Hey Feisty, I think I heard Keith on Friday evening call John Boehner - Orange County. lol

Fiesty, I agree with your post. I can visualize Mr. Boehner and the rest all huddled together trying to figure out the next move. They are in a circle, bent at the waist with arms interlocked at the shoulders and neck, heads bent looking from one to the other with eyes red and glaring and all talking at the same time saying; He socked it to us again!!!!

You might really want to go look at The Third Way website, and read the poll they commissioned. A majority of voters, a larger majority of independents, want the DEFICIT CUT. Even if it means cutting unemployment extensions.

The only people huddled together are the Democrats-in a circular firing squad. When a Democratic polling organization does a poll for a Democratic organization, and the Democratic president chooses to simply ignore what it says, that is more than political suicide-it is arrogance of the highest degree.

Of course, that's no surprise from Obama.

The man is just a great speaker. I heard on NPR over the weekend that President Obama is being compared to how Rachael Maddow does her show. I just thought it was an interesting comment.

Where were all the fiscally conservative whiners when Bush left 2 wars off the budget? *crickets*

Help out a fellow American who are suffering through no fault of their own... hell NO...

Invade a sovereign nation & kill innocent civilians in an unpaid for war.... hell YES...

You people have some screwed up priorities!

Great address, President Obama.

Yes, Americans are concerned about the deficit. But 62% support extending unemployment benefits. There will be time to deal with the deficit, and during a Great Recession such as this--adding to the deficit should be of less concern than helping the millions of unemployed. They are not lazy, hobos, drug addicts, good for nothings--they are republicans, democrats, independents; they live in red states and blue states. They are desparate. If America is to be recognized for its exceptionalism, it can only be considered exceptional by first showing its compassion for the people.

I'm telling you, Glen Beck has the solution: If you don't want to be on unemployment, GET A JOB.

Is that guy a genius, or what?? "Hey, people that are starving- tired of being hungry? FIND SOME FOOD."

This kinda crap needs to stop. When you do not have any money coming in for food and shelter, you don't care what 'people' think. For No Joe to say that 'a majority of voters' want the DEFICIT CUT, I am sure that is the case - but NOT at the expense of those who are truly hurting right now when they have no job.

I think it is political suicide for those to CONTINUE to block unemployment benefits. As it has been pointed out before - there is no problem sending money and jobs overseas to benefit the few, but we seem to ALWAYS have a problem using OUR money to help Americans.

Of course, that is no surprise to the GOP.

Hey, No Jo!

Tell your poll information to someone who's lost a job and is trying to keep food on the table and shoes on the kids' feet.

I suspect the average American (especially the average TEA BAGGER) has no clue about how to deal with the big bad bogeyman of deficit spending. But the wing nuts listen to Fox and therefore have formed the opinion that it's the worst thing since...oh...the formation of the AFL-CIO.

FIRST, we need to get some money into the hands of those who would SPEND it at Mom and Pop grocery stores, clothing stores, etc etc (STIMULATIVE EFFECT) and THEN when folks have some jobs we can begin to think about dealing with the deficit.

Where were you NoJo when TWO off balance sheet wars were sold to the American public? Even if you support the war effort why aren't you castigating the accounting method for them? They ran the deficit to the moon. Why does the deficit matter so much NOW when it didn't THEN?

First, try getting a heart for your fellow American's pain and then worry about the bean counting.

Prior to the last 7 months I have been employed since age of 15 at one job or another. Worked way through my Bachelors and 2 masters in busiines, accounting, and finance. Yet after working for 26 years and paying inotaxes etc, I was only able to draw for 6 months after paying infor 26 years. I have been applying for at least 7 - 10 jobs a week,many 20-30,000 less than what I had been making and have still not ben able to secure a new job. For those who say benefits should not be extended I say this. If they are not extended you will have MORE people in the homeless lines,good folks who have worked hard their whole lives. You ill have more of a burden to support as those 000's of new homeless will have to start drawing food stamps, medicare or medicade, welfare sudsistence, etc, when those unemployment benefits they have earned through decade of employment would help those individuals avoid becoming a bigger burden on those lucky enough to still hav their jobs.

Fiesty Red Head

you have to give the Republicans some time - they only became the "Party of Fiscal Responsibility" on Jan 20th 2009....this is all new to them!

Liberals:

It is about time you guys stop drinking the kool-aid. Some of you take this euphoria of Obama love to the extreme. I liked Bush but I didn't love him the way you guys get all hyped up about Obama.

Obama is a POLITICIAN. He will do what POLITICIANS do, say whatever he needs to say to satisfy his followers and keep the heat off of his butt.

Unemployment needs to be extended at this time but what about when it runs out again? Will they keep extending it over and over until you have some collecting for 5 yrs? You do not pay that much into it to be able to carry you for 5 let alone 2 yrs.

All the republicans asked Congress to do is pay for it out of the stimulus money. That is all.

Some on unemployment ARE bums gaming the system. This is just a fact. I have them in my extended family and so do YOU. The same as collecting disability checks because they hurt their back on the job in the office. Most people deserve it but we can't be blind.

"....Obama is a POLITICIAN. He will do what POLITICIANS do, say whatever he needs to say to satisfy his followers and keep the heat off of his butt."

Uh, ITM- are you confusing Obama with that one guy that was a POW. You know, that one guy that has a bunch of houses that he doesn't know about or something? Who would do anything , select anything as a running mate?/. THAT guy??

Judy,

Please post the link to that statement below.

"Yes, Americans are concerned about the deficit. But 62% support extending unemployment benefits"

Don't you think that 99 weeks of benefits is enough? Now the Dems want 126 weeks!!! Christ, I might just quit my job and jump on that!!!

It's not the Republican don't want to extend it, but it's the Dems that VOTED for "Pay as you GO" and guess what????? there's no money and to be honest, I'm sick and tired of seeing my money go to waste.

Paul "I might quit my job and jump on that." Yes, do that Paul. I really think that the only way you righties develop some empathy is if you are in the position that a lot of Americans are in just now. Why don't YOU find out what it is like to live on unemployment, which, by the way, you keep by proving that you are actively job hunting. Find out what it is like to decide what you cut next, when you have cut EVERY extra out of your budget that is possible to cut. Then come back and talk to the rest of us about how nice the unemployed have it. These folks are scared to death, and doing EVERY possible thing they can to get a job. That people like you demean and diminish these folks who are doing the very best they can never ceases to amaze me. Congratulations to you, Paul if you have a job that pays you well, and is secure. A lot of Americans are not that lucky.

Every single day I get more disapointed in Obama and his administration! The Obama administration Has more then enough money to give to the people but he has a burning desier to endebt this country and burden future generations with their Unending greed.

Any sane person in this nation is sick to death of this horrifying administration, Havent you hurt this nation enough!

Three taxes! Spending like idiots, depriving the people the money you already have Taken from the people against their will!

All the strif you have caused with your selfishness and incompetence is mind boggeling!

Newday,

First of all my voting cards says NPA. I'm not a Republican or Democrate, so there's your first mistake. Second, I was in the Army for 20 years and I was on WIC while I served and raising a family, so yes I know how to live on little to nothing, there's your second mistake. I understood that getting an education is important and growing up in Detroit before I joined the Army, if you didn't know that the automotive jobs was going to tank and not be proactive on getting another trade or an education to change jobs, then boo-hoo........

You don't know me and I don't know you,, but to write this statement:

"That people like you demean and diminish these folks who are doing the very best they can never ceases to amaze me"

I never said that, but not to work on your education or another trade and can't be done in 99 weeks and now maybe 126 weeks, then those people might want to look at their priorities.

Why, Paul, I merely encouraged you to do what you said you were considering: quit your job and find out what its like.

Newday,

No, I'm applying that my 32K in Federal taxes that I paid are going to waste. I've busted my behind and better myself for what? To give more unemployment benefits textend to 126 weeks? Really?? But I see you only read what you want to read. I know how it's like to live on nothing.

Like I said, I don't know you, but it seems that if I earned a good living, I must now give it up because others can't live like me? So please anwer a simple question, why does it take 99 weeks to earn a trade? Better yet 126 weeks? I assume you work, give me one reason why it would take so long?

No, Paul I am responding to your original post. YOU said "I might quit my job and jump on that." You seem to be backing away from your idea that being on unemployment is desirable or easy.

Paul you pay 32k in taxes in a single filing year? So based on the 2009 tax table you are making over $100k. Nice! You able to leverage the GI Bill and other available public programs to help position yourself and build a career, life, and/or family. My obligation is 6k of taxes and when adjusted is around 3k.

So since you diversified your skillset, you expect others to do the same. That is understandable. However if you were unemployed in the few years after 9/11, you would know that when the job market is SATURATED by applicants, no amount of training will help you get hired oversomeone who is has training AND experience aka OVERQUALIFED.

