Obama: 2012 ‘Make or Break’ Year For Middle Class
EmailWith the New Year just around the corner, President Obama said there will be “difficult debates” and “tough fights” ahead but that he’s hopeful the American people will come together to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.
“There’s no doubt that 2012 will bring even more change,” the president said in his weekly address from Hawaii, where he’s vacationing with his family. “As we head into the New Year, I’m hopeful that we have what it takes to face that change and come out even stronger – to grow our economy, create more jobs, and strengthen the middle class.”
Obama continued to describe the year to come as a “make-or-break” moment for the middle class, explaining “the actions we take in the months ahead will help determine what kind of country we want to be, and what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in.”
The president said he’s optimistic about the upcoming year, in part because of the way lawmakers came together to extend the payroll tax cut and because the American public got involved. “It was good to see members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans. But it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate,” he said as he enlisted Americans’ help in the challenges ahead. “You had the courage to believe that your voices could make a difference. And at the end of the day, they made all the difference.”
“I’m confident that if we work together, and if you keep reminding folks in Washington what’s at stake, then we will move this country forward and guarantee every American the opportunities they deserve,” Obama said as he wished Americans a “happy new year.”
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Obama’s about 3 years late with this speech. The middle class already had their make or break year back when Obama took office. I guess it wasn’t as important then since he wasn’t going to be running for re-election for another 3 years, more or less.
Posted by: whatever | December 31, 2011, 7:24 am 7:24 am
By middle class he means union and government workers. Everyone else can go pound salt.
Posted by: Andy | December 31, 2011, 7:31 am 7:31 am
Shouldn’t this have been the focus the year he took office, not when he is up for reelection?
Posted by: Lois | December 31, 2011, 8:27 am 8:27 am
If we can get you out of office we might have a chance. B.O. is the worst thing to happen to the middle class since the Bubonic Plague.
Posted by: ray | December 31, 2011, 8:32 am 8:32 am
Whatever, obama is not 3 years late with this speech at all. H ell, he has used the same tired rhetoric time after time to keep his minions and lemmings dancing to his chin music. Remember “We MUST pass this bill, or else the economy will crash!”; “If the Republicans wont compromise and do it MY way, the US will cease to exist”….”If we don’t support my plan, then granny will have to remove her own appendix when she gets sick!”. This fool in the white house has used his “If not_____, then_____” campaign speech daily. I suppose a community organizer has no better weapon than creating class warfare.
Posted by: Libwatch | December 31, 2011, 8:37 am 8:37 am
obama u are sure to win.U’ve got my vote
Posted by: krishanth | December 31, 2011, 8:41 am 8:41 am
Congrats Krish, you just told the world you are an absolute sheep with not a shred of ability to recognize reality. People who still blindly follow O or any other politician for that matter, deserve to be treated as the sheep they are. Line up, Krish. The gubment has its shears ready for you.
Posted by: Krishanthisanidiot | December 31, 2011, 9:09 am 9:09 am
REASON # 1 — Why I WILL NOT vote for a Republican…
The results of the past 63 years show this…
–> If you want unemployment to remain above 6% four years from now, history shows us that you have a 100% chance of that happening if a Republican is in the White House.
–> If you want unemployment to drop below 5% four years from now, history shows us that you have a 75% chance of that happening if a Democrat is in the White House.
Going all the way back to 1953…every time we have had 8 or more consecutive years of Republican administrations in the White House, unemployment starts low with them (handed to them by the outgoing Democratic administration), then ends up ABOVE 6% after those 8 years are done.
Going all the way back to 1953…every time we have had 8 or more consecutive years of Democratic administrations in the White House, unemployment starts high (handed to them by the outgoing Republican administration), but then ends up BELOW 6% after those 8 years are done.
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:22 am 9:22 am
REASON # 1 — Why I WILL NOT vote for a Republican…
THE DATA:
DEMOCRAT – Harry Truman
January 1953, Democrat Harry Truman hands the White House over to Republican Dwight Eisenhower.
