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In brief remarks to steel workers at a manufacturing plant outside Washington, President Obama today cited the new Gross Domestic Product data showing the U.S. economy grew slightly at a pace of 2% in the 3rd quarter, adding that his "mission is to accelerate that recovery."
Obama defended his administration's economic agenda for encouraging small business investment and job growth through government lending incentives, but he said that government "can't guarantee the success of any company."
Government has a responsibility, he continued, to offer "targeted, temporary" incentives to help small businesses to create the conditions for them "to spur investment."
The president described a proposal to allow businesses to deduct investments, calling it a "good idea, a proven idea" that will lead to small business job growth.
And he made a quick pitch to the 200 or so workers in the audience to vote, saying he hoped they were "using as an example" the plant owner who told the president he had voted early.
Noting the "height of the political season," Obama said when "it's over," he expects Democrats and Republicans to work together to promote jobs and growth.
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Good news is good news. No matter how Faux News Bobbleheads try to spin it. This should be used as a positive end to the outsourcing commercials run this weekend to give people hope and get them to the polls.
Get out and vote people.
Good news? 2% growth is good news a year after spending a trillion?
"targeted, temporary" incentives? Like cash for clunkers. Well, as Leno, or somebody said - it did get a bunch of Obama bumper stickers off the roads.
Which brings up another point. When liberal comedians turn on a liberal president, he isn't doing well. But for the President to be called Dude and get busted by Stewart ......
Obama said when "it's over," he expects Democrats and Republicans to work together.....
Are these the same "punish your enemies" and "ride in the back" Republicans he was talking about two days ago?
"Emerging markets" economies in South America growing at 8% plus with record employment
"Emerging market" governments promote business
Obama and the progressive democrats hate business
Too bad for Americans who want jobs and want to earn their own money
Such a result is considerably worse than prior cyclical experience. Other "recent" recessions (since the 1970s) show that real GDP is usually more than 6% above the previous peak by now. Softer than usual consumption, housing, commercial real estate, and state and local government spending are the main reasons for the poor performance relative to history.
–Jay Feldman, Credit Suisse
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/10/29/economists-react-growth-remains-too-weak/
________________________________________________________________
Progressive democrats and the other Communists are spending us into poverty
How would it impact your personal life if Obama dissolved the Department of Energy tomorrow?
Bob 1805084 - you obviously don't follow comedians very closely. This would be the first time Leno was described as Liberal! While he makes some effort to hit both sides with his humor, he is well known here in SoCal as a conservative. Down to earth & genuine guy but conservative. And Jon Stewart gave the President nothing different than he gives to all politicians, it one of the reasons many young people give more credit to him than other news people, even though he NEVER claims to be a journalist! He asks pointed incisive questions! And, I find nothing disrespectful in using the term Dude with the President! Oh and btw, I'm a 60+ yr old Daily Show Fan, so it not just for kids!
Yea, I never really knew about Leno. I like that about him.
The liberal comedians remark was in the next paragraph with Stewart. Letterman and Fallon were in mind when the plural was stated. They all have good stuff, although Letterman's obsession with the previous guys is tiresome and sad.
Everyone sees jokes differently I guess, but Stewart was busting Obama.
It's OK. The president dude was confused about what was happening too.
Yeah, just like that laser he was focusing on it last year.
Fool. How many times does Obama have to have his ass handed to him by the party of "Hell NO?" Does he never learn?
There will be NO Republican effort to work together with Obama. Period. Forget it.
It's time to quit the bipartisan daydreaming and get into the street fight the Republicans have been waging since November, 2008. It's fight or flight time.
President Obama and democrats know the party of NO will not work to solve the country's problems. But what sounds reasonable and better to the American people, a president and party willing to work with the other side or a party who refuses to even consider it. My money's says President Obama and the democratic party wins the public opinion poll on this one.
Jody:
Based on the last 2 years, I doubt offering to work with Republicans will help one iota in the public opinion polls.
Obama has been trying to work with them since January 2009. The "opinion poll" that counts will come on Tuesday, 11/2. There is NO indication he will be rewarded handsomely for his bipartisanship.
Are there two President Obamas, or is the same President Obama who in his first meeting with Republicans remarked....
Time to quit the lie that Obama was ever bipartisan, bilweeler.
Afterall, Obama, in effect, quit that 2008 campaign lie right after his election.
bob:
No lie. He tried.
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/capital/2010/03/03/obama-throws-gop-some-compromises-on-healthcare-reform
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022002277.html
But what's the point? They Republicans invoked the party of "no" strategy early, and won't even vote for legislation they support.
John Boehner:
"This is not a time for compromise, and I can tell you that we will not compromise on our principles,” he said.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/28/gop-reject-compromise/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101027/pl_afp/usvotehealthcarepolitics_20101027224050
Mike Pence:
"in 1994 when the Republicans took control of Congress “there was altogether too much compromise,” and promised that “there will be no compromise” if Republicans take control after the midterms, specifically on issues like “repealing ObamaCare lock stock and barrel.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/28/gop-reject-compromise/
Obama needs to go from bipartisanship to pragmatism. He won't get any Republican support. Period. Anything that cannot get done without their support won't get done. He should face it and concentrate on what, if anything, can be done without them. And if nothing gets done, it's on the GOP. Just ask Boehner, Pence, et al.
