By Lindsey Ellerson

Mar 10, 2009 8:08am

The Note, 3/10/09: 50 Days — Expensive Start for Obama, in Dollars and Politics

By Rick Klein: There’s been 50 days to love your leader. Shall we count the ways . . . In billions sent out the bus? Earmarks slipped in the back? Talk-radio topics discussed (much)? Debate on whether the key is doing too much, all at once? Cabinet members making new plans (at the risk of being crude, is this a still-running tally?)? At the halfway point of these first 100 days, we begin to see this light: This has been an expensive run — in spending, in the stock market, and maybe also in politics. On Tuesday, Congress is set to celebrate President Obama’s big five-oh in office by spending $410 billion and finding 8,500 ways to split up 2 percent of it. (Welcome to the new politics.) And it’s happening in a way that galvanizes (though doesn’t fully unite) Republicans, while highlighting divisions among Democrats. “As the Senate inches closer to approving a $410 billion spending bill, the internal revolt has served as a warning to party leaders pursuing Obama’s far-reaching plans for health-care, energy and education reform,” Shailagh Murray writes in The Washington Post. “The solidarity of the stimulus debate is fading as Democratic lawmakers are starting to read the fine print of the bills they will wrestle with in the coming weeks and months, and not always liking what they see.” Remember: The bill the Senate will finally place on the president’s desk only serves to keep government running through the end of this fiscal year. The big, bold new initiatives will live — or die — elsewhere. “Democrats’ difficulty passing what party leaders expected to be a routine spending bill could signal problems ahead enacting President Barack Obama’s agenda,” Naftali Bendavid and Greg Hitt write in The Wall Street Journal. “The omnibus spending bill’s bumpy ride could foreshadow trouble for coming Democratic initiatives, most of which are more complicated and controversial.” Problems beyond: “What the Democratic barons of Congress liked best about President Obama’s audacious budget was his invitation to fill in the details. They have started by erasing some of his,” Jackie Calmes and Carl Hulse write in The New York Times. You think there are problems now? “Officials are analyzing the question of what kind of [second] stimulus might be necessary and what form it would take,” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reports. “Crunch time for a decision could be as early as the first week in April when President Obama attends the G-20 global summit in London.” Taking stock, at PolitiFact.com: “In his first 50 days, President Obama has made progress on a wide range of campaign promises covering everything from sending troops to Afghanistan to removing trees and brush that cause wildfires,” Bill Adair writes. “PolitiFact has rated 17 of them Promise Kept and another seven as a Compromise. We’ve scored two as Promise Broken and two others as Stalled.” (The broken promises: “Allow five days of public comment before signing bills”; “Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs.”) The Republican National Committee counts $5 trillion in spending, and counting. “NO GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY: Obama’s First 50 Days Have Brought Outrageous Spending, DVDs For Foreign Policy, Personnel Issues, And Little Change To Washington,” reads the forthcoming release from the RNC. (For perspective on early retrospectives: 50 days before the election, Sarah Palin had erased the Obama-Biden ticket’s lead, just about all by herself.) David Brooks may not like Obamanomics, but he really doesn’t like the alternative: “The Democratic response to the economic crisis has its problems, but let’s face it, the current Republican response is totally misguided,” Brooks writes in his New York Times op-ed. “The House minority leader, John Boehner, has called for a federal spending freeze for the rest of the year. In other words, after a decade of profligacy, the Republicans have decided to demand a rigid fiscal straitjacket at the one moment in the past 70 years when it is completely inappropriate.” Midway through the marking period, Tuesday’s White House topic is education. President Obama speaks at 9:45 am ET at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 19th Annual Legislative Conference, in Washington. “President Barack Obama will begin to outline his education reform plan today, announcing plans to expand pay incentives for good teachers and offering grants to schools that raise their standards for students,” Christi Parsons writes in the Chicago Tribune. “Grants included in his 2010 budget plan are designed to encourage states to raise statewide standards and to collect data about performance in early childhood education programs, the officials said.” Per the AP’s Philip Elliott: “President Barack Obama is promoting tighter standards for teachers and a reduced dropout rate for students as part of an education plan that, at least for now, lacks any new legislative component. . . . It is his first major speech devoted solely to education since taking office, but officials say he plans neither to detail any requirements to achieve his goals nor to change President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind program. Instead, a senior administration official said, Obama would speak to the importance of increasing the rigor of the standards in place and challenge states to adopt world-class standards rather than a specific standard.” Taking on a big one: “President Obama will call for performance-based pay for deserving teachers and to give the boot to poorly performing educators in a speech Tuesday morning,” Ken Bazinet reports in the New York Daily News. You know how this fight breaks down: The Employee Free Choice Act — “card-check” — is expected to be introduced Tuesday, and there’s a whole lot of money to be spent to make a tiny number of pro-and-con arguments. What Andy Stern doesn’t want you to believe: “Key Senate Democrats are wavering in their support of legislation that would give more power to labor unions, dealing a setback to labor’s top priority as businesses warn of the damage the bill would cause,” Melanie Trottman and Brody Mullins write in The Wall Street Journal. “At least six Senators who have voted to move forward with the so-called card-check proposal, including one Republican, now say they are opposed or not sure — an indication that Senate Democratic leaders are short of the 60 votes they need for approval.” Says SEIU spokeswoman Christy Setzer: “While we know it won’t be easy, we’re confident.” Big business and big labor are already fighting it out, senator by senator — and the campaign committees are ready to weigh in, too. With Warren Buffett lending his voice to the business side of the argument, Phil Singer rallies for a more aggressive union effort: “Whether you back the legislation or not, the fact is that smart commercials and aggressive messaging gave the Chamber of Commerce and its allies a leg up in the effort to frame the EFCA issue,” Singer blogs. “This is a winnable fight if the right effort is made.” Buffett is adding some fuel, and heat is rising on Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner: “To some, Secretary Geithner’s stock has dropped,” ABC’s Jake Tapper reported on “Good Morning America” Tuesday. “One of the worst things he did was that initial speech, because it set a pattern that maybe something’s missing here in the minds of some people,” Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., tells ABC’s Matthew Jaffe. “It’s about trust.” “Critics across a broad ideological spectrum are ramping up their attacks on the Treasury Department’s $700-billion banking bailout, saying it is now doing more damage to credit markets than good,” the Los Angeles Times’ Ralph Vartabedian reports. “Lending is flat, investors are fleeing bank stocks, and the huge investment by the government into troubled banks has plummeted in value by more than $100 billion, according to some recent studies.” He continues: “The crux of the issue is whether the Obama administration can financially engineer its way out of the crisis. It has introduced four programs that will be funded by what remains of the bailout, aimed at further shoring up banks, helping homeowners, resuscitating non-bank lending and clearing remaining bad debts.” The secretary met with House Democrats Monday night: “Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner broke little new ground during a nearly two-hour session with the House Democratic Caucus Monday night, but he did give anxious members a chance to grill him with the questions and voice the frustrations they’re hearing back home,” Politico’s Victoria McGrane and Patrick O’Connor report. “There is almost nothing about our banking system right now that I find reassuring,” said Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C. “Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and his colleagues face a nasty dilemma: There are no solutions to the banking crisis without extraordinary political and financial risks,” David M. Smick writes in a Washington Post op-ed. “Thus, they have adopted a three-pronged approach, delay, delay, delay, in the hope that somebody comes up with a breakthrough.” Trouble on the left: The liberal blog FireDogLake is organizing a campaign against spending more money on bank bailouts. Washingtonpost.com’s Chris Cillizza: “It does suggest that liberal left is increasingly willing to raise questions about the actions of the Democratic-controlled Congress and Obama himself.” Stephanopoulos gets a beat on Geithner’s new deputy: “H. Rodgin Cohen, a partner in the New York law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, is likely to be officially nominated for Deputy Secretary of Treasury this week,” he reports. “He’s been a counsel to just about every major player on Wall Street. Senate sources worry Cohen’s nomination might be complicated by his work for blue-chip Wall Street clients. The experience that enhances his ability to do the job might also make it harder for him to get it.” (A birdie reminds us that Cohen was a registered federal lobbyist until February 2006 — for Wachovia, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and others.) Signing a statement on signing statements, the president says he may sign a few more statements (but not too many): “Calling into question the legitimacy of all the signing statements that former President George W. Bush used to challenge new laws, President Obama ordered executive officials on Monday to consult with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. before relying on any of them to bypass a statute,” writes The New York Times’ Charlie Savage, who broke the Bush-era story wide open while at The Boston Globe. “But Mr. Obama also signaled that he intended to use signing statements himself if Congress sent him legislation with provisions he decided were unconstitutional. He promised to take a modest approach when using the statements, legal documents issued by a president the day he signs bills into law that instruct executive officials how to put the statutes into effect,” Savage writes. ABC’s Karen Travers and Sunlen Miller: “In order to minimize the use of these statements, Obama said his administration will work with Congress on pending legislation in order to work out any constitutional concerns before it comes time for the bill signing and will approach legislation with the assumption that all parts of the bill are constitutional. Obama, a constitutional law professor, said if concerns remain, he will base them ‘only on interpretations of the Constitution that are well-founded.’” Arthur Finkelstein did Helms v. Gantt, D’Amato v. Javits, Mack v. McKay, and Pataki v. Cuomo. Now he’s running against . . . “The Tax Twins of Lynbrook.” ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “Finkelstein’s influence isn’t hard to spot. A full-page ad in this week’s Lynbrook Herald savages two members of the Lynbrook Village Board, dubbing them ‘The Tax Twins of Lynbrook.’ The ad declares: ‘It’s shocking but true, the Tax Twins Dave Penso and Tom Miccio recklessly raised taxes, created record debt and mortgaged our families’ futures. Call Village Hall for their Disgraceful Record. DON’T BE FOOLED!’ ” 2012 watch: The Boston Globe’s Peter Canellos sees former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., with a rising stock in a down market: “For a while, it looked like Mitt Romney would become more a figure of ridicule than promise,” he writes. “But now, with a more statesmanlike bearing and some measured criticisms of the Obama administration, Romney suddenly seems like the only adult left standing among the 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls.” Draft Sarah: “A Connecticut group says it is the first in the nation to register to raise money to draft Sarah Palin for president,” per the AP write-up. “Paul Streitz of Darien says the Federal Election Commission has confirmed the ’2012 Draft Sarah Committee’ is the first to file papers.” Coming Tuesday: The *TV Newser Summit,* in New York City. Follow the discussion on Twitter during the 12:45 pm ET panel discussion: @thenote and @tvnewser. The Kicker: “I THINK MY AGENT TOLD ME IT’S A BENEFIT FOR SOME HORRID DISEASE LIKE RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. ALL I KNOW IS, I’M GETTING A PRIVATE CAR.” — Ann Coulter, in all caps, explaining to The New York Times’ Dave Itzkoff why he agreed to public debates with Bill Maher. “I straight up don’t understand this woman or her popularity. I find her offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time.” — Meghan McCain, in a Daily Beast essay, on Ann Coulter. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.htmltarget=”external” For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:

