By Nitya

Jan 9, 2009 8:37am

The Note, 1/9/09: Obama Pressed From Left on Stimulus

By RICK KLEIN With the rollout comes the blowback. And with them both comes the presidential-sized challenge for the not-yet president. It turns out you don’t have to look very hard to find the fault lines in President-elect Barack Obama’s bid for a massive stimulus bill. He tried to scare Congress into acting quickly on Thursday — and more pressure is coming Friday and beyond — but there’s still no measure to act on, or even the outlines of one. Now there may not be one for a while. For the moment, at least, he’s got more to worry about on his left than on his right. (And if leaving Howard Dean feeling snubbed helps sell the package — please explain how that one works.) Democrats in Congress, it turns out, have gotten used to having their own ideas. With more questions being raised about billions and bailouts on Friday, it’s only going to get harder for the Obama sales team. “President-elect Barack Obama’s economic recovery plan ran into crossfire from his own party in Congress on Thursday, suggesting that quick passage of spending programs and tax cuts could require more time and negotiation than Democrats once hoped,” Peter Baker and David M. Herszenhorn report in The New York Times. “Further complicating the picture, Democratic senators said Thursday that they would try to attach legislation to the package that would allow bankruptcy courts to modify home loans, a move Republicans have opposed.” “But the broad support he has enjoyed so far for the basic concept is now being tested as the specifics become clearer,” Baker and Herszenhorn write. “It was a remarkable speech for someone who isn’t president yet and hasn’t revealed the details of his economic rescue plan,” ABC’s Jake Tapper reports. “The most pointed criticism of the plan came from Democrats who objected to Obama’s plans to cut taxes for businesses and for middle class families.” This is not about losing a vote. It’s about losing a weapon. The stimulus package is Obama’s first big legislative push, the one he absolutely cannot afford not to win, on his terms. Winning in style (think 75 or 80 Senate votes) enhances his power when the hard stuff begins. Recall that congressional Democrats had a two-year head-start on Obama in taking control of Washington. In that time, they’ve learned to like pursuing paths of their own — and they remember well what they don’t like. “The Democrat-led Congress is eager to assert some control and is beginning to chafe at the president-elect’s demand for quick approval of a stimulus program pegged at $800 billion and likely to grow,” The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Greg Hitt report. “The fight could begin to define how Mr. Obama deals with his former senate colleagues. During much of his eight years in office, Mr. Bush dominated Congress in the battle to set the agenda. Mr. Obama will face demand among lawmakers for a more assertive role.” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos sees three main questions defining the debate on Capitol Hill: “1) Can the money get out very, very quickly? 2) Will the spending programs really be temporary? 3) Can this package be targeted to create the most jobs per dollar to get the most bang for the buck?” Was leading with tax cuts the right call? It’s muted the GOP opposition, but hardly made Republicans enthusiastic. And it’s given some Democrats what’s looking like a rallying point. This is what happens when you talk about a tax cut bigger than President Bush’s: “Democrats on Capitol Hill questioned the lengths to which Barack Obama was seeking to win over Republicans,” The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports. Said House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank: “I have some difference because I think they may be doing too much tax-cutting and not enough direct spending from the standpoint of immediate job creation.” “Barack Obama got a lesson Thursday from his old Senate Democratic colleagues: a little more time for takeoff could avoid a crash landing of his economic recovery plan,” Politico’s David Rogers reports. “At a closed-door party meeting in the Capitol, top political and economic advisers to the president elect were met with questions and pressure for adjustments to the $775 billion plan if lawmakers are to meet Obama’s schedule of completing passage by mid-February.” Rogers: “In each case, the tone was described as businesslike, more questioning than hostile and even Republicans said later that a plan could jell for all sides. But at this stage Democrats are in too many different places to proceed quickly despite a common belief that action is needed.” Throw this in the mix: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is urging the incoming Obama administration to stick to its campaign pledge and immediately increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans, a position that President-elect Barack Obama has wavered on since winning election,” per The Washington Post’s Paul Kane. “The individual tax cuts Obama envisions would be permanent. The business tax breaks are meant to be temporary, but you can count on this: Once enacted, some will prove difficult to get rid of,” Scot Lehigh writes in his Boston Globe column. “Even deficit hawks acknowledge that bold action is required in these troubled times. But they rightly say that the focus should be on temporary measures, not permanent (or likely to be permanent) tax cuts. . . . Obama’s bid for bipartisanship will only aggravate our fiscal imbalance — without paying any political dividends when the time comes to get our house in order.” David Brooks isn’t sold — but is plenty sarcastic: “This will be the most complex piece of legislation in American history, and as if the policy content wasn’t complicated enough, Obama also promised to pass it via Immaculate Conception — through a new legislative process that will transform politics. The process, he said, will be totally transparent. There will be no earmarks, no special-interest pleading. In a direct rebuttal to Federalist No. 10, he called on lawmakers to put aside their parochial concerns and pass the measure in weeks,” Brooks writes in his New York Times column. “Maybe Obama can pull this off, but I have my worries. By this time next year, he’ll either be a great president or a broken one,” he writes. Paul Krugman isn’t sold, either: “Mr. Obama’s prescription doesn’t live up to his diagnosis. The economic plan he’s offering isn’t as strong as his language about the economic threat. In fact, it falls well short of what’s needed,” Krugman writes in the Times. “To be sure, a third of a loaf is better than none. But right now we seem to be facing two major economic gaps: the gap between the economy’s potential and its likely performance, and the gap between Mr. Obama’s stern economic rhetoric and his somewhat disappointing economic plan.” On the other side, relative quiet, for now: “Here’s some change you might find hard to believe in,” per ABC’s Jonathan Karl. “Republican congressional leaders Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, say they like what they are hearing so far on Obama’s economic plans.” Before he can look forward — don’t forget that other pot of money: “Confronted with intense skepticism on Capitol Hill over the $700 billion financial rescue program, Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy F. Geithner and President-elect Barack Obama’s economic team are urgently overhauling the embattled initiative and broadening its scope well beyond Wall Street,” David Cho reports in The Washington Post. “Geithner has been working night and day on the eighth floor of the transition team office in downtown Washington with Lawrence H. Summers and other senior economic advisers to hash out a new approach that would expand the program’s aid to municipalities, small businesses, homeowners and other consumers.” “That challenge is underscored by a report from a congressional oversight panel scheduled to be released today that hammers the outgoing Treasury Department for its handling of the financial rescue, including ‘what appear to be significant gaps in Treasury’s monitoring of the use of taxpayer money,’ ” Cho writes. That report is likely to complicate the politics of bailouts: “The recent refusal of certain private financial institutions to provide any accounting of how they are using taxpayer money undermines public confidence,” the draft of the report says. “For Treasury to advance funds to these institutions without requiring more transparency further erodes the very confidence Treasury seeks to restore.” ABC’s Chris Cuomo asked panel chair Elizabeth Warren, on “Good Morning America,” does Treasury have too much discretion? “Congress may want to take a very hard look at that question,” she said. “I’ll be perfectly blunt with you: I’m shocked that we have to ask these questions.” What will Obama do? “There will be a pretty dramatic change in the program,” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reported on “GMA.” Always worth recalling: The real big battles are still far into the future. “For Barack Obama, winning a giant economic revival bill in Congress should be the easy part,” the AP’s Jim Kuhnhenn reports. “For now Obama is using his considerable political muscle and public goodwill to leverage a massive stimulus bill — big spending, big tax cuts — to inject adrenaline into an economy in crisis. But he best save a significant part of that political capital if he wants to overhaul so-far politically inviolable programs such as Social Security and Medicare and avert a looming crisis that few Americans now feel or comprehend.” Yet notice how broad the stimulus has become — to include everything from technology in schools to computerized medical records. “If the plan is passed, Obama will get, in one fell swoop, a running start on large swaths of his long-term agenda, the ultimate cost of which no one yet knows,” Time’s Jay Newton-Small reports. So, Obama will sell — leading with labels: “President-elect Barack Obama’s top political aides are adapting their campaign tactics to selling policy, using data from polls and focus groups to shape the debate over a stimulus plan that may cost at least $775 billion,” Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols and Lorraine Woellert report. “David Axelrod, Obama’s chief political adviser, along with campaign media adviser Jim Margolis, are encouraging lawmakers to use the word ‘recovery’ instead of recession and ‘investment’ instead of ‘infrastructure.’ Those recommendations came from focus-group research indicating that such framing would make the package more appealing to voters.” Frank Luntz is a fan: “The language he is using is brilliant because it’s future-focused.” Obama sits down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday’s “This Week,” in an exclusive interview with the president-elect. While Obama watches his left — could it have been a mistake that Howard Dean wasn’t invited to see his successor named? “If he had been asked to go to that event, he would have been there,” Jim Dean, the chairman’s brother, noted twice in an interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin. Martin: “The conspicuous absence of Howard Dean from Thursday’s press conference announcing Tim Kaine’s appointment as Democratic National Committee chair was no accident, according to Dean loyalists. Rather, they say, it was a reflection of the lack of respect accorded to the outgoing party chairman by the Obama team.” Obama’s line of praise for Dean probably made it worse (since anyone who knew the first thing about it probably laughed out loud): “He launched a 50-state strategy that made Democrats competitive in places they had not been in years, working with my chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, to give Democrats a majority in the House for the first time in over a decade.” The wheels grind in Illinois: Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., could be impeached on Friday. “Paving the way for an unprecedented House vote Friday to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a legislative panel unanimously approved a scathing report accusing the two-term Democrat of a wide array of offenses, including criminal corruption and wasting taxpayer money,” Rick Pearson and Ray Long report in the Chicago Tribune. “A House vote in favor of impeachment — as predicted by Speaker Michael Madigan –would be the first ever for an Illinois governor and would send the issue to the Senate for a trial.” A hiccup for Roland Burris? “A potentially troublesome new detail emerged about Roland Burris’ controversial U.S. Senate appointment Thursday after a state House panel voted unanimously to recommend Gov. Blagojevich be impeached,” Dave McKinney and Jordan Wilson report in the Chicago Sun-Times. “For the first time, Burris indicated that he asked Blagojevich’s former chief of staff and college classmate, Lon Monk, to relay his interest in the Senate seat to the governor last July or September. . . . That testimony appears to differ from an affidavit Burris submitted to the impeachment panel this week in which he stated he spoke to no ‘representatives’ of the governor about the Senate post prior to Dec. 26.” Obama’s day: A 10:30 am ET press conference at transition headquarters, where he unveils his least intelligently handled pick yet. “As every previous director could attest, succeeding at the helm at the Central Intelligence Agency requires an uneasy balance: being firm enough to impose a White House agenda without inciting a revolt, while winning allegiance at the agency without being co-opted by its bureaucracy,” Mark Mazzetti writes in The New York Times. “For Leon E. Panetta, President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for the job, the task is made even more difficult because of intense pressure on Mr. Obama from members of Congress and outside groups to hold agency officials accountable for counter-terrorism policies in which the C.I.A. played a leading role.” Charlie Cook, on the lack of consultation: “This was more a misstep in congressional relations than a personnel mistake. But good relations with Congress are hugely important, and it will be instructive to see whether the Obama team learns from this goof,” Cook writes in National Journal. “No question, the USS Obama has taken a pair of hits in recent days, but it’s too early to say whether this carefully crafted ship has taken on any water.” Colin Powell’s role will be defined at a 12:15 pm ET press conference Friday, per the transition office: “General Powell and the Presidential Inaugural Committee will hold a press conference at the Mayflower Hotel this afternoon about President-elect Obama’s call to national service.” Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, keeps up the fight. This from an extraordinary press release Thursday — after her entertaining interview with a documentary filmmaker was posted online: “Governor Sarah Palin today expressed dismay at continuing efforts in the media to take her comments out of context to create adversarial situations. Ironically, the latest media eruption concerning the governor came out of an interview she gave to a filmmaker who is creating a documentary on distortions by the national press.” “Forget moose — Sarah Palin is back in Alaska and training her sights on other big game, from Caroline Kennedy to Tina Fey and Katie Couric,” David Saltonstall reports in the New York Daily News. “In an interview posted Thursday on the Web, the former Republican veep nominee complains that Kennedy’s blue-blood pedigree will get her softball treatment from the press as she chases Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate seat.” Could “pragmatic progressive” be the new “compassionate conservative”? ABC’s Teddy Davis notices Obama using the label to describe himself. He didn’t run his letter through spell-check first, but House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., is organizing opposition to Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s bid to become Surgeon General. (The House, of course, doesn’t get a say in confirmation.) This is called the double standard: “Senate Democratic leaders won’t shut the door on the possibility of seating Democrat Al Franken before the state of Minnesota issues a certificate declaring a winner in the race,” CQ’s Kathleen Hunter reports. “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid . . . would not commit to waiting until the state issues a certificate, which, under Minnesota law, can only happen once Coleman’s legal contest is resolved.” Reading tea leaves on Caroline: “Her ties to Barack Obama help Caroline Kennedy — but her lack of political experience hurts her chances of being named to the Senate, Gov. Paterson said Thursday,” Kenneth Lovett reports in the New York Daily News. Paterson: “She has areas where’s she’s stronger and areas where she’s not, just like the other candidates.” In a radio interview, Paterson said: “She does not have much political, I mean legislative experience, which is a minus. She has pluses and minuses.” President Bush gets reflective — and maybe restless, too: “After eight years of days carved into five-minute increments, each begun with an update on mortal threats to the nation, President George W. Bush said Thursday that he’s eager for a more carefree life in Dallas He’s just not sure what that will entail,” The Dallas Morning News’ Todd J. Gillman writes. “The routine is gone,” Bush said, relaxing in a high-backed Oval Office chair, sounding wistful and a bit relieved that soon, the burdens will fall to the next president. “Being a type-A personality, I’m confident I’ll be able to fill my days with activities.” And: “I don’t intend to be very political,” Bush said, pivoting to a critique of the Republican Party. “I do know that our party must be broad-gauged, must be for things and not against things.” New idea, out Friday from the Financial Services Forum: “A white paper, commissioned by the Forum, and to be released [Friday] morning, details two innovative programs designed to help stabilize and stimulate American communities struggling with steep budget shortfalls and falling tax revenues.” “The Forum’s white paper proposes ‘structural stimulus.’ That is, new government programs that will not just temporarily boost income or demand, but rather will also address long-standing structural deficiencies in the U.S. economy that impede long-run economic growth.” The Kicker: “That’s called good faith.” — President Bush, explaining to a group of children that he hasn’t seen his new house in Dallas yet (he left that task to Laura). “Katie, you’re not the center of everyone’s universe.” — Sarah Palin, on Katie Couric.

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User Comments

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Posted by: devilkev | January 9, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am

This current recession is worse than post-Carter? lol …Obama said yesterday he would learn from previous Presidents “successes”, not mistakes. So why is he not following Reagan’s success (and G.W. Bush) by just lowering taxes and letting the economy business cycle have it’s course.?
Obama’s gloom and doom scenario and the setting of low expectations is simply an excuse to expand government spending and transfer of wealth. Sure, things are tough right now. Economies have cycles. Throwing money at it is not a solution.

Posted by: Sigmond | January 9, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am

“He tried to scare Congress into acting quickly on Thursday”
I got news for you, I am scared, and you should be too, and the point is we need to do some things quickly. Obama and his team have been working on these plans a very long time. I have been impressed at the complex and thorough approach the incoming administration has taken, including creating a new position in the White House for a woman who will have oversight over government programs, rooting out waste. It is only right the Congress is debating this, er, we are a democracy, remember? So far, I am pleased with both the President Elect and Congressional Democrats. Guess you’re not trying hard enough to scare me, Rick.