Unemployment Rate (January ’53) = 2.9%
REPUBICAN – Dwight Eisehower
January 1953, Takes White House….. Unemployment Rate that month = 2.9%
January 1961, Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 6.6%
NOTE: After 8 years, a Republican hands the White House back over to a Democrat with unemployment ABOVE 6%.
DEMOCRATS – John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson
January 1961, Kennedy Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 6.6%
January 1969, Johnson Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 3.4%
NOTE: After 8 years, a Democrat hands the White House back over to a Republican with unemployment BELOW 5%.
REPUBLICANS – Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford
January 1969, Nixon Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 3.4%
January 1977, Ford Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 7.5%
NOTE: After 8 years, a Republican (again) hands the White House back over to a Democrat with unemployment ABOVE 6%.
DEMOCRAT – Jimmy Carter
January 1977, Carter Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 7.5%
January 1981, Carter Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 7.5%
REPUBLICANS – Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush (Bush # 1)
January 1981, Reagan Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 7.5%
January 1993, Bush # 1 Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 7.3%
NOTE: After 12 years, a Republican (again) hands the White House back over to a Democrat with unemployment ABOVE 6%.
DEMOCRAT – Bill Clinton
January 1993, Clinton Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 7.3%
January 2001, Clinton Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 4.2%
NOTE: After 8 years, a Democrat (again) hands the White House back over to a Republican with unemployment BELOW 5%.
REPUBLICAN – George W. Bush (Bush # 2)
January 2001, Bush # 2 Takes White House…. Unemployment Rate that month = 4.2%
January 2009, Bush # 2 Leaves White House… Unemployment Rate that month = 7.8%
NOTE: After 8 years, a Republican (again) hands the White House back over to a Democrat with unemployment ABOVE 6%.
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:23 am 9:23 am
REASON # 2 — Why I will NOT vote for a Republican…
Looking back 34 years, to 1977…… every single Republican we’ve had in the White House has had a NET LOSS in U.S. “Made In America” manufacturing jobs, comparing the manufacturing jobs numbers from the January of the year that they took office with the January of the year that they leave office.
Looking back 34 years, to 1977…… every single Democrat we’ve had in the White House has had a NET GAIN in U.S. “Made In America” manufacturing jobs, comparing the manufacturing jobs numbers from the January of the year that they took office with the January of the year that they leave office.
Here are the End-Result Tallies by Political Party and Presidents:
Republican administration LOSSES in U.S. Manufacturing Jobs over the past 34 years . . .
. . . . . . . . Reagan = -582,000
. . . . . . . . Bush # 1 = -1,266,000
. . . . . . . . Bush # 2 = -4,555,000
TOTAL = – 6,403,000 (“6.4 million MADE IN AMERICA jobs gone”)
Democratic administration GAINS in U.S. Manufacturing Job over the past 34 years . . .
. . . . . . . . Carter = + 836,000
. . . . . . . . Clinton = + 323,000
. . . . . . . . Obama = + 153,000 (in 2010) and + 146,000 (in 2011)
TOTAL = + 1,312,000 (“1.3 million MADE IN AMERICA jobs GAINED”)
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
REASON # 2 — Why I will NOT vote for a Republican…
THE DATA… “Manufacturing Sector Employed” numbers in the USA, available at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Notice the GAINS under Democratic administrations and the LOSSES under Republican administrations…
Democrat – Jimmy Carter
January 1977, Carter Takes White House…. # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 17,803,000
January 1981, Carter Leaves White House… # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 18,639,000
NET GAIN in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs under this Democrat = +836,000
Republican – Ronald Reagan
January 1981, Reagan Takes White House…. # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 18,639,000
January 1989, Reagan Leaves White House… # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 18,057,000
NET LOSS in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs under this Republican = -582,000
Republican – George H.W. Bush (Bush # 1)
January 1989, Bush # 1 Takes White House…. # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 18,057,000
January 1993, Bush # 1 Leaves White House… # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 16,791,000
NET LOSS in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs under this Republican = -1,266,000
(LOL!… “1.3 million” U.S. manufacturing jobs lost under Bush # 1)
Democrat – Bill Clinton
January 1993, Clinton Takes White House…. # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 16,791,000
January 2001, Clinton Leaves White House… # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 17,114,000
NET GAIN in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs under this Democrat = +323,000
Republican – George W. Bush (Bush # 2)
January 2001, Bush # 2 Takes White House…. # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 17,114,000
January 2009, Bush # 2 Leaves White House… # of Manufacturing Jobs that month = 12,559,000
NET LOSS in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs under this Republican = -4,555,000
(LOL!… “4.6 million” U.S. manufacturing jobs lost under Bush # 2; Bush # 2 had NET LOSSES in U.S. manufacturing jobs each and every year that he was in office.)
