By Caitlin Taylor

Feb 17, 2009 8:45am

The Note, 2/17/09: Obama Journeys to Denver for Stimulus Signing

By JONATHAN KARL The Wall Street Journal labels President Obama “senator-in-chief,” but as he journeys outside Washington today to sign his Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he is looking like campaigner-in-chief. When he takes the stage in Denver today, Obama won’t be surrounded by a bunch of politicians. This is no ordinary bill signing and it certainly is no ordinary bill. “Vice President Joe Biden and a who’s who of Colorado Democrats are expected at the ceremony at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science — but most of them likely won’t be on the stage with Obama as he signs the first significant piece of legislation of his presidency,” Kevin Vaughan writes in the Rocky Mountain News. “Instead, men and women who have worked in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy are expected to be front and center.” The venue was chosen, in part, because of the nifty new solar panels on its roof; the kind of thing the stimulus is designed to make possible in buildings across the country, although hose solar panels only provide about 3 to 5 percent of the building’s electricity. Where does the money go? What projects will be funded? These are basic questions but, despite all the talk about “shovel-ready” projects, it’s going to take a while to figure out just what is going to be built. AP’s brilliant Beth Fouhy takes a crack at how the states will decide how to spend their chunk of the infrastructure money. Ohio’s Gov. Strickland has appointed an “infrastructure czar” to help determine what projects to fund. In Colorado, major decisions will be made by 11 transportation commissioners. In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick has named a real estate developer to oversee bidding for the stimulus money.

The president’s “signature” issue. There’s a massive $8 billion chunk of the stimulus dedicated to creating a European-style network of high-speed passenger trains. The odd thing about his initiative — the largest single piece of infrastructure spending in the bill — is it was not included in the original House version but added at the 11th hour. How did it get there? “I put it in there for the president,” Rahm Emanuel tells Politico. “The president wanted to have a signature issue in the bill, his commitment for the future.” Politico’s David Rogers reports that the White House plans to ask for another $1 billion a year for high-speed rail in each of the next five years. Senator-in-chief? Obama has a White House team heavy on Capitol Hill experience and it shows. Jonathan Weisman and Naftali Bendavid of the Wall Street Journal have a must-read look at how the stimulus sausage was made, including the fateful decision made by the president in mid-December to leave the details of crafting the bill up to the House Democratic leadership. “After two presidencies marked by friction, if not outright hostility, between the White House and Congress, Mr. Obama has shown himself to be senator-in-chief, consulting closely with congressional leaders and committee chairmen at every turn.” More: “Politically, it might have been useful to blame congressional Democrats for the growth of the stimulus package as it wound through the legislative process. But senior White House aides said administration officials were present when most of those key decisions were made.” Maybe this is why they didn’t get 80 votes? Weisman and Bendavid put Joe Biden at the center of the effort to win over Senate Republicans, giving him credit for helping to get the support of Snowe, Collins and Specter Who could this “vice presidential aide” be? Here’s how they describe Biden’s conversations with the Republican senators: ”Don’t give me that ‘Mr. Vice President,’” Mr. Biden repeatedly said, according to a vice presidential aide. “If you want to call me that in public, fine, but when we’re on the phone, it’s ‘Joe.’” ABC’s Jake Tapper takes a Tapperesque look at the 23-photo slide show released by the White House entitled, “The Story of the Economic Recovery Package.” “History is written by the winners,” Tapper writes, “especially on their own Web site, and the captions are occasionally (if inadvertantly) amusing.” Geithner’s troubles explained. The Washington Post business section has a fascinating account of why Treasury Secretary Giethner’s financial bailout plan landed with such a thud last week. The Post reports that shortly before the plan was to be announced, Geithner decided to abruptly switch course because, he concluded, “the strategies he and his team had spent weeks working on were too expensive, too complex and too risky for taxpayers.” “They needed an alternative and found it in a previously considered initiative to pair private investments and public loans to try to buy the risky assets and take them off the books of banks. There was one problem: They didn’t have enough time to work out many details or consult with others before the plan was supposed to be unveiled.” Another problem: Transition disfunction. “Economic advisers were hobbled in crafting the plan by a shortage of personnel. To date, the president has not nominated any assistant secretaries or undersecretaries at the Treasury, and the handful of mid-level staffers who have started work were still finding their offices and getting their building passes and BlackBerrys. “Moreover, the department made a strategic decision to limit input from the financial industry and other outsiders, aiming to prevent leaks and avoid a perception they were designing the plan for the benefit of big banks. But that also meant they were unable to vet their plan with the companies involved or set realistic expectations of what would be announced.” Next up: Auto Bailout Redux. GM and Chrysler have until 5 p.m. today to submit their plans for restructuring with that $17 billion in TARP they received. One auto industry source tells The Note the GM submission weighs in at about 900 pages, or about the size of the economic stimulus bill. Whatever the plans say, it seems clear they’ll need more money and may end up in bankruptcy court in any case. The Wall Street Journal reports: ”The government could seek tougher concessions from the auto industry because conditions have worsened since the loans were offered in December. ‘With the economy in this precarious situation, no one wants to put the automakers into bankruptcy, but can this much restructuring be accomplished without bankruptcy?’ said one auto adviser. Ultimately, the government will have to decide how much to subsidize the auto industry, he added. ‘That’s a critical decision that only the president can make.’” George Stephanopoulos reports that even before those plans are submitted, the Obama administration has already decided to release another $4 billion to General Motors. “The Obama administration was to have six weeks to rule on the future of the U.S. auto industry, with a March 31 deadline for deciding whether GM can keep the $13.4 billion and Chrysler the $4 billion given to them,” says George. “But White House officials tell me that no one wants GM to go under while they assess this long-term restructuring plan. They believe this $4 billion is essential to keeping GM afloat until their decision in March. You want bi-partisan? Talk to the governors. While only 1.3 percent of Republicans in Congress supported the bill (you know their names), 18 percent of the nation’s Republican governors are on record supporting the stimulus and the others are now, of course, lining up to get their piece of the $787 billion pie. In The New York Times, Jackie Calmes takes a look at Obama’s Republicans: Crist of Florida, Schwarzenegger of California, Douglas of Vermont and Rell of Connecticut. “The contrast reflects the two faces of the Republican Party these days,” writes Calmes.
“Leaderless after losing the White House, the party is mostly defined by its Congressional wing, which flaunted its anti-spending ideology in opposing the stimulus package. That militancy drew the mockery of late-night television comics, but the praise of conservative talk-show stars and the party faithful. “In the states, meanwhile, many Republican governors are practicing a pragmatic — their Congressional counterparts would say less-principled — conservatism.” It’s amazing what the prospect of billions of dollars in federal cash can do to focus a governor’s mind – Democrat or Republican. The stimulus bill has created something never seen before: An education secretary with money and power to spare. The stimulus gives Secretary Arne Duncan $100 billion to spend, and much of it he can spend as he sees fit. The NYT’s Sam Dillion suggests his predecessors may be “slightly jealous.” Here’s what President Bush’s woman at the Department of Education says about it: “It’s hard to imagine moving that much money that quickly,” said Margaret Spellings, Mr. Duncan’s predecessor, who turned her seventh-floor office over to him last month. “The point is, it’s never been done before, and as much confidence as I have in Arne Duncan, there’s an awesome opportunity for slippage with that much money moving through the meat grinder.” More troubles for Sen. Roland Burris (D-Blagojevich). It’s one thing when Republicans are calling for his head, but now Illinois Democrats are piling on as well. Lisa Madigan may be a prime candidate to run against Burris in next year’s Democratic primary, but she is also the state’s attorney general and the Chicago Tribune reports she led “a growing chorus of Democratic officials Monday calling for a deeper investigation of U.S. Sen. Roland Burris’ explanation about how he was appointed by now-ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.” The Trib has some choice quotes from Democratic lawmakers in Illinois about their Senator, including this one: “He was seated as a United States senator based on his testimony to our committee. That’s, I think, the most disappointing part about this,” said Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo). “I feel absolutely betrayed by this.” For his part, Burris says he is not a crook: ”I will go anywhere. I’m going to talk to the feds. I have done nothing wrong.” Trib columnist Steve Chapman says Burris “should have the decency to resign” because if the Senate leaders had known about his many contacts with Blagojevich’s inner circle, they would not have let him be sworn in. “No one expects Burris to do the decent thing,” Chapman writes. “That brings me to the second conclusion: Even if he escapes a perjury rap, his act of deception pretty much eliminates any chance that he will be able to run in 2010 for a full term and win.” Don’t tell Norm Coleman. Politico’s Andy Barr notices that Al Franken now refers to himself as “Senator-elect Franken.” Bristol Palin: “It was my choice.” With baby Tripp in tow, Sara Palin’s 18-year-old daughter did an interview last night with Greta Van Susteran on Fox News. She says telling mom about the pregnancy was “harder than labor” and that she hopes to become a advocate against teen pregnancy. More Bristol: "It was my choice to have the baby. It doesn’t matter what my mom’s views are on it. It was my decision." “Outraged” Cheney; “Exasperated” Bush. The New York Daily News’ Tom DeFrank, an old Cheney nemesis from the Ford days, reports on the former VP’s efforts to get his friend Scooter Libby a full presidential pardon. DeFrank says Cheney pushed for the pardon so hard and so persistently – right up to his last day in office – that an exasperated Bush told aides he didn’t want to discuss the issue anymore. Reports DeFrank: “Sources close to Cheney told the Daily News the former vice president repeatedly pressed Bush to pardon Libby, arguing his ex-chief of staff and longtime alter ego deserved a full exoneration – even though Bush had already kept Libby out of jail by commuting his 30-month prison sentence.” “‘He tried to make it happen right up until the very end,’ one Cheney associate said.” The Kicker “House Republicans surround the president after the meeting. Many of them were seeking his autograph. Every House Republican eventually voted against the bill.” — caption for a photo on White House website Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
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User Comments

“There’s a massive $8 billion chunk of the stimulus dedicated to creating a European-style network of high-speed passenger trains. “……………..
Oh, you must mean the “network” of high speed train that goes from Vegas to Disneyland, huh? lol

Posted by: Sigmonde | February 17, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am

“3% to 5% of the buildings electricity”???? Yeah, that’s worth a trillion or two. God help us all (especially our children and grandchildren).

Posted by: M. Smith | February 17, 2009, 9:09 am 9:09 am

Well, it’s about time; I hope the nation’s financial crisis didn’t interfere with his weekend vacation. Obama is a narcissistic panic monger and his sole objective is to pay off his parasitic constituents and left wins supporters. You’re being had people and the sad part is you don’t even know it.

Posted by: rplat | February 17, 2009, 9:11 am 9:11 am

BUY A GM OR CHRYSLER?????? You must be nuts!!!! These bloodsuckers are demanding more bailout money!!! Why buy their products when they have stolen from you and your children. Buy Ford, Toyota, Honda or whatever has not taken money from you and your children. Stop rewarding the thiefs in Detroit and Washington!!!!!! Be a patriot and stand up to corrupt Washington, Detroit and Wall Street. Take your country back by telling these thieves—NO WAY anymore!!!

Posted by: rockychance | February 17, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am

WOW,
Obama has made the country so confident that NO ONE is spending money. The economy is in the tank and its ALL on the dumb congress and Obama. WHY? Because he decided to use the SKY is falling arguement and guess what he acheived his mission. Consumer confidence is in the toilet and so is the economy.
WHAT is there in the Stimulus bill to acutally MAKE business hire and grow?
Check the DOW today..
I am sorry America I voted for Obama.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | February 17, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am

rplat
You said it much better than I. Sorry to say, your right.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | February 17, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am

Conservation? Why fly “home” to Chicago for the weekend. Why fly to somewhere besides his office to sign a bill? You wanted the job, stay home, get the job done…………flying around on big jets like the execs you yell at for doing so is kinda dumb Obama…..

Posted by: kab4usa | February 17, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am

In response to Sigmonde’s blog below,
“There’s a massive $8 billion chunk of the stimulus dedicated to creating a European-style network of high-speed passenger trains. “……………..
Oh, you must mean the “network” of high speed train that goes from Vegas to Disneyland, huh? lol
I am sooo proud of Obama. He has made history after history! It is so inspiring! Wow, I am in awe of him! He was able to get a bill signed in only 3 weeks in office! He was able to jump right in and tackle the problems facing America including making sure that families will have a little more in their pay checks and that the unemployed have health care and that particularly urban schools, which by the way are still part of America, are FINALLY being given some attention! He is the greatest and the maysayers are just haters. LOL!

Posted by: Educated | February 17, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am

This is from the Senate Appropriations Committee, it’s a summary. (Taken off of Huffington post that has both House and Senate bills posted.
Railroads: The bill includes $3.1 billion for investments in rail transportation. This total
funding level includes the following amounts:
-$2 billion for grants for investments in high speed rail corridors. This funding will be provided through an authorized program for capital investments indesignated high-speed rail corridors.
- $250 million for grants to states for investments in intercity passenger rail. Such investments are expected to maintain, improve, or expand existing intercity passenger rail service.
- $850 million for capital grants to Amtrak. The grants will support a national system for passenger rail, and no more than 50 percent of the funding provided in the bill may be used on the Northeast Corridor.
Can you please show proof of this anywhere in the bill? “from Vegas to Disneyland”. I am just curious because I have seen this before.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:18 am 9:18 am

Reid pulled a fast one to help his friends in Vegas out. The high speed train is set to steer more suckers to the Vegas Casinos. Americans!!!! Are you really that stupid? Answer yes, you are!!!! I bet over 25 percent of the people who voted cannot tell you what the first or second amendments contain. Lincoln said a house divided cannot stand and he would say today we are divided into the people who know the constitution and the morons who are allowed to vote who barely know their own names. Way to go Progressives!!! YOU have succeeded in destroying all hope this nation had by allowing the thieves to take over and steer the blind over a cliff.