Funny, I referenced Obama in 2008 and you referenced Boehner(Repubs) in October 2010.
After two years, even the dumbest dog and a Boehner will figure it out.
You're right, nothing's going to happen. Obama is no Clinton. Clinton was a pragmatist, not a narcissist.
The majority of Americans understand they will just have to settle for no more socialistic destruction until 2012, when real hope will return and we can undo the economic and social change Americans did not vote for.
BTW, I didn't click on thinkprogress. Progressives?
Cancer is "progressive" too.
Bob:
I could have posted numerous links to the party of "no" and their disinterest in compromise since 2008, but I thought I'd just show that it's still their position today.
Good thing you didn't click on thinkprogress. Coulda given you cancer, I guess. Sheesh.
Bob,
Cancer might be progressive... but STUPIDITY is terminal!
Twice in the same dang day!!!
Man I'm on a role.
Yep, you're right Feisty,
but people will be voting liberal stupidity out of office on Twosday.
fiesty - so sorry to hear of your terminal illiness. Dr give you 1 month or two?
bilweeler - So obama tried working with the republican since the beginning, huh?? perhaps you should check out this link that proves you just blow hot air. Rather makes me wonder what else you try to pass off as truth!
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/12/fineman-what-went-wrong-for-obama-and-the-dems.html?GT1=43002ml
As far as your "thinkprogressive' links seems like obama showed the republicans how to say obamas mantra "it is my way or the highway"
I bet the remarks were brief. Obama doesn't want to dwell on failure, his failure, too much, or he'll lose 10 more House seats and another 2-3 Senate seats on Tuesday if people focus on yet another Democratic failure. And don't worry Barack, your friends in the MSM will let this latest set of bad news slide on by too. Best for you to get back on the campaign trail and shout "Yes We Can", doing that will certainly help increase the GDP.
So Obama says it's his "mission is to accelerate the recovery". Well isn't that special? So how's that been going for you Barack? How ya'gonna do that acceleration Barack? By not letting business owners know what amount taxes they'll be paying come January 1, 2011? You think they like that uncertainty Barack? By asking the question of what American businesses "As* needs to be kicked today"? I bet that makes businesses feel that you're on their side, right Barack?
And tell us that story again, the one about the "Car in the ditch". Does anyone believe you when you keep saying you got the car out the ditch Barack? That you're putting the car in "D" and not "R"? Everyday that goes by Barack, it's looking more and more like you don't have a clue on how to drive that car.
The resident bean-bag weighs in. Cool.
The GDP is no longer moving in a downward direction.
And the resident bean-bag wants to talk about a car.
Get with the facts there JS, your "car" claim was proven false, it was fact checked and to quote your fellow republican Joe Wilson--you lie.
The resident clown weighs in.
drive-thru - does everything have to be spoon-feed to you:
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=USD
See that blue line on the graph on the above web-page drive-thru? Which way is it going since Jan/2010?
Why are you insulting bean bags? They have feelings to ya know! lol
She's a bag alright... but I would replace the 'B' with a 'D'....
Must be pay day for JoAnna---nice try but not effective.
Growth in GDP beats losses in GDP any day. The car is out of the ditch, it is back on the road again and picking up speed. I'll take the economic situation today over what we had 2 years ago any time and I wouldn't want anyone else other than President Obama driving the car.
She's a bag alright... but I would replace the 'B' with a 'D'....
And for you we'll replace the 'B' with an 'H'. lol
Hey JS1, dont you have a Halloween Party to go to in your usual garb, Witch?
The President seems by nature to abhor applying political pressure on his opponents--a proven tactic President Clinton nearly perfected.
The goal is not, as bilweeler emphasizes, bi-partisan harmony. The goal is to achieve your programs through legislative, executive, judicial and POLITICAL means (which are, by the way, legitimate when not personally degrading to anyone.) It is sooooo ironic that Obama is tagged with being a Chicago-style politician. He is anything but. Just as he is anything but a socialist or any worse name the right come up with. Strangely it is Obama's very pragmatism that has hurt him and the Democratic party so much.
Fancy that. Good points except I disagree about the pragmatism hurting him. Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton all were pragmatists--they did what was necessary to get legislation passed. To quote Clinton, "it's the economy, stupid". All the good things Pres Obama and democrats have accomplished--the most sweeping legislation in a generation--is secondary to being unemployed.
Sorry Jody, as I usually agree with most everything you post, bilweeler has the lead on this one.
You must know that Republicans will resort to anything including reconcilliation to push thru their agenda when Democrats did not.
You remember what it was like from 1994 to 2008. And this time won't be any different. Well maybe worse when you throw in the tea baggers.
We've all heard from those on the right screaming loud and long about how we are the enemy. Its time to take that to heart.
No, biweeler is right. Its time to pull the gloves off and play in the gutter for a while. As in any struggle, when the fighting starts, the rules go out the window. Its a lesson I've learned from the rabid right.
