The Note, 4/24/2009: 100-Day Stare — Inside analytical window, a storyline that will outlast retrospectives
Email By RICK KLEIN How many of the first 100 days can get consumed by talking about the first 100 days? (Wake us when it’s over.) Does what happens in the last 10 days of the first 100 affect how they’re all remembered? (Or will the impact be greater on the 100 after that?) When the glow from the first 100 days has faded — when the puppy’s just a “crazy” puppy again, and we resume our regularly scheduled, recession-tinged lives — what will the Obama White House still be dealing with? We’re well into a period of reflection and analysis on the 100-day front — though we’re not anywhere near that point on the torture memos and interrogation techniques. (Since the 100-day mark is arbitrary and silly and a journalistic conceit, thank you, Mr. President, for having a prime-time news conference that night.) We are now far enough into memo madness to know this story isn’t fading quietly. And that still means looking back in a period where President Obama would like to look forward. “Is Mr. Obama putting a new style and approach on the age? Yes. On the occasion of the hundred days one can say: So far, so good,” Peggy Noonan writes in The Wall Street Journal. “But now a hard issue has arisen, and it may well have bad foreign-policy implications,” she continues. “A problem with the release of the documents is that it opens the way — it probably forces the way — to congressional hearings, or a commission, or an independent prosecutor. It is hard at this point to imagine that what will follow will not prove destructive to — old-fashioned phrase coming — the good of the country.” For your short-term . . . Another poll dictates one end of the storyline. 56 percent say he’s doing an “excellent” or “good” job in this one. “President Obama’s opening months in the Oval Office have fortified his standing with the American public, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, giving him political capital for battles ahead,” per USA Today. David Axelrod interprets the results: “He is seen as someone who was handed a large array of challenges and is dealing with them in a sensible way.” Pew numbers back him up: “Despite ongoing economic problems and political fighting in Washington, nearly two-thirds of Americans approve of President Obama’s performance as he approaches his 100th day in the White House,” the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Silva writes. “Sixty percent of people surveyed by the Washington-based Pew Research Center said they approved of his handling of the economy, though most respondents said that his economic policies had not had an effect so far or that it was too soon to tell their effect. On foreign policy, 61% approved of his approach.” Politico goes with a magazine to mark the occasion five days early: “If Washington in the age of Obama is not a city transformed, it is nevertheless one whose mood and feel, whose affect and atmosphere, are strikingly different from those of the eight years of the Bush administration that preceded them — and, for that matter, from those of the previous 200 years,” Todd S. Purdum writes. “The concept of a second coming of Camelot has already become a cliché, but it is true that Washington has not experienced such a collective change of attitude since that young PT-boat skipper named John F. Kennedy replaced the supreme allied commander of World War II, not quite seven months before Barack Obama was born,” Purdum writes. The powerhouse trio weighs in: “The reality is that the 100 Days yardstick, even if arbitrary, works rather well for this president,” Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei, and John F. Harris write. “Because of the plunge in the economy, Obama was confronted in his opening weeks with as many consequential domestic decisions in three months as some presidents face in four years. Because of his party’s big congressional victories, he has more power to assert his will in a short amount of time than many presidents ever get. And because of the epic reach of his own ambition, he has revealed more about his own leadership style and values sooner than might be expected from a typical president in typical times.” The brand: “He is like Nike: Kids still love him; foreigners still love him. Obama remains a powerful brand that commands constant media coverage, much of it fawning, and that moves markets.” But this will still be here when the FDR images are no longer airing: “The Obama administration agreed late Thursday to release dozens of photographs depicting alleged abuses at U.S. prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Bush White House. The decision will make public for the first time photos obtained in military investigations at facilities other than the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq,” the Los Angeles Times’ Peter Wallsten, Julian E. Barnes and Greg Miller report. “The president has tried to walk a fine rhetorical line, heeding liberals’ calls to release the interrogation memos but appearing to argue against further investigation or prosecution by saying ‘this is a time for reflection, not retribution.’ Instead, he managed to anger both constituencies.” Is this clear now? ‘The Obama administration struggled to quell persistent Democratic demands for a potentially explosive probe of harsh Bush administration detainee interrogations Thursday, abruptly declaring opposition to an independent commission,” per the AP’s David Espo. “Any public investigation would present Republicans and Democrats alike with the possibility that events could take years to sort out, pose complicated legal and constitutional issues and potentially spiral out of their control.” At least that takes care of . . . nevermind: “Although a full-scale independent inquiry now appears unlikely anytime soon, the Bush administration’s use of waterboarding and other techniques that critics say crossed the line into torture could still be examined by a variety of Congressional panels in addition to the Senate Intelligence Committee,” The New York Times’ David M. Herszenhorn and Carl Hulse report. “The snowball effect is inevitable and no matter how many people — current and former administration officials, members of congress, and members of the military and various intelligence agencies — have a vested interest in letting this story go away, it just won’t die,” Madison Powers writes in a CQ column. Coverage with a corrosive effect: “The Obama White House wilted further Thursday in the flap over torturing terrorists, conceding that getting rough may have mined good intelligence,” James Gordon Meek writes in the New York Daily News. If this was all a response to Cheney — maybe those Cheney-is-bad-for-the-GOP voices got it wrong: “A source familiar with White House views said Obama’s advisers are further convinced that letting the public know exactly what the past administration sanctioned will undermine what they see as former vice president Richard B. Cheney’s effort to ‘box Obama in’ by claiming that the executive order heightened the risk of a terrorist attack,” The Washington Post’s Jeffrey Smith, Michael Shear and Walter Pincus report. Nothing has sated the left. Speaking of powerhouse trios . . . Paul Krugman, in The New York Times: “The only way we can regain our moral compass, not just for the sake of our position in the world, but for the sake of our own national conscience, is to investigate how that happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible.” Arianna Huffington, at Huffington Post: “This is a defining moment for America. The way we respond — or fail to respond — to the revelations about the Bush administration’s use of torture will delineate — for ourselves and for the world — the kind of country we are. It is a test of our courage and our convictions. A test of whether we are indeed a nation of laws — or a nation that pays lip service to the notion of being a nation of laws.” Eugene Robinson, in The Washington Post: “The many roads of inquiry into the Bush administration’s abusive ‘interrogation techniques’ all lead to one stubborn, inconvenient fact: Torture is not just immoral but also illegal. This means that once we learn the whole truth, the law will oblige us to act on it.” Plenty of headaches await. Stress-test stress: “After a two-month wait, the nation’s 19 largest banks will start learning on Friday how they fared in important federal examinations — and which among them will need another bailout from the government or private investors,” Eric Dash reports for The New York Times. Next up on cars: “Chrysler LLC is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as next week, whether or not it reaches a deal with its lenders or forges an alliance with Fiat SpA, said several people familiar with the matter,” The Wall Street Journal’s Jeffrey McCracken, John D. Stoll, and Stacy Meichtry report. “If an agreement with the car maker’s lenders can be reached, Chrysler would file for bankruptcy protection to rid itself of some liabilities. That would let Fiat pick and choose which operations it wants, these people said. The U.S. government would provide bankruptcy financing while the reorganization plays out.” On the stimulus — tracking the money: “The GAO study asserts that officials from most of the states surveyed ‘expressed concerns regarding the lack of Recovery Act funding provided for accountability and oversight. Due to fiscal constraints, many states reported significant declines in the number of oversight staff — limiting their ability to ensure proper implementation and management of Recovery Act funds,’ ” ABC’s Jake Tapper and Matthew Jaffe report. “President Obama’s stimulus bill was supposed to spend money to create jobs, but four of the top 10 recipients of per capita grant aid to date have the lowest unemployment rates in the country and nearly all are below the national average,” Stephen Dinan writes in the Washington Times. The search for the poster-child project is over: “You’ve heard of the Bridge to Nowhere. You might call this the Airport for Nobody,” ABC’s Jonathan Karl reports. “Most of the time, the only thing the airport doesn’t have is airplanes. An average of just 20 people a day flew out of the Murtha Airport last year. But, the airport was just awarded more federal money — $800,000 in stimulus funds to repave an alternate runway.” “Located in Johnston, Pa., 56 miles from Pittsburgh, the Murtha Airport is a monument to the power of Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who has steered some $150 million in taxpayer dollars to the airport over the last decade,” Karl reports. “The federal government provides a subsidy for every flight into the Murtha Airport of about $100 dollars per passenger, but even with the subsidy, there are plenty of empty seats.” Wrapping up the noise: “Partisan tensions are escalating over President Obama’s plans to revamp the nation’s healthcare system and push through other policies, just as Congress is taking up the heart of his first-term agenda,” Peter Nicholas writes in the Los Angeles Times. “In the latest sign of the combative environment, Democratic and progressive groups announced Thursday that they were launching an Internet and television campaign to promote Obama’s goals and — in some cases — to paint Republicans as obstructionist.” Tom Daschle says he’s still involved: “We talk with some frequency,” he told ABC’s Dr. Timothy Johnston, on “Good Morning America” Friday. “To a large extent, I’m still able to talk with my former colleagues, as well as those with whom I would have worked at the department. So — still quite engaged.” Daschle added that there’s a “good deal and support and validity” to the argument that healthcare reform has to happen this year, politically. Concerns growing on Afghanistan and Pakistan: “I have absolutely no confidence in the ability of the existing Pakistani government to do one blessed thing,” said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., per ABC’s Kirit Radia. “Today the escalating terrorist violence in Pakistan and that government’s inability and unwillingness to confront the extremist threat undermine any progress we have made in Afghanistan and complicates future efforts there,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. Coming Friday, from UN Ambassador Susan Rice: “President Barack Obama is committed to making the United States a global leader in ending the nearly 1 million deaths annually from malaria by 2015, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says,” per the AP’s Edith M. Lederer. “The goal is shared by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the African Union, according to excerpts from Susan Rice’s prepared speech to a malaria summit on Friday made available to The Associated Press. ‘Malaria, simply put, is something we can end. And today I am here to say that malaria is a scourge we can end,’ she said.” President Obama’s Friday, per the AP: “The White House says the president will meet Friday with a family struggling to afford the cost of college. Obama is proposing to cut wasteful spending from the federal student loan program by ending taxpayer subsidies to banks.” “The president also faces a dilemma as he’s expected to issue a proclamation on the 94th anniversary of the start of what most scholars regard as the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.” For your annals of rebuilding: “It’s very unprecedented for someone like Karl Rove or Dick Cheney to be criticizing the president,” Meghan McCain said while guest hosting “The View” Thursday. “My big criticism is just, you had your eight years, go away.” Steve Schmidt, very much unplugged. Some choice Schmidt quotes from a post-election forum, featuring Schmidt and David Plouffe, at the University of Delaware, per The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank: “When Lehman Brothers collapsed in the fall, I knew pretty much straight away the campaign was finished.” “I was waiting for his bus to crash into a CDC truck carrying bubonic plague to release over Cincinnati and Ohio. It was just one thing after another, you know, and never to our benefit.” And the one you’ll see in a DNC release soon: “As a political proposition, his first 100 days have been successful,” Schmidt said. Movement in Missouri: “A source close to Sarah Steelman told the Political Fix today that the former state treasurer has enlisted Washington, D.C., lawyer Ben Ginsberg to form an exploratory committee for a run for U.S. Senate,” per the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Tony Messenger.