Posted by: rockychance | February 17, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am

Pelosi and seven of her comrades were flown on an 8 day trip to Italy at taxpayer’s expense. They claimed it was for US business. I bet you they are wasting tons more of your money over there on Pelosi’s whims.

Posted by: rockychance | February 17, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am

These are two White House priorities for which the stakes are very high. The stimulus and the mortgage plan must succeed, not only to save the economy but to continue to allow Democrats and the administration to portray Republicans as out of touch with their criticisms.
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | February 17, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am

Is there any reason Obama needs to fly all the way to Denver to sign a bill that was already sitting in Washington?

Posted by: Ed | February 17, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am

Obama seems to have a short memory. The Democrat congress ripped the auto CEO’s about using their private jets. It appears Obama is using Air Force One like an air taxi jetting to Indiana, Florida, Williamsburg Va and Denver just to sign a bill. In his short term he is burning up the tax payers money at an alarming rate. His policy is do as I say not as I do.

Posted by: Linda in Louisville | February 17, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am

Ah the great recovery plan. So for a 27 year old just finishing graduate school, 6 years of college,it’s great to see a $2,500 tax credit right when I’m done. College has made me broke, so I don’t own a house or can’t afford to buy a new car, so those tax credits don’t apply either. Glad I get to pay down this debt for my whole life while getting nothing out of it. Oh wait $400 tax credit, let me go stimulate the economy, or pay 1/20th of my college loans back. Really glad I’m paying thousands to get $400 back- great deal.

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am

To John McCain and Arlen Specter!!!!! Stand on the Capital steps for thirty days in the sun or pouring rain and shout out that the FAIRNESSS DOCTRINE is just another way of shuting up the oppostion voices. We had a great American once(Patrick Henry) and I assure you he would not put up with this senorship or taking away his Constitutional right to “Free Speech” Come on McCain and Specter-you cannot be President but you can stand up for your country like never before. Get on those Capital steps and shout and shout and shout until the comrades at NBC,CBS,ABC and CNN are forced to cover your actions instead of trying to ignore you while they cover Obama’s stupid basketball garbage!!!!

Posted by: rockychance | February 17, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am

Is there any reason Obama needs to fly all the way to Denver to sign a bill that was already sitting in Washington?
Posted by: Ed | Feb 17, 2009 9:25:10 AM
Obama seems to have a short memory. The Democrat congress ripped the auto CEO’s about using their private jets. It appears Obama is using Air Force One like an air taxi jetting to Indiana, Florida, Williamsburg Va and Denver just to sign a bill. In his short term he is burning up the tax payers money at an alarming rate. His policy is do as I say not as I do.
Posted by: Linda in Louisville | Feb 17, 2009 9:25:30 AM
I guess he could be like Bush and shield himself from the American people and stay in a bubble for the next 4 years. That is something I don’t think this President will do.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am

Obama = the biggest liar ever in the first two weeks of his presidency. Obama will be a 1 term President Guaranteed.

Posted by: Eric | February 17, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am

Like so many friends, we are all upset we voted for this fraud of change!!!

Posted by: My Mistake | February 17, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am

Obama = the biggest liar ever in the first two weeks of his presidency. Obama will be a 1 term President Guaranteed.
Posted by: Eric | Feb 17, 2009 9:40:17 AM
What did he lie about? I guess you have a Rushie crystal ball as well.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am

so, Linda in Louisville – do you propose he fly commercial? btw, perhaps you missed it, over the weekend, the President put a temporary stop on a GOP programme (approved by GWB) to buy for a whopping $11.2bn a new Marine One helicopter fleet…so I would say that he is walking the walk here.

Posted by: indithinker | February 17, 2009, 9:46 am 9:46 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am

ChicagoBob, you’re the first person I’ve heard say they regret voting for Obama. I applaud your courage because you’re going to be raked over the coals for that admission. I knew it would be a matter of time before his worshippers saw his TRUE colors and he started making the US the laughing stock of the world and his so-called “stimulus” plan and his fear tactics and his non-stop campainging is exhausting.

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am

The President has shown real political savvy in getting the “stimulus” bill passed and signed. He knows what those of us who voted want and is going to assure that we will vote for him again. Imagain, a President who keeps his promises!!
The majority of the Republican governors know where the voters stand and therefore supported the bill.
The Republicans in Congress are just more of the old neo cons who remain out of step with the American people.

Posted by: Herb Gray | February 17, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

If this keeps up, let’s rent out the White House and Obama can just live on the plane. Michelle and girls can live in Chicago, their home that they were probably a little sad to leave…….. Anyone see the news clip of the Obamas arrival back in DC? Barack was down those plane steps and already striding along on the ground while his family was left 30 steps behind him. If that’s the respect he has for his family, what respect does he have for anyone else?

Posted by: Interested08 | February 17, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

Obama is still an idiot socialist.

Posted by: Sluggo | February 17, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

The majority of the Republican governors know where the voters stand and therefore supported the bill.
The Republicans in Congress are just more of the old neo cons who remain out of step with the American people.
Posted by: Herb Gray | Feb 17, 2009 9:52:59 AM
I read that this morning too. Maybe those Governors should be elected to Congress. At least they have some intelligence as to what is needed.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Jwench- I got to go to college because I worked my a$$ off. I paid for college at a junior college and worked two jobs to cut some of the cost to finish undergrad work. During my masters degree I took 3 grad classes, taught 5 undergradute classes, volunteered on the basketball staff and worked another job. Anyone can go to college if they’re willing to work for it and not spend every weekend at the bar. The point is this bill screws over people who have worked hard for years and are in a position where they can’t take advantage of all these tax breaks because of the outrageous cost of college. Over the last 10 years the cost of college has rose at a higher rate % wise than gas. If the majority of this bill was going towards worthwhile stuff (clean renewable energy, infastructure and education) I would have no problem footing the bill. But their is so much garbage in their that isn’t needed. The real stimulus plan would be taking the 1.5 TRILLION weve spent on a bailout and recovery and divide it up amoung anyone making under 60,000 a year. That would stimulate the economy becuase people that make less than that need it and would spend it- paying off mortgages, debt, etc…so the banks would get it anyways. But common sense has left this country long ago.

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am

“It’s amazing what the prospect of billions of dollars in federal cash can do to focus a governor’s mind – Democrat or Republican. ”
Jonathan, what was the point of throwing in “Democrat or Republican”, when the previous paragrah was about how Republican governors are more supportive of the stimulus package than Republican senators? What examples can you provide of how money has “focused” a Democratic governor’s mind? Of course governors need money, we are in a recession and states have been laying off teachers and cops, had you noticed?

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am

You should have shown some concern for your children and grandchildren over the previous 8 years if you really cared. Now you can show how much you care by showing your offspring the importance of pulling together to accomplish something for america-be a ROLE model for them-don’t teach them to grow up to be whiners

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am

ChicagoBob; Your apology for voting for Obama is accepted. You’ve learned to say you’re wrong when you’re wrong. Consider it part of your educational process, a growing experience. Just don’t do it again! I’m proud to say I didn’t vote for him. I looked at his track record and cringed. Things have gotten worse. Now I am learning to type from the fetal position.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am

Posted by: DSchles33 | Feb 17, 2009 10:00:36 AM
Like I said be thankful you had the opportunity. There are kids that live in poverty who don’t have enough to eat and were never taught that education is the key to success. Their parents never taught them about pride for doing a good job. It’s not their fault. It’s a vicious cycle that has to be broken.
BTW that is 400 more you have in your pocket than you had before.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am

Great, the markets are tanking again in anticipation of BHO signing the Spendulous Bill. Nobody has any confidence in it…they rush the Bill through before anyone can even read it and he takes a long weekend off after telling everyone the world is ending if they don’t pass it…Pelosi goes to Rome on our nickel. Who takes time off after working for 3 weeks!? And why spend all the money to fly to CO to sign the stupid thing? Does anyone have any common sense running our country?

Posted by: MSG | February 17, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am

This bill may not be perfect – it seems doubtful that is is big enough – but it is a tremendous accomplishment for Obama.
Pretty good job considering the Republicans told us he was just another muslim Terrorist. If they were in charge we would all be headed for the poorhouse but we would (of course) have tax cuts… or at least those of us formerly doing well would have tax cuts!

Posted by: Annie | February 17, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am

IF he truly did vote for Obama, three weeks would not have changed his mind.
Posted by: Jwench | Feb 17, 2009 9:54:09 AM
I see you live with rose-colored glasses as well. Why can’t someone change their mind in three weeks?
Honestly, it sounds like you’re one of those people standing their with their palm up, waiting for the handout you think you’ve got coming to you. How about pulling up your big kid pants and working hard for what you want?
Posted by: Lynnie | Feb 17, 2009 10:04:39 AM
I have always worked for what I have and have never “had my hand out”. I started working at 14, bought my own cars and anything that I have wanted since that age. I have paid for my own education as well. Actually Obama was not my first choice, Hillary was. There are no rose colored glasses here. It took quite a while for me to come to terms with voting for him. The alternative (McCain) would have been 10x’s worse.
All I see on these blogs is constant whining. Where were those whines the last 8 years while our President lied and drove this country to the brink? Some of you were stupid enough elect him twice!

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:13 am 10:13 am

gosh, i am guessing you whiners are so used to a president who spent 8 years in a bunker and did’nt communicate with the american people-get used to it -this president is of the people..

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am

This is not a stimulus situation at all. This is however another sellout of the hard earned dollars that the government just continues to throw after bad decisions. No more money!

Posted by: mom | February 17, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am

The market is down 250 points already to day! Hold on folks its going to be a long ride. Good job to Harry Reid getting his pork added to this bill for that stupid train from CA to Vegas. What an idiot. How is that going to create jobs?! Obama the “Welfare Prince” and his court jesters struck again!
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 10:10:07 AM
Did you actually read the bill? Or is that a Rush talking point for the week. Somebody had a good idea about changing the Republicans to Rushpublicans.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am

This bill may not be perfect – it seems doubtful that is is big enough – but it is a tremendous accomplishment for Obama.
Are you really serious? The Bill is a complete joke – a sham at our expense. Obama has lost all credibility in my eyes.

Posted by: MSG | February 17, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am

cowgirl…it appears you have been in a bunker. The “Welfare Prince” gave a speech about the economy being so bad nobody is spending anything. The market is going into the tank already today. We don’t need anymore pork filled spendulas bills!

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am

Chicago Bob NEVER voted for Obama-he is not a democrat or an independant-you can tell by his rhetoric-he is a republican right wingnut..You republicans are way too easy too fool..LOL

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am

Yes, I voted for President Obama with no regrets. The economy was in the toliet when he became president and President Obama and his team is going to try to help us all in this mess. No one say a mumbling word with what happen to the first stimulus money President Bush got his hands on. The reason why we are in this mess because we as americans will not pull together. We need to pull ourselves up and help other people in america who are less fortune and pray for those who have lose their homes/jobs. Stop b@#$% and complaining and let’s do something to help our President and ourselves out of this mess.

Posted by: della1 | February 17, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am

Some of you are still focused on Bush – it’s time for all of us to move past him and focus. Obama is making serious mistakes right out of the box and you need to open your eyes. Bush is gone, long gone and this President seems lost and in over his head. Why spend millions to go to CO to sign the stupid bill four days after BO was telling us the world would end w/out it? I was hopeful he would know what he was doing but I was wrong.

Posted by: MSG | February 17, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am

Jwench- $400 more I had in my pocket than before? You do realize the taxpayers are paying for this right. I guarentee my chunk of the 1.5 TRILLION is more than a $400 tax credit. Your point about poverty is absolutly right, which is why I said give the 1.5 trillion to those making under $60,000/tax exempt, that would actually stimulate the economy. When people making millions get a tax cut what do they do??? Save it. When poorer people get it what do they do??? Spend it to survive.
Posted by: DSchles33 | Feb 17, 2009 10:16:16 AM
That’s what’s wrong in this country. It’s all about “me”.Screw everyone else. Or what do I get out of it. Be thankful you have done well and that you aren’t homeless or facing foreclosure, etc. Things could be worse.
I am thankful I have a good paying job and a roof over my head. Some people don’t. It is those people that I hope this stimulus bill helps.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am

Obama isn’t the president of the people – he’s the president of the people who agree with him and his tactics. I don’t know why some of you, namely cowgirl and Jwench, think that just being people are here disagreeing with Obama agreed with everything that Bush did. I didn’t, I didn’t agree with the majority of what happened in the last few years of his presidency and I can admit that. Are you both, cowgirl and Jwench, so blindly following Obama that you think he can do no wrong? Or is it that now you finally have a democratic president and you think it’s okay to praise him and you expect republicans to sit by with their mouths shut and not complain?? Why is it that republicans had to sit by for 8 years and turn a deaf ear when you moaned and moaned about Bush but Heaven forbid, someone utter an untoward work about the Mighty O and the earth stops? Pot meet Kettle perhaps?

