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Thanks to Ron, Indiana for the question!
Video was shot by Ali Weinberg and Alexandra Moe. Edited by Ali Weinberg.
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Tick Tock...
What's the over/under on whether or not the Weeper of the House passes his first leadership 'test'?
So far, those pesky tea baggers are giving him a run for the money (pun intended)!
I say shut it down - it worked out so well for the right the last time didn't it? lol
Feisty - is it your position that Obama passed, or is passing his test of leadership on this issue?
Please tell us in your own words just how Obama is leading regarding the budget. Perhaps you can explain for us why he called for, but essentially abandoned his Debt Commission.
And Feisty, please articulate for us you position on the debt. Is it just fine or should anything be done?
Yu got anything old gal?
Leadership you say there Spank? Obama has epitomized leadership from the get go. He has stood head and shoulders above the fray and left all the Rightist naysayers in the dust on that for the last 2 years. Makes this American gal quite proud.
The debt commision will have an impact on what ultimately gets passed. Obama is not a knee jerk reactionary like "W". He thinks before he acts AND listens to a American voices from the middle class to boot.
As for Feisty having anything...I have been reading this blog since the day of 9-11 and this lady has the cajones to go up against any talking point machismo brado you can muster Spank!
And the debt. the only thing that matters right now is getting the RIGHT thing done for AMERICA and it's the only thing LEFT. In other words IF we American voters don't take our rights seriously the slight of hands champions of the RIGHT will take them away. This is exactly what they are accusing someone of soing to them and they want THEIR country back.
I offen think do they even care about OUR country
Well al righty then Missy - do tell, just how has Obama lead on this issue?
What steps has he taken to reduce the debt? Did you find his propsed budget to be 1. realistic, or 2. aimed at reducing the debt?
And how would you characterize Obama's positions on something like Gitmo? I see you think Bush was a knee-jerker, so apply a descriptive adjective to Obama.
And thanks for picking up the slack for Feisty. She know better than to even try to provide an actual response. YOu want to talk about skin color, weight, mental abilities, then she's your gal. Sustance, not so much.
Thank you Missy! I'm glad you've decided to stick around here - I like your style!
Missy - your leadership ideals are set way too low for what it takes to be POTUS. So far his foreign policy is one of being "dazed and confused", his economic policy has done little, but to have our economy bump along at ~3%GDP and surveys still suggest that respondents think our country is going in the wrong direction.
Where is his "hope and change"? If he is such a leader why hasn't he been able to inspire the American populace to want to move forward? Sell congress on compromise.
Eisenhower sold us on the benefits of our interstate system, Kennedy on beating Russia in the space race by landing men on the moon. Reagan by making the US feel good about ourselves after the malais of the 70's.
As for comic relief fiesty, who really cares?
As for "the right thing" What do you consider to be right? A one party system? Wealth redistribution? What?
Feisty-
I like Missy's style too...the substance needs work, though...
Naw - I like it rough.
I imagine Missy's rocking a cowboy hat as she types.
And we do understand Feisty's Obama pom poms are getting mighty heavy. More talk of budgets and war, less Feisty and Bev.
Cause see the budget isn't orange, fat, or weepy. And debt, it is not batsh!t crazy. She Feistys out of words to use.
Poor Feisty.
american
At least Missy HAS standards. you are so busy celebrating the ignorance that IS Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin that you would recognize excellence if it bit you on the ass. Although I am certain you are hoping one of the aforementioned would take a nibble.
clara your rant has what to do with my post above??
More than likely an agrement will be reached. especially when considering the republicans FY 2012 budget proposal scheduled for release tommorow. The FY 2011 cuts are small change compared to it
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL Comment collapsed by the community
Psychopaths are filled with apprehension. So the scary little need to collapse post the fear.
Tick Tock...
What's the over/under on whether or not the Weeper of the House passes his first leadership 'test'?
So far, those pesky tea baggers are giving him a run for the money (pun intended)!
I say shut it down - it worked out so well for the right the last time didn't it? lol
Feisty
I say shut it down - it worked out so well for the right the last time didn't it? lol
Funny you'd say that; Feisty. So did the tea baggers. Yes they Klan. At least the few dozen who remembered to showed up to the National Mall the other day.
Also according to Fox News, it would’ve been a much bigger rally but, uh, it was kind of cold outside. You know, 42 degrees, rainy. Nobody wants to get all wet or have to put on a raincoat or whatever!
As the Daily Kos points out, it was just a wee bit chillier out when more than 100,000 pro-labor Americans turned out to support the public workers in Wisconsin. In fact, it was about 15 degrees and snowing the whole time.
What a goofy spin cycle!
http://wonkette.com/441909/dozens-show-up-for-teabagger-tea-party-in-washington-today
Looks like the debt crisis issue isn't going away. It always comes back and always will.
This will be the issue that defines the Obama Presidency.