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User Comments

It is pathetic how the media and conservatives are slamming Obama for doing “too much” at the start of his term.
What is “too much”? And wouldn’t everyone be trashing Obama for being “lazy” and “out of touch” if he was taking a more laid back approach? Sick…
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | March 10, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am

Welcome to the beginning of the Great Depression of 2009-2012. This isn’t a recession any more, folks, it’s much worse than that. Take off your rose-colored glasses and see the real mess.
Barry “Pork” Obama is spending like someone who just got his first credit card with no maximum limit.

Posted by: curbdent | March 10, 2009, 8:41 am 8:41 am

“Barry “Pork” Obama is spending like someone who just got his first credit card with no maximum limit.”
Or like a President who just inherited the biggest economic crisis in 80 years and who is leveraging his position to take an aggressive whack at correcting it.
PORRRRRRRKKK!!!

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 9:04 am 9:04 am

Every time I see a FORECLOSURE SALE sign in front of a house, I hope the owner is someone who voted for Obama-dama-ding-dong.

Posted by: Constantine | March 10, 2009, 9:04 am 9:04 am

“Every time I see a FORECLOSURE SALE sign in front of a house, I hope the owner is someone who voted for Obama-dama-ding-dong.”
That makes a lot of sense. I swear…some of you really aren’t worthy of this country. You don’t get it at all.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am

What do we not “get,” Silky? Sorry, but I’m not one of the Kool-Aid drinkers who believe that any action – especially stagflationary ones – are good actions.
We just dedicated a sum totaling almost 1/4 of our nation’s total gross domestic product – close to $10 trillion in Fed guarantees and out-and-out government spending – without the foggiest idea of how to pay for it. You don’t think that this will cause inflation – and lots of it – in the next year?
That’s definitely NOT the “change we can believe in!”

Posted by: Steve | March 10, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am

Posted by: Barb | March 10, 2009, 9:36 am 9:36 am

Blah blah blah…Another Obama photo op today!

Posted by: pro-American anti Obama | March 10, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am

I’m starting to think that Obama doesn’t get it. When there’s an economic crisis that is screaming out for your attention and focus, you don’t give another speech on a sweeping policy objective. At the least, it sends the message that you are not giving your time and energies to the major crisis at hand. At the worst, it sends the message that you are detached and don’t care what’s going on and are just going to push your agenda regardless of the mounting economic troubles. Don’t get me wrong- I support his agenda, but it’s the economy stupid.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | March 10, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am

“What do we not “get,” Silky?”
Well, first of all, you don’t get that it’s possible that I wasn’t referring to you. I’m not including all people who don’t agree with Obama’s actions. Although, your knee-jerk “we” reaction certainly suggests it could be the case.
But that attitude of hoping that people suffer for voting for Obama? THAT kind of person doesn’t belong here.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am

Another speech and deeper in debt.

Posted by: CW | March 10, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am

Do you think maybe that because so many things are so wrong with our country and we want them fixed that the president is trying to do just that? If he didn’t do anything, I can just hear all the right wing crazies….What do you want him to do? We are in a severe crisis….we need to get out of it. Our education is crumbling, our health care is out of control, our economy and banks are on the brink of disaster. The previous admininstration did not include the cost of war in the #s….When will some of you wake up?
Posted by: Barb
_______________________________
Barb, What got us in the recession was not the cost of the war. It was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac giving out loans to people who had no business taking out loans. Guess who was in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Your heroes, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, both Democrats. YOUR party had control of Congress the last two years of Bush’s administration which was whe the problems began.
As to Obama’s policies? Can you name me a country that has taxed and spent it’s way back into prosperity? Bill Clinton was asked that question and couldn’t answer it.

Posted by: marco | March 10, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am

I am sure more staggering debt spending by Washington will solve the problem. “In Debt We Trust.”

Posted by: Geo | March 10, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am

with all the Obama bashers coming out of the wood….LETS NOT FORGET WHO GOT US INTO THIS MESS THE LAST EIGHT YEARS…Oh I know you dont want to talk about that. The conservative president that never…yes never vetoed a spending bill. Where did the money go, I dont have any ….do you?? Maybe to IRAQ

Posted by: BSKI | March 10, 2009, 10:04 am 10:04 am

Obama’s spending like he’s on welfare and it’s payday. Oh, wait, wasn’t he raised on welfare and that’s truly his mentality?

Posted by: Nancy | March 10, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am

Sure, let’s pour more money into education. The federal puts around $12,000.00 per child today and nothing has change . This bratts carry around ipods, beat teachers, punch bus drivers and fail miserably on science and math. They have no aspirations but to work for Mc Donnalds and draw a welfare check.Third world countries rank higher that the US in education.The problem of education is at home not at school>

Posted by: Frank | March 10, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am

Oh, and BSKI, when will libs like you come to realize it was your Messiah and his band of merry men in congress (you know, the Democrat majority congress) that got us into this mess? When Obama digs us into an even deeper hole, four years down the road, who will you blame?

Posted by: Nancy | March 10, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am

Another stimulus next year ?
..borrow – spend – borrow – spend ….what a life, Obamation !

Posted by: austin | March 10, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am

MARCO….YOU SURE CAN TWIST THE FACTS. Bush has been in office for eight years not two. The man at the top is responsible, like the banks, like the auto industry, like the military etc. Why do you think his rating is so low???

Posted by: BSKI | March 10, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am

As usual, Rick Klein chooses to cast a negative spin on Obama’s first 50 days in office, hitting all the Republican talking points, (hey, you forgot to question where Obama was born Rick!):
Obama is spending too much money, Obama is focusing on Rush Limbaugh, only Democrats have tax problems, and as Silky would say, Poooork!
Here is how I have experienced Obama’s first 50 days: how cool is it to open the White House to ordinary Americans, to see the President and his wife out and about Washington, a President who allows his interviews on Air Force One to be taped, who created websites where people can track government spending, a First Lady with great arms and actual mothering skills, lifting the ban on stem cell research to the great joy of the scientific community and those whose relatives have suffered from Alzheimer’s or spinal cord injuries, to see an American President treated like a rock star in Canada, to hear that America will no longer torture, that we will leave Iraq and focus on defeating the people who acually attacked us eight years ago, to see a new diplomatic policy take shape? How cool is it? It IS SO Cool!

Posted by: They stole my good name | March 10, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am

so instead of worrying about the economy Obama wants embryonic stem cell research
Its great if it helps people but… Well duh the Pope dont like that. You cant have it both ways. Not very well thought out huh? Obama isnt good at making both sides happy. Just his own!
Undoing a Bush mistake huh?
LOL Obamas latest goof-up! Its like a bad episode of South Park.

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 10, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am

To Marco and all the others who just consistently attack the President, YOUR party was in charge for EIGHT YEARS. Period. they spent billions on the war and left us with this huge mess. Bush was a lame duck and did nothing but go to Camp David….he ignored what was going on as did Cheney and let their rich friends go their merry way. I don’t care what you say, Pres. Obama did not get us into this mess and he is trying to get us out. Never before has our country seen everything going down the tube except during the Depression…It’s such a shame it was allowed to get to this. Bush should have been on tv and letting people know exactly what was going on as Obama is doing.

Posted by: Barb | March 10, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am

They stole my good name: My thoughts exactly!!!

Posted by: Barb | March 10, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am

BSKI…..When will you liberals get over placing the blame elsewhere?! All you do is look back. I am frigging tired of hearing Obama say he inherited this mess. He is getting a free pass right now. When will the MSM get with it and expose Obama for who he really is!

Posted by: pro-American anti Obama | March 10, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am

Nancy….if Obama does not help this coutry in four years we vote him out of office,,,we dont keep him in office like the last one..that is if the voters vote with their head and not their bottom. Oh yes I believe the Rebubs were in the majority the previous six years…or did you conveniontly forget that

Posted by: BSKI | March 10, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am

Paulieshere2: I’d like to know how you would feel if you had a family member who could be helped with the stem cell research?

Posted by: Barb | March 10, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am

of course the usual objection from the base Republicans — who else wouldn’t see the value in higher education?

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am

“You liberals.”
This still cracks me up. When will “you inbreds” realize this kind of talk makes you sound like you have rocks in your brains?
“It was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac giving out loans to people who had no business taking out loans.”
Not at all the case. Amy? What’s the number? A relatively small percentage of the loans in question were Fannie and Freddie loans. Amy knows the number.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am

“who else wouldn’t see the value in higher education?”
Science and education are the devil’s playground!!!

