President Obama to Propose Partial Budget Freeze and Earmark Ban Tonight*

A hard cap on a small portion of a $4 trillion budget, and an earmark ban already championed and (ostensibly) implemented by the House.
Thanks for nothing, Mr. President.

An earmark cut and budget freeze is a drop in the bucket. How about a 20% cut across the board in all agencies? How about eliminated useless departments like the Department of Education? How about raising Social Security and Medicare to age 70? How about public funding of elections to eliminate buying your seat and then having to make paybacks. Mark Malatesta

Although he needs to stand firm on many democratic principles like he should, his humility and willingness to compromise makes him an excellent president.

Why does Obama have to “work together” on an earmark ban? All he had to do was veto anything with an earmark the last couple years.
Instead he gladly signed every spending bill with thousands of earmarks.
Sounds like somebody who’s out of cash suddenly stating that they’ve “decided” to stop spending, ignoring the reality that they couldn’t if they wanted to.

Anything this guy says now is just window dressing, all lies and half truths, but what do you expect from a “man” that cares more about his ego than the American people.

A little late to the party, aren’t we, Mr. Obama?

Simply put, the vast majority of government spending is not related to earmarks, but “non-discretionary” spending related to entitlements.
Second, freezing a massive budget is not going to help solve the problem that the spending is unsustainable to begin with, and damaging the productive economy it is predicated upon.

I eagerly await the announcement that Gitmo has closed too!

I don’t care how it gets done or why. It simply needs to get done. I don’t like Mr. Obama, because I hate what he’s done to civil liberties in this once great nation. That being said, the budget freeze and the earmarks ban are desperately needed. If Obama will do that, it simply doesn’t make sense to fight him “on principle”. Surely the public good is a higher principle than fighting Obama on anything and everything because of his horrific civil rights record.

i wish he would stop talking. nothing he says makes a bit of sense to an AMERICAN. but we all know he is not an AMERICAN. any “rational” person could show us THEIR! copy and silence critics. and for the record liberalism is a mental disease.

Freezing the budget when we’re running $1.4 trillion deficits the last 2 years is meaningless. We need to CUT spending! As in spend less than the year before for those mathematically-challenged types in the Democrat Party.
And how nice of Obama to call for a ban on earmarks AFTER he broke that pledge the last 2 years and the House GOP already banned them. Way to be ahead of the curve, Barry.

Haha! Who are you going to believe: President Obama or your lying eyes?!?!
I’ve got a better idea… I’ll let Paul Ryan and company figure out better ways to NOT spend my (and my children’s + grandchildren’s) hard earned money instead and we can see each other again on election day in 2012, Mr. President.
Deal?

Gotta love these posters..they see right thru this left wing extremist president and his job killing policies..now follow thru and post it all in your forwarded emails
You may be interested in this…Go to YouTube…type in “how liberal journalist think”.. its a riot and be sure to email it to everyone

He’s suddenly realised that the key to his re-election is to run as a republican..
OBAMA-PALIN 2012 ‘Dopes and Deranged’

Looks like this will be a battle of spending freezes vs. spending cuts.

I am so glad that we have cable so I do not have to watch the dog and pony show tonight. I am sure that the “State of the Union is Strong” and we must do “Investment Spending” We have not finished the investment spending from his last stimulus and what has been paid back had gone into the black hole of Washington. I can pass on tonight.

Obviously this article got linked on some freeper garbage heap. Move along, nothing worth reading here.

If anyone wants to really see how Barry and Co. operate, they should read that NYT piece about Fannie and Freddie.

Let’s give a recap of the SOTU speech as it will probably be given… “We have to control spending except for the “investments” that I have in mind.” (investments are the democrats way of saying we want to keep spending recklessly but we no longer want to call it that because thats why we lost the last election) “Further, we must concentrate on creating JOBS (with lazer-like focus we all assume) “Because its obvious that all the unnecessary spending we have done so far hasn’t worked, it i apparent to me that we need to SPEND MORE..” then he wll move off the economy and discuss the current climate of political rhetoric in this country. “And we want to concentrate on civility.. which is why I am calling for ALL americans to support me when I say that Republicans should never say anything bad about democrats or their policies because that’s racist, bigoted and violent. While I respect the rights of all American citizens (with a D beside their name)to have the freedom to say what ever they want. We must be careful not to impede on any one’s right’s to free speech and open discourse (provided they are not republican.) In closing let me say that we can all work together to make this country achieve the vision I have for it. And that is to be the BEST third world dictatorship in the northern hemisphere.. togethr we can do it…

Wow, I didnt know this was a FOX news site.
The ignorance here is appalling….
The one thing that THIS proud Liberal knows is that Obama WILL kowtow and give in even more to the Republicans tonite.
Gonna be a lot of third party voting in 2012…and I will be one of them….

A budget freeze?? Is this guy an idiot? THE COUNTRY IS BROKE!

NO, NO, NO!!!! —- Obama and the Democratic majority INCREASED the budget for non-discretionary spending by 15%!! —- They need to take the budget BACK to 2008 levels (at least) and THEN FREEZE!! —- Don’t try to be the “Great Budget Slasher” NOW after spending mor than any congress in history the last two years!!! —— Also, Obama promised “No more earmarks” when he was campaigning!! Should we believe him now??

So all of a sudden OBAMA is a budget hawk? After he bankrupted the country? And yes, Bush was bad too, but he was a piker compared to OBAMA, and he at least took an interest in the job, instead of letting Congress write all the legislation. What part did OBAMA play in the legislation that was passed in the last Congress? Answer: NOTHING – they wrote it, he, like the good martinet that he is, signed it. And what else has he done? Made us the laughingstock of the world, bowed and scraped before Chinese and Arab, as well as other world leaders, failed in Afghanistan, failed everywhere else, we have double digit unemployment, and are about to enter into another recession. OBAMA is a clueless incompetent, elected by a fawning media – like Kennedy and Carter – other incompetents elected as a result of a media love affair. Hopefully, we wise up in 2012!