Coming Sunday: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos, on ABC’s “This Week.” The Kicker: “Oh, he is a crazy dog. . . . You know, he loves to chew on people’s feet.” — First Lady Michelle Obama, on Bo Obama. “Those people are cats.” — Obama senior adviser David Axelrod, on the 1 percent of USA Today/Gallup Poll respondents who called the president’s decision to get a dog his worst decision in office. Don’t miss “Top Line,” ABCNews.com’s daily political Webcast, hosted by Rick Klein and David Chalian, at noon ET. Friday’s guests: Former DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney, former RNC spokesman Alex Conant, and Christina Bellantoni of the Washington Times. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/
Santorum Clarifies Concerns on Women in Combat 
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Did you guys know that this is the first dog he’s ever owned in his entire life. Aside from his financial ineptitude, I don’t trust him just for this: It’s not normal. He had about 30 years before his daughter (who is allergic) was born to get one…never did.
Posted by: ... | April 24, 2009, 9:10 am 9:10 am
Why in God’s name would it matter whether or not he has a dog, had a dog, has a dog but didn’t have a dog, thought about a dog but didn’t get a dog, or promised a dog for years but finally decided that the idea of a first dog is good for everybody. Seriously…WGAF?
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
I had to laugh at the The Note’s implying the torture issue reflects on Obama, as if he were the one who so grossly mishandled setting the legal and practical precedents for how prisoners are handled. Obama is being blamed for releasing the memos, which is, basically, just telling the truth about what we did. Like telling the truth is unAmerican now. The Bush administration bungled this one, what’s new, and now Obama is trying to carefully move us forward under fire from Cheney and FOX News. Oy!
Posted by: Amy in Maine | April 24, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
……….I don’t trust him just for this: It’s not normal. He had about 30 years before his daughter (who is allergic) was born to get one…never did.
Posted by: … | Apr 24, 2009 9:10:37 AM
———————————–
I truly believe you don’t have any name at all….you’re too dumb to have ever existed.
Posted by: D. | April 24, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
….
Aside from the fact that Barry spent his sundays for the past 20 years listening to a crazy man blame the USA for creating the AIDS virus and everything else wrong with the world, I would say Barry is just your typical American.
Oh, and the fact that he used to hang out and watch the superbowls at the unrepentent terrorist bill ayers’ house, doesn’t completely paint Barry as your average American either.
And don’t forget, the man had never bowled either until a year ago. That to me is also weird.
Posted by: Dave | April 24, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
I’m a Democrat and could care less for whether or not the insurgents were tortured. In my opinion, they are lucky to be alive.
Posted by: JOE | April 24, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am
This is a media-created storyline. Americans don;t care how long Obama has been in office. They like what they see, and they’re willing to be patient for a full economic fix.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 24, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am
President Obama has Come to the Realize the majority of the Country has turned to the LEFT people are fed up with the Republicans and the sooner the Republicans realize it Maybe Just Maybe people will begin to listen to them again until then they will remain DEAD!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am
DAVE
Is Sean Hannity (Insanity) your best friend?
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Dave, do you leap out of bed every morning yelling about Reverand Wright? Why don’t you listen to his other 200 sermons, it might do you some good.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | April 24, 2009, 9:44 am 9:44 am
The releasing of the memos may air our dirty laundry for the rest of the world but, it will hold those responsible to the law. After all this country still does run by the law, right?
What we have seen come out of Washington over the last 15 years boggles the mind on lawlessness. It is way past time for accountability for all politicians. President Obama’s administration will be no exception and as it should be. If crimes were committed during the Bush years, then they need to be prosecuted for such.
This is just the beginning I hope, for I as well as many others, want to see prosecution for the economic mess that also has been created by malfeasant politicians on both sides.
Posted by: vnvet69 | April 24, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
“Did you guys know that this is the first dog he’s ever owned in his entire life. Aside from his financial ineptitude, I don’t trust him just for this: It’s not normal.”
___________________
being paranoid & suspicious of a benign detail isn’t NORMAL.
Good [dirty] political seed to plant in the minds of gullible people. You must be a graduate of the atwater-rove school of [dirty] business.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am
And don’t forget, the man had never bowled either until a year ago. That to me is also weird.
Posted by: Dave | Apr 24, 2009 9:19:19 AM
________________
This is too amusing to be astonishing, Dave.
I thank Jesus for you.
Posted by: The Big Lebowski | April 24, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am
“Dave, do you leap out of bed every morning yelling about Reverand Wright? Why don’t you listen to his other 200 sermons, it might do you some good.”
Dave is actually not a person, it is spam created by a programmer for moveon.org. Dave is good for motivating moderates and the left and for painting conservatives as moonbats.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
8 year olds, Dude.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
AMY IN MAINE
Dave is Probably Glued to Sean Hannity every Night he does repeat alot of his Talking points! Especially Rev Wright hannity doesnt go a day without talking about him
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
“Especially Rev Wright hannity doesnt go a day without talking about him”
Tell me you’re kidding.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Amy in maine
Rev racist was and is your typical swindling preacher. The sermons I have heard (probably 10 or so) all have the same theme-America is evil.
Rev racist preyed on the fears of those around him and used those fears to sucker his congregation into giving him $$$. In the end, he walked away with a 10,000 sq ft $2 million dollar mansion on a golf course surrounded by evil white folks.
Barry also used rev racist to get ahead. Both men are equally pathetic.
Posted by: Dave | April 24, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Actually, now that I think about it, if you’re a Republican talking head and have no conscience about honesty, truth, getting to the heart of things, and just plain getting your way, it’s a brilliant strategy. That’s like steroids for the utterly gullible “patriot” types.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
“In the end, he walked away with a 10,000 sq ft $2 million dollar mansion on a golf course surrounded by evil white folks.”
There’s a good chance many of those white folks *are* evil. Oh, wait…they’re AMERICANS, they can’t be evil! Unless they’re LIBS, of course. AMERICA…F YEAH!
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Well Dave half of the Country Doesnt think President Obama is Pathetic but they Think Bush is lol hahaha
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
I am a Democrat who approves of Obama’s economic agenda and foreign policy initiative.
That said, Stop with the disclosure of these torture memos and the like. The leftest portion of the left wing needs to shut up with their incessant idiotic retribution, Salem-witch trial like noise about getting what they want with prosecutions. This is a matter of putting country unity over their agenda. The nation is not ready for that at this point, and they ought to stop with their demoralizing calls.
People are actually doing work — the troops, the CIA officials, the FBI — while a lot of these idiots on either fringe side are just typing away on their computers making noise. Stop.
Let the president concentrate on his agenda. Stop with the releases. It’s ridiculous that he is so susceptible to political damage on this point when it is something that is not his problem — it’s the Bush administration’s problem but the Obama administration is somehow bearing the political cost of it. Ridiculous.
Concentrate on the agenda. Enough with disclosures. Ignore the idiotic leftest portion of the left wing.
Posted by: Em | April 24, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
NYT: Republicans on several fronts are using the benchmark of the president’s first 100 days (April 29), to criticize the Democratic leadership in Congress and to raise money. For the first time in several years, more Americans say our country is on the right track than say wrong track, obviously because of the success of the man who won a resounding victory in November.
Republican opposition is based on a search for a theme, for a catch phrase, that will return them to power, not on policy that Americans need and want.
The D.N.C has created a microsite on the Web to celebrate what it’s calling the “100 Days of No.” What began as a Web video is now a full site, chronicling the unified Republican opposition in Congress to such things as President Obama’s budget, the $787 billion stimulus package and other measures, like the expansion of children’s health insurance.
In repeats of previous videos, the D.N.C. continues to seize on the voices of Republican leaders like Representative John Boehner, the House minority leader, saying “no.”
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Angie in Pa
Let’s see here… A vast majority of cubans LOVED their little media darling too in the 1950′s, who also promised change! change! That worked out well for them, didn’t it?
Germany and the USSR also loved their young, charismatic speakers spouting about change! change! as well. Both those stories had happy ending too, didn’t they?
Now, the media has propelled yet another socialist with an excellent speaking ability to the presidency and the masses blindly followed.
Posted by: Dave | April 24, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
For the best on politics, sports and more, go to http://WWW.THESTR8DOPE.COM
Arbitrary, indeed. The “first 100 days” is about as meaningful a benchmark as a the NFL’s pre-season results. I am an Obama supporter and voted for him. I have so far been pleased for the most part with his decisions, many of them tough. But the truth is we won’t know a thing about how Obama has done for years. If in 2011 we are completely out of Iraq, it is relatively stable, we have stableized the Afghan-Pakistani region, have not been attacked, have prevented Iran from getting nukes, have relatively good relationships with our allies, have neutralized other potential foes, have successfully began implementing a new energy policy, have stableized the economy, and much more, then he will get high marks. But let’s see where we are at then.
