of what party they represent? President Obama tried to give them all the option of understanding better the plans he outlined. He was even willing to change some of what they didn’t agree with. They passed it up. When an American citizen refuses to cooperate with our PRESIDENT, what does that say to other countries? We can’t afford to let party differences divide us or our economy will never recover.

If we the people are furnishing the money to all the “Bail Outs”, then we the people should be able to vote on the future of the CEO that are becoming “Phat Cats” from our money. I think they should all be fired immediately!!! They have failed miserably at their jobs. If I made costly mistakes again and again, I would be on the street tomorrow…

Tax cuts are coming from Social Security (from individuals), small and big business. Cutting SS taxes will be the final straw in killing SS for coming generations. Business has had the tax cuts for years; it has not helped in the last tow years so I do not understand how they will help now.
The stimulus must help immediately. Construction and IT modernization are two ways to put money into the pockets of currently unemployed people now (30 to 90 days) not 12 to 18 months.
Both sides have good ideas and bad, they need to combine them instead of taking all of one or the other.
Who will pay for this? We will sooner or later. I have heard some economists say the recession will end by the end of 2009 with or without the package, maybe but no one knows. All we know is that SOLID controls must be in place to stop the bleeding of money to those that do not need it (wall street bankers). These people have no place to go, every bank is cutting staff so who will hire these “valuable’ people? 18 billion dollars would save a lot of mortgages.
The Senate will have a better bill, we can only hope it is a combination of all the good ideas and controls that both parties have presented.

I’m a single woman that lost her job in early October. I send out 200 resumes a month and network but still I’ve had only 2 interviews. My skills and work experience are top notch so I’ve never had issues like this. Now I’m down to no savings, hardly anything in checking and no one able to assist me.
BUT I don’t want this package pushed through congress! I want the package to be able to help the US and the people. Things that aren’t going to stimulate the economy should be taken out. I would rather be in a box under the bridge waiting for a true stimulus package to be put together than to see this one go out.
Most of the jobs I see being created by the package are for construction, maintenance or scientific jobs. Where are the jobs for female workers? Sure science jobs are unisex but you need a specific degree. You can argue that the other jobs are unisex, but really…if a man and a woman are both applying who do you think they will pick? What about a woman that has a degree in office management?
Or what about funds to help people like me start their own businesses?
I know that I could latch onto a man that I’m really not interested in to help through these times, but that’s never been my style and won’t be now. When I’m in a relationship it’s that we are the right fit, not baby looking for a sugar daddy.

The Republicans don’t care about the economy, they don’t care about being non-partisan, all they care about is keeping taxes low for the priviliged view and to Hell with everyone else.
President Obama is sincere in trying to reach out across the aisle to Republicans but Republicans only know how to be obstructionists.
People on this board talk about the “pork” in the bill but none of them have read the bill or know exactly what is in it. They only know what they are told by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
Today, thanks to Bush and Cheney, they are only represented in the Old South.
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Findlay Way,
Wow….You sure are the King/Queen of the stereotypes aren’t you !!!!
First of all, the bill is posted online, it is over 600 pages, and obviously NOONE including the representatives in the house read every single line of it!!! Therein lies the trick of how things get done in Washington. This how “pork” get through the process, create a document big enough so noone can easily find all the little nuggets you hide in it.
Most people do not even completely read most of the legal documents they sign in life!
When I read it, I was amazed at how many millions upon millions of dollars are allocated for oversight. Of course there is no mention of the HOW oversight will be implemented, just big bucket after big bucket of money left laying all around for this function.
Example :
“DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT SALARIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) For an additional amount for ‘‘Departmental Management’’, $80,000,000, for the enforcement of worker protection laws and regulations, oversight, and coordination activities related to the infrastructure and unemployment insurance investments in this Act: Provided, That the Secretary of Labor may transfer such sums as necessary to ‘‘Employment and Standards Administration’’, ‘‘Occupational Safety and Health Administration’’, and ‘‘Employment and Training Administration—Program Administration’’ for enforcement, oversight, and coordina
tion activities: Provided further, That the provisions of section 1106 of this Act shall not apply to this appropriation.”
That is 80 Million dollars “for the enforcement of worker protection laws and regulations, oversight, and coordination activities related to the infrastructure and unemployment insurance investments in this Act”
another one…
“For the costs of State administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section, the Secretary shall make available $150,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to remain available through September 30, 2012, of which $4,500,000 is for necessary expenses of the Food and Nutrition Service for management and oversight of the program and for monitoring the integrity and evaluating the effects of the payments made under this section”
Does anyone have any idea exactly where these millions & millions of dollars are going to go ? Will these agencies hire people do the oversight, or will it just be pouring money into the pockets of beaucrats?
These were just a couple of examples, that thing is laced with billions of dollars set aside like this.
Oversight is needed, that is a given! The question is how will it be implemented? How much of the money will have already been handed out before an oversight system is debated, approved & implemented?
Are we LEARNING ANYTHING YET Findlay Way?
This is the EXACT same road we just walked down with TARP and everyone agrees that it was a mistake to dump the big amounts of money with no idea on how to do the oversight!!!!
Oh yes, and I did not even get to that stupid idea of bith control stimulating the economy!!!
But by all means, lets just trust Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank & Charlie Rangel to do “the right thing”!
There is no reason to doubt their integrity……LOL