If we want to shrink government all the people in the federal and state govt who vote republican should quit and stop being a burden on the American people.

No true citizen of the United States would settle for such a weak financial plan. Why would Mr. Obama present such a farce? Oops, I forgot!

Able to make doing nothing sound good.

Looks like a good night to watch Dirty Jobs.

You know as I know that his speech is nothing but platitude-words without meanings. I don’t believe him any words come from his mouth. It is simple truth by checking things he has done and what he has said in the past, it doen’t add up.

April Fools Day has come early.
If you believe the Spendthrift in Chief Obama is suddenly a deficit hawk, I’ve got a bridge for sale….

get out of Iraq and Afghanistan now

Obams has no choice if he still had the House he wouldn’t give a dam about what we think are want. This president is the worst we have ever had. A shoe and and a smile doesn’t cut it any more.
It is such a shame that the first black president is a liar and can not be trusted. He is weak and mean behind the scenes. God help us all the next two years.
Reis and Pelosi work every day to hurt American to advance their left wing agenda and Obama is just happy to have use of the planes, cars, and the white house and shuts up.
He just doesn’t get it – Boy were we all suckered. If only he would have done what he promised he could have been great instead of the loser he really is.

Wow, I didnt know this was a FOX news site.
The ignorance here is appalling….
Posted by: rick
________________________
What’s the matter rick? Are you afraid of anyone with a point of view other than your own? You want to keep them from speaking?

It’s earmarks. Yeah, that’s it. Not the over-reaching through health care. Not that the President promised during his campaign a “five day” viewing of bills before signing – as he stated “he had to rush” to sign. Not cap and trade. Not the bail outs. It’s the earmarks. Doesn’t get it.

ABC News quickly switched from more “investing” yesterday to budget freeze and earmark ban. Dodged that bullet. He was going to speak of more spending on education, but I think more spending is not the way to impress we the people.

You lie, Obama.

Jake, I thought the briefing today was suppose to stay under wraps until the speech started. So much for your ethical standards.

Obama doesn’t support banning earmarks. He just supports TALKING about banning earmarks. Then when a bill with thousands of earmarks lands on his desk, he quickly signs it.

Pursuing Mr. Trapper??? Where have YOU been? You mean starting…so 2012 is not also a disaster!

What happened to the whole “scalpel vs. hatchet” argument against spending freezes?

Given their woeful disregard for governing over the past 2 years, their complicity in the shameful, groundless attacks on our president by the lunatic fringe, and their utter lack of real solutions to the REAL problems we as a nation face, the Republicans deserve no credit for the economic recovery that’s starting to happen.
In this toxic political environment, Obama has been a success. Period.
Go ahead and blame the “lame stream media” for their continued love-affair with Obama, but I think something else is at play here. It’s clear that more than half of Americans recognize that the guy is working very hard for the disenfranchised middle class. How else could he have an approval rating of 53% with an unemployment rate of 9.4%?!
But please don’t let this reality impede your ranting and raving about Obama’s radical, socialist, pro-Islam, big brother, white-hating agenda.

My gosh!!! When did Obama change political parties???

Obama has zero intention of banning earmarks, and we all know it.
As to freezing the budget, he doesn’t even know the concept. he is a complete and total spendthrift, and he is incapable of changing.

Considering this is essentially the Republican plan on spending, I’d hope the GOP applauds itself for winning this fight with the president. There is literally no way to get that much in savings out of non-essential spending, so SS and Medicare will have to be cut.

JJMcKay — Did you ever stop to think that after over 3+ years in a recession, we might actually begin to pull out of it? The stimulus, according to Christine Romer, had it’s “largest effect in the last 2 quarters of 2009 and would have little to no effect in 2010″. We continue at a snails pace with no new policies to change that. What we got was a budget busting insurance law that doesn’t even help many people until 2014. So spare us with your success story. Which Democrats have come out talking about reducing spending lately? That is, of course the only way to begin lowering our deficit, besides raising taxes of course. But, even raising taxes does nothing until we get our spending in order. So please, let’s here the successes.

JJD is as blind as a bat. Enjoy watching Bill O’Reilly while you search for Michael Savage’s next rant. People like you deserve the destruction you are bringing on this country; the rest of us don’t. Please move to Canada.

I’m very leery about the “budget freeze” and “earmark ban.” As an example, if transportation is allowed 1 billion for highways, but congress earmarks 100 million for certain projects, we spend 1 billion. With a budget freeze and earmark ban, we still spend 1 billion, but presidential appointees decide where to spend that 100 million. Unless we also reduce that budget by the amount of the earmarks, we’ve gained nothing. Will our new congress have the guts to do this? This whole thing doesn’t pass the smell test.

The policies of far-right and center-right politicians like Obama are sending the U.S. into a nosedive. Taxes need to go up (slightly) and military spending needs to go down, or we can say goodbye to our superpower status.

Talk is cheap and if we’ve learned one thing about Mr. Obama, it’s that he has absolutely no problem saying what he thinks people want to hear, and that’s what we’ll get in the State of the Union. Lots of words but they’ll just be empty promises. I only wish I would be able to watch, but I’m going to be nauseous later tonight…oh wait, it’s the speech that’s going to cause the nausea:o(

JJMcKay — You might even remember when Obama slammed McCain on his “freeze the budget” idea in 2008? Now, I guess Obama just thought of it huh?-
He also thought the debt ceiling was a good idea too a few years ago.

Can’t wait to watch The Hank Haney Project: Rush Limbaugh instead. May DVR it to watch Paul Ryan’s response.

He already promised he wouldn’t sign a bill with earmarks. Now he REALLY means it. I’m sure we should all trust him this time, right? Right?

Ban earmarks? You’d have to be VERY slow to go along with a SCAM like this.
The money set for a certain bill is spent NO MATTER WHAT. Earmarks make sure that some of the money goes back to the people. If it doesn’t, the rest is given to the executive branch to spend how they please.
Congress is supposed to appropriate the funds, not the executive. OF COURSE Obama wants a ban on earmarks……… it would be great for him and bad for you.
Notice how we’re in a position where it’s impossible to pay off our debt or fix our financial system, but yet the federal government and states are cutting all your benefits (road repairs, police, fire department, etc) and keeping all the money for themselves. You’re being squeezed and you don’t even realize it.
Sure it would be nice to eliminate earmark money from a bill entirely, but what Obama is proposing is “give all the extra money to me – screw the people.”