Posted by: Amy | January 9, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am

Maybe Obama is actually trying to do what’s best for our country and not what’s best for the Democrats.
It’s a shame that our left wingers can’t even back they guy they got elected.

Posted by: John | January 9, 2009, 9:46 am 9:46 am

The Democrats just cannot stand the thought of CUTTING taxes on anyone!! Until they realize how the economy works, it doesn’t matter what O’Bama does.

Posted by: M. Summer | January 9, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am

per the Wall Street Journal today:
“The economy lost 2.6 million jobs for the year, the most since World War II ended in 1945″ scared yet?

Posted by: Amy | January 9, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am

Even the Porno industry is asking for bail out money. Im sure Obama will give it to them too. Keep the presses rolling and the money coming. Why worry about tommorrow when you can spend it all today and not have to answer to anyone !!!! The Obama plan -spend spend spend with no accountability …then worry about it later…you call that fiscal responsibility ???

Posted by: jimbo | January 9, 2009, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Obama is a crooked Chicago idiot politician who will go down in history as being worse than Carter. You wanted change; yo’ve got it. Right back to 17% inflation of the 1970s as the Treasury contiues to print money.

Posted by: Duke N | January 9, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am

It’s all politics now.

Posted by: LongT | January 9, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am

obana is just starting give the guy a chance.There are low income people who could use a tax cut.the stimulis check would help them out more then you would ever know.He should do something out the land lords in this country who won’t accept section 8.which is the only way most people can pay there rent.landlords continue to refuse it,when they are garrented there rent on time every month.It’s time that someone do something to help poverty and poor people get ahead in this country.Why should they have the dead end/no where jobs,when everyone else get more money.they also have schooling which means nothing in this country.It would be nice to know what it is like to save money and beable to go on my first vacation with my husband.

Posted by: dawn duvo | January 9, 2009, 10:13 am 10:13 am

Be afraid, very afraid of what is to come. The Democrats will take the country down by their selfishness and arrogance. Good luck Obama we hardly knew you.

Posted by: ABQ Resident | January 9, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am

Let Me Get This understood….I am Indebted ..via taxes..for 2 Failed mortgages and the employ of 2 “Infrastructure” workers….I’ll be paying for Them….
Well :::
- Give me the addresses of MY properties…Rental and Eviction Policies and the name of a local realtor to put the properties up for sale.-
- On the weekends I want MY “Infrastructure” employees mowing my yard and trimming my trees…I Pay’em they can work at my place too.

Posted by: BullFrog | January 9, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am

i am sick of hearing republicans say how obama will destroy teh economy or thsi nation,when bush has already done that obama now has to repair thsi nation to what clinton had rebuilt after the last run of republican stupidity.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am

I didn’t vote for Obama, but I’ll give anyone a chance. Hour by hour the load on his shoulders is increasing. He ran on a campaign of “change”, so let us see. I would like to see him buck the status quo. Now the clowns, oops, our servants in the house and senate, are giddy that they are in complete control. Business can go on as usual, this time unhampered by those pesky republicans. Obama, at this time should say “no, things are going to change”.
good luck BO

Posted by: Jas | January 9, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am

While the media continues to criticize Obama, Blagojevich, Palin and others, the real tragedy of this recession is largely being ignored: the stealthy disappearance of trillions in taxpayer dollars by the actions of a Treasury Secretary and his Wall Street cohorts, actions that ultimately could make Bernie Madoff look like a piker. Wake up, Americans, before it’s too late!!

Posted by: Amy Hart | January 9, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am

Liberal-Left in this Country don’t have the mandate. 57 million of us voted for Sara Palin, in other words against B. Hussain Obama and his socialistic agenda to take this country to Communism.
Yes the Messiah got 62 Million votes, than again you take out 2 million ACORN fraudulent voters, another 1/2 million dead people and felons and 3 Dallas Cowboys voting in 4 different States and 1 Mickey Mouse. You got pretty much even 50/50 voters.
So hold on! Don’t push too hard too fast and too far on the liberal left wing agenda to take this great nation to a communist regime, which by the way was tried over 70+ years in Russia/Cuba/Eastern Europe etc and failed miserably.
God Bless America and God Save this Great Nation from the looming tirranny!

Posted by: ptha | January 9, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Dawn,
I’ve got news for you. Low income people dont pay federal taxes.

Posted by: Baracketeer | January 9, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am

ptha——well communism is better the the nazi republican party we have had for last 8 years. and obama is far far far from communism he just wants the system to be fair for all not favor the super rich like bush and cheney and mcloser.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am

ABC News, along with CBS, NBC, PBS, TNN, CNN, NY Times, LA Times, etc etc put Obama in office. He could do NO WRONG from the get go with these liberal media outlets…and NOW we’ve got a totally inexperienced, inept, Chicago politician (corrupt) President.
It’s going to be a wild ride and he will try to be “everything to everybody” and end up JUST LIKE CARTER. Pathetic.

Posted by: Eric | January 9, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am

Dems don’t believe in tax cuts.They think were to stupid to spend are own money.They would sooner pile the money up on the capitol steps and burn it then give it back to the people they took it from.

Posted by: Hal A. Burton | January 9, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am

Hal,
Given your grasp of the English language I would have to agree with them.

Posted by: Baracketeer | January 9, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am

Obama is a failure and an idiot?
But he has such nice pecs!!
But he wears his hat sideways!
but he doesn’t sweat when he works out!
But he can shoot hoops!
But his middle name is Hussein!
but he’s in a Spiderman comic book!
How cam someone with such amazing qualifications be a disaster?

Posted by: I Love Obama | January 9, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am

eric——ok rush or is it hannity…either way all republicans are stupid and hateful that is why they didnt win the election. yes teh media helped obama but they helped bush in 2000 and 2004,they will side with the clear winner. the media knew that mccain and palin were not going to win so the backed obama..

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am

Obama and his team of thugs are well on their way to pulling a great smoke and mirrors con-game on the tax-payer.
Obama is a stammering idiot with Soros pulling the strings.
Make no mistake: we’re well on our way to becoming a second-class nation under the dems and Obama.
Will you lefties still love him when he drafts your sons and daughters to fight another “manufactured war” like Viet Nam? This how he’ll solve our economic woes. Just watch. It’s a classic dem solution…
Get rid of Mr. B. Hussein Obama and his cronies ASAP!

Posted by: Steve | January 9, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am

Sigmond says: “I have been impressed at the complex and thorough approach the incoming administration has taken, including creating a new position in the White House for a woman who will have oversight over government programs, rooting out waste.”
What I want to know is, with Obama’s plan to hire some 500,000 NEW government workers, just what, exactly, would his definition of “waste” be? Put another way, what needed, vital government expansion is he going to undertake with all those new government employees?
Debt, both personal and institutional, got us into this mess. The government solution? Create mega-amounts of additional debt.

Posted by: Mark S. | January 9, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am

This Board is rife with imbeciles who nothing of a how an economy works. Here is what you do:
Cut taxes 20% across board for corporations and individuals. Freeze minimum wage where it is. Then abolish the capital gains tax on everything! The economy will be roaring inside of 6 months with cash flowing into stocks, private investment, and housing. Capital gains taxes adversely affect the Stock Market and Housing Market ! Oh, and do not spend one additional dollar on bailouts.

Posted by: Econ Guy | January 9, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am

This guy Obama looks so inexperienced and unsure of himself in too many pictures. He is out of his league and all he is doing is follow what he is told to do by the Clintonistas. The old Clinton way failed and gave us the 2000 recession after Clinton and Reuben cooked the books to look good for a legacy. This is serious. It is best to put you current savings and retirement into fixed income for the near term (2-4 years) until Obama is shown to be the newbie he is.

Posted by: Chuck Stires | January 9, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am

The problem Obama has is, it won’t be the Republicans that sink him, it will be the Democrats. They have already lined up in a circle to start shooting each other.

Posted by: dee | January 9, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am

econ guy——cut taxes on everybody under 200,000 a year cut capital gains for that same group only, and double the minimum wage and force all companies sending jobs over seas to pay triple taxes then they will bring back jobs here and the economy will prosper again…what you want is what all republicans say and do and that is what gets us in huge dabts and terrible economies.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

You call that the “left”? The left wants the illegal and immoral foreign wars ended and the troops brought home from everywhere in the world. End the Empire! Save America! Those guys aren’t lefties, they’re war criminals lioke most of the Congress.

Posted by: HandyMan | January 9, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am

come on repukelicans keep trying to tell us that trickle down economics will work. keep saying freeze minimum wage and cut taxes on rich and bail out the rich and give to the rich and then oh my it will get down to the working class—–not never the rich are greedy they will never spread the wealth. taxe the rich into smart business practices and then we will ahve a stable economy.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am

The Democrats control the show. The Republicans need to vote against the first Obama initiative because the socialist idea that we can “spend ourselves rich” or “spend our way out of this” as Obama stated it, is economic insanity. Capitalism creates capital over a time frame that must include hard work, profits and gradual gains. Capital is not produced at the nations capital simply by putting a pen on a piece of paper and authorizing the government to spend a trillion dollars. This socialist idea is already predetermined to failure and the Republicans need to stick to the known laws of ecomomics and NOT support it. Elections have consequences and the Democrats claim to have the answers…we must wait and see, then give credit or find fault with their decisions. Leadership is harder than campaigning. Its your show Democrats, go for it!!

Posted by: J | January 9, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am

the problem with this nation is ceo,s make 10,s or 100,s of millions why the worker they employ makes 13 dollars and hour…that is teh greatest downfall of any nation…teh ceo,s must take huge pay cuts and teh workingclas must get good raises

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am

First of all I wish Obama well and hope he succeeds but Wake Up People. Do you want to continue to be slammed by higher taxes and, what’s the new term, FEES. There are even plans to hike taxes on gas now the prices have finally fallen. Just keep voting for Democrats that control your congress, your state assembly, your cities and your schools.
*What’s the condition of Democrat controlled states like CA, NY, IL, PA, MA etc?
*What’s the condition of Democrat controlled cities like NY, LA, SF, Chicago, NO, Philadelphia, Cleveland, etc?
*What’s the condition of our School Districts that are controlled by Democrats, liberals and Unions?
*They are all broke, inefficient and mostly corrupt.
People get what they voted for.

Posted by: MD | January 9, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am

“T” why are you so angry and personal?
“rush or is it hannity …either way all republicans are stupid and hateful ”
“communism is better the the nazi republican party”
“obama now has to repair thsi nation to what clinton had rebuilt after the last run of republican stupidity”
I guess because you are like a true ignorant communist/liberal unable to reason.
P.S. Turn on your spell check moron.

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 11:16 am 11:16 am

This story is total crap. Barry and his Clowns under the Capitol Big Top are getting along very fabulously. They make it seem like there may be some division, but it’s just a smoke screen hiding the total destruction of Capitalism. Socialism has FAILED EVERYTIME its been tried. Europe has been electing Conservatives and cutting taxes as we are the ONLY major economy going the commie way. Sweden’s business tax is just 25% while ours is about to go way ovger 39%. Anyone see anything wrong?

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am

So, let me understand this, reports at ABC are wearing obama knee pads at work? Is that regulation dress code these days? Come on, where’s the skepticism? Where’s the ire?

Posted by: Shepherd | January 9, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am

acygrl———oh yes i type fast and spell badly…yes attack that instead of ideal or ideas…you cnat because all ideas of republicans are evil and wrong.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am

ptha,10:28.24: the “tirranny” that you spoke of, pretty much makes you sound a little tyranical yourself. (and a little NUTS)

Posted by: repsrases | January 9, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am

Response to Dawn Duvo’s comments:
1. There are low income people who could use a tax cut.the stimulis check would help them out more then you would ever know.
Response: No – these are folks that do NOT pay taxes to begin with. If your heart bleeds that badly you can write a personal check to someone you know.
2. It’s time that someone do something to help poverty and poor people get ahead in this country.
Response: You are absolutely correct EXCEPT that each person is responsible for oneself. It is called education and hard work. Sitting on well-padded rear ends and expecting entitlements won’t cut it. Simple question – why should I work doubly hard to subsidize some lazy person?
3. It would be nice to know what it is like to save money and beable to go on my first vacation with my husband.
Response: Very good. Go and work hard, meet your needs first and then take care of your wants. My heart is not necessarily bleeding because poor you is deprived of a vacation. You want it that badly GO AND WORK for it.

Posted by: Ramesh | January 9, 2009, 11:24 am 11:24 am

Go Dem’s go. Print more money and buy votes. “We will spend our way out of this” In your F ing dreams.
We will print money into Hyper Inflation. So go ahead and scream where’s my check, Obama’s going to give to you. It just wont buy anything in 3-4 years. But hey
we must redistribute the wealth until no one is wealthy, and then we can blame it all on GWB. It’s worked so far.

Posted by: who cares | January 9, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am

There is always one “bimbo” in the bunch and “T” takes the label…can’t even spell or correctly organize his sentences!

Posted by: S | January 9, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am

killerbee—–yes i do—-ceo,s make hundreds of millions workers make 13 dollars an hour. time to tax the crap out of the rich and big business.and as teh government they should force thsoe businesses to cut wages to the top so they cna pay teh workers better…that willfix teh economy.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am

The Left is upset about Obama? I guess this makes him a Conservative!

Posted by: Larry | January 9, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am

The ecnomy has its cyle, so does the CLIMATE. The real trouble comes only when the goverment interferes. We wouldn’t have ever gotten into this so deep if lending had stayed a business decision and not a political one.
Amen Sigmond.

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am

Steve, “manufactured war? What exactly are YOU referring too? That has already happened. And it kind of makes you sound a little idiotic.

Posted by: repsrases | January 9, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am

MD said “People get what they voted for.”
MD – well said – the average voter is getting exponentially becoming more stupid with each election cycle!

Posted by: Ramesh | January 9, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am

S—-i live in clarks grove minnesota come and say that to my face you nazi republican. we true americans defeated you nazi,s once we will do it again and we did we beat mccain and heil palin in november. we true american(democrats) will never let you nazi,s hurt america again.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am

obama thinks he is pretty cutsy with is ARRP Plan, oh he is such a foney.—–American Rape and Reaping Plan we have all of the foney politics we can stand.
obama maybe you should go back to coordinating basketball games, and playing with Bragovitch, Rezzo, Ayers and Wright in Chicago.

Posted by: bob | January 9, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am

Heil Comrade “T”:
Why don’t you have the hourly workers run the Corporation for just a day! It won’t just be a “day of reckoning” – it will be an “instant of reckoning” when they find out the challenges involved!

Posted by: Ramesh | January 9, 2009, 11:31 am 11:31 am

ramesh—-we common workers could run the business from top down…..but the fat lazy manicured nail ceo,s could never do teh real work taht makes the money for companies…..we workers dont need management but management needs us workers….fact period.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am

There is WAY too much “scaring” going on. Congress got “scared” into writing a $350 billion blank check, and now Obama is trying to “scare” Congress into coming up with another $800 billion or so?
Has everyone forgotten that it was THESE people who came up with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?
Thbese are the people who were stupid enough to CAUSE this debacle. Do you really want them trying to fix it?
What we need is to get the total share of the economy being controlled by the government as small as feasible – not have politically connected idiots writing blank checks.
You want a stimulus? Fine. Hava a moratorium on ALL federal tax collections until this situation is stabilized. Don’t give more matches and gasoline to the idiot children who caused the fire.