Posted by: Ryan | April 24, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
“Well Dave half of the Country Doesnt think President Obama is Pathetic but they Think Bush is lol hahaha”
Actually, it’s more like two-thirds and three-quarters, respectively.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Obama has screwed up this country more in 100 days than any President in history. And you call that basking in the glow? Wait until everyone’s taxes go up to try to pay for this spending and see if you still think he is basking in the glow.
Posted by: lgccac | April 24, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Posted by: lgccac | Apr 24, 2009 10:38:49 AM:
“Obama has screwed up this country more in 100 days than any President in history.”
___________
what is your criteria to make this assumption?
- – - – - – - -
“Wait until everyone’s taxes go up to try to pay for this spending and see if you still think he is basking in the glow.
______________
The facts of tax policy are posted online, look for yourself: ‘Everyone’s taxes will NOT be raised. Your unsubstantiated fear is not a fact.
You have no valid argument. Get informed.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
Checklist for today: criticize the president about his dog, and when he started bowling.
To all those who wish this president to fail: you are in the minority and, more important, increasingly showing yourselves to be irrational and hateful.
Please feel free to continue to spout petty, unfounded and bizarre charges. It’s your right as an American. In the meantime, the rest of us, led by by our president, will work for solutions that put our country and our neighbors first.
Posted by: rukidding | April 24, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
So now we have Limbaugh-Loving right-wingers here like Dave, implying that the President is like Hitler and Stalin. Real nice! Way to show your patriotism.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | April 24, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
Who wants to put in the work getting “informed” (how liberal, btw), when you can copy/paste and spout off like like an untethered firehose everyday with no consequence whatsoever! It’s not like we have to engage in discussions or that any of this matters or anything. WE JUST BLOW, BABY!
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Dave, is it true you are just a tool for recruiting moderates to the Democratic Party? You certainly keep me in Obama protection mode.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | April 24, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am
well said rukidding. Since the innauguration, here are some of the criticisms the Limbaugh-Lovers have posted on these blogs:
He’s not a citizen
He’s not a Christian
He hates America
His wife hates America
He is a Socialist
He won’t release his birth certificate
He won’t release his college record
He uses a teleprompter (LOL)
All he can do is give speeches
Why does he fly around on AF One?
Who paid for the extravagant swing set?
He broke a promise on the dog
He likes tax evaders
He won’t keep us safe
Who paid for all those pizza?
Why does he have to have all these innaguration parties–people are out of work!
His wife should cover her arms
His wife has bad taste in clothes
Plant a garden? Ha! Publicity stunt
Why did he have to have that big party on St. Patrick’s Day for the Irish PM?
He is a lousy bowler
Why did he take a vacation in HI? He should be working!
Too many people at the Easter Egg hunt
What’s he doing meeting with sports teams? He should be working.
Why do his kids go to private school? Public school not good enough?
He loves terrorists
He loves dictators
Why is he smiling and shaking hands at a summit?
on and on and on, ad nauseum. Here is one thing you won’t hear from a Limbaugh-Lover, however: SOLUTIONS
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | April 24, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
the bigest DUMB ASS of the year whos running the white house hillary not obama
Posted by: RAMBOW99 | April 24, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am
Does this administration and the MoveOn’s of America not realize that 48 million folks voted against us? And of those 48 million 89.9% were Military, 79.3% Police Enforcement, with 72% of this constituency fluent and adept at firearms compared to the collective 12% of folks including those stated above adept for the same performance in our camp? No?
Then President Obama, you must get the guns and you must do this quickly. Protect us as we have you!
Posted by: Hammer | April 24, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
“Dave, is it true you are just a tool for recruiting moderates to the Democratic Party?”
He’s also a staple in Al Qaeda recruiting videos and literature. Dave’s a legend in the Arabian Desert. You know the gecko in the Geico commmercials? Dave’s like the gecko of the Taliban, only not as articulate and without a car.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
Em, I am not a lefty..nor am I a democrat..I happen to believe the americas greatest asset is “The Rule Of Law”..and that rule means nothing if you don’t prosecute the powerful who committ crimes, crimes an ordinary person would go to prison for..No, I don’t want to be spending our time on this or money…but we have become a less democratic society by allowing the powerful to run amuck, be they elected officials, or ceos..its time for the people at the top to start paying the price for highway robbery, torture, bribery any other various crime..or start letting all the criminals out of jail
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am
This guy has done nothing to help America get back on track. Again, I will say, We’re in deep sh**.
Posted by: enaid32444 | April 24, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
My take on Dave..no one will talk to him..people walk the other way when they see him coming..they duck down the other isle…wear disguises so he won’t recognise them..check into a motel rather then live in their house next door…face it >>Dave is LONELY…the isolation of the unibomber..
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
“This guy has done nothing to help America get back on track…”
Posted by: enaid32444 | Apr 24, 2009 11:28:18 AM
__________________
We all agree that D i c k C h e n e y needs to “go away”
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Brent Scowcroft was on Charley Rose last night..he being the national security advisor to the senior Bush, and to gerald Ford..and had nothing but praise for the way President obama is handling our foreign policy..and is very impressed with his calm cool demeanor…also said the last 8 years have been disasterous for american foreign policy and world standing..very interesting take from someone with his experience in republican administrations..certainly the most interesting story of the day…
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
BRENT SCOWCROFT IS A TERRORIST-LOVING, TREE-LICKING, PANSIE LIBERAL!!!
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
Silky..you need a weekend…LOL..youve been fighting right wingers all week..and i hope they are lickin trees with poison oak…
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
When i think of the last day of the bush administration..I will always remember that shot of Cheney slumped over in his wheel chair looking like something from the dark side…scowling..very fitting..that he crippled our nation..and left as a shell in a wheelchair..a mental cripple
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
BRENT SCOWCROFT SAT IN REV WRIGHT”S CHURCH FOR TWENTY YEARS! (or a similiar church. I’m pretty sure.)
Posted by: Amy in Maine | April 24, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
William J. LePetomane – These are ALL true. But, to your point. Did you pay attention to the real reason for the Tea Parties or just listened to the MSM? Don’t answer I already know. I think all you liberals who think that we conservatives have no solution to the economic crisis should try to actually listen to Rush Limbaugh and especially Glenn Beck. Get on their website and see what they have to say. The solutions are economically proven and are just plain common sense. I dare you to investigate, research and be amazed. When you do not have anymore money, you don’t go out and spend mpore you tighten your belt. When people are not spending in the economy you do not tax them to death. They will stop spending even more. When companies fail, LET THEM!!! DO you know that union workers who do not even work or are retired are still getting paid?!?!?!?! There is so much more….
Posted by: Jennifer | April 24, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Foreign policy tour- F
Comments on Economy- D
Bailout of auto companies-D
Bailout of Banks- C
Stimulus package-F
Iraq- C
Afghanistan-C
Handling Torture memos-D
Dem Congress interaction-D
Selection of Biden-F
Overall 100 days-D
that little puppy- priceless.
Posted by: jschmidt | April 24, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
“BRENT SCOWCROFT SAT IN REV WRIGHT”S CHURCH FOR TWENTY YEARS! (or a similiar church. I’m pretty sure.)”
That there is no video is only further evidence that he DID!! Left-wing MSM cover-up, anyone? Will these double frap-soy-no whip candy-asses stop at nothing???
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
“Did you pay attention to the real reason for the Tea Parties or just listened to the MSM?”
The “real reason?” The “real reason” is that a gaggle of fools when told to jump by your lunatic talking heads, jump. The “real reason” could not be articulated to me by the participants in my town’s demonstration, whom I ran into against and engaged against my better judgment on my way from dinner to drinks last Wednesday. “Taxes!” What taxes? “He’s a socialist.” Why? “Because he wants to redistribute the wealth!” He’s talking about cutting *your* taxes, and allowing cuts on the the elite wealthy that Bush imposed during a time of prosperity expire. “I don’t want to see my country turn to socialism.” So, I guess privatizing the military is the best place to start, huh?
They were idiots. The “real reason” is that most of these people are on a string. The rest are either elite wealthy or paranoid. Whatever the case, one thing they all had in common was the love of a good tea-bagging.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
^^^^
LOL!
Posted by: AHAHA | April 24, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
Silky – I guess you never learned that name calling weakens your argument. But, I understand. That is what all you liberals do. You can not formulate a valid argument so you resort to playground bullying.
Posted by: Jennifer | April 24, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
As America learns more about Obama, his “glow” is diminishing.
Posted by: Mihann | April 24, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
It is absolutely patriotic to question the judgment of the President and even to disagree with him. I am doing both!!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 24, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
It is absolutly patriotic to question the judgment of our president and to disagree with him. I am doing both!!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 24, 2009, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
“Silky – I guess you never learned that name calling weakens your argument. But, I understand. That is what all you liberals do. You can not formulate a valid argument so you resort to playground bullying.”
Who did I call a name? Scowcroft? That cosmo-drinking terrorist-sympathizer needs to be exposed for what he is.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
“It is absolutely patriotic to question the judgment of the President and even to disagree with him. I am doing both!!”
Who said anything about “patriotic?” I don’t use that word. I think it’s grossly misunderstood and misused and is best off retired.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Is going threw this about the torture going to help the country or is someone trying to bring down the country. Yes, torture is very bad and under normal events it not right but in time of war…it happens. What would you do to save your child, wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister and etc.? You can’t say until you are there. Our men , and John McCain can tell you, that are captured in time of war …do you think that they were just seating have cake and coffee? NO!! they were not. Some one is doing this just to bring down our country and keeping us adverted from seeing other things that are going on…that’s what I think.
Keeping the government transparent to the people is not always whats good for the country…do we keep some things from our kids because it’s best for them or they are not ready for it? Right now we have more important things to worry about and a better way of spending the time and OUR tax money on than a WITCH HUNT. I think someone hates Bush administration so bad that they are using the government to get at them….the thing is most everyone that is in congress now …were there and part of the Bush administration and part of the problems too! It’s done and over with, let’s get on to getting our country back in shape and not bringing it down!!
