I was so happy this morning when I woke up and found the planet was still intact!!!!

After all the whining and complaining, doom and gloom, and moaning and groaning, from the FR lefty liberals and the talking heads of the Professional Left yesterday, I went to bed SURE that the planet would become so unbalanced that it would spin off its axis and go crashing into the sun, causing it to explode and destroy the entire solar system.

And, speaking of “unbalanced”, MSNBC’s feisty redhead, Ed Schultz, of the Mr. Ed Show was really on a tear last night. As I have said before, nothing is more Hillaryously FUNNY than an angry lefty liberal on a rant. It’s even FUNNIER when it’s a low information lefty liberal like Mr. Ed!!!! Last night he drove off the cliff on the left side of the road declaring angrily that he was going to be there every night at 6:00 to “fight these BASTARDS!!!!!”

You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Louis J;

I think this may be one of your best. I agree with you on all points. The rhetoric from the right hits all the emotional buttons but it remains to be seen if they come through with the appropriate deeds to match the rhetoric. They talk about cutting spending but all the programs that they have on the hit list is "Middle Class" programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and just about anything called Mandatory Spending. While cutting government spending is something I want to see as well, I can not be put solely on the backs of middle America. The rich and powerful, Big Business etc also need to make some sacrifices as well. The Middle Class can not support all the cuts alone and survive.

Instead of addressing Jobs and the Economy, they are he!! bent on wasting time and money on things that the American people have put way down on the list. This is nothing more than more stalling and trying to slow down President Obama's agenda that is working. Slowly for sure, but working and all the leading economists say it will continue to work unless the republicans throw a monkey wrench into the works as they are currently trying to do.

LouisJ

Just as I am sure that the media is singing the praises of the new Congress, I’m sure they are also galvanizing the public’s interest in productive proposals that will make America better by creating a story of sensationalism and intrigue President Obama needs to do this and President Obama should do that, President Obama should bow lower or President Obama should shake with a firmer grip.

Yes Louis, you'd think John Boehnor suddenly became a King.

The media show be focusing on how the Republicans have exempted, with their new rules, of their “repeal it, and replace it with common-sense reforms” resolution simply instructs the House to ignore the trillion dollar increase in the deficit that will result.” legislation that ADDS to the deficit, at least according to how the CBO

Another Broken Promise from the republicans!!

I was so happy this morning when I woke up and found the planet was still intact!!!!

After all the whining and complaining, doom and gloom, and moaning and groaning, from the FR lefty liberals and the talking heads of the Professional Left yesterday, I went to bed SURE that the planet would become so unbalanced that it would spin off its axis and go crashing into the sun, causing it to explode and destroy the entire solar system.

So, Joe, where are the jobs?

You got it, but the Republithugs reading the Constitution does not mean that they comprehend what they are reading! This is just another 'sham' and delay while they take more time to decide how to legislate!....Saying NO is not legislating.

Now they will spend precious time on 'repealing' and 'investigating'!

What say the 'teabaggers'? Where are they? Guess the Republthugs in Congress are waiting for more instructions from their puppet masters!

Ed Shultz tells it like it is!

One would have hoped that they would be working to change the practices put in place by Nancy Pelosi. Granted the Republicans did a lot of stalling last congress, but that was because Mrs. Pelosi and Mr Reed would not allow debate or amendments for many issues. I truely hope that Speaker Boehner takes the high road by allowing debate and amendments for all issues. We have to stop this "well they did it" attitude to move the nation forward. Unlike Pelosi and Reed, I hope the new Speaker will allow as much debate as funtionally feasible. All should be allowed to offer any reasonable amendment, then if its voted down its voted down. Think of what could have been accomplished had Pelosi allowed amendments and debate

Which media, exactly, is singing the praises of the new congress? All I have read in print and online is criticism- and now, everybody is singing from the White House hymnal that repealing Obamacare increases the deficit- mainly because it cut so much out of Medicare.

Which ignores the fact that the last congress passed the "doctor fix" that restored the funds Obamacare cut.

Oh, they also mention that it will repeal tax increases associated with the bill- ignoring the fact that we were told that there were no tax increases- well, at least not on the " middle class", who apparently have seen, whoops, tax increases.

There are very simple fixes to increase access to health insurance. Eliminate all state mandates- allowing people to purchase the coverages they want, need, or desire, while not having to purchase coverages they do not want or need. I do not need maternity care, and I sure do not need fertility treatment- having had a hysterectomy ten years ago kind of negates those needs. I still have to have the coverage.

Pass legislation that allows taxpayers to buy in to their local municipalities coverage. They are paying for it through their property taxes, so why on earth should they not be able to join the group?

Offer a tax incentive to doctors to treat patients pro boon. Quite simply, doctors know how much they earn per hour. If they devote say, ten hours a week to patients who cannot pay, allow them to deduct that amount from their income taxes.

And, you have got to do tort reform. There is entirely too much defensive medicine being practiced. Certainly, there is a need to sue truly bad doctors, but many of the lawsuits filed are frivolous, or seek to assign blame for a bad outcome to a doctor, rather than fate. Simply put, it IS the doctor's fault if he or she operates on the wrong leg- but not that you needed surgery in the first place.

Common sense rules about what qualifies as a good lawsuit would make all the difference in the world.

I truely hope that Speaker Boehner takes the high road by allowing debate and amendments for all issues.

Wishful thinking.

The Weeper of the House hasn't been on the job for 48 hours yet and has already refused to allow debate on the repeal of HCR!

The new Congress is all about biding time while they try to understand what a Congressman actually does and what the role of Congress is.

The question the Republithugs ask themselves... Do we legislate or not? That's not reassuring.

and to guadipatty, I didn't realize cougars could be doctors... no opposable thumbs.

I hope you flagged it as advertising.

In local news, Maine's new, Tea Party supported Governor was sworn in yesterday and the local media's narrative tells us he grew up the eldest of 18 children, with an abusive father, homeless at 11, and became a success through the kindness of a family who took him in. Therefore, he is qualified to lead this working class state into something resembling a middle income state. OK. I'm giving him a chance. I hope he succeeds.

I hope you flagged it as advertising

You betcha! For a second there I thought I was on Match.com or something! lol

WHAT is UP with that?

Outstanding message, Louis.

USN, I'd like to address this comment;

The rhetoric from the right hits all the emotional buttons but it remains to be seen if they come through with the appropriate deeds to match the rhetoric.

In fact anyone who watches carefully will quickly see that appropriate deeds will be the LAST thing on their agenda. Pushing the emotional buttons is a means of taking reason out of the argument so that their war on the middle class can continue unnoticed.

Their actual deeds will be all about accelerating the death of the American Dream, replacing it with even more massive redistribution of wealth to those at the top.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

I guess you are choosing DIVIDED WE FALL asyour approach this year. Nice! Add something positive to the conversation instead of your highlighted biases and put something on the table that can be discussed instead of your general diatribes about the past. There was no "We won, so deal with it" in the new Speaker's words. Let's see what he puts into action instead of yah-yahing about the past. It is a new day and we have work to do, and your comments add nothing to the discussion... just synacism!

Terrific post, Louis J. The GOPTP words will not match their actions. It is up to the people and hopefully the media to challenge, to ask the tough questions, to dig in the weeds and to connect the dots. Reading the Constitution aloud is good but only if they listen to, understand and heed the words contained therein.

Something like that has been showing up on different threads for a couple of days. I guess whoever it is just keeps re- registering under different names.

Flagging it advertising seems to get it deleted pretty quickly.

"So, Joe, where are the jobs?"

____________________

We'll find out tomorrow at 8:30 AM. I would not be at all surprised if businesses looked at the results of the November election and read into it that the anti-business agenda of the looney left over the last two years had been stopped dead in its tracks as a result of the Dems losing the House by such a historic shift in seats held by the former majority. The gains in the Senate were the icing on the cake.

That could very easily result in businesses feeling a lot more confidence in the prospect for future profits resulting from expanding their operations and thereby letting loose a huge amount of pent up hiring of new employees in December. Tomorrow's jobs number could be huge. Now, of course, all the FR lefty liberals will be here claiming it's just Barry's policies kicking in. And they would simply be wrong. If there is a huge December jobs number, then SOMETHING BIG changed in the last month or two, because Barry's policies were creating pretty anemic job increases in Nov, Oct, Sept, Aug, Jul, Jun..... well, you get the point.

Joe in Albany:

I was so happy this morning when I woke up and found the planet was still intact!!!!

Yeah. So far, so good. Too bad the very first thing the House Repubs did was to break their promise to allow amendments to bills. It's naive to expect politicians to keep all their promises, but the Republicans seem amazingly eager to go back on their word. They're not off to a very good start.

BTW: I wonder if the Repubs going to give all their bills silly names like the first one: "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Reform Law Act." If that bill were, against all odds, to actually become law, would we have to call it the "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Reform Law Law?

One of his best..... best what? Diatribes on conspiracy theories. Im not sure what you people do for a living, Im just glad Ive managed to hire good HR people who can fet out "where are the jobs people" I deal with hundreds of Customers and employees everyday and I havent run into anyone of this mind set. Where do you all hide?

The highlights are factual observations to the actions and attributes presented from those that wish to inject venom into the bloodline of the American discussion.

President Obama has presided over the discussion with comprehensive creation and reform of the American System of recovery and growth and yet his detractors and critics want only one thing and that is to see him make a mistake and he has yet to do that.

The past reminds me of where I come from and sets me on a course to where I am going, no one should fear to look back because it is a reminder of our faults and slip ups, but it is also a reminder of the good that has been accomplished and how we can employ the good in our future. So remember the past, embrace the present and look forward to the future.

I watched Mr. Boehner as he took the gavel from Ms. Pelosi and I listened to his speech. He is not exactly a spellbinding orator. He stumbled over his notes and he has a halting delivery. Why make this point? Because President Obama is clearly superior in this realm and yet we've listened to nothing but nastiness from the far right on the issue. Given Obama's supremacy here, maybe we can stop with the nonsense here and now, and understand it is the message that's important, not how the messenger delivers the message.

Additionally, both the President and the new Speaker are men of color; the President has a rather pleasant brown hue, the Speaker a store-bought orange. Why make this point? The far right has had a serious problem with skin color despite their hollow protestations to the contrary. Perhaps now we can focus on the message rather than the color of the messenger's skin.

To that end, I point out that the new Speaker's message was a welcome one. Clearly, this man's work is cut out for him. He has a very vocal faction; the Tea Party screamers, who have absolutely no understanding of fiscal issues and process. He must deal with the old-line obstructionists who don't understand that they are no longer going to be able to stand on the sidelines and criticize literally everything that comes down the pike without offering solutions. The party in power has no such luxury. It's put up or shut up time.

With that in mind, either the Speaker was simply delivering an empty speech or he cannot marshal his forces. Already, the new House rules have shredded the "Pay-Go" model. Arithmetic is apparently also subject to revision. One needn't pay for tax cuts. The logical extension of this incredibly ignorant position is that we can cut taxes to zero and everything is going to be just fine.

Good luck John.

Joe's right. Everybody knows demand has nothing to do with increased production (and increased employment).

Where are the jobs?

I would give up on that refrain. Of course it is too early for the Republicans too have changed anything but the business cycle is moving at its own pace and there is good news on this issue. Pity we spent $1T to prove that you can't alter the business cycle.