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am

Barb…you hit the nail on the head…they dont want to talk about the past. Typical conservative move.
Limbaugh and Palin 2012

Posted by: BSKI | March 10, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am

Hey Obama what goods an education with no job or a low paying socialist job (that you pick for our kids) at the other end?
So whats the deal with Obama now. Has he given up on baby boomers getting jobs back?
Hey the stock markets up! Can we buy stocks in abortion clinics and stuff? Those dead fetus are worth a lot of money again!

Posted by: obamaisbad4u | March 10, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am

it’s really quite amusing — anyone else notice responses which are rational, articulate and reasonable with their argument is labeled a “Lib”. One concludes that anyone without those qualities must be conservative. I agree.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am

Spending is way out of control and the democrats should be very careful. I voted for this administration and am growing tired of the wreck less irresponsible spending and stands on Iran. Iraq and Afghanistan. I never dreamed there would be a day that this administration would sit down and want to negotiate with terrorist. How embarrassing. For all. The Democratic party might really see a surprise in the next election. We were looking for change not crazy.

Posted by: Steve | March 10, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am

Embryonic stem-cell research is another Obama special-interest to be catered to and showered with money (like the other 7999 special interests on the $787 porkulus bill).
Name one person that has been helped by stem cell research! One that you know of!
I am neither for or against embryonic stem cell research but I would not spend taxpayer money on it if I was President or undo what Mr. Bush did necessarily.
To make a business out of selling dead-fetus is kind of a deal breaker for me morally.
Tell you what do this Google: “Persons helped by stem cell research” if you dont believe me.
Its akin to “Global Warming” research it has not been proved to help anything yet.

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 10, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am

Welcome to the age of The Obama. Spending like a freaking drunk sailor while the rest of the country and the world are losing wealth. This is leadership? This is work and productivity? How about real leadership and seek to grow our economy without incurring the debt that cannot be paid? In the midst of all this, he’s pushing to control our lives even more, tax and spend on this phony theory of global warming, and his idiot treasury secretary has assured that no one will invest on the existing infrastructure to increase refining capacity so that will GUARANTEE higher gas prices. Either we are the biggest idiots for voting him in or that we’ve been drinking his kool aid and didn’t know he is really intending on destroying this nation.

Posted by: Gina | March 10, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

marco
Blaming the recession on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a typical example of how the rightwing smears, lies and spreads misinformation in its pursuit of power.
Programs to encourage banks to lend money to people in poorer neighborhoods were not the cause of our financial mess. I know it fits the rightwing ideology to blame everything on low income people and Demorats, but just saying something is true doesn’t make it so.
Republicans will never get back into power, if they continue to lie to the American people. Lies, smear campaigns, divisive politics, misusing the name of Jesus, all in the name of retaining power for the gigantic corporations and the super, super, rich, all at the expense of science, the truth, and the American middleclass, that is what Republicanism means today. I’m a Democrat, and I could make better arguments against Democratic policies than Republicans do. You don’t have to resort to lies, smears and misinformation to make a political argument!

Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 10, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Woops $787 porkulus I meant $787 Trillion Dollars!!! Remember Y2K that was gonna make the world end and they sank a lot of money into that! The market rally today could mean peak and valley i.e. what-goes-up-must-come-down! If we keep losing jobs how could the DOW possibly be so high if these speculative numbers arent artificially inflated (someones lying about profits).

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 10, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am

Why do so many Republican voters on these threads use words that don’t exist?

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am

$787 Billion. 1.3 Trillion and counting.

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 10, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am

All the real ‘Mericans [guns, hateful God, white] must be really hot knowing intellectual thinking has prevailed.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am

Anyway what I mean is astronomical amounts of money are being spent on things that dont necessarily help anyone but government and big corporations (i.e. special interests)!

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 10, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am

PORKoolaid!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am

As to Obama’s policies? Can you name me a country that has taxed and spent it’s way back into prosperity? Bill Clinton was asked that question and couldn’t answer it.
_____________
No intelligent person would answer this question because it is a really dumb one. What policy? What type of government in what type of country? Why is Bill Clinton lumped into one big clusterf_ _ _ of a question?

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am

marco posted….Barb, What got us in the recession was not the cost of the war. It was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac giving out loans to people who had no business taking out loans. Guess who was in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Your heroes, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, both Democrats. YOUR party had control of Congress the last two years of Bush’s administration which was whe the problems began.
As to Obama’s policies? Can you name me a country that has taxed and spent it’s way back into prosperity? Bill Clinton was asked that question and couldn’t answer it.
—————————————-
Very good point but the democrats will not acknowlege it! All they can do is point fingures and resort to any type of name calling. We all know Bush brought up the problem with Fannie and Freddie but the dems wanted to kill the bill even if brought up. There thought is spend money, reward people for irresponsible behavior at the hard working taxpayers expense.

Posted by: pro-American anti Obama | March 10, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am

Posted by: marco | Mar 10, 2009 9:59:57 AM
You said; “What got us in the recession was not the cost of the war. It was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac giving out loans to people who had no business taking out loans. Guess who was in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Your heroes, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, both Democrats. YOUR party had control of Congress the last two years of Bush’s administration which was whe the problems began.”
“As to Obama’s policies? Can you name me a country that has taxed and spent it’s way back into prosperity? Bill Clinton was asked that question and couldn’t answer it.”
_____________________________
Unfortunately this is an Exaggerated Example of TOTAL IGNORANCE! The most faulty assumptions; 1.) Fannie and Freddie DO NOT “give out” loans. 2.)Frank & Dodd “IN CHARGE of Fannie and Freddie.” Ridiculous!!! (Take the time to ‘get caught up.)
curbdent, steve, pro-something, hopesprings, CW, marco, nancy, austin & paulie; “Using the ploy of ‘Changing The Discussion’ – Really doesn’t Change The Facts!”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am

Barb posted……To Marco and all the others who just consistently attack the President, YOUR party was in charge for EIGHT YEARS. Period. they spent billions on the war and left us with this huge mess. Bush was a lame duck and did nothing but go to Camp David….he ignored what was going on as did Cheney and let their rich friends go their merry way. I don’t care what you say, Pres. Obama did not get us into this mess and he is trying to get us out. Never before has our country seen everything going down the tube except during the Depression…It’s such a shame it was allowed to get to this. Bush should have been on tv and letting people know exactly what was going on as Obama is doing.
—————————————-
Now lets talk about Obama and all of his little trips around the country and for photo ops! Heck what about his multi million dollar vacation prior to him even taking office. What about his non-tax paying croonies working in his cabinet. Do I need say more. The list can go on and on and on.

Posted by: pro-American anti Obama | March 10, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am

DeadHATEfetusPORKdowGODbadJESUSbiggovernmentKOOLAIDbadNOSCIENCEdestroyBADEDUCATIONnoenvironmentalNOwomensrightsNOrightsforsickBADideasHATEneighborsRUSHisGOD.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am

Posted by: pro-American anti Obama | Mar 10, 2009 10:47:59 AM
You said; … “We all know Bush brought up the problem with Fannie and Freddie but the dems wanted to kill the bill even if brought up. There thought is spend money, reward people for irresponsible behavior at the hard working taxpayers expense.”
___________________________
Thanks for ‘Jumping In’ and lending some clarity to the knowledge base of the “hard right edge.”
(R) Senator Chuck Hagel would ‘strongly challenge’ your assertion. He’s the guy who authored the 2005 Senate bill seeking ‘more stringent regulations’ for Fannie & Freddie. The Republican Senate engaged powerful “M” St. lobbyist (“Big Bucks”) to oppose Hagel’s bill. The lobbyist were successful in defeating the bill, before it came to the floor for a vote. What’s the fashionable ditty used today? “The Republican Party threw Sen. Hagel Under-The-Bus!” Yeah, that’s it!

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am

I don’t know who is listening to President Obama’s weekly radio talks except the press. I would think it might be more useful to have weekly talks to students so they will become good citizens, not drug addicts, or criminals.

Posted by: Tina | March 10, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

If todays discussion is a realistic indication of the caliber of intellectual exchange, it is ‘far above’ my pain threshold – and I must pass, until such time as my engagement might have some reasonable value.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

The Haters and Republicans cant Help themselves When it comes to Bashing President Obama because hes doing too Much,They are use to W and him being MIA! It Scares the GOP To death that Obamas Plans may work so all they can do is Complain. well get use to It we Finally have a President That can MULTI-TASK!

Posted by: Angie in PA | March 10, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am

Well, here we go again! It seems like thats all Mr Obama knows how to do! Spend tax payer money! What has it accomplished America: MORE DEBT; THATS WHAT!!!

Posted by: brannigonforall | March 10, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am

European leaders, in the same sinking economic ship, have decided to stop stimulus spending in their countries in spite of Obama’s encouragement for them to continue to stimulate their economies. Reason cited is they are concerned about accumulated debt. When will common sense rain down on our leaders?

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am

The Problem with Washington…is it’s Full of Politicans that have been there TOOO long. The Job of working in Congress was NEVER ment to be a Full time Job. Originally Congressmen had a Farm/Business and didn’t sit around Washington making up legislation to kill time.
We need REAL change in Washington, not just the same old Democrat or Republican with new Window Dressing.
Next Time Vote for Libertarians or the Constitutionalists….that is REAL Change.
Term Limits are good enough for the Office of President..they are Good enough for the Office of Congressmen…
Liberty or D.eath

Posted by: Patch W Adams | March 10, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am

This is Obama’s moment in the sun. Too bad he inherited a worldwide economic crisis. But he is cunning. He is using the crisis to push through his personal agenda. There’s a sense of urgency because he knows his arguments for spending are weak and by the end of this summer his popularity will have waned. He is determined not to be robbed of his egomaniacal rush toward that end, raping and pillaging common sense along the way. In the future words like pragmatic, fundamentally, and foundations will be terms that make us bristle with animosity toward any politician who spews them.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am

…”But he is cunning. He is using the crisis to push through his personal agenda….he knows his arguments for spending are weak and by the end of this summer his popularity will have waned. He is determined not to be robbed of his egomaniacal rush toward that end, raping and pillaging common sense along the way.”
___________________________
This is weird and paranoid. What makes you an insider to understanding the President’s mind?