Eight years of Bush has done so much damage to the economy that it will take MANY YEARS to recover. Good luck America! Blame yourself if you have contributed to this mess. Enjoy while you may.

If these CEO’s are so valuable, how did they let the institutions they represent get into such a MESS. I suggest that all bonuses for any institution getting tax payer dollars be limited to $l00,00. This is TOO much considering the MESS they have created.

The Democrats passed the Bush package. While Bush may have come from the Republican Party, he spent money like us Democrats. We Democrats (I’m not one of the Democrats supporting this terrible package) are looking to use the fear and anxiety to push through spending that would not survive the light of day if proposed separately. Everyone needs to take a deep breath, wait a few months and then see what needs to be done. Spending in the past has not worked and will not work today. It will ruin the future for my grandchildren and great granddaughter. Your children, grandchildren and descendants as well. This is where the country and its citizens need to come before the power hungry politicians.

Sigh, same song different verse a little bit louder and a little bit worse. Our President has stated he is willing to work with the Republicans to get a stimulus package together that will help the WORKING PEOPLE of America. He’s had meetings, he’s listened, he’s responded to some of their concerns. In my book, the only economic stimulus we need is to give some of that money back to the TAXPAYERS. What would I do with my share of 900 Billion? Pay off my mortgage, pay off my car, save some money in the bank. Oh, that takes care of the credit crisis and the auto industry issues if they gave us our own money back. Even the knot-heads who would go out and buy a new car and a lot of clothes (and not save a dime!) still have the same net effect on the economy…stimulation via circulation of money!!!!!!

Finally. It’s about time the republicans got one right. I can’t believe that Obama asked for this. A TRILLION DOLLARS?!
Was Obama high or something? If he admitted to that, it’s forgivable. But if not I want to know what he was thinking. We were all furious when Bush wanted $700 Billion. That’s one huge reason we were all glad to see Bush go. Now with Obama, it’s looking worse.

We need this stimulus package passed ASAP. Signed the ACP. American Communist Party.

Young though he is, limited though his experience is, Obama has shown FAR greater competency than the President he replaced.
Don’t ever forget that! The rest of the country DOES remember it!
And no, he is NOT interested in “driving this country to communism”. Not even close. You and all the rest of the dittoheads on the Far Right have completely forgotten what ‘communism’ even means — if you ever knew.
Besides: aren’t you following the new? 42% of the ‘spending’ in the bill is in EXACTLY the form the Repubs SAID they wanted: tax cuts!
So you see, your Repub friends on the hill have been lying to us all along: they SAID they wanted tax cuts, and then when they got it, they STILL refused to support the bill.
You have chosen your ‘friends’ very badly. The rest of the country has not: that is why we voted Democrat.
Now I have to admit: in recent years, when I voted Democrat, I had to hold my nose while I did it;) But any Democrat is a HUGE improvement over Bush!