Nice...

Everything Joe just said all seems to boil down to the same premise...Corporate America just gave the Americans the middle finger and told us, "Vote Republican or we won't give you a job!"

I feel much better today.

Alan: Why should he give up on it.? The right have been saying it since the first day Obama took office. I would say turn about is fair play.

verno

Alan: Why should he give up on it.? The right have been saying it since the first day Obama took office. I would say turn about is fair play.

Because job creation is improving. If you keep asking "Where are the jobs" they will be able to quote better job numbers and you'll be giving credit to the Republicans simply because the timing of their election coincided with the economy improving.

...and I keep trying to post links to current news reports concerning the growth in job creation but they are not being saved by the message board....but check out CNN.

LouisJ - enjoyed your post. I don't have a lot of hope for this Congress but I'm going to TRY and remain positive. As you said, our President has accomplished so much despite the hostile environment....now I'm praying he's Superman!

verno.....spot on! I EXPECT jobs to start FLOURISHING after all of the (R) promises we've heard in the last year. There was some yahoo posting yesterday that the stock market was rebounding in the last 2 quarters in "anticipation" of the (R) Congress. Um....huh???

Amy,

I think that giving any political leader the benefit of the doubt is a wonderful thing. You at least are giving him a chance. If he screws up, then it is his fault, but complaining about him prior to taking office is about as smart as driving from the back seat. I hope it works out for Maine, I love the country side up there, the fresh blueberries, and Acadia National Park. Even climbed that mountain you all have once. Katahdin (sp). One of the longest days of my life, did it the day before riding the rapids on the Penobscot river. Beautiful place you have up there. I hope politically it works out for you all.

Corporate America just gave the Americans the middle finger and told us, "Vote Republican or we won't give you a job!"

____________________________

Da Hemorrhoid: that's one way to view it, the lefty liberal view.

Let me give you an alternative view, the business view:

"As long as I believe the party controlling the federal govt is anti-business and is looking to me and my business as a cash cow to be milked until it's dry, I'd be out of my mind to plow more money into expanding my business and hiring new employees because tjhe Dems will just take more of my profits for their govt spending programs. I'd be much better off putting my cash into tax free muni bonds. Once I am assured they can't do that to me, I'll be happy to expand my business, hire new employees and grow my profits, because that's why I went into business in the first place.

Alan,

I am going to have to disagree with you on this one, we have spend closer to $3 trillion over budget since this president took office, to find out that there are business cycles that go up and down.

Houston,

That was funny, I got a great chuckle out of that. Heck now, some of the acronyms will have more letters than the alphabet.

Yesterday the Republicans spit on the Constitution, today they read what they spit on, so impressed. For those that don't understand, one of the founding principles of this country, and in the Constitution, is for everyone to be represented, yesterday, the Republicans stripped the rights and representation from territorial Americans, basically spitting on the right of representation in congress for Americans.

@BigBear62....I stand corrected

NoJo, I really like a lot of your ideas with respect to health care.

Buying into local municipalities coverage, tax incentives for doctors, tort reform to cut down on defensive medicine. This last issue has really affected medicine and health and insurance in this country.

I think there is still room for discussions on mandates. The very premise of insurance and associated universal health care depends on the participation of everyone. It is, after all, for the common good, medically and financially. I understand that the concept bothers people so perhaps the wording needs to be changed. Complaining about being forced to do something followed by complaining about not being helped is disingenuous.

The bottom line is that we have to have something. Other than what we have historically had since that doesn't work. Repeal of reform for it's own sake is not the answer either.

Why are the Repubs on this thread pretending that Boehner wasn't Speaker during the "W" years of disastrous policies? All we have is a retread with less power and authority because they don't have the Senate and the Presidency.

Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing but expecting a different result? I have NO faith that Boehner or his merry henchman have ANY intention of bringing forth legislation that is constructive to the economic situation we are in today. I mean to these corporate owned slugs, there is NO economic problem because: (say it with me John B et al)

They got THEIRS so SCREW YOU!

Joe in Albany:

You made a mistake if you thought everyone believed your BS. The anti-business mantra is so hackneyed and downright false - well, only the most ignorant of Republicans could believe it.

If you are running a business and can't beat the tax-free bond yields, you are a piss-poor businessman. They're less than 5% and that's only because they've climbed recently. They're a lousy investment, at least for a good businessman.

Of course, the business climate is uncertain. It always has been and it always will be. The weak, the stupid, and the gutless who demand certainty don't understand this fact.

For almost ten years now, business people have had as close to a rock-sold certainty with respect to taxes as they've ever had. The statistics clearly indicate that they were not investing in the economy. Period. The fact is, demand for goods and services is down. The consumer economy is, in the main, saturated. When it comes time for replacement, those goods come from overseas - WHERE AMERICAN INVESTMENT has gone.

A true entrepreneur, a true businessman, a true investor knows he or she can expect NO assurance of a profit. He knows he cannot control markets, market conditions, the economy, the government, and certainly not his customers.

That's the nature of risk. That's what its all about. For all the blather about how private enterprise does such a wonderful job, the fact is you beg for government guarantees and security. The Republican Party wallows in fear, so it should come as no surprise that they want a government nanny when they dip their toes in the cold, cruel world of business.

Joe in Alb - Cool post, but with respect, Obama understands micro-economics just as well as you do. What he obviously understands better than you, is macro-economics and politics.

The single-most important principle of Macro-economics: Nothing government does, changes, elects, appoints, buys, sells, hires, fires, budgets, appropriates, taxes, spends, or any-damn-thing else has any effect whatsoever until 1-2 years later...except STIMULUS. Injecting money into the system (as ONLY government - all 308 million of us - is capable of doing) is the ONLY thing that has an immediate effect. (See the now-famous "Bikini-Graph").

That being the case, what he understands about politics is this: There was no way in hell the Dems were picking up seats in 2010. Can't fix all the economic damage your party did the last 8 yrs, in less than 2. Can't be done, and people vote with their wallet. Last month the private sector added nearly 300k jobs (biggest single-month gain since they've tracked the numbers!) That's not because business owners all of a sudden got warm fuzzies for no viable economic-indicator-type reason. It's not because of the legislatively impotent election "victory". And when the Republican's sit on their hands for the next two years, Obama will say "See, they were the party of No, so the only thing that could have rescued the economy is what we did the first 2 years. And gee, look - the jobs picked up before the midterm elections even happened." (Yep, "4 more years...4 more years...4 more years...")

Nice one-two punch, David Walker and JonboGreen. Together you said everything I would have said, and better.

Whats Next.. I will Tell you whats next.. For the Next 2 years we will hear from the Same old lefty Liberals that come to this Page. I would list them but there is really No reason. We all know who they are. They will come to this page and complain about the Republican House. Mostly complaining about the "White Man who is a Republican" that will be sitting in the Speakers Seat.

They will have nothing Constructive to say. Mostly they will be talking about Tears, or the Color Orange, or Drinking, Most of it will be Racist mantra , Because its a White Man that holds the Speakers Chair, they will Try and Disguise it, but for those of us in the Know, it wont work,

Oh well. this is gonna be fun..

This is a little long, but after reading the various posts here, it seems appropriate. After all, Boehner basically just sounded the tocsin for essentially eliminating numerous government departments and programs. And he delivered that misleading statement with a smile.

Several analysts have produced articles that go into detail about the severity of spending cuts necessary to immediately address the current Fedeal defecit and long-term national debt. They paint a pretty thorough picture - and present what is ultimately an "austerity plan" plan more drastic than those imposed in either Greece, Portugal or Ireland.

Such deep cuts not only would be answered with public fury, they are undesirable while the economic crisis persists - cutting spending in the face of recession is a serious mistake. Beyond that, the focus on short-term defecit and debt reduction ignores the broader importance of using government spending as a major policy tool - and ignores the lessons of history. But little matter, in the view of the more conservative Republican members of Congress - they see the cuts as a pathway to alter government at its very roots.

While most authorities agree that debt must be reduced, it is in the matter of approaching that issue that progressives and conservatives have differences. For example, under the new GOP-dominated House rules, every new dollar a measure would spend must be matched by a dollar of cuts from current expenditure. That overturns the prior "pay-as-you-go" rule, which permitted either offsetting spending cuts, or offsetting revenue increases.

The philosophy, according to new Speaker John Boehner, is that "we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem."

To some extent, that is not a bad point of view - in that determined efforts to restrain government spending, and at least very serious consideration of those purposes for which spending is committed, create a more responsible and somber judgement about government expenditures. Nonetheless, revenue is in fact an issue, especially when tax policies discourage job creation at home, long-term capital investment in American business, and expansion of American manufacturing for goods desired in the global marketplace.

Also, the flat denial that sometimes spending, and government debt, have benefits that override pure fiscal conservatism is a serious error on the part of the Speaker and those who agree with him. And the denial that there is a revenue problem is likewise a significant error - but it is a duplicitous position, too, masking the intent of the House now to protect corporate and higher-income tax loopholes, exemptions, and policies that are extremely unpopular in the country.

In broad terms, the conflict is one of a philosophy of government - today's House majority wishes to change the philosophy that has evolved since the FDR Administration, in which government is seen as:

• distributing national resources where needs exist,
• developing institutions to oversee business practices,
• protection of natural resources (environmental regulation),
• safety of the food supply,
• promote public health and respond to epidemics,
• encourage American commerce abroad,
• promote education,
• protect civil rights,
• regulate labor relations,
• invest in public infrastructure,
• stabilize the money supply,
• and in times of economic distress mitigate the effects of recession while helping to bring the economy back to health.

In contrast, one faction in the GOP House majority takes the view that virtually all of those functions, where they are even admitted as a government function, are more properly the task of state governments. Some of the House majority would eliminate virtually every one of those functions.

The emerging mechanism for implementing the conservative philosophy of government is so-called debt reduction by deep cuts in government spending.

However, the spending cuts are not debt reduction, although theyn will aid in reducing current Federal defecits, which of course in time add to the national debt. Still it is impossible, and even undesirable in current conditions, to attempt to match present public expenses with present revenues.

Those who liken managing government fiances to running a business or keeping the household books do not recognize that the government is not a business and that depending on circumstances, debt is both necessary and desirable.

Governments engage in very expensive, long-range activities that are not conducted for profit, opposite to the activities of a business. Whether those activities include costly wars, as the U.S. has been doing for 10 years, major highway construction, as the country is constantly doing, or massive emergency programs answering the demands of an economic collapse, as has been the case since 2008, they are undertaken in the public interest and paid for with long-term debt.

This practice evolved beginning in the 1690's, when the War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) financially exhausted Britain and France. France attempted to fund the war with short-term, high-interest loans and current receipts, eventually becoming so stressed that she accepted the Peace of Ryswick in 1697 with virtually nothing to show for the years of struggle.

Britain, however, in 1693 recognized that short-term defecit spending without making timely payments to vital suppliers, sailors and soldiers, was undermining the country and causing terrible hardship among the merchants, farmers, lumberjacks and all others involved. So in 1694 the Bank of England was born and the beginnings of a principle of national debt, amortized over time, was born. It ultimately financed England's industrialization and empire, enabling the country to weather economic troubles and wars and ultimately prevail in the contests of European powers for more than 200 years.