I have to agree. My dad gave me some advice when I was much, much younger that I will always remember. It mainly said, "try compromise to avoid getting yourself hurt but if you know you are going to have to fight, make sure YOU throw the first punch". You know what? In my adult life I have found that to be so true.
We've all heard from those on the right screaming loud and long about how we are the enemy. Its time to take that to heart
And Obama has called Republicans the enemy
So I guess it's time to take that to heart. Ehh?
Absolutely.
I fail to see how appeasing your opponent but gaining nothing in return is pragmatic.
"Government has a responsibility, he continued, to offer 'targeted, temporary' incentives to help small businesses to create the conditions for them 'to spur investment.'"
With all due respect, Mr. President. The government has the responsibility to establish broad, long term policies to create the predictable environment where business' may thrive.
Typical "leftie" who wants to get in there and "meddle".
Cicero
Rob-459463
That's funny because last month the Republicans wanted goverment to stay out of the private business sector.
You can't have it both ways. Dont worry, you'll get what you want another Republican President and when the price of food and gas goes through the roof and your kid is heading off to another meaningless war...
You'll blame that on Obama, as well.
Remember when GWB was outside the White House giving one of his speeches about the economy and a reporter said but what about gas going for $4.00 a gallon.
GWB said what - is it really $4.00 a gallon?
Government "can't guarantee the success of any company."
-- Barack Obama
______________________________________________________________________
Then why does Obama's new "Financial Regulation" bill do EXACTLY that for Wall Street?
All those Wall Street democrat fundraisers and Wall Street Obamaczars?
Barack Obama is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
Well, Madison, throwing a bit of a tizzy fit today. The close polls got you all upset.
"I can't be responsible for every undercapitalized small business in America."
- Hillary Clinton - when told that her health care plan would bankrupt many businesses - Of course Congress rejected her and her HillaryCare plan for just that reason. This time around with Obama, Congress said they couldn't care less about businesses, and they'll pay for that attitude on Tuesday.
With "friends" like the Democrats, American businesses don't need enemies.
With "friends" like the Democrats, American businesses don't need enemies.
________________________________________________________________
Exactly JoAnna. This is why pro business countries in South America currently are experiencing 8% plus growth and record high employment
Lets go talk to these businesses in South America and see if we can outsource some jobs to America!
Madison:
You didn't identify the
that you referred to in your post #7.3.
Did you mean Uruguay?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay
Yeah, they ARE pretty successful in Uruguay:
You're right. If we want high growth and low unemployment, we should look to places like Uruguay.
Meet the President of Uruguay:
Former leftist guerrilla Jose Mujica took up office on 1 March 2010, after having won a run-off election against conservative former President Luis Lacalle in November 2009 with about 53% of the vote.
Like his predecessor, Tabare Vazquez, Mr Mujica belongs to the left-wing Broad Front (Frente Amplio) coalition, and promised to continue President Vazquez's policies.
He was a co-founder of the left-wing Tupamaros urban guerrilla movement during the 1960s, and was imprisoned during the 1973-1985 military dictatorship.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1229360.stm
I'll bet you'd MUCH prefer President Mujica to President Obama, right?
biweeler - why not enlighten us further on chile, brazil, argentina etc.
Seems that with your closed minimalist mind, Madison was trying to have you look up the information yourself so that you wouldn't think that the info came from some right wing website. Perhaps "think progress" will also have the answer you seek
President of Brazil:
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; born 6 October 1945, but registered with a date of birth of 27 October 1945), known popularly as Lula[2] is the thirty-fifth and current President of Brazil.
A founding member of the Workers' Party (PT – Partido dos Trabalhadores), he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in 2002 election, and was inaugurated as President on 1 January 2003. In the 2006 election he was re-elected for a second term as President ending on 1 January 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_Inácio_Lula_da_Silva
President of Argentina:
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (Front for Victory Party)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristina_Fernández_de_Kirchner
The Front for Victory (Spanish: Frente para la Victoria, FPV) is a peronist[1] political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party[2]. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-present) belong to this party, located at the left-wing part of the Argentine political spectrum [3].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_for_Victory
President of Chile: March 2006-March 2010
Michelle Bachelet, is a moderate socialist politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010—the first woman president in the country's history. She won the 2006 presidential electionin a runoff, beating center-right US dollar billionaire businessman, former senator and current President of Chile Sebastián Piñera with 53.5% of the vote. She campaigned on a platform of continuing Chile's free-market policies, while increasing social benefits to help reduce the gap between rich and poor.
President of Chile: March 2010-Present
Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique, born December 1, 1949, is the current President of Chile having won the second round of the presidential election that took place on January 17, 2010, and subsequently taking office on March 11, 2010. He is a businessman, politician, former Senator, and leader of the presidential and parliamentary electoral coalition Coalition for Change. Piñera ranks among Chile's richest persons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastián_Piñera
So there ya go. All leftists/socialists, except for Chile since March 2010. So if we're going to look to these
which social/leftist leadership do you prefer? Uruguay? Brazil? Argentina? Chile?
