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Subscribe to RSSObama today visits Penn State, bringing into focus the electoral importance of the Big 10 states… The president’s speech there is at noon ET… Our question regarding Egypt: What happens there tomorrow?... Romney says his campaign would “take me to Iowa” if he runs, but does that mean a full-fledged Iowa effort?... Thune tells Politico he loves his job in the Senate, which suggests he very well might not run… When Joe Manchin and Olympia Snowe can’t agree on health care, then you know it has become a partisan issue… And Rummy returns.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Big 10 focus: In 2008, Barack Obama pulled off this feat: He won EVERY state associated with the Big 10 -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. (And he even picked up one electoral vote in the state of the conference's newest member, Nebraska.) But last year, Democrats lost EVERY statewide contest in those same states except two, the gubernatorial races in Illinois and Minnesota (and both were thisclose). Talk about swing states and a swing region. That's why, to no one's surprise, President Obama visited Wisconsin the day after his State of the Union. And it's why he heads today to State College, PA -- the home of Big 10 power Penn State. Also note that like last week’s trip to Wisconsin, Obama’s stop in Pennsylvania is in a swing part of the state. In fact, Pat Toomey won this country (Centre) with 51% of the vote last year. In ’08, Obama got 55%. Last year, the president would visit safe Democratic areas inside swing states. This year, so far, he’s visiting actual swing parts of swing states.
*** Still trying to win the future: In Pennsylvania, Obama will repeat his innovation and win-the-future message -- which certainly will be overshadowed by the continued violence and unrest in Egypt. At the Penn State campus, the White House says, the president will tour labs focused on energy-efficient building solutions. Then, at noon ET, Obama will deliver remarks on innovation and clean energy. At publication time, Obama was about to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast. Also at publication time, the RNC was holding a conference call pre-butting Obama’s visit to the Keystone State.
*** What happens tomorrow in Egypt? As for the situation in Egypt, today isn’t as bad as yesterday but that doesn't mean it's good. Per NBC’s Charlene Gubash in Cairo, Egypt’s prime minister -- though not Mubarak himself -- apologized for yesterday’s attacks on protestors and said the government will investigate who is behind it. The big question, though, is how bad is tomorrow? As for the White House, they continue to publicly emphasize the need for the Egyptian government to start the transition now, and they are putting MORE definition about what that means and what they say it means -- meeting PUBLICLY with opposition leaders. The only way the democracy demonstrators will start to believe is if they actually see some progress on that front. The focus of the U.S. diplomacy continues to be the relationship with the Egyptian army. And that's been the most successful aspect of their interventions to date. Obama also is ratcheting up diplomatic outreach to other Middle Eastern leaders, including to the head of Yemen, who announced this week he would NOT seek re-election and that he'd begin SOME reforms.
*** Hawkeye State of Mind? Speaking of Big 10 country, Mitt Romney told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that his campaign would “take me to Iowa,” if he decides to run for president in 2012. “If I decide to run, I’ll be planning on running nationwide, and certainly the early states will be places where we concentrate most of our attention,” Romney said, per the Des Moines Register. “If I get in this, I’m not going to be doing so much of a political calculus as I am a calculus of what message needs to be heard by the American people and how I can deliver it best,” he added. “And that surely will take me to Iowa as well as the other early states.” One of the big questions about Romney’s candidacy revolves around whether he’ll truly compete in Iowa, as he did in ’08, or if he’ll focus instead on New Hampshire and Nevada. Of course, saying his campaign would “take me to Iowa” isn’t the same thing as vowing to truly compete there. Still, it's an acknowledgement that you CANNOT be a national front-runner and skip states. Iowa is a swing state, period.
AP
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks after leaving a meeting of Senate Republicans in Washington in this September 2008 photo.
*** No fire in the belly? Is Sen. John Thune leaning against a 2012 run? That is what he seemed to suggest in an interview with Politico. “It’s a different scenario maybe than some of the other candidates who don’t have a job,” he said. “This is a great place. This is a great job. We all complain about it. It’s frustrating at times ... but it is a place where ultimately you can be engaged in the big debates about the issues.” More from Thune: “I like where I am. I like what I do. These committee assignments [on Finance and Budget] are obviously going to give me a full portfolio for the foreseeable future… I’m in a place where I think I can make a difference. Those are all issues you weigh.” Politico adds that Thune said he’d make a final decision by the end of the month and after speaking at next week’s CPAC. Folks, if Thune is debating between staying in the Senate and running for president, that probably means the fire in the belly isn’t there for a White House bid.
*** Into the great wide open… : If Thune decides not to run, it means the eventual GOP field could be WIDE OPEN. This could benefit someone like Tim Pawlenty -- or Haley Barbour or Rick Santorum -- because there will be plenty of room for someone to be the anti-Romney. And it also explains why Jon Huntsman is eyeing a bid. The field is shrinking? Certainly looks that way right now. If Mitch Daniels does NOT run, does that leave Pawlenty as the lone midwesterner?
*** No common ground: Perhaps what was most surprising about yesterday’s health-repeal vote in the Senate wasn’t that all Democrats opposed the move (even West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin voted against it, saying that it didn’t make sense to throw out the good parts of the bill). Rather, the surprising part was that all GOP senators -- even Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins -- voted for repeal. You’d normally expect that if Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, and Manchin vote for something, then Snowe, Collins, and Scott Brown probably would support it as well. This all shows that there is no common ground on this law, which is ironic given that much of it is based on past GOP ideas and measures.
AP
Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld thumbs through a book at his office in Washington during an interview in January.
*** Rummy returns: Here’s the New York Times on Donald Rumsfeld’s new book. “Just 15 days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush invited his defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, to meet with him alone in the Oval Office. According to Mr. Rumsfeld’s new memoir, the president leaned back in his leather chair and ordered a review and revision of war plans — but not for Afghanistan, where the Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington had been planned and where American retaliation was imminent.” But NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski says that according to notes taken in the "tank" at the Pentagon only FOUR HOURS after American Flight 77 slammed into the building, it was Rumsfeld himself who raised the possibility of attacking Iraq. At 1:50pm, in discussing a "whole range of military operations" and the "annihilation of terrorism" Rumsfeld says: “My interest is to hit Saddam Hussein at the same time, not to look only at UBL (Osama bin Laden).” It's either a lapse of memory, Mik says, or a bit of revisionist history.
Countdown Chicago’s mayoral election: 19 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 278 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 368 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up
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As the announcer, Rod Roddy, famously said, “Come on Down!” from the Price Is Right before each contestant runs down the aisle to play for the chance to win prizes, the Republican lawmakers all eagerly run down the aisle to hopefully claim a prize that is funded by Corporate Fat Cats and Lobbyist Shills to line their own pockets as well as discredit the constituents that eagerly defend them.
2012 is not here yet so keep your hands in your pockets unless you are willing to get caught with it in the cookie jar.
The aftermath of the spinning, shouting and horseplay is over and HCR is here to stay by which the focus on jobs, or the lack thereof, by the Right will continue to be an unresponsive victim from the assault on Tax based policies that are ignored by those that wish for the country to become more fragmented now that they have a means to further destroy the economy that began back in 2006. However, the Congress people that just wasted the first month on a bill to repeal have already failed at helping the country. They were so focused on dismantling the new Health Care system, that they did not even realize there was a jobs issue. Welcome to the new era of “Obstruction”.
Compromise is a two way street. President Obama cannot deal with all the issues by himself. He needs both chambers, and both parties to come together. But the Right does not want that. They have never wanted that. The only thing they want is what is best for the rich.
As I said, they come down the aisle to claim the prizes only to take the prizes and toss them to Sheol.
There needs to be an end to this practice. As Adam Sandler said to Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore, “The Price is wrong B!%@#!”
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
The Senate has spoken, the HCR repeal bill is dead and not one democrat voted to support it. This will be resolved in the SCOTUS sometime in 2012.
The 1099 provision has been deleted from HCR by a 81 vote approval. Thank God, I did not like that piece at all. What were they thinking?
Republicans in Congress will seek to deny the Obama administration the money it needs to implement parts of the law. They could try to strip out specific provisions, such as some of the cuts to Medicare. I guess if you can’t get your way one way, try another. Even as we are trying to reduce costs in Medicare, which is one of the big expenses facing our government, they are going to try and stop that. Anything the GOP/Tea Party can do to make our President look bad so they can try and use it against him in 2012.
OK, you guys (GOP/Tea Party) had your 15 minutes and wasted Millions of tax payer’s money can we now get back to what the people told you was important to them. Like creating Jobs in America and helping the continued growth of our Economy. You made your point that you hate the bill, now stop the politics and move on to help this country NOW.
For Example: President Obama has called on the Congress to stop all subsidies to the Big Oil companies. What is this the second or third time now? Both the GOP and the Democrats have to stop awarded tens of billions of dollars to these guys while they are making record profits and many are not paying any taxes either like Exon (which while making record profits also got over 100 Million in tax rebates). It is time for both parties to put their money where there mouths are.