Posted by: George Hanshaw | January 9, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am

Obama has been acting like a Reagan conservative ever since he got elected. I think the far left America haters are just beginning to realize that they were simply useful idiots to help him get into the White House. Continuing the war, tax cuts, against gay marriage, Hillary as SOS – well Democrat Underground, Daily Kos, Huffington Post – you got what you wanted, how does it taste? Lol. And you had better be careful about criticizing him, unless you want to be branded as racists. Lol.

Posted by: Tonyinmaine | January 9, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am

“oh yes i type fast and spell badly…yes attack that instead of ideal or ideas…you cnat because all ideas of republicans are evil and wrong.”
“T” you don’t have any ideas only class envy.You can’t spell sp you are not even college educated. However you edmire communism and that makes you a moron. I have every right to say that because I had lived it. Nobody, who has done that would ever idolize something so inhumane….however I eager to see your REASONS.

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am

I can’t believe it. The left says that the reason we are in the economic mess we are in is because of GWB & congress had nothing to do with it. So I guess it is now up to BHO to save us. So why is BHO having so much problem getting his stimulas package? It’s still a democratic majority in congress. That’s right, they don’t have anything to say or do about it. I guess maybe we put to much blame on the prez and not enough on the congress. Come on house and senate. Lets start thinking about the american people. Also, the auto workers are supposed cut back and lay off workers. City, county governments are supposed to lay off workers. I don’t see the federal government laying off to many in thier varios departments.

Posted by: confused | January 9, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am

T–typical bully tactic. Can’t organize thoughts into a coherent whole, so must threaten and beat up anyone who disagrees or sees T for what T appears to be based on his own writing and words.

Posted by: s | January 9, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am

i dont love communism—-i just hate nazi facist ideas like what the republicans offer. i hate commies. i joined military back during cold war because i hate commies…obamas and teh democrats ideas are not communism they are for we the people for the common man not just the rich and powerful. so if being honest and equal to all is communism then i guess i am a communist but better then a hateful war mongering only for teh rich nazi republican.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am

“ramesh—-we common workers could run the business from top down…..but the fat lazy manicured nail ceo,s could never do teh real work taht makes the money for companies…..we workers dont need management but management needs us workers….fact period.”
That being the case, you should have no trouble quitting your job and starting a company in competition to it. Hell, you ought to win easily in a head-to-head competition. After all, you know how to do the ‘teh real work’ and certainly ought to be able to whip up on a company run by “fat lazy manicured nail ceo,s’ although perhaps they can spell a little better than you.

Posted by: George Hanshaw | January 9, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

s—-oh and you sound so smart!!! you attacked me first i just responded with facst and honesty… then you fire back with more hate and nastyness…..sounds just like a nazi republican.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

Why haven’t the code pinkers, ACLU, and other America haters protested Obama’s pledge to continue the war? Must be that “D” after his name…

Posted by: TonyinMaine | January 9, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am

T–no point in “discussing”…total waste of time. Please continue to live in your reality.

Posted by: s | January 9, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am

How is T. able to post a comment? Is there not a minimum IQ requirement?

Posted by: KPNunn | January 9, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am

george hanshaw—— i did start my own business i own a cleaning company we had two national franchises in my town i worked for one i drove both out of business. because i pay very very high wages so i get great employees. what is funny when these rich guys that owned cleaning companies lost workers they ahd to close there doors. why? because they dont know how to do real phyisical work.. if all hourly wage earners in thsi nation just diappeared teh rich would crumble and die… but if all ceo,s left us working people would just move up the totem pole and fill in teh spots.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am

“obana is just starting give the guy a chance.”
If I remember correctly, the left said Bush was a “SOB” two weeks before he took office. What goes around, comes around. I told a friend, who was going to vote for obama, that in one year, it would be the left calling obama a SOB, not me.

Posted by: Mike | January 9, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, here is something that should cause a lot of introspection by every voter in America.
’545 People by Charlie Reese’
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices – 545 human beings out of the 300 million – are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.
I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the speaker of the House? She/he is the leader of the majority party. She/he and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.
If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts – of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 pe ople.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ, it’s because they want them in IRAQ.
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like ‘the economy,’ ‘inflation’ or ‘politics’ that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses – provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
And keep in mind this Congress only worked 93 days last year! The shortest season in history and at a time when we are at war and the economy is tumbling!

Posted by: Lizzie | January 9, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am

kpnunn—- what? i havent said one thing to you but you attack me… yep another nazi republican spreadding hate and evil.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am

T – Why do you think the republicans are nazis?
You just keep ranting about Rush, Hannity and Cheney without giving any reason. What fuels your hate?

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am

Obama doesn’t need to worry about the left or right ruining his stimulus package. He needs to worry about reality ruining it.
You know that 750 billion dollar bailout that was supposed to prevent a financial catastrophe… the one that happened anyway. That was the coming attractions for Obama’s stimulus.

Posted by: David | January 9, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am

anyway keep up the hate and attempted destruction of teheworking class that bush started and you will guarantee your nazi republican party will never get elected again.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am

@ T,
Complain and bitch all you want, your a good little “useful Idiot”. I can see by your posts you have run companies, have executive experience, and have all the answers to the worlds problem in the palm of your hand NOT. Ever done to a communist country? I have and as acygrl puts it it isn’t pretty.

Posted by: who cares | January 9, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am

You know the govt tells us that wreckless spending and no regulation is what got us in this mess. And now, to solve the problem Obama recommends more wreckless spending? This reminds me of Homer Simpson’s quote: Beer – the cause of and the answer to all of life’s problems.

Posted by: Tim | January 9, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Clinton was all about smoke and mirrors and turst me, BHO will do the same.
The Clinton years were not what you think.
google clinton surplus myth
It is all right there in black and white.

Posted by: Rosemary | January 9, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

acygrl—–look around the economy is trashed, we are hated world wide for bushes policies, we went from five trillion in debt to 10 trillion in debt, bush deregulated the banks and made it easy for big business to file bankruptcie but hard for common people to file. also when asked about hwo 75% of american dont aprrove of there policies they both said so what. that is just stuupid

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

T. is even spreading “spreadding”. Why don’t you educate all of us on the exact definition of a nazi…we’ll navigate through the grammatical dumpster fire of your reply.

Posted by: KPNunn | January 9, 2009, 11:58 am 11:58 am

Dear T,
I hardly think that I or most of my conservative collegues are stupid. I started reading fluently at age two. My I.Q. is higher than Bill Clinton’s. For your information, 75% of Republicans have college degrees while a much smaller number of Democrats have four years of college. If you actually listened to conservative radio or television, instead of believing what you hear others say about it, you would be pleasantly surprised because most of their arguments make sense. For example, Obama want to give a tax break of $3,000 to small businesses who hire more people. Why would a small business owner find that to be an incentive when it will cost him, lets say, $24,000 to hire him or her if the wages payed to the new hire were to be $28,000? It just does not make economic sense. Until the Democratic party understands that taking money from people with the means to hire will hurt the economy, the economy will either get worse or stay were it is. As an investor, I can say that I am very wary about Obama controlling the purse strings of our country. Pelosi and Reid are even worse than Obama as far as instilling confidence in the investing public. As far as Republicans being Nazi’s, I have lived in Germany for close to seven years. I have seen what the Nazi party did to the people of Europe and the Germans. The Holacost museum in D.C. is most informative on how the German probaganda machine was used to further Hitler’s cause. You may not realize it, but the Democratic party used and is using many of the same tactics to manipulate the public into putting them in power–you just can’t see it because it has been so insidious.

Posted by: Rosie | January 9, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am

“T”
if you would read world history you may find out that your messiah and the nazi’s have a lot more in common then the rep party that you hate so much

Posted by: Lizzie | January 9, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am

lot of repukelican nazi,s on here today, idont have time to argue with all of you so i will let you all spew your hate and racism and war mongering ideas back and forth betwen each other. i hope when you face god and he says you will burn in hell for your nazi republican ways i hope you think about what i said and jesus said it is almost impossible for a rich man to get into heaven. why? because to get rich you must be evil.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm

bye to all.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Reading some of the comments here it’s clear that this a prime gathering place for ignorant, disgruntled right wing nuts who know nothing about history or economics. The personal insults (Obama’s a muslim terrorist — or is he an elitist– never mind) and charges (Obama’s corrupt or incompetent) without a hint of a fact to back them up, are bad enough. But the stupid comments about the nation’s economic crisis are scary. Fortunately, these loony tune voices don’t speak for the American people. I would love a calm discussion of real issues. But with a few honorable exceptions, you won’t find it here. I’m through reading such tripe and will leave this “discussion” for people with more tolerance for invective and nonsense. Have fun.

Posted by: tmginnova | January 9, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Remember we didn’t have this financial mess until we elected a Democratic Congress two years ago. It has all occured under their watch. Obama can thank himself, Chriss Dodd, Barney Frank,and Nancy Pelosi for the mess we are in. How can he solve our financial problems with friends like that?

Posted by: jgreu | January 9, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

T – for God’s sake, SHUT UP! Every single post you make proves beyond any shadow of doubt that you have absolute no idea of how the economy works, financing and a dangerous lack of historical perspective. Thus far you haven’t made a single accurate statement – everything you have stated is either an outright LIE or simply your opinion.
By the way, you might want to do a little research and find out when and what caused the economy to tank – you might be very surprised by what you find, especially since you appeart to be one of those ill-informed, MSM-daily kos types given your complete lack of factual accuracy.

Posted by: DJH | January 9, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

You liberals do realize that Nazism/Facism are leftist ideologies similar to communism?

Posted by: larry | January 9, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Oh, you know it all “T” !
Without the educated, hard woking, risk taking high earners whose cleaning would you do? You should have stayed in high school.

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

T- or should I say “Iranian Operative #1″- your views are hampered by your lack of definition. You need to look up ‘nazi’ and many other words you use. You see- they don’t mean what you seem to think they mean!
Nazi republicans? You mean those guys who freed the slaves when every democrat voted against the emancipation proclamation? Or maybe the mean republicans who passed the 14th amendment when EVERY democrat in office voted against it?
Maybe you mean the ‘nazi’ republicans who gave women the right to vote (against democratic opposition) or those nazi republicans who integrated pro-sports? Maybe you mean those mean republicans who were killed by the KU KLUX KLAN (Begun by democrats to hunt and kill republican civil rights activists) helping african americans vote.
Oh. You must mean the ‘nazi’ republicans who liberated 24 million people in Iraq, or those that gave freedom to millions of women in Afghanistan.
The fact is that republicans lead us along a very simple maxim: “Peace through strength, self-determination and less government.”
In case you don’t remember T- Obama pledged to repeal Bush’s tax cuts on the wealthy. Then he learned that tax revenues under Bush have gone UP 12%- despite cutting EVERYONE’s taxes. His ignorance was met with hard facts, and he backed off. The same is true of his Iraq timeline, his environmental agenda and many other facts that escaped him.
You see- Obama learned that it wasn’t a republican who PROVED that cutting taxes raises (GASP!) revenue. It was a democrat. John F Kennedy.
A man who also said americans should ask “not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for country.”
John F Kennedy was also the basis of evidence used in the Bush doctrine. “We shall support any friend, fight any foe, in defense of democracy and liberty.”
Bush new what worked. He fought the crisis in 2003 when democrats were ruining the economy with the expansion of the ‘community reinvestment act’ that forced banks to issue 1,000,000,000,000.00$ in new loans to ‘bad credit’ and ‘no credit’ borrowers.
Bill Clinton said “democrats bear the blame. . .by fighting any attempts to add oversight to the lending industry.”
Bill Clinton fought them. George Bush fought them. John McCain fought them. But Barney Frank and Franklin Raines now have a FRIEND in the white house- a man who SUED citibank (OBAMA) for not issuing (wait for it!) enough bad loans to risky borrowers!
If you took all of the last three stimulous packages and combined them you could: Give every adult american 220 million people, a check for 100,000$. THAT WOULD BE HELPING THE POOR AND THE ECONOMY.
If we want fairness in this system then we should support a ‘fair tax’ or flat tax solution. Something more akin to a national sales tax- something that would put an end to money laundering and black market loopholes. A system where EVERY american pays 12 cents on each dollar spent. Rich people will pay that for their yachts, and obamabots like many posters here will pay the tax on each of their bongs.
Fair. Balanced. Everyone pays.
Instead we get not a fair system, but a medicine man selling gimmicks. A man who put us in the mess we’re in.
Obama set fire to our house. And now he fights with the congress carrying the gas can to see who gets to put our burning furniture out.
“It is a shameful leader who abuses the ignorance of his populace to build muscle over them.”

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm

To “tmginnova”
Yeah, right. This is ABC and the only one with the outstanding comments just left. Got to the HUFFINTON POST “T” must be already there.

Posted by: acygrl | January 9, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

Republicans won’t acknowledge their faults, Democrats won’t acknowledge theirs.
All this bickering on here demonstrates one thing: this nation is completely DOOMED by the idiocy of its citizens.
You know what you guys are doing? You’re having an argument about which party will burn the country to the ground slower, and you somehow think an arsonist who uses matches instead of a lighter is better.
It’s lunacy.
How nice that you’ve “picked teams,” as if this is some kind of sporting event. There’s a simple reason why our founders warned against the emergence of political parties, and the people on this website illustrate that reason quite well.
You may now return to striking matches and flicking lighters while standing in a pool of gasoline.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm

Reviewed, Stunned & Breathless!

Posted by: bobj72 | January 9, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

The left hates tax cuts for anyone. They just do not get how the the system works. Cut taxes on businesses and allow them an environment to create more jobs. It’s that simple. Cut taxes on the individuals so they have more money to buy good and services, which allow the businesses to make more money which allows them to create more jobs. Let the private sector do what it does, it has made us the rishest country on earth with a comfortable living for most working folks. The government has no business creating jobs, any jobs they create, YOU pay for with your taxes that the left wingers DO NOT want cut.

Posted by: yoodles | January 9, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm

Yep, just another politician. Already breaking promises.
THERE WILL BE NO LOBBYISTS PEDDLING INFLUENCE IN AN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION!!
(Except for the lobbyist that he is appointing to be deputy secretary of defense. Apparently being a VP at one of the nations largest and wealthiest govt contractors doesn’t disqualify you for a job at the pentagon. Way to stick to your guns, BHO!)

Posted by: mustang freddy | January 9, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

Lizzie’s post is right on. thanks…it’s absolutely the truth. One thing that bothers me is that GB has taken the blame for everything wrong in this country, when the Clintons are the ones who forced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to start making those loans to low income people who couldn’t really afford it…hence we have the forclosure mess. And Al Franken, the weirdest gay politician around, was in charge of the committee with oversight. 2 weeks before the crisis with Fannie and Freddie, he said ALL WAS WELL. He’s a liar and now will STILL not take responsibility, but lays it all on G. Bush. What a chicken, what a creep. Pelosi is out of control (what happened to bipartisanship?) and Obama needs to rein her in big time, along with some others. I don’t care if it’s a Dem or a Repub, I just want the country to be whole and financially sound again!