Just like after 9/11, recruiters are swamped with hundreds of applications for a single job opportunity. If you are an out of state applicant, a recruiter will toss your application becuase you may not be committed to booking a flight for an onsite interview.

If your resume is too long, they will toss it. If you selected a visually unappealing format, they will toss your resume. A weak cover letter? Tossed. This is how recruiters sift through hundreds of emails and applications.

Adidas,

Yes, you are correct, but I haven't touched my GI Bill. I earned my BS while I was still in the military.

You're correct, maybe I shouldn't expect others to do so. Maybe I should state that it's possible with hard work and drive. I was still in the Army after 9/11 and it changed my family's life quickly. with the mulitiple deployments it was tough and I finished my degree while deployed.

Paul - Florida

I am sorry to do this; but darn it, you pitched it perfect -straight down the center:

You certainly DID earn your BS!

baaadumpah,...tip your waiter - I'm here all week!

YuP! You will be sure to hear nothing but liberal Obama worshipping from NPR from now on. A foreigner from communist Hungary bought a cache of journalists. Ever wonder why he is so intent on getting involved in this country?

http://www.conservativecrusader.com/articles/george-soros-millions-buying-political-reporters-for-npr

Anna Molly:

You wont get a challenge from anyone with a heart and knows that what you said is true...

Anna,

I agree but I worry this may get worst instead of better. The Republicans are just for the rich and big business period. They are not going to help President Obama or middle America. How can you say you are for all Americans and then turn around and throw 2 Million people out into the street and want the keep tax cuts for the rich at a cost to us Americans of about 20X the cost of the unemployment insurance extension. Just makes no sense.

Anna Molly

The heartlessness of republicans is beyond belief.

Heartlessness? Of the Republicans? Once again, the Left of the country can't see the forest for the trees.

So, leftwingnuts, what ever happened the millions of jobs Obama promised last year? To the "500,000 jobs created each month" Biden promised in April?

Obama and the Democrats are interested in unemployment benefit extensions when they should be interested in creating jobs so less unemployment benefits will be needed. But doing so would require Obama to work with businesses rather then being critical of them at every turn. It would require Obama to ask businesses what it would take from government to help them become more productive. Instead, Obama worries more about "Whose a**" will he be kicking today. Just where does Obama think jobs come from? Oh, wait, the government of course.

And please Democrats. Every hear of PayGo? You should, you passed it into law. You made a big stink about it at the time too. Now you just ignore it.

And the Republicans are just asking the Democrats to pay for their vote buying schemes. Is that so hard Democrats? You'd have to what, cut something somewhere else by .002% to pay for this extension? The Democrats look to be needing every vote they can buy this year though, so I guess that's out of the question.

Heartless Republicans. More like Brainless Democrats.

No point in arguing with a Selfish redhead.

JoAnna aka Selfish RedHead:

Thank you for proving my point that all you have to offer is "a mindless campaign of simplistic slogans". No word on how to solve the nation's issues. No compassion for the unemployed. Yes, selfish is the moniker you should stick with.

"And the Republicans are just asking the Democrats to pay for their vote buying schemes."

Uh, JoAnna- 'vote-buying schemes'?? Cite your facts, please.

JoAnna ~

And republicans show their concern for the unemployed ... how? You seem to have left that part out.

As for "pay/go," are you saying that republicans opposed it? And does it include an amendment to except tax cuts for the wealthy? Where's that at, anyway?

If anyone has worked with businesses, it's been President Obama. I think the republicans opposed most of the bailouts, such as GM. By contrast, republicans work with business by opposing financial reform legislation that might have some hope of unlocking the tight credit markets or, as I heard Judd Gregg do the other day, threaten that the financial services industry will move overseas. Republicans work with business by opposing reforms to the health care delivery system that would allow small employers to keep offering coverage to their employees, or at least relieve the burden of providing that coverage. Republicans work with business by calling the $20 billion fund that President Obama got BP to set aside to pay claims by small business owners affected by that big corporate oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico a "slush fund."

Oh, yes, indeed. Republicans are indeed the party of heart. And my mood ring shows black today, just for them.

Jody - agreed. I am sure that a certain 'selfish' personality would be singing a different tune if her monies were cut off.

Hey, Selfish Joanna,

I said it to NoJo and I'll say it to you-why do you care so much about pay/go now??? Where were you when the UNFUNDED BUSH TAX CUTS went into effect??? Where were you when TWO wars hit the economy UNACCOUNTED FOR ON THE BUDGET?? HMMMMMM????????????

Anna Molly

The heartlessness of republicans is beyond belief. We pushed you into poverty, made you lose your home, your way of life, and your dreams, and now we plan to keep you there because it best suits our political purposes.

I challenge someone here to say otherwise.

Molly i know what your saying, the republican are picking and choosing who they perfer, to help, its big busniess and the wealthy. they don't care about the regualr working guy.

My question is, how can the republican expect to gain seats in the house and senate when all the sudden there are being fiscal responsible on the back of the average tax payer?

i do have one more question, If we were in the biggest economic mess since the depression, how the hell do we think President Obama or former president bush to get us out of this in 2 years. it took from 1929 to 1945 to get out of the depression with the help of a world war. we are all being stuipd and selfish to think after 2 years we can get millions of jobs back. we may not get out of this for 10 years, if you base this ecomonic period to the depression which all the economist are doing.

Exactly. And by then, republicans will be back in power and will take credit for it.

These arguments are getting old. These are the same things I have heard my entire life about Republicans whether true or not.

Jeff:

Nobody is forced into the job of POTUS. He asked for it and he knew (He was a Senator) what was going on. This is no surprise except for he see it isn't as easy as saying "It's Bush's fault".

It is easy to talk a good game on the campaign trail. You get all of the people that are going to vote for you anyway all hyped and it makes you feel like your the answer.

Then you get elected; and BAMM. It is not as easy......

In the middle, i thought it was "Clinton's Fault". heard that forever.

glen quagmire, Quahog, RI,

Okay?!

Well I don't know about the Clinton's fault thingy....I didn't pay attention to politics back then.

In the middle, if you paid attention in 2000-2004, everything was clinton's fault. that's all we heard. in the 80's, everything was carter's fault. it goes with the territory and is not new thingy.....

IntheMiddle, TX

No one is saying the presidency was forced upon president Obama, My question was what makes Us think we can get out of this mess (no matter whos faults this is) in 2 years when it took 16 years to get out of depression. are we being selfish and or naive to think this mess can be cleared up on 2 years. also those tax cuts Bush passed in 2001 was suppose to pervent this from happening if you follow the consertive brain trust. tax cuts will pervent this kind of slow down. right!!! just like increased spending is the cure all to get us out.

i can't believe i'm saying this but president obama should extend the tax cuts for 1 year. i don't want him to make the same mistake bush did by not raising taxes during 2 wars. Bush should have repealed those tax cuts the minute we invaded Iraq as well as afgan. never in our history has a american president lowered taxes while at war. it would be a bigger mistake to raise taxes during recession. i know we need the money but, i'm no economist but rasing taxes now would be a mistake. what he can do is raise the income threshold for SS withholdings. this way the upper income folks who are not paying there fair share in SS taxes will now be just like every body making less than 150,000.00 per year. and there SS withholding will reflect there pay.

Ron Indiana

JoAnna aka Selfish RedHead:

Thank you for proving my point that all you have to offer is "a mindless campaign of simplistic slogans". No word on how to solve the nation's issues. No compassion for the unemployed.

So Ronnie, next time you talk to an unemployed person, ask them if they had a choice if they would want compassion, or if they want a job.

Lets us know how that chat goes.

Jeff-1541632

i can't believe i'm saying this but president obama should extend the tax cuts for 1 year.

First of all I'm not sure if he can do a "partial" extension of the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy 1-2%.

what he can do is raise the income threshold for SS withholdings. this way the upper income folks who are not paying there fair share in SS taxes will now be just like every body making less than 150,000.00 per year. and there SS withholding will reflect there pay.

I'm not so sure that would be fair either Jeff...because a vast majority of the upper income folks are more than like paid up in SS...

The taxes that a vast majority of 45-50 plus year older's are still paying SS taxes; even though they have met the requirement...

What needs to happen is for the Republicans to get off their collective asses and support a "robust" jobs bill; because the money that had been going into the system (SS) is not there in abundance anymore since many that were working and paying are unemployed.

The bulk of taxes collected in the SS system is being collected from baby boomers...there are many that are unemployed now and job prospects are slim to none...

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama

what i'm talking about is, the income threshold for SS withholding is 150,000.00 per year. if you make 151,000.00 per year you have the same amount of SS taxes deducted. if you make 1million per year you only pay SS taxes as if you make 150,000.00 per year. the income threshold is old and out dated. its not fair for a person who makes 147,000.00 per year to pay the same in SS taxes as a person makng 1million per year. anita that is all i'm trying to get at. but you must admitt that raising taxes during a recession will only give those 1.2% to find a way to shelter that money. i know i would.

obama is in a fix, if he raised taxes on the 1.2% then that will only give them a reason to either cut employees or shelter that money. reaon why i say delay it a year is to see where the economy is this time next year. this way the republicans have no aminition in the fall about raising taxes but he still has room to save face with the liberals about raising taxes. this way he may not loose the congress or senate but if he raises taxes god help him with the MSM!!!

those bush tax cuts should have been repealed the minute we invaded iraq and afgan. lets remember he is a politican.