Posted by: butterfly | April 24, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
… Are you really so petty that you think because he never owned a dog before now….. he’s untrustworthy. By your way of thinking, if you want to call it that, he should be considered incompitent because he is from Chicago and the governer of that state was trying to sell the seat he recently vacated. Gee, that all makes perfect sense. If I could come up with a word that described you better than moron, I would be using it here.
Posted by: CarpeDiem | April 24, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
“If I could come up with a word that described you better than moron, I would be using it here.”
Tea-bagger works.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
Amy and cowgirl, you’re going to need to carry the load this afternoon, as I have an appointment with some Repbulicans at a local country club whose wealth I am going to help them redistribute. To me. I’ll even tip their staff for them after doing so, which I always do, as they sure as hell don’t tip.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
January 20 through April 20 counts 3 months. Obama is doing better and much more than anyother president has ever done in this short time frame. On his report card, Obama definately deserves an A+++. Sorry Republicans, but Obama is number #1 of all presidents.
Posted by: job | April 24, 2009, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
“Did you pay attention to the real reason for the Tea Parties or just listened to the MSM? Don’t answer I already know. I think all you liberals who think that we conservatives have no solution to the economic crisis should try to actually listen to Rush Limbaugh and especially Glenn Beck.”
Posted by: Jennifer | Apr 24, 2009 12:27:52 PM
___________________________
Jennifer: your suggestion is ‘torture’.
Any sane, educated, insightful person does not listen to Rush or Glenn, nor take either of them seriously.
Sane, educated people do not have to turn to wealthy, fat, rude, uneducated, drug-addicted talk show hosts for serious reflection on world issues.
That’s the fundamental difference between us.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Silky,
Thanks for keeping things fresh and insightful.
you Rock.
Posted by: gus amaral | April 24, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
I love my country and I pray for our country and we are not perfect, no one is. I still believe we with us looking to GOD we will get on the right path and get it back in shape. I am glad that we have come a long way to elect a black man, I’m not connived he was the right one, but he is our president, we still have a long way to go and we are still growing. I am not pleased with our government in the way they do things and that is my right as an American. I think we need to stop zig zagging and focus on what is best for our country and the people!!
Posted by: butterfly | April 24, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
RASMUSSEN : 55% of voters somewhat approve of Obama’s performance / 44% disapprove.
37% strongly approve / 31% strongly disapprove.
Posted by: Ron | April 24, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
When it comes to the Stock Market an the Banks, any improvement is not do to Pres Obama but to the Bush Admin. Pres Obama’s Stimulas an Budget will be in the pipeline around July or longer. What he had done in the first l00 days is to feed the Libs in his party what they want. Has he brought this Country together?? Hell NO. Has he divided, you bet. For some reason Libs never learn from the Past. Somethings are better left alone. I leave with one thought, if given the choice, would you prefer Waterboarding or Beheading??
Posted by: Willie | April 24, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
GLOW? WHAT GLOW? – MORE LIKE A BIG SMOKE CLOUD AND MIRRORS.
Posted by: USA Constitution | April 24, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
NO MATTER WHAT OBAMA IS TRYING TO DAZZLE THE PUBLIC WITH – ONE THING HE CAN’T CHANGE, WHICH IS THE LAW OF ECONOMICS. HE IS ECONOMICALLY ILLITERATE.
Posted by: USA Constitution | April 24, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Jennifer..AKA Rush, if you can’t think for yourself “aka rush”..don’t bother coming around here trying to sell kindergarten to adults, educating yourself is amazingly easy..move that little mouse all around when you google..anyone who thinks Beck and limbaugh have an answer to anything, is completely uneducated by choice
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Willie, hard to say..for you…i would go for either one..altho I prefer to cut off the head of the snake.
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Silky…good luck with the “golden fleece”..have a great weekend
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Ron- why did you have to throw facts in? It is much more entertaining to hear the left try to spin how great he is when he may rank right down their with Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: jschmidt | April 24, 2009, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Jennifer
Wants us to Listen to Cry Baby Beck, and a Fat drug addict Limbaugh, hahahah lolololol hahahahahah lolololol First off I dont listen to Grown men that Cry like a Baby and Lie their a–es off! and I dont Listen to Drug addicts! nice try! Im sticking with President Obama I feel safer then those 2 Wing nuts beck and limbaugh!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
I am still not sure what PO ment in the comment to the 1st lady during the tree planting this week:
“You over there talking trash, and we planted a tree”
What does talking trash mean?
Posted by: IDIDNTGETIT | April 24, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
i dont care for mr obama for a whole host of reasons. what i do care is that people are working and being productive and providing for their families without confiscating other peoples money to make it happen.if this happens i dont care who the president is as long as he follows the constitution.
Posted by: cataman | April 24, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Ron: if you want to throw out numbers, i’ll play.
By roughly three-to-one (66% to 23%), people with lower incomes approve of the way Obama is handling the budget deficit. Those with family incomes of between $30,000 and $75,000 are evenly divided (46% approve vs. 45% disapprove). By a wide margin, those with higher incomes disapprove of Obama’s handling of the deficit (56% to 38%).
why? because the rich want to continue to get richer while standing upon the shoulders of the poor and middle class to do so. what you really support is oppression. the voters have ended it. get over yourself.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
angie: jennifer’s just doing what her daddy tells her to do. he is, after all, paying the bills.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
What does talking trash mean?
Posted by: IDIDNTGETIT
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ask dave.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
the worst president in history and I give him ‘F-”. He made a fool of the United States and himself overseas with the French, Germans, Russians, Iranians and North Koreans. He made a fool of the US and himself with Ortega, Chavez and Castro. He has spent us into unbearable debt, he has created class warfare, he has split America more than anybody thought possible, and he is a Socialist.
Posted by: brian | April 24, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
he has created class warfare, he has split America more than anybody thought possible, and he is a Socialist. Posted by: brian
No brian: you and your party have created class warfare.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Don’t worry Jennifer, when your boy Rush keels over from one too many cheeseburgers and Oxycotins, there will be hundreds of other righwing nut radio programs to tune in to. It seems their hosts aren’t qualified to do anything else except make millions off of other’s stupidity.
btw…You might check out ESPN radio. Their hosts are educated and experienced in the subjects to which they speak. Rush would be better off lecturing on Divorce, Donuts & Drugs.
Posted by: Denise | April 24, 2009, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Brian
Bush is gone no need to talk that way anymore!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 24, 2009, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
RAINBOW99: Yeah, ok, 78% have the guns, but the remaining 22% have the majority of this country’s money. The red states have their Fox News, loud mouths and guns, but what are they without money? At the end of the day, money talks, BS walks.
I would like to congratulate President Obama on an outstanding job in his first 100 days. May the next 7 1/2 years prove just as productive and forward thinking.
Posted by: zerlinarosa | April 24, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
realitycheck0057
According to dave talking trash is an excellent ability to speak. Is this some type of secret linguistic ability the obamas can impart on our nation?
Maybe this is why the europeans like him so much.
Posted by: IDIDNTGETIT | April 24, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
jschmidt | Apr 24, 2009 12:28:10 PM
“that little puppy- priceless.”
_______________
“jschmidt” how do you ‘square’ Your Report card, with the 61%+ Positive Rating by The People? Sumpin’s ‘out of kilter’ and I doubt it’s the 9 Primary Polls in the country!!!
Posted by:
Posted by: bobj72 | April 24, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
As of Sunday, our government will outspend 2009 projected revenue. That’s the fastest we’ve ever outspent yearly revenue. Still waiting for that surgical knife BO. I can tell you didn’t do well in economics. Hey ABC, when are you going to stop letting Obama pump you and vice versa?
Posted by: GK_1970 | April 24, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
i dont care for mr obama for a whole host of reasons. what i do care is that people are working and being productive and providing for their families without confiscating other peoples money to make it happen.if this happens i dont care who the president is as long as he follows the constitution.
————————————
A lot of Americans have worked hard and provided for their families but lost their jobs as a result of this recession; which in part was caused alot by the last “administrations” errors.If they lose jobs and it is not their fault, why can’t the government help. These people have paid taxes,supported their country, etc; Only selfish people who are not at risk of losing jobs or who have never experienced the loss think like you; if you are put in the position where you need to feed and shelter your family, a lot of Mr. Obama’s decision would look a lot better to you. RE-THINK THAT IDEOLOGY. I think your host of reasons for not ‘liking’ him have nothing to do with ‘following the constitution’. Maybe it is a host of “personal” reasons. Because of personal dislikes toward this President a lot of Americans are so angry they are not putting what is best for our fellow americans first; we’re putting devisive hatred thinking first; like the Limbaugh’s and Beck’s and Hannity’s and ‘Joe the Jerk’ Scarbrough’s of Cable News; Stop letting Cable News make your decisions. Think for your self Americans!! God bless America!!
Posted by: susieQ | April 24, 2009, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
When it was said that MSNBC is owned by GE who is promoting Obama to get bailout money and government contracts to make billions – then this makes all news seems more like a big infomercial. How can anyone judge the first 100 days of trillions of spending, does it come with a 90 day money back guarantee?
Posted by: swh | April 24, 2009, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
A lot happened in Obama’s first 100 days in office! I think this new political environment provides a great opportunity to address crucial issues that have been forgotten. The U.S. should be doing way more to address the Millennium Development Goals.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.
(source: borgenproject.org.)
Posted by: Tenisci | April 24, 2009, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
So… realitycheck, what you are really saying is that those who make less than $30,000 want everyone elses money?
You know our republic is heading downward when the masses figure out they can vote themselves money instead of earning it.
100 days F- if we are giving out grades.
It’s not that Republicans are the party of “no”, it’s that liberals are unwilling to listen to rational ideas… “We won, so deal with it” is how Congress now operates….
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
GK…guess word hasn’t filtered down to you yet…we are in a severe recession/Depression..hence the reason for the spending…do your homework before you show up..and no “dog ate it crap either”….
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Hey ABC, when are you going to stop letting Obama pump you and vice versa?
————————————-
GK-1970 When will you stop letting Prejudice “PIMP YOU”, and vice versa?
Posted by: gd | April 24, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
comeon Andy, even the leaders of the republican party say they need to get back to having ideas…”NO” is not an idea..