Posted by: TallGurl | January 9, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm

gb8898- there are ALWAYS a lesser of two evils. As a republican based not on teams (although people quick with insults and short on ideas often wax poetic without ever offering insight) I would hear your ‘perceived’ shortcomings of the political parties.
As I read these I see few defending their party’s respective shortcomings, but instead supporting their philosophy and party perspective (while taking the opportunity to jibe the other).
While I stand on a team, it is one not of political expediency, and I challenge you to find one republican who isn’t well aware of their party’s faults.
But in the end it is a question of philosophy and research and ideals.
Far more than not republicans have stood on the correct side of that debate. The republican mantra is the same as it was under Lincoln. It will be the same under the next republican president.
The only sin the right is guilty of in this political cycle was breaking its own rule: Less government and less government spending.
We need look at the current solutions being presented. One party wants to stimulate business and offer tax cuts in exchange for hiring more workers. This party, the republicans, also want a tax cut for the middle class.
One party, as you read above, is dead set against cutting taxes for the middle class, and wants the money put into temporary low skilled labor positions.
Whichever side you’re on it’s not hard to break these debates down to their most base elements and ask simple questions. Here’s an example from a group of second graders we recently spoke with:
“One group wants the government to control the money, and the other wants the PEOPLE to control the money, and leave government out of it. Which idea is better? (They answered correctly- they chose for PEOPLE to have the money!)
“One group of people doesn’t want any babies killed. The other group says it’s okay to kill babies as long as they CHOOSE to.
(Again, a child shall lead them! They answered that killing babies was wrong!)
One more: One group thinks everyone, regardless of effort or capability, should make the same amount of money as everyone else. The other believes that if you work hard and make life better for yourself you should be rewarded.
Well, as all can see- second graders have a better eye for politics than most of Obama’s voters, 9 out of 10 of which polled say that america’s form of government is a democracy.
It’s not. It’s a REPUBLIC.
But who knows- maybe we’ll find a way to bring all 57 states on board for a new style of government.
And a new political party. Everyone say good bye to John F Kennedy style democrats.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new dominant political force in america-
The Socialistic-communism-light democrats

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

EXCELLENT !!!
It’s good for America that Obama is not in cahoots with the majority Democratic congress. Look what happens when the “friendly” Congress blindly and loyally follows the president off the cliff… we ALL suffer.
FINALLY, our system of checks and balances is back in place.
See how easy taht was.. get rid of the drunken cowboy, replace him with an intelligent adult and things start to get better. amazing how that works huh ?

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

This guy Obama is a committed Marxist-Socialist and it is an old trick to say that other leftists are pushing Obama to follow their agenda. He will simply say that he is being pushed by the leftists in Congress to act in a certain way and let them take the hit, if any, all the while it is his idea in the first place. This guy knows nothing about the economics, but he will follow his leftist instincts to create the bankruptcy of the U.S. You guys at ABC, who created and generated your Messiah Obama into the White House, will take some of the blame when this nation is led into ruin. Can not you see this Obama guy does not have a clue what he is doing or what is really going on.

Posted by: walter12 | January 9, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

Imagine if this was 2004 and we had to rely on 4 more years of Bush to save the economy ?
Yeesh, what an ugly thought !

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm

Sorry. I just have a hard time dealing with the realization that Obama is a loser. I invested all my emotional capital with him- and now its dawning on me that Obama is a crook like his friend Blago, a failure, and that the US and the entire free world is in for a very rough 4 years under this brainless idiot. It’s hard to admit that I was seduced by a smooth-talking empty suit with no idea how the real world works. When I examine the facts it is so obvious, but I voted with my emotions and not with my brain. I voted for Obama out of guilt, and now we’re all stuck with this ignorant fool.

Posted by: T | January 9, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

08′ama-la-bongs-a-lot,
You are absolutely right! When Carter (the drunken cowboy you must be referring to!) got out, the world got much brighter. Thanks to Reagan, and then a pair of Bush’s!
Thank god for presidents who do what’s right instead of what’s politically expedient.
Why, if Bush had tried to be popular we wouldn’t have crushed Al Quaeda, or taken out a brutal dictator. Or freed 24 million people.
Oh wait. That’s right. You think fighting terrorists is, um, like bad, umkay? You think spreading democracy is evil. How mean to let people select their own leaders?!
So you make a good point- Obama or anyone for that matter should avoid democrats in congress like the plague!

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

Rosie: 11:59…You really are smart. Are you a mensan? Truly only republicans are intelligent.
The propaganda started in 2001. We were all bulldozed over by WMD. The way I see it, and many others, of mensan qualities, it was very Nszi-like.
Just like Hitler, Bush and his cronies were believed and mesmerized by his great charm.
I too, went to the D.C museum. I felt right at home there after the last eight years.

Posted by: epsrases | January 9, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

This man is not a LEADER. The dopey “American Idol” public stupefyingly elected a “kewl”, popular, neato!, feel-good speech-giver as president of the free world. They failed to notice his flimsy resume, lack of executive experience, weak convictions and poor judgement.
Of COURSE the Democratic Congress, who is chafing to push their agenda after battling with Bush, is going to eat this clown for lunch. They won’t be able to agree on anything. Meanwhile the business sector, feeling absolutely NO confidence in this collection of dunces, is pulling back and pulling out. Unemployment will rise, stocks will go into a free-fall, GDP will grind to a halt and our national security will crumble, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to terrorism, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, China….
THANKS DEMS. Your perpetual guilt, self-loathing and can’t-do attitude has finally paid off in a weakening America with no leadership, no military power, no economic strength. Why do you hate the United States so much?

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | January 9, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

Republicans are way better looking than Dems. Ever check that out? Its pretty enlightening. Not that all Dems are ugly, just really f’d up!

Posted by: Daniel | January 9, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

Thank God for Bush!
Can you imagine four years without the protections and economic fortitude he put in place?
Again- Obama put us in this mess. He caused the financial crisis.
It wasn’t ‘deregulation’ but instead ‘bad government regulations’ that blew us up. It was democrats who forced banks to issue a trillion dollars in new loans to bad credit borrowers.
It was Barack Hussein Obama who SUED companies for not issuing enough bad loans.
Don’t believe me? Ask Bill Clinton.
Obama and democrats have set our house on fire, and they are trying to sell us WATER to put it out.
Snake-oil for sale here.
Get your snake-oil here.
I promise it will cure all that ailes you.
Obama-bots have a lot in common with a certain group of kool-aid drinkers who raced their charismatic leader to the grave.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

I am center-left but I am very disappointed in Democrats at the moment. The one thing you can count on with Democrats is that you can’t count on them, scurrying willy-nilly, each with their own agenda. There must be some happy medium between the Keystone cop routine Democrats use and the lock-step march over a cliff that Republicans employ. Each party has had it all and then watched it self destruct right in front of them, the Republicans most recently. It will be the Dems turn next. Stupid, stupid people.

Posted by: DaveM | January 9, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

11 of the 19 9-11 highjackers were SAUDI’s. So What does Bush do when the Saudi dictator comes to his Texas ranch for a visit ? He holds his hand like a little girl, thus slapping the faces of the 3000+ people killed on 9-11.
And how’s that ‘democracy’ coming along in Kuwait, you know, the country we ‘liberated’ ? Oh yeah, never mind.
Why does Bush and his family dynasty with their extensive ties to the Bin Laden family hate America so much ???

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

GEORGE BUSH’S FAREWELL SPEECH:
“Normally, I start these things out by saying ‘My Fellow Americans.’ Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don’t know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that you’re really not fellow Americans any longer.
I’ll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There’s been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.
The reason I’m quitting is simple. I’m fed up with you people. I’m fed up because you have no understanding of what’s really going on in the world. Or of what’s going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too darned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.
Let’s start local. You’ve been sold a bill of goods by politicians and the news media.
Meanwhile, all you can do is whine about gas prices, and most of you are too dog gone stupid to realize that gas prices are high because there’s increased demand in other parts of the world, and because a small handful of noisy idjiots are more worried about polar bears and beachfront property than your economic security.
We face real threats in the world. Don’t give me this ‘blood for oil’ thing. If I were trading blood for oil I would’ve already seized Iraq ‘s oil fields and let the rest of the country go to he#. And don’t give me this ‘Bush Lied…People Died’ crappolla either. If I were the liar you maroons take me for, I could’ve easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be ‘discovered.’ Instead, I owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty.
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named ‘ Clinton ‘ established that policy. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?
Now some of you maroons want to be led by a junior senator with no understanding of foreign policy or economics, and this nitwit says we should attack Pakistan , a nuclear ally. And then he wants to go to Iran and make peace with a terrorist who says he’s going to destroy us. While he’s doing that, he wants to give Iraq to al Qaeda, Afghanistan to the Taliban, Israel to the Palestinians, and your money to the IRS so the government can give welfare to illegal aliens, who he will make into citizens, so they can vote to re-elect him. He also thinks it’s okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons, and we should stop our foreign aid to Israel . Did you sleep through high school?
You idjiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to outspend and out-tech them.
That’s not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don’t care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That’d be fine, as long as they weren’t also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and the bas tards are all over the globe.
You should be grateful that they haven’t gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you’re not. That’s because you’ve got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that. When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I’m disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of ‘Survivor.’
Instead, you’ve grown impatient. You’re incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.
Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy. Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat’s political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well Fed Ex a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.
In this day and age, it’s easy enough to find the truth. It’s all over the Internet. It just isn’t on the pages of the New York Times, USA Today, or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you’d be any smarter . Most of you would rather watch American Idol or Dancing with Stars.
I could say more about your expectations that the government will always be there to bail you out, even if you’re too stoopid to leave a city that’s below sea level and has a hurricane approaching.
I could say more about your insane belief that government, not your own wallet, is where the money comes from. But I’ve come to the conclusion that were I to do so, it would sail right over your heads.
So I quit. I’m going back to Crawford. I’ve got an energy-efficient house down there (Al Gore could only dream) and the capability to be fully self-sufficient for years. No one ever heard of Crawford before I got elected, and as soon as I’m done here pretty much no one will ever hear of it again. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to die of old age before the last pillars of America fall.
Oh, and by the way, Cheney’s quitting too. That means Pelosi is your new President. You asked for it. Watch what she does carefully, because I still have a glimmer of hope that there are just enough of you remaining who are smart enough to turn this thing around in 2008.
So that’s it. God bless what’s left of America .
Some of you know what I mean. The rest of you, kiss off.”
George W. Bush

Posted by: George | January 9, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

I don’t understand why Democrats acknowledge that tax cuts are needed to spur the economy when things are bad but forget this when things are good?
Tax cuts are ALWAYS good for the economy and tax increases are ALWAYS bad for the economy. So why would you make tax cuts temporary?
Democrats have multiple personalities on this issue.
The fact is, the U.S. Treasury is receiving greater tax revenue now after Bush’s tax cuts than it was before the cuts. Why? Because tax cuts made the economy grow, and a larger economy creates more tax revenue.
This isn’t rocket science folks.
One final note, why do Democrats believe in “trickle down economics” when they are in charge but say it didn’t work under Reagan? Again, multiple personalities…

Posted by: Scott | January 9, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

HOPE… is right around the corner.
Well, 239 HOURS to be exact.
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Republicans are right, there IS a God !

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm

simon – “Thank God for Bush”? Are you truly serious? Dude, look around at the mess that’s staring right back. Complete incompetence, foolish policies, willful neglect, and dangerous precedents are the legacy of this complete failure of a president. A pointless war we could not afford generated the largest deficits known to mankind and was a major contributor to our economic collapse. Deregulation allowed the financial companies to create loan instruments designed to self destruct on a certain date. And this loser wiped his rear with the Constitution.

Posted by: DaveM | January 9, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

epsrases-
You are being disengenuous at best, or you are an outright liar at worst.
Here’s a taste of the propaganda you claim to be so knowledgable about:
“Saddam (Hussein) must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons,” Clinton said.
“Earlier today I ordered America’s armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces,” Clinton said.
“Their mission is to attack Iraq’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors,” said Clinton.
BILL CLINTON, DECEMBER 16th 1998
OHHHHH- You must have meant the propaganda that began in 1988, and then miraculously spread through every INDEPENDENT intelligence service in the FREE WORLD.
Even nations opposed to the invasion- France and China notably- shared the SAME intelligence.
Bush gave many objectives for the invasion, and only one, WMD, was chorused repeatedly by the media.
Bush also said that Iraq is a strategic end run around Al-Quaeda. It forced them to pour their resources their, opposing us far from our citizens, and far from our strategic interests.
Whether or not you’ll admit it is beside the point, but Bush (or more likely his military advisors) has kept these demonic terrorists from determining another attack on our soil.
But keep hating america first. That’s what Al Quaeda does (note that they blame Obama in their new video for the Israeli assault on Gaza- not Bush).
Us good ‘ol gun toting, bible thumping war mongers will protect you (yes, even you!) when the time comes. Unless you try to sell us out again, like democrats of past present and future. In which case Obama and the whole group can go the way of the Benedict Arnorld they constantly behave like.
Propaganda indeed. It’s bouncing around in your head like a litany of four letter words, and none of them shall bring you peace. . .Because peace is made and kept on the backs of soldiers, not wishes or prayers like you seem to believe. . .

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

Simon: I agree with a lot of what you say, and I do MOSTLY see the Republican party as the lesser of two evils. But that said, evil is still evil… know what I mean?
Today’s Republicans, much as they may disagree, are “George Bush Republicans.” They hate taxes but have no problem borrowing from China to pay for policing the world. Which is another thing: the Republican party NEVER advocated policing the world. Never. It was the huge liberal Woodrow Wilson who said it was our duty to make the world “safe for democracy.”
Utopianism is supposed to reside in the Democratic party, but it has slowly leached over to the Republican side. That’s why people on the Right go on about “liberating” Iraq and Afghanistan. We didn’t liberate anything; we merely stirred the pot, so to speak. What are the odds that both countries will disintegrate into violence within five years of our withdrawal? I’d put the odds fairly high, as would most other sane people.
And the point of my argument is this: Government meddling at home irks most Republicans, and government meddling abroad irks most Democrats. Why? Because GOVERNMENT can’t perfect the world. Both parties acknowledge this obvious fact to a certain degree.
But both both parties are inconsistent in that acknowledgment in that they only apply it to certain areas which correspond with their ideology. It’s a hypocritical position for one to take, and it flies in the face of logic. As such, the parties today really aren’t nearly as far apart as most people like to think. Both parties should more adequately be labeled as “statist,” as they believe government has omnipotent power regarding certain facets of life.
This notion flies in the face of everything our founders believed, and it is the main reason I find little to cheer about when people argue about which side is “better.” They’re really arguing about which side is “less worse.”
Yay.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

GEORGE BUSH’S FAREWELL SPEECH:
“i’ll umm, be clearin’ brush if anyone needs me … anyone?… hello?”

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

Dave M-
Where are Bush’s failures? Name one. I’ll be waiting.
What’s wrong with Bush is that you hate him. You hate him because your liberal agenda tells you to.
If you have a perceived failure in mind please share it. Dude.
I’m waiting because I know your life revolves aroung political research, and you’ll be able to list voting rolls, idealistic shifts in party affiliation, and historical insight gained through precedents.
I’m ready to shoot all of your arguments out of the sky just like Saddam shot at, downed and tortured our pilots enforcing the UN mandated no-fly zones over Iraq.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm

Question for “dawn duvo”, who wants the “poor people to get ahead in this country”: Dawn….baby… How do you think “poor people” are going to get ahead?
I’ll tell you how.
Through obtaining a JOB and WORKING.
Another question: How do these jobs come about?
When businesses are healthy, successful, growing and hiring.
One last question, Dawn baby: How are businesses going to become healthy, successful, and be able to grow and hire again?
If – and ONLY if – Pretend-President Obama lowers capital gains, lowers taxes, lowers trade restrictions, lowers tariffs and eases regulations. Forget about “stimulus plans”, bonuses for companies, infrastructure jobs and all this other happy horse****. It’s just sliding money around, from point A to point B – - there’s no generation of new wealth, products or services. Only by giving businesses and consumers CONFIDENCE and TAX BREAKS do we stand ANY chance of seeing recovery.
Have I made myself clear, Dawn baby? If not, I suggest you enroll in an Economics 101 course at your local community college. If you did, you’d be learning more than our Pretend President ever has.