(See Peter Padfield,Tide of Empires, Vol. !!, 1654-1763, Routledge & Kegan Paul, Ltd., London, 1982)

Similarly, some public debt is called for under present circumstances in the United States. While the character and terms of the financial institutions' bailout is open to considerable criticism, the fact of its necessity is not. Neither was the preservation of a core American industry, auto manufacturing (despite the Libertarian ideology to let it fail, a bankrupt view in its own right).

Regardless of the carping of the right wing ideologues, the stimulus program of 2009-2010 clearly succeeded. And unlike many prior recessions - notably those of the early Reagan Administration, the G.H.W. Bush Administration, and the 2001-2002 recession of G.W. Bush's Administration - this recession is being accompanied by a slow but accelerating rate of job creation. Only 1.2 million jobs were created in 2010, but an economists' survey by CNN recently forecast between 2.5 and 3 million new jobs, at minimum, in 2011.

These and other events under President Obama's stewardship prevented both the risk of full-blown Depression, and preserved an economic foundation for more robust recovery than was anticipated in recent years. And it required that the government undertake debt in order to pursue that vital public interest.

The present GOP House majority is taking a very short-sighted view of the national debt and current-accounts defecit. In contrast, during his messages in 2009 and 2010, the President clearly outlined a long-range approach toward first, reducing defecit speding in a relatively few years, and second, attacking the size of the national debt. That approach is consistent with responsible broad management of public policy and obligations.

The President's approach also keeps faith with a philosophy of government that seeks to create social stability, enhance opportunity for individual advancement, encourage not only growth in small businesses but also (for the first time since 1980) rebuild American manufacturing capacity, sustain the health and well-being of all Americans, provide for the future through education, and nurture the helpless.

This philosophy of government is neither socialist nor Communist, as some on the far right complain, but instead a system in which the benefits of an open and vigorous society are accessible at all levels of the economic scale - and enable greater mobility for those willing to strive and create or sieze opportunity.

In contrast, the philosophy of government espoused by the GOP House majority now aggravates the stratification of social and economic classes, uses tax policy to transfer wealth from the middle and lower classes to the higher income class, promotes depression of wages and benefits for workers, abandons the sick, the elderly, the poor and the helpless, splinters national identity in favor of sectionalism, and with a vengeance reinstates the ancient warning, Caveat emptor (Buyer beware!), in all areas of business and consumer transactions.

An America that steadily restores her economy, generates jobs, incomes and revenues to refill the public Treasury, and shelters her people from the worst effects of very hard times is what the President and the Democrats in Congress saw as their vision for the past two years. And it is a vision well on the way to becoming reality.

Unthinking adherence to short-term defecit reduction and lack of understanding about the role of national debt and how to resolve it over time gives the current House majority a tool to destroy that vision. And quite possibly, plunge the nation back into deep economic crisis.

cutting spending in the face of recession is a serious mistake. Beyond that, the focus on short-term defecit and debt reduction ignores the broader importance of using government spending as a major policy tool - and ignores the lessons of history...

Well said John A., and true true. Best example of course being Hoover worrying about the debt during what should have been a minor recession ... ooops! (I think it's HYSTERICAL to listen to the R/TP's channel Hoover! - Checkers players, trying to compete at 3-dimensional chess!)

Thank you John A. I would take minor issue with a few of your points. However, the differences are minsicule and may wait for another day.

One point that does bear examination though is referring to the Republican agenda as one reflecting conservatism - generally. As you have pointed out in the past, this Republican approach to the notion of governance began to accelerate dramatically under St. Ronald of Reagan.

In my view, this approach more accurately speaks to a full embrace of laissez-faire. Rather than describe this approach as "conservative", I would suggest it more closely approximates a full French kiss with Fascism.

Great history lesson and analysis, John A. David Walker, good comments on laissez-faire as well.

These two posts together do a nice job of pointing out that a totally unregulated "free market" is really not common in our hitory, and the intense deregulation and free market capitalist approach of the last 30 years is actually an anomaly.

The history and triumph of the United States isn't the unrestricted capitalism of Dickensian England, it's a capitalism with responsible regulation and full expectation of a full day's pay for a full day's work. Here's a good piece I found recently;

There is nothing "normal" about a nation having a middle class, even though it is vital to the survival of democracy.

As twenty-three years of conservative economic policies have now shown millions of un- and underemployed Americans, what's "normal" in a "free and unfettered" economy is the rapid evolution of a small but fabulously wealthy ownership class, and a large but poor working class. In the entire history of civilization, outside of a small mercantilist class and the very few skilled tradesmen who'd managed to organize in guilds (the earliest unions) like the ancient Masons, the middle class was an aberration.

If a nation wants a middle class, it must define it, desire it, and work to both create and keep it.

This is because a middle class is the creation of government participation (conservatives call it "interference") in the marketplace, by determining the rules of the game of business and of taxation, and by providing free public education to all. And it wasn't until 1776, when Thomas Jefferson replaced John Locke's right to "life, liberty and property" with "life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that the idea of a large class of working people having the ability to "pursue happiness" - the middle class - was even seriously considered as a cornerstone obligation of government.

(That was also the first time in history that "happiness" had ever appeared in any nation's formative documents. As Jefferson wrote in 1817 to Dr. John Manners, "The evidence of this natural right, like that of our right to life, liberty, the use of our faculties, the pursuit of happiness is not left to the feeble and sophistical investigations of reason, but is impressed on the sense of every man.")

As you can see, the Founding Fathers were not the diehard, laissez-faire capitalists of Conservative myth, but responsible thinkers who realized that fairness and profit could coexist.

For example, every year, millions of Americans revisit Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" about Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob (and Tiny Tim) Cratchit. Yet somehow Americans fail to realize the subtext of the story (and so many of Dickens' other works). That subtext is that the middle class is not a normal thing: exploited workers are the norm. In fact, in the six-thousand-year history of the "civilized" world, a middle class emerging in any nation has been such a rarity as to be historically invisible.

As Dickens pointed out, Cratchit lived the typical life of that day's English working poor. He couldn't afford medical care for Tim, dooming his son to death or a lifetime of deformity. He had no idea where his Christmas dinner may come from, let along how to get gifts for his children, and always lived on the edge of the terror of unemployment and homelessness. Although he had a full-time job at Scrooge & Marley, Inc., he was so desperately anxious to keep his job that he worked weekends and evenings and put up with years of daily abuse from his employer.

This demonstrates the true liberal/conservative divide. Conservatives believe what business does is business's business, and government should keep its nose out of it, even when it leads to centuries of Tiny Tims and terrified-of-job-loss employees. As the Wall Street Journal noted in 1997, Alan Greenspan sees one of his main jobs as being to maintain a high enough level of "worker insecurity" that employees won't demand pay raises and benefits increases, thus provoking "wage inflation." ("CEO inflation" is fine with the cons.)

Liberals, on the other hand, subscribe to the notions of the founder of today's Democratic Party -- Thomas Jefferson -- that if the government doesn't actively participate in regulating how the game of business is played, the middle class (what in Jefferson's day were the "yeomanry") would vanish.

Thank you very much John B.:

Yes, yes, yes. The middle class is an anomaly. I have tried to point out for years on end that a statistical analysis will clearly demonstrate, that even with all the talk and lip service, there really is nothing of a middle class, here or anywhere else.

Wealth and power is so profoundly concentrated in the U.S., it is almost laughable that someone would posit the existence of a middle class.

That said, thanks to our mixed economy, Americans have enjoyed and are enjoying a standard of living that would have made most monarchs, a mere century ago, green with envy. A statistical measure would show that we are primarily of the lower class, yet we live very, very well.

To return completely to a feudal society - while perhaps not the desire of the right wing, or perhaps so - is the inevitable outcome should we continue on the road to Fascism (if you're tart of tongue as I) or Oligarchy (for those with less acidic tongues).

Although I have not been comfortable with the Democratic Party in many, many years, I am totally repulsed by today's Republican Party. The supreme irony of today's right-wing politicos is found in their branding of moderates as RINO's. Indeed, it is the right-wing that can best be described as RINO's. As a matter of irrefutable fact, they are mindless, fearful, demagogic lackeys who no more accept true Republican ideals than did Attila the Hun.

Great debate and discussion and obviously indepth personal thinking--well done.

Now what?

Now we're even more F'd than before that's what.

I know it sounds impossible but the Republicans are probably even more corrupt and cold-blooded than the Democrats.

To illustrate what I mean here's something I found online about John Boehner passing out checks to fellow Republicans from Tobacco lobbyists on the Floor of the House of Representatives while a bill concerning Smoking/tobacco was being debated and voted on. The article was written before the last election when Boehner was still the Minority Leader:

Some may call it a distortion of the facts, but the man who did it has fessed up. We've all heard the story about the day in 1995 when the Republican leadership handed out checks from the tobacco lobby to members of Congress on the http://dotcommonsense.blog-city.com/john_boehner_handed_out_checks_from_tobacco_industry_on_the_.htm">floor of the House of Representatives. And handing out checks was the then number four ranking Republican.

Today he is the House Minority Leader, and has designs on the Speakership should the Republicans take the House in November. What http://dotcommonsense.blog-city.com/john_boehner_handed_out_checks_from_tobacco_industry_on_the_.htm">John Boehner (R-OH) did in 1995 was entirely against House rules, but it didn't stop him from passing out checks from Big Tobacco when a vote was considered to end tobacco subsidies.

To no one's surprise, the subsidy was saved.

In the video below Boehner admits he passed out checks on the House floor, and offers an explanation.

See the video here:

http://www.zimbio.com/John+Boehner/articles/0cA4itXxoCh/Own+Words+John+Boehner+Handed+Out+Tobacco

O.K., The Republican leaders have been sworn in. They have their mandate. Employment for Republicans, deep cuts in spending, move the Obamacare waste of paper to the circular file, endorse and improve any legislation that proudly displays the Republican Gold Seal of Approval. Kill anything else. Call Obama once a week and tell him what will be done. Prepare for the election of a REAL President in 2012, and more Republican Senators and Representatives.

GOPTP Promised Budget Cuts

Republicans campaigned coast to coast on a promise to cut $100 billion out of the federal budget – which would be only 10% of the projected deficit (3% of the entire budget).

But now, as I understand it, they are talking about cuts as slim as $30 billion because they exempt cuts for defense, homeland security, veterans, and entitlements according to Paul Ryan on the Today show Wednesday morning (1/5/11).

In the end it looks like they will only cut the deficit spending by 3%. This is less than 1% of the entire budget. They also say they won’t allow the debt ceiling to be raised unless there are substantial cuts in spending but they, themselves can’t stop the spending by their own admission unless they count less than 1% in cuts as substantial.

Here are a couple questions: Will the Republican controlled generate and present a budget that includes deficit spending? If the budget does include any deficit spending how can they argue/vote against raising the debt ceiling?

There will be nothing "open" about any of their practices. They will all be closed and their constituents will still vote for them. It's all empty rhetoric and they realize they are on borrowed time.

The biggest thing on their plate, HC Repeal will be closed. That alone should tell the public that they are "stone-faced" liars seeing how they all look botoxicated.

Where are the jobs? Get on it and stop wasting the TEA Time.

When drinking from "China" pinkies up ladies.