Jeff,

I understand what you're saying and if my memory serves me correctly...that is already being addressed (Eric where are you? Eric would know the answer to my thoughts)-- those old tax tables...

I still conted that the majority of SS taxes being collected is comming from the boomers that are paid up in the system; regardless to what amout of income they make.

The greatest threat to the SS system right now is the fact that boomers are living longer...and many are near retirement age...

I go think that they need to receive a tax cut and that's my personal opinion. Why should they? If anyone that should receive tax cuts it should be people at the age of 55 that's actually carrying the system.

Jeff...it is also my opinion that that what's happening is Corporations (wealthy) along with Republicans are attempting to hold this nation hostage by not hiring (equivalent to a child pouting); because Obama hasn't favored them over the everyday working person.

Yes he's a politician...but I think that you should look a little bit deeper...President Obama echoed those thoughts on this morning...he didn't inclued the corporations...just thre Republicans that are lobbying on their behalf...

Also...allow your thoughts to go back to when he first got elected and the CEO's of corporations were invited to the White House....

The person making $1 million/yr will receive about the same social security check as the one making $150,000/yr.

You do realize that your social security check is higher proportional to the amount you paid in, right? Gonna proportionately increase the benefit, too?

But that's easy. Just make the person paying SS on $1 million take the same SS check as the person making $150,000. And how about the million dollar man's employer? Or if the million dollar person (sorry) is self-employed, take another 12.9% off the top and add it to the million dollar person's 35% tax rate.

why dont you ask the hundred of thousands of people obama put out of work along the gulf and why cant the dems use part of the unspent stimulus money to pay these unemployment benefits cause it sure isn;t creating any jobs.

carlyss man,

You are also a clueless man...President Obama didn't PUT anyone out of work on the Gulf...their politicians did when they allowed off-shore drilling in the same waters that they earn their living from.

Bush, Cheney and the Judges that invested into off-shore drilling did that...new talking points pleas, because those that you're using are as stale as the Republicans are.

carlyss man - c'mon, man, your post is rife with inaccuracies. First of all, it was BP that put people out of work in the Gulf, not President Obama. remember the spill from the 'Drill, baby, Drill' crowd?

Secondly, there is a $100 Million fund set up from BP that is being used to help people who are out of work in the Gulf. By the way, you can thank President Obama for securing that on your behalf.

The argument of using unspent stimulus money is a canard. All of us - and you too - know that it will take some legislation for that to be done, and with this Congress, that argument is a legislative waste of time. besides - that money in the stimulus is already accounted for, even though it is unspent.

If you would have complained that we need to cut the defense budget by 10%, then we could have had a good discussion. Why blame President Obama when there are 435 Congresscritters that are doing NOTHING to help you, not to mention the very RED Governors of the Gulf Coast states that have other agendas other than helping their constituents.

to anita excuse me its your beloved obama that is fighting the judges to keep putting these maritoriums in place to stop the drilling and these when these rigs are gone their not comeing back we didnt pass this he did makeing us more dependant on foriegn oil he dont care about us he just wants to pass his energy agenda that will cost us more money. these people want to work so abama do what you been doing (nothing to help us ) just like going against the maj. in arizona sue one of your on states and of course everybody else has to stick their nose in it arizonas buss. thats another reason he has one of the lowest performance records for pres.

to pietro the stimulus sure kept us at 8% unemployment I forgot how riight he was their is so much stimulis being spent on pork type things like the study of bee;s man thats a slap in the face to people who are out of work but your right lets take it from our soildiers , mabe we should spend less on self protection, the gov. could have took this money from the stimulis 99day;s ago but I guess we thought obama was going to work on createing jobs. what a laugh.

If you possessed anything other than air between your ears Carlyss Man - you would KNOW how important bee's are to the entire Eco-system and food chain!

But please don't let me interrupt your desire to stay stuck on stupid! lol

this is about jobs, how many jobs does this create,now who;s the stupid one.

who;s the stupid one.

________________

Thanks for playin... lol

Here's an idea, use the stimulus money that was suppose to create jobs and put it towards unemployment, put those same folks collecting (especially those in the gulf states) to work helping with the oil spill clean up. I'm sure in every state there are projects that need doing as well. Might as well put those tax dollars to direct work. Heck, even the welfare recipients could participate.

Carlyss man,

to anita excuse me its your beloved obama that is fighting the judges to keep putting these maritoriums in place to stop the drilling and these when these rigs are gone their not comeing back we didnt pass this he did makeing us more dependant on foriegn oil he dont care about us he just wants to pass his energy agenda that will cost us more money.

Pay attention now...it was just reported and shown on video...that another well that is not operating is leaking oil and the White House will not allow BP to uncap the well that...

This is what is know as responsible leadership. You sound as though the oil leak with BP was due to this administration's inept laws that THEY passed. I hope like hell that every one of those wells leak that the federal judges that have STOCK in...perhaps this sounds bad to say, but they should because the very people whining are the very people that expect taxpayers to pay for their selfish greed...

I absolutely believe extending tax cuts (i.e. allowing me to keep my money and invest in in my business) is essential for the economy. Until someone can tell me what the marginal taxes rates will be in January I cannot in good conscience hire anyone.

Why would anyone believe that the government needs more money? The amount of waste is staggering.

And come on, health care was supposed to great, and you'd get to keep your current doctor. Three months ago Obama looked into the camera and said that the mandate was not a tax. Now the legal briefs the DOJ files says exactly the opposite. And the whole keep your doctor myth has been debunked.

He said if he got the $800 billion unemployment would not go above.....

And now its more unemployment. Two years is a very long time to get benefits. The ecomony is slow, but there are jobs out there. So should we extend them for another 6 months, a year? Why not just say forever? And it was the democrats that touted and passed Pay Go. Maybe it came as a total surprise that unemployment would still be so bad. Perhaps because the believed the whole unemployment will not go above 8.0% witht he stimulus. Regardless they can have, they just need to cut it somewhere else - like why did we just give billions to Pakistan? Get it there.

Spanky you said:

"Until someone can tell me what the marginal taxes rates will be in January I cannot in good conscience hire anyone.

I'm sad to say that employeers like you are the reason unemployment is so high. I had a question for you though. Every been to the Salvation army or a food bank? Whatever the case, I would like to tell of a situation I saw a while back. I was donating some of my son's outgrown clothes and shoes. As I separated my bag's load into the different piles, I overhead a conversation going on to my side.

A 40 something middle age white man arrived with police, he explained to one of the workers that he was hungry and asked if he could get something from the food bank. The police had brought him to the food bank for help. He was a proud man, fighting back tears he asked if he could talk to her in private. Much to my anger she decided to carry on the conversation out in the open. He said he had never asked for anything but he had no job, no food and his family was hungry.

You could tell he hated being there, he hated being dependent on someone else but unemployment had run out. He let it all out to her, I guess for him there was no reason to be ashamed he said this was his last resort.

Of course the lady helped him out and directed him to the food cellar. I wonder what these politicians would do If there was nowhere to turn. Why can't they understand that people need help? People are asking for a helping hand not a perpetual handout.

How in good conscience can they turn away from situations like these that are happening every day.

Spanky: Why can't you realize that these are simply just the new talking points of the Republican party...."It is the uncertaintly of the new Obama policies as to why new jobs are not being created." Fact: When we were losing millions of jobs, there was no uncertainty, there were no new policies - the policy in place at that time is that the jobs had been outsourced overseas and that the tax cuts for the "filthy" rich (which I assume you are not, if you were you wouldn't be posting here, now would you?) instead of trickling down went into a greater and greater accumulation of wealth for those already "filthy" rich and did not go to create jobs. You need to quit drinking the talking points kool-aid of the filthy rich and their mouthpieces. Let me think where you could be getting these ideas from, the billionaire Lumpy balls, the multi-millionaire Woebegone Beck? No, we were losing millions of jobs during the "very certain" times of George W. Bush. So "uncertainty due to policies" being regulated is now the new talking point standard for the dopes of nope, along with "yes we can - leave the tax rollback for the rich without paying for it - just not anything else". Nope, the dopes of nope are not worried about giving to their financial sources for their elections. If you actually listened to the dopes of nope talk, you yourself could catch the little catch phrases, the new bumper stickers, the new slogans, but nothing to help the country solve its onerous problems.

Cathy M.

I could not say it better. I have been trying to find something on the internet that even comes close to verify the premise that giving tax cuts to those in the top two tax brackets has created any jobs. Most articles claim they just socked the money away.