Will do, but the Party of No, the Democrats are saying "No!" to less government regulation, less taxation, and less interference in peoples lives (like with the requirement every individual must purchase health insurance). This will get settled in the 2012 elections where pro-business and pro-worker Republicans will be elected to 1) Have a majority in the Senate and the House 2) Have the White House. You know ND, the Republicans realize that the government passing trillion dollar spending bills to "Create jobs" doesn't work, and just creates massive deficits. They, the GOP, know private buisinesses create jobs, if allowed to by the government.
Everyone in both Houses of the new 112th Congress is now on the record with regard to Obamacare.
At present, there are 7 court challenges to the health care reform law still pending in districts around the country.
The issue isn't going away.
As I've said, if President Obama is convinced of the constitutionality of the legislation, remove any impediment to its path to the Supreme Court, and allow the top court to affirm that opinion.
Instead, the Obama Justice Department is appealing the Florida ruling.
Why is that?
Louis J;
Nice post today, hope you do not mind if I tag along.
We have seen the handwriting on the wall for a long time now. The GOP insists they listen to the people and we democrats do not. Only one person in four (on the average) wanted total repeal of the HCR Law, many wanting a stronger Bill. Nowhere does the GOP mention this fact. They want to strip away the rights of women by their new definition of "Rape" and their opposition to equal pay for equal work. They continue to reward those that created the mess we are in and try to push the spending cuts that are needed on the backs of the Middle Class. They want to changethe Constitution to better fit their "Great Society", one that is based on "Oligarchy", they have stripped away our right to open elections by the right wing political fund raisers in the SCOTUS and their denial of a Disclosure Law, etc.
The people are only going to take that for so long and then they will make their voices heard. The GOP is taking us down a very dark path, one of no hope and no future except for those that have paid for their votes.
Seems 26 states and a Federal judge disagree. The only ones trying to "change the Constitution" are the Democrats, who are passing unconstitutional laws, like ObamaCare.
So, what exactly does this "Great Society" the Liberals are trying to implement do when we run out of money?
"They, the GOP, know private buisinesses create jobs, if allowed to by the government."
The Chinese government DOES allow it, I believe....
VOTE ALL DEMS OUT 2012! These Progressive/Socialist Democrats need to go. This administration's tyrannical agenda is NOT for our country. From the spread-the-wealth Health Care to the EPA mandates to the confiscating of land to the job-killing gulf no-drill mandate, it is quite evident that Obama and his Progressive/Socialists Democrats want to kill this country and institute total government control. VOTE ALL DEMS OUT 2012!
Yup. The Democrats, they don't learn. They'll be taught yet another leason again in next years elections.
Only the extremely delusional (and we’re all aware of who you are) would continue to tell us that the MAJORITY of Americans are against HCR:
McClatchy Poll Nov. 15-18: 51% want HCR, either as is (16%) or "do more" (35%)
link: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/22/104152/poll-majority-of-americans-want.html
Associalted press-Gfk poll conducted Jan. 2011: 62% (19% leave as is; 43% change it to do MORE) favor HCR. Question HC14a.
Question HC1 found total 56% either strongly (21%), somewhat (19%), or neither support or oppose (16%) HCR. Only 41% (11% somewhat; 30% strongly) opposed HCR. 3% answered 'did not know'.
Link to PDF file of Q&As: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com/pdf/AP-GfK%20Poll%20011411.pdf
So by all means… do carry on Teapublicans, and continue to listen to the ‘people’! lol
JoAnnaSmith1
Yup, private business like Halliburton! The Defense Department contracts! and on and on and on!
Halliburton is private....with Defense Department money. Ask Halliburton if they are private! Ask Halliburton if they create jobs with the billions of dollars of tax payer money!
Answer, YES!
Gotta get off of the crap about private sector jobs...unless you want to 'claw back' all the DOD money!
For those who continue to insist that the Democrats' historic midterm defeat was solely due to a struggling economy and high unemployment, consider these comments from political analyst, polling expert, Democrat, and Obama supporter Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com in a post-election rehash of last November's results:
"One thing that is reasonably clear is that Democrats performed a little worse than might be expected based on the performance of the economy alone."
Silver concluded that, based on his data, Democrats in Congress who voted against Obamacare overperformed those who voted for the bill, adding that "...it seems probable that these votes also damaged the electoral standing of Democrats over all."
The GOP risks little political capital in continuing to challenge Obamacare because of the unpopularity of this legislation.
Further, the public's view of the bill is hardly improved by the fact that a federal judge has now ruled the entire law unconstitutional.
JS1, WHAT "pro-worker" Republicans? What fictitious Republican are you talking about and what makes them "pro-worker"?
Feisty:
And they are still promoting the outright lie that the Stimulus/TARP did not work that it was a failure even though most republican and democrat economists now agree that we are better off now than we would have been if President Obama had done nothing like the party of Oligarchy.
Instead of telling us how they plan to create jobs in this country and what they are going to do to keep an improving economy to continue improving they go back to the old debunked lies, offer no new ideas and think an Oligarchy is what the American people want. They continue to deny that the majority of the people did not want repeal of HCR, in fact many want a stronger bill.
They live in this alternate universe where if it is not their idea it by default has no merit. The GOP (Great Oligarchy Party) has lost all touch with reality.
The Democrats, the Party of NO? I don't think so. The only bill to come to the Senate this year was the repeal of Heath Care. It was defeated as it should be. What else have the Democrats said NO too? Nothing. Republicans get off your butts and start working to improve our Country. Where's all your job creation ideas, or any ideas? Just talk talk talk. Grow up and start helping our Country. Quit spending and wasting your time on the TeaParty pay back.
Mixed Bag
The GOP risks little political capital in continuing to challenge Obamacare because of the unpopularity of this legislation.
Further, the public's view of the bill is hardly improved by the fact that a federal judge has now ruled the entire law unconstitutional.
Dream on Bag Boy. You were lucky to get the house.
Yea okay so you won alright. But it just so happens to be only in the House. That little bounce ya'll got and with all the bull sh!t the GOP/TB is pulling; I predict you’e about to roll right back to minority status in the House. Don't forget how he is handling Egypt.
Let me hear you scream.
Next rant….
to vote
JoAnnaSmith1
Will do, but the Party of No, the Democrats are saying "No!" to less government regulation, less taxation, and less interference in peoples lives (like with the requirement every individual must purchase health insurance). This will get settled in the 2012 elections where pro-business and pro-worker Republicans
Joanna your getting battier by the day, so in your mind the Democrats are the party of No, even though the republicans admitted they were, in order to keep the president a 1 term guy, but what your are going to get some flack on is your term PRO-WORKER REPUBLICANS.
Honey lets be real, the one place republicans and democrats agree and that is we all are pro workers, republicans love to work just as much as democrats, libertarians, and any body else on this planet. pro business, Honey business has had a bonoza for the last 2 years with tax breaks, GM, chrysler Got bailed out, the banks got bailed out, wallstreet got theirs,, Sh*t Girl if any thing can be said and that is obama has looked out after Big Business better than any body,
Some times i wonder where your Info from, I know Outer Space, LOL LOL
LOL! That's the funniest part Bev - all the crowing they're doing you would think they won the WH!
Never the less, let them have their fun (while it lasts) because it will ensure a HUGE victory for President Obama in 2012!
People are already growing tired of the 'games' these stooges are playing, as reflected in recent polls! ;o)
@ Navy - How true! A party that supposedly HATES government, yet will do anything to maintain POWER! Andsadly use the only cards left in their hands which are outright lies and fear!
Beverly-
Your predictions for 2012 should be regarded about as seriously as your predictions for 2010.
Sorry to push your button, Bev.
Just for clarity, Bev...it wasn't just the House the GOP won last November. Take a look at the governorships and state legislatures that changed hands...and just in time for redistricting ahead of the 2012 general election. Anyway you slice it Bev, 2010 was really, really bad for the Democratic Party.
Anyway...
Rant on, my dear.
Did George Bush ever have the majority of the states in the nation take him to court and sue him for doing something un-Constitutional. Did Bush ever have a federal judge rule something he did was un-Constitutional?
Do you guys not understand that Obamacare is in effect DEAD right now - Obama cannot implement HCR in the majority of states? If Obamacare cannot work without 26 year olds being forced to participate - how does it work with 26 states not participating?
And yet Obama just blows it it off. Has he filled anything? What is he doing other than just ignoring the reality of the states and federal court decision?
And you guys laugh and mock that it over.
But back to the original thought - can you imagine what have happened if Bush had ignored the people, the elections, the court .........
The liberals would be riding camels in the streets.
Feisty, my love-
"People are already growing tired of the games these stooges are playing, as reflected in recent polls..."
Are you including Gallup's finding that the Republican Party is currently enjoying its highest approval levels since 2005...and actually, a higher approval level than that of the Democratic Party?