None of them are anywhere near as left wing as President Obama, but I don't have a problem with pushing him much further left if you really think it will help....
bilweeler - Actually I prefer government leaders who promote business and economic growth of their country. If the leaders you named have done so, so be it. They have done more for their countries than our politicians have done for the US.
A Crossroads Election
By Thomas Sowell
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Most elections are about particular policies, particular scandals or particular personalities. But these issues don't mean as much this year-- not because they are not important, but because this election is a crossroads election, one that can decide what path this country will take for many years to come.
Runaway "stimulus" spending, high unemployment and ObamaCare are all legitimate and important issues. It is just that freedom and survival are more important.
For all its sweeping and scary provisions, ObamaCare is not nearly as important as the way it was passed. If legislation can become laws passed without either the public or the Congress knowing what is in those laws, then the fundamental principle of a free, self-governing people is completely undermined.
Some members of Congress who voted for ObamaCare, and who are now telling us that they realize this legislation has flaws which they intend to correct, are missing the point.
The very reason for holding hearings on pending legislation, listening to witnesses on all sides of the issue, and having Congressional debates that will be reported and commented on in the media, is so that problems can be explored and alternatives considered before the legislation is voted into law.
Rushing ObamaCare into law too fast for anyone to have read it served no other purpose than to prevent this very process from taking place. The rush to pass this law that would not take effect until after the next two elections simply cut the voters out of the loop-- and that is painfully close to ruling by decree.
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Other actions and proposals by this administration likewise represent moves in the direction of arbitrary rule, worthy of a banana republic, with only a mocking facade of freedom.
These include threats against people who simply choose to express opinions counter to administration policy, such as a warning to an insurance company that there would be "zero tolerance" for "misinformation" when the insurance company said that ObamaCare would create costs that force up premiums.
Zero tolerance for the right of free speech guaranteed by the Constitution?
This warning comes from an administration with arbitrary powers that can impose ruinous costs on a given business.
Those who are constantly telling us that our economic problems are caused by not enough "regulation" never distinguish between regulation which simply enforces known rules, as contrasted with regulation that gives arbitrary powers to the government to force others to knuckle under to demands that have nothing to do with the ostensible purposes of the regulation.
As more businesses reveal that they are considering no longer buying health insurance for their employees, as a result of higher costs resulting from ObamaCare legislation, the administration has announced that it can grant waivers that reduce these costs.
But the power to grant waivers is the power to withhold waivers-- an arbitrary power that can impose millions of dollars in costs on businesses that the administration doesn't like.
Recent proposals from the Obama administration to force disclosure of the names of people who sponsor election ads would likewise open all who disagree with Obama to retaliation by the government itself, as well as by community activists and others.
History tells us where giving government one arbitrary power after another leads. It is like going into a Venus fly-trap, which is easy to enter and nearly impossible to get out of.
The headstrong, know-it-all willfulness of this administration, which threatens our freedom at home, also threatens our survival in the international jungle, because Obama seems determined to do nothing that will stop Iran from going nuclear.
The Obama administration goes through all sorts of charades at the U.N. and signs international agreements on sanctions that have been watered down to the point where they are not about to bring Iran's nuclear weapons program to a halt. The purpose is not to stop Iran but to stop the American people from realizing what Obama is doing or not doing.
We have a strange man in the White House. This election is a crossroads, because either his power will be curbed by depriving him of his huge Congressional majorities or he will continue on a road that jeopardizes both our freedom and our survival.
luis - what can I say, it is not everyday that fiesty, jody. bilweeler et al can't respond to your post. Well thought out and I hope you vote on tuesday, if not already.
ARE YOU kidding me american?
Why would I bother to respond to someone who claims there is a strange man in the WH?
What we have is a BLACK man who was fairly elected by the MAJORITY of Americans... GET OVER IT!
I'm suprised he didn't just come right out and call him a ni**er? Wouldn't be the first time these racists have said it around here!!!
fiesty - always trying to point out that obama is black, so what?? I am sure that he puts his pants on, just like everyone else.... One leg at a time.
Apparently that is all YOU SEE HIM as, just another ....
people always have to play the race card
"can't guarantee the success of any company."
He seems to be able to guarantee the success of badly run companies, as long as they are manned by his union thugs.
Well, this one wins the goofy comment award for today.
Lars:
Another brilliant spokesman for the party of "Hell NO." We should have let the auto industry FAIL. Then we'd really be MUCH better off. Right.
If there's any bailout that truly screwed America, it was the bailout of the banks (Goldman Sachs, etc). They took the money, paid themselves billions in bonuses, and refused to change a single one of their corrupt business practices.
But I guess that's NOT a problem, right Lars?
What is this, bean-bag Friday?
Geez- they're out in full force today. One doesn't understand the concept of 'relative', and the other one thinks the president is the head of the UAW.
Good one drive-by.
Pretty close actually,
400 Million in the last election will by you a lot.
I see that the good economic news has sparked the anitcipated 'blow-back' from those who can't even credit the President with helping achieve factually confirmed economic growth.
It is the increase of this lack of civility that most threatens our democracy.