Navy: Excellent as always. The Republicans voted against disclosing which of them are taking government sponsored health care. They want it for themselves, they want to lie about it to their constituents, and they want to make sure that Joe and Joan America do not have the same ability to access affordable health care that they do. If they are serious about repealing HCR, the first order of business should be to repeal their own. Then and only then will they not be the reprehensible grifters that they clearly are. All of you who voted this bunch into office may be surprised when you find out that they want to take the little you have and give it to their rich buddies. When you wake up to that...it should be pretty entertaining...that is, if it weren't all so deadly serious. Anyone else believe we should start a daily count of those dying due to the intransigence of the Arizona Governor? And when will she be seen as contributing to the unnecessary deaths of the people of her state?

Absolutely, USN. Thanks for connecting those dots on how only 1 day in the GOPTP words and deeds are already not a match.

Great post, US Navy. The GOPTP is nothing but empty words and broken promises. Connect the dots, readers. Question, always question what is said by looking at what is actually done.

Was the enactment of the HRC done in broad daylight under the view of all American people. I mean I woke up one morning and poof its law. I think you all are praying that the Conservatives do what you want them to do, because anything else and your looking at hiding in bunkers in 2012.

If it's truly "the peoples house" that makes it partially my house. I don't want Johnny Boy Boehner crying in my house.

When did we go from driving analogies to connecting dot analogies?

Dennis,

You are correct when you talk about cutting the budget, these slim cuts won't help us, shoot, looking at the 2010 budget myself, I could cut $30 billion in about 2 minutes.

Proposed $41 billion in foreign aid--cut that by 75%--heck there is your $30 billion. Shouldn't we be fixing our problems prior to send billions overseas.

Cut federal employee salaries by 5%--would save about $8-10 billion dollars--Heck we are up to $40 billion just on this blog.

Hey Little Joe Peep

You need to change your handle to Rip Van Wynkle, cuz if you think that healthcare bill wasn't hammered at in broad daylight, you missed the summer/fall/winter and a few days of Spring. The Senate passed it in December,...so if you were sleeping,...that's your own damn problem,...the bill was open and posted for your review. It was passed in its entirety by Congress and a follow up amendment was created and passed to fix a couple of things right off the bat.

Hi, Clara...happy New Year and glad to see you back!

Happy New Year to you, too, NDD

and about my back,...surgery tomorrow, 9:30a CST - send up some warm fuzzies, will ya'? It's been a long slog; but thank goodness I have good Health Insurance. I can't imagine going this road without it!

But, yeah, let's vote to repeal it, making me uninsurable in the future. Good times! PS. Where's the 'replace' that they keep 'promising'? Kinda' like their budget numbers - still up their master's @ss, I am sure.

Will be thinking of you Clara.

If we stopped all spending tomorrow. All of it. Our National debt still increases by four billion per day due to interest payments on what we already owe.

This amounts to one trillion, 465 billion per year....... In just interest. Our entire yearly budget is 1.5 trillion. So, we are spending almost double what our published budget is. This can't go on. We either make some very painful decisions and cut spending to the bone, or our entire system will eventually collapse. Makes no difference who got us into this mess. The fact remains that we must act now. It may already be too late.

Interest payment on the debt is a published component of the budget. Bush hid his budget deficit totals by funding the wars off-budget. Look at the jump in debt numbers year to year. The debt rise is larger than the annual budget deficit, each and every year.

And now Republicans in the House are going to return to that world by doing their own "analysis" of how legislation will affect the budget and through their "Cut-go" gimmick.

“It chokes me up to think just how far I’ve really come: from wielding a mop in the back of a store, to swinging a sledgehammer to mop up the floor with the middle class.”

Thank for the laugh so early this morning Bev!

Judging from the size of his 'gavel' he's back to swinging the sledgehammer after all...

Who ever said 'size doesn't matter'? lol

In the meantine - anyone know how many jobs will be created today by reading a document they should ALL be familiar with by now?

PS: Poor Chuckie T - he's visibly upset about losing his BFF Robert Gibbs!

Too funny, watching Boehner and Nancy during the big ‘hand-off’ of the gavel. Watching John, I couldn’t help thinking of that scene in PeeWee’s Big Adventure, where PeeWee Herman’s decked out in a nun outfit (a ‘habit’?) keeping an eye on that bike the other nun was going to give to some orphanage. (except Pee Wee wasn’t getting all misty…) What a hoot

Bev:

Great points. There were 99 people in AZ on the transplant list. This morning there are 97. Two people that did nothing to harm anybody have died because the Queen of Mean allowed it to happen. These two deaths and there will be more ,are on her. How can she sleep at night knowing her policy has killed at least two people??

drive by: all those that manufacture tissues should make out like bandits with Boehner in office.

Feisty

“It chokes me up to think just how far I’ve really come: from wielding a mop in the back of a store, to swinging a sledgehammer to mop up the floor with the middle class.”

Thank for the laugh so early this morning Bev!

You're Welcome Feisty

There'll be more laughs this afternoon when that drunk, newly elected House Speaker of the House mangles the Constitution. Wel, le's hope he reads the Constitution and NOT the Declaration of Independence which i provided a video in previous posts for everyone to see.

Boy, are the tea baggers in for a surprise when they hear the wanted Big Government and the word God is not in the Constitution.

If I thought that the Republicans were actually going to pay attention to the reading of the Constitution, I'd think it was a good idea. They have demonstrated a lack of familiarity with it in the past. I am sorry that they are choosing to spend time and resources on symbolism instead of rolling up their sleeves and doing the hard work of governing the country.

There were 99 people in AZ on the transplant list. This morning there are 97. Two people that did nothing to harm anybody have died because the Queen of Mean allowed it to happen. These two deaths and there will be more ,are on her. How can she sleep at night knowing her policy has killed at least two people??

USN, thanks for making us aware of the human toll of Conservative policies.

It seems Ive found the mutual admiration society for the holier and smarter than thou liberals. I dont know how Ive managed to be as successful as I am with out believing in what you liberals do. Wait yes i do...... I worked and worked and worked and oh yea worked! And Ive actually managed to NOT slander or call anyone names, which Im sure is going to happen soon here!

Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona needs to be charged as an accomplice to murder for the deaths of those two ill and helpless citizens of her State. Shame on you Jan. How do you sleep at night. Alone I bet.

I see its 2011 and the same ole' people on here saying the same ole' BS.

USNDV-R LMNOP

1) How do you know they never hurt anyone?

2) Even if the policies and cuts weren't in place, would they have received transplants?

Cali Tom

You're being obtuse. By your logic we could charge the president for aiding in the murder of our troops when he escalated the crap in Afghanistan.

I see its 2011 and the same ole' people on here saying the same ole' BS.

Yet... here you are! What's your point again?

US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired

Bev:

Great points. There were 99 people in AZ on the transplant list. This morning there are 97. Two people that did nothing to harm anybody have died because the Queen of Mean allowed it to happen. These two deaths and there will be more ,are on her. How can she sleep at night knowing her policy has killed at least two people??

Thanks Navy

Mummies don't sleep.

First promise broken. Note that we have seen this very same tactic before.

Second; Remember that Pledge to America (the roadmap for the destruction of the Middle class) that Mr. Boehner so proudly displayed. Two things about that. In that pledge they said that when they took over the House they would reduce the budget in the first year by 100 Billion Dollars. Well it appears they are walking that back now and the real figure will be somewhere between 30 – 50 Billion. Whatever that number really is, the point I am making is that the Republican/Tea Party is making promises that they cannot (or will not) keep. Second promise broken.

======================================================

Navy

You and I noticed those BROKEN PROMISES. Don't think other Americans won't especially in regards to healthcare. Albeit, it has been felt in the purse strings; but signs of recovery are being felt too.

The GOP/TEA BAGGER party should realize by now with these lies and BROKEN PROMISES sensible Americans just ain't gonna by it.

How do you sleep at night. Alone I bet

She doesn't sleep Tom... she hangs upside down in a dark closet waiting for nightfall! lol

Loved that, Feisty!

Bev,

I would sure like to know who those 72% of Americans were.

Can any of you name a federally run program that keeps costs down and can compete with private businesses?

Postal service--NOT

Social Security--NOT

Medicare/Medicaid--NOT

I am not saying that a few regulations on the insurance companies are not needed, but for the federal government to run a health insurance program--that is just plan--crazy

LittleJoePeep wrote: "It seems Ive found the mutual admiration society for the holier and smarter than thou liberals. . . . And Ive actually managed to NOT slander or call anyone names, which Im sure is going to happen soon here!"

It happened sooner than you thought it would, LJP. Ahh, the irony and the lie. Anyone can click on your name and see your past posts that have plenty of insults and slander.

Oh. Look. its the full cast of Racists all on the Same board, I see a couple conservatives too.

I dont know why you liberals Hate White People. You Racists should be Ashamed of yourself

You've already named one, BB. Administrative costs are 3.3% for Medicare, 16.7% for private medical insurance.

As far as the Post Office is concerned, shall we see what UPS or Fedex think of a business plan that calls for picking up a single envelope at any address in the US 6 days/wk and delivering to any other address, all for 44 cents? I don't see them working too hard to open that market for themselves.

Yes Witt21,

Obama is set to become the world's longest running lame duck. He is hamstrung and hogtied and will only get anything passed if it meets Republican approval. His liberal socialist agenda is dead. His two lieutenants; Nancy and Harry are have been moved to the far back burner for good. His only hope for salvation will be to become a Republican himself. Then he can leave in 2012 with a little honor, instead of just leaving.

The Republican party of saboteurs to American progress will soon find out what it is like to be declared unlawful enemy combatants; Roberts, Scalia and Alito will soon be on their way to GITMO.

Cantor, McConnell and Bachmann will be off to Cuba next.

IR;

I made a copy of this. You are right on and we see the handwriting on the wall. Thank you.

IR:

I enjoyed all the predictions, the funny ones, the probable ones, and the out on a limb ones. Yes, I will include them in my "Predictions for 2011 file". I especially liked the Circus prediction as it is coming to town. And don't forget the clowns.

. Come all you merry makers
You wine drinkers and heart breakers
Pass me the bottle one more round
Come all of you love makers
All you cheaters and lie makers
Fill me with happiness and bring on the clowns.

Bring On The Clowns

Old Possum George Jones

New Theme music for the 112^th House of Representatives

I love your predictions, IR. Should be a frustrating but entertaining year.

IR, fantastic predictions. I predict a year that will start frustrating and end happy.

So, Ron, have a look at this

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/01/06/daniels_makes_his_2011_beltway_debut_108451.html

Oh, and he is also planning to speak a CPAC.

Still think there is no chance?

I still see him announcing that he WILL run, in the Spring, which is when he said he would announce his decision. I am doing all I can to help him decide that it is the best thing for the country. I hope i, and others, succeed.

Of course, you got my vote with a reference to George Jones.

I'm holidng out for another year, though, and 'the race is on'!

Mr. Redneck, you're sadly mistaken if you think that President Obama won't oneup ole GeorgieBoy & invite the Saudi's over for a little HandHolding, CheekKissin, & Tongue in the Ear Meeting. I can already see the GOPTP going Mad over this scenario!

You've been on Duty 24 hours now Mr. Boehner:

WHERE ARE THE JOBS !

Independent Redneck Va.

Predictions 2011

Loved you predictions, especially the one about Michele Bachmann. She's so dA^#ed crazy the MSM has to love too. It gives them a lot to talk about and fill space in print.