Thank you US Navy Disabled Vet - Retired. And thank you for your service.

You will not be able to find any verification, as none exists. If you listen closely to all the Faux News and other right-wing talkers, their new Frank Luntz talking point is "uncertainty". Once you hear one say it, they all say it, like a damn bunch of talking parrots, and with about as much sense. I am pretty much an old timer, I did not serve, but my dad did, in both the second WW and in Germany during the Korean war. He keep going back in. I lived partially the life of an army brat, and partially that of vagabond, as when my dad would get out there would be no work. We went to Hazard and Estel KY in the 40s so he could work in the coal mines, then he became a butcher, then he would go back in, get out and do something else, and finally ended up on road construction, doing turnpikes, etc. That was when you could actually go and find better work, make a little more money, and when moms were able to stay home, fix those good meals, take care of the home and the kids. Now that is just impossible. We can none of us exist without a double income. My dad's insignia from Wilkes-Barre was the "bloody bucket" insignia. I remember watching the wonderful parades of the 40s from the armories. And then when I was in second grade right before he went to Germany we went to Camp Atterbury near Indiana for a year. What a childhood! Lots of memories.

Again, thank you for your service.

Yellodog - great story. As I have posted before, God don't like ugly, and what the GOP is doing to people who are hurting is just PLAIN UGLY.

With this type of behaviour, the GOP expects to be rewarded with Congress?

Yeah, right. The tide is turning against the GOP.

Tax cuts! Tax cuts! They will save all...

Well, the problem being that when the government gives me money back, I don't know what incentive I have to use that money in America.

Dennis, I don't believe it nor have I ever believed it. There is no proof of it and ,really, all indications are that it just doesn't work. I have yet to understand why they continue to try and sell this notion to the American people.

Listening to Fox right now trying to explain how cutting taxes does not need to be paid for because they will allow more people to keep more of their money. That is not what the country needs right now. We need people spending and buying goods to generate more need for the goods.

The only ones that will keep the money are the ones that have it now and that means big corporations and the rich and wealthy.

The cost of the 2 tax cuts is $1.6 trillion. 2001 = $1 trillion, 2003 = $600 billion.

Where are those jobs? Why should anyone believe that extending the tax cuts will do ANY good?

So how high do taxes need to be raised before these jobs come back?

You are all correct in that the is no proof at all that the republicans can show that the tax cuts to the rich created any jobs. I do not understand how they can make the claim that these cuts also increase revenues.

Joanna,

I did not say that we should increase taxes. What I said is that there is no clear evidence that the tax cut created jobs. If anyone wants to extend these huge tax cuts then they should be paid for.

If they are paid for and they do create jobs the end result would be a reduction to the deficit and debt … and that would be a good thing … right?

US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired

You are all correct in that the is no proof at all that the republicans can show that the tax cuts to the rich created any jobs.

Same question US Navy. How much do taxes have to increase before prosperity, and jobs, return to the country?

Oh wait, that's right, you're not talking to me. Doing so would challenge your biases. Can't have that.

Hey, JoAnna, how big does the deficit caused directly by those tax cuts have to be before jobs come back again? How many tax cuts for the wealthy does it take before some REAL jobs trickle down? Or is there even a number that large?

And how is it that holy those tax cuts of yours resulted in a NET LOSS OF JOBS during the Bush administration?

Just askin' ... because we never seem to get any answers from you. And I always love an opportunity to ask rhetorical questions.

How does tranferring more of my money, through higher taxes, help unemployment? How is doubling capital gains taxes help to employ people?

And just for fun what is your folks' definition of rich? $250,000? Perhaps in places like Iowa, but here in So. Cal, the average price of a house is somewhere between $350,000 and $550,000. The base mortgage, at a decent rate is around $2,500 - $3,200 per month. That's about $36,000, after tax dollars per year. And that the median house price.

So yeah, I'm going to make sure I can cover the mortgage, taxes, and other expenses I have before I feel confident enough to hire someone. You are raising my tax burden, and increasing capital gains? That leaves a lot less for me. Guess I'll have to work harder, cause I'm "rich" don't you know.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio

Joanna,

I did not say that we should increase taxes. What I said is that there is no clear evidence that the tax cut created jobs. If anyone wants to extend these huge tax cuts then they should be paid for.

If they are paid for and they do create jobs the end result would be a reduction to the deficit and debt … and that would be a good thing … right?

Nothing else Obama has done is "paid for". He's running a trillion and half dollar deficit for each year, and projecting the same for the next 5 years (or until he's voted out). So why should tax cuts be "paid for"?

See, you on the left don't get it. It's the private businesses that are the engine for economic success of the country. Without them creating jobs, Obama can spend as much as he can, and the jobs will not be created. Instead of seeding businesses with his stimulus bill, Obama paid off the states debt, at least for one year. He has enough left over in his stimulus legislation to do it for another year, but then what?

Your theory about "if jobs are created, the deficit will go down" is good, in theory. But facts are awfully hard things to deal with, and the fact is job creation, private sector job creation, continues to languish with no end in sight. And Obama and the Democrats continue their assault on the corporations, burdening them with more regulations, and more uncertainty. Not the greatest way to reduce a deficit, is it? And all the while this assault is going on, the government just keeps spending money it does not have, creating no jobs in the process.

And how about making the government smaller? That's a way to reduce the deficit. It's not all that spending has created any jobs.

Anna Molly

Hey, JoAnna, how big does the deficit caused directly by those tax cuts have to be before jobs come back again?

Ask Obama. He's the one with the Great Master Deficit Spending Plan. Looks like with all the deficit money he's spending, he's created on net, not one new job. Maybe if he doubled the government spending, oh wait, he's already done that, then maybe if he tripled it, then one job will be created.

JoAnna ~ from where Bush left us, "up" is a very long way. So stay tuned. Because, painful though it may be at first, up is a better direction than down. I shudder to think where we might be if we had elected John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Anna Molly

Hey, JoAnna, how big does the deficit caused directly by those tax cuts have to be before jobs come back again? How many tax cuts for the wealthy does it take before some REAL jobs trickle down? Or is there even a number that large?

And how is it that holy those tax cuts of yours resulted in a NET LOSS OF JOBS during the Bush administration?

In your mind, you've proven that tax cuts create no jobs. If you are an Obama kool-aide drinker, of which you appear to be a charter first-in-line member, you believe massive deficit spending and higher taxes (you're all for the Bush taxes expiring I take it) are the way to prosperity. Seeing Bush isn't President anymore (it's been in all the papers), we just got Obama and the Democrats plans to work with. And the Obama plan is to spend money on a massive scale, not as massive as some like the super liberals like the NYTs Krugman wants, but massive none the less. Obama's plan is to also raise taxes and increase regulations (much more expense to businesses). And you Obama worshippers are telling us that this will bring us back to prosperity. And just when is that prosperity supposed to start again?

Anna Molly

JoAnna ~ from where Bush left us, "up" is a very long way.

Well too bad for you we have elections every two years, and this years elections will focus on the Obama Record. And it doesn't look so good, for the Democrats anyway.

So stay tuned

Stay tuned. Sure. What, is Obama on the 10 year plan to success? We just "have to give it enough time". Doesn't work that way Molly. Not at all.

Tax cuts do not equate to more jobs. There is no proof that I have seen offered on this board today or days gone by the lend any proof to that statement that cutting the taxes for the rich translates into jobs. If that were true then Bush should have created a zillion jobs instead of when President Obama took office we were loosing 600-700K per month. Just show us the proof.

JoAnna,

Actually, this Mid-Term is going to be a referendum on the Repub's inaction and lack of actual ideas on how to stimulate the economy. We have SEEN that tax cuts for the rich and deregulation is NOT the answer, and with all of the Unemployed being worried about losing their benefits due to Repub intransigence most of them are going to vote Dem because at least THEY are trying to help/ The Repubs only care for those uber rich that give them money, and the Unemployed obviously do not have any.

And YES JoAnna, it may well take us 10 years to get out of the DEEP hole that Bush and his cronies left us in. Even if we created some 500k jobs/month, which would be very hard to do right now, it would take some 5 years just to deal with those that are Unemployed, and does not even take care of the underemployed or those that have been kicked off the unemployment rolls as chronically unemployed. 250K jobs/month would take 10 years, and that is without the new employees or the ones that are off the unemployment rolls now. Look at the numbers and get a freaking clue, it is NOT going to be easy, no matter WHO is running things, but I trust the Dems MUCH more than I trust the GOBP Party of NO!

Exactly, Dennis.

All those Bush/GOP tax cuts to the tune of about $1.85 trillion dollar deficit spending added 3 million jobs. Those jobs and 600,000 more were lost in 2008. $1.85 trillion deficit spending ended up doing exactly what for the economy--any republicans care to answer.

B.Honest

JoAnna,

Actually, this Mid-Term is going to be a referendum on the Repub's inaction and lack of actual ideas on how to stimulate the economy.