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am

BHO is a joke. If that bill is so important he should have signed it Friday night or Saturday. This country is failing fast and BHO and Pelosi are flying around like nothing is wrong. Vote the whole bunch out. Maybe we can get Bush back until we do a do-over in November.

Posted by: VC | February 17, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am

cowgirl…you dems are way to easy to fool. Look at the one you put in office. LOL

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am

cowgirl…you dems are way to easy to fool. Look at the one you put in office. LOL

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am

Resubmitted to fix typos because my fingers got ahead of me.
********
Obama isn’t the president of the people – he’s the president of the people who agree with him and his tactics. I don’t know why some of you, namely cowgirl and Jwench, think that just because people are here disagreeing with Obama agreed with everything that Bush did. I didn’t, I didn’t agree with the majority of what happened in the last few years of his presidency and I can admit that. Are you both, cowgirl and Jwench, so blindly following Obama that you think he can do no wrong? Or is it that now you finally have a democratic president and you think it’s okay to praise him and you expect republicans to sit by with their mouths shut and not complain?? Why is it that republicans had to sit by for 8 years and turn a deaf ear when you moaned and moaned about Bush but Heaven forbid, someone utter an untoward word about the Mighty O and the earth stops? Pot meet Kettle perhaps?

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am

These are the Hooverites-with the same mindset that drove the country into a G. Depprission-its history repeating itself-can’t teach an old hooverite new tricks-they are a 1 trick pony-sorry you had your chance-you’re on the island now.can you imagine the hell we would face if they were still in charge???

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am

How many of you have actually read this bill? Nobody knows yet what effects it will have. Just because Rush and the GOP says it’s true does not mean it is.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am

A few ‘Wise Words’ from Maya Angelou. So fitting for the “undercover agents” who ‘camp here’ or are ‘frequent visitors!’ It’s ‘kinda self explanatory;
“A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.”
“They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever
good enough!”
“When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters…”

Posted by: bobj72 | February 17, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am

For the die hard Obama supporters, they remind me of the children who refuse to give up their belief in Santa Clause. They’re always looking for a free gift. They’ll never wise up because they want government to take care of them regardless of the freedoms they have to give up to get it and they don’t care who pays for it all as long as it’s not them.

Posted by: Lee | February 17, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am

After only six weeks many people who supported change are having serious reservations about what we have done to our country. So much liberal thought has been applied in such a short time with the promise of even more presidential directives. Even centrists are having trouble digesting the opportunistic approach to governance taken by the Democratic party while all along the way calling for bi-partisanship.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am

Della1…I agree. All Obama supporters should help him get out of this mess. I suggest you get a job, or a second job so that you will pay more taxes. That should help. If everyone that voted for Obama worked instead of holding their hand out for their government handout, we wouldn’t be in this mess. You now who you are! Generational welfare…another name for liberal.

Posted by: bo | February 17, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Bobj72; Short people need someone to look up to.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am

Lynnie..In case you did’nt notice..we were BOTH Hillary supporters-there really wasn’t any chosing between republican or democrat-i am a registered independant-and vote with my brain, and i vote for my country not a party
Posted by: cowgirl | Feb 17, 2009 10:28:50 AM
Thank you. McCain lost my vote when he went berserk and then added Palin to the ticket. My vote was up for grabs and McCain blew it.
Obama will make mistakes just like every President before him.
To the haters :
Just give the man more than 3 weeks to prove himself.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am

David brooks a true rational conservative-supports the stimulus-said it probably needed to be bigger…targeted temporary and timely..was it perfect-no-but we did give you some tax cuts-your welfare…besides your economic policies drove this country into the ground..you suppported it so yeah…pay up

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am

Jwench- It’s easy to say when you have a house and a paying job. I get to pay my school $3,000 and pay roughly $4,000 in living expenses to go work an unpaid internship. And when I’m done with my masters I’m taking a huge pay cut to go teach on an Indian Reservation for 3 years. So kepe spouting off like an idiot. I’ve done more volunteer work before the age of 27, while being poor, than you have probably done in your who life, so get a clue before you spout off like an idiot
Posted by: DSchles33 | Feb 17, 2009 10:31:16 AM
Why do people have to resort to name calling?
Btw you don’t know anything I have done in my life, so don’t judge me.
I wish you success in your future endeavors. I am just pointing out that there are young adults that don’t have the opportunity to go to college through no fault of their own.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am

Annie; We’re headed for the poor house under this administration. What’s the difference? The difference is the amount of debt we’ll have while in the poor house. Doesn’t Obama tell us there are much worse times ahead? If there are much worse times ahead if we spend spend spend, then how is it so much worse to have worse times ahead without the debt? There is still an option to the prevailing gameplan. We could ride out the storm.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am

Jwench….”hater” how old are you 16?!

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am

It appears that Obama really, really, really likes flying on Air Force One. Doesn’t that fly in the face of being the Green President.

Posted by: flopez5 | February 17, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am

I am going to give him more than 3 weeks to prove himself, that’s for sure!
I guess you think lying and spying and secrecy by our last President should have been off limits to complain about.
If he really screws up then yeah, I will call him on it. But give the man more than 3 weeks to right the wrongs of the past 8 years.
Posted by: Jwench | Feb 17, 2009 10:28:56 AM
You need to learn to read an entire post before you spout off. I said I didn’t agree with everything Bush did and in fact disagreed with a lot of his decisions toward the end of his term. I’m done wasting my time responding to your posts. I hope when Obama does screw up, you do call him on it. Not that it’s going to matter, the nation will be a total socialist country by then, but I hope you do stand by what you said. Good day to you.

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am

Jwech- Btw you don’t know anything I have done in my life, so don’t judge me. Great point- so why did you say in the post right before “That’s what’s wrong in this country. It’s all about “me”.Screw everyone else. Or what do I get out of it.” Maybe you shouldn’t have judged me without knowing what I’ve done in my life.

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am

100 billion to Sec of Education Arne Duncan wih apparently little to no oversight? Yikes! I think one of his projects to turn around a troubled public school involved paying kids for good grades, which flies in the face of basic education and educational psychology principles. He also likes those vouchers for those underperforming, low income schools where students miss the opportunity of having money thrown at them as if they’re Sunni insurgents. I hope a significant amount of that 100 billion doesn’t go into candy and bucks for student incentives.

Posted by: kathy | February 17, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am

Jwench….”hater” how old are you 16?!
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 10:37:19 AM
I was going to use another word but I prefer not to use profanity on the website thanks. Some of you are so filled with hate, it’s a wonder you can stand yourselves.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am

Air Force One dispatched to Denver for presidential photo-op. More photo-ops to follow.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am

…of course, no one is going to tell Barack that he can’t have high speed trains because Rahm hasn’t learned yet that he is no longer a part of the legislative branch of our government…why spoil our new President’s first month in office celebration by ruining Rahm’s surprise!!!By the way, today is TUESDAY,and even after expensing to the taxpayers a government plane to bring back from a funeral a senator to get the damned thing passed and return him home, nobody got to read the damned bill…complete with handwritten cross outs and changes…was ok’d by the Senate SO OUR PRESIDENT COULD SIGN IT ON M O N D A Y…..President’s Day. “Hey, we’ll do it on Tuesday….fly to Denver…show off a building that DOES LITTLE of what it is crscked up to do…………….you know, we can start our next campaign early.”

Posted by: justj joe | February 17, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am

Here is the democrats and Obamas grade.
-256.07 is where the DOW is now.
ANY more bright ideas? I think we can bring the dow back to the 1960 levels if we try hard enough.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | February 17, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am

to the hater: grow up; to my other fellow americans we got to hold hands and pray for each other during these terrible times. I am bless with a roof over my head and a job to go to everyday and not for one second do I take this for granted. I pray everyday for those who have lose their jobs and home; some people lose both in the same day. I am so sadden by this economy for the toll it has taken on my fellow americans.D%$% we are all in this boat together and we must all pull together to get out of this mess. The goverment can raise my income taxes if this will help our country and my fellow americans

Posted by: della1 | February 17, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am

Dshchles..do the indians a favor and don’t go to the reservation for three years to use them as a guinee pig for your masters…and insult them by calling them welfare people asking for a hand out-I personally hope you get hit crossing a street to put you out of your misery

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am

After only six weeks many people who supported change are having serious reservations about what we have done to our country.
*************************************************
Marilyn- Sweetie, it’s been less than 4 weeks since Obama was inaugurated.

Posted by: kathy | February 17, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am

I’m so doubled over with laughter that I can hardly type straight! The liberals chided the Big Three Automobile Executives for flying on their corporate jets from Detroit to Washington, D.C., at a cost to their respective companies of hundreds of thousands of dollars in jet fuel and other related expenses, to ask Congress for their fair share of whatever economic “stimulus” came out of Pelosi’s and Reid’s pork-laden chambers. Oh what an outrage that sparked across the nation!
Now that Congress has passed “Porky’s Blue-Ribbon Special” – er, sorry, the “Economic Stimulus Package” – President Obama is flying Air Force One all the way from Washington, D.C., to Denver, Colorado, at a likely 7-figure cost to TAXPAYERS (for jet-fuel, flight crews, site procurement and security arrangements), just to sign the darn thing. AND THAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE JUST HUNKY-DORY WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC??? He could have done the same thing from his desk in the Oval Office at a total taxpayer cost of about $100 bucks (or whatever Kinkos charges for copying and delivering a 700+ page bill).
I THOUGHT WE WERE IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS! I THOUGHT AMERICANS WERE SUPPOSED TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS AND BE MORE FRUGAL WITH THEIR INCREASINGLY SCARCE DOLLARS. I GUESS OBAMA DIDN’T GET THAT MEMO ON HIS BLACKBERRY!!!
If we Americans could shame the auto execs into leaving their jets in their hangars and driving back to D.C. in fuel-efficient cars, we at least ought to make President Obama drive from Denver back to Washington in Cadillac One!!!

Posted by: Haden McDaniel | February 17, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am

Say this does work. What will the naysayers have to complain about then. Will they still find fault with a good economy or will they say we were wrong?
If it doesn’t work then I will be the first to admit Obama blew it. Until we find out the effects, not one of us can speculate what it will do. (Unless of course we have our Rush crystal balls, and decoder rings, then we know all)>

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am

Chicago..thats where the dow was and lower in september-just start watching it???-hey if you live by the dow-you die by the dow…this economy is what will get those idiots to pull their pants back up

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:50 am 10:50 am

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am

I personally hope you get hit crossing a street to put you out of your misery
Posted by: cowgirl | Feb 17, 2009 10:46:35 AM
Now that’s the true American spirit. Wow, vicious much? And you say you’re not full of hate. HA!

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am

hey if you live by the dow-you die by the dow…this economy is what will get those idiots to pull their pants back up
>>>>> WOW where do you think the money comes from. Oh yeah you think it comes from the printing press at the FED.
Guess what.. It doesnt. There is no business growth plan in that stimulus bill. They are just spending us BLIND. And by us I mean the middle class will be left with this BILL. BUT Who cares Obama said it will be a long painful recovery. What a KOOK, When we need confidence and strength that leaders deliver when things are tough you get the YES the sky is falling so let me dig you a deeper grave. Arent you all happy?
Consumers confidence is in the toilet. OH WOW some surprise there. WHO hires the consumer? AHH. The mean old business man maybe??

Posted by: ChicagoBob | February 17, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am

…but weren’t we told that Congress had to approve the bill so that the President could sign the Stimulus legislation on President’s Day? Well, today is Tuesday, and it hasn’t been signed yet. One of Obama’s campaign gurus…now a White House guru, of course…probably said “hey, let’s go to the PEOPLE” and sign it out there….at least we won’t be bothered by nosey media types….and it could be sort of the beginning of our next campaign…and bs…and bs…and more bs. When will we stop seeing Obama on television……when will he sit in the Oval Office with the door closed…no camera…no media…no political hacks…and do some real work??????

Posted by: justj joe | February 17, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am

lynnie…cowgirl is your typical left wingnut. I wouldn’t pay much attention to her.

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am

cowgirl- You have got to be kidding. I will already have my masters and am going to, and taking a pay cut to help out people who need it. One reason I am going is becuase my dad taught there for 10 years and taught me a lot about Indian culture growing up- something we could all use. You know work to benefit the greater good, exercise mind body and spirt everyday, treat all gods creature wih respect, etc… In their graduating claess this year they had 26 students, all females. Males don’t even graduate. I’m not using them for any masters jacka$$. I’m going to try and help a group of people who have been screwed more than any other in my opinion. Also as they will tell you in this time when all we talk about is the economy, “When the last tree is cut down, when the last river is polluted, and when the last fish is caught, then and only then will peopl realize you can’t eat money.”

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am

ChicagoBob…Cowgirl is probably sitting in her home that is about to be forclosed on waiting for her “Welfare Prince” to pass another bill to help them out at the taxpayers expense!

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

lynnie…cowgirl is your typical left wingnut. I wouldn’t pay much attention to her.
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 10:55:53 AM
Why don’t you post something other than insults? If this stimulus works will you be one to say I was wrong?