Welcome back and a Happy and prosperous New Year down yonder to you. You were missed.

I was thinking of the Judy Collins version of "Send in the Clowns" for theme music because it is melancholy. It is sad to me that form is valued over substance and that the important work of the country will not be addressed because of all the posturing.

Very cute writing, but your apostrophe in "doctor's" is incorrect. Nonetheless, you have a knack for coming up with clever and cute stuff.

I am sure you have an audience, and many who believe that this kind of stuff passes for intelligence.

Steeler Fan,

I would have thought those on the left would thinking from the Smoky Robinson era.

"Tears of a Clown"

funny,...while we are linking Boehner et al to 'clowns'

All I keep thinking is the complete irony of him being Pennywise in the King thriller "It!"

scared the bejeezus out of me,...still does, just thinking about it. of course the irony being that nothing about this Repub retread is 'wise'!

Yeah, I forsaw the Obama gas prices shooting up again so I went out and bought a brand new Honda Fit. Plenty of storage, (rear seats fold down flat) seats five, handles easily and gets 34 MPG around town.

Our economy is slowly starting to improve since the midterm elections. I expect that Obama will attempt to take credit for all the Republicans have done and will continue to do for the last two years of his sorry term. He an Michelle should try to squeeze in as many vacations as possible in those two years. Make the most of a bad situation.

Our economy is slowly starting to improve since the midterm elections. I expect that Obama will attempt to take credit for all the Republicans have done and will continue to do for the last two years of his sorry term.

Just as I thought. The Republicans has done so much and we are giving them credit before they were even sworn in. This simply illustrates the level of maturity we are dealing with. It is not the work that was done to repair the economy. It's just a matter of the results of an election that made the repair. Even though they could do nothing, their 'election' caused immediate repairs.

No wonder those elected does not feel they have to work. They feel and are encouraged by this type of statement, that all the have to do exist, and the economy will be fixed, spending will be reduced and jobs will appear.

So Mr Boehner, go get you drinks, your tan and your golf on. You were voted in. Your work is done.

Fletch,

This is true. It is called the announcement effect. Just announcing that a Republican has won an election makes all those with a real grasp of reality just breath a collective sigh of relief.

Fletch: Edward, proving every day that you just can't fix stupid. Mr. Boehner, where are the American people's jobs? Announce that !!!!

Day 2 of the GOPTP House: Where are the jobs Mr. Boehner?

Boehner inherited quite the mess from the Democrats. Reasonable people can understand it will take him a few weeks to unwind the massive destruction from the House being in Democratic hands for 4 long years. Perhaps Speaker Boehner should propose spending a trillion dollars on a Stimulus bill? No wait, that's been tried before and failed, turned out to be a giant boondoggle for the unions, and didn't stimulate any job growth.

Well, at least the unemployment checks will continue, and as we all know from the words of the ex-Speaker of the House, that is the best investment for job creation.

I can't believe it. Maybe JS1 has seen the light. Did she just admit that she was an unreasonable person?

She really did! She never understood the mess that Obama inherited but look at her give Boehner a mile wide pass.

Lady, you just proved you are either a paid troll or you really are that stupid.

Jody:

Well written as always. I read just this morning that the GOPTP budget cutter is not entirely sure how he plans to cut the budget. Forget that 100 billion dollar cut on domestic services; that was a "hypothetical number". I'm still wondering if the GOP budget will include numbers this year.

Speaker Boehner has the unenviable task to try and get the 9% Congressional approval rating he inherited from the ex-Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats into double digits. It's going to take a lot of work to do that as the American people have grown extremely disgusted with the legislation the Democrats have forced upon the nation.

Reestablishing that trust between Congress and the American people will be job #1 for Speaker Boehner.

Boehner inherited quite the mess from the Democrats. Reasonable people can understand it will take him a few weeks to unwind the massive destruction from the House being in Democratic hands for 4 long years.

But, I thought messes weren't inherited?

We're not supposed to talk about how Bush caused the problems that Obama inherited, remember? By rights, then, you don't get to talk about what you think Agent Orange inherited from Pelosi.

I'm still wondering if the GOP budget will include numbers this year.

At least they'll have a budget. Nancy thought it best not to have one last year. She thought doing so would make re-election of Democrats to Congress would be negatively affected by showing the American people just how much money her Congress was spending. But someone, probably Fox, let the cat out of the bag and reported that Congress was running a $1.4 trillion dollar deficit. Then November 2nd happened, and yesterday we saw the result.

Lady, you just proved you are either a paid troll or you really are that stupid.

My $$$'s on the latter! ;o)

And the Democrats inherited the worst economic melt down, 650,000 jobs per month being lost, two unfunded wars, two unfunded tax cuts, unfunded drug plan, weakened regulations, things we are still paying for from the previous republican administration. Get real. The current economy is slowly improving, can not say that for the previous administration that nearly bankrupted this country. President Obama is the one that pulled us out of the ditch you people put us in to begin with. And now you want to try and take credit??

Obama's State of the Union speech is coming up. This years theme, just like for the last year, and the year before, and as always, is "Don't blame me, I just work here".

JoAnnaSmith1

Day 2 of the GOPTP House: Where are the jobs Mr. Boehner?

Boehner inherited quite the mess from the Democrats.

Joanna, you are on some good drugs, this morning, so Bohner inherted a mess from the democrats, Lets see where have i heard something like that before, humm let me think, I GOT IT, the democrats were complainging about a mess they inherted 2 years ago, I'm trying to remember why they were blaming Bush,

I GOT IT,

Wall street almost collasped, 2 wars, and the big one was going from operating budget surplus to deficts.

Now Joanna, if the republicans wanted to forget this ever happened, How dare you say bohner inherted a mess.

Pass the Joint.

JoAnnaSmith1

Day 2 of the GOPTP House: Where are the jobs Mr. Boehner?

Good question Jo Anna

Since Bonehead helped give jobs to people over seas, your question should be-- So what are you going to do about where the jobs are? After all, the Bush/Cheney regime, which should be prosecuted for war chimes, had everything to do with what this President is turning around. You know like 2 wars that weren't on the books , tax cuts for the rich, deregulations etc.

I'll say because the GOP/ Tea Baggers want to slow job creation down due to uncertainty they'll be stopping the president's agenda. It'll be least about 365 days for the earth to revolute around the sun, and if we multiply that time by 2, it'll probably be that same amount of time for the GOP/ Tea Baggers to find jobs.

Speaker Boehner has the unenviable task to try and get the 9% Congressional approval rating he inherited from the ex-Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats into double digits. It's going to take a lot of work to do that as the American people have grown extremely disgusted with the legislation the Democrats have forced upon the nation.

Reestablishing that trust between Congress and the American people will be job #1 for Speaker Boehner.

Yes...it's true...the approval ratings of the Democrats in Congress? Not very good.

They could be worse, though...they could be the approval ratings of the Republicans in Congress.

To Whom it May Concern: Time to ignore JS1. After her disgraceful rant on Affirmative Action, as well as comparing the work of a great American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to a thug, Al Capone, it is clear that she has nothing to offer, and we would do better to give her exactly the attention she deserves, which is NONE. I used to be amused by her ignorant rants, but no longer.

After, all the Bush/Cheney regime, which should be prosecuted for war chimes

Someone asked yesterday if English was your second language. Did you ever get an answer back to them?

Poor JAS1, Maybe she should be a part of the reading of the Constitution!.....Comprehension is NOT her strong suit!

JAS1 postst:

"Boehner inherited quite the mess from the Democrats. Reasonable people can understand it will take him a few weeks to unwind the massive destruction from the House being in Democratic hands for 4 long years. Perhaps Speaker Boehner should propose spending a trillion dollars on a Stimulus bill? No wait, that's been tried before and failed, turned out to be a giant boondoggle for the unions, and didn't stimulate any job growth."

Is that really you JAS1, I don't recognize you as a reasonable person. What happened overnight?

Are my eyes deceiving me, you want me to give John Boehner a pass? Never, Never ,Hell NO!

Something upsetting you Libs today? You all seem a bit edgy, a tad grumpy.

It's a great day Libs! Relax. Enjoy!

Chilled: Poor JAS1 . . . .

The "Poor [fill-in-the-name]" routine is the horse owners put-down gig chilly. It's the only one she's got, so try not to overuse it because it gets quite boring.

Speaker Boehner has the best job in Washington, it seems to me. He knows that whatever bills the House passes won't make it through the Senate so he can do anything he want, cater to the base of his party as well as its corporate masters and let gridlock prevail.

I now pronounce that JoAnnaSmith1 is a pre-programmed robot--what else explains it.

Jody, your post today reminds me of one of the basic lessons of life. No matter who you're dealing with it's important to ask, do this person's actions match their words? The new GOPTP House is rapidly proving that no, they don't. They make promises they never intended to keep, tell stories that aren't backed by facts, and pretend to do things when in fact they're doing the opposite. All in one day. Just wait until day two!

Can't be, Jody, robots have programmed intelligence....JS1, not so much.

NDD:

Agreed.

Wow......... Im not seeing anything but whining more whining and yet more whining. And as a small answer to where are the jobs, We have hired 12 directors 4 Senior Engineers and several business relationship managers since Jan 3rd. The set up for the hires was the self proclaimed "shellacking" Mr Obama repeatedly admitted to taking this past November. God it must piss you off that he said that with such conviction.

newdayDAWNING10

"To Whom it May Concern: Time to ignore JS1"

AMen, New Day- why do people even try to argue with this door-knowb??

Gingerbread Mamma

JAS1 postst:

"Boehner inherited quite the mess from the Democrats. Reasonable people can understand it will take him a few weeks to unwind the massive destruction from the House being in Democratic hands for 4 long years. Perhaps Speaker Boehner should propose spending a trillion dollars on a Stimulus bill? No wait, that's been tried before and failed, turned out to be a giant boondoggle for the unions, and didn't stimulate any job growth."

Gingerbread mama i think the ginger is making you forget, Bonher already did his stimulas, remember 2 weeks ago, the 900 billion he worked out with the president, that was his baby and 700 billion or so were tax cuts. so he is on the clock right now.

Little...Peep. Most companies never hire as a year ends for many reasons, the only exception is temporary help in department stores for the holidays; it had nothing to do with Nov 2 and everything to do with the simple fact that the Obama/Democratic job creating legislation worked. What exactly have republicans done the last two years to help create jobs? You cannot name anything because they voted NO on everything. Facts are facts--spinning is an art and about the only thing republicans do well.

One more little tidbit to the GOPTP broken promises: they plan to do their OWN scoring on legislation. That way, no one with accounting and budgeting skills can interfere with their "spinning" of actual costs.

dbo: that which you ignore goes away. Attention seekers cannot stand being ignored. I really believe it would raise the debate exponentially if we made an effort to do exactly that.

So we're not supposed to say the Speaker inherited a mess, even though the dems were in control the past 4 years?

We're not supposed to say the president inherited a mess from his predecessor, even though the dems controlled both houses the prior 2 years? Tthe only thing that changed was the occupant of the Oval Office.

What's the common thread here? AHA! The dems were in control of both houses of congress.

But, but, the 2 wars, and previous 6 years, and blah blah blah....

John Kerry, Hilary Clinton (and a bunch of other dems) voted for those wars too.

When the boat is full of water, grab a bucket. Blaming whomever for the cause of the mess isn't helpful.