Really? How do you figure? What with the Democrats first words to the Republicans after the 2008 election being "We won!!" Yes Democrats, you won. And what exactly have you done since then? Unemployment up. Debt up. Taxes up (do recall the HCR bill is "paid for").

The Republicans have been non-players in this fiasco the Democrats have put together the last 18 months. The voters now get their say. Gee, I wonder which way that will go?

And YES JoAnna, it may well take us 10 years to get out of the DEEP hole that Bush and his cronies left us in.

Oh, now we're on the 10 year plan. Used to be Obama said 4 million jobs, then it was 600,000 jobs last summer. Now it's 10 years. The old Soviet Union said communism works, it just takes time to see the results. I guess 70 years wasn't enough time.

Same question US Navy. How much do taxes have to increase before prosperity, and jobs, return to the country?

Sorry JoAnn, no body is falliing for the Tea Bagger/GOP distraction tactic anymore. Please answer the question put to you: Provide proof that the tax cuts in the Bush era created a meaning # of jobs.

Psssst...hey JoAnn.....your conservative heroes are lying to you...trickle down economics DOES NOT WORK!

"..........he's created on net, not one new job..."

JoAnna- cite your source, please.

drive-by-is the Bureau of labor Statistics a good enough source for you?

Go there. Click on 'historical information' on employment. You will find that, since the stimulous plan was enacted, the economy has lost 2.4 million jobs.

Here's a clue: Obama is clueless. As is Biden. Last summer, 600,000 jobs were NOT created, in spite of the royal Obama's pronouncement. As for Biden's 500,000 a month-ah, that's a fail, too.

53% of the country saddled us with this pair of losers-a greater majority will start making that right in November.

The Bush economic plan was not designed to create jobs, but to preserve them.

Sound familiar?

R.Giles. Well said.

I also read John Dean's "Broken Government". It was excellent. Considering he was once a loyal republican, his words had greater impact. His other books are very good, too.

dangerfield-be careful who you look to for advice.

This is the same man who advised Enron.

Enough said about his competence.

I will support the repeal of the Bush tax cuts (it has to be all of them, however, meaning the low end rate will have to be restored to 15%, etc.) on one condition:

Obama makes one of his unearthly and resplendent speeches promising to cut spending by an amount equal to the projected revenues from restoring the higher tax rates.

That's what I call "paying for" a tax increase.

Richard, Washington State
I will support the repeal of the Bush tax cuts (it has to be all of them, however, meaning the low end rate will have to be restored to 15%, etc.) on one condition:

What's unusual (or maybe not) is that the libs, both on this board, in Congress, and in the White House, have assigned the Bush tax cut as a sign of the Apocalypse. If those tax cuts were so devastating, so harmful, then why didn't Obama push for their repeal on Day One of his term in office? Obama had the votes and the political capital to get that done. But, yet, he didn't. And to this day, the libs whine and cry about it, and have done nothing about it.

JS, because they were literally 'an act of congress' through reconciliation and the amount of effort would not have equalled the importance of the other measures he's prioritized. Do cling to your hopes though. The desparation is fun to watch.

Well, I think I've heard it all now.

Obama is going to let the tax cuts expire! BAD MAN!

Obama didn't let them expire sooner! BAD MAN!

JoAnna- do you buy yours in some back alley, or do you grow it yourself in a flower pot under the bed???

Clara KCMO

JS, because they were literally 'an act of congress' through reconciliation and the amount of effort would not have equalled the importance of the other measures he's prioritized. Do cling to your hopes though. The desparation is fun to watch

Translation: We (Democrats) didn't want to do it because then we wouldn't have anything to whine about.

Clara, day in and day out you libs cry and complain about the "Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich that caused the Earth to Split Open and Everyone to Die" And yet Obama and the Democrats in Congress did nothing about those cuts, let them run for 2 more years in fact. He could have repealed them and closed the deficit gap, but yet he didn't. Didn't even make a sound about doing so. Not in one of his speeches, not by Pelosi in the House or Reid in the Senate. Not one word.

So please, all of you libs, take your tax cut phobias and just STHU.

drive-by-observer

Well, I think I've heard it all now.

Drive-Through, Feisty is practicing her counting on another thread, and as usual, she's struggling. Maybe you can help her? Nothing big, single digits, you should be able to manage.

JoAnnaSmith: Stop me if you've heard this one before...

Jesus you door-knob, do you hate EVERYTHING?

Standing and applauding, drive by: you win line of the day.

Terry,

what is rich to you?

Exactly, the Repugs try to quell the anger by saying, "Oh we are FOR benefits, we just want them paid for"............while in the same breath suggest that UI benefits create a disincentive to find work or that the unemployed are lazy. If they believe the latter, then why would they still agree to pass the extension if it were offset? Obviously, one excuse is to meant distract, while the other is to express their true feelings for the unemployed. They would never make such harsh statements regarding the wealthy!

If this party is really hell-bent on ensuring the failure of the President (and therefore the nation), shouldn't they be accused of treason - which is impairing the well-being of the state to which one owes an allegiance?

Okay, we're out of work! Used to make $ 16.00 an hour. Paid into my benefits since I was 16. Now I am unemployed three children, unemployment benefits won't be extended. My choices, get an $ 8.00 an hour job, apply for welfare benefits, oh I did that, I'll be able to be seen sometime in August! lol..

Instead of paying for health insurance, I'll qualify for Medicade. I'll surely qualify for Food stamps. And of course there is assistance for rent. Yes, when I lost my job, I lost my mini van, house, and almost my life! (I almost gave up. My faith keeps me going!) So, if all of us settle for $ 8.00 look at all the other good crap we get! I wasn't raised that way! I work for me and mine! Wake up CONGRESS! Please pass unemployment extention! We earned these benefits. Maybe one ofr you who control the situation should walk in our shoes and you be layed off or terminated! It would make it more personal!

Well, maybe we should SHOW the people who are obstructing UI benefits (GOPers and at least ONE Democrat) how the other half lives by making sure that they are OUT OF A JOB in November. THEN we can see the gnashing of teeth and the incessant whining from those who THOUGHT that holding up UI benefits was such a good idea.

Pietro,

I like the idea, but many of the politicians are millionaires and if kicked out of office we will have an influx of lobbyists or a slew of new consulting firms and so-called think tanks telling us how and what to think. I'm for tossing them out of office and sending them to an isolated island somewhere. (make sure they pay for the air fare too) I think part of the problem is they really just do not understand the plight that many middle class Americans are finding themselves in. AND, for the most part, this mess is not of their making. Most Americans are hard working honest people just looking to get a fair days pay for a fair days work. We are not looking for a house in the Hamptons, a ski-lodge in Vermont. Just a roof over our heads, food on the table, decent Health Care and Education for our kids and we would gladly pay for this if we had a decent job.

Pietro,

Sadly those Repubs, when tossed out on their ears, will have very high paying jobs as Lobbyists and wont have a care in the world except to make MORE money yet. And that is without their big bank accounts even.

I would LOVE to see them try to live for 2 years on NOTHING more than foodstamps, I bet they would starve to death in 6 months. I DID live for 2 years that way, waiting for my SSI and it was NOT easy at all, I went hungry or ate peanut butter sandwiches most of the time. Let Them give that a go, no outside help from their buddies, JUST Foodstamps, Public Housing Assistance and Medicaid in a tiny one room apartment with the bathroom and shower down the hall. This was after having my neck majorly rebuilt and I had to do tons of paperwork just to keep my foodstamps and medical and all of the hearings for the SSI, even though I had lots of trouble just getting around.

And I Used to be a business owner myself, I hired people and paid them well for their labor, had my house, brand new Chevy PU truck and a good paying business, then I had to sell down to NOTHING because I suddenly could not work at all and had to eat. Not my fault, but I still had to deal with it. I would love to see any of the Repubs try it even for a year, it would change their minds about a LOT of things I am sure, but they are too damn comfortable and never need to worry about housing, transportation, entertainment and medical let alone eating. And they have the gall to say NO to millions who are right near to where I was, without the unemployment many of them will be, and many have a family and kids to support as well, thank god I was single with no kids or I have no idea What I would have done.

Terry DAV,

Great post I agree 100%. Gets my vote.

B Honest:

Just who, exactly, do you classify as "the Repubs" or "those Repubs". You're saying that all the Repubs in the country live in the manner your mind has managed to conjure up? Did you see "Inception" over the weekend or something?

But I guess if all Republicans live the way you say, why in the hell would we EVER want to be Democrats? From that, I can only conclude that "those Dems" have no money, no food and no shelter and they all actually DO live on welfare. And possibly that you were mistaken to have all those goodies in your other life and should be ashamed.

But I would be wrong, wouldn't I?

Richard,

I refer specifically to Those Repubs that happen to be in office, our do NOthing politicians.