Anyway, I'll concede that, like a lot of folks, apparently, even I like President Obama a lot more with a GOP majority in the House Of Representatives.
I can't believe I'm getting attention from both Bev and Feisty...
Is there a full moon out, or something?
:-)
Bev & Feisty,
Hope you all aren't too snowed in. I have seen pictures of all the snow and cars just sitting in the streets. We did not get all the snow that you did, but I experienced the coldest temperatures in my entire life. -31 degrees. Of course I really couldn't tell the difference between 0 and -31, but I did not stay outside long.
I haven't read everything, but didn't the senate pass an amendment to the repeal of the HCL, that ended some of the tax requirements to the law. Like not having to send out 1099 forms to all employees that get health care. I believe that would save all of our companies paper costs & stamps. That is bi-partisanship.
Bag:
And two other federal judges ruled that it was constitutional. So what's your point? That the news media hypes events favoring Republicans and downplays events favoring Democrats? If that's your point, then you're absolutely right.
As for the Democrats doing "slightly" worse in the 2010 elections than could be attributed to economic conditions, perhaps Silver should have considered the effects of the huge outpouring of corporate cash to support Repubs and attack Democrats that was enabled by the rightiwng activists Supreme Court with their abominable Citizens United ruling.
can you imagine what have happened if Bush had ignored the people, the elections, the court .........
Gheeze bob.......just exactly where have you been?...Bush totally ignored the people and the elections when he was appointed by the 'activist' Supreme Court!
The only games being played are is the one Obama is playing by acting like he is a centrist. But the fact is still there, of his poor record over the last 2 years. The economy is worse, more people are unemployed now than ever before in the history of our country. More homes were foreclosed in 2010 than any year previously. More tax $$ were spent in 2010 than ever before, larger deficit.
The positives are just as mixed bag said the redistricting of states and the addition of Electorial votes to states, heavaly favors that our current President is a one term Pres.
I do recall your predictions of the Dems, haveing huge victories this past Nov. How is that Hopey changey thing working for the country? Very poorly.
Morning Big Bear!
Happy to report - I'm mobile again, even if the streets are still a disaster! What a mess...
Anyway, yes the Senate did repeal the 1099 provision and like you, I think that's a 'good' thing! ;o)
Big Bear:
Morning to you, hope you are well and not buried in the white stuff. You make a good point on the 1099, we both hated that stupid rule. Goes to show that can work together when they have a mind to.
California tom - What?? No "to vote" posting?? LOL.
Chilled, get over what the Supreme court did in 2000, they made their decision, now live with it. if Al wants to run again he should talk with thee DNC or obama.
chilled,
Did Bev write that for you?
Houston-
How soon we forget, eh?
-First Read's own Mark Murray, offering a comment to the response to his post "Democratic hypocrisy on anonymous donations?", Nov 23, 2010-
"The seeming hypocrisy is that-the leader of one party - President Obama - along with many of his supporters - including bloggers on this site - decried the practice of unlimited, anonymous donations. And now big Democratic donors - this isn't just one man - are planning to do the same thing, and it appears that the White House isn't going to put up a fight about it."
Gee, Houston...I wonder which bloggers Mark was referring to.
And, if the way that the Republicans financed their 2010 midterm campaigns was wrong...is it still wrong when Democrats do the exact same thing?
Or...is it hypocrisy?
Feisty & Navy,
There are times when people can agree on here. See that No Jo/JS1
As for the rest of the HCL, as I have stated before, I agree with most of it, except the mandate to purchase insurance from a "for profit" corporation and be fined by the national government. Which leads me to believe that many government officials will make a profit off their insurance buddies. And since there don't seem to be any non-profit insurance companies out there advertising, I don't see a solution. Especially since I prefer that our government get out any insurance/medical business.
Navy, we didn't get a lot of the white stuff, we just got very very very cold temps. Even this morning it was a -10 degrees. I never knew that it could get that cold. But when you leave the south and move to the rockies, you should expect that I guess:)
Big Bear:
1.33 Good point. The HCR Law is far from perfect but it does have good points. Maybe they will still hold out the idea of keeping the good stuff and fixing or just deleting the not so good like they did on the 1099. If they can do it on one piece why not do it for all of it.
Glad you are safe.
Navy,
Don't take this as me going liberal, but I think that if they are going to require people to purchase insurance--until the supreme court makes it's ruling--they should limit the profit margin or the yearly premium increase to 3% per year. Not this 30% increase that many are getting this year. That would take about 2 pages of paper, but would our congressmen agree to get only a 3% increase in their stocks?
The ability of our friends of the First Read Liberal Club, to ignore fats is truly awe inspiring.
Less than two months ago, the republicans were awarded the largest electoral victory in 70 years.
They campaigned on repealing the insurance farce, cutting spending and opposing anything the lying, inept quasi socialist in the white house tries to do.
Now they are trying to do just that.
We knew of course the senate would defeat it, but all dem senators are now on record in favor of it.
I'm sure that you noticed that all republicans senators voted for repeal.
Even Brown, Snow and Collins received the message we sent them in the primaries last year, when we removed a number of republican incumbents.
I think it's safe to say,. there will be a number of dem senators, that will be leaving office, in 2012.
In the meantime to the hilarious laughter of conservatives everywhere, we have the spectacle of the liberals here today, spouting exactly, the same drivel, that got their fannies handed to them in Nov. last.
Still trying to convince the world that the country really, wants the insurance farce..
keep right on libbies, with your help, there may well be, no elected dems left in DC after 2012.
US Navy D.V.R., Hoday, I see Obama is trying to recover from his failed Ideals by swinging to the middle, acting like Reagan with a vision, but with no real action like Reagan, and Now wasting time here in Wisconsin to win a relection for a second term. What is up with that? Did his Liberal Ideals fail him? Where arethe jobs? Also why are some businesses waiting to see if health care can be squashed? Hint, it is going to cost the small Business owners how much to pay for lazy peoples health care? Why are most of the health care poster people drop outs? That includescollage!! Funny how so many ex-military/collage grads don't want nothing to do with Obama care. You are the only hard working military personal that I know that has a different opinion on it. I can respect that.
But hey, thanks for pointing out that Health Care thing in the Senate. Now we can focus on the next election and remove some more Health Care Backers. Do you have a list of the Democrat in the senate that did not do the American peoples Business? Oh don't bother, they all voted party lines. Another DNC working with everyone line of B.S. 2012 they will find out how much it will cost them. I hope that they get a good book deal as they get the boot out of Washington! This Health Care Bill is costing the US jobs and that is why the American People sent the GOP in to fix it. So you were half right that the GOP said that they were going to try and bring back jobs, but you forgot that repealing the high cost front end health care bill is a big part of that agenda. Glad I could help. Now don't go posting any of those non-government liberal one-sided web sites to make it look like something it is not. Have a wonderful day. Lets do coffee someday, after Obama has left office for a few years, so we can see how much he did or didn't do!! 2013 or 2014 should be good for me.
Campaigning again? Is anyone surprised?
So much for his "focus on jobs".
Jerry194283, Your statement of "keep right on libbies, with your help, there may well be, no elected dems left in DC after 2012" Now that is to much, we need a 3 or 4 Democrats in the Senate and 6 or 8 in Congress. Just to remind us of Liberal Ideals and a great way to show that we can work with people with different views to come to agreement, like on small issues. Like lawn care at the capital or giving a contract to a qualified union company. We have the chance to show how the GOP can work with other on things that really don't matter to the American Peoples Business. 2012 I hope the GOP can focus on creating jobs, cutting taxes, lowering health care cost with free enterprise, and not have to worry about Liberal nonsence. What would liberals do it there was a job surplus? All those food stamp and government housing not being used. Now thats a dream that needs to come true.
pjam09, Yes Obama is focusing on jobs, all of his wifes staff members and his. How is he going to pay for 22 staff members to do hair and nails at the bargain price of 4 million dollars!! Don't forget about finishing the Obama World Tour, if he wasn't president, who would go to these things? Being presz brings in a crowd, not having the title, well it would be like going to a circus with only one clown and a ringmaster. Question is who is the clown and who would run the show? I don't see the first Lady with a big red nose and checkered pants. No way!! After Obama gets the boot out of Washington, he might have some say with the kids, but most of the time its going to be "yes dear" and "I know dear" just wait and see! Most powerful man in the world becoming a Honey Doer. Yes Obama is working hard to keep his job!!!
Bag:
Gee, Bag. I wonder why an "objective" journalist is attacking bloggers? Maybe because he's not really objective at all. I don't know who wrote today's GOP spin about how "surprising" it is that Repubs voted as a bloc like they always do, but it's not surprising that the Democrats actually all stuck together for the first time in recent memory, but I suspect it could have been Murray. By hiding behind Murray's skirts, you're just underscoring the truth of my observation about the media's ridiculous pro-Republican bias.