How stupid do you think the Republicans are? Democrat’s have the votes to pass this pork proposal, but they want to blame the Republican’s if it fails.

Mr. Presdent, PORK, PORK, PORK, do you think ALL of the American people are stupid? This stimulus package is FULL of BILLS that have nothing to do with helping the economy. The change was to make things better not fill the White House with CROOKS and non taxpapers. This mess started with Fannie Mae
& Freddie Mac. Lets investigate who took millions from there, ILLEGAL!!

just remembered yesterdays ROUND TABLE with George…Republican Senators BOTH said that US states coffers were bloated and did not need the stimulus cash. What planet are they on? States cant meet their unemployment demands today. There are 60,000 people in the state of Michigan who have to wait 6 weeks before they can get any unemployment benefits.

one more thing. Paul Krugman the Nobel Winner last year in Economics, agrees that checks dont work. Jobs do. JOBS JOBS JOBS. He has studied the great theories of economies and they all seem to agree that creating jobs is the best use of our money. It builds a future job market in our changing world. We cannot sustain the way we live. We are at the mercy of foreign oil. We just dont need that. They need us, not the other way around. Solar jobs, wind jobs, making public buildings independant of foreign oil. We CAN do this. It will be creative, and thrilling for Americans to be leaders once again. Initiating good things for our neighbors and our kids.

Gee, it’s funny how much negative commentary this is getting–it’s as if the majority of Americans really don’t think wasting $7000 per taxpayer is such a hot idea. It’s also funny how little coverage the general public opinion is getting…can you say biased?

This independent voter from Oregon thought that TARP was horrible, and this Stimulus bill is the worst Partisian bill I have ever seen. Because of DeFazio’s and Wyden’s votes, I will vote for any person that runs against them in 2010.

I think to stimulate the economy we need to use some of the stimulus package to provide loans to companies that are in danger of closing and to reopen the companies by giving them the money that the banks could not give them rather than waiting for the banks to do it. This would save jobs now and working people will spend money and pay house notes to stimulate the economy.

The only thing benefiting trom this bailout is the government. Our children and grandchildren will be saddled with this bill. The only things that will straighten out this mess is to cut government spending, tax cuts to taxpayers and holding those government, financial and industrial management folks who created this fiasco to account. Unfortunately this probably will not happen as our government folks don’t have the intestinal fortitude to accomplish this important feat. Cutting government spending and helping the consumer through tax cuts is the best way to jump start our ailing economy.
Sadly our government and liberal media will never let that truth come out in public.

Instead of giving billions to companies that have already proven they are incompetent… divide that money up amoung the taxpayers and see how much that would stimulate the economy. With a million dollars, we could pay off our mortgages, buy new cars, new furniture, send our kids to school; isn’t THAT stimulating?

“How could they?” How could they not? This bill brings socialized medicine and every other leftis agenda, won’t stimulate the economy and will cause more harm in the long run than doing nothing at all (according to the congressional budget office).

I believe that if the money went to the working people in America and not just another hand out to the banking and other big businesses, it would stimulate the economy. I do NOT think that any money should go to the teacher’s union, Acorn or any of those people. Obama said we would have change and we will have if he has his way. Even more money will be thrown away on useless and wrong entities.

At this point I don’t care if they are Dems or Pubs. Everything is riding on the backs of the american taxpayer, who are losing their homes, jobs, pensions & livelihoods! Is there a way that the money could be given directly to taxpayers to spend? More specifically the bailout money. I’d rather have some of that money instead of the stimulus money that right now is going to be about $400 dollars. I have medical bills that cost more than that and a mortgage, student loans etc. Fortunately I have a job but co has implemented a day off w/o pay one of many. A RIF plan is being put into place so that will be next.
Americans/taxpayers need help now!