Watch… later in the speech, after proposing a budget freeze…. Obama will them propose a new stimulus bill to “help boost the econoomy”!! — HA-HA!!

Watch… later in the speech, after proposing a budget freeze…. Obama will them propose a new stimulus bill to “help boost the econoomy”!! — HA-HA!!
Recover Summer!

First he institutes massive budget increases, and now he wants to con us by calling for a freeze?? He really thinks the American people aren’t paying attention. What we’re demanding is budget cuts. There was an election. The democrats lost.

Latest unemployment figures show the unemployment rate rose in 20 states last month as employers in most states shed jobs…… now didn’t Obama say two years ago that he was “LAZER-FOCUSED” on jobs!!! —– Oh, but first he had to make 100 speeches on healthcare reform… that 65% of Americans didn’t want!!

Obama, as we all know, will deliver the speech in his eloquent way….reading from the telepromptor. The problem with Obama is he hasn’t done anything to help business in the two years he’s been in office. We’ve seen unemployment rise, the uncertainties facing companies, and gas prices rising. For all his rhetoric, he is an anti-business president; that is unless you contributed large amounts to his election and then you get compensated like GE and Immelt. The new Congress has already started to cut spending, so this isn’t something Obama came up with. As a matter of fact there has been more spending under this administration than any other. I’ll listen tonight, but I don’t have a great deal of faith in anything Obama says. I look at what he does.

Win the Future, make Obama a one term president

Government spending has not “skyrocketed.” You are parroting untruths which you have been told by the media and the GOP. There was a big boost between 2008-2009 for what should be obvious reasons: issues of chronic unemployment drove increases in spending on programs like TANF, unemployment comp., etc. Not to mention the Stimulus spending and of course spending related to the military.

Amazing people are really appluding BO for his new look on spending. You pump the budget up for 2-3 years then you freeze it at a high level? It fixes nothing. Jobs leaving this country would be prioity I would think but his devaluing the dollar is killing the country. What does he do? He gives a big party for China and says nothing while they keep their money value low which draws our work to thier country. People keep crying about Republicans giving kick backs to the people who got them elected but say nothing about BO waving the healthcare mandate to the unions who won’t have to pay into this abortion. What about the tax money going to defend Frank Raines even after he was fired? I guess it’s okay if your a Dem. Seems like the only thing that they can do is point the finger at Bush over unemployment even though he has been gone for over 2 years and jobs are still in the crapper. Look at the housing market. I just saw where it is double dipping. I can’t imagin why? Maybe people are not working? He has not changed his spots but I’m sure many people will buy his bs. I would be shocked if he did not get re-elected. Even the people at FOX keep saying the people of this country are not stupid but I guess the test will be when he’s up for re-election.

You are parroting untruths which you have been told by the media and the GOP.-
I know, terrible. When can we expect the lies about unemployment going over 8% to stop?!?!

Let’s cut the crap: cutting government spending WILL NOT create jobs, WILL NOT repair our collapsing bridges and tunnels, WILL NOT fix our failing schools. The “free market” WILL NOT do it either… even if we roll back every regulation and continue to give the upper 2% a free ride on taxes Come to think of it, the “free market” won’t even make our mines, oil rigs, drinking water, air quality safe. Why? Not because they can’t, but because it’s not profitable to do it!
But this government spending charade is BEYOND tiresome. It’s a RED HERRING that Republicans (when they aren’t in office increasing spending themselves) dig up to attack every Democrat in power. There isn’t a SINGLE economist (not even on the WSJ payroll) who is encouraging “austerity” at this point in the recovery. Prove me wrong. Please!
And please stop parroting the GOP phony outrage over the Affordable Health Care Act. It’s as centrist a law as you can get! It works WITHIN the private health program and implements ideas that, up until Obama proposed them, were embraced wholeheartedly by Republicans! Both sides knew that our health care problems were only going to get worse, so Obama fell on the sword for the good of BOTH PARTIES. In private, the GOP is thanking Obama for doing something they could NEVER get done… what with ill-informed conspiracy theorists like Bachmann in their caucus.
The unregulated “free market” had more than FIFTY YEARS to get health care right. They blew it. Insurance companies blew it. Greed BLEW it! (And I defy any conservative to point to any evidence that the insurance industry has HEALTH CARE as its top priority.)

Typical communist. When in power do what ever you can to subvert the nation, when out of power lie and wait for the next opportunity to corrupt the system.

Can Obama Administration pay back 1 Trillion? We can can redo things for the better…

Nobody said anyone was lying about the employment level, Pete. Feel free to continue arguing about statements that were never made, however.
—
And Gitmo is closed too.

Oh yeah, Obama’s all about fiscal responsibility.
When Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) gave her inaugural address as speaker of the House in 2007, she vowed there would be “no new deficit spending.” Since that day, the national debt has increased by $5 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
“After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: Pay as you go, no new deficit spending,” Pelosi said in her speech from the speaker’s podium. “Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.”
At the close of business on Jan. 4, 2007, Pelosi’s first day as speaker, the national debt was $8,670,596,242,973.04 (8.67 trillion), according to the Bureau of the Public Debt, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department. At the close of business on Oct. 22, it stood at $13,667,983,325,978.31 (13.67 trillion), an increase of 4,997,387,083,005.27 (or approximately $5 trillion).
Pelosi, the 60th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has added more to the national debt than the first 57 House speakers combined.
And Obama SIGNED all this spending into law while complaining about our deficits. So trust him. It’ll be fine.

Fun fact: If you refer to Obama as a “socialist” or “communist” you are basically forfeiting your right to contribute to an intelligent political discussion, since you have clearly demonstrated that you do not know the meanings of the words you are using.