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

There’s another network that’s airing a special called “Trillion with a T, how to spend a Trillion Dollars”. It’s a good view actually and would shed a lot of light on this ‘stimulus’ package. I’ll spoil the ending for you though. It’s all pork. Reagan didn’t need a Trillion dollars to fix this same issue in the early 80s, and Obama doesn’t either…

Posted by: rob | February 17, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

Sorry cowgirl- I just read some of your other posts- now I see your intelligence and realize you don’t even deserve a response.

Posted by: DSchles33 | February 17, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

della The goverment can raise my income taxes if this will help our country and my fellow americans>>>>>>
I understand your kind and giving heart but taking from you doesnt BUILD business. Making a place where business feels welcome to grow and expand builds business. What people have is the disconect between themselves their spending and the jobs that it creates. Their fear being fed by Obama for greed and power is deeping this problem along with BAD policies which is making this mess a tragedy. I lived through the 70′s with Carter and it wasnt better then either. SO here we go again.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | February 17, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

lynnie…cowgirl is your typical left wingnut. I wouldn’t pay much attention to her.
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 10:55:53 AM
You’re probably right, cc, but she shouldn’t dish it if she can’t take it. I know I’ve wasted too much time on her as well. I just can’t help myself when SOME lefties start showing their true colors like that. :o)

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

Our country is #1 and must survive. Everything will be under scrutiny. Govt in general has gotten out of control not just rep vs dems. Why such a huge bill will pork and confusion. Do 1 bill, plain and simple at a time. Then if it goes wrong deal with it one on one. Not well it’s part of the “package” deal. Simplify the bills. Just hope Obama doesn’t have to fly state to state per bill to sign them…..

Posted by: kab4usa | February 17, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

Guess what Bob-a significant part of the money-does come from the federal reserve-and borrowing from other countries-thats how bush kept this country for the last 8 years- in debt

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am

Where was all this outrage when Bush sat by and did NOTHING the past year to help the economy? Where was all this outrage when the first stimulus bill, that has been squandered due to no oversight, was passed.
Tax cuts, tax cuts..that is all you hear from the GOP. Obviously those haven’t worked.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am

jwench…I will have no problem saying I was wrong. I am confident this will flop, how can you pass over 1400 pages of a bill in just a few days. I’m sorry what is really in this bill. We have a right to know. This is not transparent.

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am

When are people going to start putting country before party?
I see 2 sides here, one side who has hope or wants to have hope that in the long run our President will get this country back on track and prosper again. The other side has already condemed him, and see’s him as a failure no matter what he does. Keep in mind that it is very likely that if this president fails as some of you seem to hope for, this country will fail and never recover. I prefer hope as people without hope give up.
I will judge hus presidency in 4 years. Give the man more than a few weeks, stop bickering and for ONCE we all need to pull together. In the last 8 years I heard many Bush supporters say “you need to support the president”, where is that thinking now? If he makes things worse in 4 years he will not have another term.
COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!!! Get it through your heads that all that matters is the country and not your party!

Posted by: DCC | February 17, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

Jwench……you are sure watching Obama’s back! You want us to give Obama a chance! The people are only attacking Obama after he makes these crazy decisions! Could you spend your way out of debt? That is one of the most dumbest policies I have ever heard! Ask anyone with a brain, could they spend their way out of Debt! The answer would be no because if you are in debt you have no money extra to spend! American’s are cutting back so why is ther Gov’t increasing spending?
Posted by: Antdog1973 | Feb 17, 2009 11:01:10 AM
I am sure you sat and read the entire bill. Do you even know what is in it or are you relying on the MSM to tell you what to think. Until I see the effects of this bill, I am reserving judgment on it. To do nothing would be stupid.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

“Obama isn’t the president of the people – he’s the president of the people who agree with him and his tactics.”
yeah, that’s why he reached out to Republican senators, Republican governors, and why he took the time to give seven minute answers at his first press conference. The guy has inherited two wars and a major recession, couldn’t you at least pretend to support his efforts for awhile?

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am

Jwench…Sorry the MSM is a joke. I am not an Obamabot and hang on their everyword.

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am

Jwench…..Bush had one bad year out of 7, I give you that! More money from taxes came into the gov’t but he spent more than we were taking in! How much money from taxes will be coming into the gov’t now! Yes much less so why spend now! He is doing the same thing Bush did, so where is the change? Bush spent money we didn’t have so Obama is doing the same! Where is the hope and change?

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Well I happen to own a ranch free and clear..folks out here help each other when times are tuff..but we keep our iron handy for any varmits that come wandering thru..or any hooverites trying to destroy the country. Hey i left some supplies for you on the island when we got off-some baby bottles
Posted by: cowgirl | Feb 17, 2009 11:04:57 AM
Ahhh, your arrogance and maturity level make me laugh. Thanks for that. I agree with DSchles33, your posts no longer deserve a response. If we ignore you, maybe you’ll go away, you know, like you’re wanting people that disagree with this whole stimulus package to do?

Posted by: Lynnie | February 17, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Within hours of signing the porkulus bill, Nancy Pelosi and 7 other Democrats were on a junket, at taxpayer expense, to Italy. No time to read the bill or publish to the public but a week to goof-off in Italy. What happened to the openess and public comment time that O’Babble was promising. Culture of corruption anyone ?

Posted by: Ron | February 17, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am

Lynnie…LOL! Good Post! I agree cowgirl doesn’t deserve a reply.

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am

I thought during the campaign he Obama said that the American public would have 5 days to read a bill on-line before he would sign it. Guess Obama is just another in a long line of lying politicians (Dem and Rep). It’s not change and I can’t believe it!

Posted by: left guessing | February 17, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am

Jwench…I had you figured for a better person than someone to just ramble on what Obama said through his campaign and is still rambling on. He is a fear monger just like the rest and you libs are not wanting to admit to it. Trust me enough time will pass and Obama will own his bad decisions.
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 11:05:36 AM
Obviously you didn’t read my posts very well. I supported Hillary until she stepped aside. I was going to vote for McCain but he showed his true colors and lack of judgment. Obama has faults just like anyone else.
Until I know what effects this bill will have I will support him 100%. If it turns out it doesn’t work then I will big enough to admit he screwed up.
Once again, how can you judge after 3 weeks what kind of job Obama will do.
Bush lost my trust with the Iraq invasion and the underhandedness and sneakiness. You talk about fear mongering, Bush was the master of that with respect to terrorists. Did I respect him as the President, yes. Did I agree with him on some things, yes. Did I disagree with him, sure I did.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

for someone who isn’t going to respond and has most probably never done a days work in their life..you have alot of nothing to say…None of you has offered any ideas-only critism..I don’t take you seriously and am just tired of your drivel. Out here-you EARN respect

Posted by: cowgirl | February 17, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

Repubs ALWAYS want to come with this “the stimulus will fail”, “there is no way that it will work” stuff.
What if it DOESN’T fail and what if it DOES work?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THEN?!?!
“….but, but, but he’s a Muslim”

Posted by: John McNugget | February 17, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

Obama didn’t read what was in the bill! He told the Congress to write this Bill! President’s would usually draw up a proposal and then the congress will add and take away but he didn’t do that! Do you think he read the whole 800 pages while on his vacation? No! The effects are starting today look at the confidence in the stock market today, down 300 points!That means investors don’t have any reassurance of this plan! Now after Obama signs this bill we’ll see if the dow breaks even!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am

thought during the campaign he Obama said that the American public would have 5 days to read a bill on-line before he would sign it. Guess Obama is just another in a long line of lying politicians (Dem and Rep). It’s not change and I can’t believe it!
Posted by: left guessing | Feb 17, 2009 11:12:42 AM
If you count Friday when the bill was posted, it is 5 days. 1. Friday 2. Saturday 3. Sunday 4. Monday 5. Tuesday.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:16 am 11:16 am

Posted by: cc | February 17, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am

Dear Mr. BozObama,
I thank you and the market thanks you for this stimulation.

Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | February 17, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am

I think it is funny how so many people blame Obama for the state of the economy. He hasnt even been president enough. Not even Bush can be completely to blame for everything as things were set in motion during Clinton’s term. If you dont agree w/ the bail out then fine but you might as well hope it works and not pass judgement/blame until we see what happens.

Posted by: justin | February 17, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am

Jwench…Well I admit I do agree with you a few things there and I see we do feel the same way in some aspects. So if I came off a little harsh you do have my apology. The tough thing for me is to through more money at something when there isn’t a whole lot to go around.
Posted by: cc | Feb 17, 2009 11:17:15 AM
I am giving him the benefit of the doubt just like I did with President’s before him. No he is not perfect, I never said he was. But we need to get our act together as a country for us to succeed.
Apology accepted. Most of us do have some common ground if people would just listen to each other. Too bad our Congressmen/women on BOTH sides of the aisle don’t see that.

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am

“He is the greatest and the maysayers are just haters. LOL!”
I’m sure Obama is a fine fellow but disagreeing with his policies or him personally doesn’t make someone a hater, racist, or unpatriotic. Were you a hater when you disagreed with Bush policies?

Posted by: Sigmonde | February 17, 2009, 11:24 am 11:24 am

why don’t you two just get a room.

Posted by: taylor | February 17, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am

I am off to sleep, have to work tonight. Be nice to each other and think about the country and not your affiliated party. We all need to stick together like we have done through some catastrophes to make this country work again.
Have a wonderful day! :)

Posted by: Jwench | February 17, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am

Obama could get North Korea and Iran to give up their nuclear ambitions by threatening them with a stimulus bill.

Posted by: Sigmonde | February 17, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am

All of you angry repubs need to just get over it. You lost the election and President Obama is now putting the interests of the people ahead of political interests. Keep humoring us if you want, but for your own good you really should just get over it.

Posted by: libertyrulz | February 17, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am

“Ask anyone with a brain, could they spend their way out of Debt!”
It may be true that individuals cannot spend their way out of debt, but it works differently when the government goes into debt to put cash into the system. Banks are in big trouble now, due to the mortgage crisis, so only the government is in the position to infuse the cash businesses need to create jobs.
We got out of the last Depression when the government went into debt supplying the military for WWII. Government spending created jobs, which gave people money to spend, which created demand, which created jobs…you get the picture.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am

John McNugget……Do you remember the Dems hoping and saying all was lost in Iraq? While soldiers were fighting Liberals was saying all was lost? General Betray Us! Does that ring a bell! Democratic Senators, Congressmen anchors on the news every day for years calling the president, his staff and generals Dunb, stupid etc. while the soldiers are in the field fighting! Yes I am a former 4th generation Army veteran and that does not sit well with the majority the military! But it was the In thing to do! Even though I am a black American I wonder what would happen if the shoe was on the other foot? The media wouldn’t dare call Obama out of his name because they will be labeled racist! I call him all sorts of things that are not nice and am called a hater, or I don’t know what i am talkink about! Everyone will defend Obama the media, unions etc. They invested alot of time and hope in him! Next year when all of those Bush tax cuts end I would love to see your tax returns in 2011! I bet they will be a whole lot less than in the Bush years, you can bank on that!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am

Why the heck is he flying from one place to another? Indiana, Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas, now Colorado. Did you know that it cost taxpayers $120,000.00 each trip? Boy that boy obama is wasting our money transporting himself and his low rider limo all over the place. This is pissing me off that he is pissing our money off too much. Dang, he is a waste of American votes!

Posted by: Dumbobamacrat | February 17, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am

CRYING WHINEY CRY BABIES!
Republicans have turned into a bunch of drama Queens, And all of you haters on board Bashing the President calling him a Liar LAUGHABLE! When we Just got rid of an Idiot who Lied his whole Presidency, and Spent his Presidency on vacation. or Hiding in the White House,Or always off in Foreign Countries. Get a grip people you sound pathetic! GO PRESIDENT OBAMA YOUR DOING A GREAT JOB! Pay no Attention to the bitter Haters no one cares what they think!

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am

Where are the people who said Obama was going to balance the budget? Fools. The Republicans were bad on the deficit, but the Democrats are always worse. Let’s bring back Bill Clinton and a Republican Congress and see if we can do it again, the way it was in the 90′s.

Posted by: Ricky | February 17, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am

Go on and waste taxpayers money using Air Force One and Cargo Plane (Limo). How many and why are you going from city to city? What is your freaking problem Obama? You can’t stay in your office? I know in Muslim culture, you have to potray yourself to the public to brainwash them like propaganda. Hitler said, “the bigger the lie the more people will believe it.” So much and too obvious you are a dictator hungry type of guy. i think Obama is more of a Hitler and Muslium combine and it’s called Obamination.

Posted by: ThebigOisstupid | February 17, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am

When Clinton took office in 1993 the national debt was just over $2 trillion. When “W” Bush took ofice in 2001 the national debt had more than doubled to nearly $6 trillion. When Obama took office in 2009 the national debt had nearly doubled again over the last eight years. We can’t stand four more years of the last 16 years. That’s not what Obama sold us during his campaign. In fact he was highly critical of deficit spending, leading us to believe he’d put an end to it. Spending more than is taken in has consistently proven to accumulate more debt. Duh!

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am

They are actually proud of this “achievement”. By their own projections it will add $300,000 to national debt for every job created. At least hundreds of thousands of the relatively few jobs created will go to illegal immigrants. Barack Obama is indeed the first global anti American president. There may even be work for his Aunt.