As for the accusation of hypocrisy that Murray was smearing bloggers with, the Republicans are obviously the beneficiaries of the limitless corporate cash that the radical activist wingers on the Supreme Court have unleashed to destroy democracy. But now that the dam has broken, the Democrats have to try to keep up as best they can.
Houston-
Your last sentence finally answered my question...albeit in your halting, foot-dragging way.
Democrats weren't any more sincere in their hand-wringing about campaign financing than the majority Senate Democrats were about insisting on fundamental changes to the Senate's filibuster and cloture rules. It was all an elaborate kabuki dance for the faithful...highly stylized and immensely entertaining, but ultimately, not very important at all.
Anyway, I'll take it from here, Houston.
Yes...Mark Murray was correct.
They're hypocrites.
Just as the bloggers Murray referenced are.
Ongoing - catch the train. There already is a stay in place.
"Judge Vinson, a federal judge in the northern district of Florida, struck down the entire health care law as unconstitutional on Monday, though he is allowing the Obama administration to continue to implement and enforce it while the government appeals his ruling."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/31/judge-uses-obamas-words-against-him/
Big Bear 2:
I would never think that. I saw some rumblings today about DOD. Right now I think their budget is over 700 Billion (if you also count OCO). There has to be a least10-15% that can be deleted through getting rid of the fraud, outdated and non-functional programs, redundantcy and just some very bad programs that the Pentagon did not even want. And non of this would put our soliders at risk, which would be my maine concern in making the DOD learner and more efficient.
Rummy? Revise history? The hell you say!!!!!!!
As Gov. Hickenlooper ( a man who's future bears watching) said the other day, who wants to be the one to break it to people who lose their health care through repeal? Until the Republicans can massage THAT, or actually produce a health care plan (something they couldn't do when they had the White House and both houses of Congress), this could come back to take large, jagged chunks outta their a$$es!!
Obama still on WTF. Like everything else he does, it is doomed to fail.
Why? Well, his very idea of "future" is backward- thirty or forty YEARS backward. Somehow, he believes that he has the power to make successful strategies that have failed in the past.
Today, he is due to speak on "new" energy- in the heart of coal country. He will exhort us to make commercial buildings "more efficient"- as if it were something new.
Well, it is not new. It was- surprise- a Carter initiative. So, buildings that had windows that opened and closed, thus allowing fresh air to circulate, were retrofitted with fixed windows. New commercial buildings were built to be "energy secure"- sealed tight, that is.
What did we get? Sick building syndrome.
Sealing the buildings sealed in all the fumes from carpet, paint, insulation- you name it. It gets to be a LOT of fun when anyone walking into the space has a cold- or the flu. All you are breathing is canned, recirculated air. So, sure, it is energy efficient- just not particularly healthy.
So, add another Carter retread to his governance. Domestically, this is dreadful.
Foreign policy wise, it is disastrous. Seems I am not the only one to notice the err similarities between Obama and our formerly worst president ever
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/print/258548
Carter, at least, only lost Iran- a major ally in the Middle East during the cold war, to be sure. Obama seems to be on track to lose the whole kit and caboodle.
What a world we are leaving to our children and grandchildren - all because so many fell for Hope For Change, or whatever his WTF was in 2008. That so many repented in November, and showed it with votes, may not matter in the least; Obama's path to destruction continues unabated, and there is no way to to repaired what he has destroyed.
"...What did we get? Sick building syndrome."
Which, in turn, led to new ASHRAE standards that made building even BETTER to be in than before.
Progress sure does suck sometimes, huh?
The entire Middle-east appears to be tumbling. Tumbling towards what, who knows? Obama, initially caught flat-footed, is trying to get out of head of the revolution, but it appears that time has long past. Now we're left with seeing who picks up the pieces in the Middle-east, and just how friendly will those that do be to the West? Either way, we're in for a long term of instability in the Middle-east.
If Joey Biden were allowed to comment on the situation again, he was initially squarely behind Mubarak, he would characterize the entire situation as "A big f****** deal".
Joanna, I would love to wonder who will pick up the pieces in Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, and,possibly, the entirety of the Middle East.
Unfortunately, I am pretty sure I know how this will turn out. There will be a new, Islamist caliphate- and the dreamer in the White House seems to think that will be a great idea, as it will push us to rely on solar shingles to power purr economy.
I never thought I would live to see a president more destructive than Carter. Heck, I never thought anyone could BE more destructive than Carter.
I am truly sorry that I was wrong.
no joe, no bo, nj
Obama still on WTF. Like everything else he does, it is doomed to fail.
That's one more charlatan attack from you Dr NO.
BTW: you still have not answered what you thought of Ronald Reagan making a secrete negotiations with the Iranians to hold 52 hostages so he old decrepit @zz could be President.
I repeat...
"A top aide to Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has dropped a new clue about the original 'October Surprise' mystery of 1980: the name of the Republican operative who sought the Palestine Liberation Organization’s help to block President Jimmy Carter’s negotiations to free 52 Americans then being held hostage in Iran.
http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpwessex/Documents/coupreaganbush.htm
FYI: Poll: Egyptian Public’s Views Toward United States Are Much Improved
By NATE SILVER
Maybe we should blame it all on the CIA, no joe. The CIA also failed Carter (if you'll recall my post from the other day) and Bush 43 (Iraq), for which George Tenet got the Medal of Freedom.
Reagan, on the other hand, evidently blew it in Lebanon all by himself.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183262,00.html
And there you have it, straight from good ol' Cap the Knife, the "hero" of the Iran Contra scandal, also orchestrated by St. Ronald. The rest of this article is pretty much fun, too, actually, and you'll note that it's from Fox News.
Adding in Beverly's evidence, you pretty much get the picture.
So even if President Obama is somehow to blame for the crisis in Egypt, I guess that would make things square among presidents in the past 30 years who have seriously mucked up foreign policy in the Middle East.
Give it a rest, will you -- at least until you have something constructive to add to the discussion.
You clowns are sick. You obviously watch to much Glen Beck. The scary Satan of the airways.
I have heard the word caliphate twice today. NJ and Glenn Beck. Coincidence?
Yes, AnnaMolly, Reagan blew it in Lebanon, and troops paid with their lives. It was a mistake, and it led to tragedy.
Carter believed Ayatollah Khomeini was a "great, holy man". That, too, was a mistake that led to tragedy.
Obama runs the table, however. Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. Jordan. All allies. All under assault by radical islamists.
Judging by his actions, it is difficult to believe that Obama cares, but this is probably going to lead to the destruction of Israel. It will also lead to another oil crisis, but he seems to think that will be a GOOD thing. More solar shingles and windmills will fill the gap, I suppose.
You want a constructive comment from me? Fine. Here it is:
Obama should resign in disgrace due to his total incompetence. His utopian dreams are destroying not just this nation, but threaten the entire world.
drive-by,
Yea, it is a lot better now. Buildings were then required to modify sysytems to take in thresholds on 10 degree air to heat instead of...
Yea that is efficient and lowers operating cost.
Don't forget about about that whole hole-in-the-ozone global warming crap (whatever happened to that hole btw?) where every commercial building had to change out chillers to meet the new refrigrent standards. $500,000 for just a little 100,000 square foot building.
But in all fairness, that is nothing compared to the damage Obama is doing. That same little 100,000 square foot building that was paying $250,000 a year for electricity a few years ago - what do you think they are now paying and what will they be paying with Obama's destruction of the energy industry?
Joanna (post 3.2) - however the "contagion effect" plays out I am sure that no mideast oil producing nation will refuse to accept American $$$ for oil.
I wouldn't write home either on obamas attempts at foreign diplomacy. Telling another sovereign nation on what to do publicly is not the way to win friends and influence people.
So NO JO what is it that Obama should be doing?
I was for Obama privately calling for Mubarak's ousting and withdrawl of funding as late as yesterday to allow the dictator to save face. However now that the violence (government fueled) by most accounts has taken place; Obama has no choice but to condemn it. He had no choice but to call for Mubarak to leave quickly. The arab street's primary grievance against the US is our foreign policy decisions that sometimes smack hypocritical to our beliefs in individual freedoms and liberties. Both Rep and Dem presidents have let this dictator rule for 30 years with only minor prodding to implement reforms. His time is up and needs to leave.
An Obama detractor like yourself might ask why we weren't more involved during the Iranian uprising, IMO it was because it would have done no good. In my opinion more US involvement/support during the failed Iranian uprising might have detracted from the anti-Mullah populace, as US help wouldn't have been appreciated by them. In Egypt we have leverage and have common dipolomatic goals for the region with the dictator in power. In Iran we didn't. Hopefully, we can retain some semblance of allegiance with the new figure that rises from free elections. Contrary to what some Obama bashers say this uprising was not manufactured by the Muslim brotherhood or radical Islam.