Pete- I was being sarcastic. I don’t know why you’re actually continuing to argue about things nobody said.
The untruths I was referring to were the GOP untruths regarding “skyrocketing” government spending (which has not occurred).

“The untruths I was referring to were the GOP untruths regarding “skyrocketing” government spending (which has not occurred).”
Good to know Rep. Rangel.

missy: “If you refer to Obama as a “socialist” or “communist” you are basically forfeiting your right to contribute to an intelligent political discussion, since you have clearly demonstrated that you do not know the meanings of the words you are using.”
Define “Hope and Change”. Since you claim to be contributing to “intelligent political discussion” you must know the meaning of those words, right?

So When my Wife tells me she ain’t gonna spend the 100k I ain’t gonna make this year… she is only gonna spend 66k of the money I ain’t gonna make…. I should be happy
ROFLMAO

JJMcKay said “I defy any conservative to point to any evidence that the insurance industry has HEALTH CARE as its top priority” —– Insurance companies are business ventures out to make a return for their shareholders just like millions of other publicly traded companies!! —- Do mutual fund companies hope clients get a good return at the expense of the company? — Do hospitals treat patients for free, at their expense, knowing they will go bankrupt… for the good of the patient? —- Actually, insurance companies hope for “healthy people” more than anyone else… because it keeps claims down… but HAVE to raise premiums when health care costs go up!! — If we resort to “government single-payer… is the GOVERNMENT going to be MORE sympathetic than insurance companies??? — You haven’t thought this out much…. you just believe insurance companies are “evil” like the progressives preach (only so they can put them out of business)!!!!

TheLoyalOpposition. You are correct. I didn’t intend to include the create jobs part in reference to the free market. Yes, the private sector creates jobs.

“If we resort to “government single-payer… is the GOVERNMENT going to be MORE sympathetic than insurance companies???”
Yes, as evidenced by nearly every other first-world country having better health care than we do, with similar wait times and less costs.

Sooo.. he’s running for re-election on a Republican ticket?
OBAMA PALIN 2012

TheRealLoyalOpposition —— Hmmmmmmm…. couldn’t come up with an “original” name… huh????

EXCLUSIVE ! Capital Maintenance Crew has huge shovels ready to clean up after the State of the Unions Address !

Shivadas — YOU content that the GOVERNMENT going to be MORE sympathetic than insurance companies??? — YOU said “Yes, as evidenced by nearly every other first-world country having better health care than we do, with similar wait times and less costs.”
You don’t know squat!!! Guess Who Has the Highest Medical Claim Rejection Rate? The AMA’s own 2008 National Health Insurer Report Card told us which insurer holds this dubious honor! Was it Aetna? Humana? Nope. It was GOVERNMENT-RUN MEDICARE!!!! —- The denial rate found in the study was, on a weighted average basis, roughly 1.7 times that of all of the private carriers combined (99,025 divided by 2,447,216 is 4.05%; 6.85% divided by 4.05% =1.69). You would think Medicare’s sheer size might enable it to have smoother procedures with its providers that would enable it to turn down a lower percentage of claims. But no, this is a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM we’re talking about!!!!

Obama has made, and broken, all these same “promises.”
He makes Saddam’s “Baghdad Bob” sound like a truth teller by comparison.
For anyone who can control his gag reflex enough to listen to Hussein this evening, here’s how to tell when he’s lying:
Watch his lips very, very closely and if they move, he’s lying.

This is nothing more than Obama claiming whatever the Republicans are doing as “his” idea. He’s “white washing” himself. It’s amazing how clueless he has been for the past two years. His positioning himself to take credit for everything, he won’t have to lie about saved jobs anymore because he will be able to claim credit for real jobs created. He will also take any credit for the deficit being reduced, etc. If any of this was his idea he would have tried them 2 years ago instead of waiting until now.
This is the most classless president we have ever had. Hitler or any good communist dictator would be so proud.

lfrichar and loyalopposition:
I know, it’s almost as though we should give health care to everyone while fixing the huge flaws in our current system! It’s not like we’re the wealthiest or most powerful country in the world or anything, though, so I have no idea where we’d find the resources to do it… Guess we’d better just maintain the status quo.

Missy —– So WHY is Obama always “hanging out” with Marxists and Socialists. —- In his first book, Obama wrote his “childhood mentor”, Frank Davis, was a communist. — In his job as a Chicago “community organizer” he worked on projects influenced by Saul Alinsky, a well known Marxist. — William Ayers is a self avowed Marxist — When Obama was at Occidental College, Obama wrote “I chose my friends carefully,” “..politically active black students.. ..Marxist professors and structural feminists.” In NYC, he attended “socialist conferences.. ..at Cooper Union.” Obama’s church and pastor of 20 years adheres to a black liberation theology, an explicitly Marxist interpretation of the Bible. —— How about the 2001 radio interview in which Obama lamented the Supreme Court’s inability to enact “redistribution of wealth”. And during the campaign, Obama’s web site has held several favorable mentions of Che Guevara, the Marxist Revolutionary. — Obama told an Ohio plumber named Joe that he wanted to “spread the wealth around.” —– He selects Czars with socialist backgrounds —- And YOU think this is ALL A COINCIDENCE??????

I do not think it’s a coincidence and I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. That he knows people who have a wide range of beliefs? It’s entirely possible to expose yourself to and examine differing ideologies and acknowledge positive aspects of them. You seem quite obsessed with labels, though this is sadly a result of talk radio and the media. Obama’s policies are pretty by-the-book center-right.

Shivadas — You said “we should give health care to everyone while fixing the huge flaws in our current system” —– I know there are flaws… the GOP has admitted flaws and proposed changes… but to accept the 2000+ page Obamacre as the “BEST” fix is only touted by those who eventually want “total govt single-payer”… because that is where this is headed! — And why would a political party create a 2,700-page health reform law that grants 1,968 powers to the APPOINTED Secretary of Health and Human Services….. and creates 159 NEW boards, bureaucracies, and programs!!! —— ONLY ONE REASON….Can you say “big government power-grab”!!!