Posted by: merchantilist | February 17, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am

A couple of points to make about this article. First, those republican governors that are playing the game of politics to get a piece of this fiasco, have no spine. In the same respect, you don’t hear Alaska begging for any money. Say what you want about Sarah Palin, but she has Alaska’s budget in tact. And that is what was really needed in America.
As far as companies like GM are concerned, let them go out of business. Their business model is based on greed and their product is sub-par.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Hey Obama. I have a $634. tax bill this year, on top of taking a $10,000 cut in pay last year. I have the $634 dollars, but how about you pay it instead. I’m below middle class. I’m in a single family household, (we single people are alway forgotten about when talk turns to tax breaks). You just spent a “hair” under 5 years of my income on your one little trip. Where are the tax breaks for the “working” poor. Oh yeah, it went to the banks and the auto industry. Seems to me that $634 dollars is just about all the “change” I need. This ain’t no change at all from the rethugs.

Posted by: mojo | February 17, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

Ohhhh, look at our children. They are adorable! Look at your children and grandchildren. Think about your future children and grandchildren. Will they be happy to live in prosperous life? OOOhhh nooooo monster Obama is eating out children, they are in burden to pay taxes and being aborted. The monster Obama is killing our generation of American people. Shame on you!

Posted by: Our Preciaous Children | February 17, 2009, 11:58 am 11:58 am

“Barack Obama is indeed the first global anti American president.”
Uh, no, that would be the President before him whose administration lost 13 billion dollars to fraud alone in rebuilding Iraq. That’s 13 billion dollars we can’t account for.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Where was it the “black national anthem” was imposed on a captive audience at a political event, before obama’s election?

Posted by: Reflect08 | February 17, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

Angelo
Wrong Sara Palin has stated Alaska could sure use some of that Money

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

Why Denver? Colorado has a very tight govt. spending law. They can’t spend more than a certain amount. When they get all this FREE money they can’t spend it. I guess that slipped the notice of our Democratic senators and reps. It appears they are just yes men for the Obama regime. I hope all of you in other states appreciate the great sacrifice Colorado has made so you can spend our money that Obama has seized from us with the help of our legislators that evidently don’t care about their constituents.

Posted by: boulderhippy2 | February 17, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

Thebigoisstupid
Ha hahaha your funny, Why dont you try an use a little Intelligence when you post. wow these haters are sure Funny I Laugh when I read these Unintelligent Post where are some of you people from TEXAS?
Posted by: Angie | Feb 17, 2009 11:52:59 AM
************************************
I think you are the stupid one who is still sitting here reading our post. If you can’t stand it, why don’t you leave. You are outnumbered!

Posted by: ThebigOisstupid | February 17, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Angie | Feb 17, 2009 12:02:30 PM –
Where was that reported? MSNBC? Where they worship Barack Obama as God?

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

mojo
The money given to the auto and banking industries is designed to help you keep your job. If the auto industry fails there will be massive unemployment, with massive unemployment there is less demand for goods and services, with less demand there are more cutbacks and unemployment…eventually, its got to impact even your job, sweeping floors at K-mart.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm

Angie, I’m from Texas and I resent your implication that Texans are stupid. After all, our state is one of the few that actually has a decent economy right now. That doesn’t happen from stupidity. Come visit sometime and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised.
You go on about haters — have you actually read anything that you’ve posted? It reeks of bitterness and hatred.

Posted by: trish_in_texas | February 17, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm

Amy; Our bad banks are in trouble to the tune of over $30 trillion, maybe more. Are you ready to see more and more money poured down that botttomless well? Wouldn’t it be more prudent to let those private businesses that are so mismanaged and over leveraged to fail? Isn’t that what’s suppose to happen to failed businesses? Wouldn’t the markets for the remaining good businesses expand without the losers taking up valuable space?

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

Amy | Feb 17, 2009 12:05:18 PM — Amy please be careful who you are insulting with your remark about sweeping floors at K-mart. Now go get me my Big Mac, thanks.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

reflect08: The “black national anthem” was performed at the state of the city address in Denver. Since it is a very liberal city, nobody spoke up against the desecration of our national anthem. It came out only after the press pointed it out. That must be why Obama is in Denver. We have only spineless liberal politicians here.

Posted by: boulderhippy2 | February 17, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

Hail Caesar!!
It’s nice to have pride in your country again!!:)

Posted by: Michael | February 17, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

Why the heck do American people has to listen to that big fat liar from the white house? He is talking garbage that we can’t afford to listen. We are the American people and we are the government to overthrow anyone who is threating our freedom. This man Obama will be the first President to be IMPEACHED by We the people of the United States of American.

Posted by: John Wayne | February 17, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

Angelo
No here on ABC I think under the World News Letter Blog look It Up. Have you Noticed Sara Palin is keeping her Distance from the GOP?
bigossstupid
So Im Stupid for reading Post um Ok Whatever you say, What do you mean Im out Numbered

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm

Why would anyone be surprised at what Obama, Pelosi and Reid are doing? This is Obama’s way of doing business since day one. Chicago style crooked politics. The pay to play capital of the country. Did you actually think something was going to change? You got what you voted for, now live with it for the next four years. Maybe next time you’ll look beyond a well delivered speech to determine your vote.

Posted by: Spread The Wealth | February 17, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm

Angie | Feb 17, 2009 12:10:02 PM — Oh you heard it on ABC. Isn’t this the company that broadcasts Oprah?

Posted by: Agelo | February 17, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm

I see what Obama is made of –
He is a DICKatator!

Posted by: Yessir | February 17, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

“Say what you want about Sarah Palin, but she has Alaska’s budget in tact.”
Your kidding, right?
Alaska is in a world of hurt right now.
A dozen eggs costs $20.00 in rural Alaska. Sure, every Alaskan gets a $1,200 rebate check from the state, however, that barely covers one month of heating bills. With the high price of food these people are really hurting.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/09/rural.alaska.villages/index.html

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm

Thank you boulderhippy2,I agree.Do you believe the release of the terrorist suspected of bombing the USS Cole is a similar slap at Americana. Specifically the US Navy and the Military.

Posted by: Reflect08 | February 17, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

Alaska has 6.2 Billion dollars in consitutional reserve. Gee how did that happen, Amy? I’ll tell you. It’s leader knows how to govern.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

Obama “Welfare Prince” “Dictator” hmmmm which one???

Posted by: bb | February 17, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

Not all Black people voted for Obama! My wife and I sure didn’t! We know when someone is walking off a cliff! It’s sad to see that over 90% of Blacks in America will do just that! That’s how some Black people are! They hate to admit they are wrong or the people they voted for are wrong! Even though my parents agree with what I tell them, Obama can do no wrong! Give him a chance? Every week my mother 401k dwindles! My wife and I don’t have nothing invested in the stock market so we are ok. We invest in precious metals! Gold and Platinum is on the rise! I agree that Obama is the president and he is also my president but I will not follow him blindly! Black people are very conservative in their thinking but when it comes to Obama they forget their principles! They feel inspired, I never looked to no president to inspire me only God! Man will fail you everytime! Obama is just a man nothing special, you people will soon find out! We don’t hate Obama like you hated Bush we just think his policies won’t work! He’s using the gov’t to provide jobs and provide welfare for everyone in need! The Great Society failed, the war on Poverty Failed! We are trying the same things expecting a different result! These socialist policies have never worked! Even Europe is telling us not to go down the path that is destroying them, Why because they know if America falls so goes Europe!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

AGELO
No I read it here on the ABC Blogs Im trying to find the Link for you

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

Hilary Clinton wouldn’t destroy the country like Obama is doing. I am conservative, I could have lived with Clinton, but this guy is off the charts. I am really, really scared. I may not have liked a DEM in but I could have very well tolerated Mrs. Clinton. This guy is set to destroy the economy if not the country.

Posted by: mel | February 17, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

Are you ready for the worst ride of your life? Good bye the American we all once knew. We free terrorists, support illeagals, and non-paying taxpayers. What is this country coming too.

Posted by: Nobama | February 17, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

Thats strange! Last week an African American Male from Winnfield Parish drove all the way to the White House Lawn threaten Obama about his disgust against him (jena six). He had a gun in his car. The police arrested him and took him in custody. I am suprised the news media didn’t mention any of this!

Posted by: Super Suprised! | February 17, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

Posted by: merchantilist | February 17, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

Yes Angie I know. This web site is owned by the same ABC company that broadcasts Oprah. The same ABC company that commits blashphemy by praising Barack Obama as God.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

Can you beat that. Amy attacking a fellow democrat. Smooth move Amy. Best you get back to walking the streets.

Posted by: mojo | February 17, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm

Posted by: deanbob | February 17, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

Obama need to go to Nascar race and Dictate them. I wonder how many crosshairs will apperar? Is that the American way? Give me Liberty or I’ll give you death!

Posted by: Super Suprised! | February 17, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

Always,Repulicans win the presidency and seriously destroy our economy,then democrats fix it and leave surpluses for mr spender(republicans)to continue messing the economy to deficit.It now time for democrates leave the economy in deficit and see how republicans will fix it and leave a SURPLUS.

Posted by: boddy | February 17, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

Obama used the equivalent to 30 years of the average person’s gasoliine just to make his appearance in Denver. If he really believes in Global Warming and “we’re in the worst depression since the 1930′s”, why is he wasting more of the tax payers’ money?
Posted by: deanbob
****************************************Exactaly! He is acting like DICKatator. I hate to see him wasting my hard earned money that went to taxes.

Posted by: Yessir! | February 17, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

It makes sense that President Obama would choose a location central to the nation to sign this Bill into law. Finally, something for the people! Even those people who cannot see the benefits of having a man like Barack Obama in the Whitehouse. We as a nation are beginning to move in the right direction. Finally, after 8 years of tyrannical government incompetency. Finally, a leader with intelligence who cares about those who have spent so many years being walked upon by the boots of the corrupt and privileged. Thank you Mr. President!

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

This is where I’m coming from, mmonroeliveson. This was an article in our local paper, regarding a successful car dealership in our town going out of business because the bank has stopped loaning money for inventory.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=236385&ac=PHnws

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

boddy | Feb 17, 2009 12:30:36 PM — Bill Clinton and his administration lied. There was no surplus. What happened was, the national deficit went up by a smaller amount, that’s all. There was no surplus. And there certainly will be no surplus with piece of krap legislation this idiot is going to sign today.

Posted by: TruthBeTold | February 17, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

“Alaska has 6.2 Billion dollars in consitutional reserve. Gee how did that happen, Amy? I’ll tell you. It’s leader knows how to govern.”
B.S.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

If BHO can manage 52 straight months of economic growth like GWB did, then he’ll be worth applauding. It will be a first since getting into more debt to get out of debt has a pitiful track record of abject failure.

Posted by: NewCongress2010 | February 17, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

Go to http://WWW.THESTR8DOPE.COM for the straight dope on politics, sports and more!
Signing it away from DC and in a progressive place like Denver sets the correct tone. Good call.

Posted by: Ryan | February 17, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

realitycheck0057 | Feb 17, 2009 12:34:44 PM — Wasn’t Barack Obama suppose to raise the taxes of those who made over 250 Thousand Dollars per year? Wasn’t the average American taxpayer suppose to get a 1000 dollar rebate check? What happened to those promises?

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm

I agree Ryan. Me thinks his critics are unfamiliar with Denver and what it represents.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm

I am so proud of the Republicans in Congress did not vote for this! Only three Republicans in the Senate voted for this, so this is a Fully Democratic spending bill! No excuses Democrats you fathered, authored, passed and signed this bill! You rushed the bill thru with no debate on the House floor! Own your Bill, we don’t want to hear a year or two from now it was those three Republicans in the Senates fault! Or it Bushes fault! Own your own mess! When the law is passed and it does not work own it! Don’t pass the blame, STAND UP LIBERALS AND ADMIT! If the bill or law works We will own our defeat by losing more seats in the house and senate and an Obama second term! There is no middle ground in this battle it is simple win or loose, no ties!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm

AMY read this —
“We’re more prepared than other states because of the prudence there,” Palin said recently. “We crossed that first hurdle.”
The state currently has $6.6 billion in its constitutional budget reserve fund that it could tap into. A few billion dollars more also is available from other pockets, said Juneau economist Gregg Erickson, a longtime Alaska budget watcher.
This is from an article of a news station in Philadelphia, a democratic city in a democratic state.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm

Angelo: it’s only February 17th. Have a little patience. All has not yet been revealed.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

Amy,
It’s true. Alaska has 6.6 Billion in reserves. Associated Press and Baltimore Sun report it here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-palin-oil,0,4286756.story
Considering most states are operating in the red (California – minus 42 Billion, New York – minus 24 Billion, etc.), 6.6 Billion looks pretty good. The article also states that the recent drop in oil prices is hurting Alaska’s economy. It will be a testament to Sarah Palin if she can rein in spending and keep her state in the black. I’m going to be watching her closely.
Sarah Palin, by the way, understands business, economics, executive management and national security far better than Obama. In three weeks he has shown himself to be a real amateur. It’s actually jaw-dropping to witness his ineptitude, his fumbling and his loopy ideas.
Buyer’s remorse, anyone?
How ’bout now?…..