Once again lets all jump on JoannaSmith1 - Yea, go ahead and ignore her. We all know that libs just want to control and not to debate. Seriously, this is not a school yard. sick!

Jody, I agree with a lot of your posts. You inform and educate without the digs, snide remarks, and nicknames that so many posters (both sides) use. This time though, you call the Repubs out about the use of cameras in committee. I read the pledge and do not remember that point. Perhaps I got a revised version. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017335-503544.html They promised to publish bills for the public to peruse for 72 hours before a vote.

I think that each side should stick to the promises that got them elected, I just don't see that promise on there.

Chef Darrell: So we're not supposed to say the Speaker inherited a mess,

Careful Chef, you'll get ignored by the "Cool Kids" if you keep pointing out the facts to them.

There is no doubt that there are many problems facing the nation today. After the Republicans justifiably lost the House and Senate 4 years ago, America got a large dose of Liberalism as well as Big Government Spending and Big Government Control by the Democrats. The message from the country to the Congress from the mid-term elections is that Americans do not accept the Democrats government largeness. The Republicans have been given an opportunity to correct that government position, but if they fail, they too will be voted out.

One thing Speaker Boehner alluded to in his speech is that he got the message from the American people and he will be responsive to them. Time will tell, because if his words don't match his rhetoric, he too will be out of power in a short amount of time.

Jody, Iowa

One more little tidbit to the GOPTP broken promises: they plan to do their OWN scoring on legislation. That way, no one with accounting and budgeting skills can interfere with their "spinning" of actual costs.

Good point Jody

What's worse, apart from their BROKEN PROMISES, is now suddenly the Gop/repubi-thug-licans don't trust the CBO.

True, a normal robot is programmed with facts, JS1, however is a GOPTP robot which would explain the FDD (fact deficit disorder).

The 'cool kids"??

WTF???

No Jody, I was part of the discussion on resuming hiring in NA, We have been hiring all along in EMEA and AP. Just not here specifically because of the uncertainty of the Obama Administration and its agenda. Direct quote from our CEO on Nov4 th 2010 "We can resume employee search's in NA and start to bring on people the first week of 2011. And as a by product of this election and the new senate our stock has risen $6 a share since monday.

You got me there, Jody! The GOP/TB would not know anything about current technology!

Newday:

Who died and made you the queen of information? That is the problem with ALL of you liberals. You think you are the smartest people in the world and believe no one else has any education. There are just as many educated non-liberals in this country with just as much knowledge or more than anyone in here.

You and your ilk do not have the market cornered on education. You come on a damn blog and cut and paste other's articles as if they are your own and think that is impressive. IT IS NOT. You whine and complain all day about Republicans, call Republicans all kinds of BS names, accuse Republicans of everything from your depression to your suicidal tendencies, and then think someone wants to work across the aisle. With sorry azz punks like Weiner, Olbermann, Shultz, Frank (lol couldn't leave him out), etc. carrying your water, it is no wonder Conservatives do not want to deal with Liberals.

I know you liberals do not like me but I don't give a shyt because none of you pay any bills at my house and I don't snore in any of your faces. You can't stand me because I keep it real and I will tell your azz like it is irregardless of how you feel the decorum should be.

All of this racist crap you Dems scream about; I live next door to the most racist redneck in the whole neighborhood and guess what he is a damn Democrat. Every election he has signs all over his yard supporting Dems and yet Republicans are accused of being racist. All of his frikken friends are the same way and they all are Dems. Isn't that something a racist Democrat living next door to a successful black Republican in an elite neighborhood....hmmm

Jody:

I saw that they were going to score their own. That make me feel better. NOT. We already have the "Citizens United" decision and the blocked Disclosure Act and now we will not ever know the cost of any republican bill.

Come on people, these are big dots, start connecting.

Our political elections have been sold to the highest bidders (Foreign or Domestic) and now the republicans are going to give themselves a free ride to put any number on a bill with no impartial outside scoring. Another great idea from the right.

Is that a toilet I hear flushing??????

IntheMiddle of two guys,

We can't stand you because you're a big phony. By the way I don't know one black guy that uses the word ilk or decorum.

A racist-smart democrat in an elite neighboorhood with plenty of yard signs, who accuses republicans of being racist and having no education, and doesn't pay your bills while you don't snore in my face neighbor.
Ed

That's right ITM,

You ARE indeed a legend in your own mind. You keep it about as 'real' as your dwarfed comprehension allows. You just get pissy when you believe your service and attitude are disrespected. But you pay no mind to the disrespect you dish out. Don't act all innocent like you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Direct quote from our CEO on Nov4 th 2010 "We can resume employee search's in NA and start to bring on people the first week of 2011. And as a by product of this election and the new senate our stock has risen $6 a share since monday.

So, what you're saying is that the CEO class deliberately held the economy hostage in order to manipulate the election. Thanks for confirming that the wealthy elites care not one bit for the rest of us.

I was gonna post on this topic. but i decided not to after Seeing Joanna Piss you all off. What a Hoot. All you Angry Racist Liberals Mad because a White man is sitting in the Speakers chair.

Steve-505729

I was gonna post on this topic. but i decided not to after Seeing Joanna Piss you all off. What a Hoot. All you Angry Racist Liberals Mad because a White man is sitting in the Speakers chair.

Steve, your kidding right, having a white man as speaker is nothing new, i think you got it backwards, its you consertives that can't stand to see a black man as president, Now that is something different to get use to and your consertives have not.

OH. Yes. Jeff, We have been hearing that for the past 2 years. Nothing new. I doesn't Bother me one bit that a Half White Man is Occuping the White House, I just hate his Policies.. there is a big difference.

Steve-505729

OH. Yes. Jeff, We have been hearing that for the past 2 years. Nothing new. I doesn't Bother me one bit that a Half White Man is Occuping the White House, I just hate his Policies.. there is a big difference.

Steve something i learned in print shop, when you have white ink, and put a drop iof black ink in, guess what steve, the ink turns black, so instead of Obama as you say is half white, No he is black, Just like my great great grand father who was masters son, Looked white, but guess what, he was black.

Hey,

Jeff, His mother was White. His Father was Black. that makes him half White.. sorry you fail to see the Forrest inspite of the Trees.. but as usual Thats your fault. you see the world thru Tunnel vision..

Steve-505729

Hey,

Jeff, His mother was White. His Father was Black. that makes him half White.. sorry you fail to see the Forrest inspite of the Trees.. but as usual Thats your fault. you see the world thru Tunnel vision..

if you see the birthcertificate he is listed a negro.

Big Bear. I wasn't quite clear on the cameras in the committee room; this is, however, something the GOP demanded for the last year, and it was part of the new House Rules but was stripped out before they voted on it. Either way, it was something they spoke about and promised voters.

Naturally the first and best jobs will go to those with a history of voting Republican. It may take awhile to cross-index the voting records with the unemployed. Please be patient.

This is the only "fair" way to redistribute the wealth of the nation.

Sure, DBO. I live in Kentucky, work in the power generation and distribution field. Grew up poorer than dirt in Louisiana. Have a technical degree, upper middle class, over 60 years old, have a hard time expressing myself with the written word but will always try. Wish I had your quick wit.

Hi DBO Happy New Year. Living here in South Florida for over 30yrs, now retired and enjoying life. Am a naturalized citizen so have a different take on this country and its beauty. Would have to say what attracted me here over 40 yrs ago, has long been gone . Yet, many of its citizens are truly the salt of the earth and i feel honored to know so many.

I too, enjoy your wit, keep posting.

drive-by -

Excellent idea. The very first post I ever wrote on here many months ago was titled "Who Am I?" (though my point was actually more about who are WE as fellow Americans). It was verrrrry long and in re-reading it not long ago, kind of self-indulgent and way more info than anyone here ever needed, so I'll spare you a re-post. But the condensed version is that (surprise!) I'm born and raised in PA (PA-7, as I've mentioned more than a time or two), have worked over 41 years in market research (so I know a bit about poll questions), am somewhere in the nether regions of the middle class, and can't type worth a crap either. Oh, and I should confess - I have two cats, one of whom I had nicknamed "Drive-by" long before I ever got to know you here. He always makes me laugh too, so consider it a compliment!

Hey Drive –By I can go along with that.

I’m a 60 year old wore out old Redneck Construction Professional ex-Heavy Equipment Operator sometimes Small Farmer with A Blue Ridge view stretching all the way to the West-by God Va. line that I don’t get to enjoy near enough now that I go to work and get home in the Dark.

Generally known for a pleasant outlook on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness but like all Rednecks prone to a display of a Sudden Disposition when given a reason for losing my sense of Humor.

I live in Vermont, born raised and educated in Buffalo NY, Have been a business consultant 30+ years. United States Navy retired with a service connected disability.

From southern Illinois, live in southeastern VA. 40. Gov't contractor. 16 years in the navy.

Obviously, I live in Iowa. Grew up lower middle class, my parents did not graduate from high school but we always had a roof and food; my dad died when I was 9 and it was a rough road for my mom and me. I graduated high school, worked, moved to San Diego, worked full time and earned my college degree via night classes; worked my way up the corporate ladder to middle management. I am now retired. I once was a republican until Reagan came along and as the debt rose under his watch, instead of listening to the words spoken by him, by republicans and by democrats, I started looking at what they did not what they said. I did not leave the republican party, it left me because their words did not match their actions. I found that democrats', however imperfect, words more closely matched their actions and my evolving views of life and humanity.

OK, I'll play:

Over 65, I do have a doctorate degree. Was a successful CEO for over 25 years. Lived in Arizona for 24 years, then returned to Indiana.

Y'all are great! Keep 'em coming, and thanks for sharing. How about some mroe? How about some of the more right-leaning posters, too? Hell, we might find out wer're neighbors or have some things in common. Again, thanks all.

drive-by-observer

I live in a city where the ghosts of Al Capone go ra-a-tat-tat if you 're bad. (joke).

If you're good you're a commie, marxist, irreligious and pursued by Michelle Bachmann and Glenn Beck's " Progressive Hunters".

One of the few born and raised in California, and way to close to the border. Raised by a Republican Father and my Mom a Democrat. My husband / Union man, and I work for a wealthy Real Estate Developer in Newport Beach. Sometime it can get a little tricky, but it works. I am 52.

Born and earned my Engineering degree in the South.

Grew up in Southeast Asia.

Have lived in California for the last 30 years.

64, still working as an artist and technical consultant.

I just informed BigBear of my background just the other day. But, here goes...

55 year old female USAF veteran, Strategic Air Command :-) Served 6 years in the AF, originally from Florida, has lived in Baltimore for 30 years (serious RAVEN Fan), 30 years with the State (procurement), ready to retire and move back home. Support my President till the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was born in Southern CA, passed around to various family members while my parents divorced and tried to 'find' themselves. I went to eleven different schools and graduated high school in Washington, OK. First in my family to get a college degree (in Accounting). Worked for Arthur Andersen (when it was respectable). Transferred to KC on a long term project, met my husband who is the most amazing man I have ever met. His life was stable and normal and definitely provides much that I missed growing up. We have two kids, son 7 and daughter 9 and we are doing the upper middle class thing. I don't work in accounting anymore I am a project manager and work with technology and support. Love my job and hate my job, depending on which iron is in the fire. One dog and one cat. Lovin' life. Like Jody, I am a recovering Republican, however my recovery started in 1992. Voted for Perot. Still a better outcome than Bush I, in my opinion. Didn't fully convert to Democrat until Clinton's 2nd term. Will never trust a Repub because of the innate BS. They all claim to be 'self made'; but ironically have a history of sucking the government teat. Very annoying that they seem to 'get theirs; but screw everyone else'. Just an observation.