How's he doing so far?
Shut it down and outsource congress, 176,000 thousand dollars a year plus Cadillac benefits and retirement. We are in a global economy, the Chinese would do that job for 176 dollars a month, and any American corporate executive would tell you "that is good business", "I have a responsibility to the shareholders" ect, ect. Scott Walker should be all over these public employee's that suck on the guberment teat, and produce little or nothing for their pay and benefits that we can not afford.
Just think of all the support "obamacare" would have had if congress had merely wrote "same as what the executive, legislative and judicial branches get". All those trees saved, all those government jobs reduced.
They have the best health insurance, money can buy, it is not a Cadillac plan more like a Rolls Royce. Where else can you work for 5 years and get a full pay pension? One term and you get a pension for life! Ask your your employer about his 5 years and out retiremnet plan. It works like this; 5 years before you retire they throw you out. I wish they made Congress collectively bargain with their employer, the american people.
Dear Forrest Grump: What you missed out on apparently is that even though they shut down the government, don't send out social security, military, civil service, etc., checks is that the congressmen will still be paid. One more time, the taxpayers get the shaft. Wonder what would happen if on April 18th, we all filed our taxes, but didn't send in the check?
As todays political climate becomes more polarized is there anyone who cares about Americas future?
The dems want to spend our way back to prosperity by supporting welfare and other giveaways rather than productivity gains in both the private and public sector.
The republicans are thinking BIG about cuts, but we all know that politics is more about compromise (something reid and some of his senate cronies don't understand).
Then we have the manyFR libs who only believe that compromise is a dirty word or who only want to give us fox, thinkprogress, kos report, etc misleading news reports.
Naturally we can't ignore the couple of FR righties who follow the same tactics as the FR libs. Attack, misdirect and fear monger.
The FR libs response to many opposing views is one of denigration, condescension and dirision. Why they are so fearfull in taking part in any type of debate makes me conclude that they have no clue on how to make a counterpoint or to even read the links that they cite to verify accuracy. Last week one referenced op ed link referenced another op ed link as support for truth.
Since FR does not want to maintain any type of responsibility in creating an atmosphere of rational discussion or for that fact enforcement of newsvines CoH. Why even have readers post comments.
Heck other newsvine blogs routinely generate hundreds or even thousands of comments while here barely a fraction of that. Not only that, the format of the other blogs rarely result in slow scrolling and slow refresh rates.
Forrest Grump That's funny!
Our Republican Governor wants public employees to pay 2% more towards their retirement, while reducing the amount the state contributes into that pension fund by 2%. He then wants to give Mainers who make over $350,000 a year a $2,700 tax cut.
Yeah, it's pretty clear what Republicans' values are.
Their arguments usually sound funny if applied to themselves. Until public employees are paid what Congress is paid, or what Scott Walker is paid they are not over compensated. I personally value the services of the guy who patches the potholes in the street more than the sevice of any Congressman. Congress is overpaid and should contribute thier own money for their healthcare, and pension.
Amy how much do you pay towards your own retirement?
Now how much do you think most Americans pay?
Or is it your position that the rich must fund the public union pensions? Why not increase taxes on everyone so all get to share the pain?
AmyB - let government workers have a 401k plan or IRA, then they can contribute as much as the rest of us do with the state making matching contributions to a max amount.
Piss and moan all you want and tell us all on how the American taxpayer believes in collective bargaining, but at the end of the day the American taxpayer will realize just what government has given away to government supported workers.
Talk about a new class distinction, The government workers will be the mew oppressors of the middle and lower class workers.
Nobody gives them anything they go to work everyday and earn it. Congress gets a full pension for life after only one term, we pay the retirement of everybody that has ever been elected and served one term. Can you retire with a full pension, after five years with your employer. It can be said I did not put a dime in my pension or I put every dime into it. I collectively bargain for a wage and fringe package, as a local we decide how we split our pay between pay and benefits. There is a bottom line cost for the employer, X number of dollars per hour, they don't care how that money is divided between benefits and pay on the check. If it costs the employer 25 dollars an hour, 20 in pay and 5 in benefits, or 15 in cash and 10 in benefits the bottom line is the same. However as a benefit the retirement money will be there when you retire, if people take the cash and then don't save for their retirement they will have nothing. Most Americans if they did not have a structured retirement plan would never have a dime when they retire. I have about 1.2 million in my retirement account because of my collective bargaining agreement (and solid investment). If I had to save for my retirement out of what was left of my pay each week (I'm married with children) I would have about 37 dollars in my retirement fund.
I should have added to the end of my post. That is exactly why some people are so jealous of the public employees and union members in general. They are hardworking regular people who have the benefit of representation, somebody to help them negoiate a decent pay package. The employer would not dream of negotiating a business deal without his hired experts. Don't begrude a working man a dignified retirement because you have none. Get organized.