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
cowgirl–”guess word hasn’t filtered down to you yet…we are in a severe recession/Depression..hence the reason for the spending..”– Humm… basic liberal reasoning… The economy is hurting so we need to SPEND more money we don’t have.. I wonder if this policy will work at my house… I have several credit cards with debt on them… if I charge more, will it make my debt go away??
Posted by: arkie vet | April 24, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
gd,
What has prejudice to do with it?
Why play the race card? People disagree with the President’s words. deeds and stated intent. Whay is disagreeing with that prejudice?
Well maybe you’re right… I’m prejudiced against ANYONE who leads our country to ruin….
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
cowgirl,
Were you not paying attention during the “stimulus” debate in the Senate?
Republicans were locked out of closed door sessions on composition of the bill, were unable to get amendments inserted and were again locked out during House Senate negotioation on the final package… that is unless you count liberal Republicans Specter and Snowe and that other so called Republican Senator from Maine (who’s name escapes me at the moment)..
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
I better start using a spell checker….
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
President BUSH had a 63% approval rating 8 years ago, with a 22% disapproval rating. OBAMA IS NOT EVEN CLOSE. Just wait until people figure out that OBAMA is going to sign C&T legislation that will raise electricity, gasoline, and everything else by $100.00 per month. ABCNEWS is time you start doing your freaking job and report the news.
Posted by: Heavenislikethis | April 24, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
cowgirl.. that was unfair of me… lets compare processes and see which one’w work the best..
In 1980 Carter’s tax and spend policies left reagan with a 10.7% unemployment rate.. Reagan cut taxes in 83 and withing 6 months, unemployment was at 6.7%.. In 2001 after 9/11 Bush was faced with a loss of 6.8 million jobs. He cut taxes in early 2002 and the unemployment rate stabilized within 4 months. He cut them again in 2003 and the rate dropped to within one half percent of its lowest rate within tha last 40 years.
Obama’s has spent ove 1.5 trillion to “stimulate” the economy – not counting the 3.6 trillion in budget spending (this total equals in 3 months more than half the accumulated debt of the entire 8 year Bush presidency). and here are the results–
Unemployment%
Jan – 7.2%
Feb – 7.6% (stimulus passed)
March – 8.4%
April – 9.0% (estimated – we will know in about one more week)
May – 9.6% to 10% (estimated based on continuing trends and an assessment from the BLS on private sector expansion in the job market..)
Obama made an inpassioned speech after passing the stimulus and specificaly cited the Catepillar company as an example of who the stimulus would help. Cat had just layed off 600 workers prior to the passage of the stimulus bill, and Obama specifically noted that they were exactly the type of company that his infrastructure spending would help.. Last month – they layed off an additional 2400 and placed 600 more on temporary lay off status for a minimum of 6 months..
Doesn’t sound like its working to me…
Posted by: arkie vet | April 24, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Andy… you are right!Prejudice should not have anything to do with it. But, since You admitted to Prejudice , I can respect your honesty; just admit it and speak your true feelings, then maybe you can begin to learn to deal with that kind of dysfuntional thinking;stop hiding behind lame excuses about the President ‘sending us to ruin’; any idiot can see that is a lie; We have an intelligent President with high goals for success for his Country and the intelligence to help us succeed; Get out of the past and go forward! Dammit!!
Posted by: gd | April 24, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
OBAMA FRIST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE I WOULD HAFT GIVE HILLARY OBAMA -F FOR THAT GRADE
Posted by: RAMBOW99 | April 24, 2009, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
For everyone else on here who thinks that we can spend our way out of a recession/depression, let me give you a better example.
In 1929 when the stock market crashed, the unemployment rate (per crash) was under 5%. Within 2 years after the crash it was 23.7%.
President Rossevelt inacted significant spending to right the economy (the new deal) after 6 years the unemployment rate was still 20.1%.. In fact throughout almost 8 years of spending, the best employment numbers that Roosevelt ever posted were 17% in 1937…thsoe were erased by what is known as Roosevelts recession (36-37).
If Obama’s tax and spend policies remain unchecked, expect another 10 years of this type of economy…
Posted by: arkie vet | April 24, 2009, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
GD,
Do not try to falsely label me. I specifically said I was prejudiced against ANYONE who attempts to lead our country down the wrong path… and that is where we are headed. White, black, brown, pink or green, I don’t care who you are.
Contrary to all previous history lessons learned and accumulated knowledge, Obama is trying to spend our way out of recession. It can not and will not work. Unfortunately if we continue to go down this path we are headed for rampant unemployment combined with disastrous runaway inflation. Time and again it has been proven that tax cuts INCREASE revenue coming into government coffers due to increased growth of the economy. Tax increases do the opposite. PROVEN by fact and history. Some can not accept this however.
Regardless of one’s views on the correct fixes for our social ills (education, health care, welfare etc.), we CAN NOT afford to tackle them all at once in our current financial condition. And we certainly should keep a close eye on the constitution while we are under this type of stress. We live in very dangerous times.
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
I think in spite of all the negativity, he is doing an outstanding job with no help from the republicans. He is smart to pay them no mind and going about his business. He tried to work with them and they said (according to Hannity) they will never work with him. What they don’t realize is by not working with him, they are not work for us either. I know that if they really had different ideas (not the same old stuff) he would work with them. It seems they are doing the same thing they have been doing for the last few years. Nothing. They knew we were in a recession and would not admit it. Now, they say, it’s Obama’s fault. Do they think the public does not pay attention?
Posted by: talmag | April 24, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
O’Lord thank you so much for President Barack Obama. He has changed everything this country is about. Finally everyone will benefit from the changes President Barack Obama has made and will continue to make. I could care less about those other comments. I know that a lot of you still can not except a Negro running this country, that is why you come up with the most ridicules’ comments ever written. Everything must change, nothing and no one goes unchanged. Change is good! Thank you my Lord again for the change. Amen Amen and Amen
Posted by: Minneapolis | April 24, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
For the mathematically challenged out there, 2/3 = 66.67 rounded up to the nearest 100th. 60% is 6/10ths or 3/5ths, not “nearly tow thirds”! 3/5ths is the truth. 2/3rds is spin at best, if not an outright lie, mis-information, or just plain ignorance.
Posted by: Jeff | April 24, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
Arkie: that’s because the banks were allowed to fail before he took office. a marked difference. that was a case of too little too late. you really should tell the whole story when you tell a tale. the kids stop listening when you leave out the beginning and the end.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Hey arkie: your timeline still puts Hoover in office when unemployment peaked. what a dufus.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
Andy,
You sound like a video tape of Rush Limbaugh’s radio broadcast, so I see you can’t think for yourself. The President is not trying to ‘spend our way out of a recession’; It’s called making a positive “investment in our Future” so we won’t fall back to this kind of crisis again; I agree with his tactics because I know that sitting around doing nothing but hoping for the best and allowing political gamesmanship to interfere in logical thinking can only lead to more hardship on our country. You are afraid! Most people are afraid of change and taking risks; but that is how this Great Country has succeeded and moved on prosperous because someone had the guts and knowledge to try new things; invent new ways to survive; Alexander Graham Bell and Benjamin Franklin; people were opposed to these men’s inventions at first because they feared the unknown; God what would we do without heat, electricity and the telephone? Andy, I say again get out of the conservative past; Mr. Obama is trying to “prevent” another recession not “cause” one; Like Ben Franklin said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
Be objective not pessimistic; think positive, not negative; support your countries interests instead of criticizing it; It’s ok to have your ideas, but don’t have a closed mind; THINK BIG,SIR!!
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Basking in the glow? The idiot needs to be impeached! Him and his puppeteers should be removed from office before they cause more irreparable harm to this country!
Posted by: FedUpAmerican | April 24, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
GD,
I have never listened to Rush Limbaugh and am perfectly capable of thinking on my own.
I do support my country’s interests and the support of our constitution is how best we can do that.
Obama is not “trying new things” His tactics have not worked in the past. “What we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat”
Invest in our future? Have you actually read what in in the “stimulus” plan?
I have addressed what I believe to be our president’s mistaken policies. Why do you attack me? Why do folks of the liberal bent lash out when they are presented with a dissenting view?
Follow what I believe to be a set of misguided policies without question or debate? Like lemmings off a cliff?
I think I will not… and my advice to those on both sides of this debate is to look hard at the facts, question what is being fed to you by all sources and do not be led like lambs to slaughter…..
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
Andy: Invest in our future? Have you actually read what in in the “stimulus” plan?………yes, I actually have. that’s why i can’t understand the extremely bad attitude. tell me, what exactly are you opposed to? and don’t make things up like so many other posters do. present the facts.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Thank you Mr President you have made a different, soon after being elected the 44th president of lthese united states, you have been work very hard almost none stop, from the closing of Guantanamo bay to stem cell research to stiulmus to endorsing Gay rights to the Global Gag rule to changes to the labor laws to changes to the Oil and Gas leases, the Provider conscience rule,endangered species act, set fuel efficienfy standards,to the Transparency of the Goverment, to dealing with credit card company interest rates, the change has begun, it is like growing pains, you can hear them whining.
Posted by: gman | April 24, 2009, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
Who do they poll? I teach in a large college and not one person is for Obama. They would all vote zero on his first 100 days. It makes me wonder who they ask? I truly believe, as do most of my students, they just make the polls be what they want them to be. Even the people that voted for Obama do not now support him. They think he is silly. They believe he uses his race, or lack thereof, to say or do whatever. His wife is worse in their opinion. They believe she should act and behave like a first lady. whatever that means.
Posted by: Jane | April 24, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
Jane: what an idiot. can you hear yourself? you work in a school in what country? anyone in education who is against Obama shouldn’t be in education. where the hell do you think you’re going to get your funding from. he fully supports education. like i said, you’re an idiot.