I was progressive and liberal even when I owned my business, I got what I had through very hard work: blood, sweat and tears. I do not begrudge folks that have actually worked for what they have, but have no respect whatsoever for the greater majority of those that are Uber Wealthy: they just hoard their money or invest overseas jobs instead of doing the patriotic thing and investing in hiring here in this country.

I ended up having my neck rebuilt as the aftermath of being hit by a drunk driver, what happened afterwards was of no fault of my own. So yeah, you are Dead Wrong. If not for the social safety nets I would have starved to death, even with foodbanks because I could not get to them nor carry the load of food I would receive home. YOU give living like that a try, I was not on foodstamps nor am I on SSI because I Want to be, I would MUCH rather be working, I could have a very comfortable life with my skills. As it is I live in extreme pain nearly all the time and rely on time release morphine just to tone it down to "Bearable", I cannot stand a car ride over half an hour, and even that will put me mostly in bed for the next 2-3 days. Some Advice: Never Break Your Neck!

Your strawman does not fly bud, so give it up!!

If it passes, it will pass without the Repubs that's the reason for ranting bub!

These Republicans only care about their riches and don't you ever forget that!

That is all they care about. This has been proven by their own words and actions or shall I shay inaction.

As other people have already stated, there is no proof that the tax cuts for the wealthy have created any jobs. The only thing that has happened is the gap between the rich and the poor.

Cutting taxes for the rich and spending is exactly what this current lot of Republicans did when they controlled the government and do you actually believe they will do anything different than that, are you nuts!

Terry - I wonder if a few Republicans will try to make news and look good by voting for the unemployment benefits. Now that it is assured to break their filibuster, I bet a few in hard hit areas or dem leaning areas say three or four will vote for it.

It will pass with 63+/- votes. When asked why they voted this time around, the flip flopping republicans will say "I wish the Dems would have used paygo for the benefits, but I decided to stop playing politics I needed to help my constituents." That is my prediction how people like Sen. Brown will try to cash in on this vote to help them in the future.

Yellow Dog,

I think you nailed it. A few republications will now jump on board, especially since they have been called out by our President and pretend they were for us middle class all along. In my mind this does not erase the three NO's that they previuosly recorded. If they do it now, they are doing to cover their own asses. Nothing more than that.

US Navy - Yeah, they won't do it because it is right, they will do it to say. "I've stood up to my party, breaking filibusters and working with the other side. That is what we need in Massachussetts. I'm Scott Brown and I've endorsed this message." Pretty tacky

Adler-273784

It is about time the President called out the Republicans.

Maybe Obama can invite the Republicans to Party Night at the White House tonight. The latest entertainment Obama is bringing in to entertain him and his friends is Tony Award winners Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Tonya Pinkins and Marvin Hamlisch are part of "A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House" July 19 in Washington, DC.

Good to see Obama is doing his part to keep the people in the Arts employed. How many jobs saved will this be counted as? And does this count as vacation time, or is this marked as a business deal with Obama?

Jesus, you door-knob. Do you hate EVERYTHING??

Drive by, I think so - including her reflection in the mirror.

No just corrupt liberals who are destroying our country by spending MY money as if its going out of style....and making sure to pass ridiculuous amounts of unemployment so they have new crops of voters....

Pietro,

Too funny,gets a vote for humor. Of course you are assuming she has a mirror or for that matter, a reflection.

Driveby, Pietro. Doorknob, mirror-- that's funny.

US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired

Pietro,

Too funny,gets a vote for humor. Of course you are assuming she has a mirror or for that matter, a reflection.

U R such a wit US Navy! Can't figure out which kind though. It's a choice between, "No", "Half, and "Dim".

And,again, thank you for your service. Btw, what kind of mop did you swing?

JoAnna Smith= No Brain, No Sense, No Manners just Insults against Disabled folks and Veterans and anybody Progressive, Liberal or Democrat...No Class Jack@ss with a keyboard and a gripe, No facts, don't need them, they just get in the way!

Why don't you go and let us adults discuss what is going on JoAnna, I am sure we would all be much happier without your insults and invective with cut-and-past Bullsh!t.

JoAnna -

You must have missed my post last week - "In Performance At the White House" has been around since 1978 - several presidents ago. It's not some private Obama party, it's produced by WETA, Washington's PBS station - you know, the PUBLIC Broadcasting System? The one that's commonly referred to as "the educational channel"? Oh....maybe that's why you aren't familiar with it.

By the way, the Paul McCartney one is being broadcast this Wednesday evening - I knew you didn't want to miss that one!

JoAnnaSmith,

And,again, thank you for your service. Btw, what kind of mop did you swing?

I've been following your response to US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired and frankly you lost the debate on discourse...yet you attempted to insult US Navy Disabled Veteran-Retired by asking "what kind of mop did they swing"....

I have a girlfriend that was a career Navy servicewoman...married and gave birth to her children in foreign countries only to retire with severe disabilities that were brought on by working hard to secure our nation in all types of increment weather...

During her service to our Nation she had to work very hard and she also mopped...but she retired as an officer...

You are selfish, rude, ungrateful and a coward...that makes you less than a woman...

BTW...what kind of mop do you swing at your house?

B. Honest

JoAnna Smith= No Brain, No Sense,

You know B.Honest, I've seen your prose. Not exactly Shakespeare. In fact, you seem to be void of anything except what likes of that moron Olbermann manages to pour into that hollow head of yours. I gave up on you a long time ago my friend. There is no hope for you.

Jo Anna Smith,

Really funny, I have never watched Olbermann, in fact I almost never watch TV! Very UnAmerican of me I know, LOL, but those talking heads just repeat each other and so I do not pay much attention to them. I read a lot and have studied, REALLY Studied history and governmental actions. I have owned my own business and I have also had to deal with the social safety net system. My info comes from the REAL World, something I do not think you would recognize at all.

You just do NOT like actual Facts, I have seen you asked for proof of your statements time and time again, yet you NEVER deliver except for vitriol, lies, insults and cut-and-paste.

I never said I was Shakespeare, I am just honest as I have SEEN life, been there and did that, and will keep on telling the Truth when you folks lie and distort the facts and set you straight.

The GOBP is going to lose big time because they have mostly people like you doing their talking for them, and they do not come off much better than you do anyways!

BTW, what kind of mop DO you swing at your house, or do you have a maid for that??

Anita,

How does that statement relate to anything? I'm not defending anybody by all means, but to argue with a friends service record to defend your point is kind of irrelevant don't you think? By the way JoAnna and Anita, in the Navy it's called swab not mob.

"I have a girlfriend that was a career Navy servicewoman...married and gave birth to her children in foreign countries only to retire with severe disabilities that were brought on by working hard to secure our nation in all types of increment weather..."

Paul-Florida,

Thanks for the clarification of the word swab, I couldn't remember the proper word when I posted it.

How does that statement relate to anything? I'm not defending anybody by all means, but to argue with a friends service record to defend your point is kind of irrelevant don't you think?

Evidently you didn't follow the conversation in the posting that JoAnn answered to Retired. had you done so you wouldn't be asking this question. Since you did allow me you to staistify you zeal to attack my comments...

While sarcastically attacking Retired's comment, JoAnn attempted to insult them in the same breath as thanking them for their service to our Nation. I merely pointed out the fact that many servicemen and women that defend our Nation do so without regard to position, and rank...they earn it. Many have risked, lives, health and personal preferences to defend our country and WHAT they may have done while doing so doesn't deserve remarks like hers...when our servicemen and women enlist to defend our Nation that have famlies...the entire family has enlisted...

Do you get THAT? BTW...you were defending her statement just as I defended Retireds...

Anita,

Yeah, I think my wife and two children would know, due to the fact I retired two years ago from serving 20 years in the Army. Acually I chuckled because it was/is a Navy thing. Ask Navy he will tell you the Army/Navy thing. But never defended anybody on that remark. I believe I corrected both of you.

"I merely pointed out the fact that many servicemen and women that defend our Nation do so without regard to position, and rank...they earn it. Many have risked, lives, health and personal preferences to defend our country and WHAT they may have done while doing so doesn't deserve remarks like hers...when our servicemen and women enlist to defend our Nation that have famlies...the entire family has enlisted..."

Paul,

Yeah, we called it a swab, however, I have gotten into the habit of talking so that Civilians can understand too, lol!! Sure that you understand that one!!

Right you are. I get a huge chuckle out of the sheeple that constantly say that the GOP wants to do NOTHING. Quite the contrary. Not ONE debate i have watched... NOT political analyst talking head talk, but actual debates did the GOP members say they preferred to do nothing. The issue they were having with this is that the dems want just tack on more to the national debt and raise taxes rather than have the extensions come from the existing unused portion of the stimulus package. It was the same with healthcare. No GOP argued that Healthcare didn't need reform, they just wanted to tackle the issues at hand in single bills so it wouldn't become what it became. A 1000+ page bill that no one read. I used to be a independent but just switched to the Rep party.