JJMcKay | Jan 25, 2011 2:33:03 PM
Please tell us of those “protections”???? Also, while insurance rates went up over 100% in 10 years, what do you make of 30% in 1 year after the insurance regulation law was passed? But please, point out any of those protections.

More cotton candy from the feel good poet in chief… All fluff no stuff, rhetoric, smoke and mirrors, kumbaya, smiles and winks.

Missy said “You seem quite obsessed with labels” —– Hey, half of those references were in OBAMA’S OWN WORDS FROM HIS BOOKS!!! —- Actually, now that I think about it… I don’t think it WAS his own words…. just whoever wrote the book for him!!

JJMCkay says: “The unregulated ‘free market’ had more than FIFTY YEARS to get health care right.” Fifty years ago health care was just fine. Insurance paid 80% of the hospital/doctor bill and the patient paid the difference. I was 21 at that time, had graduated from college, and had a full-time job. As they still do, hospitals, physicians, and insurance companies added just a little to the total patient bill in order to help pay for the indigent. Insurance at that time could be bought interstate.
Then, government, unable to restrain itself from adhering to the advice, “If it ain’t broke, dont fix it, began to “tweak” this successful system a little. This “tweaking” wasn’t done out of concern for the indigent. It was done to garner votes and expand government intervention.
As a result of the “tweaking” most out-of-state insurance companies fled to their home states. With little competition within the states, the rates “necessarily skyrocketed”!
When it comes to buying health insurance, I take personal responsibility and ask myself: Which is worth more important to me-a boat and motor, a 60-inch TV screen, a trip to the Final Four, an extended vacation, etc., or my life. I choose my health and my life!!
I also take personal responsibility in my work ethic in conjunction with my health. The government and unions say we should have everthing we want from a 40-hour work week. A 40-hour work is an average work week. The most you should expect from a 40-hour work week is an average living. You do know though, that if you work a longer work week the government will punish you by MAKING you pay more taxes!!Whatever’s fair!!

I do not think it’s a coincidence and I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. That he knows people who have a wide range of beliefs? It’s entirely possible to expose yourself to and examine differing ideologies and acknowledge positive aspects of them. You seem quite obsessed with labels, though this is sadly a result of talk radio and the media. Obama’s policies are pretty by-the-book center-right.
Posted by: missy | Jan 25, 2011 2:34:46 PM
What happened here? Another Drudge link? (Jake must be thrilled. )
I agree with you though I think he’s center-center. On some issues center-left, on others center-right.
Actually, foreign policy results may throw him center-right. You will be mocked those who have paid no attention to facts and paint him as an anti-business Muslim, Kenyan liberal commie fascist in the pocket of America’s Wall Street… or something bizarro like that. I can’t quite follow the nonsense.

“”"”Obama’s policies are pretty by-the-book center-right.”"”"
Posted by: missy
I think I just threw up a little in my throat! LOL He couldn’t even get his Blue Dogs to agree to them!

Something to ponder….. why does the most liberal POTUS in 50 years feel the NEED to veer to the “right” to protect his chances of re-election??? — It says something about the mood of the country… and why it isn’t going to get any easier for the Dems for the next several election cycles!!!

“If 85% of your people are happy, you need to take that into account…”
And if 53% of voters vote for you after you campaigned on reforming health care, you need to take that into account in addition to the sustainability of that which you claim people were “happy” about. (what poll claimed people were “happy” btw? Sounds made up. polls showed that Americans were generally miserable in the 00′s.)

Of the 40 million (the ACTUAL number) people who didn’t have health insurance, 25 million are ILLEGAL ALIENS. There is not only NO legal obligation for them to be covered by the U.S., there is no MORAL obligation to cover them!! Just as there is NO obligation to cover poor people in ANY other country with health care PROVIDED by U.S. TAXPAYERS…..

Its his lie, He can tell it how he wants!

“It says something about the mood of the country… and why it isn’t going to get any easier for the Dems for the next several election cycles!!!”
Pop political science for a penny. How quaint. In the blogosphere, everybody’s an expert, and yet, for many, it says more about the mood of the older folks who vote in mid-terms and the state of the economy. So-called conservatives go bonkers whenever a Democrat president is elected. Conservatives have made no inroads with the growing segments of the population.

“Many of the people raging against “gubmint takeover of healthcare” are completely oblivious as to how much their quality of life would improve thanks to a U.S. version of single-payer.”
Or how much the economy would improve with massive bailouts of Wall Street! If only people knew…

PROGRESSIVEMAMA —– You said “if 53% of voters vote for you after you campaigned on reforming health care” —— Yes, BOTH sides preached “healthcare reform” in the last election…….. but the public didn’t count on a 2,700-page bill granting 1,968 powers to the APPOINTED Secretary of Health and Human Services….. and creating 159 NEW boards, bureaucracies, and programs!!!

Posted by: shivadas | Jan 25, 2011 3:01:17 PM
You’re attacking the messenger instead of debunking the facts in the post, which incidentally came from the HHS.

Shivadas —— You said “Obama is a center-right corporatist” —— OK, I’ll bite…. please tell me WHY you believe this!!!

shivadas —- I said “private insurance companies will be out of business within 10-15 years” — You said “If you have a source for this… I’d love to see it.” —— My sources are Barach Obama, Barney Frank, and Berkley Professor Jacob Hacker (the chief architect of Obamacare) —– There is video of ALL of them saying that “single-payer” is their primary GOAL… and how they were sneaking their way into it!!! —– Now you don’t have to get much better sources.. huh????? — Watch for my next post…. I’ll tell you how it will happen (IF the GOP doesn’t stop it)!!!!!!

Maybe Mitch McConnell shouldn’t feel left out after all. Before the midterm election, the New York Times reported that it took 18 months for Barack Obama to get around to meeting with the Senate Minority Leader, despite Obama’s promises to work across the aisle and to become a post-partisan President. This week, John Heileman reports for New York Magazine that McConnell fared better than some Democrats did, including a half-dozen appointed by Obama to his Cabinet. During the first two years of his presidency, Obama didn’t bother to confer with them at all — not even so much as a phone call.