Posted by: realitycheck0057 | April 24, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
Help television viewers convert from analog to digital $650 million
School lunch programs for schools in which at least 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced price meals $100 million
Community Service Block Grant Program $1 billion
Violence against women prevention and prosecution programs $225 million
ATF Project Gunrunner $10 million
Internet crimes against children initiatives $50 million
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund for financial assistance, training and outreach to Native American, Hawaiian and Alaskan native communities $100 million
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund $390 million
Comparative effectiveness research $300 million
Comparative effectiveness research by the National Institutes of Health $400 million
Comparative effectiveness research by the Department of Health and Human Services $400 million
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology $1.68 billion
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s regional or subnational efforts $300 million
Department of Health and Human Services Prevention and Wellness Fund $1 billion
Prevention and Wellness Fund immunization program $300 million
Prevention and Wellness Fund evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention strategies $650 million
Prevention and Wellness Fund reduction in incidence of health-care-associated infections $50 million
Rehabilitation services and disability research 540 million
State grants for rehabilitation services and disability research $18.2 million
Rehabilitation services in independent living centers $87.5 million
Rehabilitation services for older blind individuals $34.3 million
$39 billion Subsidies to health insurance for unemployed; providing coverage through Medicaid
$79 billion State fiscal relief to prevent cuts in state aid
$90 billion Help to states with Medicaid
Repeal of a requirement that a $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit be paid back over time
National Endowment for the Arts grants $50 million
Department of Labor salaries and expenses $80 million
Additional awards to existing AmeriCorps grantees $83 million
AmeriCorps program salaries and expenses $5.2 million
AmeriCorps program administrative costs of expansion $0.8 million
Filipino World War II veterans compensation $198 million (stimulating Filipinos?)
I could go on and on…. Needed political/social programs? Arguable… Stimulus? Definitely not……
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
My guess is that jane teaches at Oral Roberts U….
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Thank you Mr. President instead of investing in wars that will only break us down, you instead have invested in the American people the family and it’s Infrastructures, you have invested in the things that make America great which is our Constitution and it’s people, dam you make us proud, I don’t see you as weak, but focus and determine with intent in propose in making this nation once again great, like another great man said “Nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a man’s character – give him power”, and with that power you have shown strength in character, with that said I salute you.
Posted by: we_r1 | April 24, 2009, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
realitycheck0057,
Back off the personal attacks/name calling. You are not helping your cause any… You are attacking a teacher because they don’t shill for Obama? More of the lock step Obamabot teaching? Don’t look, left, don’t look right, don’t question, stare straight ahead and whatever you do don’t criticize “the one”… Sheesh….
Posted by: andy | April 24, 2009, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
Obama gets an “F-” . He is, in my opinion the worst president ever elected. He makes campaign promises regarding the caliber of his appointees then promptly hires tax cheats and lobbyists. He goes overseas and makes and utter fool of himself while denigrating the US. France, Russia, Iran, Germany, and North Korea all are laughing at us. Ortega, Chavez and Castro all made a fool of him. He has spent more money than any human in earth’s history that is all borrowed creating an unbearable debt burden for our children. He is incompetent, inexperienced and a danger to the country.
Posted by: brian | April 24, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
Arkie…to adress your backwards logic..IF you had taken the moneycharged to your credit card and used it to create a “business” for yourself..it would be a “self” paying debt..you would have the means to pay it back..and by the way..shame on you for being part of the problem we are trying to fix..I know this is a hard concept to follow…but when people work..they pay taxes to the government..when they are unemployed..they don’t contribute to the economy..when they buy..thet keep stores open..they pay taxes..it goes out– it comes back..are you people really that dense..a fifth grader could get this concept..so that means–you are just a cronic complainer..but bet i am not the first to tell you that
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Jane…are you teaching at a Madrass..one of those “we all think alike” universities..if you are..you night be a terrorist teacher..religious group think
Posted by: cowgirl | April 24, 2009, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
These Are Some Stupid Comments…Jane, andy, fedupAmerican, why don’t you just Move out of America. Jane….you cannot write, and certainly you don’t Teach in anybody’s “large” college, you idiot. Andy is a complete Dummie trying very “hard” to sound like he may know something, but his Ignorance remains. Do something good for yourselves and your country.
Posted by: sngeorgia | April 24, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
Angie in PA and Silky talking: “Well Dave half of the Country Doesnt think President Obama is Pathetic but they Think Bush is lol hahaha”
“Actually, it’s more like two-thirds and three-quarters, respectively.”
And let’s not forget the increasing number of Democrats who are posting that they’re sorry they voted for the clown in the White House! That speaks volumes more than your idolatry of the so-called messiah.
Posted by: FedUpAmerican | April 24, 2009, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
Wow,,,Jennifer,,, Jennifer…
Rush is bad enough but, especially Beck??? OMGosh girl… Seriously???
Ok, I have listened to Rush and Beck just to try to understand another perspective. I have Republican friends who think Rush preaches the gospel and I wanted to try to understand what they are getting from these guys.
For me personally, I find them to be laughable and just a bit disturbed…It is very hard for me to take them seriously… Rush has a particularly demeaning attitude towards women… And who needs that??? Throw in Hannity, O’Reilly and Gingrich too and you have the Conservative Comedy hour.
All these guys have a few things in common that move a certain group of people,,, prejudices, fear, and above all, manipulating and twisting the truth even if it is obvious….
And yet…no matter how ridicules they are… someone listening to them will sound just like you and that is what I find to be truly amazing…
Please know that I am not trying to bash you personally, I am sure you are a nice person. However, IMO, I don’t agree with nor do I want people like Rush or Beck speaking for me nor, do I consider them credible sources of information.
Posted by: theafalcon200 | April 24, 2009, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
Andy,
Printing a copy of information on the Stimulus bill doesn’t mean you understand it; and you don’t. What you listed helps to pay for and keep about 60% of Americans in this country on a job!! If it wasn’t for the Dpt of Health and Human Services Fund or the grants for rehabilitation services, I certainly would be unemployed and on the bread line. This is what I mean; you think small and selfish; If you think it has nothing to do with you (and it does-you just don’t know it); you just don’t give a daMN ABOUT YOUR FELLOW AMERICAN OR NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR; small, selfish thinking again; but that is how we got in this fix with the conservative “greedy don’t give a damn about the small people” succeeding; What they care about is inciting this hatred, ignorance and anger in the small people who will get hurt bad by their views; but who will help them in not supporting this administration; don’t be used; they will hook a ring in your nose and pull; watch your nose!!!
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
Jane…..I know exactly what you mean, of course the student body and faculty of Liberty University are somewhat limited in your outlook, but you all must keep trying
A fan
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 24, 2009, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
I am an Independent turned Democrat, that also voted for Obama and I am very happy with his first 100 days…
I loved his Diplomacy in Europe… I thought it was laughable that some criticized him for shaking the hand of Chavez,…funny stuff.
I watched as he reached out to the Republican house and Senate and saw that the Congressional Republicans decided to stand in opposition to this President…
I listened as they criticized Sec. Gates for his Defense Budget… which I felt was wise and with good courage… Sec.Gates is a good man.
I am proud of this President and the investments that he wants to make within our own country…We can afford go to war, and rebuild Iraq just as we have other countries in the past… Why not our own…? We have troop departing that will be building road and infrastructure in Afghanistan,,, so yeas, why not invest in our own country for a Change???… Because some actually want the President and his policies to fail…no matter what the price to the country…
And Jane… a teacher??? with such a terrible attitude… This President is fighting for investments in Education, is this not an investment that teachers of people could support??? How sad for you…
I stand in support of this President as he has taken on a host of chaotic problems amidst a loudly consistent chorus of criticisms launched daily at him. I have seen those that have absolutely no faith in this President but, think that apparently he should be able to solve all the nations problems in the blink of an eye…The expectations are either ridiculously high or miserably disgusting…
with such a heavy burden, I confident that he is the right person for the job.
As I watch the Republican stumble over each other, I am even more convinced that a McCain/Palin administration would have been a disaster…
Posted by: theafalcon200 | April 24, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Jane, I always do this, I think I’m writing this earth-shattering post, and then when I read it after posting, it just doesn’t read well. So to make the point a little more succinctly, you are full of s__t!
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 24, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
The pollsters that are giving Obama such high ratings are giving more weight in their polls to Democrats and less to Independents and the GOP responders which makes their polls very inaccurate. That is why Rasmussen polls show Obama at much lower ratings because Rasmussen is giving more wight to Independents and GOP responders than the other polls are. Seems to me that the other pollsters may have a political agenda that favors Democrats over other responders so that their polls erroneously report high Obama approval where there is none.
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2009, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
‘theafalcon… and ‘richard in texas..
DITTO!!!! Also, I give President Obama an “A” after 100 days. He is doing a fantastic job under critical circumstances! It takes a strong and brilliant human being to deal with the problems he inherited and at the same time take all the ridiculous criticism; This President is going to make history for putting this country on the path of Change; Every 30-50 years our history shows some crisis or event that causes America to take a turn and take a new path; usually we have to make sacrifices but in the end we make our country better for the next generations; yes some of our kids might have to pay for the change but the next generation will be better off for it; It is just a fact ; there are some people who come along at a time when hard work AND SACRIFICE IS NEEDED TO UPLIFT OUR GREAT COUNTRY’ I’M PROUD TO BE APART OF THIS HISTORY, AND WILLING TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE, WITH THIS PRESIDENT HELPING US TO START THE JOURNEY. GOOD LUCK MR. PRESIDENT ON YOUR NEXT 100 DAYS!!!
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Obama’s first 100 days:
– Allowing the Taliban to gain enough power for a near take over of Pakistan who has nukes.
– Cutting Defense spending during extremely dangerous times.
– Spending us into debt more than all other Presidents combined.
– Going over seas and calling the US “arrogant” and “dismissive” and getting nothing in return.
– Doing an end run around the normal legislative process for a fascist take over of the private health care system in America so the Government can make life and death decisions instead of doctors.
– Releasing memos on interrogative methods that saved American lives so that the enemy can use them against us and the CIA is so demoralized that they will never put their neck out again to protect American against another 9/11.