The GDP numbers showed very soft 2% growth, up slightly from last quarter’s revised 1.7%. I think President Obama was a bit low key on this news because he knows 2% growth won’t create new jobs. In a normal environment, we need between 100,000 – 125,000 new jobs monthly just to keep up with population growth. 2% GDP gives us barely half of that. We need 3.5% GDP growth to create jobs.
If you look at the GDP number, it’s actually worse than “soft.” About 70% of growth came from growth in inventories. That’s up over 40% from the 2nd quarter. Typically, a growth in inventories shows confidence. But if inventories are building and employment stays low, those inventories will become liabilities, we’ll see more layoffs and price reductions (deflation).
In prior recessions, rebounds created in excess of 5% growth in GDP. We’re not even close to achieving the rate of growth we need to morph back into a strong economy. What’s holding up our recovery? For every action, there is a reaction. In government it’s “for every crisis, there is an over-reaction.” TARP avoided total financial meltdown, stabilized the banks and the policy worked. It should have ended there. The country could have taken a deep breath, and moved on. Instead we have huge deficits, lack of confidence, uncertainty and an increasingly divided citizenry. Don’t be so quick to commend current policy or leadership for shallow growth. We are on a slippery slope. In the end, it may not be pretty.
TPROGRESS:
A new Bloomberg poll shows that the public doesn't think President Obama has cut taxes, doesn't believe the economy has grown for four straight quarters, and doesn't know the bank bailout is generating a profit, all of which are true.
ALL OF WHICH ARE TRUE.
The auto industry was saved as well. But no one in the GOP cares about blue collar employees, so they remain SILENT about this story.
And McDonalds is asking people to vote "R" or they'll lose their benefits.
Which would have been lost if President Obama and his Administration hadn't done such a great job.
You are correct. The billions of dollars by professional liars sometimes hoodwinks most people. They can fool most of the people much of the time. Everyone I know in Europe is wondering again if Americans are dumb enough to fall for Republican lies. In places where people read history, sociology, economics, and philosophy there are no Republicans. One question is: do the American people have the intellectual knowledge to maintain a democracy? It is a constant battle to see if we do. The statistics on the economy that 100% of all economists agree on is different than the opinions that the right-wing wants to shove down people's throats with billions of dollars of dishonest ads and reports from Fox.
I haven't seen that statistic. Can you share your source?
Even as they rake in the dough, the "corporate people" continue to whine, lie, and ask for more.
Even though over 70% of corporations pay ZERO taxes in the U.S., you still hear them WHINING about the "tax rate" being "too high" . . . like they are gonna pay no matter what it is?
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1249465620080812
http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/01/ge-exxon-walmart-business-washington-corporate-taxes.html
Even though they had their "toxic assets" whitewashed with our tax money and their profits are through the roof, they are still feeling too "uncertain" to rework people's mortgages or hire staff.
What I'm saying is the "corporate people" are full of sh!t.
(Edited to add: Interesting how there is no limit on the amount of money that "corporate people" will spend on THEMSELVES and political ads, but there is no money to fund anything more than a piece of crap health plan or to give a cost of living increase. Weird.)
P.S. Interesting article about First Read's own Chuck Todd:
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/keeping_up_with_chuck_todd.php?page=all
Nashville_Fan: That was an interesting article on Chuck Todd. I encourage everyone to read it.
Corporate Profits. Please. They are all about themselves and no one else. I wish they would all pack up and leave this country. For good.
Selfish spoiled greedy lack of integrity SOBs.
I just read through the article on Chuck Todd. I actually found the comments more illuminating. Not one comment had anything positive to say about Chuck Todd. he may work long hours, but Chuck Todd is nothing more than a numbers cruncher. He is fixated with polls and he gives me the impression that he thinks politics is just one big game. He thinks these crazy people running for election is funny. Well, if the media for once highlighted exactly what these crazies agendas are, voters would be more informed. Chuck Todd thinks polling numbers are the b-all and end-all. He just doesn't care about the consequences.
Ramboet, I do consider Chuck to be part of the "inside the beltway" problem that is all over cable. They all are friends, making good livings and not really concerned about the average worker.
That's why I found this piece interesting. He admits the media are not respected any longer. Nor should they be.
Progressive seems to be a bad word with them. Yet it is progressives who put it all on the line for decades to make improvements in all aspects of our society.
Imagine no rich people here? We would take care of each other without worrying about costs. We would take care of our environment without worry about costs. WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR PLANET. We would educate all our children without worrying about costs. We would see to it that our parents are taken care of for the rest of their lives.
We would fix our bridges. We would build new roads.
If you want to go to Church. Who cares. If you don't want to go to Church. Who cares. You want to marry? Go ahead. To whoever will make you happy.
We would have our priorities right.
Get the rich to move out of here. Starting with Alan Greenspan, Karl Rove, Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes.
And take the phony religious right with them.
Well I can dream can't I? Lol.
Interesting articles on corporate taxation. I've always been of the opinion that we should have much lower corporate taxes, if any at all. Taxes are just passed onto the consumer anyways. That would mean these companies would have no reason to move operations overseas and it would mean jobs here in the U.S. I would also want disincentives for just giving this extra cash flow to executives, by raising the upper most tax tier.