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | February 17, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

realitycheck0057 | Feb 17, 2009 12:44:11 PM — If this is any indication of things to come, prepare for an American Revolution.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

Petty Whiners…….secretly hoping the President of the United States will fail. Hypocrites of “honor, love of country”. Hate and Racism is still alive in the this country. It’s so sad that the Republicans are still fighting the old south rules. It’s even sadder that they got the Mountain Dew drinkers thinking so irrational.

Posted by: sngeorgia | February 17, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

I’m prepared for anything!

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm

Angelo,
Read this. A succinct sumation of where Alaska gets its revenues and how it chews through it as fast as it comes in.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-23-palinspending_N.htm

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

Don’t have to worry about Sara palin! Oil prices will be on the rise soon enough! Alaska will be ok they have the most valuable resource today! We won’t drill for more oil and there is no resource that could replace it! So demand will rise and production will not keep up demand so Oil prices skyrocket again! Alaska balaced budget by end of year!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Amy; Citizen’s bank is doing what banks are suppose to do. They only issue credit to good credit risks. Mr. Miller has a good record with his creditors but he is selling cars. People aren’t buying cars so the bank is protecting the money they invest and doing Mr. Miller a favor at the same time by not letting him go into debt he can’t repay. If American owned banks had been so prudent we wouldn’t be where we are today which is the primary reason our banks aren’t lending the money the government has given them. It’s hard to find a good credit risk in a failing economy.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

You know, when I post a link to an article, I hope people read it. Apparently you must hope people DON”T read the articles you cite.
“Oil accounts for as much as 90 percent of state revenues. So the plunge of North Slope crude from an all-time high of $144.59 per barrel last July threatens to give the state an estimated budget shortfall of up to $1.5 billion in the fiscal year that ends June 30.
Palin bills herself as a fiscal conservative, and has called for reducing state spending by $268 million in this budget year, but lawmakers and others say these aren’t reductions at all and do nothing to curtail spending. For example, the bulk of that sum — $200 million — is unspent tax credits for companies investing in oil and gas development that are being returned to the treasury.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-palin-oil,0,4286756.story

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

Amy do you have anything more recent. That article is from ***Updated 10/27/2008 12:29 PM
My article is from this morning — February 17, 2009.
Get with it hone.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

sngeorgia,
There’s nothing ‘secret’ about it. Obama’s failure is practically written in stone.
-His approval rating has dropped 15 points in less than three weeks.
-The stock market is plunging again today, even as he’s about to sign the biggest spending this country has ever seen – - in the middle of a deepening recession!!
-His overall spending for 2009 is predicted to DWARF the money George Bush spent on the Iraq war.
All of which MIGHT be O.K., if there was ANY hope of it stimulating the economy – and fast. But this turkey won’t do a THING toward creating wealth, financial investment or any real productivity. It just pushes money around from one sector to another. And even most of THAT won’t kick in for another year or two.
We’re in big trouble with this guy, and it’s getting worse by the week. I’ve NEVER seen so much Amateur-Night-in-Dixie politics in my life.
For the first time in my adult life, I truly fear for the future of this country.

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | February 17, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Well antdog1973 the left should take responsibility for bills that don’t work. I am waiting for the repubs to take responsibility for the last 8 yrs that got us into all of this mess. If I don’t hear that then the left shouldn’t have to take responsibility for anything.

Posted by: cupidsrevenge | February 17, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

Go away Blowfeld. Your pathetic whining is getting old. It’s like scratching on the chalkboard. Grow up!

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm

sngeorgia…..I am black and I’m not a whiner! Just telling my side thats all! Democrats hoped Bush failed at every corner! Two weeks after 911 they were back to bashing Bush saying that he and his Administration mastermined 911! Remember it happened on his watch! It didn’t matter how Clinton handled, terrorists during his 8 years which he did nothing, It was Bushes fault! So If we go into a Depression can we say it all happened on Obama’s watch? Or Bush started it! We conservatives said Clinton did nothing to stop terroism but it didn’t matter it was Bushes fault! Can we at least say the economy will be worst under Obama than under Bush since He (Obama) is now president and the buck stops with him? Or no matter what policies Obama pass if they destroys the economy it ‘s sill Bushes fault! This is Now the Obama Economy!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

mmonroeliveson
Thanks for reading the link I posted to our local paper, and thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I think the problem is, when banks cut off credit to businesses, than those businesses close, people are out of work, consumer demand goes down, more businesses close, etc.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

Unless either the government takes over the banks or convinces the bank decision makers about Obama’s obscure vision of economic recovery, the banks will not start lending until the economy bottoms out. That’s why the government is about to buy into the major banks. The banks will have no choice. The government will force the banks they want to take the money. Then the government will be able to dictate to the banks if/when, to whom and at what rate money will be lent. Sounds good until you consider the fact that the government has never managed anything well.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Yo Antdog: Take a break. You sound like you’re going to blow a gasket. Let’s agree to stop trying to pass blame around. It’s time to move forward. Embrace the possibilities. You know – it may turn out well – maybe very well. The power of positive thinking.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

cupidsrevenge…… they took responsibility did you see the results of the last election! Majorities in both the House and Senate and the Presidency! You won! The people of this county let them know that they didn’t approve of their job! It stated during the 2006 election, remember!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm

Why would you want the banks to start lending? That is what got us in the mess. If we try to pay off all of our debt and vow never to borrow again, and put the lending banks out of business, the United States will be a better place for everyone. Live within your means. That’s the answer for the future. Obama and his supporters do not understand this concept.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm

antdog: Don’t bother trying to talk sense to someone so awestruck by Obama. He is a diety to these people and if you say anything about him or his socialist policies you are a hate mongering evil racist nazi xenophobic devil worshiper. They have no sense of reality and cannot debate rationally, so they resort to childish name calling.

Posted by: boulderhippy2 | February 17, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm

Angelo: you might benefit from an Economics class. They offer those at the local community college if you’re old enough.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm

There will be a direct negative correlation between the expansion of the obama government and U.S. citizen life expectancy.

Posted by: Reflect08 | February 17, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

What your wanting is democrats to take responsibility for the bill if it doesn’t work. To publicly announce that we are destroying the country. Well yes we won but I don’t remember the republican saying anything to the fact that the Bush administration paid off cronies and invested all of its time into Iraq. If democrats need to say it loud if things don’t work I would love to see republican say it also because thing didn’t go so well during the last eight years.

Posted by: cupidsrevenge | February 17, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

Boulderhippy: No one was doing any name calling until you arrived.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm

After reading comments here, and after listening to caller on yesterday’s NPR show say her favorite President was Reagan, because he freed the hostages, I’m thoroughly convinced I’m living in this country with mostly ignorant, racist, nasty human beings. Banks are NOT being dictated to now, anyone who thinks they will be in the future, is truly living in another reality.

Posted by: Stellamojo | February 17, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm

Angelo,
I am trying to find the article you quote from, but all I find is this article from today:
“Given Alaska’s robust reserves, the state is well-prepared to weather the next two years, Erickson said. As to how long reserves will last after that, there are too many factors involved to say for sure.
It depends on how much you draw from other places, how fast the budget increases and declines, the earnings rates on reserves that you have,” Erickson said. “And of course, it depends on how high or low oil prices are.”
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1603374

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm

Amy: give it a break. This article is not about Alaska! It’s about the stimulus package, Obama, Denver. Get on board! Go find a different bulletin board if you want to chat about Alaska and Sarah Palin.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

No boulderhippy I don’t think of Obama as nothing but a human being that will make mistakes and work on doing good for our society. The only people that says those thing about Obama are republicans. He has done things that I don’t like already, but I will give him a few months before I make up my mind whether I like him as a President or not. I guess the only people that should be given a chance is republican Presidents and we jump the gun on democrats?

Posted by: cupidsrevenge | February 17, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

All americns who speak;s worst about muslims are those who fail their 12th grade exams and don;t learn the constitution period!please,go back to your 6th graders and seek their help for eye opener and help to learn the constitution(FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AND…..

Posted by: Boddy | February 17, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

reality: Have you read the posts by sngeorgia?

Posted by: boulderhippy2 | February 17, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

Amy; That’s the way it happens. First investors lose confidence in the economy then consumers lose confidence in the government and then politicians think they must respond by doing something. Problem is all the government can do is pass “bills” and they are just that, “bills” to be paid. The most significant reason we shouldn’t think of the government as a Sugar Daddy is that when the government buys us presents the “bills” fall in our laps.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

realitycheck0057 | Feb 17, 2009 1:16:17 PM — I know that spending can’t get you out of debt, and that’s more than President Obama knows.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm

realitycheck0057 | Feb 17, 2009 1:16:17 PM — Oh yeah, I am probably older and more educated than yourself.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm

Amy | Feb 17, 2009 1:19:00 PM — It’s kyw1060.com

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm

realitycheck0057
er, I was responding to the remarks made by Angelo and BlofeldBuildings who were spreading misinformation regarding how Palin’s Alaska doesn’t need stimulus money because that state is so well managed. I think it is relevant to this blog, but hey, time for my lunch anyway. See ya.

Posted by: Amy | February 17, 2009, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

The current goal is to STIMULATE the ECONOMY, which does require spending. And there is no hope of lowering our national debt, if we are not increasing our GNP.

Posted by: realitycheck0057 | February 17, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm

realitycheck0057 | Feb 17, 2009 1:34:26 PM — How about creating jobs? Which this particular piece of krap legislation DOES NOT DO! Genius!

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

cupid: I didn’t say we shouldn’t give Obama a chance. I just worry when a president gets elevated to such a high status that no dissent can be tolerated. I believe there should be honest debate on both sides without being called names in particular racist. I can disagree with policies of republicans and democrats without race even comming into the equation. It is just a way for people to shut down honest debate by introducing personal attacks without merit.

Posted by: boulderhippy2 | February 17, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

It appears the stockmarket can recognize an anti-American socialist far better then many of the posters on this blog. It has been the WORST POST ELECTION SELL-OFF of the market in its history, but somehow that headline never seems to make it to CNN,MSNBC,ABC.
Hopefully barry will be impeached before he can completely turn this country into france.

Posted by: dave | February 17, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

How appropriate that this administration would finance a direct high speed link between Fantasyland and the nation’s gambling Mecca.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

ANGELO
How do you know the Bill wont create Jobs? did Limbaugh the Leader of the GOP Tell you that? Is Economics your Field have you ever studied Economics?

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

realitycheck0057…..can’t blow no gasket I refuse to participate in any Recession or Depression! My family and I are prepared for both! Just seems like if Obama is having a bad week Bush is having a worse week! Bush couldn’t bring up Clinton during all the terrorism, you dems said it was on his watch! So how about some fairness thats all! My wife is nurse, a recession proof and depression proof job! We never accepted any gov’t assistance and don’t plan too! We worked for everything we have and lost! I had one of those Fannie and Freddie loans and bought my house in 1998 & lost my house in 2002! No gov’t came to help us and we made it through! So now my wife works for A nurse travel agency, she makes six figures and they pay for the house, electric bill, water and sewerage bill and we have a rental car that I trade in every month to get a new one! Losing a house and filing for bankruptcy was humiliating but we came through, so home owners become renters and renters can now become home owners! You can’t help eveybody everytime they fail that is what life is about! Now we don’t allow noone to fall or fail. To get where we are we had to fail! I have a son in college that we don’t have to pay for because he is smart enough to have scholarships! I get to stay home with my girls 6 and 9! Whom I take too and from school everyday! We love our life and it started under the Bush administration! I don’t give him all the credit but I give to god! Because of my past failures in life he moved my family somewhere he could bless us for having the faith in him(Jesus)! I don’t hope Obama fails I just Know his policies won’t work thats all! You can’t spend your way out of debt, I tried that it didn’t work! You try and let us know if it works! I had to cut back and set new priorities! The gov’t needs to cut back and prioritize! I live in California now and I see first hand what overspending does, and trying to take care of people who are here illegally and legally! You can’t take care of everybody! 42 billion in the red! Begging Obama to bail us out of what we have created here! Now they are mad at the Governor here because he is cutting jobs, 2 days off a month to state and local workers! I.O.U. for our state taxes and the Dems here still want to spend, Come on!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

Dave
Let me Guess FOX NEWS!They told you this

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

Hmm. There is a massive Spendulous package that has been passed, and I am sure that it cost more than a regular round trip ticket from DC to denver to move obama’s entorauge there specifically for the signing. And yet they are going to spend OUR money to fly across the country for this so that he could sign this bill, when he could have just as easily signed it in DC when he got back or in Chicago, where he was over the weekend

Posted by: DJ | February 17, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

Angie | Feb 17, 2009 1:45:01 PM — I do not listen to those radio personalities. In fact I watch MSNBC because I know they are lying, that’s how I know what is true.
So, since you are so well informed about this piece of legislation, what makes you think it is going to create more jobs?
Is it the increase in food stamps? The extension of unemployment payments? Are these the issues that will inevetiably put more people to work?