– Increasing the cost of energy for every American via cap and trade that will further hurt the economy and result and more job losses. Fact: co2 is plant food and without it there would be no life on the planet and while co2 has gone up the temperature has gone down over the last seven years which clearly proves co2 is not the cause of global warming.
etc etc etc
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
Republicans laughed at the Democrats because of funds in the stimulus bill for “pig” research. Well people are dying this week in Mexico and America from swine flu and the researchers are trying hard to come up with a vaccine because they fear an epidemic. The US Ctrs. for Disease Control and Prevention will benefit from the stimulus bill; and hopefully, some poor family whose child is dying with swine flu today. Republicans stop being naysayers and looking for ways to hurt Democrats POLITICALLY!!-everything isn’t always about politics!!! It is about what is best for the American People. Thanks Mr. President for this and other help in the stimulus bill!! Just another example of having a President and leaders with a positive vision; and who do not wait until a crisis arrives before we do something about it!!!!!!
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
I do not teach at a christian college, university or school of any religion. I teach at a very large university – so there – waht I said is what I meant. Most of my students believed in Obama until they read “Audicity of Hope”. Have any of you read the book or are you so in love with Obama that you wouldn’t believe what is in the book if you read it; so therefore, students are much smarter than you might think. He is for education like he is for eveything else – all talk and doing nothing. Obama is only looking to be in the news; he doesn’t even care how he gets in it, shirtless and all. And this might surprise you, 90% of my students are African-Americans.
Posted by: Jane | April 24, 2009, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
gd/susieQ, If Obama gets his way and health care is taken over by the government the research done by private industry that has resulted in 50% of all innovations in health care including life saving cancer,heart,diabetic, treatments etc etc. will be wiped out. Just give me one specific example of where government has ever produced anything of value to the “American People” other than the US military? Bet you can’t.
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2009, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Tim,
Here are my examples of things the government has done well.
– Social Security. Oh maybe not it is going bankrupt.
– Health Care via Medicare. Oh maybe not it is going bankrupt and is pretty corrupt.
– Education, Oh the government has spent billions and the scores for students are dropping and the drop out rate is sky rocketing.
– Poverty, Oh maybe not, the government has spent billions since the 70s and the US still has a lot of poor people.
– Infrastructure. Oh maybe not, the “big dig” project in Boston wasted billions of tax payer dollars in the process.
– The banks were saved from collapse. Oh maybe not, No one knows where all they money went and the banks are still in a lot of trouble and not lending a lot of money.
Hmmm
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
I think it is wonderful that President Obama is getting stronger and stronger everyday to stand-up to the Republican rhetoric that is a mouth piece for the wealthy and health care industry that does not want reform. It is about time….. President Obama seems to be growing into his job very nicely. You have to admire him for trying to work with the GOP. GOP = NO PLANS, NO IDEAS, NO COOPERATION, NO LEADERSHIP, NO CLUES, NO COURAGE, NO MORALS, NO HONOR, etc.
Thomas Paine said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” The GOP needs to get out of the way.
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
Tim- You seem to be one of the “moan and groan” people who spends his time in front of FOX soaking in their sick view of things. If we had not spent all our energies on Bush’s war over the last 7 years, with a focus only on Iraq; perhaps what was going on in Iran and Pakistan would have been apparent. (Obama has said all along and during the campaign, that we should have been in Pakistan instead of Iraq). Cutting defense spending is different from cutting “wasteful” spending for defense. No more $200 hammers for the GOP’s rich friends; and if Bush had not cut taxes three times instead of raising taxes to pay for his war, he would not have left us with a couple trillion dollar deficit and a near depression economy. Then Obamawould not have to spend all this money to get the economy moving again. Actually, considering the fact that Bush took office with a huge SURPLUS, he did a pretty good job of spending himself. I still think Obama will go down as one of our best presidents because he actually THINKS before he does things. Tax cuts during a war; nation building; lying; illegal torture and his and Cheney’s arrogant disregard for laws are only a few things that the Bush administration mastered. Watch a different channel, my friend. FOX is preventing you from thinking clearly.
Posted by: mertsw | April 24, 2009, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm
This is for whoever you are that used my name and responded to Tim AT 10:32:49 PM; you are a COWARD!! ;speak for your damn self! and use your own name!! Tim ,I agree and see the military as something of value provided by the Government. But these are the two most important things I value ,that the Government made possible for me and many others: THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY & THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT!!
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Jane,
I also teach at a large state university. Perhaps it never registered with you that a large number of educated people voted for President Obama – it was one of his strengths areas in the voting electorate. If you say no one at your university supports President Obama – you have lost all of your credibility. Universities breed people with open minds and the ability to think for themselves. Students earn critical thinking skills and reasoning skills. If you are so close-minded you would never keep a job at my university – faculty like you do not last long with younger students who have very different ideas about honesty, virtue, morals, open-mindedness etc, than people like you do. President Obama also carried the younger voting populace – remember? If my grandchildren ever had a professor like you, I would tell them to drop your class. You teach old, antiquated ideas – not what today’s students are looking for.
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Sandy,
Where is Obama leading us?
Answer:
== Into poverty via his enormous deficit spending that is greater than all other presidents combined.
– Into serfdom via a take over of the private sector including health care, the financial institutions, the automobile industry and the energy industries. Obama. “You can’t drive your suvs, eat all the food you want or keep your temperature at 72 degrees all the time. I. WON’T ALLOW IT.
– Into a far less safe world where the Taliban and Al Qaeda and the other enemies of the US are on the rise and Obama’s response is to cut Defense spending, bow to the Saudi King and yuk it up with our sworn enemies.
Posted by: Gary | April 24, 2009, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
gd/susieQ, It was a GOP President, Lincoln, who led the fight against slavery at the cost of thousands of American lives. In case you are not aware of it, it was prominent members of the Democratic Party who led the fight against the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT!
Your examples are good ones, but they still do not justify President Obama’s fascist take over of the banks, energy industries, automobile industry, credit card industry, health care industry and car industry. A command and control economy run by a few elitists power hungry thugs has been tried before and resulted in horrible poverty, suffering and millions of deaths in the killing fields of Cambodia, the GULOGS of the Soviet Unions and other State run death camps. When will we ever learn from history?
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2009, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
Does anybody get that the whole ‘getting a dog’ thing was just a publicity stunt? And the idiot press jumps right on it of course.
Posted by: Bill | April 24, 2009, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
Gary,
Deficit spending? WHAT? Mr “deficits don’t matter” Cheney is now worried about deficits? And YOU are worried about deficts? Where have you been for the last 8 years?
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
Barack really has to stop being a puppet to Georgie Soros and his SS troops at MoveOn.org….
Posted by: Bill | April 24, 2009, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
Bill,
Many presidents have had dogs in the White House. Remember Bush’s dog who bit the hand of a reporter? You right-wingers are realy pulling at straws because you have no legs to stand on when it comes to the defense of the “NO” party.
Here are the big issues for normal people: the war, the economy, the environment, mending fences with our enemies and allies, and the rule of law.
And here’s the list of Republican obsessions since President Obama took office: that his birth certificate is supposedly fake, he uses a teleprompter too much, he bowed to a Saudi guy, Europeans like him, he gives inappropriate gifts, his wife shamelessly flaunts her upper arms, and he shook hands with Hugo Chavez and slipped him the nuclear launch codes. It’s sad what’s happened to the Republicans Party. They used to be the party of the big tent; now they’re the party of the sideshow attraction, a socially awkward group of mostly white people who speak a language only they understand. Like Trekkies, but paranoid.
And YOU are worried about a dog geting publicity? You Republicans are becoming irrelevant.
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
Tim, Again I say everything is not about politics!!Dems and Repubs. I don’t care that the President who abolished slavery was a GOP (and yes I knew this!!). It was what was best for the country and all my fellow Americans; you just made my point! No President should be judged simply because of his political party!! Or his Color for that matter.
Judge the act not what your political party tells you, how and when to. Many Presidents from both parties have done extraordinary things for this country; why? Because Americans tend to support their leader in the end; most do, that is; it’s called patriotism and love for your country.!!! As far as what you call fascist take-overs of the banks, etc; I guess you would have preferred a President who is doing nothing to try to solve the problem. There is nothing to justify–He is not taking it over; he is making it better for America; So that when his presidential term is over we will still have our automobile industry, credit card industry,health care industry,as you call it. Does it bother you that much that this man has this power presently? And Why? We are not hurting for it; we are better for it; what is your reason?
Posted by: gd/susieQ | April 24, 2009, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm
gd/susieQ,
Republicans are so overwhelmed with President Obama, the economy, the polls, the foreign affair events, and everything, that they don’t know what to do. They’re like drowning people who can’t swim, flailing about trying to grasp at anything and everything.
It is fact – The freepers have imploded.
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
sandy, FYI, I was against President Bush’s deficit spending. However, President Obama’s deficit spending, is double that of President Bush and will lead us all into the poor house. So if you were against President Bush’s deficit spending you would be even more agaist President Obama’s deficit spending. Yes or No?
Posted by: Gary | April 24, 2009, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
Gary,
No, I am not against President Obama’s deficit spending. However, there is a difference. President Obama’s budget will reduce the deficit by some $2 trillion over the next decade compared to continuing current policy (Bush’s policy, by the way) You can quibble about the “current policy” baseline — some of the Iraq expenditures would probably have declined under even a Republican administration — but the basic fact that Obama’s policies reduce the deficit on the whole is hard to dispute. By contrast, all of Bush’s major deficit-increasing initiatives — the tax cuts, the war in Iraq, the Medicare benefit — came without any attempt at all to pay for them. And most of the people who are complaining about Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility today uttered not a peep of complaint about Bush.
Posted by: sandy | April 24, 2009, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
gd/susieQ,
Specifically why are “we better for it what is your reason.” ?
Is it because President Obama is:
– Doubling the deficit thus leading us all into the poor house.
– Speaking badly of the US on foreign soil while representing the US as President of the US
– Yuking it up with our sworn enemies
– Taking over major portions of the private sector thus changing our free market economy into a command and control economy that has never worked and always resulted in misery and death throughout all time.
– Cutting Defense Spending during very dangerous times thus making us more vulnerable to attack
– Informing our enemies about our interrogations methods thus making the US more vulnerable to attack and demoralizing the very people we count on to help make us safe.
Can you name ONE specific thing that President Obama is doing that will increase economic growth, preserve our freedoms and make us safer?