Tim:
It is interesting that corporations are declared "people" by the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision, with Constitutional rights of "free speech", but when it comes time to go to jail for crimes or pay taxes, their "personhood" is shown for the very priviledge farce that it is.
How about the "corporate people" pay their fair share and stop whining?
They are not suffering anywhere near as much as the human people. They just have purchased more "free speech" with which to make their (unfounded) grievances known.
P.S. Good luck with your "raising the top tax rate" idea . . . hell, these folks have gotten an unpaid for mega discount on taxes for a decade via the Bush tax cuts, and even though they see America going to hell in a hand basket, they would rather hold their collective breath and die than see their tax rate go back up by a measley 2% . . . even though they have more money than they can spend and more houses than they can count.
It is just good old fashioned, unvarnished narcisisstic greed.
Not "capitalism".
Abusive and destructive greed.
heh, i'm with you on Citizen's United. I'm not really sure how a corporation is treated with the rights of an individual. If they have 1st amendment rights, do they have 2nd amendment rights? And what would that look like?
We live in a pretty interesting time, where the gap between classes are at all time highs yet anyone trying to say this is wrong is declared a socialist. Maybe the reason the recession is lasting so long is because the middle class is so weak? They're the ones that purchase the goods and services that earn the wealthy their fortunes, and seeing as they haven't had a pay raise in 30 years kinda means they won't be making many purchases. So I'm probably too much of an optimist in thinking if the corporate tax rate was lowered, companies would apply the savings to either the wages of their employees or to lower the cost of their products.
If corporations have 1st Amendment rights and are considered a person then does that mean they can get executed when they knowingly kill someone like BP did? Does it mean that they can go to jail for disorderly conduct? Does it mean that they are limited to what they can contribute like a normal person? The Supreme Court ruling seems to have given them unlimited power of individuals but no responsibilities and no limits to their rights. It could have been called the "Corporatocricy Supreme Power Ruling" and it would have been more honest.
GDP improving, fifth straight quarter of economic growth, too. There's an old saying that you do not measure success by how far you've come but by the distance from which you came.
Considering the fact that the USA was on the brink of a second Great Depression--we've come a long way thanks to President Obama and the democrats, and a cheer to former Pres Bush for working with democrats for TARP, Bush and Cheney also agreed that bailing out the auto industry was necessary. Pres Obama and democrats knew that the steps they had to take would be unpopular, that it could cost them politically but they did what was necessary regardless. Leadership is recognizing what is most important, elections or the country.
such spin! LOL!!!!!
I'm still trying to figure out what all these "republican" voters think is going to happen IF the republicans take over congress. Do they honestly believe that big corporations are all of a sudden going to start hiring and the unemployment rate will suddenly drop to 4% or something. Do you think they are all going to see more money in their pockets because of big tax breaks. Do they think all illegal immigrants are going to be deported.
It's not going to happen because if republicans get their way corporations will get less regulations so that they can ship more jobs overseas, more accidents will happen because of deregulation, home foreclosures will get worse, the bank industry will be able to give out more bonuses, unemployment benefits will be cut, health insurance will go up, gays will be barred from the military, social security will be privatized, medicare will be cut, hispanics will be thrown into private prisons, gas prices will skyrocket, and American muslims will be terrorized, and black Americans will once again be segregated. This is the country that baggers want back.
ramboet - businesses aren't going to be hiring until the govt can give them a clear indication of where it is going. the HCR act is so loaded with pork that the bureacrats will take forever to write the regs necessary to implement. The financial reform act was so broadly written that the bureacrats can make up regs that still favor wall st.
obama et al. has not given this country a clear vision to the taxpayer of where the country is going. BTW your second paragraph is absurd and obamacare has already cut medicare in hopes that enough fraud can be cut from medicare to pay for what obama is taking from it.
Please don't think like the radical left and obama that their way is the only way and that everything they say as truth really is. Unless a political party has a clear majority (like obama and the democrats have had since 2007). Successful legislation still requires compromise.
My company has about 100 employees manufacturing something people buy when they have extra money. Giving my company a million dollars or a 100% decrease in taxes will not hire one person. What will hire people is a situation where many more people have money to buy what we manufacture. There is one way to do that: Do what FDR did. Hire a couple million unemployed people at $40,000 or more to rebuild bridges and they will have the money to buy things they haven't had for a while. That is wha tit will take. Even when Ike was president the tax rate on multi-millionaires was about 90% and many more millionaires were created. We also had a growing ecomony. Even Nixon said "we are all Keynesians". When both major political parties stopped reading Keynes the economy went into the tank. Read economists: like Dean Baker, Ravi Batra, and even Krugman and if you read each word and do further research you will stop believing the criminals now running the GOP.
R.G.
You say your company will hire more people when people have money to buy what you manufacture. So, you're saying you benefit from rich people. Well, the current administration and the Democrats don't like rich people. They don't think rich people should have control over their own money. They're saying people with discretionary money are no good. So, R.G., don't you see? Democrats are not on your side. If they punish people with money, they punish you.