Obama is trying to strike a difficult balance here. Any major involvement in the middle east however good the intentions or however justified the action is perceived in the US will be seen as western aggression - The other major greivance the arab street has against us. Obama needs to stand by the US pledge to support people who are calling for free and fair elections. All this should be done diplomatically, no need whatsoever to do anything else.
Other allies of Egypt like Jordan and Saudi Arabia would be wise to step up to ask for Mubarak to step down. Jordan's Abdullah has done the first step of dismissing his government.
By the way I don't support President Obama blindly on everything he does, but I think he has done the right thing in this difficult problem.
It doesn't look like Egypt is even paying attention to Obama. And if they did, they'd probably just ask Obama "Or what?" The US holding $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt hostage isn't going change any of the Egyptians minds. I would imagine Jordan leader King Abdullah is taking note of how quick Obama abandoned Mubarak and is wondering if he will suffer the same fate.
The world laughs at Obama. It's embarrassing. He's weakened us.
What would you suggest we do? Invade Egypt? Would that make you all happy?
We're not talking about Egypt. We're talking about Obama's foreign persona to the world. He's a disgrace!
The ship has sailed DN. Flat-footed Obama is just scrambling to try and look important. We, the USA and the West, are now just spectators at this point
Uh, yes...yes, we are talking about Egypt. This is the first major foreign policy crisis of his presidency (read: 3 AM Phone Call) so I'll ask again...
What do we do? Invade?
Better Pres. Obama than shoot 'em up Pres. Bush.
DaNoid:
The "Great Oligarchy Party" would love nothing more. This would take the attention off them that they have NOplans on how to create Jobs in America, NO plans on what to replace the HCR with other than coping many of the idea from the current Law and NO plans on how to sustain an economy that is growing.
They are all about driving out the Middle Class, stripping Americans of their rights, rewarding the millionaires and billionaires that created the problems, etc. Nothing in their plans if for the Middle Class and moving this country forward. NONE!!!
Mubarak may think differently when it all goes south.
And south it's pretty sure to go.
If Mubarak really wants to die in Egypt, then President Obama may have been his last, best chance to avoid doing it in a rathole in the desert, like a certain other deposed dictator from the last decade. Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
But, the reason I stopped by is that I'm interested in the answer to Da Noid's question, JoAnna. It's pretty easy to criticize from the cheap seats. By the way, as for Abdullah, if Queen Noor's appearance on Hardball last night is any indication, I'm guessing he's tossed in with the United States. Some people do learn.
Why don't you just answer the question, JoAnna? Or is it just that diversion and ad hominem attacks are all you know how to do?
Can't wait to hear what you call me today.
JoAnnaSmith1
I'm assuming FOX news failed to broadcast the footage of protesters holding the sign "Yes, We Can Too!"
In case you missed it, the anti-Mubarak protesters referenced Obama's victory in 2008 as a source of inspiration for their own Hopes. I would think you'd appreciate the positive opinion of pro-democracy advocates in the Middle East towards our American President.
So, nojonobo is still rooting for the Egyptian dictator, who's been caught red-handed trying to pass off his armed thugs as "protesters" while they beat and kill not only the real protesters, but also the press. Even some of the more wingnutty of the conservatives recognize that what's happening in Egypt is a pro-freedom and pro-democracy revolution. Only the wingnuttiest of the wingnuts in this country are pro-Mubarak.
Navy, you must be truly delusional! You constantly rant about the repubs don't have any ideas. You don't know crap because you don't want to know. If you would do some research you would see what the Repub ideas for healtcare reform are: Tort reform; portability; buying insurance across state lines; no policy limits; insurance companies cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, ect. BUT, they don't want increased regulations and rules or mandates which 'force' people to buy something they might not want. So get off the 'liberal talking points' and made some objective comments!
Da Noid- yeah, the phone rang- looks like Obama ordered a pizza.
There is nothing whatsoever we can do now- just watch the destruction. There was plenty we COULD have done, if Obama had not been so distracted by running all over the country trying desperately to keep his party in control. He might have paid attention to the intel, and worked with our allies in the Middle East to avoid this situation.
Now? There is nothing left to do.
NJ John, if you can buy insurance across state lines it certainly comes under the commerce clause and would need to be regulated nationally. How would tort reform (ie limiting lawsuit money) square with no policy limits? What would happen to insurance companies who denied people coverage?
I did answer the question AM. Invade? Hardly. Watch and wait seems to be the only option for the flat-footed caught off guard Obama. Obama's time for doing anything has long passed. Just what was Hillary doing in the Middle-east while all this was brewing? Seems Obama and Hillary didn't get any kind of a feel for the unrest in that region.
You manage to marginalize you own self with your own statements. No help needed from anyone else.
So this entire mess in Egypt is all about getting universal healthcare?
I wonder what Egypts unemployment rate is - I bet it makes ours look really good.
I repeat, no joe -- what "COULD" President Obama have done?
Are you absolutely sure that the "intel" was "telling" him the right thing? What's your source for that?
Before you jump to so many conclusions, remember the CIA and Jimmy Carter, no joe, as I mentioned to you just the other day. And just in case you don't ....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi
So maybe before you opine any more on this subject, maybe you should be sure of your facts.
NJ:
Same old talking points. When does the GOP distribute the new talking points to you guys? Once a month??
AND NJ
HOW MANY OF THESE POINTS ARE ALREADY IN THE CURRENT HCR LAW??????? See you are just copying most of what President Obama has already put in his bill that has passed.
Thanks for playing, you are the one that needs to do some research my friend. Thank you for making my points.
JoAnna ~
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/egypt/egypt_economy.html
About the same, actually. 9.7 percent for 2010. Certainly doesn't make ours look "really good," unless you measure "really good" by third world standards.
On second thought, that seems to be EXACTLY how republicans measure workers' standards these days.
Bravo, JoAnna.
Lets see NJ John, Tort reform=rule, portability=rule, buying across state lines=rule, no policy limits=regulation, can not deny for preexisting conditions=regulation ect=increased regulations, rules and mandates. Try again NJ John your fox talking points fall short.
So if I understand your thoughts, you want to add rules, regulations and mandates, because that is what the people don't want. It's really hard to follow you thinking on this one John.
Oh, no, JoAnna ... others may let you off the hook, but I won't. You haven't answered Da Noid's question at all. You just keep repeating what President Obama HAS done, rather than answering the question of what you think SHOULD HAVE BEEN done ....
Or are those really the same thing?
Your rhetorical tricks don't work on me, JoAnna. Because I like it on the margins. Always have. You?
Interesting. Obama gets a pass from the Liberals for bad intel, while the Liberals blame Bush for every mistake under the sun, the moon, the stars.
You're really missing you're A game today AM. Of course, if nothing else, that makes you consistent.
Wiki is pretty selective as you well know, AM.
Had Carter not interfered, Khomeini would have diedmof old age in Paris, where he was in exile. It was CARTER who insisted that that "great, holy man" be allowed to return to Iran.
The rest, as they say, is history. . .
No good deed goes unpunished, no joe, and that kind of hindsight is always 20-20. The operative point being the same, of course, that Carter was relying on what his "intel" was saying, and the intel was saying that the Shah was stable.
But if you want to trade, then consider that Condolleezza Rice thought it was just fine for Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan because she thought Bhutto could be helpful to US interests. Just goes to show what she knew, doesn't it?
http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=204310
And the rest, as they say, is history.
This is typical of so many Liberals. They want answers. They want to blame someone, anyone. And 20/20 hindsight rules the day for them! The $787 billion stimulus didn't create the jobs Obama advertised AM! What really should have been done? The ObamaCare CBO health care costs models underestimated the real costs of ObamaCare AM! What should have been done?
And as far as Egypt goes, Hillary was in the Middle-east for a considerable amount time these last two years, what exactly was she hearing? What did she obviously miss? Is she responsible? Should we blame her? Like I said, you Libs like to blame people, should we hold Hillary to that standard? Without answers to Hillary's adventures, we really don't how we got into this position, but we certainly see the results for Obama's and Hillary's failures.
What's done is done though, and because of it we now we have to live with a very destabilized Middle-east.
Bush blamed his intel, too. But the difference there is that Bush manipulated the intel. If he had actually followed the REAL intel, he would have stayed out of Iraq. And that's why Bush deserves the blame, and George Tenet, too, for allowing it. And Colin Powell for being complicit in it. Just to name a few.
Lacking my "A" game? Seriously. A real zinger, there. But YOU still haven't answered Da Noid's question.
LoL Those pesky liberals, demanding answers. How dare we?
As for blame, JoAnna, it seems to me that you're the one who's blaming someone, not me -- and that someone is always President Obama.
I just wanted an answer to a very simple question. After at least three evasive responses, I STILL want to know what SHOULD HAVE BEEN done. How can you possibly say that what WAS done is wrong, unless you can answer that?
Oops. Duty calls, so I'll be out for a while, JoAnna. After you fail to answer DaNoid's question once again, and more even more creatively this time, play nice, okay?