I live in, uh, Mid Michigan. 31, married (high school crush :) )father of one 8 YO daugter. I think we just hit the middle class! lucky enough to get a new job in this economy (that's why I haven't been around in the last couple o' months.) doing the same job for 50% more money.

I am a corporate trainer for call center employees currently working in the prescription benifits business. still attending school online part time to complete my BA in business management.

My wife is currently schooling to become a Respitory Therapist.

My daughter attends a charter school and receives an excellent education.

On another note. I am also one of the lucky people who the Hope for homeowners program introduced by the Obama administration has helped. We have been struggling to keep our home since my wife lost her job. For a year we were in a paper work nightmare with this program. But, we are now two months into our 3 month trial payments period, where our payment was cut almost in half. We have actually been able to save money for unexpected events and even throw some money towards my daughter's college fund.

And I thank Obama for the positive impact to my families life.

So, Hi nice to meet you.

Male, 49yrs old, born middle class and raised in Michigan. Married my high school sweetheart after 6 years college. Have 3 awesome kids..daughter 22, and boy girl twins 19. Son is a US Marine. All 3 in college and I’m broke as a result J Hosted 2 exchange student daughters (from Germany and Ukraine). Love kids! Director of HR (global hris / payroll) at large firm. Christian, conservative….believe in God and believe the bible to be the actual word of God. Love life and laugh and make other people laugh more than anyone I know. Hunt, fish and extensively education myself on nature and wildlife almost daily. I read this blog everyday but job doesn’t allow for much interaction. I read to try to understand the liberal mindset, but frankly I’m not succeeding.

I'll contribute--A product of the military, my father served in the same unit as Elvis in Germany. Have lived in To-Lee-Do Ohio, Osh Kosh Wisconsin, Houston (twice), East Texas, West Texas, North Texas, DFW, and now reside in the Rocky mountains.

I graduated high school and college--but that took 13 years. I paid for every dime of my college, as my parents were taking care of my 2 kids sisters. I have worked for major corporations--including Exxon during their big spill, small companies, and been self employed. I have read meters, done collections, inventory control, factory work(made lawn furniture), run a jackhammer, painted, cut firewood, sacked groceries, hauled hay, but my favorite job has been in education/coaching. Wouldn't change my life for anything. I have made lots of mistakes, but I have fixed lots of problems. I hate asking for help, because I think it is a sign of weakness. I think we all should be coming up with solutions instead of name calling, there is more than plenty of that to go around.

I never worry about working, because I know there is another job around the corner, no matter how bad it gets. I love my daughters, and teach them to stay away from guys like me:) And to top it off, I collect sports cards, well over a million cards and still going strong. (wife hates it--they are a pain to move). And the secret to that is--find a guy cheating on his girl--when they find out, they sell everything real cheap:) But enough about me. What about you?

Mom of 3, grandmother of 2. I am 57, worked in health care my entire career...still working. Graduated college by taking 2 classes a semester while working full time with 3 kids. Have a republican husband and daughter, 2 other daughters are democrats like me. Live in wisconsin and hibernate as much as I can during the winter months. Husband works 6 days a week 10 hour days. Rarely do I take a vacation, husband enjoys snowmobiling - he is in Wyoming currently on his yearly man-cation playing in the snow. Have trouble understanding the Republican way of thinking. I believe that we need to help out our fellow man, that health care should be affordable for everyone, that reasonable people should be able to govern and to come to agreement on what needs to be done. Does not think that war is the answer to anything. Guns should not be in the home (although we have several). Education is essential to advance in this world.

Well, you people are fantastic. Thanks for sharing when you certainly didn't have to. I will tell you this:

I know some of these names have been allies and some others not so much on these posts, but I didn't read ONE thing from any one of you that would make me dislike you or disrespect you in any way, shape or form. As a matter of fact, I bet if I met any one of you on the street and small-talk erupted, we could find at least one thing in common real fast.

Thanks again, so much, for playing!

Hey Drive-by, that was an excellent idea. Loved the responses. For some of you it explains a great deal. For others it just adds to the mystery. If it's not too late...I would like to expound on my favorite subject. LOL!

I was born in West Texas, just slightly under 40. Married with 3 children (15, 12, 11). I work in purchasing for a $100 million company. Consider myself more fiscally conservative than Republican. I have voted for both Dems and Repubs. I have an MBA (paid for myself). I think government oversteps its bounds on a regular basis.

Maybe if the members of the House actually read what the Constitution says then maybe ALL of them will start upholding it.

What people forget is that the Constitution (much like the Bible) is not a fluid changing document. Its the same today as it was the day it was written.

It’s a little sad, though, to see it having to be used as a ‘new-employee handbook’.

More dumbing down of the American people!

HEY everyone... VOTE for me and THEN I'll read the document I've already sworn to uphold!

Ain't that like putting the cart before the horse?

You just can't make this stuff up! lol

Sure, drive-by...I am a long retired mom of four who made the decision (which Palin seems unable to do) that caring for my seriously disabled oldest son was more important then money. Never regretted the decision.

So feisty, Did Ms Pelosi not say........We have to vote it in to read it? I may hove not gotten that right but the gist of the statement is correct. I was surprised that they didn't get any pictures of her face when the speaker said that all bills will be posted for 3 days prior to bringing them up on the floor.

"It's a little sad, though, to see it having to be used as a 'new-employee handbook'."

Look at the bright side, drive-by...

A total of 96 new members, nearly a quarter of the entire membership of the House...representing a defeat of historic proportions for the Democratic Party.

53 incumbent Democrats defeated...only 2(!) GOP incumbents, both freshman legislators, lost. That's a modern day record, by the way, for loss of House incumbent seats. Prior to last November, and going back 40 years, the average loss of incumbent House seats for both parties combined had only been 17.3!

Impressive, wasn't it?

Anyway, good to see so many new members.

They represent and quantify the magnitude of the electorate's unhappiness with the leadership of this President and the Democratic Party.

They also represent renewal, while the House Democrats chose stagnation by hunkering down with ex-Speaker Pelosi for the next two years...no renewal there, eh drive-by?

Ummm, Larry..."the Constitution is the same today as when it was written?" Really, so about those Amendments....

"They represent and quantify the magnitude of the electorate's unhappiness with the leadership of this President and the Democratic Party."

Nice try, Mixed. The electorate's unhappiness was with unemployment, which Obmam did NOT create.

You been listening to too many Hannity programs, it seems.

Not a big Hannity fan, drive-by-

You're correct that the electorate's primary concern was the economy and jobs, which was the central reason that President Obama was elected after the economic meltdown in the fall of '08.

The results of the 2010 midterms last November are a measure of the public's dissatisfaction with the leadership displayed in the handling of the economy by President Obama and the Congressional Democrats. That said, there were widely unpopular parts of the Obama agenda...from Obamacare to the closure of Guantanamo, that peripherally contributed to the voters' displeasure with Democrats.

And, you are in denial if you fail to recognize the magnitude of last November's historic repudiation of the Democratic Party and its leadership by American voters.

If you have trouble remembering all of that, just remember the make-up of the new members of the 112th Congress: 87 Republicans, 9 Democrats.

87-9.

You can remember that, can't you drive-by?

LittleJoPeep: Did Ms Pelosi not say........We have to vote it in to read it?

Actually, no. This has been misquoted, taken out of context and re-transcribed so as to not be what it was originally.

Ms. Pelosi actually said, "We have to vote on it so that you can read what's in it." The context is that so many changes and ammendments were involved that the nature of the document changed from minute to minute. Only by voting could the document be frozen and a true accounting be made.

Critics seized on the words they wanted to hear and have misused the quote since.

87 - 9.. I really like those numbers..

Enjoy 'em while you can.

The rants of a Sean Hannity or a Keith Olbermann are simply the opinions of two diametrically opposed partisan ideologues.

Nothing more.

The changes in the new Congress are a fact, drive-by.

87-9 is a fact...not someone's opinion.

And yes...

I'm enjoying that fact immensely.

There is no equivalence between what Sean Hannity is paid to do by a propaganda outfit which lies in its own motto "FAIR and BALANCED" and its Branding of FOX "NEWS", and MSNBC and Keith O. who corrects himself whenever he makes a factual error, usually within the space of three minutes. Sean won't correct his errors for weeks, if at all, unless Jon Stewart shames him into doing it sooner.

Continuing to repeat this lie just demonstrates how stupid you are, and a RE-peat-the-lie-to-the-PUBLIC-an con-man to boot.

Man stop riding Olberman's dykk. He does not correct jack. When has he ever had someone on there that disagreed with him?.....still waiting......///// Olbermann is a phony azz loon. That is why no one on ESPN wants to work with him, nor on Sunday night Football.

Man what are you talking about shaming someone????? Hannity's ratings runs circles around that comedian.

You and your liberal snake riders hate on FOX because you can't do shyt about their ratings.

They get better ratings because more ignorant and mentally deficient people exist than do informed and intelligent people.

Olbermann corrects his factual errors infinitely more often than Sean Hannity.

Right wingers are afraid to go on Keith's or Rachel's show. They have an open invitation to both.

Only a complete ignorant would think that "RATINGS" is the way you judge the value of a news show. You should stop trying to make that argument, it removes all doubt that you may be a fool.

Man stop riding Olberman'sdykk

After two some years... you're still fascinated with the dykk... Very telling there Big BOY!!

Better yet... if you're not playing with your sh!t -you're raving about your d!ck!

Now go beat you wife... WILL YA?

Here hon... we have a 'jock' for you to sniff... better NOW?

Wow Feisty, I thought that I had let him have all he could hope to process, but you took it to a different level. Damn.

Paul,

You have to talk to the dumb sh!t in a language he can understand! ;o)

Good opportunity to tell Feisty all about 9/11, truther Paul.

Talk about repeating a lie...

Come to think of it...I doubt that Feisty is interested.

And by the way...

The left-of-center mainstream media created the demand for Fox News and are responsible for its stunning success.

You should really try to enjoy their creation a little more.

9/11 was an inside job, is an allegation, not a lie. Saying that it has never been investigated by a panel with the power of the subpoena is the truth. How could the mass murder of Americans in America go uninvestigated by the American Judicial system?

The "demand" for propaganda of the FOX"NEWS" sort was created by a misinterpretation of the concept of Free Speech by SCOTUS and lower courts. The so called "liberal' media is owned and operated by conservatives and managed, for the most part, by zionists.

Thank you, Paul.

I have nothing whatsoever to add to that.

I hope as many First Readers as possible will get this glimpse into your world.

JuvenBachan

Now First thoughts and First Read, Sit back and enjoy the beginning of prosperity for the American people,

unless of course, the Bama veto everything. Choose.

Oh Pleazzse could you get serious? The president is not gonna take cake from you and eat it in yo face.

Of course he'll veto repeal and replace. It won't make it through the Senate or to the President's veto pen.

You wouldn't be so spooked if you stop listening to FOX NOISE DISTRACTIONS.

yo face........ really!