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | January 9, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

Obama certainly has his work cut out for him. It’s gonna take more than bleach, ammonia and elbow grease to clean up the rotten mess Bush and the Republicans left, that’s for sure.
But we can thank God that the right man for the job was elected by the largest number of people ever in the history of elections in America.
We will never forget the Bush presidency disaster, but the healing has begun and pretty soon the last 8 years will jsut simply be a bad memory.

Posted by: '08ama | January 9, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm

gb898-
In early posts I elude to current republican shortcomings, so I didn’t feel a need to go into it there.
We spent way too much- but much of it was ‘compromise’ spending when Bush made deals with various elements of the liberal party to push through his legislation.
But the spending on the war was just and necessary. Republicans feel, rightly, that our own freedoms are threatened when we allow theocrats, murderers and terrorists to go unpunished when faced with their short-falls.
Make no mistake. I don’t see republicans as evil in any way, other than in those ways that politicians are inherently dishonest and slick. I made the argument based on the premise that everyone makes mistakes. And evil, as a road, is often paved with good intentions.
At this point in time conservatives need to assess their economic formula and make thriftiness a central part of their campaign. They need swiftly return to Lincoln’s basis for our reason to be.
What’s telling is that everyone knows it- everyone except the party leadership working towards the election. Now it is a constant and underlying necessity, and often goes without saying.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm

I wish Obama would just shut his pie hole up! Everytime NumbNuts opens his mouth with stupid platitudes the Dow tanks. Yo Bamster, just shut the F^%k-up for a week or two to allow my 401K return to the positive level !!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ferd Berfall | January 9, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Sigmond:
“It is only right the Congress is debating this, er, we are a democracy, remember?”
No we’re not. We’re a republic. “Democracy” is waaaaaay overused by both sides of the aisle and incorrect.

Posted by: goaway | January 9, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Yes, we know its getting bad when the Porn industry has to ask for a subsidy to get a blow job.
Now that is a what I call a hard time.

Posted by: mrbill | January 9, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

I am a Democrat and I am starting to wonder what party does Obama belong too? No wonder those Democrats in Congress are confused. Obama is all over the place. Sometimes he sounds more Republican than Bush does. Don’t know which way he will go next.
I have spoke to family and friends and they are very concerned his lack of legislative & executive experience may well be catching up with him. I hope he finds his way or Congress will have him for lunch. Yum yum.

Posted by: vici | January 9, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

Lizzie-if you believe in abortion an homosexuality, you won’t be getting into Heaven either. If you’re a Christian, you have to follow ALL God’s laws and the teaching of Jesus, the Apostles and the Prophets.

Posted by: LeRoy | January 9, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm

Yes, we know its getting bad when the Porn industry has to ask for a subsidy to get a blow job.
Now that is a what I call a hard time.

Posted by: mrbill | January 9, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

’08ama-
Get your skirts unbunched little girl- Bush will make it to the top ten list. No matter how much you ‘whaaaaa’ and ‘groaaaaaannn’ over it.
Democrats hated Reagan too. Another great top lister.
I don’t know what you think your tantrums are about, but an affirmative action president (one elected based on race as opposed to experience) isn’t likely to take us far.
But at least the african american culture has no more excuses for failure. Obama is right about that- take care of your children, pull your damn pants up and put the hip-hop down. Time for college and work. No more jail time. It’s not okay. No more excuses made from tragedies centuries past. Time to put up or shut up.
Obama has proved that anyone in this country can do anything. Even the inexperienced friends of home-grown terrorists who believe we have 57 islamic states.
And hey- he’s learning that the republican machine of less taxes and limited government works. An infatile step towards maturity perhaps, but a conceivable one at the least.
If we’re very lucky this experiment with “who knows, let’s give the mail room clerk a shot!” won’t ruin us.
Then again, he’s already offering candy to Hamas. And socialism to the masses.
Like him I’m a pragmatic progressive. I fear for civil war. I fear for the dismantling of american dignity- that we put what’s right before what’s popular.
Just look at Obama’s ‘civil defense force’ and then google brown shirts if you question where these fears emerge from. Hitler was popular. Stalin was popular. Kim Jong Il is popular. That people cheer for consensus is hilarious.
Good thing conservatives are better armed I suppose. It wouldn’t be the first time we had to shoot democrats in order to preserve justice. If it comes to that, I can simply hope that we have to shoot a lot less of them. Mayber the others will be quicker on the up-take this time around?:)
It’ll be just like when democrats were known as ‘slaveocrats’- way back when every one of them voted against the emancipation proclamation, and republicans had to, with regret and remorse, put an end to lunacy and restore the basis of america, and freedom.
What’s really really sad about this is that they haven’t learned. Democrats, who abused power by declaring that blacks were ‘subhuman’ still play that game today. They still make the SAME sad argument about groups of people being ‘subhuman’ in the abortion argument. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, as we all can see.
Ah well. Might might not make right, but it goes a long way towards protecting it.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

I have a newfound respect for Obama. The Democratic Congress should go down to where they belong- the sewer! At the rate they’re going, they’ll take the whole country down with them if Obama doesn’t rein in on them.

Posted by: cheri | January 9, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm

gotta luv T and his high school rant and raves – this kid has the LIBERAL VITRIOL AND HATE perfected.
I especially liked the part about this kid owning a company and paying all his people enough to make them rich after he undercut all his competition and put them out of business – BWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
T – please come back – you are great comic relief to go with corrupt hussein obama

Posted by: ANDY & BARNEY | January 9, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm

Our nation has one big tag dangling from the toe of Florida — “Sold to China.”

Posted by: ALS | January 9, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

0Sama – such comic relief with all your hate for the REAL AMERICANS
Just say THANK YOU to Pres Bush for protecting you and yours over the last 8 years.
I know that you are trying to blame bush for the dem congress mistakes since they took over 11/06, but I bet that you are starting to think that congress is just now screwing up cuz they are showing their incompetence with their actions against your prez elect.
enjoy the congress incompetence – the Real Americans have been enduring it since 11/06 and all they have foisted on us – including fnma, high inflation, high gas prices, high unemployment, corruption, perversion and on and on and on

Posted by: Jack Ford | January 9, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm

you poor bass-turds that voted for BO…you’ll get your change alright, when you loose your jobs serving those ceo’s their lataes they aren’t buying anymore. if you folks maybe get a real education instead of what some idiot professors fill your empty grapes with, then maybe you would really understand how the economy REALLY works. someone mentioned that ceo’s need workers; well not really. they only need us so they can make MORE money then they would doing the work themselves. if it wasn’t for those ceo’s or for that matter the rich investing their capital none of us would have any jobs. the best thing to do is to cut taxes and get the h e l l out of the way of the market forces which will dramatically improve. giving money to business will never solve the problem because the they will still fail when consumers don’t have money to spend which is being stolen through the tax structure. think about it when you idiots are standing in the soup kitchen line wondering when your REAL change is coming…..becuase you will be living your dream !!!

Posted by: dan | January 9, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

I would like to present as exhibit A the above post by LongT as a typical Democratic voter who doesn’t know his arse from a hole in the ground. I won’t comment on the grammer/spelling as it speaks for itself.
* Low income people DO NOT PAY TAXES. I am a CPA and many of my middle income people pay no taxes either after deductions. It’s not a tax-cut they’re getting, it’s simply a check written to them by the feds, or better put – by those of us who pay taxes.
* You’ll never see a poor man give a rich man a job. Ever. Your silly little “tax-cut” check is in no way going to stimulate anything, create real private sector jobs or cause someone receiving this check to get off their arse and do something with their lives. Sure, everyone could use some extra cash but 2 months later you’re back in the same boat.
* LongT wrote: “He should do something out the land lords in this country who won’t accept section 8.which is the only way most people can pay there rent.landlords continue to refuse it,when they are garrented there rent on time every month.”
—
Then find a landlord who does accept it. You have no right to tell someone who owns a piece of property who he/she can rent it to. Sure the rent is gauranteed, but then I have to deal with the following:
* 14 people living in one house.
* crime increases 50%
* Rental houses destroyed by tenants.
* cars on blocks.
* gangs of 14yo’s walking the neighborhood at 2am on a schoolnight.
Get the point? Section 8 may gaurantee you a rent payment but that’s it. You Dems on here that think I am being insensitive can squak all you want. My liberal friends who blab about “everyone has a right to a home” quickly change their tune when Rafael and his household of 3 car thieves move in next door.

Posted by: Sean in Orlando, FL | January 9, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm

Whose idea was it to put the mail room clerk in charge?
This guy hasn’t even had to deal with the pro-saudi and israeli lobbyists yet!
Instead of getting people’s lunch, he’s going to be these people’s lunch.
For the record- the 110th congress is the LEAST productive congress in american history.
“Two years and nothing to show for it” is their slogan. . .

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm

Simon: No Child Left Behind, prescription drugs… passed by a Republican congress. Some objected, sure. But most simply said “Who cares? It’s a Republican who’s doing it!” And now they’re complaining about Obama’s spending? Come on!
And that’s the big problem with the party today. If a Republican is doing something–even if it flies in the face of everything the party is supposed to esteem–it’s considered not a problem, good even.
Take the Patriot Act for instance. Do you honestly think Republicans in the 1990s would have allowed Clinton to ram that through congress? How about warrantless wiretapping? Rendition? Iraq was justified and necessary? How? How was it more necessary than Bosnia? Or Darfur? Or Zimbabwe? Or Bangladesh?
We were attacked by thugs in caves in Afghanistan–not Iraq. UN resolutions? Since when do Republicans cite the UN as a valid reason to do anything? Incidentally, the UN never once mandated no-fly zones (look it up); that was the US, UK, and France arbitrarily imposing their will on Iraq.
Iraq never, not in a million years, could have launched an attack against us. We were never threatened, and that’s the real problem: people knew we weren’t really in any danger, but we went ahead with the invasion anyway–simply because we could. There was plenty of intelligence stating Saddam wasn’t any danger to us. That intelligence was dismissed because it didn’t fit the story the government wanted to sell to us.
Reagan didn’t invade the Soviet Union. So why did Bush invade Iraq? Because it was convenient.
And please bear in mind that all these shiny new executive powers that were supported unquestioningly by Republicans will now be wielded BY A DEMOCRAT. That’s what Republicans should be thinking about when they claim everything Bush did was “just and necessary.”
If Republicans want to start winning elections again, they need to realize that the principle of limited government should apply every bit as much to Republican governance as it should to Democratic governance. Limited government intervention domestically AND abroad, as advised by our founders, is the only solution to what’s wrong with our nation. Yet neither side is willing to admit that fact. Love of power has a way of clouding judgement.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm

BlofeldBuildings – not all economists believe in your definition of Economics 101. Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics at NYU, predicted this economic crisis several years ago. (He was dismissed by Wall Street and the international financial community as “Dr. Doom”.) Today Roubini urges a shot in the arm, radical policies to prevent a 2-year recession from turning into a systemic meltdown and a decade long global economic Depression: increased unemployment benefits, targeted tax rebates, and federal block grants should be given to state and local government to boost their infrastructure spending and create a cascade of jobs, products and confidence.
Keynesian Economics argues that completely deregulated markets are not self-correcting, and in a severe downturn, continuing the status quo won’t work – it requires government intervention. But Keynes also warned about a “liquidity trap” after giving government help, such as the inability of the Fed to induce an increase in banks credit flow. Today we are in uncharted waters and it’s probably a good time for all of us to brush up on Economics, especially our deadheads in Congress.

Posted by: idahogirl | January 9, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

Yup, this is how you solve financial problems, by spending more.
Obamanomics at work. We are so screwed.

Posted by: Mauricio Villablanca | January 9, 2009, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm

Correction: my above post was in response to “Dawn Duvo”. Not LongT. Sorry LongT!

Posted by: Sean in Orlando, FL | January 9, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

gb8898 – you are correct sir, the repubs starting acting like dems and that is why we stopped supporting them. There is a reason that we did not support mccain and it aint cuz of palin. Palin did get him some support, but mccain kept telling us how he was going to be a democrat lite.
So, the Real Americans decided that the dems will get to catch the blame for the next four years of cleaning up the 11/06 congress actions.

Posted by: Jack Kennedy | January 9, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

The best and most appropriate quote that I’ve read so far has been “If Americans don’t like trickle down economy, I wonder how they’ll like trickle up poverty?”

Posted by: Kathy | January 9, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

The ‘Tone of Discourse’ has been unusually callow today. A ‘short snippet’ of some informative (erroneous) ideas;
. “the guy (obama) knows nothing about economics” (despite arguably,
appointing the most competent economic team in history.)
. A totally “manufactured” story of “a group of second graders we secently spoke with:” (an obvious ‘self serving’ attempt to offer an elementary basis to support republican philosophy.)
. Extolling ‘absolute truth’ to; Clinton’s forcing Fannie & Freddie to make loans to unqualified borrowers. (these institutions DON’T loan money.)
. Asserting “Al Franken in charge of Committee Oversight of Fannie & Freddie. (The guy’s not even in government yet. He was just deemed the winner in the MN Senate race.)
. “To get rich you must be evil.” (???)
. “The Democratic party uses Nazi propaganda tactics to manipulate the public.” (???)
. “bush deregulated the banks.” (Wrong)
. “All ideas of republicans are evil and wrong.” (Ridiculous.)
. “All republicans are hateful.” (Stupid.)
. “Obama caused the financial crisis.” (Now that’s a real stretch.)

Posted by: bobj72 | January 9, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

Yeesh. Keynesian economics has been debunked by practical application. Look at the Great Depression: awash in Keynesian intervention, yet the depression dragged on for a decade. Unemployment never went down.
People point to Roosevelt as if he did anything to end the depression. He EXTENDED it. The depression bled over into WWII, and it wasn’t until after the war was done that things began to pick back up. One of the main reasons being we had no physical destruction here in America. As such, we could manufacture and sell to the rest of the world.
And don’t be surprised if that thought hasn’t already occurred to the people running this country.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

The Democrats control the show. The Republicans need to vote against the first Obama initiative because the socialist idea that we can “spend ourselves rich” or “spend our way out of this” as Obama stated it, is economic insanity. Capitalism creates capital over a time frame that must include hard work, profits and gradual gains. Capital is not produced at the nations capitol simply by putting a pen on a piece of paper and authorizing the government to spend a trillion dollars. This socialist idea is already predetermined to failure and the Republicans need to stick to the known laws of ecomomics and NOT support it. Elections have consequences and the Democrats claim to have the answers…we must wait and see, then give credit or find fault with their decisions. Leadership is harder than campaigning. It’s your show Democrats, go for it!!

Posted by: J | January 9, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

gb8898 says “Look at the Great Depression: awash in Keynesian intervention…People point to Roosevelt as if he did anything to end the depression. He EXTENDED it.” Again, not everyone agrees with this point of view. Back in 1995 a survey of economic historians asked whether “government policies of the New Deal served to lengthen and deepen the Great Depression.” In economics departments, 27% agreed, 22% agreed ‘with provisos’ (unknown what those were) and 51% disagreed. In history departments, only 27% agreed and 73% disagreed.

Posted by: idahogirl | January 9, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm

Some comments here are just idiotic. Many are already blaming Obama for Bush’s economic woes when Obama have not even been sworn in. The Democrats are just stupid and the Republicans are just igonrant. There will never be any perfect recipe for the economy. The only solution is to find the idea that best suits the situation we are in today and when that cant be done, then try to find a blend of ideas. If anyone of them have a better idea, why not make an input. Obama tax-cuts, I cannot fault. A twenty or thirty dollars increase in the weekly pay-check may not mean a lot to them but it means to millions of Americans and Nancy Pelosi should just shut-up. I do not like the tax-cuts for the rich but for now you are trying to control the bleeding of the economy and common sense should tell you that you should not do anything that may aggravate the situation. Go on with the tax-cuts,spend on infrastructure and provide health-care and the economy will gradually stabalise itself. The only thing I fault is the tax-credits to prevent people from losing their jobs. I really cant fathom out how that is going to work and it may end up being abused

Posted by: vuzous | January 9, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

What details? He’s faking it. Obama doesn’t know what he is doing. We’ll take on any ideas? What’s that?