JS1, still waiting for you to identify a pro-worker Republican and the traits that make him/her pro-worker.
A pro-worker Republican is one that understands it is the private sector that creates the jobs, and the wealth of a country. A pro-work Republican believes in an environment where the government works with the private sector and does not vilify it, nor ask "Whose a** do I kick today" when talking about it. A pro-worker Republican creates a business environment where businesses can thrive and employee all the people that want jobs.
Of course, to a Liberal, a politician that is pro-worker believes in the unions. This is why Liberals get confused when they are told what it really means to be pro-worker.
Anna, Where do we get a copy of the REAL intel you seem to be so familiar with? I would love to read it side by side with the maniulated intel. But of course, I would need a copy of that to. Can you send me your copy of both?
You're either dense, or you just can comprehend the answer, or both. Either way, you can't fix stupid.
Well, he is the GIC (Guy In Charge), and he seems to have missed the boat very badly on this one.
What do the Liberal Treehouse Club members say? STTS or something?
JoAnnaSmith1
A pro-worker Republican is one that understands it is the private sector that creates the jobs, and the wealth of a country. A pro-work Republican believes in an environment where the government works with the private sector and does not vilify it, nor ask "Whose a** do I kick today" when talking about it. A pro-worker Republican creates a business environment where businesses can thrive and employee all the people that want jobs.
he wanted to kick some ones ass because there was millions of crude spilling out 1 mile deep in the gulf, i agreed with him, i wanted to kick some ass for that as well.
but Joanna you explaniation for Pro-Worker still does not cut it.
all i can say is DING BAT !!!!!!
so i guess the pro Workers Republicans are not the same republicans that caused us to go from operating surplus to deficts, right!!!
Those pro-working republicans, WAY TO GO!!!!!!!
JAS1 & "no joe"
It's okay to answer, "I don't know."
It's easier, I guess, to simply criticize...and perhaps it makes you feel better, too. Just remember that none of us on this blog have a full grasp of what is going on. There are lots of moving parts to this crisis and please keep in mind that we are not privy to every conversation between our administration and Egypt.
Finally, keep in mind something that was mentioned last night...right now, the Egyptian protesters do not know what they want. They only know what they don't want.
Obama had no idea any of this was coming - even after Tunisia and then he has said a lot of the wrong things. After missing the start of this he should have kept his mouth shut and worked with Mubarak and the Egyptian military behind the scenes instead of getting his mug on the TV on a daily basis. At this point it wouldn't surprise me if he sent Jimmy Carter to visit with Mubarak since he has so much experience in screwing things up even worse.
And that's what being said DN. Without being privy to what Obama/Hillary and the intel said, we can just comment on the results. And the results do not look good.
So true. Just like you Libs still do about Bush.
JoAnnaSmith1
"Interesting. Obama gets a pass from the Liberals for bad intel, while the Liberals blame Bush for every mistake under the sun, the moon, the stars.
You're really missing you're A game today AM. Of course, if nothing else, that makes you consistent."
ANSWER the GOD**MN QUESTION, or STFU. Who do you think you are, anyway- Mitch McConnell??
You know, DN, the problem here is not that I do not have the answers to this crisis. . .
It is that Obama does not have the answers. From what I have seen, he does not even understand the questions.
He is completely unable to avert a crisis, nor to handle one when it erupts. Sorry, DN, but that is not true of Bush, Clinton, Bush, or Reagan, ( working backward). Were they able to avert all the crisis they had? No. They WERE able to handle them.
Obama cannot handle anything more complicated than who to invite on Wednesday nights- and I am pretty sure that the Mrs, takes care of that.
He is a failure. Pure, simple, undeniable. Like his counterpart, Carter, his failures threaten not just this country, but the globe. You see his failures, but you latch on to whatever talking point they hand you.
Almost a trillions dollars in stimulus, but unemployment is still above nine per cent, ( for the first time since records began being kept in 1948, over 18 months above nine per cent, by the way)- it could have been worse! Mandate to buy health insurance unconstitutional? Judicial activism! Record number of foreclosures last year, threatening to TRIPLE this year, thanks to his foreclosure program? Those mean bankers! Middle East falling to radical islamists? It is Bush's fault! Or Reagan's ! Or, you hater!
Rational thought is not one of the hallmarks of the liberal. Neither is recognizing failure. Unfortunately, all of us havemto live with what you have wrought.
In a just world, it would be criminal.your children and grandchildren will know who is to blame, however.
And how will you deal with that?
I see...when in doubt, revert to blind criticism.
danoid and driveby - and you both do it so well
jeff-154... - are you naturally stupid or do you practice at it. Joanna gave her definition of a pro-worker republican while you gave neither your definition for it or even your own definition of a pro worker..
Geez! FR libs say that republicans want to return to the past, but it appears that FR liberals want to dwell on the past. Get over it!! The past is only good if you try to not make the same mistakes as in the past.
For everyones information, Bloomberg TV reported earlier in the week that it didn't matter, republicans or democrats once in power that they spent money basically at the same levels throughout their time in the majority.
Politicians only think to the next election and until they start thinking beyond that magical re-election we will continue to take a half step forward and full step back.
no joe, no bo, nj
"Obama still on WTF. Like everything else he does, it is doomed to fail."
Well, lookie here- a NEW and refreshing post from you-now-who! Will someone PLEASE tape that penny to her tone-arm??
Focused like a lazer on creating jobs. Heck if Obama keeps this up we might have jobs by 2015 when we have a republican as president.
I notice you seem to be allowing a couple of years for your REPUBLICAN President to create jobs. At least you seem willing to admit that this stuff doesn't happen overnight or in a vacuum. Too bad you can't cut the current President the same slack. Especially when you factor in his inheritance of a Free Fall economy and whomever inherits in 2012 will at least be inheriting growth (even if ever so slight).
Clara - politicians can only create government jobs, not private sector jobs. Government can only create a regulatory and tax based environment for business to create jobs in and the American consumer determines what products they are willing to buy and where they are made.
Obama screwed the pooch his first two years with his attitudes towards business, Since the 4th qtr 2010 he appears to be trying to correct his ways. I wouldn't put money down on either party in 2012, because the state of the economy will probably decide.
Jim gave about the right time line for private sector employment to return to pre 2008 levels at our current projected growth rate. Naturally, this assumes that the world economies don't go into the toilet again.
Umm, "American" - when butting in to someone else's conversation, be a dear and read for comprehension, will you?
You have an opinion about President Obama and dogs and I don't share that. Oh, and nobody's buying your revisionist BS on the Bush years and the job numbers. He tanked it, Obama's fixing it. By the time the country needs to vote again, the political winds and fortunes will definitely be at the backs of Dems. Are you bitter that Obama is polling higher than Reagan during the same timeline? Oh, and don't forget - Reagan's unemployment numbers WORSENED. I think you Repubs need to find a viable candidate for 2012. Everything else you seem to be 'bragging' about is just rhetoric if you don't find someone to run. Good Luck with that.
dearest clara my post didn't even come close to mentioning bush or reagan, but since you have, reagan inherited an inflationary/stagfation economy from carter. Bush2 inherited the dot com bust and 2000 recession from clinton.
No doubt the republicans have yet to finf a viable candidate just as the democrats had to find a viable candidate in carter or in the junior senator from illinois obama.
As for butting in, this is a public forum of discussion, or did you think that your opinion was sacred?
NAWO, American,
dodge, duck, dip, dive, dodge
Fail.
Joanna: You're right: You know ND, the Republicans realize that the government passing trillion dollar spending bills to "Create jobs" doesn't work, and just creates massive deficits.
And the 'massive deficits' quoted today does not include either the Health Care nor the 'off-balance sheet' amounts! This administration is smoke-and-mirrors all the way with an agenda to break the country. There is NO doubt in my mind. Just look at Obama's czars. Reseach those people and it tells the tale of what he's all about. It's a disaster.
Let's not mention the "unfunded wars" that are now on the books instead of off the books.
What about the two unfunded wars (one based on lies and the other totally mismanaged), two unfunded tax cuts and a unfunded drug bill. All these added TRILLIONS of dollars to the deficit and National Debt. And guess what, we are still paying for them today and that is a reason why the current deficit/national debt is so high. You are all real quick to blame President Obama for everything when he was the one that pulled us out of the pending bankruptcy that the previous administration left him. You guys have no room to talk unless you are also willing to accept your part in this mess, which none have done to date.
Until you get off your high horse and start providing ideas and help this country move forward we will continue down the road toward "Oligarchy" and that is a fact.
Thank you GOP (Great Oligarchy Party)
Stop and think what of the horrible consequence's we are all now suffering ....because of the republicans and the Bush's !
IMBD:
It is going to get worse before it gets better, the GOP will see to it.
OK, take a deep cleansing breath and consider what I'm about to write: George Bush is NOT the current president; Barack Obama IS the current president. The job of the current Commander in Chief is to PRESIDE, i.e., be the president, not to blame everything on his predecessor.