Spanky and American
Maine teachers and public workers are ineligible for Social Security retirement benefits. They rely on their pension, towards which they pay more than you do towards Social Security. The state pays less towards their retirement fund than many private companies do that offer matching 401 K contributions.
The average public worker retires on $19,000 a year. Thems the facts, fellas.
http://capital.villagesoup.com/news/story/rep-emily-cain-disingenuous-to-frame-pension-fund-as-crisis/390161
Dear Amy B - Civil Service employees can't collect Social Security either - even if they're eligible. It's one or the other, but not both. And Civil Service employees pay into their retirement fund just like a 401k. My husband is retired Civil Service, so I know this for a fact. I couldn't believe it when he first told me, so I took it upon myself to research it. And Social Security isn't an entitlement, I paid into it for 55 years before I finally retired for good. What I do resent is people who "work the system". The people who scam the government for welfare and get away with it. People who are perfectly capable of working and don't--women who have kids for the purpose of milking the system. Of course, policing these frauds would require more government.
Dear American - you are misinformed if you don't think government workers don't contribute just like a 401k and an IRA. My husband is retired civil service and he contributed. He's paid for his retirement. It's just Congress that gets it at taxpayers expense.
Mark... I have been around since the previous election cycle and although not posting very often, have been a regular reader. The tone of the posting seems to have degenerated as of late. Maybe it's just the logical end product of media polarization, the loss of civility, the refusal to consider any concept other than ones own, the end times, or sunspots. I don't know. I for one, miss Richard-Wash, and the various Chihuahua incarnations. They have been replaced by a lesser group that for the most part are tedious and mean spirited. The change of format to the "blog style" was good but it sure seems to have opened the floodgates of abuse. Thanks for FR's efforts anyhow. Bye.
hawkb660 -
I kind of wish it was sunspots - because then at least we wouldn't have to own up to any responsibility ourselves. I don't think either side does themselves any favors by wasting the amount of time and space we do on all the name-calling and personal attacks. I know I let myself be baited on another thread earlier today and responded in a way that's usually quite uncharacteristic of me. I won't be doing that again. As someone who, like you, just read First Read for quite a while before posting, I agree that those who just come here to read deserve a lot better than they've been getting lately. Thanks for the reminder - hope you'll keep reading.
I have consciously tried to stop responding to right-wing posters the last few weeks, mostly because I feel it just gives them attention, but also because I was tired of going home wound up and angry.
Of course, every now and then I bite back. It's the beast in me. :)
I'm disgusted with Congress and their silly partisan politics. All of them need to be fired. I wrote all of my congressmen and said, stop this nonsense and get on with the business of running this country. I understand that the tea partiers are the ones who don't know the meaning of compromise. They have been likened to spoiled little children. "If I can't have my way, I'm going to shut down the government." How childish can you get? Of course, we can't shut down the government. I for one like having firemen, policemen, highways, the coast guard, the military, the national guard -- someone to scrape me up off the highway if I'm in an accident and fly me away to a hospital in a helicopter, someone to rescue me if my cruise ship capsizes, or I get lost at sea. Someone to care for the national parks and fight forest fires., protect our food and medicines, our flights, find my child is he is lost of kidnapped, etc., etc. Why do these short sighted people think we can get along without government. We really have chosen the wrong people to represent us. And this isn't a finger pointing at Obama, but at our Congressmen and women.
Dear Hawk: I too am dismayed by the loss of civility.
Hawk,
I agree that a lack civility has become an increasing problem on this blog. And it's unfortunate, because this site is supposed to be an exchange of ideas -- sometimes passionate, sometimes heated, sometimes caustic. But the exchange should always try to be respectful.
Personally, I think the collapsing of posts -- unless they are so over the top -- is childish. As a writer and a reporter, I'd hate for anyone to be able to eliminate, in a blink of an eye, something I've written.
We can't constantly police this site; we have a day job, after all. But I would hope that posters aim to be respectful to others, even if they're disagreeing passionately. If someone's aim isn't to be respectful, then I'd encourage him/her to post elsewhere.
Hawk,
I agree that a lack civility has become an increasing problem on this blog. And it's unfortunate, because this site is supposed to be an exchange of ideas -- sometimes passionate, sometimes heated, sometimes caustic. But the exchange should always try to be respectful.
Personally, I think the collapsing of posts -- unless they are so over the top -- is childish. As a writer and a reporter, I'd hate for anyone to be able to eliminate, in a blink of an eye, something I've written.
We can't constantly police this site; we have a day job, after all. But I would hope that posters aim to be respectful to others, even if they're disagreeing passionately. If someone's aim isn't to be respectful, then I'd encourage him/her to post elsewhere.
Feisty!
Pay attention!
Mark's talking to you!
Feisty,
Do you see anything here as PRICELESS in the Tone Deafness department as I do?