Yes, it’s Talk Like a Republican Day at the White House. Words, just words.
Socialism is for the people, not the socialists…

Shivadas —— You said “Obama is a center-right corporatist” —— OK, I’ll bite…. please tell me WHY you believe this!!!
Ask Jeffery Immelt. The whole lefty thing is just a show for the suckers like Progressive Mama and the like. They fall for it every time.

progressivemama —- You said “The House Republican’s repeal bill will increase the deficit by almost $150 billion” —— ANOTHER left-wing propaganda bulletin!!!!! ——- Even the CBO now says Obamacare “raises the debt”… but how can that be when the CBO scored the bill in 2009 and declared it would cut the deficit by $147 Billion? — When the CBO measures the “debt”, they look at all interaction of all fiscal policies affected by the bill, NOT just the figures placed in front of them by the DEMS when “scoring a bill”! Looking at the big picture, the CBO can take into account that $70 Billion in class act premiums are being double counted, $53 Billion in social security taxes are being double counted, $398 Billion in Medicare cuts are being double counted, $115 Billion in new appropriations needed to hire the beauracracy that wasn’t counted in the bill, and $208 Billion for the “doc fix” that was removed into its own “stand-alone” bill. The truth is when ObamaCare is fully implemented it could cost as much as $2.6 trillion. — – COMMENT progressive mama????????

Shivadas — “trillions of taxpayer dollars supporting large corporations” —- This is called Keynesian Economics, that the government can “spend” its way out of a recession….. not very “right wing”!! —- Also, the bailouts to companies made them beholden to Obama and made some of them “government owned” for a while (or even now)… yeah… very “right wing”!! … and “stimulus” to the states had strings attached…..forcing them to promise to spend more money in the future that could lead them closer to bankrupcy (and therefore dependence on the FED… can you say California!!)

A budget FREEZE is woefully INADEQUATE!! The Republicans/Independents are going to DEMAND (as the citizenry wants) a REDUCTION in spending to pre-2006 levels. Using the newspeak-like term “investment” repeatedly tonight will just expose Obama as the TAX AND SPENDER that he TRULY is….

“”"”Single-payer would be fantastic for our country. “”"”"
Posted by: shivadas
Wow, craniums are thicker everyday. So you are OK with our President underhandidly trying to circumvent a system that has survived over 200 years to get his agenda through? How about he just write it into the legislation and put it up to vote? Oh wait, he did and it was soundly rejected by his own party (remember public option and the Blue Dogs)? Stop defending what can’t be defended.

Posted by: Todd P. | Jan 25, 2011 3:30:30 PM
Well, that is interesting since the Republican House leadership isn’t even willing to go out on a limb and fully embrace the RSC’s proposal (or Ryan’s road map)and all polling suggests otherwise. It isn’t nearly the priority for most people that you think it is. What is (hint: jobs and the economy).
lol.

I’ve always said he was a centrist, slightly center-left but over time he’s proven to be center-center. Examples include the health care bill, the financial regulation bill, foreign policy, FISA, etc. The suckers seem to be those on the right wee-weeing all over themselves because an alleged Muslim communist anti-business corporatist is in office. (And did we mention, he’s *black”, stage whisper on the *black*)–
Why didn’t you ask Mr. Immelt?

I’m not disagreeing that Medicare is full of problems. A universal single-payer system that addresses and fixes these problems would be a much better idea, and is definitely within the realm of possibility. The trouble is, Medicare is political kryptonite. If you so much as hint at wanting to change or eliminate Medicare, you’re liable to anger elderly people and baby boomers, both of which are groups that tend to lean to the right. Yes, they rail against socialism all day long, but they become outraged by the prospect of losing their government-provided health care.

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | Jan 25, 2011 3:35:38 PM
Yes, see power grabs made by Reagan, Bush, Bush, Clinton, etc. It’s a right wing/neocon – centrist/moderate thang.
That isn’t to say I don’t agree with Russ Feingold on this:
“I’m going to be supporting President Obama. I don’t see it as productive to go after, and basically make it very difficult for, somebody to be re-elected who I think has, at least in a number of areas, some progressive instincts. I think there’s still great opportunity for him. So I’m not one who believes that a primary challenge that would weaken him in a serious way is a good idea. Now, I understand some people are of the opinion that a challenge would strengthen him; but I’m a little bit skeptical. I look at these Republican candidates [laughs] and I know pretty well who I want to be president. You know, this is serious business, when you see what these people [Republicans] want to do. You give them a president, and we are really in trouble.”
(See his whole interview with The Nation. Feingold is actually a progressive, firmly on the left, rather than a centrist with some good progressive instincts as he describes Obama. )

• While the Democrats rightfully gripe about Bush taking a $200 BILLION Dollar into a $200 BILLION Dollar deficit in 8 years they ignore what Obama has done in 2 years. He has taken a $200 Billion Dollar deficit and turned it into a $1500 Billion Dollar deficit, This in only TWO YEARS. To see the real damage you have to look at deficit to GDP ratio. Bush had the deficit at 2% of the GDP, Obama has taken this to 12% of the GDP! I know Obama is beginning to see this, but it’s already too late for our children. They will be strapped with this debt for years after we are gone. I just hope the liberals wake up before it is too late for our grandchildren.

“So you are OK with our President underhandidly trying to circumvent a system that has survived over 200 years to get his agenda through?”
Aside from the fact that nothing about the bill was “underhanded,” are you REALLY going to try to use this argument? Think carefully before you do this. Going around saying “why can’t things in America be the way they were 200 years ago” is not going to end well for you.

“shivadas — I never doubted that YOU wanted “single-payer” —– but then why doesn’t the Dems just come out and preach their intentions to the public…. get elected on how you REALLY feel… not what you say!?!?!?!?! —- I guess the Dems are too squeemish for that”
This is the only thing you have posted which comes remotely close to being correct.