Democrat – Barrack Obama
2010 —> In 2010, for the first time since Bill Clinton, the nation had a NET GAIN of +153,000 “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs.
2011 —> In 2011 up to this last month’s data (November), for the SECOND TIME since Bill Clinton, the nation has had a NET GAIN in “MADE IN AMERICA” manufacturing jobs equal to +146,000 so far in 2011.
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:29 am 9:29 am
REASON # 3 — Why I will NOT vote for a Republican…
Going back to 1977, every time we’ve had the Democrats controlling at least 2-out of-3 of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, the nation’s TRADE DEFICIT shrinks (the USA imports less and exports more).
Going back to 1981, every time we’ve had the Republicans controlling at least 2-out of-3 of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, the nation’s TRADE DEFICIT grows (the USA imports more and exports less).
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Those Shallow “R’s” Always Make Me Laugh! | ——– Please stop posting facts and figures. The Right Wing sees them and it may as well be Latin to them. They are genetically incapable of assimilating that information and comprehending its meaning. It is simply much too complicated for their minds to grasp.
Posted by: A Cynic | December 31, 2011, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Ever since from 2008 the legend-in-his-own mind guy – a.k.a. Federal Reserve Chairman Mr. Ben Bernanke made the key interest rate close to zero, I’ve decided to keep my Million dollar worth of asset stick with fixed. Heck, the way I figure when it becomes time for me to provide financial assistance to my Grand-Kids for their college education funds, those assets at least would STILL be worth Million. In other words, even though that genius-in-his-own mind guy – a.k.a. Federal Reserve Chairman Mr. Ben Bernanke would never force me to become a victim of the Wall-Street. Oh, BTW since Mr. Obama picked Mr. Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman for his Second term, I won’t vote for Mr. Obama again – simply because he lied when his campaign slogan was “Change” and yet he picked a loser – so should he become one as well coming 2012!
Posted by: Get_Down | December 31, 2011, 9:33 am 9:33 am
REASON # 3 — Why I will NOT vote for a Republican…the U.S. Trade Deficit (much the country imports vs how much we export)…
… BALLOONS whenever Republicans control at least 2-of-3 of the White House, Senate and House
…. and REDUCES whenever Democrats control at least 2-of-3 of the White House, Senate and House:
THE DATA:
1977 to 1980, Democrats control 3-of-3, i.e., the White House, Senate and the House of Representatives
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1977 = $27.2 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1980 = $19.4 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit REDUCES by 29% when Democrats controlled 3-of-3.
1981 to 1986, Republicans control 2-of-3, i.e., the White House (Ronald Reagan) and the Senate
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1981 = $ 16.2 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1986 = $138.5 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit INCREASES by 755% when Republicans control 2-of-3.
1987 to 1994, Democrats control 2-of-3, i.e., the Senate and the House of Representatives
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1987 = $151.7 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1994 = $ 98.5 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit REDUCES by 35% when Democrats control 2-of-3.
1995 to 2000, Republicans control 2-of-3, i.e., the Senate and the House of Representatives
U.S. Trade Deficit in 1995 = $ 96.4 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 2000 = $376.7 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit INCREASES by 291% when Republicans control 2-of-3.
2001 to 2006, Republicans control 3-of-3, i.e., the White House (Bush # 2), the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
U.S. Trade Deficit in 2001 = $361.8 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 2006 = $753.3 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit INCREASES by 108% when Republicans control 3-of-3.
2007 to 2010, Democrats control 3-of-3…
U.S. Trade Deficit in 2007 = $696.7 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit in 2010 = $500.0 billion
U.S. Trade Deficit REDUCES by 28% when Democrats control 3-of-3.