Perhaps it's time for Obama to step aside and give the reins back to Bush, since GWB, according to Obama and his supporters, is still in charge of the country. Failing that, maybe Obama can make yet another self aggrandizing speech, but this time say something like, "Yes, I am the President, and I am responsible for my actions and for the state of the union." Nah, he'll just have another dance party at the White House.
Good try, no bronze star. As much as you right wing nuts would like to pretend that the Cheney/Bush administration happened in a vacuum, and has had no on-going affect, the United States still suffers mightily from what they did.
8.2:
President Obama has stated very clearly that he will take the responsibility and accountability for his actions and his alone. He will not accept those of the previous administration(s) as you try and ignore. The previous administration is the one that darn near ran us into Bankruptcy. President Bush Jr. has one of the worst records concerning the creation of Jobs and the economy of any President in history. Oh yes. lets go back to that administration which in fact did fail, unlike the administration of President Obama that is slowly moving forward.
navy - your faith in the GOP is astounding. The democratic controlled senate can bury legislation passed by the house and obama can veto any legislation reaching him.
How easily you forget that obama was a US senator, prior to his election as potus in 2008 so that by extension he is also responsible for the great recession. No politician gets a pass on this.
So nice for you to tell us that obama is also not a team player and that only his interests matter. your post 8.4.
Big 10 ... 11 with Penn State ... and soon to be 12 (with Nebraska). But who's counting?
To hear the republicans tell it, certainly not Congress, and not the President.
But after the last 30 years or so, does anyone here seriously think we can count on republicans?
And good morning, everyone.
We can count on them to say NO over and over again and then whine when they get caught.
Yeah poor little Nebraska couldn't handle or beat the big Texas schools. They ran to the Big Ten where they will be pummled in football by the likes of Michigan, Michigan state, Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State...
Ha!
Shucks Old Mubarak is just doing every thing he can to make sure the Cheny/Halliburtion 1.5 billion retainer Checks for all that Rendition service don't quit coming. Large part of his 401 K program don't you know.
IR:
Too funny. The GOP would like nothing better than if we got involved in this. Takes the pressure off the NO agenda of the GOP.
Yeh Navy you’d think that that retirement account Old Reagan started up for him would be big enough now for him to go down to Costa Rica and get him a Palatial Estate next to Old Rush, import himself half a dozen Nefertiti’s and live life large for a while.
Must of lost a bunch of his investments in the ’08 Market Crash. Why else would an 82 year old be so bound and determined to keep working. I mean setting around and watching torture tapes can’t be all that much fun can it?
Great post, IR. I've been wondering about why Mubarak is so determined to hang on. Have to figure he has looted enough money to live well. Maybe he needs to earn back the money he has spent on the hired thugs disguised as counter-protestors?
I don’t know Steeler I hear tell that that kind of Thuggery comes right cheap in that part of the World
Maybe he’s afraid that Old Cheney’s going to figure out that he was overcharged all those years and might come around looking for a refund.
And yet, Obama continues with rendition today. Is Obama over paying or did he get a revised contract.
Mubarak better hope Cheney doesn't ask him to go hunting with him!
Gee Golly Gosh there Rocco I don't know. Maybe that 's what all this is about. You think President Obama maybe shopped Old Mubarak's price and found out he could get more Renditions per 1.5 billion in Algeria or something. I mean all I've heard for the last year is how we need to cut the Federal budget and services so maybe the President is trying to get us a more cost effective Rendition Rate and Old Mubarak feels left out.
FR:
Nice pro-GOP spin. There's absolutely NOTHING surprising about Republicans voting in lockstep. They've been doing for two years. Olympia Snowe is terrified of the teabaggers, and she'll vote however they want her to so she won't get "primaried." Everyone but First Read seems to know about that.
What IS surprising is that the Democrats have finally gotten their act together to vote in unison for once. But the media is still swooning over how "disciplined" the Republicans are and ignoring the Democrats have shown the same -- for once.
I love Republicans complaining about the Democrats voting as one and being the party of no. As if they could start to challenge what the Republicans did over the last 2 years. Now they know how frustrated we have been.
Steeler Fan;
They are just reinforcing the hypocrisy that has been coming out of their mouths the last two years. The only sane person trying to get anything done is President Obama and he is trying with a dysfunctional Senate and House. His hands are tied until both sides wake up and do the work of the people and not the ones that bought them an election.
Navy---I couldn't agree more. I think members of Congress from both parties answer to their outside masters---the Republicans just seem to do it more often and more efficiently. President Obama does often seem to me to be the only adult in the room.
Louis, I see you and your Obama lovers delusional rants against Conserative Americans continue! So sad that you can't see the forest for the trees. For Example, rather than focus on the critical issues of today; the President is off on another 'great idea' for clean energy at Penn State. Rather than truly focus on creating jobs NOW ; removing the ban on drilling in the gulf for oil and natural gas; building more Nuke power plans, reducing the corportate tax rate; working with Repub's to keep the good things in the HCR bill and get ride of the bad things; he's off promoting a concept which will cost companies (and you) billions of dollars and not show any results for years! If the 's..t' truly hits the fan in the middle east and the oil shipments are closed off and reduced; then all the progressives will cry that the price of gas is too high; that everything they use will cost more; and their too ignorant to put the dots together. But just keep up your 'progressive rants' each day; it's really becoming funny.
And instead of focusing on creating Jobs in this country, keeping the economy growing what is the GOP doing? Wasting a months time and probably several Millions of dollars to stroke their ego. Now there is a plan for ya.
I dunno, NJ John; the progressives' latest green energy idea, running automobiles on unicorn tears and magic pixie dust, shows a lot of promise. If we can just extract more taxes to redistribute to this and other magical plans, then the world will love us and the sun will shine all of the time! As for me, I'm going to stick with my SUV that gets 10 miles to the gallon and runs on polar bear fat.
Jobless claims have dropped two of the past three weeks with the Republican controlled Congress. Just a thought!
This just in.
For you who continue to say nothing positive on President Obama, just saw this:
See complete article at:
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/03/5980911-fewer-people-applied-for-jobless-aid-last-week
So 415,000 applying for jobless benifits is how you measure succes? I din't think those 415,000 would agree with you.
Obama's regime is no different than the despot in Egypt. He disregards the peoples' voice, thumbs his nose at the constitution (the latest ruling out of Florida about Mandated Obama Care),...appoints dubious Czars, sabotages our efforts to be free of Opec oil, is in the tank for union ideals, appoints GE Ceo ...(check out GE's track record with Iran, China, and other infamous dealings), has a news media that might as well be considered state run, turns a blind eye to so many of his cronies who should be in jail, is the master of double-speak and deflection, and is totally enamored with himself. So, what's the difference between him and any other strong-arm dictator?
I'm no fan of 95% of the jerk-offs presently running this country. If people don't wise up/wake up this next election...kiss the life you knew or dream of having goodbye. For those of you who have 30-40-50+ years ahead of you.... it'll feel like an eternal nightmare. Kurt Vonnegut's 1984 only missed by 30 years.
So now President Obama is a dictator? You better read up on your history and look at what President Obama has done and compare that to your beloved Bush's agenda.
The Beev - speaking as someone who was alive during Richard M Nixon's administration, I would say you have no idea was it's like to worry about the misuse of presidential power. Has President Obama targeted his media critics at FOX News, looking for information to discredit them? No.
Can you imagine President Obama authorizing a break-in of Mitt Romney's campaign head quarters? No. Because he wouldn't. You should read up on your presidential history before you throw around references to Obama as a "despot," otherwise you risk making yourself look ridiculous.
Great post, Amy. People forget that Nixon had an "enemies list" and sent the FBI and IRS after people who were on it.
0bummer has to appoint all those Czars who are never confirmed because he has no idea about what to do about anything. He needs their advice - remember he was a community organizer that I wouldn't trust to run a boy scout troop or coach a basketball team at a YMCA.
Safe to say I was no fan of 100% of the yahooz runningn the government from 2001-2007, either; but to quote the man in the news today:
You go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had!
Didn't that moment just shine a friggin' light on the man's disdain for our armed service members? Or was I the only one offended by that comment?
Question to US Navy Retired. I assume you are not against the budget spent on military since that is probably what pays your retirement and what paid your job when you were active? Just asking.
ksw:
Actually I have supported cutting the DOD spending. There is a lot of fraud, waste, out dated and inefficient programs, redundancy, technology that does not work, waste, etc. All this can be eliminated without putting one service man or woman in harms way. Currently they have a total budget of about 700+ Billion including OCO. We can cut that 10-15% I think without, like i said, putting our troops in harms way.
As far as my benefits it is non of your business I earned those and have the scars to prove it. What did you do for this country. If you served, thank you for your service. If you did not piss off.