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm

Ronald Reagan, during his presidential campaign debates with Carter pointed out that the American Dream is not that everyone would be at the same level. He asserted that the American Dream guarantees that everyone would be free to realize their purpose according to God’s plan. (This is paraphrased) God’s plan is that we are all created equal. What we do with that opportunity is up to us according to the choices we make. If we reject the premise that God has a plan for us then we aren’t likely to make the best choices or ever realize the joy of fulfillment that comes from doing his will. Life on this earth is not about life on this earth. This post should bring an avalanche of hatred my direction. I can take it. I like the guy that looks back at me when I look in the mirror. Reagan remains a successful and well respected President and I’m proud to advocate his thinking.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | February 17, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

Angelo
Infrastructure,Green Jobs,Education.Those things Create Jobs

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

stock market is taking a huge dive today. Looks like this stimulus bill is doing more to harm the economy then it will ever be good. How is Obama going to pay for his welfare scheme if there are less tax dollars coming in. I guess printing money is fine (but then the dollar will be worthless) or borrowing from China seems good too (but then we will owe them the money back with huge interest).
Only the truly faithful followers of Obama are in favour of this. Even the liberal news stations (apart from MSNBC) are starting to tell the truth as to what this HUGE spending bill is going to do in the long term

Posted by: Lou | February 17, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm

Angelo
Infrastructure,Green Jobs,Education.Those things Create Jobs
Angie….these are jobs created on borrowed money from the Government. they are not sustainable jobs, after the job is done, then what. the government eitehr has to keep funding their ‘jobs’ (meaning MORE DEBT) or they have to end once the payments stop.

Posted by: Lou | February 17, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article5734337.ece
great article from a fairly liberal newspaper in the UK. It tells exactly what this bill means for us, and its not pretty.

Posted by: Lou | February 17, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm

boulderhippy2……yes we know where name-calling does to white republicans! It shuts them up! As a black man I feel sorry for anyone who is called a racist especially if you are white! You spend more time telling why you are not a racist than telling your views! Once you are called a racist you are guilty until proven innocent! I have racists in my family! Some people say a black man can’t be racist, bull crap yes they can and alot of them are! Have you ever listened to conversations in a black barbershop! Not saying all but its out there! I was always taught to forgive anyone who has done me wrong! When I forgive it’s behind me, it’s over! I move on! If you say you forgive someone and you keep bringing up what they did to you, you never forgave them in the first place! The reason why Black people keep bringing up the past is because they want people to re-live the past! Just because Obama is president blacks will not stop trying to get more! Alot are used to getting stuff from the gov’t without working for it! People are not trying to get off of welfare they are finding ways to stay on it! A big change in thinking over the past 40 years! Yes I can talk about my people because I lived with and around them for over 30yrs. I grew up middle class all my life, Daddy a retired truck driver for Texaco and mother stills works as a warehouse supervisor for Castrol! Yes the oil and gas busineess took care of my family for 25years and counting! Drill baby drill!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

Angie–”How do you know the Bill wont create Jobs”— Simple, I have reaed it, have you? Most of the tax cuts which will create jobs have been removed. Most of the infrastructure spending (which may create some jobs) are not scheduled to take affect until 2010 or 2011.. many require epa pre approval and that could take 5 years or more.. the remaning spending (about 80%of the total) consists of government spening and programs that will NOT create any jobs..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

Amy–” think the problem is, when banks cut off credit to businesses, than those businesses close, people are out of work, consumer demand goes down, more businesses close, etc.”– Amy, that statement is quite truthful.. But if you recognize that, then why do you support a bill that increases government spending, does not concentrate relief or job creation on the private sector (the average american) and will do nothing to qucilky increase the GDP.. this bill does nothing to reward people for reinvesting in our economy.. the result will be exactly as you stated.. fewer peole will spend which will reduce demand, which will reduce the economic markets, which will create inflation and will ultimately make those of who have jobs have less spending power.. all of which will spriral the economy in the wrong way…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

Angie–”Infrastructure,Green Jobs,Education.Those things Create Jobs”– Okay, 1.) infrastrure spending in this bill will not take affect for 2 to three years ( how does that help us now?) 2.) green jobs – increased green jobs can only exist if the present job climate is hiring.. why develop and hire “green positions” if your conpany is contracting and laying people off? again.. this will only help AFTER the economy is corrected not before. 3.) education spending– a large portion of this spending is going to the teacher’s union (30 Billion) which will create 0 jobs.. that actaul education spending is in the form of state assistance to budget shortfalls.. If all you are doing is making you education buget blacker (less red) how will that create jobs? and if as with many states you have managed to balance your education budget, you get nothing…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

Obama is the only President who can say before election day ” My administration will create 4 million jobs!” After he won election after looking at books here comes the hope “I will save or create 4 million jobs! Days b4 swearing in ” I will save 3 million jobs” After first week in office “my administration will save or create 3 million jobs!” He is the only president in history to get that kind of pass! Yes he gets it because black, smart and articulate! The media will not bring down what they have created especially if he is a Democrat! They didn’t ask hard questions of him before the election but its crazy now they are questioning his appointments, his judgement, his advisors around him, kind of late now! They say he can’t do no worse than Bush I remember stock market flirting with 15,000 and unemployment 4.6%! Will Obama the Great ever reach that?

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

realitycheck–”The current goal is to STIMULATE the ECONOMY, which does require spending”– yes, but it requires CONSUMER spending not government spending.. Consumer spenidng is what stalls a dwonturn and stimulates the economy. Government spending at best creates temporary jobs that tax payers pay for.. it also creates something else.. inflation.. in other words, a few more people work, but all people see their paychecks buy less..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

To follow that line of thinking, apparently keeping GM and Crysler afloat will not keep jobs there? As opposed to having them go under?

Posted by: William J. LePetomane | February 17, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

Arkie Vet (by the way, I am a vet as well), what was the effect on the economy of the Bush stimulus checks?

Posted by: William J. LePetomane | February 17, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm

You’ll recall that everyone was encouraged to “go out and spend” the stimulus checks, not to pay bills with it.

Posted by: William J. LePetomane | February 17, 2009, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

Since you are so well informed, perhaps you could tell us how that round of stimulus checks to people worked?

Posted by: William J. LePetomane | February 17, 2009, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

Boulderhippy I never called you any names, I just want both sides to take responsibilities for the path this country has taken. I can agree to the fact that the democrats haven’t done everything perfect and they will continue to make mistakes because they are human and the same goes for the republicans. The thing is I have never heard them say anything to the fact that bush helped in the mess we face today, its like they have revised everything once Obama got into office that puts all blame of societies problem mainly on his shoulders. There is alot of blame to go around and it is not going to get us anywhere the more we blame everything on a President. If we were soooo concerned with our country we would come together as a people and work at changing things to way we want them for our society. I don’t think that a person that doesn’t agree with Obama is racist, or hate-filled but I don’t see them as part of the solution either.

Posted by: cupidsrevenge | February 17, 2009, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm

William J. Lepetomane….. tell you what I did with my stimulus check! I bought some precious metals cause I see the currency in the U.S. won’t be worth nothing in a few years! Check the price of gold today, went up 15% since the last time I bought some! And If Obama Gives me some more money I will buy more gold! Why because everyday Obama’s telling me “It will get alot worse b4 it gets better!” So yes any American with any since will be paying off bills and putting their money into something safe!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

According to the WSJ, Barry’s rhetoric is the real disaster. I completely agree. All this socialist has done is say how “gov’t is the answer”, “only gov’t can fix our problems now”. Way to motivate us barry!
His bill is nothing but a grab bag of liberal goodies and paybacks to all those who helped him get elected. Change we can believe in, yeah right!
He obviously does NOT believe in the resiliance of the American people or the incredible strength of our work force. One does not sit in rev racist’s church for 20 years and not agree with much of what that nut was spewing.

Posted by: Dave | February 17, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

Recommended reading. . . .”The Forgotten Man” by Amity Shlaes.

Posted by: chuck, Illinois | February 17, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

William J. LePetomane | Feb 17, 2009 2:39:45 PM — How well did the first bailout bill work? It didn’t, why are we doing it again? Time for change. I haven’t seen any.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

ARIKIKE VET
The way I look at is Will President Obamas Plan work? Maybe Some will Maybe some wont, no one has a crystal Ball,But I do ask all of you Republicans on Board Why no crying When Bush and Republicans Spent Billions of your Tax Dollars in Iraq,Why no Whining When Bush Begged And spent Billions of your Tax dollars To Wall St for Bailouts.
I will tell you this I would Rather MY TAX DOLLARS Be spent Here in America and its Future Then some Senseless War And greedy Ceos on Wall St!

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

I would Rather Have My Tax Dollar fix A dangerous Bridge Then Kill our men and Woman or Inoccent people in Iraq, I would rather Have My tax Dollar Create A Job then Fatten the Greedy ceos Bank Accounts On Wall ST.

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

Wiliam j -”Arkie Vet (by the way, I am a vet as well), what was the effect on the economy of the Bush stimulus checks?”– Well, from the end of the Clinton administration until 9/11 the stock market fell 4,000 points and unemployment increased by 6.8 million. (this was caused by two separate impacts on the economy 1.- higher taxes imposed by the Clinotn administration and 2 – the collapse of the dot.com industry which affected the stock market). Within 1 year of the Bush tax cuts, the stock market had gained 2,000 points and 6 million of the 6.8 million lost by Clinton had been restored. Over the next 2 years, the stockmarket increased by 2,000 more… Unemployment and inflation remained steady until 2007 when the financial crisis did to the economy what the dot.com industry had done to it earlier except on a larger scale.. ( and No, the collapse of the mortgage industry was NOT caused by republican influence but rather by an ever increasing rush to provide loans to unqualified borrowers (which in effect turned the mortgage industry into a “juck bond” industry. the legislation that allowed this was the 1998 repeal of Glass Steagal (signed by Clinton)

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

Angie | Feb 17, 2009 2:55:38 PM — The Iraq war is winding down, successfully, because we Americans hung in there when is it was unpopular to hang in there, but progress has been made. Don’t think for one second though that billions will not be spent by Mr. President Obama and his administration over in Afganistan and Pakistan. They are already ramping up for those conflicts.
As far as those “jobs” that you mentioned, unfortunately that is more rhetoric from one of the smoothest politicians America has ever known, Barack Obama, has fooled a lot of people. And now his administration is about to rip off the futures of our children and grand-children, and great grand children.

Posted by: Angelo | February 17, 2009, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

Angelo
As Far as Afghanistan And Pakistan Goes they are Responsible For 911, And Iraq Sucessful PLEEZE. Our men and Woman are still Getting Killed What sucess? we should not have been there In the First Place, as Far as Jobs I believe It takes People to work on Roads,Bridges,Railroads Etc

Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm

Angie–”I would Rather Have My Tax Dollar fix A dangerous Bridge Then Kill our men and Woman or Inoccent people in Iraq, I would rather Have My tax Dollar Create A Job then Fatten the Greedy ceos Bank Accounts On Wall ST.”– First, whether or not you are a pacifist or support our military makes little difference.. War is a part of life on this planet and all we can do is hope that they are few and far between and short lived when they do come along.. they do stimulate our economy significantly and one of the reasons that debt increased so much during the Gulf conflict was that for the first time in our governments history, during a war, non military spending was not cut back… and to your last point, whether or not you like it, the CEOS on wall street maintain and own the companies that keep all of us employed…to fail to save them is to fail to save yourself..so saving those “Fat CEOS” does create and save your job… and by the way, Bush did little to bail those folks out.. what he did do, (like Reagan before him) was cut taxes to increase spending in the private sector and in turn make the economy grow for everyone.. if anyone can be accused of blindly bailing out the “fat cats” its Obama.. this spending bill is primarily handouts…sow was tarp one and so will tarp 2 be as well…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

cupidsrevenge…….we will come together just like we came together during the Bush Administration! We will have ex-Presidents going around the world demeaning a sitting President! We will Have People and Anchors in the news calling for the President and His Administration to be tried for war crimes! We need Impeachment hearing which should have started yesterday! We will let foreign journalists throw shoes at our new president! And get mad if the shoe doesn’t find its mark! Senators and Representatives publically demean, namecalling hoping everything he does fail! Say his war on terror is a failure even though we haven’t been attacked since 911! Need I saw more! It was the right thing to do in America for 8 years even though he was elected for 2 terms! Do you steal feel the hate and disgust for a Former President even though you have a new one! This is OBAMA time and I hear Bush’s
name more than the sitting President! Why because Obama didn’t have no honeymoon his first 100 days! Bush didn’t have no honeymoon either he was in court with Al Gore disputing the election! But now we need to come together! The media made sure this nation stayed divided by picking sides! Now the division runs deep! Now everything will be better now! No it won’t! Conservatives are mad because we don’t like what we see! Independents hope in Obama is starting to fade! Faith in gov’t by the working class is fading fast! I would love to read your comments at this time next year! We are not hearing you, TALK TO THE HAND! Liberals showed their hatred for 8 long years! They can’t find anything Bush did that helped America! Hatred makes you blind to the facts! I praise Bush for keeping my country safe from terrorism for the 7 years after 911 because that day I thought we were going to be hit every week! But it didn’t happen instead Most Americans turned on him, agreed with terrorists that Bush was the cause! That runs deep! If another 911 happens under Obama will you and his supporters Fill the recruiting offices of our armed forces or will you have to start a draft! Oh I forgot most of you wanted out of all this war on terrorism stuff! Who will step up? Will soldiers, airmen, sailers and marines re-enlist to fight for a leader who didn’t vote for the war but now wants them to fight in something the president didn’t believe in? I just want to see what will his supporters do, this is a divided country whether you like it or not!