If all you can do is name call, like Sandy, and can provide nothing specific to refute what I am saying about the harm President Obama is doing to our Nation, our economy, our freedom and our security than in your heart you know I am correct. We are not “better for it” we are worse for it far far worse.
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2009, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm
sandy, You are misinformed. The Congressional Budget Office said that, if the Obama budget were approved, the federal government would run deficits averaging nearly $1 trillion a year over the next decade. The cumulative deficit from 2010-19 would be $9.3 trillion, according to the report — $2.3 trillion more than the Obama forecast.
So far President Obama in a highly publicized meeting with his staff has come up with only 100 million in cuts to the budget. Which I think you would agree is a very small fraction of the “$2 trillion amount” he has promised in cuts.
So if you are “not against” the enormous deficits Obama is creating, well, I hope you enjoy standing in soup lines cause that is where Obama’s deficit spending policies will most certainly lead to.
Posted by: Gary | April 25, 2009, 12:13 am 12:13 am
The question people should be asking is if another terrorist is captured who we know for certain is involved in plotting another 9/11 what methods would be acceptable to us to prevent another 9/11 attack? President Obama has not answered this question. I think most people would agree that some form of enhanced interrogation would be acceptable in order to prevent another major attack on the US even water boarding for example.
The question to me is what is more moral? Using enhanced interrogation techniques to save lives. Or let people die because we find enhanced interrogation methods to be unacceptable. In my view, saving lives is what is the most moral act and not saving lives so we can look better in the eyes of the world is actually the immoral thing to do.
Posted by: Gracie | April 25, 2009, 12:37 am 12:37 am
Gary,
Sorry, I have complete faith in President Obama. In less than 100 days he has already fulfilled many of his campaign promises and working on others. Your points have been repeated over and over again by Republican talking heads. You all “preach” from the same script. But then, considering that your “leaders” are Rush, Hannity, Billo, Gingrich, Cheney and Beck, it is no wonder that the script never changes.
You know what the most amazing thing is? We had 8 years of a legacy white boy
who had no manners, no integrity, was a complete uneducated buffoon who should’ve believed in evolution because he was only one genetic marker from the missing link, a dude who talked smack to Tony Blair while he masticated a piece of bread and spit crumbs everywhere. An idiot who drooled on about pigs and touched up Angela without her permission. A white boy who had everything handed to him and turned into a drunken, moronic idiot.
So now we have an African American, a man 10 times the human that Dim Son ever was, a man of dignity, compassion, maturity, charisma–a man who can articulate a message with calm and confidence, but who had to work every day and fight racism and earned everything himself.
It really kills you right-wingers that you do not have a leader in your party like President Obama. Your “ideas” and support of polices that Bush shoved down our throats goes to show what kind of “brain power” you are working with – brain power that is just as worthless as a sack of condoms……. in the Vatican.
Posted by: sandy | April 25, 2009, 1:06 am 1:06 am
The one thing I am absolutely certain of; NO ONE on this site, has sufficient expertise to be Educating ANYONE in economics or finance. Further, if these pseudo-experts were as “all knowing” as they would have us think, they wouldn’t be available to banter back-and-forth on a blog. They would be earning the “big bucks” for the knowledge they possess. Interesting they, (the pseudo-experts) are challenging the knowledge of some of the highest respected economic / financial experts in the entire country!!!
I know full-well I am no Economist / Financial Expert. Then again neither are any of the folks who seem to be attempting to ‘pawn themselves off’ as experts. Now, as I understand it the “Real Economist / Financial Experts” are NOT in agreement on One (1) basic, but critical area that significantly impacts all of the projected economic calculations. That’s the rate the economy is “projected to grow”, over the out-years. (And depending upon the figure you go with), when measured in one-tenths (1/10ths) could affect the bottom-line by a couple of hundred-billion! (The delta, as I understand it is something less that 2 Points difference (that would be twenty (20) tenths (10′s.) It’s my understanding that this is the primary area of disagreement, among the competing factions. I have a basic understanding of business finance and budgeting, but the real experts I’ve always relied upon are the Financial Analyst who supported our business operations.
Posted by: bobj72 | April 25, 2009, 1:08 am 1:08 am
Gracie,
Are you as dumb as you sound? Torture is TORTURE and is against international national, and moral law. What about that do you not get? Another right-winger that listens to the Republican talking heads and you are unable to think on yor own. Military as well as CIA have said again and again and again – torture does not work!!!! People will say anything to stop the pain. NO factual information has ever been obtained through torture – and torture is torture – not the Republican stupidty that calls it enhanced interogation techniques. If you want to “defend” something, call it what it is.
Right-winger lips have been continuously attached to right wing ass for more than a decade and you just keep harping on the same old rhetoric and cannot call a spade a spade because you know you have no defense for what Bush and Cheney did.
And then there is YOUR network poll:
Faux News poll out on Obama’s first 100 days, yes THAT network – the Right-wingers network!
President Obama’s first 100 days (even though it is only 94 days but then Fox can’t count):
Approve – 62%
Disapprove – 29%
Meeting or Exceeding expectations – 82%!!!!!!!!!!!
Not – only 16%
What he has done really well?
Foreign Policy: Poll respondents are happy with his cabinet picks and are happy with his plan for Iraq.
Posted by: sandy | April 25, 2009, 1:16 am 1:16 am
Gracie | Apr 25, 2009 12:37:19 AM
…” I think most people would agree that some form of enhanced interrogation would be acceptable in order to prevent another major attack on the US even water boarding for example.” …….
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I am certain MOST PEOPLE would disagree with you! How about we allow the CIA use any Legal Interrogation Method they would choose….. and “dollars to doughnuts” they get the information they set out to get!!!
Lady, your moral compass isn’t balanced properly! And you’re a bully!!! You sound like someone with ‘gernades in the garage.’
Posted by: bobj72 | April 25, 2009, 1:19 am 1:19 am
Looks as though FOX finally decided to air some truth. Reference Fox news poll of President Obama’s first 100 days.
Other news flashes:
Hannity’s “feared” leftist, Hugo Chavez donates island to the State of New Jersey to help save the American Bald Eagle:
Freed pirate hostage, Shane Murphy, the second in charge of the American ship taken hostage recently in Somalia, accuses Limbaugh of “hate speech”.
Keith Olbermann has announced he would donate $1000.00 for every second Sean Hannity can endure waterboarding. Is he MAN enough to accept the challenge?
Posted by: devilkev | April 25, 2009, 1:43 am 1:43 am
To all who might be interested, the present debate has really nothing to do with economic, political or main stream society. What it has to do with, is the declining power base of the white society, it seems that the right side of the isle is paralyzed by fear of the minority shift which is approaching the year 2040. What we are seeing is a fantastic change. One remaining question; amongst the leaders of the GOP and their lapdog spokespersons, how many represent minorities? Theirs is not the race card, but it’s about as close as you can get.
Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 25, 2009, 2:09 am 2:09 am
Hey Jane,
I have read Obama’s book “Audacity of Hope”, and I thought it was very well written.
I was impressed by the quality of understanding that Obama had of the problems the US had even before the problems became as big as they have become and before he ran the race for the Presidency.
I was struck by his good sense of humor and by his sense of community and had to laugh when he was criticized for being a community organizer during the campaign.
I was impressed by his intelligence and writing ability…
I think it is a very good book and recommend it to everyone I know.
As I see it, realizing that different people have different perspectives, I see Obama as trying to fulfill as many of the promises he made during his campaign. You spoke of his all talking and not doing… The way I see it, if the GOP would stop their whining and bitching, and get out of way, the President could “do” more.
I do believe him to be very aware that he is indeed making history and that he has every intention of being a very good President… I also believe there are people like you that really don’t want to see that happen. People that put their party above and before their country. People that believe with all their little hearts that investing within our own country equals Socialism. They seem so fearful and paranoid that they support unethical torture techniques because, they are convinced that this keeps the country safe??? And yet, These same people want to prescribe what my moral character should be made of,,,that’s just messed up…
Posted by: theafalcon200 | April 25, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Sandy: It might surprise you that I have no opinions on Obama. My students do and I have a waiting list every semester to get into my classes but I will tell you this = I would not want your children or grandchildren in my class if they cannot think for themselves. Also, for your informaiton, I am not old – if you are 35 do you consider that old. The people in my classroom – most, if at all of them, neither Republican or Democrat, Christian or Athetist, do have opinions and they are allowed to express them – so lady get a life, you need one.
Posted by: Jane | April 25, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
..Can you name ONE specific thing that President Obama is doing that will increase economic growth, preserve our freedoms and make us safer?..
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Tim, You are questioning Barack Obama’s desire to preserve this countries freedom? hah!! that’s a laugh! As far as increasing economic growth that is why he wants this country to look for alternative ways to preserve energy; less dependence on oil and the countries that provide us with it and get rich off of us(which in my opinion is one of the greedy reasons Bush took us into a war we did not need to -thousands of lives lost); and about making us safer, unfortunately he has to face the unwanted fight agsinst Afghanistan, Pakistan’ at this critical time when it should have been done 8 yrs ago! All you are doing is blaming a man who has been in Office less than 100 days for the past President’s mistakes and the sick crisis and economic stress he put this country and it’s people in; If it makes you feel better to blame Obama go right ahead, but the majority of people in this country knows where the blame lies. Again I say you fear this man for ridiculously dysfunctional reasons; Calling him Fascist-you are the one name calling! Accusing this President of communicating with known enemies against his country. It is obvious that there is only four words that I have for you…YOU ARE A IDIOT!; and you cannot reason or debate with an idiot. But take this advice; you can support your President and your Country or you can continue to join those “known enemies ” and fight your President and your Country; I think the world looking in on us are laughing and shaking their heads; When Obama was elected they thought this country had finally moved on from it’s terrible stained history of racism; Well the good thing is that the majority of Americans have and you know what?the number will continue to grow.We will all join as a united Country and prosper. Get over your fears of “Change”; We are headed toward a “Change We Can Believe In” finally. Don’t be left behind. Or maybe you might want to move to Pakistan and join the Taliban!!!!!
Posted by: gd | April 25, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm