If you liked this just wait for both Obamas on Oprah

ME First!!

lol, nice :D

He had a plan, its laid out in 4 parts. Seriously, you guys needed to listen to the speech. It had specifics, and its a much more balanced approach then the "cut only" approach. Also, in terms of cuts its more fair than targeting the poor and elderly.

GD I seriously dislike this man. I love him about as much as the liberals love Palin.

On one side we have a plan that ONLY cuts (from the elderly, children, and poor mostly and ZERO from the rich) and further cuts taxes for the rich even while taxes are at their lowest. On the other side we have a plan that cuts and also raises revenue while simplifying the revenue process and removing loopholes and special interest benefits. Which to choose?

We cant only ask for sacrifice from the elderly, children and poor after we gave bailouts to the rich and more tax cuts to them.

In terms of jobs, the 90s already proved that jobs can be created at 38% rate for the top 1%. In fact, 23 million jobs were created at that rate while -1.8million were created since at 35% rate. Taxes are at their lowest in decades. So enough with the rich and special interest fueled myth that we got to extract the sacrifice only from everyone else.

I took exception with President Obama's interpretation of what made this country great. It was not entitlement programs. To even suggest that is pitiful.

Unfortunately for President Obama, he needs to get a bipartisan vote to raise the debt ceiling in the next couple of months...not by Election Day, 2012.

I don't think he helped himself much today on the debt ceiling vote...I'm guessing he probably lost some votes with that speech.

skelmcb - how would you like to live in a country where a few people have all the money and everyone else is struggling to get by? What makes America great has been that the majority of it's citizens are able to enjoy a fairly comfortable lifestyle, and that we lead the world in education, innovation, economic development, infrastructure, freedom, democracy and equality. Most of the policy I have heard proposed by the right seems designed to reduce or eliminate any advantage we have in almost all those areas.

The concern I have with Obama's proposal for another commission that consists of 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans to come up with the details, is that it will end up as deadlocked as the congress is, and again, nothing will actually get accomplished. Especially since I have seen no evidence of any desire for actual practical resolution of the issue from one side of the equation. If half the commission has a goal of balanced economic solutions and the other half has a goal of imposition of a rigid social agenda, not much is likely to be resolved.

Unable to do the job?

Campaign for re-election instead to divert attention away from the problems you caused.

J. Richter - I was thinking the EXACT SAME thing. Thank you.

Everyone needs to contribute to recovery, including the rich.

Oh come on First Read....his first campaign speech for 2012??

All the man does is campaign. He spent half of last year making campaign speeches for democrats running for re-election. When he wasn't doing that, all he did was talk about how wonderful he is and how much his change is working for the best.

He never has any specifics. He doesn't address any of today's issues, just projects things out 10 years past the time he can be in office. I will give him one thing...he's good at making flowery speeches and telling the gullible exactly what they want to hear.

What he does is an entirely different thing.

Obama says he and other rich people like Warren Buffet can afford to send in more money to the Gov't.

Well send it in HOMIE!

No one is stopping you from sending in extra.

In fact, since he doesn't send in any extra, that makes him a HYPOCRITE.

Liberals always say they are not taxed enough, but never send in any extra.

Put your money where your mouth is, tax a liberal.

Thoughts From Cali,

one could also argue the opposite to your point, in other words, the "rich" are doing their part seeing as they consistently have paid the majority of the income tax. Simply look on the IRS website for their own numbers and it is really quite worrisome. So without being facetious, don't you think the time has maybe come for those who have been taken care of through entitlement programs to do THEIR share for a change?

Is he serious? Why isnt anyone laughing??? "We need to cut the debt (i tripled it my first 90 days in office) IT's still bush's fault (4 years later) I WONT TAKE FROM THE ELDERLY FOR TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH (BUT, im cutting MEDICARE AND MEDICADE???? HE should have been laughed off stage! At least Slick Willy waited till his next speach to counteract everything he said in the first one. Lord help us all.

Mr President, people are unhappy; please de-legitimize yourself and step down,,,,,,,PLEASE !!!.......

Longhair...you must have short term memory loss...this economy was inherited. It was in a fast downward spiral, thanks to W & Cheney. Just because it bottomed out on Obama's watch don't mean he caused it.

Oh...btw, for those that will come to the wealthy's defense saying "they pay 50% of the taxes blah blah blah..." Keep in mind, they make >75% of the money...sounds like a bum deal from my perspective. And before you say I'm a liberal parasite, I am single male and earned $100,000 last year and paid $25,000 in federal and state taxes.

Man if we could balace the budget with a great speech than Obama is the man but since we can't vote him out.

Its funny that he wants to raise the taxes on the rich but does anyone realize who provides jobs it isn’t the poor. The rich are not going to give up profits the long term damage is going to be to the middle class and the poor, elderly. I love how he doesn’t explain the long term effects of his actions. He banks on the fact that a majority of Americans don’t have time to research these things. Also how is he going to be talking crap about the republicans and then in the same speech saying he wants to get along. Anyone see the web he is spinning. He fails to mention not even once that the 1% are responsible for 40% of the federal taxes collected each year. He also fails to mention how 50% of the population doesn’t pay taxes, which a large chunk of that is the poor and elderly. The people that receive the most benefits pay nothing. How many of you on here know someone that got 7,000 back last year and they receive benefits from the state. I know two people. They use the most, pay the least, and then get back almost everything they paid to began with. Tell me how that is right. but this isn’t the problem I have.

Last year congress spent over 600,000 just on water bottles that they charge out of their gov account (our money). Obama gave 2 billion to a Brazilian oil drilling company to drill on our shores so we can buy from them and banned anyone else from drilling. 22% of the budget last year was spent on pensions, 24% on health, and 25% on defense. Two of the top three is government spending why not bring our troops home, extend the amount of years a federal worker has to work to receive benefits, and regulate Medicare more efficiently, stop sending money to countries that hate us, lets not get involved in wars that is none of our business, make congress start paying for their health care like the rest of us, and make them take a pay cut since we had to take a pay cut. Congress should get paid based on the economy and how well they are leading and the AMERICAN PEOPLE should get to vote on it.

Look at the timeline.

DEMOCRATS take both the House and the Senate in 2006.

With them in full control, the recession begins at the start of 2008.

With the Democrats in absolute control of the House, Senate, and Presidency in 2009, the recession gets worse, and the deficit triples over Bush levels.

Despite massive Gov't spending on "jobs" at over $300,000 per job in 2010, real unemployment continues to rise.

We gave the Democrats the steering wheel, and they ran the car into the ditch. For which they still blame Bush.

Heartlight3

skelmcb - how would you like to live in a country where a few people have all the money and everyone else is struggling to get by? What makes America great has been that the majority of it's citizens are able to enjoy a fairly comfortable lifestyle, and that we lead the world in education, innovation, economic development, infrastructure, freedom, democracy and equality. Most of the policy I have heard proposed by the right seems designed to reduce or eliminate any advantage we have in almost all those areas.

America was made great by it's citizens long before entitlements. People risked life and limb to come to this country because they knew if they worked hard, they could have that comfortable living; a comfortable living they couldn't get in their birth country because of the government! It was because of little to no government involvement that we became the greatest country. People had the freedom to dream and many of those dreams became reality. Those dreams produced inventions and home ownership - all things that could not be done in other countries because of the government! That freedom is still here, however it is being chipped away, little by little, all in the name of what's good for the people.

A couple of weeks ago I posted a comment about the government telling us what we can eat and what we can drive, etc. I got FLAMED by liberals saying "who's telling you what you can eat?". Well - have you seen the story from Chicago, where the schools will no longer allow parents to send their kids to school with lunch, they MUST eat school lunches? GET OUT OF MY LIFE. DO NOT tell me what my kids can and cannot eat. It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. It does not take a village to raise a child - it takes PARENTS!

John C,

You think that is acceptable that you paid 25000 in fed and state taxes last year as a single male? It doesn't bother you that some lazy bastard on welfare collected that much for doing nothing but having a few kids? That's the problem with this country, too many people thinking it's okay to do nothing and get something and people like you enabling them.

And by the way, you still didn't pay your fair share as a single male.

He's only been president for less than three years! The idiot Repubs got us here - now they are the gutless wretches who'll send America down the river just to play politics. I will NEVER vote GOP again!

Eric - get a grip....

its more fair than targeting the poor and elderly.

Neither ryan or obama targeted SS, but they both did target medicare. Obamas plan came off as being vague in implimenting except for cutting medicare by $500 billion hoping that fraud and waste elimination would make up for the cut. Ryan offerred a "voucher system, which obama outright rejected.

As for the poor and disabled obama rejected any cuts, not sure on the specifics of ryans proposal. Regardless, it needs to be addressed to break the cycle of poverty it promotes..

The bottom line of I took away from obamas speech was that our mounting debt has to be addressed now not latter and just like all legislative reps say it has to be addressed over a long term.

debihutton

He's only been president for less than three years! The idiot Repubs got us here - now they are the gutless wretches who'll send America down the river just to play politics

What a unique statement! In three or less years, this guy and his party have increased the deficit more than any other sitting Prez! The spending-rich Democrats who have controlled the house and senate since '06 are the idiots who have increased spending! And if you speak about gutless wretches, how about the leader of the senate and the leader of the house in the 111th congress who refused to submit a budget for this year?

And your hero, the Great Divider, the leader of Terry-the-Teleprompter, condems Ryan - who has a plan - for being a schmuk without a plan.

Great real - smell the Roses when gas is overpriced and the grocery bill is huge.

$25,000 after all said and done is not enough on $100k...then how in the world could you oppose a tax on those that earn over 250,000? The uber rich, through loopholes and inventive tax write offs wind up paying far less of a % than I do. That's the problem...they really don't pay their fair share.

Look at large corporate tax credits. GE with 6 billion dollar credit?!?! F*ck the big corporations...they want to leave let them...most already outsource all their work to other countries. Part of the problem with America today is that we don't make anything any more, well of value that is. Maybe true capitalism will come around if we get rid of these outsourcing corporate entities. It used to be that competition drove prices down. Now with collusion and price fixing they continually bend us over.

It's sad that we really wind up voting for the "lesser of two evils." I didn't want to vote for Obama but W needed to go and NO WAY I'd want the possibility of Palin stepping into the oval office if something happened to McCain. Last time I voted for someone I was confident in was Clinton for 2nd term.

Btw...just because Democrats held majority doesn't mean squat.Key votes require 2/3's vote. Take a look at how the Republicans stuck together and killed some key legislature by all voting NO. One important item, you may feel the effect still at the gas pump, was blocking the approval of law that would have prohibited speculation on commodities. So...think of your Republican pals every time you lay out $60-80 to fill your tank...no other reason for it. Demand same, supply same...just up purely on speculation.

Listen to the liberals whine now that they can't blame Bush.

Since they have held the House and Senate (2006 elections):

Massive Gov't expansion.

Massive Debt expansion.

Increased Unemployment.

It was only in January 2011 that the Democrats didn't control the Senate, the House and the Oval Office. Now they just control 2/3 of it.

But they still need some one else to blame for their own actions.

This is a sad day. Will we never learn as a people not to keep repeating the mistakes of the past. All we can talk about is cutting Medicare and Medicaid along with raising taxes. How much more can the middle and lower income people take on. Have you been to a gas station or a grocery store lately. Here's a crazy idea, stop giving any benefits to illegals. Those who do not pay taxes should not benefit from American citizans hard work. I am tiered of this being an issue of race and not an issue of what we can and cannot afford to do. Sounds cold and I am truly sorry for that, but we are willing to cut the benefits of the people who fought for and help build this country. This just doesn't make sense. How about we bill or deduct from each country what we owe them, for allowing illegals to get into this country. How about bringing our jobs home to this country and giving US based organizations a tax break for staying here. How about you lose your company if you hire people that are not US citizens. I wonder how long it would take before the issue was a non issue.

I am tiered of politicians sitting on their butts protecting their best interest and throwing the middle class under the bus. I have five kids, I was out of work for over a year and I can barely afford to put food on the table for my children. I tried to get my home loan adjusted on the Presidents "Make homes affordable" program and after a year, they turned me down, just at the same time I found a job that paid far less that my last one. I am heavily in debt and may lose everything because of one more broken promise. Try and find a good lawyer that will take on the banking industry. The last one I talked to said he loses more cases then he wins. If anyone in the privates sector had a job performance record like local and national elected officials do, they would have been fired long ago. Even when we vote one party out and send the signal we want change, all we get is more grid lock. I don't completely blame the president. This is a much bigger problem that nobody will address. Our old outdated two party system must go and all candidates must be given equal air time and rights. The way it works now is that only the well to do become President. I believe they keep referring to them as the 1% (the Wealthy). When was the last time a middle class person was elected to the office of President.

Our system is broken and all we do is the same old thing, raise taxes, cut jobs, and hurt middle and lower income people. I challenge each and every American to say enough is enough. I voted and was proud to vote until last year. Both of the canidates running were worthless. You had a man that was very charming with zero experience to run a country and another that I would never had trusted, a hot head that thought he knew it all. The sad thing is that I belonged to his party and out of all the people in this great country, they chose them.

Oh well, sorry to rant. I am just one tiered American that is sick to death of seeing this great country of ours, slowly die. As I mentioned I have five Children and I worry about them and what their future will be. What will happen to them when I am no longer here to help. What kind of America will they have to bring their children up in. Mr President, with all do respect, if not for my generation, please for mine and your children's generation, go the extra step and dig deep. The answers are there, that will help ensure the future of this great nation.

For those curious, I am 50 years old male and have lived through some very good times. I makes me sad that our children can't play outside unattended anymore. That their classrooms are over flowing and our teachers are some of the lowest paid professional. I hope that this has not upset anyone that was not my intention. I do hope you all sit up and take notice as to what is going on all around the world. People are saying enough is enough and are dieing for their views. I am not advocating a over throw of our government. But we need to change with the times or history will repeat it's self and we will become the next in a long line of failed civilizations. I love this country deeply and I want so much more for it. I am proud of the men and women of our armed forces, past and present. I hope and pray that both of my boys and three girls never have to know that pain. IF we could all just learn to except our differences and live in peace with one goal, being good human beings and lovethy neighbor.

Doug

Ok John C,

If you make 100k a year I bet you must have a pension plan, and probably a good one at that. Many people making good money over the years who had pension plans still want their share of entitlements plus their pensions. They get these pensions from investments in the very same groups all you libs complain about. And when the companies you are investing in don't make YOU money, something most people in this country fail to realize (the profits these companies are making go to the shareholders, the investors) you complain about how your pension got robbed. Look in the mirror because your way of living above your means, just like the government is doing, is what caused this problem.

If I was dirt poor and collecting off the system there is no way I should be holding a cell phone while watching my flatscreen while some other poor f*@k works his ass off.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it------Time for "personal responsibility"

I guess this was not one of Obama's most exciting speeches. Check out the video.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2011/04/13/vo.biden.snooze.cnn?hpt=C2

Tontosh-----whahahahaha

JohnC - last I knew commodities were traded on a global market. How does one control speculation overseas? We may have the worlds largest economy, but to think that we can control who buys what and when? I think not.

Good Post Doug.

Candidate Obama:

First, Obama praised the BIPARTISAN approach and the success reaped from it recently to keep the Federal Government running. Then he points at a Republican proposal to cut spending and reduce our deficit claiming it will hurt your grandmother. Obama continued on with his scare and hate speech while Biden was sleeping in the audience. Real presidential.

President Obama:

Obama should have thanked the Republicans for being the first and ONLY ones to offer a plan to reign in spending. He should have said, it is a work in progress and this is what people should expect from a bipartisan effort.

So, as a leader and a President, Obama failed miserably. He chastised the Republicans on National TV creating an atmosphere in Washington that is anything other then bipartisan in nature. His speech proves this to be true.

Obama claimed he was going to fix Washington. He said he would promote transparency and bipartisan efforts to get the job done. I sure am glad Obama clearly showed America that he does NOT support bipartisan efforts placing his own party above the American people.

Obla bla will never fix Washington. He wants to destroy this country, then he can build it back up the way he wants to. It's all apart of the liberal master plan. I say this because he has done nothing to benefit everyone...meaning job creation. The only jobs he knows how to create are at the federal level, and everyone knows private jobs are what really works. It doesn't take a genius to see what he's doing...wake up people!

Hey Obama....how about starting NOW and working toward balancing? Why did you refuse to cut the budget for 2011? What are you planning to do for 2012? All I heard you say over and over again was "invest in this, invest in that"....well, you said the same crap a year and a half ago and the jobs didn't come back, the economy continued to stagnate and we as a country fell into more debt.

$4 trillion in savings in 12 years? Pathetic! You have no plan for next year and we are supposed to believe you have one for the next 12? You have a prognosticator telling you there won't be any additional expenses in the next 12 years? No Katrina, no 9/11? No earthquakes?

$200 million to El Salvador to help them fight THEIR gang problem? $1.5 billion to Mexico to help them fight THEIR drug problem? $60 billion in costs to help extremist muslims rebel against their government?

Hopefully Mr. President you won't even get the opportunity to make any more bad decisions come November 2012.

JoeBob--you would lose that bet. 401k and not a good one at that.

American--speculation is what is driving the prices.

American--something to consider.

Goldman Sachs (GS) fears that speculation is causing a dangerous spike in the price of oil. In fact, the head of commodities trading at the investment bank is so worried that he advised clients this week to cash in their profits before the bubble pops, noting in a report that the sector shows “record levels of speculative longs [trading] in crude.”

This is, to put it mildly, an unusual admission from Wall Street’s preeminent casino. The official position of securities traders, hedge funds and other market players has been that speculation doesn’t affect oil prices, including prices at the pump. That’s the line the industry has taken in enlisting key lawmakers on Capitol Hill to quash rules proposed under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law aimed at curbing wild swings in the price of oil.

As Goldman makes clear, this view is implausible. Mounting evidence — and recent history — suggest that crude oil prices are increasingly determined by investors betting on which way prices are moving, rather than on economic fundamentals.

Shortly before the financial crisis in 2008, for instance, the cost of oil soared more than 125 percent, pushing gas prices to more than $4 a gallon and badly denting the global economy. The run-up couldn’t be explained in conventional economic terms, since global oil supplies at the time exceeded demand. Prices, too, whipsawed, shooting from $65 a barrel in June 2007 to $147 a year later, before diving to $30 in late 2008 and back up to $72 the following summer. Meanwhile, the supply of crude in the U.S. was hitting a 20-year high, while the deep economic recession cratered demand.

What oil speculation costs

In wake of this surge, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would’ve curbed speculation in crude oil derivatives. But it later died in the Senate under pressure from Wall Street and other derivatives users.

It’s not only U.S. lawmakers who perceive the threat of oil speculation — so do the countries that benefit most from high oil prices. Said the Saudi Arabian oil minister at a 2008 meeting of oil-producing countries:

I believe that there has been a parting of the ways when it comes to oil supply-demand balances and other industry fundamentals on the one hand, and the price behavior and market volatility on the other. Industry fundamentals cannot account for today’s high prices, nor for the enormous degree of market volatility that we have experienced of late.

How much does speculation drive up oil prices? By roughly 20 percent, or between $21.40 and $26.75 a barrel, Goldman suggested. Every million barrels of oil held by speculators results in a price rise of 8-10 percent. Not surprisingly, such increases coincide with record levels of speculation in oil futures, Commodity Futures Trading Commission officials note. Since June 2008, the number of energy contracts held by such investors has risen 64 percent.

Financialization: The tipping point

Speculation is, of course, a normal and useful feature of markets. The danger is when a market that is ordinarily governed by supply and demand becomes increasingly hostage to speculators. Why? Because they have no financial stake in whether a barrel of oil, bushel of wheat or mortgage-backed security is correctly priced. Their only interest is whether the price of that asset goes up or down. And when speculators begin to crowd out other types of investors — including companies wanting to hedge their risks and even the kind of high-rollers served by investment banks — it can fundamentally disrupt that market.

Compounding that threat is the growth in recent years of new investment products and strategies that has resulted in what former CFTC staffer and now University of Maryland law professor Michael Greenberger calls the “financialization of the oil industry.” And other industries, too. For instance, the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index, which the company launched in 1991, includes some two dozen commodities, including oil, coal, metals, corn and wheat.

Such markets can be useful to, say, airlines interested in hedging against sudden hikes in the price of jet fuel. But they have also attracted a wave of speculators eager to bet on a range of commodities. And sure enough, prices in these “financialized” sectors have become alarmingly volatile over the years.

In the case of oil, the effects of such volatility range from slower GDP growth and higher unemployment in wealthier economies to starvation in poor countries hurt by the rising cost of grain. And political turmoil here in the U.S., it’s worth adding. Statistician Nate Silver has shown that high gas prices can severely damage the incumbent party’s electoral chances.

Gaming the game

The most obvious solution is to establish “position limits,” which cap the number of futures contracts a trader can hold. Dodd-Frank gives the CFTC the power to establish these limits as a way to diminish excessive speculation and ensure that markets function well. For now, however, exactly how those rules will be implemented or enforced is unclear. Why? Because companies like Goldman are lobbying against them.

If that sounds like the same recipe that helped trigger the financial crisis — economic and political interests aligning to fight regulation — that’s because it is. Or to put it another way, Wall Street and its clients create markets where speculation can flourish. They reap enormous profits from that trade, calling in their chits on Capitol Hill to fend off efforts to restrict it. Perhaps bankers can also claim to serve as a voice of prudence in openly warning about an overheated market.

And when the stakes get too high, they take their winnings and go home.

clueless abbout markets, and what drives them. Gee, sort of sounds like Obama. You ought to go meet feisty at the dew drop inn, if they are still open

ACES Mr. President!!

Agreed Louis J!

So much for getting rolled by the right! ;o)

GAME ON! ;o)

Oh my, you all better not watch any tv or look anywhere but here or else you will be hugely shocked to learn that his speech is getting panned.

Man over at KOS and Firedog they are pummeling him as a total sell out to the republicans.

But hey, at least he will always have Feisty, Bev, and Loius J.

Hey Loius would you say Obama has personally been doing better or worse lately? You think he gets where his bread is buttered?

Game on indeed Feisty, game on indeed. You better stock up on tissue paper you are going to have a rough night.

Surely you realize how stupid that sounds.

It appears the trolls are hungry today Feisty. Don't feed them the chocolates, otherwise there'll be Reece's Feces all over the place.

Giggidy

(:^D)

Oh certainly Loius J - when you can't actually respond call them names and ridicule them.

Problem is amigo your stragey is not "winning." but you already know that, right.

Of course you do. I know Feisty does.

Another home run by the Commander and Chief. Excellent job Mr. President. A reasonble and humane plan to bring us back from the brink. No slash and burn, no riches for the rich. Just a personal and plausible plan for the future. Well done.

Why, your plan looks just like mine.

The last time a Republican house told a democratic president "No" was Clinton and we ended up with a balanced budget. Come on R/TP you can do it again!

Oh and Louis J I don't suppose you'd care to define "troll?"

I'd love to see how our comments, and those of my gal Feisty match up.

Now why is it I suspect you will decline that offer? Nothing if not predictable.

GD right Red...game on in deed. This should be a good fight.

I can't go to Firedoglake anymore, Spanky.

I had to stop going there when I realized that I liked Obama more than they do.

Who knew?

lol

UAW, you're kidding, right? The last time a Republican congress told a Democratic President no was Clinton? The last 2 years just didn't happen, right?

Main Street to Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro:

Mr. Obama started his campaiging THE DAY AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE ! Another day, another photo-op, more rhetoric on dividing America using class warfare.

My vote for his Deficit speech: "No confidence" or "Complete loss of confidence in his ability to lead the country".

This wasn't supposed to be a speech about the next campaign. It was supposed to be a speech about reducing the debt. We have two proposals already on the table I favor Bowles-Simpson with some moderation. This was not supposed to be about another commission. All another commission would be is a smoke-screen to not do anything and raise the debt ceiling again. If I wanted a sermon I would have gone to church.

I could kiss you, lisa...

But, I don't want to get in trouble.

So...

Terrific post.

hey fiesty, where is roselle? grew up in ill and never heard of it. always interested in talking facts with you but you never have any

Pathetic, wasn't it? Pat of Boston was gushing this morning that this would be "Obama's defining moment". What a let down that must have been for Pat. Obama produced yet another rambling manifesto of Liberal dogma with no answers, no direction, no plans.

Just another pile of nothing from Obama. We're getting to used to it.

JoAnna, it was a defining moment for Obama. He's not going to throw the poor and elderly under the bus like the republicans have.

Boehner is pouting because he won't be able to deduct his tanning salon time...so what.

Look for the elderly to throw their support for Obama.......so long republicans.

Votedemout, what do you call what Bachmann has been doing all week, sounds like campaigning to me.

ROFLMAO...You come back with Bachmann?

Get help!

JoAnnaSmith1

Pathetic, wasn't it? Pat of Boston was gushing this morning that this would be "Obama's defining moment". What a let down that must have been for Pat. Obama produced yet another rambling manifesto of Liberal dogma with no answers, no direction, no plans.

Joanna shut up, just shut up!!!!!

or as my mom use to say, shut you face!!!

Jeff - pretty big man aren't you. Better not talk to a conservative man that way - to his face. You will end up on the ground. JoAnna has more sense in her right pinky than you do in your miserable body.

I was hoping for some concrete details on "how and what" we would do to fix the fiscal situation. I don't think "tax and spend" rebranded as "tax and invest in our future" is going to be a winning theme.

black_belt3

Jeff - pretty big man aren't you. Better not talk to a conservative man that way - to his face. You will end up on the ground. JoAnna has more sense in her right pinky than you do in your miserable body.

WOW coming from you i take that as a declaration of war. man I'll take your conservative butt to the west side of chicago and leave you there, between the dope dealers and gang bangers you will never be seen again and just so you know, chicago cops don't like conservates.

you don't know the history Joanna and i have, last week she called me a lair so today i told her to shut up.

mind your own business.

Eric,

Aren't you tired of defending everything Obama does and says?

Man, I'd be wiped out by now if I were you.

Jeff - you are a liar based on the posts I have seen. I am not too worried about your comments - I can take care of myself.

black_belt3

Jeff - you are a liar based on the posts I have seen. I am not too worried about your comments - I can take care of myself.

OK BaBy like i said I'm from Chicago, karate can't stop bullets. why don't you go out side and practice falling down.

there is a code of conduct on this blog, and threating to kick my ass is against it. plus you don't know me, my brother from a nother mother. how does it feel to have a black belt and a black brother.

First thoughts on obamas plan...

Lacked specifics as well as a need for him to reread Carnige's "How to win friends and influence people"

My initial positive takes and caveats are...

Good plan to re-evaluate actions taken in 2014 to see if the debt reduction plan is on track. Neutral to negative on the creation of an IPAB (independent panel to analyze the budget goals. If temp fine, permanent not so fine. Obviously I have little faith in the effectiveness of a bureacracy.

Obama late in addressing our debt, but he does now admit that spending is and will remain out of control. if nothing is done

Leaves SS off the deficit table, but recognizes its flaws still needs to be addressed.

Obama wants to have a unified (bipartisan) approach to addressing issues.

Income tax code reform (both individual and business) to eliminate/minimize the deductions the wealthy and businesses can take. really deductions should be made equally across the board for individuals and for business to promote growth.

Pointed out and minimized the radical groups (both L& R) who are sure to proclaim "NO, NO WAY, UNACCEPTABLE". lol what FR reader hasn't heard such rants from the left hear on FR with the occasional right rants as well.

Negative takes with caveats...

Deamonizing the right and not accepting the role that democrats also played in the last 10 years. Obama, read carnegies book.

No more tax cuts for the rich? why not wait until 2014 when the proposed elimination of deductions have had an effect. As obama recommended, let the IPAB decide what additional measures need to be made.

Medicaid, not functionally addressed other than to insist that proposed $500 billion in cuts can be made up by cleaning up waste ans fraud. Almost implied that the government should be looking at medical cost control. Unless one negotiates with the healthcare provider to cap wages and expenses. cost controls will go nowhere unless the government embraces a socialized medical plan for seniors.

Education, medical and EPA funding to increase or not be cut. All three need to be reviewed for effectiveness and ways to reduce costs. A " mastery of the fundamentals" in k education along with teaching goal setting and teaching our youth to be productive citizens. Encouraging university attendance, OK but make sure they understand the costs involved along with average pay expected. Encouraging trade school also ok as well as community college to minimize expenses. Medical reseach funding? Would prefer the majority of funding to come from private sources to contain costs and fraud. Medical/biological and physics research funding at the graduate level only to the extent as it would apply to the education of the students. Yes, it may be long term, but not long term employment of the grad students. EPA - everyone likes clean air and water, but the public also needs to understand its costs (reduced domestic productivity and jobs) vs benefits (clean air, water and sustainable energy for a growing population).

Neutral take

All discretionary plans should be on the table, as obama said "shared sacrifice". Funding cuts today don't mean funding cuts forever.

Entitlement assistance to the poor and destitute, cut it or develop a plan where they can "earn" through community service their stipends based on there ability to perform. IE give them hope and a sense of personal worth to go along with the monetary assistance

Ahhhhhhh, Black Belt,

We know from your handle you're a karate whiz.......maybe. Had a good buddy who was one of the first seals to come out wayyyy back when. Asked me if I wanted to know how to whip a marine. Sure, I said. How?

Don't let him see you coming.

Bad is bad, but there is always badder. You can become badder if it makes you feel safer, but sooner or later you meet super bad. Give it up, we don't need that stuff here. Violence is an endless cycle. Ride it for awhile until you get thrown off.

In the meantime we will accept that you are a "black belt" and will have enough sense not to challenge you to a karate match, haha. Good enough?

Oh you can say just about anything to a Conservative man's face the most you'll get back is whining, complaints and quaking in fear over some chimera or another. Conservatism is based on fear Blackbelt hard to appear manly when you're primary motivation is being scared of everything. The one exception to this is when they're all ganged up together and their competition is a single woman. Such as happened in Kentucky a few months ago. They get pretty tough then.

Its always amusing to see how "tough" Conservatives see themselves when the rest of us pretty much see them as children hiding in the shadows sucking their thumbs waiting for their betters to save them.

John - I was taking up for a lady being harassed by some dude with no brains. I just suggested he wouldn't talk that way to a man in person. He took it from there. I will always stick up for a lady being harassed by some a-hole.

black-belt, grew up in chicago, and i apoligize for someone who would not go out without a group. I'll be happy to take him to neighborhoods where he will look around and plead for gov't help.

Oh, now June are you saying he need to break up with his BFF - Immelt?

June, Fl

You seem to have the answers. Take all the money from the corporations and the 250M plus rich. Tell us now, how long will that run the government?

12 year plan...?

Same principle as with Obamacare, Spanky...

Six years of benefits, ten years of taxes.

After that...

Don't ask.

Joe Spivis - How long do you think taking away food and health care for pregnant women and children and making seniors and the poor go through the winter with no heat is going to run the government? Everyone needs to contribute, and the only ones I see being asked to contribute are the poor and vulnerable with very little to give.

Why is it that the Teapublicans don't seem to be able to see that cutting things that will result in costing us much more in the long run is not really saving money? (Cutting subsidies for community health centers will result in sicker people flooding emergency rooms. Which costs more in the long run? There are many more things on the table which fit into that category. Think about it.)

The Clinton era tax rates add up to $400 billion per year extra. Let's re-institute them for everyone and in 10 years we will have reduced the deficit by $4 trillion. The top 2% will pay $70 billion per year and the bottom 98% will pay $330 billion per year. That is what Bush reduced the taxes by so lets let them go up by the same amount.

black_belt3

The Clinton era tax rates add up to $400 billion per year extra. Let's re-institute them for everyone and in 10 years we will have reduced the deficit by $4 trillion. The top 2% will pay $70 billion per year and the bottom 98% will pay $330 billion per year. That is what Bush reduced the taxes by so lets let them go up by the same amount.

this is what you cheap selfish conservatves don't understand, the 98% you refer to don't mind paying extra for the good of the country, its the 2% that don't want to pay extra, and at the same time cry they pay too much now.

Joe, that is an excellent question. I'm sure June doesn't know.

As an example, if you took 50% of the wealth of all 400 billionaires (~$700B) in the U.S. you could only fund the Federal Government for 70 days.

Here is a link to an excellent Bill Whittle video answering that question.

//iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2011/03/eat-the-rich.html

Jeff - I have said many, many times on these vines that I would like to see the rates go back to the Clinton era rates since that was such a panacea for the Dems. It would shut them up about the riches tax breaks which don't really amount to much. While we are at it - lets go back to the Clinton era budgets - his last one which was submitted on-time was for just over $1.9 trillion and had a $275 million dollar surplus in it. That is mind kind of spending from the Federal govt - not the $3.7 trillion 0bummer has put forth with in excess of $4.5 trillion in debt the last 3 years.

Everyone keeps saying taking from the poor. Isn't it the other way around. The poor are taking from us? They do not contribute a darn thing, $0 in tax revenue from the poor. They just take, take, take. Maybe if they had to go get a job they would. Their kids would be better off.

Heartlite what are you going to do when the middle class gets tired of handouts to the poor, homeless and elderly because the rich and many businesses have left the country?

BTW - if you want to play the PITY card, what are YOU doing about the homeless, rapists, murderers, thieves and muggers in your nearby city. I am sure all of their victims are interested in your responce. Care to enlighten us on your plan to comfort their victims?

Go teaparty - Getting a job would be nice, but I would settle for them to provide community service (based on ability) to receive the handouts. Something to give them a sense of value and pride.

sort of like jesse jackson being po'ed at clinton for ending welfare as we know it. That worked pretty well. now it is time to end medicare as we know it. unstainable. Let's make it work.

Sorry.....any chance of fixing anything in this country will be delayed for the next year and a half due to campaigning.....please refile greivances after the next election !!

I was very disappointed with today's speech and according to MSNBC's own poll so were most Americans. It is time to stop the rhetoric and solve our problems. It is not going to be easy but shouldn't we pass on this the American public is finally paying attention to this problem.

Exactly..... At the rate things are going, soon, everyone will be government employees and since the government produces nothing there will be no revenue. Now, at this point the freeloaders (and I am not speaking of actual disabled or the sick and feeble for the most part they will be taken care of by family and friends) but the FREELOADERS, will have to fend for themselves. And society will go back to survival of the fittest, which those of us that are resourceful will survive. As Dennis Miller so aptly pointed out, and I am not religious by any stretch of the imagination, The far left claims Darwinism, so when you say OK, its survival of the fittest, then the left says you should be more Christ-like and give. I have zero expectations or hope that these idiots in congress will accomplish anything because it is not about common sense it is about power. The gov. has taken the power from the people and are holding on to it with a death grip. Good luck to all, a lot of you are going to need it. Myself.... I can hunt, fish, build shelter, plant food, apply first aid, and play a gibson les paul like a beast. (I'll miss that the most). I guess if the SHTF you lazy Bast*%$% are going to insist that I do it for you? Good Luck with that one.

"...just more of the same Class Warfare the Democrats try and spin."

"class warefare"? You sure you want to go there??

Hey, Spankie- someone said 'warfare'! You a big Hutaree guy, getting all latherud up by this kind of talk?? How's about it, big boy. You one of them there Tim McVeigh disciples? Tell us what you gonna do after Obama wins the next one. You haven't gone there yet for us. But you know it's coming, right 'big guy'?

@DBO

Election campaign talk at it's peek of BS! Suppression of ones thoughts is not American, "big guy"!

Let's get rid of the Electoral college and have a REAL election for a start, enough of what this President, is going to try to do!

So, the spending on war continues...17,000 diplomats in Iraq along with rebuilding expenses. Afghanistan continues with no results of Usama Bin Laden. Now we have another one in Libya, based on a European Globalization plan. Is this example of poor leadership and gas prices, working for you? Or just another part of a continuing "BOONDOGGLE"?

There goes DBO shouting to the wind.

So I'm Tim McVeigh now, eh? Huh. Well let's see:

I have a fire proof safe at home with $10,000 cash, and 5 ounces of gold. I have an 80 gallon tank of fresh water and enough food for about 2 weeks, give or take. I have a large generator, a propane stove and a battery powered radio. I also have several guns and plenty of ammo.

So which of these qualifies me as McViegh? Oh and Drive By I do live in Cali, where we get earthquakes [6.8 last Easter] and are prone to tsunamis. Oh yeah San Onofre is about 60 miles north and Mexico is 10 miles south.

I'm prepared for a disaster, are you? Come my little Sparkle Monkey what will you do if a natural disaster happens? And as much as I'd like to take credit every one of the provisions, each was gotten at the request of, or by my wife.

Whack. Goes. the Mole. AGAIN. Dude do you ever tire of coming off as an ass?

But please, whatever you do, don't stop.

Come on back in here and pop up your head Drive By, I got a big old mallet. :)

But seriously, I get you are having a ruff day, and appear to be mighty grumpy, but I do so want to hear about all the disaster plan/preparations you got going.

Come on my man, you do got a plan, don't you? You, wise to the world know better than to just wing it, or worse yet be totally reliant on the government in a time of crisis. It might get to you for a few days. You ready Drive By?

See, I'm just concerned for your safety.

Seriously if any of you do not have some provisions and a plan for a disaster you will reap what you sow.

Class warfare started with the "Reagan Revolution" when the rich got richer, the poor got poorer and the middle got squeezed. If cutting taxes creates jobs what happened during the 8 years of George W.? This experiment has been run and trickle down doesn't work.

Dr jon and dbo - Obama made it very clear about promoting class warfare, you just missed his saying it and the body language he used to say it. Much like what he said when he blamed the republicans for our current mess.

Rather telling that he lauded reagan and the democratic controlled congress he had 6 out of seven years, and bush1 and clinton for having bipartisanship. Comes to bush2, not a word on bipartisanship actions, even when bush2 had a democratic controlled congress after 2006. Not a word on his own bipartisanship efforts in 2009-2010 either, Wonder why?

The democrats, along with obama must have been out of the DC area for those 6 years. right? I know obama was.

Dr Jon, go back and learn something. Reagan took office and Iran released hostages 15 minutes before. 20% interest rates, inflation 16%. Reduced tax rates, not taxes, revenues doubled. Reagan's question to Carter? are you better off. The same will happen to Obama, the next incumbant president to lose. independent support has dropped 20plus%. libs, progressives total less than 25%. good luck. 2010 just the beginning. Senate goes republican, even if Obama wins. 23 vs 10. Missouri, montana, neb, sd, probably va. What election has dem won since 2008, not va, mass, nj,. Census change gives more votes to rep. Obama equals carter.

btw, whatever happened to valarie jarrett?

....you forgot the 1N. The Queen-Mother of N's. That still stirs 'em up.

It's amazing that you would post such a stupid statement.

right on track bro...well done

sharkey, pretty simple. Gov't handouts will not do it. 45% of people paying no income tax will not do it. Skin in the game, and maybe gov't spending will be controlled. States are now dealing with it, Both rep and dem governors. Wow, let's just focus on Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan. What about N.Y. Ca,(now there is a state gov. run amock). And Ill. now there is another great example. Oh wait, feisty and bev live there. How about raising their taxes. Oh no, not mine, just the rich.

I whole-heartedly agree! What a bunch of idiots! They must think the rest of us are a bunch of idiots too!

Raising taxes has never created a private sector job. Repubs take Senate in 2012 and 0blamer gets sent home to organize for Rahmbo. 2 1/2 years later - the same story - blame Bush - no one buying it anymore 0bummer.

black_belt3

Raising taxes has never created a private sector job. Repubs take Senate in 2012 and 0blamer gets sent home to organize for Rahmbo. 2 1/2 years later - the same story - blame Bush - no one buying it anymore 0bummer.

Raising taxs and cutting spending created 23 million jobs from 1994 to 2001 or was i dreaming. the economy was at its best since the 50s

In 1993 clinton raised tax from 35% to 39% in 1994 when the republicans took the house and senate they cut spending. in 2001 when Geroge bush came in to office we had a operating surplus, in 2009 when obama came in to office that surplus was turned in to a 500 billion dollar defict.

those are facts no one can dispute or am i lying again.

Jeff - your attempt at cause and effect is off. You neglected to mention that clinton inherited a growing economy based on a rapidly rising tech boom. The easter bunny could have created jobs during this time. Give credit to clinton for raising taxes all you want (wasn't it across the board raises), the fact remains that the economy was growing crazy, revenues were pouring in and as you say the republicans cut spending. The deficit may have been postive for a year but debt was still negative.

A shame that you didn't mention the dot.com bust of the late 90's, the ensuing recession and 9/11.

Black belt was kind of right in declaring that raising taxes doesn't create jobs. It all depends on what the economy is doing at the time, is it going up, sideways or down?

One thing that is indisputable is that raising taxes for one class is one of diminishing returns. Many states raised taxes on the wealthy only to see the wealthy pack up and move elsewhere, same applies to business. What then?

While not defending the increase of the federal debt under President Bush, it's curious to see Clinton's record promoted as having generated a surplus. It never happened. There was never a surplus and the facts support that position. In fact, far from a $360 billion reduction in the national debt in FY1998-FY2000, there was an increase of $281 billion.

Verifying this is as simple as accessing the U.S. Treasury.

In no year did the national debt go down, nor did Clinton leave President Bush with a surplus that Bush subsequently turned into a deficit. Yes, the deficit was almost eliminated in FY2000 (ending in September 2000 with a deficit of "only" $17.9 billion), but it never reached zero--let alone a positive surplus number. And Clinton's last budget proposal for FY2001, which ended in September 2001, generated a $133.29 billion deficit. The growing deficits started in the year of the last Clinton budget, not in the first year of the Bush administration.

Understanding what happened requires understanding two concepts of what makes up the national debt. The national debt is made up of public debt and intragovernmental holdings. The public debt is debt held by the public, normally including things such as treasury bills, savings bonds, and other instruments the public can purchase from the government. Intragovernmental holdings, on the other hand, is when the government borrows money from itself--mostly borrowing money from social security.

When it is claimed that Clinton paid down the national debt, that is patently false, the national debt went up every single year. What Clinton did do was pay down the public debt. But he paid down the public debt by borrowing far more money in the form of intragovernmental holdings (mostly Social Security).

The net effect was that the national debt most definitely did not get paid down because we did not have a surplus. The government just covered its deficit by borrowing money from Social Security rather than the public.

Were we are better off, you bet your @ss we were.

Oh, a Crist voter. What was the number of new unemployment claims. went up not down. real unemployment is 15-20%. Less number of employed since 1983. Does that year ring a bell. Reagan tax rate reductions took effect then, number went down, inflation down, interest rates down. This was directed at ginger. Rick, black-belt, and always listen to mygirl, you are the best. never revert to name calling. btw, mondale called for higher taxes, result landslide. Obama, harvard grad that you are, a little history lesson. Independent voters support dropped 23% before that comment, what now, et brutus

The TRUTH? I don't think we were listening to the same guy.

The tax increases 0blamer was talking about are never going to happen - won't get by the House now that Piglosi is minority leader. Doubt it would pass the Senate with all the DINO's that are worried about their seats. 23 Dem Senate seats up in 2012 and only 10 Repub seats. Can you say former speaker Dirty Harry Reid!

And who says that their money is your money? all they have to do is move their head quarters out of the USA, and you can't touch them

A day without a June, FL cut and paste is like a day without orange juice. Thanks

June, Dats Good Stuff!

Here's my issue:

The Repubs still want to decrease taxes for the wealthy and cut medicare for the seniors and poor.

The Question? Under Democratic Clinton, he raised the taxes on the wealthy........Under Repub Bush, he gave the wealthy a taxcut............ The questions is under which President did the growth of jobs increase and deficit decrease? Can I get a straight honest and simple answer.. and then explain why would we want to do the same thing again expecting different results.

Teddy - you got Bill Gates and Steve Jobs out there ready to create a technology situation that creates jobs?? Do you have a Y2K problem that employees a lot of people to get ready for coming up?? 0blamer doesn't have that to rely on - you raise taxes now and you will kill any little bit of economic recovery that might be starting. Tax increases aren't going to happen because they won't pass the House.

June Fl, I agree these corporations should be held accountable. You should also read April 28, 2011 article in Rolling Stone on Wall St.

If the tax hikes won't pass this house, then we obviously need a new house. It's beyond stupid to be in the financial straits we are in and sit back and watch as the corps rake in record profits, not invest it back into the struggling economy, and then rape, pillage, and plunder the social services of the needy and call it fiscal responsibility. And the CEO bonuses just keep getting bigger and bigger.........don't they?

Ever hear the word hypocrite? It is what the Greek actors were called. You know, those guys who wore masks. There are people wearing the mask of "fiscal responsibility", but who are they really? Who or what is behind that mask? That's the biggest problem I see with the right wing teanuts. They're obviously hypocrites. They present a face but behind the mask is a hidden agenda. They are more concerned about enacting their social agenda than they are in really trying to deal with the economic problems. If they were serious about fiscal matters they would have stood up when Bush started spending our fortunes with his unpaid for war. Where were they then?

But the dems and libs need to check themselves out too. A lot of what the right charges is valid. There is too much waste and fraud going on in many of the social services. This is a time of real soul searching for the whole nation, and one side of the ideological battle blaming everything on the other side just ain't gonna get it. If we can't settle this in a civil way we will settle it with civil war.

John - do you really think that obama will push raising taxes on the top 2% in 2012? The economy has to be going gang busters and any legislation limiting deductions has to have failed. If he is re-elected he becomes a lame duck president with no fear of political consequences except to America.

As for corporations not reinvesting in America, how so? Seems to be a fair amount of mergers and acquisitions going on for repositioning for growth. First product demand has to pick up and consumer confidence increase.

Nice to see you spread the blame around to the left as well. Whatever the results of what you call soul searching is the American people (private or public) need to realize that what they want from the government has to be realistic and sustainable over the long run.

in good times and bad, whether tax rates top out at 90% or 28%, revenues are 18-19% of GDP. Clinton "surplus" actually increased total debt. Clinton- can't balance the budget in 10 years, 9, 7, 6 5. Will destroy the economy. John Kasich did it in two. Right now, Obama and Phoufle, Axelrod et al are trying to figure out how to get to 270 electoral votes. For sure, California, new york, illinois,mass even though brown wins,rhode island, conn. vt, nh maybe wash, oregon, hawaii. Has to run the table. sorry, forgot about maine. Thats what 100. Senate goes rep

john blount- when did tax increases raise revenue. Law of physics-every action has a reaction. the ONLY way to increase revenues is to grow gdp. good have had a v-8

big?teddy- when does doubling medicare spending equal a "cut". Under Ryan's plan show me dollars spent over the next ten years. Try again. next. go back to beginning math.

Laurie

That`s all they got to say, It `s like a broken record when will the republicans get it, Trickle down does not work because they do not want to pay they are cheap, greedy SOBs and they will never change unless they lost theirs.

I was middle class and worked my behind off and you think you should steal my money? WTF. Work your behind off like I have to everyday

Let me guess. You aren't a business owner. Because if you were the owner of a small business then you would understand how this all works and wouldn't make such ridiculous comments.

No. if some filthy rich person suddenly were poor, they wouldn't change, they would rather jump out of a window than to live like the rest of us.

How many rich people do you know that would do that? My guess is none. Why are you so against the rich? If a person has worked hard and made sacrifices to better themselves and earn a lot of money what's wrong with that?

Do you feel that the rich, who paid for college, made sacrifices and worked hard to succeed need to support those that chose not to work hard enough to even finish high-school and receive the FREE education that the government provided for them? Do you think that the rich that made good decisions that resulted in financial gain for them need to support those who didn't make good decisions and chose to have sex and get pregnant with no way to support themselves or their baby? Is it the duty of the government to FORCE someone to pay for the mistakes and bad decisions of others? If so, why?

Keep in mind that you don't know the charities that these "rich" people already give to in order to help society. How much of YOUR money do you give to support others?

The rich have been able to accumulate so much wealth because of the tax structure (which was designed to funnel money to them) and economic benefits provided by this country. If they lived in Somalia, they would not have what they now have. If they can take advantage of the economic conditions provided by America, why shouldn't they contribute to the maintenance of those conditions? I don't get it.

If you think the wealthy are getting the short end of the stick you are wrong. The evidence that the tax structure is designed to funnel wealth to the top is clear. According to the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities, the increase in wealth for the top 1% was 61% under the Bush tax cuts. The income increase for the bottom 90% under the Bush tax cuts was 3.8%. Yet the Republicans are asking the bottom 90% to "sacrifice" to save the economy that is screwing them over. WTF?

Heartlight, you do understand why the statistics work out that way don't you? Could it be that the top 2% of the taxpayers pay 50% of the taxes? Yes, no? See how that works? Is it fair that the minority of the citizens are soaked to fund all of this atrocious spending? I suppose you see nothing wrong with that.

Poor people do not create jobs.
You could confiscate all (100 percent) of the money & property of everyone making over 100 thousand a year & it would only run the government a few months. The problem is SPENDING, not revenue.
Capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. Socialism (like Bernie Sanders likes) is the equal sharing of misery.
America is equality of opportunity NOT equality of outcome. Bad choices have consequences.

Chris - I hope you never get old. After you have worked as hard as you can for 50 years, you deserve to be able to rest for the last few years before you die. How do you think the elderly should be "helping themselves"? They have contributed to social Security and Medicare for their entire working lives and now there is talk of taking away what they have been promised as a result of their hard work.

No one is talking about changing SS and Medicare for anyone 55 and over. There are minor adjustments in the Ryan plan for those under 55 depending on age. Do you people even know how to read??

black_belt3 - you must be young. You have no concept of how quickly a 55 year old becomes a 65 year old. The older you get the faster time goes. I remember when I was 55 and I thought 65 was a long ways away. It wasn't. It is amazing to listen to these young congress-people talking about reducing the safety net for people their age, not realizing how quickly their contemporaries will be the ones with no health care or reduced Social Security benefits.

Heart - I am 53 and am well aware how soon I will be 65. It was only 2 weeks ago that I was 33 - where did the last 20 years go??

If I understand right, the Ryan plan wants to privatise medicare. That's the hidden agenda behind the mask. I for one do not trust corporate America enough to turn our social services over to the private sector. If everyone had changed from social security to private investment for their retirement before the crash, where would they be now?

I could be seeing all this wrong, but at least that's the way I see it now. Debt crisis, smoke screen for social agenda, shell game, public not paying close enough attention, who walks off the winner? Certainly not the poor dope who was too busy watching Mexicans climb fences, haha. Diversionary tactics for a more sinister social agenda.

Debt crisis. Inflame the public with stories of 100,000 plus garbage men, etc. etc. Smoke and mirrors. Which shell is the pea under now. Diversionary tactic. Meantime bye bye unions........the real agenda behind the mask.

Same game being played all over america on one front or another. America needs to wake up and call these guys on it before it's too late.

Only in Washington can a budget that spends more than it did the year before, with a larger deficit, be portrayed as cutting. - Senator Rand Paul.

I think Washington all together has a problem with math. Then again...how many had public education. That could be the problem.

Has senator Rand Paul given up anything of his government entitlements yet. I`ll bet he makes more money than ever and enjoys the luxury of not worrying about health-care.

If he's worked hard to earn more money than ever and enjoys the luxury of not worrying about health-care then I say good for him. You have the right in this country to do the same. The pursuit of happiness remember. Get out and do something to earn more money and then enjoy it. People shouldn't expect it to just drop in their lap and then complain when other people have more than they do.

You don't know what the Senator has given up, but yet you speak of his money like he doesn't deserve to have it. Do you deserve the money that you work for? Why wouldn't he?

Kellshell, I can't deify Ryan like you can. He likes to scare little old ladies. He's not brave. He is a brash young whippersnapper who is clueless about the life of the average American, much less the average senior. He wants to break promises the government made after the great depression when people starved, in particular old folks. Most seniors right now are working to supplement their income because you can't make money on your money and they can't risk it in the stock market. I worked until I was 72. My husband is still working at 68. Ryan wants to take away the pittance we get from social security which is our safety net in times like these. We pursued happiness, saved, paid for our house, don't owe a dime. Apparently you have a silver spoon in your mouth and have never gone without a meal or struggled. I paid into SS for 45 years and Medicare for 30 years and pay premiums for Medicare and additional insurance. Indeed I am entitled. Are you aware that Social Security funded the View Nam war? That the government routinely raids tht fund? And it still has 2.2 trillion dollars in it? Why should seniors have to give it up? So I hear you saying to a 75 year old, go out and get a job? Time will take care of you. If you're lucky you'll live to 75, I wonder what tune you'll sing.

I wasn't talking about Ryan, but just so you know...I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I have worked hard for all that I have, and even paid my way through college by working two full time jobs. I have no tolerance for those who are too lazy to work because they expect the government to give them everything. I'm sorry that you have to work at your age; I hope I won't have to. I also think that all those who have paid into the system need to get back what they've paid in all these years. However, I do not think the government needs to continue to pay for everything for everybody. We have too many people using and abusing the system. Maybe if the illegal citizens, those who lie about their income and others who abuse the system were not paid for, then maybe you would not have to work right now, but since the politicians don't want to make any type of changes to the government programs and want to continue to just give everyone hand outs, then we can't afford to pay for our citizens that deserve it.

Kellshell,

It's too easy to think of everyone who receives any kind of social service to be a lazy ass who doesn't want to work and just want everything handed to them. I'm sure there are enough of them, but they are by far not the majority. It's too easy to think of all corporations as greedy asses who will beat the system any way they can just to make a better bottom line........but I doubt if that describes the majority of them. I'm sure there are enough of them, though.

So where does that leave us? I'm sure most of us are glad that people like you were able to make the dream work........by your hard work. But don't get to thinking that makes you some kind of better person and start looking down on those who slipped along the way or were never given the chance.

I agree we have too many abusing the system. Both down at the bottom and up at the top. We should direct our disgust and anger at the abusers, not the class.

Summertime - you assume that ryans plan is the only plan. it isn't. One plan was given to obama in december and promptly ignored by him until what should have been simple budgetary cuts bacame a battleground last week.

Obamas budget commission has a written plan, ryan has a written plan, the gang of 6 is working on a written plan, pelosi and reid have no plan and obama has a written speech and political rhetoric. You should be thankful that the democrats no longer control both congress and the white house. Now both parties have to come up with a common plan.

You are so right. It is SOCIETY who should take care of the week and the needy not the GOVERNMENT!

oops..I meant the weak not week...sorry.

Kellshell.....So you think we should start little clubs and knock on doors or just let one large organization do the job? These social programs are INSURANCE policies meant to allow people access to medical care. You"re right, it"s not the governments problem to care for it"s citizens.

They call themselves the Tea Party. The "tea" they want to drink is the blood of the poor and middle class.

Keeshell, we are the society, we are the government.

Mack that's just a stupid comment.

Summertime- We are the society, but we are NOT the government. WE the people put the people into office that will run the government, but we are NOT the government. Society has the choice to do things like give to different charities help individuals, and things like that. The government FORCES people to give to things rather or not they want to. I have no desire whatsoever to give money to planned parenthood organizations, but the government takes my tax money and gives it to them even though I am against their abortion services. I have no choice.

Kellshell You do know that federal law prohibits Planned Parenthood from using any federal funds for abortion. They can't use it for abortions PERIOD. The money they get is for womens health screenings and medical services. Since you are against abortion you should want to support Planned Parenthood since they provide contraception advice which ptrvrnt pregnancies.

Kellshell, we are supposed to be the government. That's what democracy means. Of the people, by the people and for the people. However, lately, it seems the government has lost sight of that and now the government is of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations. The people are just a pesky little detail that interferes with the acquisition of profit. Perhaps if we just starve the people, the corporations can succeed in...what? What will they (and you) have?

I don't support them. I don't want my money to be used to keep their doors open. There are so many government programs already in place to help women go to the doctor. They can go to clinics all over for free birth control. There is no need for them when services like theirs can be provided elsewhere. There have been too many instances where their corruption shines through. I don't want a dime of my money going to them, but again...I have no choice in the matter.

Heartlight- I don't understand why you say that the gov. sees people as details that interferes with profit? With all of the Freebees that our government hands out, and all of the people that use and abuse the money that is given to the government. I don't see it the same as you do at all. But I do agree that the government has lost sight of what democracy means.

Kellshell, we are indeed the government. Government of, by and for the people. That's us. Yes we elect people to actually serve, but they keep their jobs by our vote.

By paying taxes, you enable the government to take care of the infrastructure that makes it possible for you to live, work and enjoy your spare time. The government spends that money in different ways. I don't like my money being spent for wars, or subsidies for big oil, or gun rights, or a host of other things. I have no choice. But that's the tradeoff I make to have roads, and defense and clean water.

Ignorance is bliss.

Michael - Now there's a thought. I was for outlawing lobbists, but you have a better idea, tax 'em. I like it.

Madison - I think he's doing a stellar job. Especially in light of the Republicans pulling their usual tactics. Throw women, the elderly, disabled, disadvantaged, poor, sick children under the bus, then giving huge tax breaks to people who don't need it. Then give the DOD another 6 billion for wars. This is insane. No regulation for big corporations so they can do as they please including paying no taxes. There are 10,000 places to cut money rather that take it out of the hides of the people who most need it. By the way, name calling doesn't make for intelligent discourse.

I'm a lib and I don't want to destroy this country. I just want to give the best president we have had in 40 years more time to fix what the repubs have screwed up. He already stopped us from going into a depression and has us moving in the right direction. 6 more years should do it.

It's going to be very hard for Obama to lose in 2012, when there isn't anybody running against him.

Bill, not as much as the Tea Party does.

Pauly - good post - spot on!

Pauly I don't agree that he is the worst President but your hero worship is a bit misplaced. The "best" really?

Sorry Bruce 6 more years. Deal with it.

Dennis Kucinich has a better chance of getting elected in 2012 than 0blamer. People get it now - see Nov 2010 results. WIth $5 gallon gas 0bummer has no chance.

It need a brain to be a Republican otherwise you have to settle being a low class Democrat.

Chris that was COLD but so true >>>> LOL LOL LOL >>>> Oh you forgot and a SHEEP

If I was very rich or very stupid I would be a republican.