Shivadas said “Aside from the fact that nothing about the bill (Obamacare) was “underhanded,” ——- Ha ha ha ha …. yeah, I guess that since Pellosi didn’t even read it until it was passed….. and the American public didn’t see the 1,968 powers to the APPOINTED Secretary of Health and Human Services….. and the 159 NEW boards, bureaucracies, and programs …… nO, it wasnt’ shoved down our throats!!!!!!

You don’t freeze spending at the extraordinary “emergency” levels from the past two years! Government spending in the past two years was like doubling fertilizer for a plant and expecting the plant to grow trice as fast. It usually kills the plant instead!

Bicker, bicker, bicker…call names…insult each others intelligence….sheesh…and we wonder why the government can’t get anything done….

“I’m a strong believer that the earmarking process in Congress isn’t what the American people really want to see when it comes to making tough decisions about how taxpayer dollars are spent,” the president said. “And I, in the rush to get things done, had to sign a bunch of bills that had earmarks in them, which was contrary to what I had talked about. And I think folks look at that and they said, ‘Gosh, this feels like the same partisan squabbling, this seems like the same ways of doing business as happened before.’”
________________________________________________
Funny thing is, IF he had the bills posted for the American public to see as he promised to do on the campaign trail, WE could have told him before hand “hey, hold on a minute, we don’t want you to ‘rush’ and sign these things, they are loaded with earmarks and we’d rather have a sensible approach to this than you just whisking your pen across it.” But, like so many other promises that the American Idol president put out there, allowing us to see what’s going on just didn’t pan out. Shocking…

Excuse me, Barry is only proposing a PARTIAL spending freeze, which means all his cronies will still get hefty increases in their booty!

Kindergartener learn to color within the lines! Most politicians do not feel staying within the lines applies to them because they are the next Leonardo da Vinci! Sadly this is not the case.

A budget freeze!!!???? A budget FREEEEZZZEEE!!!!????!!! The current budget is $1.4 trillion. A freeze ain’t gonna do ANYTHING! We need MASSIVE budget cuts and FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I am sure that BO will give fiscal responsibility lip service in his speech (he is a good liar), but he will not mean a word he says. He’s just trying to reactivate his Svengali spell over the weak minded and gullible.

Spending freeze isn’t nearly good enough, especially when so many public sector union workers are already overpaid grossly and there are too many goverment jobs. A freeze is wimpy, we need to cut entitlements and jobs.

Huh interesting that – crank spending through the roof – pass a pork stuffed bill then turn around and say “let’s do the right thing and limit everything from now on” – total empty gimmick – who wouldn’t think this is a good idea but then again why would anyone trust you either?

Budget freeze?…The sad part is, most Americans will believe he’s on “the right track”. Now that we’re solidly on the path to self destruction…let’s hold it there! He’s a genius.

Neither party has stopped using earmarks and porkbarrel, at least no longer than a few days. As far as not spending more funds than they have, Republicans generally promise it, but neither party does it. Both are concerned about health care costs going up and neither have stopped the rapid increase. Both express concern about Social Security, but both raid the extra money that Social Security brings in and spend it on other things. Both speak for the American public, but both work for themselves, their party, and the rich and powerful because they have a working relationship with their lobbists and deep pockets for elections. Quit complaining about this President when previous Presidents have done the same things. You need to get mad at both parties for creating these dishonest arguments that wastes our time when we should be angry at both parties for real reasons. Judge both parties by what they have accomplished and not by their words.

A freeze on spending for fy 2010? Are you kidding? By the group and leader who spent like no one else, ever. Spending $1.65 for every $1 of revenue. With a track record like that, only a fool would think it is a good idea at that level.
Let’s get groundups making groundup decisions. Listen to Ryan this eve.

Don’t worry about what he will say today. Watch Diane Soyer and the whole hosts of every networks and cables will sing the OB’s songs no matter what he says, what the facts are. I suggest all of you that today’s speech and the one of last year and take a close look with three things in mind: Jobs, spending, home price. All of this what he has promised and what he has done so far is disastrous, and disgracefull, dangerous. I don’t believe any words spill from his mouth. But this time I want to check whether the media people have brains or not or they just close their eyes and ears then sing and praise their extremist lest OB whatever he throws up

Honestly, what I’ve come to realize about Republicans is this: Republicans just hate Obama. He takes the moderate position and agrees to a compromise deal to cut taxes, and Republicans say it isn’t enough. He proposes a moratorium on budget increases. Republicans call him names. I’ve just come to realize that I just don’t like Republicans, pure and simple. Especially not aggressive, neo-con war mongering hypercapitalist republicans. I just think they’re bad people. I will never vote for them. I will never like them. Nothing Obama can ever do will make you agree with him, or respect him. It’s just pure bias, nothing else. Talking to republican is like talking to a child. And I’m just here to let you know: my whole generation is through with you guys. You’re an embarrassment to our country. You’ve been bought by greedy corporations. You’ve done nothing about real issues like our nation being inundated by third world immigration. And it’s over. Republicans will not hold power in thirty years. If we’re lucky the party will disintegrate and one with a bit of integrity will crop up in time. If we’re really lucky, the entire federal government will collapse. But really, republicans are an embarrassment. They make it hard to like even one of them. They’re just bad people. It’s harder not to stereotype them than it is not to stereotype black people… Really, I just had to say this. It was like an urge I needed to get off my back. The things you guys say about Obama… the guy is doing the best he can in a terible, violent political environment, and frankly he’s hardly equipped or wise enough to deal with the real, true, politically incorrect dilemmas facing our country. Sad though, really sad. Yeah we’re screwed. You know why? Because we’re lost as a nation. The left is insane. The right is more insane. I mean we can’t get anything right, not even partially. We are a nation of idiots; bona fide, ideologue idiots. Idiots who totally believe with absolute certitude in their absurd, illogical, prejudiced, irrational, often perverse thoughts. That is the scariest kind of idiot there is.

While it won’t make a noticeable dent in the deficit, it will prevent both parties from buying votes with earmarks. Too many earmarks are quietly slipped in, just to get someone to vote for a bill that they wouldn’t otherwise vote for in good conscience.
If nothing else, it emphasizes a mindset to reduce spending. We all have to live within our means. It’s about time our government started doing the same.