When FDR put his work programs into place, it literally took (not millions) but thousands of people to rebuild bridges and build new roads. Today, with machinery and technology, it takes about twenty to build a road. Good plan back then. Today....not so much.
FDR was a complete flop. He removed the gold backing our currency so he could start the nightmare of massive debt accumulation on an unprecedented scale. The government cannot "employ" people out of a recession. The only stimulation the economy gets is stopped dead in its tracks the second the government stops borrowing to promote the growth.
Only WWII saved the country from completely going under from FDR's worthless vote buying programs.
Hello America, so, so, yes so Barrack Obama after 2 years in the Whitehouse finally, finally wants to discuss the Economy, why he wants to discuss, GDP, and we have 2% growth in GDP, what he did not expound upon was the Fact that his $3 trillion dollar bailout is essentially -25% of of the GDP over the next 2 years, so in essence, we have a net GDP of, -23% if we consider the 2% growth. its all very complex why you would need an expert Wallstreet Banker such as Gietner to explain it to you, I am just so glad we have a Harvard Graduate and Nobel Prize Lauriate of Peace and The Economy in the Whitehouse, why where would we be without him? sincerely Fezzy Bear
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would not have passed if a GOP Senate minority leader by the name of Everett Dirksen had not agreed with a Democratic president Johnson that it was then time to do the right thing. It didn't benefit the GOP to make the Dems look good. The GOP didn't get much credit. If anything it was the Dems who paid the price in elections to come. But LBJ needed the GOP votes, because too many in his own party, Southern Democrats would not go along. Under today's political environment, these bills wouldn't pass, because it is no longer a matter of doing the right thing, but only does it benefit one party or hurt the other.
I totally agree. I am a Dem but I had respect for McCain and when he told that lady at his rally that Obama was not a terrorist or a Muslim my respect grew. But when he announced that he nor any Republican would work with other Dems or this President all respect for him and other Republicans went out the window.
I agree with you. LBJ said when he signed the bill, that "this will give the South to the Republicans for at least a generation but it is the right thing to do". We are still dealing with results of that day in 1964. Doing the right thing is sometimes difficult but inspiring to those with principals.
Democrats will hold on to the House and Senate. Look at the ralies of the Democrats and look at the meetings of the Republicans. We are not going backwards we are going forward. We want to have are police, teachers and schools funded, we want a health care that will not drop you because of prior conditions, health care and financial help for college students, help for small businesses, tax those that can afford to, let them share the profits they made off the middle and poor class, you don't get rich from the rich, a human imigration law, stimulas money that helps contain and create jobs, auto industry was saved as a result of stimulas money and most of it was paid back, our military man are being brought back saving lives and thousand of millions of dollars, a war that was based on lies ..........Something that took 8 years to destroy can not be fixed in 2. We can not afford to go backwards lets continue to move forward. We will hold on to the House and Senate with your vote. Tell your friends and family we need to get out the votes your livelyhood depends on it.
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHERE YOUR POLITICAL MONEY IS COMING FROM,
LET ME GUESS A FEW, INS. COMPANIES, WALL STREET LOBBIEST, OUTSOURCING COMPANIES, OIL COMPANIES AND LIST GOES ON AND ON. DON'T B FOOLED.
This is fun . . . if the 2010 midterms were a movie . . . Talking Points Memo has cast actors to play folks . . . pretty good!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/gallery/2010/10/stranger-than-fiction-tpm-casts-the-2010-midterms-movie.php?img=2
Hello America, so, so, yes so Barrack Obama after 2 years in the Whitehouse finally, finally wants to discuss the Economy, why he wants to discuss, GDP, and we have 2% growth in GDP, what he did not expound upon was the Fact that his $3 trillion dollar bailout is essentially -25% of of the GDP over the next 2 years, so in essence, we have a net GDP of, -23% if we consider the 2% growth. its all very complex why you would need an expert Wallstreet Banker such as Gietner to explain it to you, I am just so glad we have a Harvard Graduate and Nobel Prize Lauriate of Peace and The Economy in the Whitehouse, why where would we be without him? well its not all to be blamed on Obama, lets look back in time to the first culprit of destruction to the Economy, Richard Nixon, yes many of you will not remember Dick, so let me fill in his highlights, His China Visit, yes if we can establish trade with China we can gain access to a Global Economy and a Global Workforce, this was the talk of the town in 1968, now many of us said wait why are we establishing relationships with a communist country? why you backward bumpkin its a Changing World with a Global Economy, what the proponents at the time never told us is what the U.S. economy would be in 2010, well we all know now don't we? we all know what they meant by a global economy, why that was a time before the internet, even before Computers, or Palmtops, or Blackberries, you get the idea, why that was before, Opec, Alcaida, and the Tailaban, and the twin towers memorial site, oh if we could have only known the future we would have impeached Dick Nixon right then and there. ""Yes if we could turn backtime, if we could find a-away, ...... Yes If we could turn back time, if we could find a-away...."" sincerely Fezzy Bear
When I was a kid, a friend of mine had a Boston Terrier. 'Pepper' was it's name I believe.