Posted by: Those Shallow "R's" Always Make Me Laugh! | December 31, 2011, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Little can be done, you have bad trade deals, a huge labor surplus, and very few labor unions. We have millions of illegal workers, that does in the labor market, no one is expecting a pay raise any time soon, some don’t even expect a job. The ways to divide wealth created from work is unions, government policies, markets like the labor market. Nothing is being proposed to change anything, we are set on a path of huge division of wealth, and a rotten economy for decades to come, until the end of democratic capitalism. The damages done by Bush and the republicans, not only in the Bush Administration, but going back decades, will never be undone, our path is set, permanent decline.
Posted by: gtbdave | December 31, 2011, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Those shallow R’s and none of the right wingers couldn’t come back and support their ideology directly from the source, they probably go to some right wing website. BLS and CBO historical tables in black and white are too difficult to comprehend. I love the fact when they come on here saying how much the president has spent, they don’t grasp the concept that deficit and spending are not synonymous, they just assume a higher deficit means more spending simple elementary school math, really are they doing that on purpose to mislead us and assume we don’t have that level of a mathematical mind? GWB is still the record holder in a single year and he cooked the books.
Posted by: emerald_sparks | December 31, 2011, 9:52 am 9:52 am
These republican candidates are only good for entertainment value not election material.
Posted by: emerald_sparks | December 31, 2011, 9:54 am 9:54 am
GTBDave: Only 12% workforce unionized, notice less jobs, the less unionized we become?
Posted by: emerald_sparks | December 31, 2011, 9:56 am 9:56 am
Mr. Obama cares about the middle class……every 4 years.
Posted by: Bam Bam Flintstone | December 31, 2011, 10:16 am 10:16 am
But at least oBama has created more millionaire’s than any other president…. problem is, they used to be multi-millionaire’s… before the “error of oBama”.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | December 31, 2011, 10:28 am 10:28 am
#1 reason i will not vote demorcrat. Barack Oboma! End of story.
Posted by: JW | December 31, 2011, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Obama the most corrupt president since Nixon, still stonewalling Solyndra scandal, Lightsquared scandal, Fast&Furious Scandal, where his justice department is complicit in the death of a border agent and 26 other crimes….and money taken from Jon Corzine as he screams I don’t know nothing about MF GLOBAL missing money… Where is the 1.2 billion Obama? When will Corzine be arrested and prosecuted?….ABC spoonfed and happy like a baby looks the other way
Posted by: garbage patrol | December 31, 2011, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Fastest rise in our debt in history under the corrupt community organizer known as Obama. Nothing has changed: Obama still sucks. Obvious.
Posted by: Sai | December 31, 2011, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Obama’s Hope and Change, lol. Translation: We can all only Hope (perhaps in vain) that we have some small Change left to jingle in our pockets when his crappy term is mercifully finished.
Posted by: BraveNewWorld | December 31, 2011, 10:55 am 10:55 am
Obama’s serious setbacks in his first term will be rectifried in his second term once he gets his groove on and all of his bigger programs get put in place. Taxes will be higher and it will take much longer to pay off our huge debt, but it will be worth it for everyone in the longer run.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | December 31, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
The President does not understand the difference between “Cause and Effect”! He keeps trying to place bandage on top of bandage trying to change the effect without dealing with the root cause! Until irresponsible out of control spending has been addressed the country will continue into off of the economic cliff! The best hope for 2012 is new leadership with the ability to use critical thinking to come up with solutions to the root cause!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | December 31, 2011, 11:11 am 11:11 am
Obama cares about “the middle class” about as much as most of us care about the sex life of plankton. He is just another self-absorbed rich guy (who became rich by being a corrupt politician) who uses poor man’s demagoguery to attain and keep power. Some very gullible people need to wise up quick, but probably they will. Obama is quite likely to lose. He basically has no positive record of accomplishments to run on, only failures and expensive disasters to defend against.
Posted by: Bobomcstevens | December 31, 2011, 11:12 am 11:12 am
“obama u are sure to win.U’ve got my vote.”