Who says you can't be all three? This is America, damn it!!

with that attitude you will always sponge off others and you still bite the hand that feeds you. Fine, I will just stop working, fire all my employees and retire. No more sponging off me and you can pay the unemployment benefits to my ex employees, happy now?

But since your very poor and stupid you're a democrat instead. Get the free stuff while you can, and as much as you can. Right? Is your motto: Let the Big ol' bad rich people pay my way! I'm a proud freeloading slacker!

I guess that means Kellshell is not rich?

Chris - you are obviously very stupid - but please continue to vote the way you have been. We don't want you.

Who do you think the wealthy are? You seem to be so eager to raise taxes on them. Do you realize that small businesses that will not be able to hire middle class citizens because of tax increases are the "wealthy" that you're referring too? Small business has already been screwed thanks to Obama's healthcare, now with the tax increases on small businesses how does he expect small business to expand and hire new employees, which will....guess what... GROW THE ECONOMY and CREATE JOBS. But let's not worry about that. Let's just get more money out of those bad old rich people. The fact that they only pay 80% of all income taxes in this country just isn't enough.

Please tell me where are these jobs. Trickle down has done nothing to create jobs. These wealthy people pocketed the money and want more from the middle class. These greedy SOBs want to get to the point that they starve the middle -class into taking what they want them to have which is not enough to live on never mind get ahead on. Then they wish we will shut up and accept it. It`s all BS

Kellshell - I'm not wealthy by a long shot, but I'm willing for a 10% tax hike. I live on a small retirement and Social Security. Why can't people who make $250,000 do the same. The tax rate on the highest wage earners was up to 82% before Reagan. It's now 25%. I pay 25%. The wealthy have even volunteered to pay more taxes. They know what it takes to run government. We haven't been asked to pay more taxes. The tax breaks for the wealthy were given so they could create jobs, but they aren't doint it. The banks are sitting on trillions of $ that was supposed to go into the economy, but they're waiting for higher interest rates. The big corporations are shipping jobs overseas that they were given tax breaks to hire here in the U. S. The oil companies were given the right to drill three oil wells where only one was authorized before, they did and they capped the wells waiting until they could make bigger profits. The only way out of this is not just to cut spending, it is to raise taxes and most Americans realize this and are willing, eliminate government waste, cut the military in half which is viable. We don't need 900 military bases on foreign soil. We could cut 1/3 and send the military to Iraq and Afghanistan and bring our National Guard home which is where they belong. We need government regulation of Wall Street, banks, energy, or they'll do it again. I can just hear the Republicans screaming. When are you Republicans going to realize you can't keep giving away the ranch to big business and special interests. We know you're bought and paid for by the ilk of the Koch brothers, but at least you could make a show about caring for the country and the people.

You don't know what you're talking about Barb.H. My husband has a small business. The additional money that he has to pay for Obama's healthcare has prevented him from expanding his business due to costs. He also planned on hiring two additional positions, but isn't going to until he can see what these tax hikes are going to be like for his business. This has nothing to do with our family spending, but everything to do with rather or not my husband can hire two new employees or not. Just in my husbands business this increase will cut two jobs. Not create jobs. If this is the case in my husband's company then it's likely that it is the same in other small businesses. Stop looking at the "wealthy" as people sitting in their mansions like Donald Trump. The people that the Government considers "wealthy" are small businesses like my husbands, but WE my family live a middle class life.

Think about that before you're so quick to say raise taxes on the rich.

Summertime...I find it interesting that you think we're giving away the bank to big businesses. I'm talking about small businesses that create jobs. You state that you know that we're "bought and paid for by the like of the Koch brothers" You obviously don't have a clue about Republicans. When you talk about caring for the country and the people why don't you show more interest in encouraging the American people to better themselves with education and hard work instead of trying to give them everything. Why would people choose to work hard for more money when they can be total slackers and have long term housing, foodstamps, medical care, and even free education that many on these government programs don't take advantage of. One day you may see that GIVING someone everything is not what is best for them and certainly not the place of the Government to do. It is society that should take care of the weak and needy not the government. It is YOU that should care more about the people of this country.

Kellshell

90% of the wealth in this country is held by 1% of Americans who, contrary to what you wrote, pay less than 20% of taxes in this country. You friends with Sen. Kyl?

I am sorry, but 250,000 is not rich, not in California. Its more like middle class.

Kell - Small business is not "wealthy". Most are "middle class" below $250,000. Please see June, FL post for wealthy corporations that pay little or no tax, it's criminal!!!!

Some are middle class but many are above the $250000 mark which makes them "rich" in the eyes of the government.

Keshell, I was raised in a Republican family, the granddaughter of a speaker of the house of representatives. I worked for the Republican party until I saw the economic destruction brought about by the Reagan administration with his trickle down theory and deregulation. I became a democrat 16 years ago. The Republican party isn't what it used to be. No way can I support a party that can't take care of its people and sells out to special interests. I too have owned a small business and I know its harder than when I was in business. Having worked for big business, I still consider owning a small business the best of all possible worlds. And as I small business owner I never made $100,000 a year, still don't, but, although it would be a hardship I would pay 10% more in taxes and I think most Americans would. They just haven't been asked. Warren Buffet said he would, they didn't ask him so he gave his money to charity. I don't understand the Ryan plan that only wants to eliminate or cut back social programs, NPR, EPA and not close tax loopholes, cut back the DOD. Even Gates said there could be a lot trimmed out of defense. Why throw grandma under the bus and give 6 billion more $ to the Pentagon. We could close 1/3 of the overseas military bases. There are 10,000 ways to cut spending without injuring the people who need it the most.

Kellshell.....You need to go back and reread your posts, from the point of view of the working poor. The people your "middle class" husband hires for his small business. The health care that Obama has "forced" him to provide for his employees, not only helps the employees and their families but the public in general because the people no longer have to seek their health care from the most expensive source, the ER. If the public has less to pay for the poor to use the ER it saves the public money and helps everyone. Maybe from your point of view you are the middle class, but from the point of view of main stream America, the working public and the long term unemployeed, you are in fact the wealthy.

Mac- My husband's employees are middle class workers, not working poor. They are also unhappy with the Obama healthcare plan and would rather have had the insurance that they originally had, but due to the Obama healthcare their previous insurance had to increase their prices, which made it unaffordable. Trust me. The employees at my husband's company do not see the Obama healthcare in the same light as you do.

You also stated that from the point of view of main stream America I am in fact wealthy. I wonder what that would matter?

Summertime- I find it very interesting that you say "No way can I support a party that can't take care of its people and sells out to special interests." The Democratic party does that all the time.

To Kellshell.. I sense you have a complete disconnect. You say society should take care of the weak and needy. What does that mean? Do you mean the weak and needy have to beg for handouts from churches or other organizations? Maybe you you forget (since Reagan made a point of demonizing the government) society IS the government and vice versa. It is a legimate role of government to provide the assistance you admit society owes its most needy members. There are plenty of 3rd world countries out there as examples of what happens when governments don't take on that task.

Kellshell - I am a small employer as well. If 0bummercare is ruled constitutional - which I doubt - I will quit offering health care and pay the fines. Just what 0bummer wants so he can take over HC - but he will be gone on Jan 20 2013 so I don't have to worry.

I don't understand what you mean when you say I have a complete disconnect. I do think it is society that should take care of our weak and needy. Do you think the American people are only willing to help those in need when the government forces them too?

You say that it is a legitimate role of the government to provide assistance to it's most needy members. Where in our Constitution does it say that? Our government officials are supposed to be upholding the Constitution, not creating new ways to give people things.

Don't get me wrong. I am all for HELPING those in need. I am NOT for supporting long term those who are to lazy to get an education and a job and abuse the systems that our government set in place to HELP. How many people within our public housing systems are third and fourth generations living in our public housing. THIS IS AN ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM. We can't support everyone. Instead of taking care of the needy we have made it so those who don't want to work don't have to.

All of our giving has damaged many of the American people, because it's made them have no reason to get out and better themselves.

to all..

this system of things is on its way out. no matter who you vote for for whatever reasons, the end draws nearer because they themselves are controlling the polls. the winner has already been chosen.they lead the world into the great tribulation that soon you will see with your own eyes. then religion itself gets attacked. thats when you know the end of this world is here. i tell you this so that everyone who reads gets a heads up to whats next on their agenda.

the rest of the bull**** they feed you through the media doesnt matter!

a message to politicians:heey i got a great idea..kill yourself.

Be careful what you wish for. They may go after you next.

Be careful what you wish for They may come after you next.