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am

President Obama, March 9, 2009: “It is time to give all Americans a complete and competitive education from the cradle up through a career, we have accepted failure for too long – enough. America’s entire education system must once more be the envy of the world.”
The president challenged teachers unions, renewing his support for a merit-based system of payment. He also said adult Americans needed to take responsibility for improving their own education, in addition to improve the education of their children.

Posted by: fairy godmother | March 10, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am

Bobj72; You might as well take a break. Nobody is interested in who did what with which and to whom any more. What Americans want is money to pay their mortgages, buy food, put gas in the car, not pipe dreams of what a perfect society would look like. We’re tired of hearing how Bush did this or that and spent billions we didn’t have while Obama is spending trillions we don’t have, that future taxpayers will be burdened with, and current taxpayers are appreciating none of. What Bush did or didn’t do won’t buy groceries. Reducing the carbon footprint won’t put gas in the car, and killing babies won’t pay the mortgage. Releasing suspected terrorists won’t prevent acts of terrorism. Enough of the distractors. There are real and present dangers to be addressed, dangers our leaders don’t face in their secure la la land of the elite. The problem is not big business. The problem is our stumbling bungling self proclaimed pragmatic lawmakers.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am

gusamaral; The truth is often stranger than fiction and being paranoid doesn’t necessarily mean there’s nobody out to get you.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 11:58 am 11:58 am

“..and killing babies won’t pay the mortgage. Releasing suspected terrorists won’t prevent acts of terrorism. Enough of the distractors.”
__________________
Again, weird.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm

President Obama said adult Americans needed to take responsibility for improving their own education, in addition to improve the education of their children.

Posted by: fairy godmother | March 10, 2009, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

One more thought. Education is of utmost importance. We need citizens who can direct others to the soup lines. We’ll label them community organizers. They can get unregistered voters signed up between meals.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Strip away the political finger pointing over President Obama’s proposed budget and the fight boils down to a clash of values. Both major parties are really for big government — just big in different places.
Republicans say they’re outraged that Obama would “borrow and spend” his way to a new behemoth government. But they borrowed and spent their way through the ’80s and the current decade. And they love big government — when it’s at the Pentagon

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm

I know it is very difficult for you to understand…but we finally have a president that can walk and chew gum…Bush couldn’t manage 1 crisis of katrina and never did get it solved…I say, bring it on Mr. President, this is a country of big ideas, big challenges, and big solutions, show them how its done when you have brain power at the top, not a frickin college cheerleader…I still can’t believe it..like being a cheerleader was any resume’ for the leader of the free world..and how you morons feel like you have the intelligence to critisize is beyond me..It sounds like a group therapy to me

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

Monroe..I see you are trying to throw in every buzz word you can think of today, gave up on the rational discussion did you?

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

Thank you God for sending us a responsible, intelligent, capable President to make decisions to help those most in need. Helping the weathy Republicans as we’ve experienced over the previous 8 years has lead our country into ruin. Let’s do God’s work and help the sick and hungry.

Posted by: Sister Petrille | March 10, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

Welcome to “The Shuck and Jive Minstrel Show”.
Your puppeteer’s name is George Soros. And the dummy with the strings attached is Barack Obama. And there are supporting puppets, too: Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, David Axelrod and Rahm Emmanuel. It’s coming to a dilapidated theater in YOUR home town. Don’t miss the stunning musical number, entitled the “Yes We Can-Can!” The price of a ticket is your retirement savings, your home value, your job and your freedom. But this is the “CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!”, so everything is going to be alright. We’re all in GOOD HANDS.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Thanks Voters! Thanks Media! Thanks for electing this idiot into the White House, who has proceeded to turn everything good about this country upside-down. We’re all living the Poseidon Adventure, and we have a clueless, inexperienced man-boy with deluded fantasies of Socialism at the helm. See you all at the bottom, if there is one…..

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | March 10, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm

Patriots,
STAND UP to the challenges of our nation.
Support the President of the United States and our young warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is OUR country, take responsibility and SERVE your country well.

Posted by: General Whiting | March 10, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm

BSKI; Reality is the past is gone. People are more concerned about the future. It was my understanding the liberals were focused on the future as well, but not according to your talking points. You’re hung up on bashing Bush. No surprise. After eight years of bashing we know what to expect.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm

wow you mean the media mentioned the cds with out giving the story about them ? is this the medias way of saying we did a story on it ha ha the fact is pm of england gave obuma a priceless gift of a penholder made from the same wood the presidents desk was made of, in the 1800′s what did our president give him a worthless set of dvd’s that wont even play in england ,now the first lady not to be out done in being stupid gave two copter models at 19.95 a peice , what did the queen give the obama girls ,a couple of expensive dresses from a up side dress shop in england worth a thousand dollars each ,meanwhile the press in england is running front page stories on how the president snubbed the pm when he was here by not giving him a press conferance i just have to wonder what will happen when hamas comes to get there check from us to use to get missles to fire at israel he will probly give him a parade

Posted by: david reyes | March 10, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm

Ever notice how Republicans love to run up big deficits and defend deficit spending when they control the White House, but suddenly turn into “fiscal responsibility” hawks as soon as they’re on the outside looking in?
Give it a rest, you Obama-hating whiners – I’m old enough to remember Reagan’s massive deficits and the recession that they caused. And how Republican loudmouths defended both.
So you can all take your obstructionist, partisan whining about Obama and go shove it up your dumb arses.
LOL

Posted by: Homeslice | March 10, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

Posted by: Truth Squad | March 10, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

Of course we Republicans still reserve the right to blame everything on Bill Clinton in perpetuity. But that’s not because we’re a bunch of hypocrites, it’s because we just hate him so very much!

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

I listened to warren buffets interviews all 7…got zip out of it..if anyone mumbled his way through something it was him..He is living on the edge of collapse and did not sound coherent to me..Wall street could care less about america…they want the life lines sent to them..selfish to the end

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

…”We’re all living the Poseidon Adventure, and we have a clueless, inexperienced man-boy with deluded fantasies of Socialism at the helm.”
______________________
another escapee from the psychiatric hospital.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

david reyes – you know what’s funny about your post? If Obama had spend money on expensive gifts for the Browns, then you would probably be whining about how he wasted the people’s money during an economic crisis.
Since there’s just no pleasing you Obama haters, why should anyone care about your constant whining anyway?
Posted by: Truth Squad
sre you nuts you remind me of when i was a kid and we drew names for presents my mom would try to get something nice for the kid i drew and i would get some bubble gum machine present in return if you think its ok to give the pm of england what he did theres no help for you my friend i wanna ask you is that the present you would have givin to our biggest allie ?

Posted by: david reyes | March 10, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

cowgirl; Good morning. Nothing has changed. I’m still an independent thinker who doesn’t expect much from our federal government and haven’t been disappointed yet. I still like government in small doses only. The states can administer “programs” more efficiently and appropriately for their citizens than anything the federal government could ever hope for. And yes national security should be the primary mission of the federal government. Beyond that I’d like to see lawmakers interested in preserving my freedoms and conserving my tax dollars.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

It’s so obvious, with the same florid language, the opposers of our President and government are parroting their heros — Fox, Rush types.
Traitors, boys.

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

The 12:34 post is my name is a case of identity theft. Thanks as*hole.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm

This is what you lib sheeple get for voting for an uneducated negro – don’t you PC libs know that blacks are incapable of running a civilization? Just look at Africa – the place fell apart and reverted to total savagery once the white people left. Obama is America’s Robert Mugabe. Welcome to Zimbabwe you stupid libs!

Posted by: BlofeldBuildings | March 10, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm

Rick Klein: How about checking into who is stealing other peoples screen names and give ‘em the permanent boot.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm

I’d like to see and hear more educated people.

Posted by: teacher in MD | March 10, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

i could just emagine if george bush would have been so stupid truth squad would have been whinning and laffing at him but when its his guy he thinks wow what a wonderful gift obama gave cds that wont even play over there, its not the price its the thoughfulness he could have gave him a book on amercan history signed by the author he coulda probly got for free if he would have just been thoughtfull enuff to ask the offer or maybe a brick from the buildings that fell on 9-11 something with some thought this president is dumb he even uses a telepromter to answer ? from the press another thing the liberal press doent report on

Posted by: david reyes | March 10, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

Monroe, I am not so sure about the states being more effective, I pay almost as much in state taxes as federal now..a few years back our state put in as million dollars worth of doggie water fountains..which sticks in my mind more than the good things they have done, spent millions to upgrade the carpeting and chairs and furniture in the capital..I would rater see my tax dollars spent on services, not going to the dogs..i can get my dog water cheaper than that…Now that it some Bow Wow pork spending

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

It was only a matter of time, when exhausted by shallow argument, racist remarks would surface. Is this supposed to change our minds? angry, ugly racisists are a MINORITY in this country. You LOST. So, No one is listening. Lalalalala…we can’t hear you..LaLalala…

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

gus amaral; I watch C-SPAN and listen to NPR. I don’t need talk show buffoons to form my opinions. Conscienceless party oriented politicians of both persuasions do it live and in person. It’s ridiculous what some people will say and do for votes.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

Cowgirl; Do you by chance live in California?