Retiredsmoker and Blowbama - actually, gentlemen, you rant and rave about what President Obama is doing, but what EXACTLY has your GOP leadership done for you lately? Let's see:

Stimulus - LOST, so NOTHING was done for the GOP constituency.

HCR - LOST (actually, pimp-slapped by President Obama) - nothing done for the GOP constituency.

Wall Street Reform - LOST - nothing gained for the GOP constituency.

So WHY exactly are you following the GOP leadership? You know - the guys that are CONSTANTLY getting their butts whipped by the 'scary Black Man in the White house ' with big ears?

But you go right ahead and stay with the LOSERS. It seems that the GOP has done NOTHING for its constituency as well as the rest of us. At least they are consistent!!

And you want to CONTINUE to vote for these guys?

Actually, unlike the sheeple, I am not waiting on or needing the government to do a THING for me. I can take care of myself thank you very much. When your employer decides its cheaper to just pay the 8% penalty for not providing health insurance and dump their company health plan, how are you going to feel about that change you can believe in? I'm not opposed to going and finding my own health coverage in the private sector, but don't you feel a little duped by how these humongous overhauls are going down? What happens when my company get's hit with capital gains and cap and trade? you can't legislate the desire to keep profits up. So what happens? prices go up, layoffs. I personally don't want to see my employer see an increase in taxes, especially after surviving 3 waves of layoffs. But you go on hating the GOP and loving taxes and more taxes and Nancy Pelosi and Barry O. I was on line at the grocery store and the woman in front of me was paying with food stamps... yes very sad indeed, but she was simultaneously yapping away on the latest and greatest iPhone. That's the difference between this generation and that of the depression. There are many who can't pay their credit card bills but still have to run out for the 58" plasma with all the accessories.

Blowbama - nice deflection, but you still did NOT answer the question. After all is said and done, I really don't care if a person who is paying for their food with food stamps has an iphone. You have NO IDEA where they got that phone; so WHAT if they do?

The question that I am posing to you is what has your beloved GOP done for you lately. From where I sit, they are getting their butts handed to them after every legislative battle by the 'dude' in the White House. They are NOT doing anything to HELP the American people, and they are doing NOTHING, from what I can see, to help their own constituency.

SO, the question is this - WHY are you still HOPING that the GOP will do something when their track record shows that they are doing NOTHING for anyone?

The only thing I expect from the Feds is to protect the country from enemies both foreign and domestic. So far with respect to Terrorism since 9-11 they have done a good job at that. Despite popular opinion, the Bush tax cuts helped my family out quite a bit even though i'm not rich. I just hope your cohorts in D.C. don't expire the child tax credit expansion that would suck, but we'll make do. As for Wall Street, i don't work there and its none of my business how they conduct business. I wonder if Obama is as equally furious with Mr. Franklin Raines. In short... Protect the borders (or just let the states do it if you aren't going to bother) and keep my taxes as low as you can. No need for you to tax and legislate our way to a better society. Don't need to be buying special light bulbs because you tell me i have to, don't need a Soda Tax to encourage my children to drink apple juice, don't need Michelle telling me McDonalds is not healthy. Don't need your gun control laws that just take guns away from law abiding citizens. Don't need you to protect me from credit card companies, i'm smart enought to know how a credit card works.

Oh and you can keep your Partial Birth Abortions... that's freakin' disgusting.

Blowbama - again, nice deflection. I did not ask you what Government can do for you.

Since you have posted that you have now switched to the GOP, I am asking you again - directly - What has the GOP done to earn your vote, especially since they have FAILED in winning ANY legislative battles and have produced NOTHING for anyone - including you, as a constituent?

Retired Smoker

sounds like it's time for you to light up again to take the edge off!

Ahhh, excuse me but both parties HAVE TO PARTICIPATE for it to qualify as a two-party system. Pres Obama has reached across the aisle only to have his hand slapped by the Party of NO. The proof of just how uncooperative the GOP has been is out there for anyone who choses to read it. The GOPers have chosen not to participate in Government.

I say, if the GOPers don't want to help, stop their tax-payer funded checks and benefits and send them home to file for unemployment. Otherwise, they should get off their rear ends and do something worthwhile--like work to solve this country's problems.

Is there any way to remove an accidental up vote? hah accidently voted for blowbama's newspaper headline worthy iphone observation.

Next time blowbama you should muster up your political will vehemently displayed on this internet bulletin board and ask the lady in front of you (perhaps in the parking lot) and say im so sorry to bother you but I am actively engaged in politics and noticed you were using food stamps. How have you been impacted by the economic recession?

Once you hear her story then you may spring the iphone question hopefully in a tactful manner. Are you sure it was an iPhone4? U can get an iPhone 3 on Ebay for $180 without contract and for only $99 with a contract. Remember people dont pay $60 a month for land lines anymore. Land lines or Cell phones are considered even more important than a vehicle in regards to job searching.

Hell if someone is even more resourceful, they can take 2 broken iPhones and make one good iPhone. Someone have a bad Xbox? Out of warranty? Buy it for 20 buks (on Ebay), open it up, reseat the heat sink on the GPU, and resell it for $70. It may fail again but the person who bought it will get 90 days of playtime.

People do what they can do but are limited by their skills, experiences, resources, thought processes, liabilities, commitments, health, etc etc.

"Finding your own healthcare coverage in the private sector" blowbama? Many are just trying to make a few dollars to live. Once the housing market recovers (surplus inventory), Goverment Motors changes to Goshdarnwemadeit Motors, Chrysler finally brings the FIAT 500 to the US so i can trade in my 2001 honda civic, people pay down their credit card debts thanks to new credit card laws, consumer confidence rises, and finally new private sector jobs are created due to all of the aforementioned items... then we can all be civil once again.

Blowbama may not want to answer my challenge to him/her, and I really do NOT want to put him/her on the spot., so I will open up the challenge to ANY GOPer out there that is willing to answer my question. The question is this, and I am going to narrow the scope a bit:

What has the GOP done to earn your vote, especially since they have FAILED in winning ANY of the three MAJOR legislative battles in the past 2 years?

Exactly! Do the Repubs REALLY believe they can afford to lose 12,000,000 votes right now?

Arrogant and dumb is no way to go through life, Boehner et al. - you probably ought to at least TRY and come up with a VIABLE alternative. Idiots!

B Honest

heck - all of the unemployed have to be Republicans!

all the repubs/tea partiers say is all dems are on welfare or entitlement - wouldn't that mean no dems have ever qualified for unemployment?

Midwestern Democrat,

So sad but you hit the nail squarley with the hammer!

Midwestern Democrat,

Sadly, I have to agree with you, those old white guys in Congress just CANNOT have a Black Man show them how it is done, their egos will just crumple up and die, so they do everything that they can to sabotage him. They cannot overtly show their racism, that is for the Used Teabaggers, but they can sure try to derail everything that he does for the good of ALL Americans.

Claiming "racism" is something president Obama would heartily disagree with, and he has. Trotting it out at every turn dilutes the real racial divides and cheapens the debate on the issues at hand. It is the president's policies that are in dispute, not his race. Jeff Sessions was just as reprehensible when Bill Clinton was president. It is politics, not racism, and it saddens me to see how easily many are willing to think so little of their fellow Americans who elected the president by a clear majority...

My sentiments exactly! Never before has this much vitriol been directed towards a President who has only been in office for such a short period of time......DESPITE the fact that he has already accomplished more than most Presidents during their full terms! Folks are critical of anyone who plays the race card b/c it conveniently allows them to remain in denial............of blatant racism. Since when did the Tea Party ever gain THIS much steam? Hmmmmmmm, I would say ever since Obama's race provided the water!

Midwestern:

I wouldn't necessarily agree that being Black is the reason that many Republcians won't cooperate with Obama, or that they will be against anything he proposes. But I do believe there is a certain attitude towards Obama by some Republicans of resentment. Not due to the fact alone that Obama is Black, but also because Obama is young, confident, intelligent, a newcomer who climbed the ladder quickly, a suprise to many to have come out of no where to win the Dem primary and then the general election for President.

One can see this attitude surface when Obama fights back at times and criticizes the republicans for their failure to participate in the governing process. They respond by complaining that Obama is lecturing them. On the other hand if Obama were White, older, less confident and a more tenured Washington insider they would not see such criticism as lecturing but rather just what it is, criticism, regardless of Obama's race. Note how in meetings with the republicans (some televised) most can't seem to keep up with Obama's keen sense of the details no matter the subject matter, or to debate him with specifics because Obama, who is the analytical, will come to meetings knowing the details. It makes the republicans feel foolish and embarassed resulting in feelings of resentment towards Obama. And if there are some republicans who include Obama's race as a reason to dislike him, and they were honest about it. I would surmise that they would not describe Obama as being Black, but would rather describe him as being an uppity Black. It's not the fact that Obama is Black that bothers them,. It is the fact, and the combination, that Obama is Black, intelligent, highly confident and a overnight success in politics that bothers them. Frankly, many republicans were not yet ready for a highly intelligent and confident Black man to be President. Ergo, their complaints that he is lecturing them rather than criticzing them. If anything they are not thinking, how dare this Black man criticize us", but rather they are thinking "how dare this upstart, uppity, confident and analytical Black man lecture us. If Obama acted more beholden to them, less confident with them, somewhat beneath them intellectually and socially, then it is likely many republicans would not have the same level of resentment towards Obama.