Posted by: MikeC | January 9, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

Simon 1:23 “Bush also said that Iraq is a strategic end run around Al-Quaeda. It forced them to pour their resources their, opposing us far from our citizens, and far from our strategic interests.”
Yea Dude, everyone knows the big bad Al-Quaeda came from Iraq. You spread good propaganda too. After all everyone knows Iraq attacked us. Uh Duh!

Posted by: repsrases | January 9, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm

idahogirl: Economists and historians generally measure the Great Depression’s severity in terms of unemployment. As such, the New Deal did lower unemployment some. But one must remember that was accomplished by “fabricating” new government jobs. In essence, creating jobs that weren’t needed.
The private sector had almost no growth, yet it would have created new jobs on its own, and they would have been more permanent. As it was, many of the New Deal jobs happened to transition to the war effort. I’ve always found it odd how most wars seem to occur during economic down-turns. How about you?
Obama could hire five million people in this country to dig ditches. Another five million people could be hired to come in behind the first group and fill the ditches back in. Or he could draft ten million people and send them off to fight in Iran or Pakistan.
But that’s not creating jobs, and that’s not a recovery. And if the money to pay those people is taken from the private sector or borrowed from foreign nations or (possibly worst in my opinion) simply printed by the Fed, an illusion that things have stabilized is created. But it’s just stagnation, with no potential for growth.
Manipulation of the money supply is what is at the heart of every economic bubble since the creation of the Federal Reserve. Fed policies drove the roaring ’20s. Fed policies drove the dot-com era. Fed policies drove the housing bubble. Inflation has been sky-rocketing since Nixon closed the gold window, but folks still naively think it’s smart to let a small group of people “manage” the economy.
Throughout history, empires have been turned to dust by devaluing their currency. It’s beginning to look like we’re choosing the same path, but most people are either unaware or apathetic. I think the people in charge, however, are willfully ignorant. They know what they do doesn’t work, that it’s been demonstrated time and time again not to work. But they hope against hope that if they try just once more, maybe the laws of economics will miraculously change this time.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm

What do you expect from a guy that has zero experience and his only claim to fame is trying to fool the country by scaring them with the word “recession”. This is cyclical and frequent. Japan tried to spend their way out of a recession by doing what Obama wants to do – improve infrastructure and it didn’t work. He needs to cool his jets, give tax breaks to business and we will get out of this fine, like we did after 9/11. And Stop the Fear Mongering Already!

Posted by: Rose | January 9, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm

T can’t help it! He’s just the product of our modern, educational system.
I just don’t trust the stammering, stuttering imbecile who calls his new job, THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT!
There has, and never will be, any such office in the United States Government.
God help us all from this Idiot.

Posted by: YankeeSoonerBill | January 9, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

gb8898 – I’m old, so I guess that’s why I’m a bit more optimistic. Well, old enough to have known people who lived through the Great Depression. In 1933, my Grandfather was out of work until he found a construction job building the Golden Gate Bridge. Locals had voted to put their homes, farms, and business properties up for collateral to support a $35 million dollar bond issue to finance the bridge. This funding, along with thousands of related jobs, was a significant factor in pulling San Francisco counties out of economic depression. The bridge also trained new construction methods, like reinforcing concrete with rebar in an earthquake prone area, used in the building boom as massive government spending came into San Francisco during WWII.
Back then we were evolving from an agrarian economy. Even after New Deal programs, businesses couldn’t correct the unemployment rate on their own because many of the unemployed, especially those ditch diggers, were uneducated and unskilled. The US population has doubled since then, but IMO our workers are better educated and skilled. A government stimulus could have a faster impact to help unemployment and growth than during the Great Depression. Today the American Society of Civil Engineers, says we are $1.5 Trillion in arrears on needed infrastructure repairs – and that does not include new tech projects like energy, the electric grid, and bringing our internet service up to European or Japanese standards.
The same year my Grandfather started working on the Golden Gate, 1933, the Glass-Steagall Act was passed – the FDIC was established and commercial banks were no longer allowed to engage in investment banking, such as underwriting securities. As we all know, our Congress repealed that act back in 1999, considered by some as one of the major causes for our current financial meltdown. So I agree it’s time for big changes in our national economic structure, like the Fed.

Posted by: idahogirl | January 9, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

Give him a break. Why the MSM all but declaired him the Messiah who had all the answers to save us. He’s going to make the Carter years look like a picnick in the park. Double digget inflation,—only if we’re lucky.

Posted by: satch | January 9, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm

This “stimulas” package represents corruption that this country has never seen. The Madoff ponzie scheme will look like a drop in the bucket for this mess. The very people causing our economic problems are fixing it. Frank forced lending companies to make loans to people that did not qualify. Dodd changed the banking regulations so these loans were bundled and passed on. Rubin went to Citi Bank after being Clintons treasurer, and got 17-20M bonuses each year on the very bad loans he was grouping. Fannie/Freddie were nothing more than the cash cow to reward Dems and finance their campaigns. This started in the 90′s. Finally all the bad loans caught up. Pelosi killed our energy industry. This group is telling the auto industry how to design cars. These House members ride around in $2000 lease cars at taxpayers expense. 75% of those in congress could not keep a job or run a company in the public market. Everything the gov’t sticks its nose in becomes a boondoggle. Our lives are being regulated by people never elected to anything and do not live in the real world. Global warming is a figment of someones imagination and is making them very rich. This country is losing our freedoms. We are losing our rights by the constitution.

Posted by: SRW | January 9, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm

I did not vote for Obama, but I am very pleased with how he had lead since becoming president elect.
I give props to Obama. The Democratic Congress is another matter. I hope he stands up to them and leads from the center. He could be a great president if he does that.

Posted by: John | January 9, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

“But that’s not creating jobs, and that’s not a recovery. And if the money to pay those people is taken from the private sector or borrowed from foreign nations or (possibly worst in my opinion) simply printed by the Fed, an illusion that things have stabilized is created. But it’s just stagnation, with no potential for growth.”
gb8898 – - Excellent, EXCELLENT post. It’s refreshing to see someone on this blog with intelligence, and who actually KNOWS what they’re talking about. THANK YOU.
To “idahogirl”: Our Pretend-President Obama is doing nothing more than creating an economic smokescreen. He’s printing up more money (which doesn’t actually CREATE wealth, it fabricates it), giving it to people to “stimulate” the economy (which means they haven’t actually EARNED it – no goods were produced nor services rendered for it), and doling bonuses out to companies who hire workers (whether they need workers or not, creating “make-work” situations).
But go ahead, idahogirl…. smile, kick up your feet and repeat after me:
“We’re in the money!
We’re in the money!
We got alot of what it takes to get along!
Come on, my honey!
The skies are sunny!
Old Man Depression you are through
You’ve done us wronnnnnggg!”
We’re in the money!
We’re in the money!
Let’s lend it, spend it,
Send it rollllllin’ alonnngggg!!!!
WHEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | January 9, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm

Let me get this straight. Expensive elitist Ivy league schools have taught and produced many of the Clowns, er Congressman who believe trillions of dollar deficts and wealth re-distribution will “save” the economy? Blue-bloods, save your money. Try Community College then a nice State school. Ivy league OBVIOUSLY knows NOTHING about ANYTHING!!

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

….By the way, that song “We’re in the Money”, was written in 1933, right after FDR took office, promised that prosperity was just around the corner, and proceeded to enact all of his New Deal hooey.
But the Depression would go on for another 10 years. In fact, from 1937-1938, FDR managed the unique feat of creating a Depression within a Depression, as the economy slumped even further.
I bring all this up because it’s all looking and sounding too familiar. Our Pretend-President has even dressed up as FDR, complete with cigar and fedora, for TIME Magazine. What sort of FOOL would emulate FDR and his policies at a time like this? A fool who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing, THAT’S who.
THANKS DEMS. America was a grand experiment while it lasted….

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | January 9, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

In my opinion, everyone should see an excellent apolitical documentary called I.O.U.S.A. It deals with the debt and the trouble in which we could find ourselves in the not-too-distant future.
There’s a free 30-minute preview posted by the creators online. And really, that’s probably all anyone needs to watch–that’s how scary it is. Roger Ebert actually reviewed the movie by composing a mock “letter” to his grandchildren.
That is, after all, who we’re saddling with our excesses. Our children and grandchildren are being burdened by insurmountable debt because we feel entitled to live a certain lifestyle. Their young minds are oblivious to the disaster we are laying at their feet.
To me, this is all simply immoral. I don’t believe history will judge the people of today very favorably.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

Dumbo hasn’t done anything yet. The left is only worried that he may give families a $20.00 tax break a week.
This is Dumbo’s warm up act. He’s hoping the dolts that voted for him thinks he’s doing what’s best. I say he has a slim chance of a 2nd term. Hopefully impeachment by the people will come within 2 years. Can’t count on Pelosi or Red to do that or anything that’s meant to help America.

Posted by: Dumbo Blows | January 9, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

g898 (or was it G 8 the kool-aid?)
You didn’t list a single failing of Bush. Not one.
Patriot Act? The one Pelosi and Reid voted for? And you’re blaming republicans? The ACT that has withstood numerous legal attempts to challenge it? Were you saying the pariot act is bad then?
And don’t act stupid. It’s telling. Al Quaeda wasn’t in Iraq, but Al Quaeda was forced to engage us there. How silly for you to miss the point. Let me make it a little clearer for you: BAD MEN FIGHT US THERE. BAD MEN NOT FIGHT US HERE. BAD MEN NOT HERE. BAD MEN NOT HERE GOOD? ME THINK ME GET IT NOW.
Saddam was a terrorist. No ifs and or buts about it. He tortured our pilots, refused to abide by his OWN surrender protocol, and actively attempted to assassinate a sitting president.
People like you may need to see landing craft approaching our shores. But people rooted in the real world understand that ALL of those actions are verifiable acts of war.
Saddam started it, DUDE, and you’ve done your best to give him a happy ending. Thankfully republicans said “enough.”
So again. Where are Bush’s failings? A patriot act that didn’t interrupt our freedoms? Warrantless wiretapping on FORIENG NATIONALS is not against our consititution.
In fact you should read it sometime. You’ll learn that ‘protected speech’ applies only to political speech, and that nowhere are we guarenteed privacy.
By golly, if we were guranteed privacy that would put folks like google out of business, now wouldn’t it?
Again. One. Bush. Failing. EVER.
One lie. One criminal act (say, like lying to a grand jury?). Just one.
Dude. Duuuuuude? Hello dude? You there?
Bush. Number 8 in greatest presidents ever. Just after Truman.
But still after Reagan. A real american, and a hero for all. Obama and Carter and Clinton and company still can’t stand up to his coat-tails. . .
Take Moore’s **** out of your mouth. It’s constricting your air flow. And your capability within the realm of reason and accountability.
That’s cool. You can hang out there with manbearpig, and we’ll still protect you when the muslims choose to kill the infidels (anyone who doesn’t believe as they do).
Thank God people like you leave so many hanging chads. . .Otherwise people might believe that democrats had learned to read those pesky instructions on four foot by four foot posters hanging all over the polling site.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm

“Our children and grandchildren are being burdened by insurmountable debt because we feel entitled to live a certain lifestyle.”
Good point, gb8898. But there’s an even scarier, more daunting problem that looms on the horizon, and that I’m sure our Pretend-President Obama hasn’t even thought of. Read “It’s the Demography, Stupid” by Mark Steyn, in the Wall Street Journal. Google it. It’s there. Read it carefully, then re-read it again for full impact.
We may not HAVE great-grandchildren to inherit our successes OR our failures, so what Obomb-out does in office matters very little.

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | January 9, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm

To All Who Keep Bashing Bush:
He’s out. Your guy’s in. Bush started the bailout BS but Dumbo had plans to do this way before the economic meltdown. This is all working in his favor. But enough of the Bush bashing. Now it’s time to bash Dumbo.

Posted by: Dumbo Blows | January 9, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

my apologies gb8898- I confused your post with someone else’s. My humblest of regrets. . .
The earlier post was in fact directed at a bone head delusionist calling himself REPRASES.

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

Dumbo Blows-
Your giving away our fun! Don’t TELL them that Bush is out. Don’t TELL them that it’s all in their hands now.
That complete ignorance is what amuses me so very often. . .
Besides, if they realize they have no one left to blame they may go into apoplexy. Have a heart.
I like watching these bleeding-hearts pour it all out over my rug. . .

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm

all of you dems or replicans, (i’m neither)as i dislike obama as much as bush!! i think all that money should be used to send all of you back to school let alone college!! 5th graders spells better than you idiots!!
Ps: this is to KPNUNN- go find your dict. smart ass and see how you spell “probaganda and holacost” you say you were in germany and you still can’t spell that?? pathetic to say the least!!

Posted by: 2mart4crap | January 9, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

You stinkin republicans can’t just be americans for 5 mins can you..you are getting something you want-ie-tax cuts- you want more bailouts for big business-the very people along with a republican administration who brought us to this presipice-yes lets reward those whos bad behavior brought us this mess. I might not be for democrats-but I have had my fill of listening to schill republicans bleat the same old tune-get a new line of rhetoric or you will wander in the wilderness forever with palin as your guide. That unintelligent whiner is a disgrace to intelligent women.

Posted by: cowgirlblues | January 9, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm

Simon: What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been a Republican my entire life. I voted for Mr. Bush in 2000, right before he flushed the country down the toilet.
You have NO IDEA what you’re talking about when it comes to civil liberties. None whatsoever. But who knows… maybe you’ll find out when the Democrats use all of the new tools you willingly handed to the office of the president.
If we’re not guaranteed some degree of privacy, why do police have to get a warrant before entering your house? Why can’t they just slip in while you’re at work?
Oh that’s right… that pesky Fourth Amendment you seem to hate so much.
And why bring up Google, a PRIVATE company? You do understand there’s quite a difference between a company gathering information for business purposes and the government gathering information for political purposes, don’t you?
Probably not. Judging by your barely coherent post, you seem to be that all-too-common anti-intellectual scum that’s infested the Republican party of today. You know, the keyboard warriors who have never tasted the horror of war but are nonetheless in love with the idea of war, eager to rush other folks into battle to bleed for your cowardice. The so-called “conservatives” who love nothing more than an intrusive, overbearing federal government that borrows money from China–just as long as there’s a Republican in charge.
Have fun erecting that marble statue of Mr. Bush in your front yard. And for the sake of historical accuracy, make sure he’s posed so he’s taking a leak on the Constitution.
Today’s Democrats hate the Second, Ninth and Tenth Amendments. Today’s Republicans hate the Fourth and Fifth.
Idiots, all of them.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm

“T” said:
“lot of repukelican nazi,s on here today, idont have time to argue with all of you so i will let you all spew your hate and racism and war mongering ideas back and forth betwen each other.”
Response: This is “T’s” way of acknowledging that he/she is ignorant and is parroting what the Obama-media has programmed him to believe.

Posted by: Ramesh | January 9, 2009, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm

People who complain about punctuation on blogs are BORING. ANA L RETENTIVE.