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

IMO< No matter what Obama does or doesn't do there will always be those to criticize his every word and deed…
Congress is not used to having to keep up with a President on the move…
Can you imagine McCain and Palin trying to negotiate through the chaos Bush left behind…???
They would be floundering, because they would think that the only answer is to give more tax breaks to everybody… Great!!! but, we'd still be in the mess we're in, only nobody would be paying taxes… Whoo o o ops!!! and the economy would still be in the toilet…
I am happy to have a President in office that is at least trying to do everything he can… I don't think most Americans see how interconnected we've become…nationally and globally…
American is now part of a whole that includes other countries, cultures and people… to not realize this is to lack an understanding of a much bigger picture.
What we do here and now affects other parts of the world, What goes on in the rest of the world affects what happens here in our country… This interconnected is in part been the price of Capitalism as it flowed to and from the rest of the world…
I think this President is doing a fine job…

Posted by: theafalcon200 | March 10, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

Not california…no thanks…tried it for awhile…liked the weather

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Posted by: kseyetie | March 10, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

It was only a matter of time before the racist remarks would surface. Equipped with weak, shallow argument it always boils down to the real issue. Racist ideas are the MINORITY in this country. No one is listening to you..Lalalalala…no one hears you…LalaLalala…

Posted by: gus amaral | March 10, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

What’s wrong with California? By a long-shot. It’s the greatest state in the country.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

Fwiw, monroe, I thought that really was you posting and I laughed.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

I would like to point out that in the days of the great depression-they had the conservation corps-which put alot of people to work-they only made a 1 a day but they could feed their families, it supported alot of service men who came home from WW2 and could not find a job, my dad was a marine who planted beach grass on the sand dunes of the oregon coast for the Corp..Now I am sure there were naysayers in the day( otherwise known as republicans) who thought it was a waste of money..My father took care of his family, and today those beachgrass dunes have prevented erosion for 60 some years..thats long term benifits that kept returning money over the years..Many of FDRs programs did the same thing..we are still reaping the benifits of most of his programs..think ahead to what we are accomplishing today..with the long term benefits these programs will bring

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

silky; I’d describe California as a great place to vacation, interesting and on the cutting edge of wierd. I wouldn’t want to live there unless it was in the northern part. The mountains are awesome and so are the beaches.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm

Silky, california is a beautiful state, and i used to imagine it the way it looked before the hordes of people descended on it…gods country…too many people…too many fast lanes..

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

Monroe,”cutting edge of weird”…is that why you thought i was from california??? Don’t feel bad, when i would go across country-people always assumed i was from california, risque’ with a tan…fools people

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Mar 10, 2009 11:54:10 AM
monroe, as usual you say to me; “Bobj72; You might as well take a break. Nobody is interested in who did what with which and to whom any more.”…
___________________________
IF ONLY you had the COURAGE to Address your “Anti-President Obama” clan’s GARBAGE and ‘Sink Hole’ absurdities! I would think a person of your intellectual standing would be angered by such misinformed arguments! Why do you refuse to address the LIES and MISINFORMATION being spewed by the “Uninformed and Miseducated Right?” Is it a case of “Dancing With Those Who ‘Brung Ya’?”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm

cowgirl; Not you personally…I was misled by the doggie water fountains.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

cowgirl; Ever been to the Tampa Bay area of Florida? They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

bobj72 – nice meltdown, dude. You’re losing it. Nobody cares what you rabid Obama haters think anymore, since it’s obvious that no matter WHAT Obama does you clowns are gonna complain about it anyway.
We get it: you rilly rilly rilly don’t like Obama. That’s super. Want a cookie?
Why don’t you stop whining and come up with some solutions or new ideas and maybe the rest of us will give a flying frak about what you have to say.
Losers.
LOL

Posted by: CamLok | March 10, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

Cowgirl; My grandpa was a road builder during the WPA days, at least that’s what he did when he wasn’t making shine. My parents married during the depression. My Dad milked 40 head of dairy cattle by hand every morning and every afternoon. The pay was $10/wk. plus a one room house with no electricity or running water. There was a spring run about 100 yards away in the pasture behind the house. Tough times that produced somne tough people.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

david reyes – who the hell cares what Obama gave the British PM. We’ve got much bigger things to worry about that petty tabloid nonsense like that. You don’t seem very mature to me. Grow up.

Posted by: CamLok | March 10, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

I hate the humidity on the east coast, i like to sweat doing the activities i most enjoy..I will retire to a moutain top where i will freeze to death or be eaten by a grizzly bear or both…legends of the fall

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

Bobj72; Some of the anti-Obama posters are off the charts with their posts but so are his supporters. Basically I disagree with most everything he’s done so far, and have the luxurious situation of being able to someday say I told you so because I saw him to be a hustler ever since the campaign. I don’t think his spending policies will produce anything but debt. And I don’t think making more people more dependent on the federal government will produce anything other than more dependent people. The central government needs to be the one being fed not the feeder. When I say that I don’t mean it should be fed to the point of obesity.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm

CamLok – good point. If the Republicans are going to complain about everything Obama does, then why even listen to them? Their complaints aren’t based on anything other than partisanship and spitefulness anway. It’s all just white noise at this point and they’re in the deep minority anyway.
Let them whine while the rest of us work with the President to fix the GOP’s messes.

Posted by: Truth Squad | March 10, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

See Monroe, thats the kind of stock most americans come from, its still there…back in those days the whiners were killed off by “natural selection”…prosperity has allowed them to live..they will be weeded off again, I believe we will find the American spirit buried under all this crap, the turds will sink to the bottom and the fertilizer will rise to the top.

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm

Truth – Exactly! I can’t take Republican Obama-haters’ complaints seriously because of their own track record from when they were in power. They keep whining about “fiscal responsibility” but they never actually excercised any when they were in power. And another poster pointed out that the GOP used to vigorously defend deficit spending back when it was Reagan running up the bills in the name of national defense.
I just can’t take the GOP’s “do as we say, not as we do” crap seriously anymore. Their criticisms of Obama are just so transparently partisan and not based on any real principles or political beliefs. The GOP’s track record demonstrates that Republicans have no integrity when it comes to the political principles they claim to espouse – they jettison their “first principles” the minute the come into power, and then use them as a weapon against a Democratic President when they’re in the minority.
Why should we listen to a single word these damn fools have to say about Obama?
They don’t give a damn about the good of the nation, only about the good of their party.

Posted by: CamLok | March 10, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm

It’s pretty obvious why the rightwing nut radio hosts don’t talk about higher education. These clowns have none!

Posted by: Denise | March 10, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

I personally think the Democrats should have gone “big”. Big work projects, the state here is dividing that money into little 50,000 dollar projects, which is only going to give a “temporary ” employment..The democratic congress needs to realise, the majority of republicans are just going to play the obstructionist card…This is the 2 minute drill…be a Joe Montana…lay it out there with the big pass into the end zone

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

Man Are You People that Stupid to think that any ONE Party or Congressman is REALLY Looking Out for You?? Most of You are guilt of the Same that You’re Accusing Others of: Drinking the Media Kool-Aid. This Fiasco of a Crisis is ALL PARTIES in Congress’ Fault. If You’re NOT Willing to Admit that, then You Comments are Hypocritical at Best. With ONLY a 2% Difference in Majority, and ALL of Congress Voting w/Bush 95% of the Time How Can Any of You Claim that One Party was Looking Out for the Other Better. No Wonder We’re Going Down as a Country. Go Look at Voting Records to See the TRUTH instead of listening to Media-Hype & Lies.

Posted by: MPass86 | March 10, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm

Yes, just what need. Barry directing more educational funds to go to public schools that have proven to be such a disaster, that he sends his own children to $18k per year private schools.
Also, anyone with any ties to bill ayers, as barry has had for years, certainly doesn’t belong anywhere near America’s educational system. Barry obviously endorses ayers’ horrific views on America, or the two wouldn’t have sat on several “educational” boards together or attended the same political parties.
This anti-American, socialist needs to be impeached now.

Posted by: Dave | March 10, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm

“This anti-American, socialist needs to be impeached now.”
I ask for the 10th time…on what grounds? dave, you really need some new material. The cut and paste job really makes you look insane.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm

silky
The insane comments on this post typically come from you, with your constant adoration/defense of barry obama, even as he steers this country off of a cliff. You truly must be a paid-blogger for barry’s administration.
Barry should be impeached on the grounds of purposefully wrecking the economy. He is not an idiot, he knows exactly what his actions/rhetoric are doing and will continue to do to the markets.
He hates everything about this country (which is why liberals love him so much) and he truly believes that America must adopt socialism in order to progress.
Barry’s own actions/words and voting record, along with the company he has kept throughout the years, are enough to prove to any reasonable person that he is a full-blown socialist.
I repeat, impeach him now while the DOW is still above 6000. It has been the worst post-election drop in the market in its history, and there is nothing that even paid bloggers like silky can say to change that.

Posted by: Dave | March 10, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

Posted by: Dave | March 10, 2009, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Mar 10, 2009 1:50:45 PM
You said; “Some of the anti-Obama posters are off the charts with their posts but so are his supporters. Basically I disagree with most everything he’s done so far, and have the luxurious situation of being able to someday say I told you so because I saw him to be a hustler ever since the campaign.” …..
____________________________
Let’s begin here as intelligent, mature adults. Agree, both Opponents and Proponents CAN BE “off the charts with their posts.” As RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE shouldn’t ALL OF US be willing to “Step Up” and manage ‘our own?’ “Clean Up your Own House”, before accusing me of being a “Poor Housekeeper!” I personally think this is the mindset that ENCOURAGES PARTISANSHIP!
Negate’s tend to refuse to “Call Out” other Negate’s! (That refers to “Consistently Negative People.”)
On the other hand, should a “Cheerleader” for President Obama ‘come out’ with any unsubstantiated information, I guarantee you they would be “called” on such ‘faulty information’ by other Supporters of the President.
Disagreement with Philosophy, Political Position or Policies? O.K., no problem! Even Disagreement based on just “Not Liking The Guy”, is certainly your perrogative. “No Harm, No Foul.” But when you go to the extreme of referring to The President as “A Hustler” – that clearly ‘crosses the line’ of expected protocol and civility! That’s a Technical Foul!!! And you’ve been around long enough to KNOW…… that type of language influences others (and leads them on.)
Just my opinion, for what it’s worth.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

Why can’t this guy look straight at the camera?