Well, well. A wingnut who at least recognizes that Mubarak is a despot. But there are a few tiny little differences between Mubarak and Obama. For one, Mubarak wins elections because the he puts opposition leaders in prison. Obama won an election fair and square, (unlike his predecessor in the 2000 election). Second Mubarak sends out paid thugs to beat up opposition pro-democracy demonstrators. In this country, wingnuts can parade around with their guns right outside of rallies when President Obama is there. And Mubarak doesn't care that most of his people are mired in poverty while Obama is doing his best to bring this country out of the recession that resulted from his predecessor's policies.
Well said Houston. Unfortunately the tea bagger crazies consider any facts as "elitist". You betcha!
Houston:
Kudos, well said.
To wingnuts, you can be a despot one day and a dearheart the next, depending on what interests of the wing nut are served. We loved Saddam Hussein, too, until we hated him. In fact, republicans usually try to forget that the United States put Saddam where he was when we invaded in 2003.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/
Hey, republicans ... don't miss the classic photo of Saddam Hussein shaking hands with his new BFF Donald Rumsfeld in 1983. For even more fun debunking republican mythology, read this ....
http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/9/the_reagan_saddam_connection_we_create
NJ John
Progressives are naturally future oriented and Conservatives focus on the moment. Each side has its strengths and weaknesses. I believe it's the Progressives' "moment" right now. The nation needs to re-tool itself in terms of energy, education, and the economy. This is the forte of the Democratic Party, and President Obama's. I suggest you play the role of the loyal opposition and offer constructive criticism of the President's policies, in the service of making them better, instead of ridiculing the need for change and innovation. That's the way to earn the respect of the Independents, not in adhering to the Party of No tactics.
Amy, I think you 'misread' my comments/intentions. I have no problem with looking to the future and making decisions which will 'retool' our energy, education and economy. My point is that I believe the President should focus on the immediate issues FIRST and then deal with the long-term issues next. I don't believe that I 'ridiculed' the need for change or innovation. We all know that converting our energy system is going to take years and years. That's fine, but what do we do in the meantime. The reality is IF our energy supplies are cut off in the middle east; what happens then?
Sadly, Amy, the Republicans have decided that it is more important to try to make President Obama fail than to work with him to make our country succeed.
"The reality is IF our energy supplies are cut off in the middle east; what happens then?"S
Shouldn't we have thought of that ten years ago? I mean, seriously, I remember gas lines when I was in high school, and that was during the Carter administration. The experts I have read say there isn't enough oil under the earth in the US to get us off foreign oil, and, besides, whatever is pumped up here goes into the global pot, it doesn't stay in the US market. It doesn't make sense to invest in more oil production in the US when wind, solar and tidal power are actually renewable sources. We are being left behind globally in the development of new technologies and this is totally unacceptable.
STEELER FAN------------ We have no intention of allowing the inept lying quasi socialist in the white house to lure us into following him down the garden path of quasi socialism, tootling on his little hornpipe, to pure socialism,
We realize that the liberals consider socialism success, conservatives however, are comfortable with and successful with making decisions for themselves..
jerry194283
Yeah that's why you believe all the nonsense that gibbering idiots like Glenn Beck spew.
What part of "fundamentally change" the United States of America did you not understand. I was going to vote for Obama, but when I heard him say these words it sent chills down my spine and truly scared me. When I look and see what is happening to our precious country - I am understanding what he meant. We need new leadership.
Susan-370721
I'm going to assume for the moment you are a real person and not a paid poster, and ask what on earth are you talking about? If I'm scared of anything its of losing my health insurance, or, more importantly, seeing my adult nieces and nephews go without insurance because they either can't get it or can't afford it.
????????????????
Amy, I am a real person. And during the last days of Obama's presidential campaign he said that he was going to fundamentally change the United States of America.
Yes, we need health care reform. I so want my adult sons to have insurance too. But not this bill.
"fundamentally change the United States of America."
I think you are reading something sinister into what is supposed to be a message of postive change.
President Obama tasked Congress with coming up with a healthcare bill. What they came up with retains our system of private industry, employer based health insurance. Hardly a radical change, and certainly not "socialistic."
What kind of bill did the Republicans propose in the ten years they dominated Congress? No kind of a bill, they never addressed the rising costs of healthcare and the milllions of uninsured. So, it took a Democratic Congress to do something, and, now, all the Republicans do is campaign against it.
The current health care bill as it stands today needs revision and nobody is questioning that.however it is a start to getting insurance for all,forcing people to do it is not the way to go but making it affordable for those that would like to have it is. I would like to see the public option back if for no other reason than to give big insurance competition. They currently hold all the cards when it comes to setting cost and given the choice to lower or raise when your in complete control usually means rates will rise
the KEY to recovery is GETTING U (OBUMA) OUT OF OFFICE.....U R a SHYSTER...
6 TRILLION bucks (taxpayer) to Wall St. ....now ,banks, securities firms have made a RECORD $135 BILLION in compensation
15 TRILLION national DEBT.....
15 million on rolls unemployed....some reports say 22 million UNEMPLOYED..
Home values sinking every day....foreclosures skyrocketing..
This cat is making the rich ..richer ,,,....poor..poorer..
Politicians, up to and including the president, are in constant, unending campaign mode. Seems like Congress and the Administration should have governance first, campaigning second-to-last.
Time for Obama to Leave Period, we need a President, and it isn't this Guy who ever he is. Republican, Democrat, Tea Party , what ever, wake up and see whats really going on, before you loose everything to this Charlatan!
The novelty has worn off Obama. He's given the free loaders of the country 2 years unemployement paid for by someone else. HCR is nothing more than providing insurance paid for by some one else. His bag of gifts is empty. It's unlikley the people in this country who got stuck with the bill will let him win a 2nd term. Thankfully there are still more responsbile voters in that group than freeloaders looking for someone else to foot the bill. The country will be far better off with a new President in 2012. It's a shame Obama did not use his chance as president to motivate freeloaders to join the ranks of productive society. Instead he sought to to convince others to join the club of preceived "victims" and just sit around and let somebody else change thier diapers......
BALANCE THE U.S.OF A. BUDGET NOW !!!!!!!!!!!
Amy Portland - go without insurance because they either can't get it or can't afford it.
What a crock! I can't afford it either, but you know what? I pay for it anyway. Anyone with common sense knows you can't live without Health Insurance (unless of course you are willing to sit for hours in a charity hospital waiting room). I sacrifice things I could afford to have in order to pay for my health insurance! What has happened to the American Way of earning you own keep! I'm sick of all the whiney babies...oh I can afford it, so I don't have it; or I don't have a job so I don't have health insurance. That's a load of bull excuses. My son is a student - works partime and still can afford a decent health insurance policy for the basic necessitites..co-pay office visits and co-pay prescriptions. QUIT YOUR CRYING! I'M NOT PAYING FOR ANYONE ELSE'S HEALTHCARE JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO LAZY OR TOO STUPID TO GET IT THEMSELVES! REPEAL REPEAL REPEAL...I'M NOT VOTING FOR ANYONE WHO IS FOR THIS STUPID LAW!
Don't you ever step back for a second and question why your insurance costs are so high? I think you need to re-read your own post and think about who the stupid one is.
Sick: would'nt you like your rates to decrease ? I know I would but until the insurance giants have competition that will never happen that was the reason I personally like the public option it would have in theory provided competition.The reason our rates are so high is because people don't have insurance yet the same company that writes your policy also writes the hospital policy guaranteeing payment for people that are not insured so guess what you are paying for someone elses healthcare
I sure hate FR's posting format, the more posts/page the slower I can scroll and access comments made, and we all know how some of FR's radical liberal posters are so informational and on topic. LOL
As far as Ombama campaigning....it should be against the law for any seated politial official to participate physically in a campaign. Especially the President. He should not be flying all over the country (in Air Force One, no doubt, using unnecessary fuel paid for by US!) he should be in the Oval Office running this country. I'm sure his well paid campaign manager can muster up enough help to get the job done.
If you are running for reelection, then what you have accomplished in the past should get you a Yes vote, (if there are any accomplishments) so no need to campaign! If not, then no matter if you physcially campaign or not, you won't get the "yes" vote! SO DON'T WASTE THE TIME AND MONEY!
since you're crying bitter grapes today,
let's enforce that little change during the NEXT President's tenure. I mean equal time, etc. All that idiot W did for 8 years was campaign and deliver birthday cakes on tarmacs during times of National Crisis. So I'm all for changing it, after my guy has been afforded the SAME benefits as the previous guy.
But we all know that fairness isn't how you people 'roll'.
If he can't campaign physcially as you put it then how do you suggest he campaign through osmosis?
These states all voted with the Globalizing, Free Trading GOP....Amazing....I can hear them all....."thank you sir may I have another".....I say let them starve
I thought Clinton started NAFTA. We bail out GM and they go and build new plants in Mexico. Tell me why they would build in Mexico and not here? Could it be over regulation, unions and the new health care bill be the reason?