It seems to me that a lot of the good stuff that was in the bill got cut out, and now it’s got a higher percentage of pork. It got ramrodded through and folks were encouraged NOT TO EVEN READ IT. We are told that the only thing that mattered was the immense size of the bill supposedly being applied to the economy. But in truth, there’s a lot of stuff in it that has nothing to do with the economy. In fact, they took out the tax cuts from it. So it’s not like the lower middle class will have any money to spend to help the economy. Oh well, at least Obama’s buddies will get a boat load of money…

OINK OINK OINK This PORK bill is going to squander your money on a high-speed train from Disneyland in California to Las Vegas Nv so Sen. Reid’s buddies get their political pay-back. Illegal Aliens will continue to take jobs Americans are fired from since the E-Verify provision was eliminated in the conference bill to pay back criminal employers of Illegal Aliens. Your health care now will be dictated by a D.C “Tsar” It appears there is about 2/3rds PORK in the bill, but since NO ONE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO READ IT let alone understand the major points there is likely to be even more PORK than first detected. It is for sure the only jobs to be created are going to be in an additionally bloated bureaucracy in D.C. The stampede to vote on this PIG IN A POKE bill is so that no one gets a handle on what it really is prior to a vote meaning the fools in D.C. will vote for it ’cause they’ll go along to get along. What a bunch of phonies, fools, and anti-Americans they are. Call and or email your Senators right now to express your outrage at this swindle, this theft of the American dream.

Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr, Obama – Wow, boys doing a man’s job. But this last one looks like he is finally going to do us in, the nail in the coffer.
Reagan, a hero doing a man’s job, thank you Ronald Reagan. Sorry they all betrayed what you started. Your the best!

The is the begining and end of the Pelosi/obama administration

Yes indeed. They will long for the days of bush after obamanism has destroyed this country

I am praying for our country because the Bible says that if we come back to God and pray, He will heal our land…not Obama. The very things that have made this country strong and free are the very things that are going to be its downfall. My prayer is that Obama is struck with the Holy Spirit in a mighty way – then we will truly see change!

Geoff; So you’ve chosen to support this experiment with our children’s reality?
We had an economy that prospered overall for over 200 years, through recessions and The Great Depression. Now as part of a social experiment our leaders have chosen to conduct a coincidental economic experiment. As a citizen who will feel the full affects of whatever happens, having no choice short of revolution, I accept the fact that I have to accept the facts. That doesn’t mean I’ll be involved beyond kicking and screaming every inch along the way. It’s not the party, it’s not the man or his color I despise. It’s his policy that chafes me.

Obama is turning this country into a socialist nation. Everything will be owned and run by the government. Why do American’s want that? I believe they want all the free handouts and “everyone is equal” thinking that Liberals and Democrats bring to the table. Stimulus is not the answer. Stopping white collar crime from these executives is – but who gives all the big campaign contributions!? And yes – there is no form of mass media that’s gives us the true and real story. People need to think for themselves. You need both sides of the story. And ABC is very bias – they love Obama and could have ripped him to shreds and chose not to. Why do we want someone associated with Acorn as our President?

Put me in the smaller government, less taxes, and pro-business/market forces column.
This president wants, and is, leading this country to become a unilateral debter nation. By giving/selling the farm, Americans and other countries will become more beholding to “him”. Our taxes will significantly increase despite his promise of lower taxes.
WE will pay the piper: User fees (highway, FCC, FAA, etc.) gasoline taxes, utility {electricity, natural gas and water usage}fees/taxes, less Social Security and older retirement ages, etc.
So will the stimulus help or hurt? No question, the increased debt’s purpose is the threshold to D.C. control over our lives, and an effort to diminish state’s rights and individual state’s sovereignty.