Posted by: Antdog1973 | February 17, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm

Angie
Tell me, were you one those liberal traitors back in the 60′s who protested the Vietnam war, too? Did you help to bring American troops home prematurely, which left MILLIONS of south vietnamese to be slaughtered at hands of the north?
The north constructed “re-education” camps and hung teachers in front of their students.
Were you the same eratic voice back then that you are today?
When will you liberals realize that neville chamberlin/barry O diplomacy results in the death of MILLIONS of people?
Liberals will NEVER understand that “peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice”.
Which is why they are having pro-hamas rallies in san francisco right now.
My God, the liberals really have lost their minds.

Posted by: Dave | February 17, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm

angie–”And Iraq Sucessful PLEEZE. Our men and Woman are still Getting Killed What sucess? we should not have been there In the First Place, as Far as Jobs I believe It takes People to work on Roads,Bridges,Railroads Etc. What success, lets see first democratic elections in over 1,000 years, a horrible dictator and his family out of power, the country now is safe from becoming a terrorist haven and since we now know that there either never were or are no WMDs there now, we can feel confident that we have an alli who will prevent the country from becoming another Pakistan.. and don’t forget that EVERYONE (democrats included) believed we should go initially. So , sorry, but the whole “Bush’s Illegal War” chant is liberal Bulls###. Jobs do “require people to work” but infrastructure is a short term fix for a long term problem.. UCLA recently released a 2 year study of the great depression that stated Roosevelt’s “Infrastructure” programs actually caused the depression to last 10 years when it should have been over in less than 5..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm

DAVE– Extremely well said… and No, she will never get it…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm

Angie, — I know this is hard for you to grasp, but men and women ( good men and women) get killed in even the most successful conficts.. the Iraq war has been one of the most successful conflicts in American history.. we have been there 5 years and have lost @4500 people. Compare that to Viet Nam where we lost 79,000 in just over 8 years. Or for that matter compare it to WW2 – we lost more than 4500 people in the first HOUR of the D-Day invasion…war is never good, but often necessary..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm

Last time I checked….United States of America. NOT divided, United. All of the partisan bickering is why the country is screwed up. STOP wasting your time and energy on trying to make the gap wider. The only way to save the economy and effectively the environment, is to come together under the same tent, set aside what divides us, and go from there.

Posted by: mike | February 17, 2009, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm

I find a few of the comments very insightful and well penned, however others are straight from the “Rush Limbaugh lunatic/fringe page”.
Americans are spending less or not at all because they lost their jobs or are in fear of losing their jobs. If I lost my 401k money, or my investment in Hedge Funds or my pension was liquidated; if I cannot buy milk and bread for my family I don’t give a damn about the DOW. I have often wondered why Americans have not taken up arms and gone to the streets. I believe that it is the hands of Obama to prevent that and return America to a sound economic base, with full American employment. I personally do not give a damn about American corporation (so called American corporations) because they do not give a damn about me.
Also, there is no magic wand or silver bullet. It took the Clinton administration 8 years to overcome the disaster of the prior Bush-Reagan.
It sounds like the comments made by ChicagoBob and others about the president are coming from another place that we are not discussing????????

Posted by: Gregory A. Vaughn Sr. | February 17, 2009, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm

Mike –”The only way to save the economy and effectively the environment, is to come together under the same tent, set aside what divides us, and go from there.”– well said, but how are we supposed to do that if those we have elected have no intention of doing that? We just watched 8 years of a President being bashed for everything he did, now we have the other side of the aisle running the show and they are spending with no regard for the people or for the input of the opposition in their “quest”..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Well, Obama signs the stealfromus package and the stock market drops 300 points.
Last week, tax cheater Timothy Geithner announced his banking plan, and the market toppled 275 points.
It’s clear to see what Wall Street thinks of this administration.
Will it be 3 more weeks, or as long as 3 months, before all the dumb bunnies that voted him in finally wise up and admit they’ve been had?
3 weeks?
or 3 months?
Taking bets here….. place your bets….

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | February 17, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

Gregory A–”I personally do not give a damn about American corporation (so called American corporations) because they do not give a damn about me.”– the american corporation is what is repsonsible for the economy that we ALL rely on.. Without them, there IS NO AMERICA.. If you can’t understand that, then i doubt you can understand why the type of spending that is going on in washington right now is so detrimental to us.. As far as you other comment is concerned.. I am old enough to remember a bit farther back than Clinton.. I saw what spending did to the economy under Carter.. and saw it CORRECTED under Reagan, was in the military and saw it shredded under Clinton to balance an annual budget and saw the same tax and spend policies take a strong economy and drag it to the ground in the last year of two of the Clinton Whitehouse. there is a reason why our tropps had no vests and no armored vehicles when we went to iraq.. Clinton took them away to balance the budget!! along with 20,000 of our most qualifed troops…I saw the second bush cut taxes and restore the jobs Clinton’s economics lost, then watched everything go to Hell because of democratic deregulation and loss of control in the mortgage industry. Please don’t stand there and try to tell be about how the democrats “fix republican messes” because it just isn’t true. If anything, going all the way back to Kennedy (who was a democrat that embrased much of the doctrines of today’s REPUBLICAN party) in almost every case, the Democrats can be ties to problems with the economy and republicans can be tied to the repair of that economy…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

And by the way gregory–” What republican are you goin got tie this mess to when in the next three or four years we hafve higher unemployment, higher taxes, larger debt and crushing inflation? because that is where we are heading.. It the same destination we arrived at every other time we tried to “spend our way out of debt”…

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm

“….come together under the same tent, set aside what divides us, and go from there.”
Yes Mike, now that Obama is in office, we all must come together under the same tent, and set aside what divides us.
Sorry, but that’s more Kool-Aid than my body is able to swallow.
Where was that attitude when George Bush was in office? Or does it only apply when a Democrat is president?
You Libs are a laugh riot, except what’s happening with this country isn’t very funny….

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | February 17, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

Mike –”come together under the same tent, set aside what divides us, and go from there”– how does that sit with congress not even letting the republicans be involved with the reconsilliation process between the house and senate versions of teh stimulus package… let’s see, “we’ll write it, we’ll mark it up, we’ll reconcile the two bills, no you republcans stay away till we get it all finished… now then vote yes on it or we’ll call you obstructionists…” Sounds like their are really “comming together”.. I did notice that everyone agreed to give themselves a $93,000 raise in this thing.. i suppose that counts as working together..

Posted by: arkie vet | February 17, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

Some people, from a history of racism, are sufficiently sophisticated and respectful enough to refer to the man who occupies the Office of The President as; Mr. President, President Obama, Mr. Obama or President Barack Obama.
But on this site, I am ashamed to say; we have Black Men (so they refer to themselves) who are “Openly Disrespectful” and they demonstrate a lack of “Cultural Sophistication” as they refer to The President of the United States of America as … “Obama!”
Are these men unaware of the “historical negative designations” that have been assigned to Black Men in America? What are others to think of the lack of respect demonstrated by these men? I trust their Parents taught them better. But how’s the saying go; “You can take the Boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the Boy.” OR…….. You can teach them to “Have Pride in Themselves” and “Respect Themselves”, so others will “Respect Them”……….. But after they leave home, they become what THEY CHOOSE TO BE, as unfortunate as that may be.

Posted by: bobj72 | February 17, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

All together, the stock market dropped nearly 700 points during the two days when pres. Obama signed the stimulus bill today and his treasury secretary made first speech about bailout of toxic fund in banks one week ago. The middle America are losing their life saving in their investment many times faster than what they can get , i.e. 13 dollars per weeks from the tax reduction in the stimulus bill.

Posted by: austin | February 17, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm

Y’all are CRAAZY

Posted by: hobo ken | February 18, 2009, 12:34 am 12:34 am

Rose colored glasses??? If you haven’t liked the last 8 years you certainly are not going to like the next 4. Just look at the already broken promises. Who the hell passes a bill that no one has read? Who ran on a campaign that he wouldn’t pass without giving at least 5 days for everyone to read it. Our lawmakers don’t even know what all is in this. None of us actually know what is in it, but mostly crap. The biggest thing it stimulates is government. MAKES IT LARGER! All hale king obamba. Not in my house!

Posted by: Lynn | February 18, 2009, 7:55 am 7:55 am

The GM auto workers unions aren’t compromising in negotiations and sent GM management to Washington without an agreement. Are they expecting more bailout money so they know they don’t have to give concessions? “We the People” get to continue to prop them up while they pull us down as a nation? When does this stop?
Politico wrote today that several executive orders and a Presidential memo were effected by the president and no notice was made to or by the White House press corp? I guess everyday citizens have no need to know.

Posted by: Gary | February 18, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

The stimulus package exhibits similar characteristics to our government’s response after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Planes and Anthrax)
The Bush Administration (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld)fueled by fear to the point of paranoia, rushed our country into war based on false premises and fabrication.
Lest we forget, most Americans, the majority of Congress, and the United Nations supported the war effort believing what the White House was proclaiming to be true.
The rationale for the stimulus package is that it will create jobs, stop foreclosures, kick start the frozen credit market, revive the automakers, and get consumers to start spending. Rooted in fear and based on hope.
These are uncharted waters. Starting with a mini-stimulus package while keeping the big one in reserve would seem to be a more rational approach. Finding out what works and what doesn’t makes more sense.
It is akin to capturing a dream. The boom of the 80′s and 90′s was fueled by ARM’s, gold and platinum credit cards, and probably the most destructive, home equity loans.
Consumer spending frenzy was encouraged by the misconception that real estate will only increase in value. So why not borrow on your home? Get that new car or boat. Take an expensive vacation.
The banks promoted and promoted, relaxed their standards and everyone was having a party. The bubble grew and grew. Then it popped.
The stimulus package is a knee-jerk response to a crisis, much the same way that going to war was the response to 9/11. We´re trying to re-inflate the bubble. Full steam ahead…
Will the stimulus package stop foreclosers or just pospone the enevitable? Some of these people are in houses that are just to expensive for their budgets. What happens when un-employment benefits run out? The clock is ticking…
The reality is that all of the artificial financial value that was created by the bubble is gone. America has lost trillions of dollars based on artificiality. These instruments have imploded and can never be recreated. Are we rushing with the stimulus package? Knee-jerk response? Fear?
President Obama pledged to solicit public input on any major bill that was proposed. A “Seat At The Table” was promised along with a new era of transparency and accountablity. I wonder why he chose not to keep that promise. Maybe he was rushing.
Very disappointing…

Posted by: Randall Gregory | February 18, 2009, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm

So, this author credits Obama with “Campaigner in Chief” and acknowledges someone (Biden?) calls Obama “Senator In Chief”…interesting…I believe he is neither…neither campaigner in chief, nor senator in chief, but why I chose to post is to ask about another “In Chief” STATUS!!!! Is Obama, when talking about HIS CHARACTER AND INTENTIONS AN DEEDS, is he “Commander In Chief?” Will he go out on the Front Lines to “attack” a country he intends to? Namely Afghanistan, or, how about Pakistan, or how about ANY of the ones he TALKS about? He wants to increase warmongering when PEACE is due, and “Commander In Chief” if requiring the warmongers who choose to enter corporate corrupt politics and wage corporate corrupt wars, if they are willing to stand in the front line, and LEAD?
I am not duty bound to offer that, the suggestion is that the Constititution is NOT out of date, and the war is illegal and a lie in everyone’s face, and we were supposed to elect a PEACE candidate who would NOT wage wars but offer humanitarian aid and bring the troops home. IF OBAMA DOES NOT WANT TO DO THAT CAN’T the TROOPS INSIST ON THEIR RIGHT TO A COMMANDER IN CHIEF?
When will the corrupt hypocrisy end?

Posted by: Elizabeth Ellis | February 25, 2009, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm

Just reviewed the article, saw it was the Wall Street Journal who called Obama “senator-in-chief”….and, it is this article’s author who sees a “campaigner in chief”…I see a liar and hypocrit and a man who would send soldiers and refuse to face the truth that war is war, and if worth waging, then he belongs out in front, as is required in the U.S. Constitution.
I doubt he is willing, and I believe he should be forced…he is a clear cut coward and hypocrit and I fail to see why he was elected, and why “democracy” with only incumbents only corruption was allowed to be seen as viable!
The public did not get the voter’s majority rule for public interest as a fair and proper opportunity…the media refused to present the four challengers who would CUT the military STOP the illegal wars (not ours) and bring the troops home, as would be honorable IF done by a elected challenger to the Bush offensives currently being escalated by Obama, as is obvious.
No intent to “lead” the war, but to spend the money to let others die, is heinous and the weapons he would spend money on is also heinous.
Obama is NOT a peace candidate, and he should be brought to task of how about the front lines for the “commander in chief” who did not offer to get out and bring home the troops, and offer peace and diplomacy as the sane proper policy for legal international respect for sovereign nations to settle their own troubles! (With assistance by the peace mission United Nations which is on board AGAINST nuclear weapons and has the majority signed onto the ABM treaty…this country belongs on the right page and should be given the proper election coverage where the proper slate is seen by the public at an informed factual level and incumbents have to face their challengers in a debate contest DUE and OVERDUE!

Posted by: Elizabeth | February 25, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm

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