'Pepper' sure looked a lot like Meg Whitman.
NOW that's a double screen cleaner DBO!
ROTFLMFAO!
There was this biker club just down the street from my business and they had this pet chimpanzee, bo-bo was his name I think. Anyway, bo-bo had these huge ears and start grinning at the strangest things. It was hilarious. Well bo-bo sure resembled you know who a great deal. I know, I know, I'm a racist and you are good people.
Now, the Horseman is left only with the GDP -- the Galloping Disaster Poll.
Where is the Shovel Oblaba? Who's buying this? How can you get GDP when no
one is employed, no business is open, all manufacturing is dead, no income taxes
and the nation is at a virtual shutdown. Where are his economists? Bad
boy ,what you gonna do when we come for you, bad boy , bad boy. no GDP, no
JEP and no ERP and soon will be no BHO.
That's more like it, JB. Glad to see you got the "Horsemen" dig in again.
Tell me. Do you take the biblical apocalypse literally? As in the end days are near? Or do you just throw it around because you think it makes you look good?
As I keep reminding you, the "Horsemen" drivel does NOT enhance your posts in the slightest.
I think he means horse turds- not men. I think he has a mirror just behind his monitor, and it's causing some degree of confusion for the screwball.
Hey, Juven- did you mean the 'road-apples of the appocolypse'? 'Horse biscuits of the alpaca-lips'? What?? Talk to us, man.
This moron discussing the GDP and the economy? That's what should'a been on the comedy channel! This idiot couldn't turn a dime profit from a Popsicle stand in the dessert. Oh well, I guess he will focus that laser on it like he did last year. Will someone please clue the grinning chump with the big ears in?
To heck with advisors. They are all going to say the same thing. Get the damn Federal Reserve to start inflating our way out of this mess the same way they did all the other recessions. It is OK to do it for the bankers but not the country.
The problem is we let greedy billionaire bankers (FED) run the economy and they don't want to lose on there billions in cash reserves they are sitting on or take inflated money payments on all the home loans. Well tough crap then. We will be happy to start printing our own currency and running our own economy. Go find another economy to strangle to death.
In a fractional reserve run economy you do one of two things in a depression. You lower interest rates or inflate the money supply. We can't lower interest rates so.......... get moving Federal Reserve. YOU CANNOT SIT STILL LIKE THIS. We are dead in the water and there is nothing to kick start. Small business loans, tax incentives etc are bubble gum on the hole in the Titanic. Great lobby payoffs and vote getters though.
Who gives a crap if milk goes up 50 cents if it means unemployment goes down under 5%, everyone's business/home is saved and our 401K stops melting like an ice cream in the sun? Then we start addressing 50% of all our imports coming from one country that is destroying our trade deficit while buying next to nothing from us. Duhhhh
Quit licking these guys boots and start dragging the FED into the press and demanding a plan with deadlines. The FED is specifically chartered with keeping unemployment low and the economy healthy and Congress is not.
Keep fighting everything the President wants to do, and your dreams might come true!!! any way its up to the Repubs to do something now!!!
But it looks like they will have to deal with Harry Reid Nancey Pelosi, and Barack Obama to do it, it looks like quite a few Democrats will survive on November 2nd!!!
We will quickly see the NEW party of no. Pelosi, Frank etc will still try to increase our $50 trillion in unfunded entitlements. After all what is the difference between $50 trillion in debt and $60 trillion?
They can't deliver 1/5 of them over the next 15 years but they look and sound so good fighting for them.
"Don't you dare cut those entitlements we promised but can't deliver. The stupid people still believe we can deliver them and keep voting for us."
Guess what Oblamer? The economy ain't going to grow till we tell it to. Know why? Because we are the real engine AND drivetrain of this economy. The reason is simple. We employ about 70% of it's work force and we produce 80% of it's non-service output. And we hate what you and your cronies are trying to do to this country and they, then you, are going down in flames because of it. You can try throwin all the bones you want. It's too late. You showed your hand and we want none of it! "We" are men and women of all races, creeds, religions, and backgrounds who are dedicated to the destruction of the tyranny from you and your ilk. The American small and mid-sized business owners are up in arms against you Mr president and won't rest until you and your freedom killing ideas are gone. Didn't see that coming, did ya?
When taxes go UP in January, employers will IMMEDIATELY start hiring more workers.
Grover Norquist, the GOP "intellectual" leader years ago told a big audience of Republicans that their strategy should be to run up the deficit as much as possible when in power and when the Democrats come back into power start yelling and screaming about the deficit as though they care. He said this trick will work on the masses who will fall for any tricks rich criminals like them want to pull off.
Both parties are literally hired and paid to create as much debt as quickly as possible. One is debt by welfare and the other creates debt by warfare. What the debt is for is of no consequence to the bankers who put and keep them in power.
Over the decades it has become clear that welfare and entitlements for 350 million people plus tens of millions of foreign illegal invaders creates MUCH more debt than any amount of wars possibly could. It is not even competitive.
That is why the bankers love socialism. Socialism cannot exist without their fractional reserve banking. It needs the creation of fiat currency to float the massive and endless debt.