Oh. you guys shouldn't take the Resident Racist Bev to Serious. She wears her Racism on her Sleeve for all the world to see.. She is Proud of the Fact that she is a Black Woman that Hates White People...

Steve: Bias, bigotry, and RACISM are not all the same thing. Try to learn what you are writing about.

Frank;

Excellent point. This country is a WIP (Work in Process) and we will have ups and downs. It is the big picture for all of America that is important, not just the select few.

I agree that it's too simplistic to attribute the recovery to Obama alone, but some leading economists including JMark Zandi, who was John McCain's economic advisor, say that Obama's stimulus bill prevented the recession from getting much worse than it did. Credit where credit is due, and all that. Now, I just hope that the Republicans in Congress don't slash spending and deregulate the financial industry that caused the recession so much that the economy goes into another nose dive.

Good post, Frank. I would add that not only is our economy cyclical, it is increasingly global so that we have less control over it than we used to, which wasn't all that much. That said, I think Houston is right when he said that the Obama administration should be given credit for the fact that we did not have a depression.

These post-holiday regular workweeks are hard to get used to, aren't they? Looking forward to Happy Hour tomorrow at the Dew Drop Inn!!

Great advice, Frank. Always common sense in what you write.

Just saw a post above attributing any increase in jobs numbers tomorrow to the great relief by the business community over the election results in November. Is this the kind of false credit-taking you're referring to, Frank?

I like the creative thinking---was wondering how the Republicans could try to take credit for the jobs performance.

Grimey,

Agreed. The jobs report will show an increase, and may very well be attributed to holiday seasonal hiring. Then in April, after tax filing day, those (tax) seasonal numbers will be down again.

Steeler Fan...yup...that would be what I was talking about. There is just no way to attribute simple economic indicators to one party or another.

As far as the impact of the stimulus, unfortunately, the data is horribly suspect so it's nearly impossible for there to be a direct measurement of the impact of the stimulus on the job market. (There were numerous studies last year by local papers into situations where companies received say $50k and reported saving or creating 200 jobs...sorry...I'm too lazy to provide a reference...running on my reputation a bit here). The stimulus almost certainly created jobs that wouldn't have been there without it...however, the tough part is measuring that against the cost of the stimulus and the subsequent addition to the deficit.

Good posts here all around.

Chef Darrell..good point. I gotta be honest...I hadn't thought about the whole holiday seasonal hiring. I wonder how much of an impact that has?

A "Oligarchy" does not work either.

Really? Got some numbers? The PIGS have issues, I'm not aware of anyone else.

Anyone who believes that American Liberalism resembles anything in Europe has neither left the United States or read a book.

Sure, Larry. It'd be nice if his deeds matched his words. Already votes are scheduled without debate and the House Appropriations leader is allowed to unilaterally set spending limits. Pay-Go rules have been altered to make sure that deficit-ballooning tax cuts won't be stopped. Darryl Issa has the go-ahead for an unending series of witch hunts for purely destructive, partisan purposes.

Sorry, respect comes when words match deeds. John Boehner has already demonstrated the opposite.

John B.

Right on target. The spots have not changed since 2010 and it will be more of the same old same old. I heard that one of the KOCH brother has a big party for agent orange last night.

overcompensating pehaps! :o)

Dontcha know it! lol

You have NO idea how I wished Nancy would have planted it firmly somewhere else instead!

That being said - I thought she handled the entire 'debacle' with dignity & class!

Nancy Pelosi was in rare form . . . and I loved it! :o)

Olbermann said Boehner's gavel looked like either a beer keg on a stick or a croquet mallot. My guess is the beer keg. Boehner could pour himself a tall cool one when the proceedings in the House get too heated.

Morning Joke was whining about Pelosi 'getting in a dig' with the 'John requested this one' (large gavel) comment.

Hell, the guy DID request that one, didn't he??

Nancy likes a big hammer........she just doesnt admit were she likes it!

Aw, man don't tell me that! I don't have time to watch C-Span!!

And to continue that thought, Houston!:

"By comparison, just 8% of Democrats, 8% of liberals, 17% of moderates, and 22% of independents said that".

I think the operative word in this particular poll question was "returning". Most of us Democrats, liberals, and Independents realize we never left those principles in the first place.

Does the new HRC cover the cost of removing the bag stains from the bridge of your nose? God I despise that title.

Take it up with the 'grass-roots' folks that coined it, Peep.

Ive only heard conservatives joking about that moniker, however I have observed many of the Liberal regulars use it like its their job to do so. I specially love to see the ladies use the term, it gives me such a thrilling visual, like a 400lbs gorilla with a stain on her nose.

LittleJoePeep

Ive only heard conservatives joking about that moniker,

What you heard is just that: hearsay. The teabaggers were parading around with signs proclaiming "Teabag the White House before they teabag you." The most amusing one that I saw was a photo of a little old lady with a sign reading "Teabagging 4 Jesus." That was much funnier than the blatantly racist signs portraying the president as an African witch doctor with a bone through his nose. The only people who would deny that is racist are the sort who refer to the Civil War as "the War of Northern Agression."

Retired Air Force 1995:

Obama is the most corrupt excuse for a President in history.

Repeating Issa's lie wont' make it come true. Since there is zero evidence of any corruption or illegalities on the part of the president, the only excuse for calling him corrupt is irrational hatred. What's really galling is this moron Issa tosses out an accusation like that after 8 years of Bush, whose administration WAS one of the most corrupt in history, with crimes ranging from one aide caught shop-lifting to Bush's Attorney General resigning in disgrace after lying to Congress, to Dick Cheney's flunky Scooter Libby convicted of felony. And then, of course, there was starting a war based on lies about smoking guns in the form of mushroom clouds.

Cant go for long with out the racist chant coming out.

Houston;

Some people just cannot hide their racist streak, it always comes out sooner or later . Issa now is trying to walk his comment about President Obama being corrupt to he wanted to say his administration was corrupt and then he tried to walk that back as well. Mr. Issa is a person that is letting a little power go to his head. If not careful he will get more than just a headache.

Navy and some people see it where there is none. Im guessing you wanted to see Capt. Honors fried also!

In a nut shell the far right wants to delegitimize the fact that President Obama is indeed the President of the United States. People need to wake up and stop listening to these far right extremist, who do nothing but spread their hate, intolerance and in many cases racism.

Believe me, there are many more of us, like the people who elected our President and want to move forward instead of backward like the far right wants to do.

Houston!

Cardinal Issa has just been annointed to be Lord High Inquisitor of the Holy Inquisition,

LOL LOL LOL Issa is about as "holy" as that fruit on Fox Noise, the Religion Correspondent Roman Catholic priest, Jonathan Morris.

Issa should absolve his own discretions first.

Issa was arrested in February 1980 for felony auto theft by San Jose police. According to the New York Times.

Prior to his auto theft arrest, Issa was arrested and convicted of posession of an unregistered handgun in 1972

Wait until you see the rest. This party has not changed, they will continue to favor Wall Street over Main Street, Big Business over Small Business and the 2% over the 98% of Americans. More gridlock and attacks on the Middle Class. The 112th Congress may well go down in history as one of the most destructive in this nations history. The handwriting is on the wall. Let them celebrate now, sooner or later they are going to be called on to get something done on the Jobs, Economy and Spending. Watch what they do and how big the bill is going to be to the Middle Class. We can not afford it. Now more (republican/tea party) are coming forth with the threat of shutting down the government if they do not get their way.

John B.;

I agree 100 %. That does appear to be their mode of operation. Say whatever they want (true or false) to get the votes knowing that they are not going to make good on their words anyway. We see this everyday with them and they have absolutely NO shame at all in doing it. Somewhere along the line the Republican Party lost their ethical and moral compass. To them it is normal behavior to lie, to break promises or campaign pledges. They even say they are going to do this while the same time they are voting not to do this like they just did on HCR and the Disclosure Bill last year. It would be funny if not so sad not to mention the damage this does to our country. We can not let politicians get away with that type of behavior any longer, the stakes are way too high now. Great posts today and thanks for the follow up info.

They are getting ready to read the constitution on MSNBC right now. Looks like they are going to read the Amended Version???

Auntie;

Actually I saw pretty much what I expected. A bunch of well chosen words (rhetoric) that they cannot support with their actions. Say one thing and do the opposite all for political gain and the hell with the country. You have the man pegged correctly for what he is. I hope America sees that as well. Nice post and thank you for the feed back.

They are going to read it but not in full is what I have heard this AM.

No. They'll read it in fool!!

Great line Auntie Facist.

liberal vampires hard at work sucking off of each other to make you feel better about the self proclaimed "shellacking" You all took in November.

What parts of the constitution will they read?

ALL of 'EM! (wink*wink)

I am watching MSNBC now and I still do not know what they are reading for sure (whole document or just parts of) Nancy is speaking first. Looks like everbody is going to read some pieces of it. Should be interesting.

I hope they read it all. It would be a good history lesson.

USN Retired:

I am watching MSNBC now and I still do not know what they are reading for sure (whole document or just parts of) Nancy is speaking first. Looks like everbody is going to read some pieces of it. Should be interesting.

By Nancy, I assume you mean Nancy Pelosi. Good. I've read several progressive comments that the Democrats should participate. Some Democrats have been carrying around copies of the US Constitution wherever they go for a long time. They actually revere the whole Constitution, not just the 2nd and 10th Amendments, which seem to be the only two parts of the document Republicans know about.

Houston;

Rep. Pelosi was first up. Rep. Boehner gave the intro. I am glad that they did participate. Was interesting.

Do the words ONE DAY mean anything to you?

"Do the words ONE DAY mean anything to you?"

Is that as in "one day" a conservative will be honest about anything?

Why would they? It was "Obama's economy" and "Obama's wars" before we ever turned the calendar to February 2009. Should there be a double standard?

Keep driving, you make no sense here~!

Hopefully, Eric Holder's looking for a net to throw over you! Straight jackets, anyone?

Auntie....... Dig into your own closet....anything but the rhinestone one will do!

Well lets look into Bush's backyard

lying about a war

wmd 's

Bohners is lying to the public right now by his reasons to repeal HCR lmao repugs need to think before throwing there sheeiit around it may come back to hurt your own

Why repeal Obamacare?

ONE reason FRAUD and FAVORITISM ALREADY by the criminals in the White House

"ObamaCare Rewards Friends, Punishes Enemies"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704405704576063892468779556.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

"Punish our enemies" -- Barack Obama

Obama WASN'T KIDDING when he said that

All politicians reward friends and punish enemies. Bush's operatives are among the few that actually had a political enemy jailed on trumped up charges, which is what happened to a Michigan Democrat, who was eventually free because the charges were determined to be groundless by a court.

It's easy to toss around the word "criminal," but Bush is the president who is distinguished by having an aide convicted of a felony (Dick Cheney's stooge Scooter Libby) for lying to a jury about his part in betraying CIA agent Valery Plame. Many former high-ranking Bush officials, including Bush, have to be careful about what countries they visit when traveling abroad because they will be arrested for war crimes in many countries.

Just a footnote for those who don't make it to Page 2 today - the "article" that Madison links to above is actually a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.....written by none other than Karl Rove.....hat tip to Retired Military for the follow-up!

If Karl speaks and no one is listening, does he still make a sound?