Not being for or against any particular party, I voted for Obama and was hopeful for change. I have a small grooming business; I help out my customers by keeping my prices low enough so that they can afford to keep their pets maintained in these tough times. I literally just make my mortgage payment every month. I live on wheat thins, I never buy extras of any kind, I wear hand me down clothes and I am careful with every dollar. When I changed careers a few years ago from the big money job, I made sure I changed my lifestyle to fit my new income (2/3 less). I paid down my bills, traded in my sports car for a cheapie so my biggest responsibility was my mortgage. Yes it is tragic for any one to lose the one asset they might own like their home. Yes I am very aware that life isn’t fair and I would be the last one to be against trying to help those in need. But people being bailed out for living beyond their means, taking chances with flexible mortgage rates and not thinking about “what if.” What do they learn if someone else fixes their mistakes. Nieve or ignorant, we as responsible adults should know there is no “too good to be true” and if we are willing gamble – that is a risk we decide to take. Putting your signature on any documentation like a mortgage and not understanding or knowing the consequences is stupidity. Meantime, people like me will keep struggling to make my payments and at some point perhaps lose my battle. When that happens, who is going to help me. I really wanted to believe in and rely on President Obama to fix this enormous mess. There is no easy answer, but the best way to learn a lesson is to suffer the consequences and fix your own mess. Helping these people by lowering the interest rates and monthly payment I am willing to agree with. But paying them a yearly incentive for making their payments – ARE YOU KIDDING ME! How about giving those who have not contributed to the mess and paid their mortgage a yearly incentive – because God knows we could also use it!

I think the president is giving money to the wrong people. the banker and outo companyies are just another form of greed that has brought this country down.
well he is planning on helping people get out dept with there mortgages, why help just the people in forcloser, what about the people who pay there mortgages but struggle with health care.
this what I thing should be done
With the Trillions of dollars spent on bailing out these big conglomerates, give every family house hold $250,000 dollars and make sure they pay off there dept first. Then they can start spending again to boost the economy. Maybe even buy cars to help the auto industry. This would also make is more easy to afford health care.
My point is every one could get out of dept and that would Trickle up. Instead of hoping wall streets money will trickle down.
Then the banks would get there money back on loans , mortgages, and so on. People would be able to stay in there homes, and the banks could start lending again, and people would start speninging and investing again.

This president has no clue what-so-ever.I give him an A+ for passing political BS 101, and a F+ for failing to develope a plan that will help the AMERICAN CITIZENS survive through this crappy age that all of us hard working CITIZENS are funding with our taxes and our GHILDREN’S taxes. Stop spinning your political wheels and get it right, or maybe that’s asking to0 much…….

What we have is a bill that no one could read, let alone digest and intelligently comment on given the time frame that the President and his administration set. What we needed was a well thought out bill that did not have any pork (don’t confuse it with earmarks). No one is saying that the stimulus as passed will work. Everyone is choosing their words carefully. We are being told that we might have to spend even more! President Obama failedin his first big test. He should have spent more time developing the stimulus rather than trying to push through a bill that no one can say was the best one possible. We needed this to be the best possible because we might not be able to do this again. He taqlks about sacrifice, bu ti don’t see any sacrifice, just a shotgun spending approach.

I think the stimulus is a great idea but there’s another problem with the government. They wonder why we don’t have a lot of money well why don’t we stop giving government officials a whole bunch of expensive vacation time. They spend a lot of money on just luxury when they should be thinking about economy and how their actions effect it.

SHUT UP!! do something possitive , any one can complain… WE I mean all of us, in this country need to get up and take controll of our own crap, then we can start to change this country..we are the problem.. we have forgot that this country was build on the beliefs of the bible., thats where all the answers are.. PRAY

President Obama, You are like a teenager who found someone elses wallet. Instead of seeking its rightful owner, you are spending it thinking the owner will appreciate your selections. STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN to the rightful owners. Eliminate those earmarks you promised to cut when you were campaining. Do not increase taxes either. We are sickened at the thought of your flagrant proposals!

I am ashamed of our polticians that they are using our money, not theirs, for programs that our country can not afford at this time. Most of the hard working responsible people in this country manage their money and do not go into dept. They save their money until they can buy the things they need. I hope the president comes to his senses and vetos the bill.