“Honestly, what I’ve come to realize about Republicans is this: Republicans just hate Obama….
You complain about Republicans calling the president names, and then proceed to post a long post of name calling directed at Republicans..

A budget freeze? Give me a break. How is freezing a budget that has been $1.5 trillion in the red for the past 3 years going to solve the budget crisis? Nice try Comrade. As for earmarks, didn’t he try that line when he got elected then produce a bailout bill with over 5,000 earmarks in it. The man is a habitual liar and if the Republicans don’t remind the public of these lies then they’re idiots also. As for the public, many will know that he’s just lying but many of the independent morons that voted for him might still believe him.

Talk is cheap!

MSNBC and Fox News — opposite sides of the same propaganda machine that fuels divisiveness and distraction among the people — all while the banksters grow their hoards of ill-gotten riches with the aid of their paid-off politicians. Mr. President, fess up and expose the lies and you’ll have the people behind you. Keep on being a sock puppet President (like Bush) and your legacy will end up in the dustbin of world history.

Nat’l Journal version of the SOTU is about 6,800 words. Gettysburg Address:272. Decl of Independ: 1,458, Constitution: 4,543

Obama says he is going to create more jobs and put money in peoples pockets. Yea hes creating more jobs so people like you and me go work and some of our money goes into lazy peoples pocket, thats distributing the wealth. Thats what he wants to do, give to all those people that dont go work, wear baggy pants and caps backwards and selling drugs. Thats who he wants to help out in the long run those people that sleep late no job to report to and run around at night stealing what you and me worked hard for and partying and drug activities.You know which people Im talking about!

The Master of Illusion is Back !

I wish some of you would go to fact check and see who wants all the pork that has been stuffed into the bills and to see how many of your politicans who voted against the stimulus had their hands out before the ink even dried on that bill. And remember where the stimulus came from lets not forget that.

The President is a rock star. It is so great that he cares what more could we ask for. He wants all of us to be financial fit and healthy. Repulicans need to look in the mirror and see that the people they represent are like all of us. Listen to the President and we will be better off. GREAT SPEECH!!!

Obama’s worst speech ever, ego of nothing.

As always, I am extremely proud of what President Obama is trying to accomplish….We need to all be open minded and willing to try new things…..And, we must unite and do it together……..I thought the speech was very much on point with the issues at hand; which hopefully will be resolved in a more timely manner that in the past. We need to be patient and supportive of the changes that need to be made in order for us to have a better America. As the late Walt Disney said, “All dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Let’s walk the talk and realize that we can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. We need to unite for the common good for all of our sakes…God Bless America…..Continued Blessings to President Obama and his cabinet.

Pres. Obama is a wonderfully accomplished performer. In preparation for the 2012 elections we must watch closely through the smoke and mirrors to see what is done. Will the Mexican/U.S.A. border be closed? Will mortgage foreclosures slow then stop? Will teachers receive more pay for the same poor job? Will earmarks stop?

He says he will freeze spending and at the same time proposes new spending on government projects – suggesting doubling of previous spending.

I see the ceriticism in reference to Barak’s speech Onace Again is in full bloom.Paul Ryan’s Republican response was full of obama didn’t say or do this that and the third and the same ol our children will have to pay for this and that. Okay we understand that, we’ve heard it over and over again but when will the Republicans produce any jobs. It’s almost february. What are the Republicans going to produce besides a bunch of criticism and talk.

“What are the Republicans going to produce besides a bunch of criticism and talk.”
Liberals said the same thing when Republicans won House majority under Clinton. Look at the unemployment numbers from 1993 to 2007 and compare 2007 to present when democrats had control.

While the president gave an uplifting speech last night and said what we could accomplish with cooperation and working together, Mr. Ryan gave a somber sinking feeling speech. While we all realize cuts need to be made Mr. Ryan wants to do away with medicaid and give out vouchers to the people. What happens to those with pre-existing conditions…what insurance company will take them without charging exorbident fees? What will happen to these people…they will wind up in the emergency rooms with no insurance and this will raise the deficit which we are trying to control. His ideas are useless and not practical at all. His gloom and doom response is not what this country needs. We need something uplifting like saying we can achieve great things and we will. Everyone is tired of feeling down and want some encouragement and that is what this president did last night. He was appealing to the republicans to ask that they stop this nonesense and start working together to achive things. Look at how successful he was in the lame duck session…more than any other president and still the reps. refuse to work with this man and only want to take down everything he has accomplished. Remember, it was Bush who gave out the first bailout and that the recession started in 2007 and Obama and Mc Cain did not want to give it but went along in a spirit of working together…something these republicans seem to forget and will not do. The success of this country depends on not repealling the health care bill which is fine…it depends on how adults act and how they will see that like the lame duck session….things can be accomplished and they can be done together. Never in the history of this nation has one party held up the success of a nation like this republican party. They say they are for the people..not true..the people want unity and it was they who did ot want the unemployment bill extended nor the money given to the 9/11victims. We all need to open our eyes and see just who really want to help this nation not just a party.

The Republicans should agree to freezing the budget to 2008 levels adjusted for inflation. As any Social Security recipient knows the government says that there has not been any inflation adjustment in benefits for the past two years!

I love the idea of banning earmarks and a partial budget freeze.
The idea of signing good legislation with pork attached never was a good idea but an invitation for graft and bribery.
We need the partial budget freeze and a very careful look at other spending, such as military. After working in business for years, I can tell you every department tries to increase their budget yearly whether they need it or not. It is a way to look necessary and busy. Same with spending each year’s budget. Bosses would spend it on anything, (but increasing workers salaries) rather than give the money back. (One guy spent thousands illogically moving offices from one end of the building to the other at the end of the year, just to use up his budget.) For the military, I’m all for paying our troops better, less for the most expensive newest missiles rather than buying the old reliables. There is probably a lot of waste that could be cut out.
Great State of the Union speech!