Posted by: LongT | March 10, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm

“Barry should be impeached on the grounds of purposefully wrecking the economy.”
Oh. Okay.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

“i could just emagine if george bush would have been so stupid truth squad would have been whinning and laffing at him but when its his guy he thinks wow what a wonderful gift obama gave cds that wont even play over there, its not the price its the thoughfulness he could have gave him a book on amercan history signed by the author he coulda probly got for free if he would have just been thoughtfull enuff to ask the offer or maybe a brick from the buildings that fell on 9-11 something with some thought this president is dumb he even uses a telepromter to answer ? from the press another thing the liberal press doent report on”
Ha!

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm

CamLok – you are so twisted about GOP.
I have not hated Obama, but I really hate what Obama has been doing followings for 50days;
-the plan to send around 1,000,000,000 Dollars to aid ABORTION THAT KILLED 43,000,000 UNBORN BABIES in USA to some countries in Africa.
-the plan to send $900,000,000 to help HAMAS TERROR GROUP IN GAZA.
-the plan to spend 5,000,000,000 for helping of KILL DECADE MILLIONS EMBRYONIC STEM & to research stem cell
with a precious money from tax payer.
-DESTROYING OF TRADITIONAL MERRIAGE LIFE
-the plan to be spendthrift $380,000,000 to buy hybrid cars for Federal employees.
-the plan to print US Dollars Bill 3.55 trillions. It’ll result that our next generations would be born with original debt, $12,000 per a baby in America. Even though it, I wish that Obama’s economic policies are going to success as soon as possible because I know so many Americans have struggled with paying bills.

Posted by: DNC must be changed. | March 10, 2009, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm

Mr. Obama IS the right man in the right place at the right time. He carries the intellectual curiosity required to look deeply into the many issues facing this country and understand them both incrementally as well as collectively and how they influence each other.
He also has more on his plate than any new President in modern history.
He IS correct in working the economic crises on multiple front concurrently, given that our economy’s elements are not mutually exclusively but mutually interdependent, varied across many spectrum’s.
That said, he also carries the responsibility to direct – redirect our country in many other areas with education reform right behind health care reform. So I agree with his vision, sequencing etc.
I would caution Mr. Obama not to get too far away from the details of this economic crises while it is still so fluid.
Dig into the management levels of the policy’s with respect to the economy’s needs. It is ONLY then we can assure the policy outlines and program requirements are/will be met.
Yes Sir, you are correct, Education desperately needs revision, just make sure we get the economy hitting on several cylinders before you pivot your resources.

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 10, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

Amen, Darryl

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm

Hi, Dave-I agree with you one thing.
Obama has be impeached before Dow Jones plunged 6000 below. I’ve worked small
stock broker office in Manhattan. Most of co-workers are so disillusioned with
Obama’s any speech or announcements no matter what it’s a glorious or big one
and poor speech. Because every single
Obama’s speech day, Dow Jones plunged,
dropped, and downed big points.

Posted by: Sharon-NY | March 10, 2009, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

i knew i was a cowboy at heart for a reason!!

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 10, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm

Darly the contractor
If barry is so smart, what were his grades in college? what is his IQ? What did his college papers consist of around the time he was “seeking out the marxist professors”, as he says in his book audacity of hope, which was titled after reverend racist speech audacity of hope.
None of the obamabots can answer any of those questions, they just know that keith olberman and chris matthews say that barry walks on water so he must be a genius!
Have you ever heard barry speak when his teleprompter malfunctions, or when he is speaking without notes in front of him?
“Well,uuuuuhhhhhh, I uuuuuuuuu believe uuuuu in uuuuu change. Yeah, uuuhhh that sounds uuuhhh right- change!”

Posted by: Dave | March 10, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm

Darryl the contractor says that barry is the perfect guy for the job right now.
It’s too bad the stock market doesn’t agree with Darryl.

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm

“Most of co-workers are so disillusioned with Obama’s any speech or announcements no matter what it’s a glorious or big one
and poor speech.”
Your coworkers are hacks. And honestly, the short-term performance of the market is of little concern for those of us looking for the long-term recovery of the economy. It’s chops like you and your friends on Wall Street that go us here.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm

Dave, Camlok & Sharon NY……. WOW!!! Someone with patience, please HELP.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm

dave, would you like Obama better if he started a war with somebody who poses no threat to us?

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm

I know how much you love wars that can’t be won.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

Would that make him patriotic enough for you?
And dave…he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School, after having be made president of the Harvard Law Reveiw. That’s, like…y’know…pretty good.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm

Bobj72; You repeatedly chastise me for my remarks as well as not calling the hands of other dissenters, but I don’t see you calling anyone’s hand if they are supportive no matter how wacky doodle their remarks may be. The overall result is balance. I really don’t like to argue, believe it or not. You just keep calling me out and I respond because I feel secure in my opinions and am not intimidated by your reguilements. You’d be amazed if you only knew how much laughter I’ve derived from some of your brow beatings. Instead of “hustler” would your interests be better served if I simply label Obama a smooth talking devil whose hand keeps finding its way into my pocket?

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm

Silky
Is it $5 bucks each blog you write blindly defending barry O?
This well-spoken racist, socialist, anti-American liberal is driving our ecomony into the ground (which are his intentions) and all you can say is that you are looking to the long term?
What do those long term blinders show you? A 10 TRILLION dollar debt to china with crippling interest payments? That to you looks positive?
Wow, if that looks like a bright future to you I guess I need to start drinking whatever you are.
To me it looks the kids have just raided the cookie jar, and it is only going to get worse.
Did you see the $145 million dollar piece of the “stimulus” bill that went to a park’s restoration that just happened to be next to pelosi’s husband’s real estate in san francisco?
Now that is change you can believe in!

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

WOW. imagine what could be accomplished if everyone focused their energy on solutions to problems.

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 10, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

“Is it $5 bucks each blog you write blindly defending barry O?”
No. But keep saying this because it makes you look very mentally stable.
“This well-spoken racist, socialist, anti-American liberal is driving our ecomony into the ground (which are his intentions) and all you can say is that you are looking to the long term?”
Um…yeah. That’s the idea. And you really do look like a foaming at the mouth mental patient when you talk like this, you realize that right?
“What do those long term blinders show you? A 10 TRILLION dollar debt to china with crippling interest payments? That to you looks positive?”
10 trillion? Crippling interest payments? This isn’t your mortgage, dave.
“Wow, if that looks like a bright future to you I guess I need to start drinking whatever you are.”
I drink Jameson and Guinness, but I believe you’re referring to…….PORRRRRRRRK-AID!!!
“To me it looks the kids have just raided the cookie jar, and it is only going to get worse.”
Right because he is simply interested in eating cookies. That’s it.
“Did you see the $145 million dollar piece of the “stimulus” bill that went to a park’s restoration that just happened to be next to pelosi’s husband’s real estate in san francisco?”
No. And I don’t care.
“Now that is change you can believe in!”
We’ll see. But I certainly would rather have him in office than Nucular Boy, Economy is Sound Boy, or Dinosaurs Walked with Jesus Girl.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm

Silky — Keep up the truth & faith.
Thank you

Posted by: fairy godmother | March 10, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm

But I certainly would rather have him in office than Nucular Boy, Economy is Sound Boy, or Dinosaurs Walked with Jesus Girl.
________________
Silky, this is hilarious.

Posted by: Nichols & Damon | March 10, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm

Bobj72; You repeatedly chastise me for my remarks as well as not calling the hands of other dissenters. ————
This sounds like Twisto-Jesus talk. sharing ideas in faux-God lingo doesn’t make the point stronger.

Posted by: Crass | March 10, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

“Obama has be impeached before Dow Jones plunged 6000 below. I’ve worked small
stock broker office in Manhattan. Most of co-workers are so disillusioned with
Obama’s any speech or announcements no matter what it’s a glorious or big one
and poor speech. Because every single
Obama’s speech day, Dow Jones plunged,
dropped, and downed big points.
”
Uh, Sharon,
for someone who works in a stockbroker’s office, I’m sorry to say, honey, you don’t talk too good.

Posted by: did you use translation software? | March 10, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

There is another $5 to you silky!
As to your question as to whether or not that would make barry patritic enough for me, the answer to that would be NO.
Liberal patriotism is an oxymoron, and we all know that michelle obama just recently became proud of her country with her husband’s victory in nov.
Once you have sat in reverend racist’s pew for 20 years, I would imagine that any feelings of patriotism would have washed away and replaced with…
“America created the AIDS virus to kill blacks”!
“America deserved 9/11″
“America is the worst terrorist nation in the world”
and who can forget “GD America!”

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

dave, you come off as very hypocritical when you talk about KOOL-AID(!) and then break out your pom-poms.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm

Did he really say America “deserved” 9/11? Or was it that we brought it on?

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm

Not that I care what Rev. Wright has to say about anything.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm

dave 4:27:19 PM ——–
This sounds like Twisto-conservo-racist-false/patriot talk.
You are SOooo the minority.
God Bless America for that.