POSTED BY: KRISHANTH
I can only wish you were being sarcastic and thus kidding. But I fear you are actually that deluded. Obama the Windbag Failure has lost many millions of those mislead folks who voted him last time. And many of those who “support” him are lukewarm at best, and will stay home on election day. But please do show up and vote for him if it will make you somehow feel better. LOL, indeed.
Posted by: Manny | December 31, 2011, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Middle class? Many who voted for this brother named Obama are poor. i don’t care about the Republicans, but i sure as He!! won’t be votin’ for Obama again. He done nothin for me. That’s a fact.
Posted by: Jamica Jones | December 31, 2011, 11:31 am 11:31 am
I’m going to a New Year’s party tonight with a bunch of Republicans. Maybe if I keep quiet they won’t notice I’m a vegan and a Democrat. Otherwise, I may end up on a spit on the barbie. By the way, Mr. Obama, you are not one of the 99%. You have shown that you know nothing about the Middle Class.
Posted by: Roscoe Chait | December 31, 2011, 11:41 am 11:41 am
A recent EU study of 108 countries found that, surprise, the bigger the government the smaller the GDP. That is an inconvenient truth for the party of govt by govt for govt, Obama’s social democrats.
Posted by: foggy | December 31, 2011, 11:47 am 11:47 am
Obama is right, it will be make or break for the middle class in 2012. Now we will see which party supports the middle class. I’m still waiting on the 2001, 2003 Bush Jobs bill to create jobs. Still waiting on the 2010 GOP promise of jobs. Still waiting…
Posted by: Debbie | December 31, 2011, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Let me expand on my previous comments on another thread in which I laid out the undeniable case for further consideration of our phenom president named Obama… yes, expand a bit more if i might keep your attention awhile longer while I elucuidate what I was speaking about but only a short time ago, immediately to the precedent of the previous comingled, diaphanous, multilayered argument. Where was I? Yes, the proclivity of idots to be idiot-like in the parameters of the party system obnoxioulsy hides the tacit corruption at the root of the smeblance of foundatonal logistics. Anyone knows that much. Then there’s the useful wankerdom of current Obama-mania, amongst adults and teenie girls at the mall. Both rudiments must be ensconced within the reigning democratic strategems and rhetorics of change and naughtiness of the opposition. It is how Obama will win. Yes. Rebut me if you can.
Posted by: Dwight | December 31, 2011, 11:52 am 11:52 am
B.O. is the worst thing to happen to the middle class since the Bubonic Plague
—————————————————
if you’re in the middle class and think things are bad for now just wait till you see what happens if the Republicans get a chance to impose their austerity measures and massive spending cuts…you’re going to just love them.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 11:53 am 11:53 am
foggy, how is Somalia doing? There’s no tyranny of taxation, regulation or big government deficits. ON the other hand, there is conflict, chaos, violence, starvation, rampant rape and abuse.
The inconvenient truth for the goofballs of the Republican base is that the negative effects of the lack of a central government are obvious and there are examples like Somalia.
Posted by: Sarafina | December 31, 2011, 11:56 am 11:56 am
“…he’s hopeful the American people will come together to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.” Does the president really believe that his policies don’t impact the well-being of Americans? If he’s interested in ANY class of people he’ll stop with the idiotic class warfare rants and focus on policy that allows us to keep more of what we make and give employers the confidence that Obamacare isn’t go to kill the economy. The economy will grow (not by magic) when Americans have a more favorable outlook on the future. DUH. This president simply doesn’t get “it” or he’s so entrenched with his ideology that it will never get through to him. THIS is just another problem with electing a suit….no executive experience, no real governing experience, no private industry experience. And then he surrounds himself with people who are equally clueless. I don’t care how smart they think they are. We need people who know how to get things done in a market-based, capitialistic economy. Obama and his faithful can retire to Europe next January and enjoy the lifestyle of the European, social justice utopia they so deperately want here.
Posted by: s | December 31, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Another inconvenient truth: progressive is the most popular and positively viewed political label in America right now.
Americans care about the middle class regardless of the fact that the GOP and the right wing do not.