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm

Is it just me, or have anybody else noticed that the most fervent Pro-Obama posts or anti-Republican posts have the most HORRIBLE typing, punctuation and illogical threads throughout them? Or is it just the same person that can’t type?
This only reinforces the Zogby poll of Obamanics, where 57% said the Republicans still controlled congress in 2008.
That reflection is that Democrats must be the most uninformed idiots around!

Posted by: Learn to Type! | January 9, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm

This is not news. The guy has done nothing but talk his whole life while straddling the fence. You can not vote present in his new job and when you straddle the fence you inevitably fall off.
The Dem party is so indebted to special interest groups that he will have to offend someone all the time.
If he is pragmatic as they say and does the right thing then he will be doing the conservative thing and really anger the left.
Obama will indeed have his biggest problem with the left. The right knows what he is all about, it is the moderates and left that were conned.

Posted by: Dennis K | January 9, 2009, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm

cowgirl, You’re kidding, right? We can’t be Americans for 5 minutes? You libs were becoming nauseaous being FORCED to look at all the American flags flying after 9/11. You’re liberal news media heros refused to wear flag pins. They refused to call cowardly terrorists, ‘terrorists”. You blocked EVERY move Pres Bush did to protect this country. Your Hero Harry Reid proudly proclaimed that Iraq was LOST. gOOD THING THAT SCUM IS always WRONG.

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

CowGirl…
You are no Republican. Republicans do not generalize and speak collectively like you. We look at people as individuals not label a group scum and idiot.
You make some good points, but you are no more a true conservative Republican than Obama did not know about Rev Wright.
Post please, but you do not need to try and con others with I am a lifelong Republican and then collectively group people.

Posted by: Dennis K | January 9, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm

BlofeldBuildings, no need to be patronizing. Sorry if the building business is off.
According to economist Paul Krugman, with sufficient demand, America would produce more than $30 Trillion worth of goods and services over the next 2 years. The reason he urges a stimulus is because both consumer spending and business investment have severely fallen, and a massive gap has opened up between what the American economy can produce and what it’s able to sell. According to Krugman, standard estimates point out that a dollar of public spending raises GDP by around $1.50.
Also, the Congressional Budget Office’s recent economic outlook report says that unless Obama implements a stimulus plan, our unemployment rate will rise above 9 percent by early 2010, and stay high for years to come. Frankly, my concern is that the stimulus package won’t be enough. Deficit borrowing is never good, but IMO, it would be worse to fall short in rescuing the economy.
And as for your perspective on “New Deal hooey”, there is now an emerging consensus that over the course of U.S. economic history, productivity grew fastest between 1905 and 1966, and within that period, in the 2 decades following 1929. This paper argues that the bulk of the achieved productivity levels in 1948 had already been attained BEFORE full-scale WWII mobilization in 1942. It was not principally WWII that laid the foundation for postwar prosperity. It was technological progress across the American economy during the 1930s.

Posted by: idahogirl | January 9, 2009, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm

Your attitude regarding Mr. Obama’s push to get this stimulus package passed seems a little off. He shouldn’t be described as “scaring” Congress. I firmly believe Mr. Obama has to make a strong case, because if Congress wastes too much time, it will be detrimental to the country. Further, unlike the soon-to-be-former administration, this spending will be closely monitored to make sure the money goes where it is supposed to go.

Posted by: Jacqueline L. Banks | January 9, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm

Jacqueline, well then, I feel much better the money will be “monitored”. Who exactly will be “monitoring” the dough? BARNEY FRANK, CHARLIE RANGEL, CHRIS DODD , CHUCKIE, WILLIAM JEFFERSON and his freezer? You gotta be joking!

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm

idahogirl: Our biggest problem is that we simply don’t produce anything anymore. We consume much more than we produce, and we expect other countries to pay us (by buying our debt) for doing that. This “service economy” thing we have is all but useless, as it’s almost fully dependent on us as consumers buying stuff–most of it from China. Our trade imbalance is probably the main thing dragging our economy down.
The best thing we could do would be to encourage more businesses to relocate production back to the US. This could easily be accomplished by cutting the tax rates for businesses, but people are unlikely to go for that right now.
That said, everyone should take a look at Ireland to see what happens when corporate tax rates are low. Must be nice to be Irish.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm

Well here we are, right in the middle of a Frank/Dodd/Bush recession. Bush is not great, but not as bad as Carter!! I suffered under Carter!! Mortgaes rates in the 15% range, inflation double digit, car loans 18%++, & we were kicked around like a dog by Iran.
Things are not good today, but not as bad as CARTER, THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!!AGAIN IS SUFFERED UNDER HIM!! so Bushie boy dosen’t look so bad after all. But, you will never hear this from the corrupt press-MUST MAKE BUSH LOOK BAD. Well anyway, at least Obama is trying to do something-lets give him a chance-at least he is not another CARTER!!!

Posted by: Slick | January 9, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

idahochick, yep, that 1930′s technology was brought about by individuals and private companies based on a free CAPITALISTIC philosophy. Govt did not invent ANYTHING, except the IRS.

Posted by: killerbee | January 9, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm

If Bush had a third term, I imagine he’d easily eclipse Carter on the misery index.

Posted by: gb8898 | January 9, 2009, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm

Killerbee – the point is that government spending can help promote new technology, just like it has during wars. I agree that we can’t spend our way to prosperity, but we can spend our way from recession, at least for a while. When credit is not flowing because of lack of trust, the government must become the nation’s banker until change is over, trust is restored, and credit flows again.

Posted by: idahogirl | January 9, 2009, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm

Hey gb8898, I believe U are right, it would take Bush 12 years to screw us over as bad as Carter DID IN 4 YEARS. Could U inage if Carter was there for a second term-CAN’T-GOING INTO SHOCK!!!!!!!

Posted by: Slick | January 9, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

Que the rap beat…”kachunka thunka boom boom”
Here’s the next prez
who tells you whut he sez
spend my wealth Bama
you and yo real fine mamma
barry, barney and harry
and nancy in the back
all but one are white
and all wannabe black
he’s a niggaonthatrigga
he’s the HNIC
“kachunka thunka boom boom”

Posted by: You too | January 9, 2009, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm

For all those pointing fingers back and forth across the political aisle, economies rarely respond quickly to legislative action. And even more rarely is the economy as a whole moved dramatically in new directions by legislation at any level. Neither side can claim credit or should get the blame for the economy. It is just too big for government to handle.
The “New Deal” of FDR took almost a decade to have an effect, and it really only took hold when the spin-up to World War II was in effect. (Similar to what gb8898 said above.) And, the “Great Society” entitlement programs of LBJ have slowly added to the weight of our economy.
When we are dealing with issues that involve tens of trillions of dollars a year any legislative package will fail in the short term to be a “kick-start”. It might have a positive effect over many years, but that is up for the next generation to decide when they write the history books.

Posted by: gates1588 | January 9, 2009, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm

The nation owes more than thanks to three unlikely modern day patriots: professional poker player, musician, and retired attorney, Leo Donofrio; life long Democrat and former Pennsylvania assistant attorney general, Phil Berg; and Soviet emigree and attorney, Dr. Orly Taitz (she’s also a dentist).
While Mr. Donofrio painstakingly established the airtight case that BHO could not be an Article II “natural born citizen” (at BHO’s birth, dad was British/Kenyan, not American, citizen) Leo’s Stay of the 12/15/08 electoral college vote was denied by SCOTUS as procedurally unripe.
Nevertheless, since no congressman and senator objected on 1/8/09 to Congress’ count and certification of the electoral vote which would have turned resolution of Obama’s eligibility issue over to Congress — rendering moot the Berg and Taitz (Lightfoot) cases — Berg finally does achieve standing on the issue of actual harm, to be addressed at the Friday 1/9/09 SCOTUS Conference on Writ of Certiorari. Obama’s failure to submit evidence of his constitutional qualification for the 1/9/09 conference will mean he cannot thereafter challenge Berg’s request to enjoin the 1/8/09 Congressional electoral count and certification, albeit retroactive, scheduled for SCOTUS conference Friday 1/16/09. Moreover, Chief Justice Roberts has scheduled a full Court conference on the Lightfoot case Friday 1/23/09 in the event there needs to be a Constitutionally mandated action, the Inauguration itself, to enjoin retroactively.
Now that BHO is in checkmate and cannot be POTUS, he can be a patriot as well. He need not subject the nation to the expense and trauma of requiring SCOTUS to overrule his ‘Presidency’. BHO can and should voluntarily step down with Biden becoming Acting POTUS under the 20th Amendment, and under the agreement all potential claims by the Government for itself and on behalf of others against BHO are released.

Posted by: Ted | January 9, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm

gb8898-
I already apologized homie. See the earlier post. Simply a case of scrolling too fast. . .or maybe another vast right wing conspiracy like the one that forced slick Willy into that poor girl’s. . .oh well. You get the idea.
I was going to let it go at that, but then you had a problem looking the fool so opened your mouth to remove all doubt. So please. . .allow me to retort!
First, I’ll accept the insults, since some were wrongly pointed at you. Second- you’re incoherent and rambling distinctions about party affiliation and right and wrong is endlessly entertaining, but short on logic and reason.
Republicans hate the fifth amendment? Seriously? I am avidly awaiting your distortions designed to justify that sweeping statement. Please tell. . .
Republicans don’t hate the fourth amendment. We simply can read it. Period. It offers protections from illegal search and siezure- it does not say anywhere anything about privacy. You made my argument for me when you pointed out the need for warrants. And in case you need a refresher, those protections weren’t installed with any thought to privacy, but to insulate against police and state aggression against the individual.
Read it again. Maybe you got the democratic abridged version. Seems to be the case lately. Pick yourself up a dictionary as well, if you insist on being as reactive as the liberal party.
And you can yell ‘unconstitutional’ as loud as you want. It gets us back to that dictionary thing again- unconstitutional is a word with a definition. Not whatever you happen to decide it means while behind a keyboard.
In fact- why do I bother? It occurs to me that you’ve never read anything about the founding fathers other than what’s flying across your news screen.
If you did you’d see that both parties hate the tenth amendment, and do all in their power to solidfy control within the federal confines.
As for Bush- I listed in earlier posts he’ll be judged as the eighth best president. Certainly not first.
His failures come strictly from dealing with democrats. No child left behind? Inner city reading scores are higher now than at any time since our inception. Math scores for first graders through fourth have doubled.
Tax cuts? Bush has brought in record tax revenues- as Kennedy proved.
War? We taught that dicatator what it means to start one with us. We also gave back credibility to the UN which seemed content to sit on the couch and scream over and over again. Like anyone with children, Bush and I both know that ‘don’t work.’
Grace and dignity? NO OTHER PRESIDENT IN HISTORY HAS PUT UP WITH THIS IGNORANT ABUSE AND SAT THERE WITH A SMILE.
Like a real american our soon-to-be former President wasn’t worried about what the world thinks.
He wasn’t worried about being popular. He did what was right.
So whatever you’re pretending to be now makes no difference. I don’t happen to care whether you call yourself a “crack aholic socialist catholic party” member or simply liberal or conservative.
But at least pretend to be SOMETHING instead of someone who does little else than whining about what the government is doing.
Here’s a thought. Run for office. Or better yet- have an idea instead of a complaint. View others with a lens that sees opportunity instead of failure.
For surely (can I call you Shirley?) Mr Rogers lied to you. Not everyone’s opinion is valid. Let alone valuable. And actions will always speak louder than words.
I’m starting a new charity. It’s called “Dictionaries for people pretending to not be liberal.”
It’ll help with those pesky definitions like “choice” and “marriage” as well as classics like “republic” and “unconstitutional.”
Sheesh. Way to go overboard. . .

Posted by: Simon | January 9, 2009, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm

I still wonder who this guy is. We were never given a decent reason of why he would be qualified to be president. Thanks MSNBC. I’ve got a really, REALLY bad feeling about the next four years.

Posted by: Doug Ramsey | January 9, 2009, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm

Check out a funny “Nobama” parody song and video at: http://www.myspace.com/rogerweber

Posted by: Roger Weber | January 9, 2009, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm

Maybe now the incoming Obama administration will look favorably upon re-regulating the student loan industry and upon student loan forgiveness, especially targeting loans that are massive, egregious, otherwise predatory, or being paid by students going into teaching or other public service fields.
It would make sense for a liberal president to invest in the social fabric (channeling a tiny fraction of the current, reportedly one trillion dollar “bail-out” money) after all the Wall Street depredations and the moneyed elites ripping off the public coffers, throwing us into an historically severe recession with no socially redeeming benefit at all.
http://studentloanjustice.org/

Posted by: Dr. Steve | January 9, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm

No matter their faction, members of the Left are whining, hypocritical, histrionic, and insatiable parasites. Obama truly made a deal with the Devil to get elected. Obama ought to (must) ignore them. They are no more qualified to make policy decisions than a withered eggplant. Their actions are those of neo-Nazi hate-mongers, who know they can torment others without risking reprisal. The difference is that Lefties believe their cause is just (and they will kill you if you show any disagreement). The pendulum will swing…

Posted by: Mhu Cao | January 9, 2009, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm

It seems to me no one is ever going to be happy no matter what Obama does…
From some of these post he is a thug, stupid and dont know what party he belongs to…
Some of you sound really ignorant..
Obama is going to be our president….He is facing a mountain of problems that most people wouldn’t know how to handle..Some post say he doesnt know what party he belongs to…People voted him in for change which means making decisions that will help the american people not people from his party…Americans are republicans, democrats and independents etc…
How can you critize someone and say we are doomed and he hasnt even been in office yet..I didnt vote for Bush neither of his term but he is and was my president and I let him do his job first…How can you want someone to fail who is in the highest position..you wonder why other countries dont respect us…we dont even respect each other
It seems to me that alot of people need to grow up and be adults..how about working together to fix our problems
because no matter what your party we are all in the same boat…
FYI-If McCain would have won he would be facing the same problems…
It is easy to say what you are going to do when you are not the one to fix it..

Posted by: Nat | January 9, 2009, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm

We are not a democacy, but a republic “. . .and to the Republic for which it stand.” Too bad our education system is so dismal.

Posted by: Glori | January 9, 2009, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm

Mr. Summers, don’t fall into the scare-trap being set-up by our government, in league with the media. In 1945 the population of the US was only 140 million; less than half the current population.

Posted by: Melvin Shapiro | January 9, 2009, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm

I despair, you people continue to argue about parties, right and left, and other nonsensical garbage, when it’s the same old government which is causing the problem! Oh well, as the man said a long time ago, “Nobody ever went broke overestimating the stupidity of the American people.” Good luck, I will survive after you idiots destroy each other.

Posted by: Howard W. Jackson | January 9, 2009, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm

ok, Obama has not ever offered specifics on anything- only rhetoric, flowery speeches with a lot of positive sounding buzzwords, lots of “present” votes, and numerous highly staged photo-ops. In fact, it is now starting to look like “presidency via photo-ops.”
Really, what made anyone think there would be more to it than that? Where is the evidence?

Posted by: Grace | January 9, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm

I am sick and tired of hearing “the rich aren’t paying their fair share.” The people in the lower 50 percent of wage earners are not paying their fair share; they pay only 4 percent of the taxes, yet are so stupid they think they pay taxes and the rich don’t.
Everyone should pay some taxes so that we are all in it together. The rich have been hit disproportionately by Bush’s soak the rich plans; they now pay a greater share of the federal tax burden now.
Let’s only hope Barack Hussein Obama will learn that it is not right to penalize the successful as Bush has. If he does that, I will gladly quit repeating his middle name:)
By the way, remember how stupid Sarah Palin sounded when she said she visited all 57 states? Actually, you probably don’t because it was BO that said it. BO means either Barack Obama or Body Odor, which will become one and the same to the American population.