Posted by: Crass | March 10, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

“I repeat, impeach him now while the DOW is still above 6000. It has been the worst post-election drop in the market in its history, and there is nothing that even paid bloggers like silky can say to change that. ”
This crash has been a long time coming. To blame Obama for dropping stock prices is really lame, and ridiculously partisan.
“He hates everything about this country (which is why liberals love him so much) and he truly believes that America must adopt socialism in order to progress.”
How is anyone expected to listen to you when you spout such drivel?

Posted by: Trying to keep people covered is not Socialism | March 10, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm

Wouldn’t it be great if we got $5.00 to post on blogs? It might almost be worth the aggravation of having to read Dave’s posts!

Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 10, 2009, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm

Just think about this, but,,please to be honest to yourself.
Would Obama win the election if he did not have that much money?
Even for the Inauguration Party The Dems spent the most expensive one for him. Seems money is not a problem for The Party only to most of us.

Posted by: cilla | March 10, 2009, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

$5 a post? Man, that’s a lot of Skee ball and whiskey!

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm

Trying to whatever….
America is full of fat poor people. We are the land of weight watchers and jenny craig. Do you think other countries have an obesity issue? No, they don’t.That is how much capitalism produces, my friend.
Capitalism creates the most powerful, generous, and wealthy nation the world has ever known. And to hear barry O describe America, you would think he was describing Rwanda ( I guess it must be all those years in rev racist’s church coming out in him)
Democrats need people to believe that they can’t do it themselves and that they need gov’t to care for them from the cradle to the grave. That is how democrats have obtained and maintained power.
They have shoved welfare checks down the black community’s throat for years, with crippling effects.
Before the whole 60′s counter-culture, free your mind, let your pants hang down, liberal drug use, crap of the 60′s, black’s standard of living was on the rise in nearly every category relative to whites(marriage, education, crime, literacy).
Now those days are long gone, and the democrats have just ensured that the entitlement mentality that welfare produces will only multiply with the election of the welfare king- barry O.
Great going liberals, peace out!

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm

Do you idiots know about this omnibus bill…..it was in Congress before President Obama’s took office. He should have vetoed it since it was BushieBoys. Why you think so many Republicans has Pork in it? Obama has yet to submit his budget. Some of you are so dumb, that you’re looking for anything to fight the Last election. Republicans are DONE, DONE and DONE for years. After all Look what they have done to this Country. There’s only a few idiots left in the country. A few.

Posted by: sngeorgia | March 10, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm

Have you noticed the new Code Word. It’s not muslim anymore….It’s Socialism. Oh how sad that socialism is thrown around by those that don’t know meaning. oh, Uncle Boehner, and Aunt Ann told me so.

Posted by: sngeorgia | March 10, 2009, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm

Democracy and capitalism are crap shoots. They don’t always work, dave. We’ve been lucky.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm

“Do you think other countries have an obesity issue? No, they don’t.That is how much capitalism produces, my friend.”
Horrible example and bad read on the reality there. Americans are fat, not because of how successful we are, it’s because of poor eating and drinking habits. You don’t have to eat and drink a lot to get fat in a hurry. Just the wrong things. Soda and fast food are the culprits. Other countries have those things, but they have a higher percentage of people who pay attention to what they eat and drink.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm

Hey Dave,
You know, I actually kinda like Reverand Wright. He certainly isn’t as crazy as those rightwingers who claimed the Katrina storm was shaped like an aborted fetus.
“America created the AIDS virus to kill blacks”! You do know that Blacks, in fact, were deliberatley left untreated for syphillis as a part of a government study on the disease? That is a fact. Can you blame the Reverand for being suspicious of how AIDs was allowed to spread in the 80′s?
“America deserved 9/11″ Not familiar with this one, but no doubt he is revering to the fact we supported the Shah of Iran, when he was torturing his opponents, and Saddam Hussein, when he was killing his citizens with chemicals we sold him when we though we were friends.
“America is the worst terrorist nation in the world” You might say this too if your people were hung from trees, were burned and mutilated, all under the eye of the local sheriff’s department.
and who can forget “GD America!” As opposed to mindlessly saying “God Bless America” while ignoring the fact our country dropped atomic bombs on civilian populations in WWII, killed civilians in Vietnam and massacred Native Americans. I think being a truly patriotic American means owning up to the mistakes we have made. But then, I have a healthly enough ego to do that, maybe you can’t stand the idea of belonging to a country that isn’t perfect.

Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 10, 2009, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm

sngeorgia
Do you even know what socialism is? It is gov’t controlled enterprise….
“I think it was a tragedy that the courts didn’t get involved in wealth redistibution”–BO in a Chicago radio interview by 2001.
“I just wanna spread it around a bit”
–BO to Joe el plumber
“In college i sought out the marxist professors”–BO in audacity of hope
“this is the first time i have been proud of my country”–michelle O
Take all of these ridiculous comments, and add in barry’s incredibly close association with reverend racist (a man who hates America and capitalism), along with BO’s coming out party at bill ayers’ house (a man who set bombs off in an effort to kill capitalism), and one can assume pretty easily that barry is a socialist.
As I have said before, the stock market obviously can realize socialism, and its terrible effect on the markets, far better then the obamabots can. WORST POST ELECTION DROP IN THE DOW IN ITS HISTORY. IT REALLY IS CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN.ha ha

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

Dave,
you’re nuts.

Posted by: Amy in Maine | March 10, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

“I think being a truly patriotic American means owning up to the mistakes we have made.”
Bingo. And having a good Skeeball handicap.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm

Amy in maine
I love this part of any debate. Your last post is very typical. Liberals are anti-American socialists who would all feel right at home in reverend racist’s pews.
If barry would have just been honest with America and said “hey, rev wright is right on most of what he says” he never would have been elected.
Instead, he said “that uuhhh is not uuuuuhh the uuh person I uuuhhh knew”.
Yeah right barry.

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm

dave, you, my friend, are the Kool-Aid king. It’s official. Do you put lipstick on when you get into your cheerleader uniform? Pigtails? Saddle shoes? PORRRRRRRRRK BUNS!!!

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm

Posted by: Amy in Maine | Mar 10, 2009 5:06:09 PM
Now “Amy in Maine” those are NOT “Jabs” but “Punches Straight-In-The-Face” of Poor Dave.
Everyone’s “Hat should be off to you”, for your knowledge of History, and the Courage to openly “speak Truth to the Ill-Informed.” “Here, Here!!!”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

Amy in Maine
It is people like you that have been destroying this country for years.
Is America perfect? Absolutely not
Is it the best country on earth, and in the history of mankind? yes
Why don’t liberals just leave the USA, instead of trying to make us the United States of France?

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm

I see that bobj72, aka the quotation mark crusader is back. “”"”",.”,”"”!!!!
And Amy, liberals like you are the reason millions of south vietnamese were murdered at the hands of the communist north, after America left vietnam prematurely. Tell me, were you one of those mindless hippies chanting “make love not war” on the sidelines, which ultimately led to the deaths of millions and a terrible military defeat for America?

Posted by: dave | March 10, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm

“Is America perfect? Absolutely not”
WHY DO YOU HATE YOUR FREEDOM, DAVE!?!?!?!?!?

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

“Is it the best country on earth, and in the history of mankind? yes”
I dunno…Ancient Rome sounds pretty badass.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm

Granted…no Skeeball.

Posted by: silky | March 10, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm

Dave …by definition you are a stone cold moron..protesters were protesting the deaths of millions..you imbecile tard..don’t speak of what you don’t know first hand..another brain dead republican, thank god we are out of the cave the bush admin put us in for the last 8 years and bsack to the age of enlightenment, civilization, and progress..and science is considered something other than “witch craft”

Posted by: cowgirl | March 10, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm

Why don’t liberals just leave the USA, instead of trying to make us the United States of France?
_____________________
Dave,
France gave the U.S. the Statue of Liberty.

Posted by: emanuelle | March 10, 2009, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm

Obesity and Diabetes is a world epidemic, Dave. Oddly enough, a challenge in Indonesia and Asia as well.
Dave,
I’ve deducted that you are misinformed, and generally make assumptions about items in which you have limited knowledge.

Posted by: Masters in Public Health | March 10, 2009, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm

Dear Dave,
If you do not like President Obama because he is a highly intelligent, capable, dignified and well-accomplished gentleman, then just say it.
All this gobbly-gook about pork, hippies and armageddon is just plain crazy…and skirting the real, deep issue, Dave.

Posted by: Kant | March 10, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm

Posted by: dave | Mar 10, 2009 5:21:51 PM
Now this is the kind of thing that get’s right to the ‘Bottom Line!’
___________________________
This guy dave says; “Amy in Maine
It is people like you that have been destroying this country for years.” …
_____________________
If that doesn’t ‘beat all hell’ and demonstrate a Total Ignorance and disregard of the Facts. Being Totally Clueless, he proceeds to CREATE his OWN Story (generally referred to as ‘His-Story’) and what he offers, “In Fact” is baseless opinion, lacking any logical, reasonable or relevant Historical truth!
What is Really Shameful and frightening I might add, is He probably believes virtually everything he’s saying!!!