Posted by: Reese | December 31, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
“Still waiting…”
POSTED BY: DEBBIE
Waiting on Obama, too? Or are you only waiting on the GOP to deliver since they appear so much more competent? Lots of promises made by Obama, nearly none kept. However, if he follows my advice in my earlier erudite post he may stand a slim chance. I’ve studied it, so I know.
Posted by: Dwight | December 31, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
2012 “make or break”? Too late. We are already broke. The price of gasoline is double what it was when Obama took office. Food costs are way up too. That’s not leaving a lot left over for the fun things in life. Luckily though, voting against Obama come November costs nothing.
Posted by: RDH | December 31, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
@SARAFINA
Ever seen a photo of the Korean peninsula at night? North Korea is your way.
Posted by: foggy | December 31, 2011, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
President Obama should learn from the words of President Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”! We don’t need a nation suckling on big government!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | December 31, 2011, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
“Another inconvenient truth: progressive is the most popular and positively viewed political label in America right now.”
POSTED BY: REESE
Sure enough — at MSNBC and in some other dubious campus cliques. LOL. Nowhere else.
Posted by: Jackson | December 31, 2011, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
We are already broke
————————————-
That depends on who ‘we’ is. The richest Americans have more wealth compared to total national income as they ever have had. But Grover’s Operatives in Politics are duty bound to protect that wealth and their accompanying tax breaks at whatever cost to the public.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
POSTED BY: REESE…
“Another inconvenient truth: progressive is the most popular and positively viewed political label in America right now.”
My morning funnies have arrived. Your statement is sheer nonsense, and it becomes even more abusrd when one considers that “Progressive” is just a pet euphemism for “Liberal”, or even something further to the left of liberal. LOL.
Posted by: Joseph | December 31, 2011, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
I sure hope that Obama can dig his way out of the hole he’s dug for himself. Keep Hope alive!
Posted by: NOFLYZONE2 | December 31, 2011, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Anyone notice that the words “working class” is now replaced by “middle class”? Did “working class” words put a taint on the “welfare class”?
Posted by: jonnie | December 31, 2011, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
“progressive is the most popular and positively viewed political label in America right now.”
(REESE)
I believe you may have meant in China, rather than in the USA.
Just sayiin’, lol.
Posted by: Kimberly | December 31, 2011, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
Republican dream—To have a government modeled after China. To continue to deliver the message that “we pay alllllllll the taxes therefore you middle class and poor should provide FREE labor.
Posted by: howdymo1 | December 31, 2011, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
“Anyone notice that the words “working class” is now replaced by “middle class”? Did “working class” words put a taint on the “welfare class”?”
POSTED BY: JONNIE
Spot on. Obama, the Food Stamp President: “And if you want to keep on getting those food stamps, then you better vote for me again.” Simple formula, yet quite sad and pathetic.
Posted by: Lauren | December 31, 2011, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
HOWDYMO1, do the “poor” live better here in America, or better in China or any other third-world country? Reality Time.
Posted by: Lauren | December 31, 2011, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
“I’m confident that if we work together” that this means he will put party and reelection aside, will this mean that he will stop with the class-warfare, does this mean he will stop with the backdoor dealings, will this mean that he will stop with the rhetoric about – you hate me because I’m black-, will this mean he will actually tell the senator Harry Reid from stopping measures that would actually help the middle class, will this mean that he will stop telling everyone my way or the highway. Will this mean that he will begin to be President of the USA and stop bowing to every middle east potentate. Will this mean he will not exept campaign donation from the palestinians like he did in the last campaign
Posted by: Lizzie | December 31, 2011, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
You know, I just read the Great One’s prognostications for the middle class in 2012, and I will be damned if I can find one, tangible, understandable position the POTUS is taking other than longwindedness……..the middle class……the lower class…..the upper class willl all enjoy success and growth as citizens of the greatest nation on this planet by freeing up the American Spirit……..without this man in the White House.
Posted by: justj joey | December 31, 2011, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
“I sure hope that Obama can dig his way out of the hole he’s dug for himself. Keep Hope alive!”
POSTED BY: NOFLYZONE2
Let’s just keep our fingers crossed. Good post.