"My sentiments exactly! Never before has this much vitriol been directed towards a President who has only been in office for such a short period of time."

To those who do not remember the Bush Years...note the rhetoric about the "Take Back America" rally

btw-it hurts me to do this but the endless claims about how this president is facing opposition unlike any other flies in the face of the reality of every administration since George........................ Washington!

"Bill Moyers may have his politics, but his deferential demeanor and almost avuncular television style made him the Mr. Rogers of American politics. So when he leaves his neighborhood to go to a "Take Back America" rally and denounces George W. Bush's "government of, by and for the ruling corporate class," leading a "right-wing wrecking crew" engaged in "a deliberate, intentional destruction of the United States way of governing," you know that something is going on."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030922-485769,00.html#ixzz0u9WtabRd

Published on Thursday, January 4, 2001 by the InterPress Service

Black Leaders Slam 'Illegitimate' Bush Presidency

by Katherine Stapp

NEW YORK - A group of prominent African-Americans has challenged the electoral victory of Republican President-elect George W. Bush after a ballot exercise marked by numerous charges of selective disenfranchisement of black voters.
Denouncing what they described as ''massive voting irregularities'' in the November polls, eight prominent black leaders have vowed to aggressively contest two of Bush's cabinet nominations, to protest his inauguration on Jan. 20, and to pursue comprehensive electoral reform in the courts and in Congress.

A ''national emergency summit'' was announced for Thursday at Howard University in Washington, which will involve the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, the Nation of Islam, the National Urban League, and other leading African American groups.

''The Center for Constitutional Rights is committed to opposing the legitimacy of this regime, which was born of the disenfranchisement of millions of people in this country,'' said Ron Daniels, the Center's executive director, who organised a panel Tuesday at a forum titled 'From Protest to Democracy' in Washington DC.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0104-01.htm

Stolen Election 2000

Regime Change at the NY Times: Bush Was SELECTED
17-Oct-04
Stolen Election 2000

It looks like there has been a Regime Change at the NY Times! On 11-12-01, the Times front page read: "Study of Disputed Florida Ballots Finds Justices Did Not Cast the Deciding Vote." In fact, that study - the Media Consortium recount of 175,000 NEVER-counted ballots - showed the opposite, namely that Gore won under 6 of 9 scenarios. Today, in its endorsement of John Kerry, the Times finally acknowledge the TRUTH: "the Supreme Court awarded [Bush] the presidency." Better late than never...

http://archive.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=248

Bill Press: More evidence Bush stole the election
WASHINGTON (Tribune Media Services) -- George W. Bush wishes the election was over. He wants everybody to forget about what happened in Florida, stop examining ballots, move on, and accept him as a legitimate president.

Too bad. The media will never stop digging into the Florida election until all the votes are counted -- something that never happened last November.

And the more they dig, they more evidence there is that Bush did not win Florida, and therefore the presidency, fair and square. Indeed, he may not have won at all. He is our legitimate 43rd president, but it looks more and more that he arrived there illegitimately.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/07/23/billpress.column/index.html

The criticism goes with the job, just like the jet and the cool helicopter...

dangerfield,

Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane. I appreciate you for posting those legitimate facts that actually validated EVERYTHING that we've been posting.

Everyone tried extremely hard to KEEP BUSH from inheriting the White House; because many of us knew that he didn't actually win it and he was unqualified...that is why it was essential for him to have Cheney as his Vice President...Bush's own father didn't think that he was qualified...

He wanted Jeb to have his legacy...thanks again for your thoughtful insight! What a pip you are! lol!!

Midwestern,

I think you are correct (unfortunately). Thank you for saying what a lot of us were probably thinking anyway. The unmitigated hate and sole purpose to destroy him has to be coming from somewhere other than politics as usual or just differences of opinion. I agree with you and suspect something more sinister is at play with many on the right. Just look to the Tea Party Express.

I wish I could disagree but unfortunately, it is true. Despite that, one has only to look at what Pres Obama has accomplished--health care reform, stimulus, financial regulatory reform, to realize that all the GOP's hatred has done little to stop him. Those bills may not be perfect but Obama has accomplished more than any President since LBJ. The GOP underestimates the skills of this man, OUR President.

The GOP was anti-Clinton and went after him on many issues but I will add that the GOP in 1995, still had moderates who willingly worked with democrats and Clinton. There are only 2 maybe 3 moderate republicans left; the rest are either far right extremists or are too afraid of the extremists to take a stand.

Steeler Fan-380417

I think the Democrats should have called the Republicans' bluff & taken the money to pay for the unemployment benefits extension out of the defense spending budget.

So do it! It's not like the Democrats don't have the votes. But you do understand that doing so will cut just as many jobs in Democratic districts as it does in Republican districts.

You Democrats keep whining about Defense spending year in, and year out. You've had near total control of Congress for 17 months, and you've yet to cut one dime from Defense spending.

So take money from the productive, and give it to the unproductive. What could possibly go wrong?

Even democrats realize that cutting defense spending during a Great Recession would only add to the economic woes. Democrats will cut defense spending. A republican and a democrat are working together on this very issue.

The rich have been taking from the rest of us for years despite what FOX, and the GOP says. The vast majority of the American people are productive, hard working individuals whether they are waitresses or doctors. I find it troubling that some believe those who have humble jobs are not productive.

"....So take money from the productive, and give it to the unproductive. What could possibly go wrong?"

Here's what could go wrong, Door Knob- The people taking the money from ALL OF US could spend it on cheap labor in China.

Judy,

I'll ask you, what is rich? Why do you think GOP=rich? Or am I wrong?

The time to stop extending the benefits is when the ratio of applicants to jobs is more rational. You said yourself, you've been there. If you were still unemployed, would you be saying stop your benefits. There are 5 applicants for every 1 job, not extending the benefits right now would further harm the wobbly economy.

I do not want to sound incentive, but actually I never did file for my unemployment benefits as unlike many American's, I was living within my means and had saved for an emergency that I could use to help in my several months of unemployment. I know many people are not able to be in this situation, but we also need to think that we need to do something to help these people build their confidence back and a small check from their states unemployment office does not give them hope. The money is already their for the extension as we have only spent 50% of the stimulus bill.

Bottom line is that people want jobs or the hope that the economy is creating them rather than a handout to only have this same debate in 6 months. (but that is what the Recovery Act purpose was, to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery - it's a year later and it's not working)

You must have a crystal ball working for you! That is exactly right and why I know it is true is because it is the way they operate. Remember, they vowed to oppose everything he proposed and that is what they have done. They have been consistent with statement if not with any others...

Its called redistribution of wealth. This is what the progressives have been waiting for.... taking money from those of us who work and give it to those of us who do not.

Welcome to Obama's America

Ah...Larry,

Do you know where unemployment benefits come from? Are you aware that only people that HAVE been employed are eligible to receive the benefits that have been set aside for them...for years?

Larry: I asked you this question long ago, and you never answered it. What are you willing to do without, keeping in mind that the Fed's funding is one of the reasons that ND stays in the black? I also asked you for a source on a Jefferson quote that you claim, will you provide it, or admit you are wrong? Did you learn in church that it is good to be insulting about those in need and to deny YOUR responsibility as a member of society to provide aid to those that need it?

Chris,

Excellent posting.

Chris:

I don't see the Republicans not having any answers to what they would do if in control of Congress as being news. We already know they have no answers. That's nothing new.

It would be news if the media were able to report that those who support these Republicans have themselves come to the realization that the Republicans have no answers. Now that would be news. In fact ,it would be an enlightenment of sorts, a new dawn, a new beginning you might say for those who at this point wish to remain in the dark ages. But if they were to become enlightened then we could all celebrate their decision to come out of the dark and to seek the light.

Excellent, Chris. The media is again out chasing their nonstory while ignoring the real one.

Every single day I get more disapointed in Obama and his administration! The Obama administration Has more then enough money to give to the people but he has a burning desier to endebt this country and burden future generations with their Unending greed.

Any sane person in this nation is sick to death of this horrifying administration, Havent you hurt this nation enough!

Three taxes! Spending like idiots, depriving the people the money you already have Taken from the people against their will!

All the strif you have caused with your selfishness and incompetence is mind boggeling!

Grow a brain!

Dear sandy shores: what on earth are you talking about. Seriously.

I would love this administration to tell the people in detail how high our cost of living will be and this time dont lie because you are destroying every single person in this nation.