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm

Hi guys! I see you’ve been playing pretty. Can I get a word in? Seriously speaking, I just heard a rumor that AIG manages the federal government’s retirement funds. Anyone know anything about that possibility? Fess up. I will research it. Wanted to give my internet buddies first shot at discussion. If true it would certainly explain the sense of urgency by congress for rescuing AIG.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm

Monroe, ‘Help Me!’ You Conservatives are by-and-large Free Market advocates. And the only description I can associate with that is; Folks who hold to the position that “The Markets”, determine their own destiny, without any outside intervention or influence? And while my understanding of this facet of the Economy, is quite basic, allowing the Markets to ‘work on their own’ with virtually “wink-and-nod” oversight by the SEC – we now see what the end result was, there on Wall Street!
Now we hear this political manuvering of Senators McCain and Shelby, “hollering at the top of their lungs” Let them all fail! (Citi and the other Big Banks. Maybe even B of A.) They say; we allowed the smaller banks to fail, why not do the same to the bigger banks? ARE THEY INSANE? Speaking to those 2 Banking institutions, you could easily be ‘toying with’ 25% to 35% of ALL the deposit money in the U.S.!!! Again I seriously ask you to “Help me” with understanding this.
As to The AIG Group, it’s one of the largest facilities of its’ type. Putting aside the U.S. Government Pension Fund, I can assure you it NOT carried by AIG alone, I forget the term (it’s akin to “Shared Risk”) just suffice it to say, that level of insurance is “shared by many of the Major Players, internationally.” Rest assurred Lloyd’s has a reasonable share of that risk. As to your question re: AIG, I would venture to say AIG is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. Let them fail? (Incidentallly, they’re solvent and they won’t fail.)
But where would we be if we just Shut Down All the Banks and All the Insurance companies? We would surely be well on our way to becoming a 3rd World Country.
All this braying by the NeoCons, to me is senseless.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 10, 2009, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm

Bobj; According to my understanding a free market system monitors itself in that the well managed and useful businesses will prosper and the businesses with poor management practices or limited purpose will fail. Competition in business is good. Keeps the players on their toes and gives the consumer comparative options. Change is the one constant in business. Failure to innovate is the beginning of the end for most any business large or small. So change is good but always risky. That’s why CEO’s of big corporations make the big money. They anticipate the markets and see the big picture of which direction to go with change. The ability to change is reliant on flexibility. When one of the traditional giants within an industry fails, the competitors absorb the assets, the liabilities and the clientele of the failed business. Investors in the failed business lose money typically but investors in the companies with new opportunity generally see growth in the value of their investments up to a point. Every business has a break point at which growth becomes unmanageable and costly enough that the percentage of profitability of the company starts to decline. Therefore there’s no such thing as too big to fail. Too big guarantees failure. That’s why many feel the BIG 3 should be allowed to bankrupt and split into smaller manufacturing businesses that are more manageable. Although labor unions served a good purpose at the time they emerged, they are dinosaurs that suck the life out of companies today. GM by contract must manufacture expensive gas guzzling SUV’s for five years by labor union contract. How crazy is that? GM lacks the flexibility to adapt to changing markets because of union contracts. The market is the world and we must compete with worldwide labor markets because free trade agreements are here to stay. The days of the U.S. being the dominant manufacturer of the world are over. Bankruptcy would allow the BIG 3 to renegotiate wages and benefits and union contracts or to eliminate unions all together. Even with the money that’s been pumped into AIG, the nation’s largest insuror, speculation is that AIG will be split into several smaller companies under government oversight, since we own 85% of that giant. By the way did you hear that CitiCorp announced earnings of $8 billion during the fourth quarter of ’08? That announcement is what triggered today’s resurgence of the stock market. I wonder how much of those “profits” were bailout money. Makes me wonder why they received bailout money at all. False intelligence reports? Insurance companies are backed by the FDIC as are banks. If/when one fails the deposits/ policies of those institutions can be/will be assigned to some solvent bank or insuror by the FDIC. The policy holders and depositors don’t lose anything. Only investors stand to lose money and employees lose jobs. So what if a bank fails. Freedom banks in Georgia failed within the last two days. The government padlocked them. Depositors couldn’t get their money out, but the deposits are backed by the FDIC so no foul. The depositors money will be available from some other bank within a couple of days. Let the bad ones fail so the good ones can prosper is perfectly logical reasoning. No bailout required.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 10, 2009, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm

Thanks! Got an early morning meeting – will be back to you on this. (Much of what you’ve shared, when put into context, I was aware of.) I’d like to pursue the B of A matter as a case-in-point. (Bail Out $, acquired Cross Country & Merrill Lynch, sounds to me like the flip-side of a BK?)

Posted by: bobj72 | March 11, 2009, 8:28 am 8:28 am

Stimulus Road projects, aka Barrys twist on 16tons and what do you get ..another day older and deeper in debt. What are the odds the next program will be an Eagles song?

Posted by: liberaltiger | March 11, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am

The Eagles suck.

Posted by: silky | March 11, 2009, 9:06 am 9:06 am

I believe very much in our new president and his administration, he, they have more (huge)issues,problems, conditions etc. to manage than any other new Presidency/Administration has had to deal with in modern history. Not only is the scope larger than the per verbal 800 pound gorilla, independently any one of these “problems” could derail our country for years, accumulate a few together & we could be sitting in the middle of the Great Depression II.
Given that the shear size and nature of these problems tend to feed each other and are self effacing to the point that they evolve at an exponential speed, our new administration is up to managing these tasks, and the administration is correct in addressing multipul fronts concurrently, because of the aforementioned evoloution and spped these issues are moving.
That said, I also believe that our new president is missing an opportunity with singing the operating budget just forwarded by Congress. There ARE earmarks within this budget that should be “returned to sender” postage due. Granted, one mans “pork” is another mans “stimulus” these “earmarks” by and large do not pass the smell test with respect to carrying any multiplier effect within the economy.
Also granted, most of this budget IS for true operational requirements that pay for the day to day operations of our government, even 8000 “earmarks” combined that will represent 2%-4% of the total spending is a large number.
And really more to the point, this is a great opportunity for Mr. Obama to walk the talk, support your campaign promise of reviewing this budget line by line, eliminate programs that do not function, reset spending to fully support those that do and eliminate the “earmarks” that do not pass the same level of scrutiny the “Stimulus Bill – Recovery Act” underwent.
We”eve got your back Mr. President, please take a little time with this budget, singe an emergency spending stop gap to keep the government functioning, return the budget to Congress with the directive to scrub it, reinstate the line item veto via Executive order and you will walk the talk with increasing your political capitol exponentially while doing what our country desperately needs.

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 11, 2009, 11:24 am 11:24 am

I believe very much in our new president and his administration, he, they have more (huge)issues,problems, conditions etc. to manage than any other new Presidency/Administration has had to deal with in modern history. Not only is the scope larger than the perverbal 800 pound gorilla, independently any one of these “problems” could derail our country for years, accumulate a few together & we could be sitting in the middle of the Great Depression II.
Given that the shear size and nature of these problems tend to feed each other and are self effacing to the point that they evolve at an exponential speed, our new administration is up to managing these tasks, and the administration is correct in addressing multiple fronts concurrently, because of the aforementioned evolution and speed these issues are moving.
That said, I also believe that our new president is missing an opportunity with singing the operating budget just forwarded by Congress. There ARE earmarks within this budget that should be “returned to sender” postage due. Granted, one mans “pork” is another mans “stimulus” these “earmarks” by and large do not pass the smell test with respect to carrying any multiplier effect within the economy.
Also granted, most of this budget IS for true operational requirements that pay for the day to day operations of our government, even 8000 “earmarks” combined that will represent 2%-4% of the total spending is a large number.
And really more to the point, this is a great opportunity for Mr. Obama to walk the talk, support your campaign promise of reviewing this budget line by line, eliminate programs that do not function, reset spending to fully support those that do and eliminate the “earmarks” that do not pass the same level of scrutiny the “Stimulus Bill – Recovery Act” underwent.
We”eve got your back Mr. President, please take a little time with this budget, singe an emergency spending stop gap to keep the government functioning, return the budget to Congress with the directive to scrub it, reinstate the line item veto via Executive order and you will walk the talk with increasing your political capitol exponentially while doing what our country desperately needs.

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 11, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am

Sorry about the repetition, posted on one page & landed on another……….

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 11, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am

Bobj; What’s a BK? I failed to mention that credit default swaps played heavily into the decision to bail out AIG. They were thought up and sold worldwide by AIG. They were unregulated and not FDIC insured. When Bear Stearns was going belly up AIG stood to be in position to bring down the whole world’s financial system because of the credit default swaps they’d sold coming due and payable. There were lots of foreign allies invested in AIG. Their being the management company for the retirement funds of US senators and Representatives surely got the undivided attention of Washington decision makers. I’ve never seen anything like the panic that arose in Washington, not even 9/11. As long as it’s our money disappearing a committee needs to be appointed to investigate, but when it’s their money disappearing it’s a must act now crisis.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 11, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm

Monroe, BK is an industry acronym for Bankruptcy. Re: Credit Default Swaps, if memory serves me well, AIG had responsibility for multi-multi Trillions of Dollars of those “Non-Backed Booger’s.” And assuming that as true, do we need to go further, as to Why it’s Prudent to Bail-Out AIG?

Posted by: bobj72 | March 11, 2009, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Bobj72; As I understand things AIG is now being required to accumulate and hold a 10% reserve fund to back their CDF’s just as insurance companies are required to back their policies with at least 10% of the face value of the policies in liquid assets. That would explain where the bailout money went and why. As early as Sept. of last year when Bear Stearns was starting the house of cards collapse, the problem of CDF’s being the biggest culprit in the mix had been identified. They had been tracked back to the company that introduced them and even to the employee whose idea was put into use. He was a physicist prior to going to work there. That math wizard came up with a new investment instrument that slipped through the cracks of regulation. I wonder how he feels about now having caused a worldwide financial crisis. Can’t remember which company he worked for. Help me on that point. As I recall the speculation was that there were over $60 trillion worth of CDF’s that had been issued. Don’t know how much of that was AIG paper but it will logically take upward of $6 trillion to cover those bets. Somehow I don’t think we’re through with bailouts with foreclosures still running rampant.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | March 11, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm

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