Posted by: HOWDYMO1 | December 31, 2011, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Reagan took over from the disaster Carter left him
——————————————-
And greatly increased both spending and the debt.
Posted by: right-wing amnesia remedies | December 31, 2011, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
“And if you want everything to get even worse but they cut your food stamps as well…”
POSTED BY: SMOKING CURES CANCER
Quite lame. Most people see that things will get better by not flushing even more billions of dollars down the toilet for no real benefit at all, and in a short time many of these people on food stamps will be off of food stamps and dependent on themselves, rather than beholden to the corrupt Dems and Obama. Again, it’s not all that complicated for those who are honest.
Posted by: Lauren | December 31, 2011, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
“Americans care about the middle class regardless of the fact that the GOP and the right wing do not.”
The left is redefining middle class to exclude their political enemies. Why don’t they just say proletariat?
Posted by: foggy | December 31, 2011, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
“And greatly increased both spending and the debt.”
POSTED BY: RIGHT-WING AMNESIA REMEDIES
Right. And with Reagan, it largely worked. Obama increased spending and debt to absolute record levels and it has not worked, and shows little or no sign of working, and certainly not working compared to the vast amount of spending and debt accrued. Hence, Obama is indeed a failure, a very expensive failure
Posted by: Mary Contrary | December 31, 2011, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
I am one of the 47% of income tax filers that paid $0 taxes last year.
We need more spending on education, infrastructure, food stamps, & social programs.
Those of you who pay taxes aren’t paying your fair share. Those of us who do not pay any taxes will vote for whatever politicians will take more from you and redistribute that wealth to benefit us.
When non-payers like me make up the majority, you tax payers will have ZERO say in how much you pay and how that money is spent.
Posted by: Vote Obama 2012 | December 31, 2011, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Most people see that things will get better by not flushing even more billions of dollars…
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-most people who are not economists. There is not a shred of evidence to show that cutting spending increases growth. They tried austerity in Europe already. It’s killing investment and economic growth throwing these countries into greater debt. The Confidence Fairy just didn’t show up as promised.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
I see that none of the right wingers even denied the fact that they are enamored by the idea of indentured servitude. It goes like this—shave my face, wipe my butt, feed me, give me my bath, pick my cotton, tote that barge, lift that bail. Here’s your slop for the day. I guess 10 cents an hour is just over budget.
Posted by: howdymo1 | December 31, 2011, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Obama will be labeled as the food stamp handout president. He will cry and blame this whole year again, after all that is his voter base. He is not helping the middle class, he is turning them into dependents. But that is all part of the Soros agenda. He calls the shots and Obama is just his pawn or tool to get what he wants. People are not to smart though. Once the agenda is complete if not stopped they will be of no use anymore and that is when it starts to get ugly. Just google this man and his ties to Obam , than ask yourself is this what I want for this country and my children. Or continue to listen to all the well rehearsed speeches and believe them. Of all these speeches, how many truths have you heard so far?
Posted by: specialty57 | December 31, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Obama increased spending and debt to absolute record levels
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-which was mostly offset by big cuts at the state and local levels. Reagan was not confronted by a downturn of the same magnitude…an estimated $5.5 trillion in national wealth. The $800 billion stimulus was way too small to compensate for those kinds of losses. Also much of that debt under Obama was due to prior spending obligations left by the Bush Administration. But it will be entertaining to hear a real explanation of how big spending and debt worked for Reagan, but not for Obama.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
$15 Trillion National Debt means every newborn’s share is $49,000.
I am working, 30 years old, and pay $0 income taxes, so I don’t care if the National Debt is $100 Trillion.. that is for you taxpayers to worry about, not me.
I say we need to spend more, which means the 53% of working Americans who pay taxes need to pay more!!! Pay up!!!
If you don’t like it, then move to China where the taxes are lower..
Posted by: Vote Obama 2012 | December 31, 2011, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
Actions speak louder than words. Our President is full of words.
Posted by: Howie | December 31, 2011, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
Obama’s new campaign slogan, when they come up with one, will be something along these lines.