Posted by: Anonymous Guy | January 9, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm

Posted by: Anonymous Guy | January 9, 2009, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm

It is both incompetent and embarrassing for David Brooks to publicly confuse the Immaculate Conception with the Virgin Birth.

Posted by: Richard L.A. Schaefer | January 10, 2009, 12:44 am 12:44 am

Why is anyone surprised that Howard Dean and the rest of the far left wing nuts are being snubbed all over the place by Barack Obama – not one invited to be on the transition team, not one of them appointed to any senior position.
In a TV interview, a Chicago Tribune reporter said that Obama had a history of burning his bridges behind him at every level, so this is par for the course. He’ll get back to them in 2012. What are they going to do? Vote for Sarah Palin?
Between a rock and a soft place:-))
I remmber one stirring campaign speech inviting ACORN members to sit at the table and help set the agenda between the elections and inauguration. Now its like, “ACORN who?”
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, its getting pretty crowded under Obama’s bus.
Now that we know that Rev. Wright was right when he said at the National Press Club that Obama would say anything to get elected, my question for his supporters is, “How do you decide when to believe anything he says, and when not to?”

Posted by: MarioG | January 10, 2009, 1:37 am 1:37 am

“So why is he not following Reagan’s success (and G.W. Bush) by just lowering taxes and letting the economy business cycle have it’s course.?”
Because Obama is an idiot…

Posted by: teo | January 10, 2009, 3:29 am 3:29 am

It’s not the Democratic left who sounds bitter, it’s the media left. Every reporter, journalist, columnist comes off as an editorialist sharing the same agenda as the Dem far left. That’s hardly a surprise but the fact that they have become policy wonks reflecting not the public’s but their own bias is pathetic.

Posted by: smb12321 | January 10, 2009, 7:55 am 7:55 am

“So why is he not following Reagan’s success (and G.W. Bush) by just lowering taxes and letting the economy business cycle have it’s course.?”
Because Obama is NOT an idiot…
It obviously hasn’t been working for G.W. Bush or we would be in better shape than we are now… And if you think this all just happened in the last 2 years, then good for you, but that doesn’t mean the economy wasn’t headed towards the toilet throughout the Bush regime, it just means you were oblivious to it. Kinda like McCain when he said that our economy was fundamentally sound…
If I were the incoming President looking at the mess Obama is looking at. I dammnn sure would NOT do whatever my predecessor was doing.
Plus, Obama hasn’t even taken office yet. No other President since the great depression, is looking at a country so vulnerable and in such crisis as Obama will have to deal with, but, deal with it he will. It will take awhile, just like it does with any mess but, he will mark the starting point of true Change. This year will mean a lot of hard work and we may not see a lot of change but, that’s ok… I am very confident in Obama’s leadership and service to the American people to put in place all that which will restore our country. And I am so excited that he is going to be the man up for the job…

Posted by: braith morgan | January 10, 2009, 8:05 am 8:05 am

Part of the plan includes a $500 to $1,000 tax rebate check. It would be nice to have, but funny thing is that 40 percent or so of the population does not have to pay federal income taxes. Yet, they will get a check. Sounds like welfare to me.

Posted by: Patrick1va | January 10, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am

Having lived through the 1970′s I must disagree with all the folks who state this is the worst economy since the great depression or even the late 70′s. Today’s problem is nothing compared to the melaise of the Carter years: 21% interest rates, 12% inflation rate and unemployment at 10% or worse in many “Rust Belt” cities. I could not afford to buy a new car let alone a new home.
If however the Obama administration thinks it can borrow and spend our way out of the current downturn then Generation X, Y and Z are in for a rude awakening.

Posted by: robert Borkoski | January 10, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am

I find it hilarious that reporters are just now admitting the Democrats oppose tax cuts for the middle class!

Posted by: Wes | January 10, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am

No earmarks works for me! What an audacious statement – that this time next year obama will either be a great president or a broken one – in ONE year? The most inexperienced person to take office ever? Let’s hold that assessment until AFTER he’s out of the office.
President Bush has said that he regrets immigration policy didn’t get through and that Republicans will be looked at as being against immigration. President Bush, you still don’t get it. Republicans aren’t against immigration: we are against illegal immigration and how it’s destroying our country.
There are 24 or so guest worker programs and we have a legal immigration system that allows one million people into the U.S. every year. If a foreigner can’t get in under one of those programs, maybe he needs to stay in his own country.
If obama legalizes 12 million illegal invaders and those people bring five family members with them, and they’re allowed to immediately tap into our social services without paying a dime first, this country, already on her knees, will collapse.
The few taxpayers remaining cannot take on more burden. We need tax relief out here, not more people to support. The cart is overflowing as it is – and that’s one of the reasons for the economic meltdown, but nobody wants to talk about it. That’s why California is broke.
Against immigration, indeed. I hope that President Bush, once leaving office, gets a real dose of reality – somehow.
We need simple tax cuts everywhere, not complicated programs that bog us down. obama would be a great president if he’d completely overhaul the federal tax problem. We want a postcard sized tax return that five accountants don’t have to prepare. Just have everyone pay a flat tax. Simplify, simplify. Maybe obama’s new motto on his old phoney pretend “seal” ought to be “Keep it Simple Stupid”, which would benefit everyone.

Posted by: Victoria | January 10, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am

The Dems have always been a party of disaffected groups all competing to be the most oppressed, and hence, demand the most government pandering. Now that Obama has won, the Dems are fracturing along these very lines as each group competes for their part of the pie for helping Obama win. After painting Repubs racist for years, which isnt true, the liberals true colors are showing. Why are we demanding that Obamas seat be black and Richardson be replaced by a hispanic or Clintons seat go to a woman? It should be who is best for the job for ALL people, not a race, or gender. I hope for the sake of the nation Dems can get their act together and stop the scandles which are already eroding pubic faith.

Posted by: William | January 10, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

After a long binge of overborrowing and overspending, just the thing to fix the problem is…more borrowing and more spending! And we have to start doing it right now! Because the sky is falling!
Barack “Chicken Little” Obama is nothing if not shrewd. Using a crisis to cover up ramming it to the country is certainly good strategy; but it must be done quickly or people might actually find out what he is doing. Thus, his Democrat colleagues, with their own ideas on how to socialize America, might gum up the works by forcing a debate.
But that the Republicans would find the backbone to oppose the entire rotten mess. Fat chance.

Posted by: Rick | January 10, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

AN IDEA TO HELP SAVE THE ECONOMY
Dear Barrack Obama and/or staff, elected officials, employers, and employees
My name is Jeremy S and I am an employer in the DC metro area. I have thought very hard about what I feel would help our economy in its time of need. Here is a brief outline of an idea that I believe might help us in the hunt for an economic crisis resolution. Please review it.
THE IDEA:
Create USFW “United States Federal Workforce” USFW would be a Federal workforce that would be run as an online database. “layed out similar to MySpace or Facebook” It would be created and funded in place of unemployment.
BASIC DESCRIPTION:
*USFW would be a network of unemployed people throughout the United States who would work on an as needed basis for businesses in need of employees, both temporary and full time.
*When a person is laid off from a job, instead of filing for unemployment they would go online and register for employment with USFW. They would build an online profile and describe the positions that they are best fit to perform. “profile/resume” They would begin work and/or start receiving paychecks immediately from USFW at a pay rate that is equal to the average of their last three years documented tax return income. (Capped at $70,000)
*In place of unemployment insurance all employers throughout the United States would pay the same percent “as paid to unemployment insurance” to USFW to fund the program.
*Each employer would receive a credit account through USFW where they would earn workers credits in the amount of “1 credit for every dollar paid in to fund USFW” Also they would be given the ability to buy additional credits, and would be offered incentive credits upon hiring new employees full time.
*At anytime through the online database, any employer could request workers from USFW. The employer could scan profiles and pick the profile of the worker that best fit their needs. They would set the requested time frame and click reserve employee button, and the credits needed for that employee would be deducted from that employers USFW credit account. The employee would be notified through the online database (or via US mail if required) as to the position requested and its location. “must be within 30 miles” The employee would be required to fulfill any work orders requested of them in order to continue receiving USFW paychecks. The employee would review and confirm the request and then report for work as detailed in the request.
*USFW would offer different levels of employees, and the employers will be able to review prospective employee profiles online and choose the one that works best for them. Each profile would detail the amount of points required for that employee, as determined by USFW.
THE REASONS IT WILL WORK:
1) It’s simple and low cost to set up. It will not cost tax payers, employers, government, or employees any more than they are currently paying, and possibly much less.
2) It will benefit everyone involved
a) Employees will begin working as soon as they are laid off from their pervious job, and they will continue to receive paychecks that are sufficient for paying all of their current expenses. This will protect their credit.
b) Employers will always take advantage of the use of the employees because at first they will look at it as free and/or discounted labor. This because the expense will not change their bottom line as they have been paying unemployment in surance along. Later they will begin to appreciate the fact that it will give them the ability to sift through applicants and build a strong permanent workforce. (which is a major challenge for employers)
c) Banks will reopen lending channels if they know that workers are guaranteed a paycheck even if they are laid off from their current job. This will also cut foreclosures significantly if workers are able to continue getting the same pay that they were earning before they were laid off.
d) It will help to keep people from getting discouraged and will keep them in the mind set of working.
e) It will eliminate people who try to take advantage of, or maximize the use of unemployment.
That is the basic concept; I think it could be a major step in solving our nation’s economic problem.
Example of how to pay for it: In this example there are 1000 employees in the United States, all employee gross wages are $100.00 and there are 20% unemployed. In this example employer’s contribution is 3% of gross pay to fund USFW. “as stated above, money paid by employer is in place of unemployment insurance”
800 “80%” people employed at $100 = $80,000. Employers pay 3% of $80,000 = $24,000 total paid to USFW
200 “20%” people unemployed a $100 = $20,000. If USFW pays 200 unemployed people the exact same $100 as they were making before being laid off. 200 X $100 = $20,000
$24,000 (USFW fund total) – $20,000 (money paid to 200 unemployed) $24,000 – $20,000 = $4000.00 surplus
This is an example of how the plan works even with as much as a 20% unemployment rate.
OPTION:
As an additional way to help stimulate hiring. The percent contributed by employers could fluctuate between .05% and 4% and could be based on the national unemployment rate.

Posted by: Jeremy Snyder | January 10, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Ramesh
Yes the lower income do pay federal and state taxes..I make around 25,000 a year and I consider myself on the poorer side of things…And I do pay taxes…People seem to have no problem giving the banks 700 billion but when its mentioned to give to the poorer people it a handout thats given to lazy people that wont work..thats not true at all…many, many people work and work hard and are still poor…Everyone cant have the 100 plus dollars an hour job..Its just not possible…Of course there are some poor that are lazy and wont work…And there are some rich people that are lazy and scam off the poor….I would love to see all that money sent to people that make 50,000 or less….people like that spend it because they have to…Not put it in their account because they already have millions in there…I just hate it when billions are give to the rich its a stimilus but when it give to the poor its a handout…

Posted by: Pete | January 10, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm

dawn duvo 10:13:54
Fear not! You and your fellow voters
now have the ability to win the math-
matical permutations in all future
elections. The verisimilitude, or
really the lack thereof, in the repor-
tage during this last political season
allows that YOUR wishes will be Obama’s
commands….short of ensuring his
relectibilty in four years. But if HE
falters, there is Chelsea waiting in
the wings, or….perhaps her mother.
The Dems gotcha covered………..

Posted by: grizzly bare | January 10, 2009, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm

obama you haven’t had nothing but a free ride so you don’t know nothing but scare scare scare. Is that what ayers and wright taught you. I started wishing dishes in a cafe when I was 14 year old and the next summer thought I was in tall cotton when I got $5.00 a day and room and board on a farm. Before that I got to help Dad for rom and board. This is nothing compared to the the 70′s of JIMMY baby Carter or the depression that my Grandpas’ lost their farms in. Get off it obama they don’t teach you nothing at Harvard about real life. We don’t need your elcrapo every day on TV trying to scare people, you know the 30% of your voters that don’t even know their Congressman or Senators Name. period

Posted by: I will not be scared | January 10, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm

Jeremy Snyder 3:47;45
Hiring “workers” doesn’t necessarily
get ANYTHING done. There is a concept
called “work ethic”. No one seems to
give a rat’s pratt to the priority
of this noble tenet anymore. But, it
is written in the scrolls that Obama
shall lead us out of the darkness………..at least according
to MSNBC et al.

Posted by: grizzly bare | January 10, 2009, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm

George 12:57:28
Enjoyed it! When the next terrorist
attack hits, we’ll be ecstatic with
Leon “little bread” Pannetta at the
CIA spinning that it was all “Bush’s
fault”. And Obama?…he’ll still
be a political virgin with offerings
still comming daily to his altar.

Posted by: grizzly bare | January 10, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm

It should face roadblocks because the stimulus package as it is now doesn’t include or benefit every American with incomes less than $200,000 a year! It won’t help most of the elderly or the disabled on social security at all unless they have enough income to have to pay income tax after their dedcuctions. Since most of them get less than $1000 a month, that is not usually the case. In fact most of them don’t even have enough income to have to file a return. They are left out and it’s not right and it’s not fair! They worked hard all of their lives and yet these people are among the poorest in out country. They are the ones who sometimes have to choose between paying their utility bills and their rent, buying food, and buying their medicine because they don’t have enough income to pay for all of it. And that’s even with their food stamps and today’s medicare insurance plans that pay for most of their prescription costs. They still have to pay co-payments and when you’re on social security every penny that you spend hurts! Of all the people these are the ones who need help the worst and they are the ones who will get nothing from the stimulus package! It needs to be re-written to include a $500 payment to them!

Posted by: Sooner | January 11, 2009, 1:39 am 1:39 am

The amazing shrinking Obama!
By the time he sits in the Oval Office he will be a pawn of Pelosi and Reid.
This idea is a one trillion rescue bridge to nowhere! Good riddance.
F Stagg

Posted by: Frank Stagg MD | January 11, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm

Why in the devil were Republicans scared of this guy? He has had everything handed to him on a silver platter, never managed a thing, never accomplished a thing. He has less leadership experience than a typical Eagle Scout.
Obama has the Change he wanted. He is the One he has been waiting for. The rest of us have someone without a clue trying to pretend that he has it all figured out.

Posted by: ragnar30066 | January 11, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm

Eliminate EITC, Earned Income Tax Credit. It has no place on a tax return. People need to stop depending on the govt. for handouts and use the tool available to move up.

Posted by: Brandy | January 11, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm

Did anyone happen to catch IOUSA on CNN this afternoon? Whoa, that’s the film that should be shown in every high school in America, much scarier reality than Al Gore’s propaganda film.

Posted by: Brandy | January 11, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm

It’s pretty clear Obama won’t be able to satisfy everyone – especially the Republicans/Conservatives. Well – they had their chance and look what has happened to America ever since Reagan. Boom and bust. Now the worst economic climate since the Depression. I guess now the Repubs/Conservatives can blame everything bad going forward on Obama because they are backward looking cowards

Posted by: Bob | January 12, 2009, 8:37 am 8:37 am

What gets me is that people are surprised that things are not going according to plan. Seriously, what did you all expect? If it wasn’t such a serious topic I would be laughing right now.

Posted by: Jun | December 10, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm

The political push and pull that occurs whenever economic reform comes up is astounding. There are so many different methods proposed for similar goals, it is tough to attain any type of consensus. Perhaps it is good that his own party is questioning matters though, this may result in more advantageous long term decisions.

Posted by: Evan Electrician | April 12, 2011, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm

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