Posted by: newcountryman | December 31, 2011, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
If you don’t like it, then move to China where the taxes are lower..
POSTED BY: VOTE OBAMA 2012 | DECEMBER 31, 2011, 1:04 PM ===Its much easier to vote the arrogant condescending used car salesman out.
Posted by: william | December 31, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
SMOKING, More important is to look at Europe and see what got them into all this trouble. Everything was fine and dandy until they ran out of other peoples money for their “programs”. The exact same thing is now showing up here in the USA. To many dependent and not enough independent just does not work.
Posted by: specialty57 | December 31, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
A man can change a mask but a mask cannot change a man.
Posted by: young_voter | December 31, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Obama: 2012 ‘Make or Break’ Year For Middle Class
Not really but I’m sure this is part of Barry’s Class Warfare Initiative™ for 2012 and I’m certain he’d like the Media to repeat this over and over again so that the weak minded would start to think it’s true.
Posted by: Noz | December 31, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Economic class warfare is the only trump card Obama has left in his hand…..and it isn’t even a darn face card.
Posted by: newcountryman | December 31, 2011, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
Smoking, I don’t know if the spending under Reagan worked or not but it carried Bush 1, Clinton, and bush 2 all the way through for for 18 years. The last two years left was when Pelosi and Reid took over. The rest is history. You make the call.
Posted by: specialty57 | December 31, 2011, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Everything was fine and dandy until they ran out of other peoples money for their “programs”
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That’s baloney. Everything WAS fine, where, except for Greece, they were all paying down debt, until the financial crisis hit and revenues fell while pressure on public services increased. The crash brought on the debt crisis in Europe, not government spending, and austerity is making everything worse.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Economic class warfare is the only trump card Obama has left in his hand
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the Republicans have been very successfully engaged in class warfare for the last 30 years, shoveling nearly all of the economic gains of that entire period up the income ladder to the very top percentiles….and all at the public’s expense.
Posted by: smoking cures cancer | December 31, 2011, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
This (R) is not going to be voting for anything the RNC has shown thus far. Obama isn’t all that bad , he’s made me a ton of money in the stock market over the past 3 years to boot . Romney would be Obama-lite , and that wouldn’t be any different than the way things already are but with more hurtful cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that we don’t need . Obama gets another 4 years , then we do a reality check . Bush got an extra term after doing nothing great at all so I don’t see why Obama can’t have the same opportunity
Posted by: garyinindiana | December 31, 2011, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
It is true that many are not paying their fare share – look at the champion of the poor and middle class – Rev Al Sharpton – he owes 3.7 million in taxes – and after all I am not worried about the economy – Biden and Obama have their “go to guy” for economic advice – John Corizine. Typical Limo liberals
Posted by: jameccbuilder | December 31, 2011, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
BHO has got taht right, just his approach is what will destroy the middle and all else.
Posted by: johnholladay | December 31, 2011, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Yet more blithering idiots talk crap about our president when they’re the reason we can’t get anything done…
Posted by: I wish I was left-handed | December 31, 2011, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Interesting how it’s the Democratic supporters who post facts and figures and logical discussion here, whereas its the Republican right who resort to name calling, insult, unsupported accusations and allegations. Right away, I know which I support and for whom I’ll be voting.
Posted by: Jamie | December 31, 2011, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Joseph, Jackson
So you don’t sound hopelessly out of vogue or out of touch with reality, you may want to check out the pew poll on the topic, or the related article at Pew dated 12/28/11. Progressivism is viewed more positively than conservatism and every other political label. Various new sources also reference the Pew poll but I believe in going to the source: “A new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press out yesterday shows that “progressive” is the most positively viewed political label in America, with 67 percent holding a positive view compared to just 22 percent who view the term negatively.” “The poll found that the term progressive is viewed positively by a majority of all partisan groups — including 55 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of Independents, and 76 percent of Democrats.”
Posted by: Reese | December 31, 2011, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
ASIDE TO ‘VOTEOBAMA2012′…..well said, I guess the weakminded leeches are looking to 4 more years of nation-bashing, aren’t they?
Posted by: justj joey | January 2, 2012, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm