THIS WAS POSTED BY ME YESTERDAY AND THE USUAL PEOPLE THAT CANNOT STAND THE TRUTH COLLAPSED IT. REMEMBER THE FLACK LAST WEEK ABOUT COLLAPASING. MORE RETORIC NOT SUPPORTED BY ACTUAL DEEDS.

Also this information about the Stalling tactics of the right to deliberately destroy the economy for pure Political Gain was the talk on many pundit sows yesterday. Seems many are just now starting to connect the dots that I have been warning people about for the last year plus. Well people are starting to see what many of us here have saw going on within the GOP/TP. And they are not happy in what they see that the New GOP/TP Party has become.

The Debt Ceiling “Dog and Pony Show” continues with no end in site. President Obama had a very strong speech yesterday laying out his agenda; again, and it is apparent that the GOP/TP is not remotely serious about the Debt Ceiling discussions at all. They are offering nothing and stalling the process betting on the total collapse of the economy to win back the White House. Cantor and Kyl proved this with their little public stunt with their pre-planned walk out of the meeting. President Obama pretty much has put everything on the table. He mentioned the DOD, Tax Reform, Entitlements, Spending Cuts, getting rid of subsidies for Big Oil and asks those who have benefited the most over the last 50 years to start paying their fair share. What is the GOP/TP stance, keep the record Tax Cuts for the Millionaires/Billionaires – in fact give them even more tax cuts, increase DOD spending (look at the recent Boeing fraud on America), keep the tax incentives for Big Business (including allowing them to hide profits in off shore accounts and farm jobs overseas). These guys (GOP/TP) are not for “Economic Reform” at all. It is all about “Stalling” and creating economic chaos. This is a “POWER” grab by the right. Look at what they are doing at the State Level – GO OHIO!

Spending Cuts to Non-Military Discretionary spending alone is not the answer. Tax Cuts for the 2% does not create and Jobs nor does it stimulate the economy – they have to go. This is the GOP/TP proposal; cut spending on programs that are primarily for the middle and low income class and give more record tax cuts to the 2% and increased DOD Spending. This will not work to get us out of this mess.

Repealing the Tax Cuts of the 2% alone will not get us out of this mess either.

What every economist (republican and democrat) of note is saying and has been saying is that the position (agenda) of President Obama is the correct one. We need “Spending Cuts” AND “Increased Revenues”. Until the GOP/TP gets real and starts talking about increasing revenues we are going nowhere fast. In fact the GOP/TP plan will make matters worse and put this country into default.

Wall Street is already making noise telling the GOP/TP to stop the politics and work out a deal.

Since president Obama’s speech yesterday the right wing pundits are still stuck on stupid and are still trying to make President Obama the scape goat for this mess. Not so fast see below:

http://www.cbpp.org/files/5-10-11bud.pdf

Tax Cuts, War Costs Do Lasting Harm to Budget Outlook

“Some lawmakers, pundits, and others continue to say that President George W. Bush’s policies did not drive the projected federal deficits of the coming decade — that, instead, it was the policies of President Obama and Congress in 2009 and 2010. But, the fact remains: the economic downturn, President Bush’s tax cuts and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq explain virtually the entire deficit over the next ten years”.

“The deficit for fiscal year 2009 — which began more than three months before President Obama’s inauguration — was $1.4 trillion and, at 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the largest deficit relative to the economy since the end of World War II. At $1.3 trillion and nearly 9 percent of GDP, the deficit in 2010 was only slightly lower. If current policies remain in place, deficits will likely resemble those figures in 2011 and hover near $1 trillion a year for the next decade”.

“The events and policies that pushed deficits to these high levels in the near term were, for the most part, not of President

Obama’s making. If not for the Bush tax cuts, the deficit-financed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effects of the worst recession since the Great Depression (including the cost of policymakers’ actions to combat it), we would not be facing these huge deficits in the near term. By themselves, in fact, the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will account for almost half of the $20 trillion in debt that, under current policies, the nation will owe by 2019. The stimulus law and financial rescues will account for less than 10 percent of the debt at that time”.

The GOP/TP just will not accept the responsibility for creating this mess to begin with. Read the above analysis in detail and judge for yourself. The GOP/TP is lying through their teeth in blaming President Obama. Right now he is the only one who is doing anything to move this country forward. He is the only one that is putting everything on the table. The only thing the GOP/TP is doing is trying to stop him at every corner, no matter what damage is being done, that is their mission in life – Stop President Obama from getting reelected at all costs and the hell with the American People, we do not count in their global scheme of things. We just do not. Only Wall Street, Big Business and the Millionaires and Billionaires carry any weight with the right. PERIOD. But again after all they did buy their votes.

The new CBS Poll (for you poll dancers) claims that only 8% of the American People blame President Obama for the economy. That is about one in twelve blame President Obama. 26% blame the Bush Administration, 25% blame Wall Street, 11 % blame Congress. Finally people are starting to understand where the blame belongs for this mess. At the feet of the GOP/TP Party.

Looks like another rat is abandoning the sinking ship SS Barry. Little Timmy is the final member of Barry’s original economic team to wake up and smell the dismal stench of failure. That’s not surprising, he was clearly never the sharpest knife in the drawer. This will clear the decks for Barry to bring in somebody new and try to sell the American people the same old, same old, “hope and change” crappola for the 2012 election. Of course, it will be repackaged with some new catchy slogan, maybe “Elect me for four more years and this time I’ll get it right, after all, even a broken clock gets the time right twice a day”.

Politico is reporting that possible replacements being considered include several Wall Street bankers, GE CEO Jeff Immelt, and Erskine Bowles, the co-chair of Barry’s debt/deficit commission whose recommendations Barry completely ignored. This would be funny, if it wasn’t so tragically pathetic.

From the NY Times:

Geithner Staying (for Now)

By MARK LANDLER

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Thursday that he planned to stay in his job “for the foreseeable future.”

Normally, that would not qualify as news. But Mr. Geithner’s comments came in a frenzied afternoon of speculation after news reports that he was considering leaving the Obama administration in the coming months, after a deal is reached with Congress to reduce the budget deficit.

Mr. Geithner’s comments, made at a conference in Chicago organized by former President Bill Clinton, were clearly intended to douse that speculation, underscoring how worried the White House is about the potentially destabilizing effect of his departure as it struggles with a fragile recovery and holds tough negotiations with Congress to avert a debt crisis.

Steven Colbert aka PAC MAN:

Scanning the news, I see that Steven Colbert has received permission to have his own superPAC. That's cool that a regular citizen can raise money to financially support candidates running for office. I have some favorite candidates so perhaps I should start my own Political Action Committee (PAC).

The problem is that I have never administered a PAC before, so before I do, maybe I should consult an expert like Karl Rove. Karl will give his advice if you are willing to pay him dearly. Karl might tell you how to get rich forming a PAC, how to keep half the PAC money for yourself and not get caught, how to stay out of jail, and how to get inside that empty space known as Bush's brain.

That was helpful. Now all I need to do is contact some wealthy people who have more money than common sense. That's relatively easy among Republicans. Sarah Palin is still receiving donations and she isn't even running. But receiving donations from Democrats is a tad bit harder. They work for a living, they have to pay their mortgage and put food on the table, and their taxes keep going up to cover the tax breaks for the wealthy. Middle-class Americans don't have much discretionary money.

So if any of you Republicans have some extra money and you don't know what to do with it, send it to Ron Indiana. Large donations are gladly accepted; the bigger the better. Taking a page from Karl Rove, I promise I will keep half.

So Obama scurried off yesterday to a couple of more fund raisers in Philadelphia. I'm sure he enjoyed giving another speech and collecting $10,000 each from the fat-cats that attended, some of them I'm certain arriving in their corporate jets for the event.

MSNBC has lost credibility as a network. Professionalism is not in its repertoire.

Is this blog an arm of Think Progress?.....just wondering

Ron, Indiana:

So if any of you Republicans have some extra money and you don't know what to do with it, send it to Ron Indiana. Large donations are gladly accepted; the bigger the better. Taking a page from Karl Rove, I promise I will keep half.

Too, too funny, Ron. I'd really like to see you try it. My check is already in the mail.

Albany Joe:

Politico is reporting that possible replacements being considered include several Wall Street bankers, GE CEO Jeff Immelt, and Erskine Bowles, the co-chair of Barry’s debt/deficit commission whose recommendations Barry completely ignored. This would be funny, if it wasn’t so tragically pathetic.

Good lord, I wish Paul Samuelson was still alive. You can parse this any way you like, but it will be same old, same old.

MSNBC has lost credibility as a network.

_______________________________________

MSNBC lost any credibility years ago when it became MSDNC.

Another summer of Obama’s discontent?…

Something that's over looked in the narrative...

2007 - Candidate Obama went on to beat Hillary Clinton

2008 - Candidate Obama went on the beat John McCain

2009 - President Obama got HCR PASSED

2010 - What the hell does the worst preventable disaster in this country's history, have to do with the President? Was HE the one who blew up the BP rig in the name of the almighty $$$???

Minnesota's leftist governor is playing the same game in that state that Obama and the Democrats are for the nation. The Minnesota Governor, Mark Dayton, wants to do the same old worn out populist class-warfare ideas like "tax the rich " (except there aren't enough "rich" to tax) and kick the debt problems of the state down the road to be handled later, all the while protecting the unions from paying their fair share. Other states with new Republican governors like Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Jersey can successfully deal with the financial messes the Democrats created in those states. But Dayton is an old time liberal, sold out to the unions, and now his state is shut down. Nice job Dayton.

From the the Minnesota Star Tribune: "The union-backed Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a key factor in Dayton's campaign last year, will run radio ads over the weekend . . . "

Of course they will. This is what happens when unions run states, the states get insanely in-debt, and they shut down.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/124824189.html

Louis J:

MSNBC has been going down hill especially the early morning shows which have the lowest ratings. Joe in the morning in nothing more than a camp fire for has beens. People who are no longer relevant trying to garner some limelight.

American:

If you do not like it here go swoop and poop someplace else. We will not miss you. All you do is whine anyway and this site is slow enough.

Albany Joe:

MSNBC lost any credibility years ago when it became MSDNC.

Was that before or after Fox became FAUXgop? Or was it always FAUXgop?

If you do not like it here go swoop and poop someplace else. We will not miss you. All you do is whine anyway and this site is slow enough.

They'll be gone soon enough Navy... it won't take long for Newsvine to figure out they're a 're-tread' of a previously banned poster....

Not long at all! lol

As has been discussed, what has happened to the moderate Republicans that we use to respect? Today such figures as Ronald Regan and John Warner would be thrown out of the Republican Party as being too moderate.

The current Republicans -Tea People, who are being propped up by the likes of such groups like the Koch Brothers, have one agenda and that is to see President Obama fail. They are rabid in trying to obtain that goal, without considering the consequences to the United States and our citizens. They block and stall progress in an effort to make President Obama a one term President, no matter the cost to the nation.

The best thing we Progressives and Moderates can do to counter act this attack from the extreme right is to continue to talk and brand these extremist evil doers for what they are. Then, we have to continue to encourage the President to keep up the fight against these same extremist, who want to destroy our President, at no matter what the cost is in obtaining their goal in getting at the President and making him fail.

People who don't like the President participating in campaign fund-raisers ought to support public campaign finance. Most likely, they don't. They just don't like that the President happens to be doing it.

If you think it's a waste of time for the President to do it, then how do you think Congress does it? I heard a Congressman on the radio the other day talk about how it takes at least a couple of hours out of every day and that they all know they have to raise upwards of $20,000 A DAY just to survive.

People accuse President Obama of selling out by having a $5 raffle ticket fund-raising campaign. What buys more influence, do you think? A $5 raffle ticket or those $20,000 a plate dinners that Republicans often sponsor?

Republicans may not like it when the President plays their game -- more successfully than they do -- but they have absolutely nothing to complain about, and complaining about the game they invented just makes them hypocrites.

Bag Boy said we could use that term because it's factual. Hypocrites. Exactly so.

bob:

Good morning. Like I said yesterday, your personal attention flatters me. Truly.

Here is the problem that I have bob - there is no "right way" to eat a turd sandwich.

And what passes for "analysis" these days is folks pretending like if only President Obama had bit the turd sandwich differently, fried it instead of boiled it, ate it in the Oval Office instead of in Ireland, things would be much different.

The simple fact is bob, our political system is broken and has been co-opted by folks with lots and lots of money. These folks are being "represented" in government because they paid to be represented.

Me? Not so much.

So in closing, in my humble and useless opinion, it is a complete waste of time and disingenuous to pretend that President Obama is making all the wrong moves. Because, when you look at the collasal domestic and foreign policy crap cake he was left, he has done better than expected by any measure.

I object to the personal and ridiculous way folks like yourself attempt to bamboozle us with bullsh!t daily in an attempt to show that it is not decades of failed policies and bad decisions that is to blame, it is poor people with mortgages and a dude who has been in office eating turd sandwiches for less than three years.

Yeah, there is lots of blame to go around, both sides, blah, blah, blah . . . but the lax regulations and "pro growth" agenda of the last decade, coupled with doing lots of crap like going to war without paying for it, and adding in reduced revenue through tax cuts created this. Period.

P.S. My second pet peeve is how wise folks like yourself sit idly by while folks say stuff that you KNOW is not true. What's up with that bob?

"Teapublicans aren't the only ones who can play 'hardball'! lol"

You mean like Halperin?

Mark Halperin plays your style of 'hardball', Feisty.

Odd...you didn't seem to enjoy it much, did you?

That's not all I suggested, Anna Molly.

Really?

You want to crusade against hypocrisy?

You love irony a little too much.

There's no question that Bachmann looks crazy to reasonable people, but in reality is just telling her base what they want to hear. She has an ability to avoid her most controversial comments when she has a wide, moderate audience while telling red meat Conservative audiences what she REALLY thinks. Hiding her real beliefs and plans should be a huge red flag for the rest of us. Then again it's become common practice for Conservative Republicans and too often it's ignored in the press.

Meanwhile The GOPTP continues its strategy to do nothing, give no ground while claiming to work on the people's business. This time it CAN'T work, the stakes are too great;

Mark Zandi, a prominent economic forecaster, says the US economy will gather steam in the second six months of 2011 – unless Congress fails to raise the government debt limit. In that case, “we go into recession, and my forecast would be blown out of the water,” he said Tuesday at a Monitor-hosted breakfast for reporters.

The chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, Dr. Zandi expects economic output to be growing at about a 4 percent rate by the end of 2011, versus 1.9 percent in the first three months of the year. “Weights on the economy are lifting,” he said, referring to diminishing effects of higher oil and food prices, as well as the impact of the Japanese tsunami on auto production.

Zandi remains wary of the return of high gas prices, he says, and thinks unemployment will fall slowly, but he remains cautiously optimistic about the overall economic recovery.

But Zandi's relatively upbeat outlook would change abruptly if Congress and the Obama administration fail to agree on a plan to raise the federal debt ceiling by August 2, requiring the government to dramatically curtail operations.

“If we get to August 2 and there is no debt ceiling limit, and there has to be significant spending cuts – even if Congress and the administration reverse themselves days later, I think the damage will have been serious, and we probably would be thrown into a recession,” Zandi said.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2011/0628/Top-economist-Raise-the-debt-ceiling-or-blow-the-recovery-out-of-the-water?cmpid=ema%3Anws%3ANjQxOTk3NTE1NQS2

Even CONSERVATIVE economists are becoming alarmed that Republicans are playing chicken with the world's economy. Their determination to remake America into a new aristocracy, ruled by wealth, might, and fundamentalist theology makes them willing to create yet another recession.

They should be ashamed of themselves, but they're so sure in their rightness it will never occur to them to feel that emotion. It's up to us as average Americans to stop them, instead.

Anna Molly:

True. The GOP/TP thinks only they can do certain things, like Super Pacs, etc. They even have sitting SCOTUS Justices doing fund raising but no complaints there.

They always accuse and take to task other people for doing exactly the same thing they do every day. Yes - HYPOCRISY is the word and it is not unique to one party or the other, just seems in the current political environment one side is more guilty than the other - In this case the GOP/TP gives HYPOCRISY new meaning.

The best thing we Progressives and Moderates can do to counter act this attack from the extreme right is to continue to talk and brand these extremist evil doers for what they are.

The best thing the Progressives can do is come up with a budget and a plan for the soaring debt they have incurred the last 2.5 years. But hey, if it's easier for you to just spin, b*tch and moan, and complain about people you disagree with, I say go for it.

To US Navy...

All you do is whine anyway

Please provide an example of this as I only started posting here several days ago.

To Feisty Redhead...

They'll be gone soon enough Navy... it won't take long for Newsvine to figure out they're a 're-tread' of a previously banned poster....

Not long at all! lol

I'm not sure who you are refering to, but I sense a bit of fear...I asked you a question yesterday, but you did not respond. Is this just an attack site for anyone who disagrees with your position?

Crazy Idea .....

As everyone knows, unemployment was 7.2% when Obama came into office. He promised if we spent almost a trillion, unemployment would not exceed 8%, if we did not spend the money it could hit 9%. He spent the money and unemployment went to 10.1%, twice as bad as his own worst case scenario if we had not spent the trillion......

What if Obama had just taken the $830,000,000,000.00 stimulus and had just given an average of $60,000.00 to every employer to not layoff or rehire, everyone of the 14 million unemployed?

Zero unemployment.

I know that would be just 1 year ....... but since Obama is overspending by $1.65 trillion this year, and since that is double the stimulus ..... wouldn't that buy another 2 years?

Gosh zero unemployment for 3 years.

With 14 million working, buying stuff, paying taxes ..... the money in the private sector where it always is in growing economies .....

Of course the wife couldn't blow $800,000.00 on vacation for the kiddos, we couldn't give all those billions to foreign countries to develop their energy industries ....... we couldn't blow $25 million a day in Libya, Obama couldn't expand the size of government .......

yea nevermind ..... that last stuff is more important - but it does demonstrate how much Obama has wasted for nothing.

Maybe Obama can declare this the "Summer of Recovery Part 2" to help his tanking approval ratings... you know, because in his opinion the American public is too dumb to recognize the economic reality all around them.

It is hilarious after months and months of calling M. Bachmann "bat$^^##crazy, etc. that all of a sudden she is "crazy like a fox?????" Just a coincidence that the dems talking heads on TV started talking about how she is a formidable candidate and challenger LMAO!!!!!! I wonder if Chris Matthews will stop his personal attacks. Again, not an original thought coming from those who make a sham of this string.

Sen. Mitch McConnell's "invitation" yesterday was but another GOP effort to skew the conversation away from the criticism the President leveled during his news conference. It was, typically, entirely cynical - especially since the President had invited Republican leadership to meet with him at the White House next Wednesday for the same discussion.

This scenario begins to look more and more like that encountered by FDR in 1935, leading up to the 1936 election year. He responded also by putting more pressure on Congressional leaders to enact his programs.

One tactic FDR used that President Obama should well consider is writing his own bills, and then delivering them to the Hill. President Obama, by character, is more of a general policy person who sets goals and parameters, then expects members of Congress to do their jobs in formulating the actual legislation. That absolutely caused difficulty with the Health Care Access legislation, and it is now past time for the President to tell his staff to roll up their sleeves.

As for the Republican Presidential primary circus - the clown car just keeps rolling into heaps of elephant dung.

• Romney denies what he really DID say, essentially admitting that he and the entire GOP/TP chorus has been smearing the achievements of President Obama.
• Bachmann aligns herself in her campaign launch speech with one of history's most repellent serial killers, John Wayne Gacy - continuing her string of ridiculous gaffes and proving she just never comes prepared to class.
• Jon Hunstman's own staff misspells his name on materials used for his candidacy announcement, and to boot screws up the alignment of his speaking platform so that his intended Statue of Liberty backdrop just shows a fine view of the statue's pedestal.
• Sarah Palin bootstraps everyone's appearances so she can feed her ego, build her bank accoount and disrupt the other candidates.

All elephant dung.

PS - Ron, do you accept credit/debit cards?

Anna Molly, where do I go to get one of those $5 raffle tickets to support President Obama? I realize that's an insignificant to the Teapublican financiers and the purveyors of Citizens United legalized bribery, but 2008 proved there's a lot more of us ordinary Americans than there are of the wealthy elites.

Their money managed to buy an election in 2010, but with Republican buyers remorse running rampant it'll be much more difficult in 2012. Iowa is one of several states in which Tea Party-backed governors would lose in a landslide now. If only the voters knew then what we know now. It looks like we'll manage to avoid a government shutdown here, but only because reasonable Republicans and Democrats ignored every demand Governor Branstad said he had to meet in order to sign a budget.

Meanwhile in other states the people are already rolling back the draconian measures of the GOPTP. In Ohio the anti-worker bill rammed through to please Tea Party Governor Kasich will be on the ballot in November, thanks to the collection of over 4 times the signatures needed to make it happen. http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/jun/30/13m-seek-vote-on-sb-5/

Sorry. She is b@tsh!t crazy, like a fox. So was Hitler.

Careful, bob-

Raising the issue of the 8% unemployment ceiling forecast, as outlined by the incoming Obama economic team in January 2009 (most of whom have since departed the scene for obvious reasons) if only their stimulus plan were implemented, is likely to get you branded a liar by the usual suspects.

Again.

They already plan to ask Mark Murray how to "deal with" you.

Don't push it.

Bag Boy:

You love irony a little too much.

Way too much, Bag Boy. Or alternatively, not enough to recognize it when I see it. As yesterday certainly proved.

But don't worry. I still love you. Oh dear, I hope that doesn't make me a hypocrite, or something. ;-)

JAS1 :Obama's behavior has been nothing short of bizarre, disconnected from reality, and offensive to most of the country

I have been thinking the same thing. The other day I mentioned that he seems to be flaunting this behavior, almost sticking the proverbial "Middle Finger" at not just the Republicans, but the Press and the American Public in General.

That, AM?

No...that wouldn't make you a hypocrite.

:-)

RE: AMERICAN!!!!!

He registered this month, and his first two posts were last Wednesday. Both, interestingly, were the "x" placeholders used to try and prevent a string from being collapsed. Usually bloggers here take some time to learn that trick - not a first-timeer as this person avers he is.

His post #1.7 above, about this blog being dominated by Think Progress, is rather intriguing, too. A citation from that site does not necessarily reflect any kind of domination. But if a blogger makes such an observation, then it obviously relfects past experience - under another name.

BUSTED!!!!!!

Anna Molly, Feisty, and US Navy:

Anna Molly, I cut my Economics teeth on Paul Samuelson. A few months ago, I bought a more recent copy of his great textbook. I decided to read it again. (It's a genuine multi-purpose book. Chock full of simple economic truths AND it can be used as a weapon. Hit someone with that thing and they're going down for the count.) In any case, I am reminded that the foundation of Economics is the assumption that the decisions guiding consumers are rational.

Consumers are anything but rational and that's the real reason the right-wing mantra regarding uncertainty about government policy is such a crock. Customers/consumers are the very essence of uncertainty. If you can figure them out, you will make money and you KNOW what you are going to pay in taxes. Death and taxes......that's certainty. Most small business people - the Mom and Pop shops, the true single-proprietorships, and the like know the truth. They sure as hell aren't the ones buying lobbyists. They're too busy trying to keep their customers happy.

Feisty and USN:

This back-door subsidy to religion has gone on for quite some time. How anyone can find deductions for salvation payments to churches/synagogues/temples/tabernacles/etc. to be Constitutional truly the "divine mystery". That is de facto AND de jure government support of religion. Something about the First Amendment comes to mind.

President George Bush the younger truly opened the front door with his "faith-based initiatives". The Bachmann's shine a very bright light on the obvious problems inherent in any program run by people who have a religious agenda.

Although I find the notion of an invisible sky guy to be ridiculous, if people wish to believe in such a creature that is their right. The right to be free of ANY government interference in religion is enshrined in the First Amendment. Practicing their religion is one thing. Including that religion in the practice of "medicine" is very, very disturbing and very, very wrong when it is facilitated with taxpayer money.

John A: Sen. Mitch McConnell's "invitation" yesterday was but another GOP effort to skew the conversation away from the criticism the President leveled during his news conference. It was, typically, entirely cynical - especially since the President had invited Republican leadership to meet with him at the White House next Wednesday for the same discussion.

This Thursday, next Wednesday, a week from Friday, whatever. It's not like anyone should be in any kind of hurry. It's not like we're reaching the Debt Ceiling anytime soon.

Obama's speech/presser was just a total waste of time. A "Balanced approach", that's what Obama had to say about the budget/debt/entitlement issues. Does that mean anything to anyone? Then he goes off on a rant about things that are totally just left-wing populism and left wing symbolism, like corporate jet depreciation schedules, something that if eliminated would bring in $3 billion dollars over 10 years. Why spend so much time on something so trivial? And if the media would fact check Obama, like they do Palin and Bachmann, they would discover that it's Obama that implement those corporate jet depreciation schedules as part of the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ie., his stimulus failure. But that would be too much to ask of our esteemed media.

You'd think the President would be involved with the details of any agreement so important to the country. Instead, Obama told Congress it's their problem and not to bother him any more about it. Leading from behind? No. Not leading at all.

You don't have to be at First Read for very long before you notice the abundance of references and links to Think Progress, John A.

So...

Tried and convicted.

Are you going to silence him?

Wow John A. , I would suggest you have way to much time on your hands. Why do you people care who posts on this site? Is it your job to patrol the boards? You all claim you don't work for Newsvine, but you sure seem to know all the little "tricks"?

If you don't like what some one has to say, like I for instance am bored to death with Navy's essay's, you can always just scroll through them as I do with Navy's. Why so worried about "Busting" someone? Are we in Junior High, for God's sake?

bob:

The President never promised that unemployment would not go over 8% if the stimulus was passed.

That's a lie bob.

The actual question you should be asking is why was unemployment so high in the first damn place bob? Why did all the pro-growth policies, tax cuts, and deregulation lead to a collapsed job market bob?

You can't see the forest for the trees bob.

And yet you want to condescend to me. Holler at me when you are ready for prime time bob. I don't have time to educate someone who thinks they know everything.

P.S. Please don't waste posting links to BS articles from phony journalist saying that the President said that the stimulus would keep unemplyment under 8% bob. They don't know wtf they are talking about just like you bob. Find the quote of the Presidnent saying it bob. Unemployment was 8% when the stimulus was signed. The President's financial advisors created ESTIMATES (this is not the same as a promise) using an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STIMULUS (not the one that passed) to produce a report that come out BEFORE the President was even inaugurated. So in closing Bob, don't tell me the President didn't put the right kind of mustard on the turd sandwich bob.

I warned you, bob.

There are those here who evidently believe that President Obama's hand-picked incoming economic team led by Christina Romer in January, 2009 somehow didn't reflect the President's views on the effects of their proposed stimulus program.

Nash,

Great post.

I'm trying to manage the blog time a little better, but guess what ..... I will respond on Monday.

Thanks for your comments.

Mixed Bag warned you this would happen , bob.

Bob lotsanumbers:

Mixed Bag has actually given good advice. He has told you how to avoid being called a liar. Don't lie.

No one promised the unemployment rate would be 8%. Christina Romer, who chaired the Council of Economic Advisors for President Obama, observed in a report that it was possible to achieve an 8% rate with properly administered government intervention. That report ALSO included a disclaimer that no one can make such predictions with certainty. No one knew the depth and breadth of the damage of the housing bubble or the machinations of the bankers at the time.

That was a wise disclaimer as we learned. The rate never hit 8% and may never again hit 8%, which does not alter the fact that the rate was never promised to obtain. NEVER!

You want to get into the world of "what if"? Try this! What if people like you came to these fora with facts? Might we actually begin to understand the points, which require compromise and attention?

If I'm wrong, I'll apologize right here in this thread. If you are wrong, will you do the same?

John A.....and you guys say conservatives are into conspiracy theories.

Everyone in the real world knows that Think Progress is a well-funded, far-left, radical post. I've noticed that over the last few days, several of the posters here post more Think Progress links than any other links....which leads one to assume they they are very one-dimensional. A blogger making such an observation is nothing more than a well-informed person. How is it that you would know so much about when I registered and how many times I have posted?....I guess the bigger question is WHY do you know those things?

If his people says it, he owns it. Isn't that they way it goes on here? If you don't refute what someone else says on your behalf you must agree with it?

WCA: I have been thinking the same thing. The other day I mentioned that he seems to be flaunting this behavior, almost sticking the proverbial "Middle Finger" at not just the Republicans, but the Press and the American Public in General.

It was just an amazing performance by Obama last Wednesday. You'd think the media would start to pick up on his increasing unbalanced behavior, but instead we get cry stories and navel gazing from FR about how "Summers have been a struggle for The Obama". Unreal.

Obama doesn't have the intellect to solve any of these problems, that much is true. But you'd think he'd at least put out the illusion of trying to work though the issues and to work with others, and maybe appoint an economic person or two that has a clue (and Geithner isn't the guy). Instead, his behavior has being nothing short of bizarre.

Are you going to silence him?

This is what we get with the shut down of LibRUs - all the conspiracy nonsense and paranoia that used to be done in private now clogs up the public blog. Can't you guys/gals get another Tree House and take this stuff off-line?

Hey Mixed,

Good call.

About Mark, I wish he would help them ..... they need it.

BTW - Did Mark finally read some of Feisty's stuff, other than the weekly Friday afternoon suck-up session?

She seems a little toned down, doesn't go Chihuahua-On-Crack-Crazy everytime no joe posts a comment ........

Anyway, good for them - Obama needs all the help he can get (So do the other guys .... that's why the guy's clueless, irrelevent thinkprogress posts are so priceless)

David Walker---I really, really like your posts. Especially the long, self important, self-indulgent posts. Other than US Navy and Feisty Redhead, you may be the most brilliant political writer here. But one thing concerns me. Yesterday, you called Mitch McConnell a "lifelong recipient of government welfare." Well, I checked and checked and could find NOTHING to show that McConnell ever has been or is on welfare. I know you are very involved in picking apart people's words to look for LIES and that this is a great concern of yours. So does it bother you that you LIED when saying that Mitch McConnell is on welfare?

Nashville, thanks for pointing out the inaccuracy of Bob's post. This morning I decided I was tired of making that point to the same people over and over. It's been done so many times among the same group of posters it's getting old. There's a name for people who continue to say something they know to be untrue, but it escapes me at the moment...

bob-

Mark declined to be involved in the dust-up, although as far as I know, he's still meeting with the Libs R Us gang. I don't know whether he read any of Feisty's "greatest hits" or not, but he might have seen some of her act that was posted on the thread where he offered comments.

My sense is that some of the gang was embarrassed when confronted with the response to some of their remarks.

Again, that's only my own impression, and only refers to some individuals.

That said, I'm not certain that Feisty is embarrass-able, bob.

NF: The actual question you should be asking is why was unemployment so high in the first damn place bob?

Here are the projected GDP and Unemployment numbers from the Obama administration. You make the call if Obama has been successful or not.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/business/economy/12usecon.html

And here are the Obama administrative unemployment projections with/without Obama's 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Source: http://economics21.org/blog/revisiting-unemployment-predictions

Again, you make the call on if Obama was right or wrong.

Anyone notice - those who have been here awhile - that "American" seems so self-righteously indignant? Just as the last retread, multiply-times-banned poster did when I busted him, too?

It's really easy to check someone's home page and look up the details. How intriguing some jackilopes here think that suggests a sinister "conspiracy."

There's a reason people get banned. There's a reason when those same folk reincarnate themselves and play their duplicitous games. And thee's a reason why some of us here find them revolting. Their very presence in this discourse is based on a lie and the spreading of malicious propaganda, lies, and vicious personal threats or attacks.

And American, you absolutely ARE BUSTED.

Nash & John A:

Kudos. He just keeps spouting the same lies over and over and over. He is a habitual Liar and needs some serious Medical help as he keeps repeating the same ones knowing that they have been debunked. He knows they are not true but keeps saying them anyway.

His points have been debunked so often I have lost count months ago. He knows it and just wants attention any way he can get it, even if it means repeating the same lies. Also, it has been reported that some of the data used in compiling that report was given to her by guess who? The previous administration and we all know how good they were with numbers.

I guess the GOP/TP is worried more than I thought if they have to go back to debunked lies from last year hoping we will not remember.

David and others,

OK OK ..... I mentioned a crazy, out of the box thought and got sloppy on a detail.

i'm sorry ...... Obama didn't double pinky promise

BTW - Correct me if wrong, but didn't Obama say the other day when he was mocking the repubs that his girls were 10 and 13 ..... and wasn't Malia born on July 4, 1998 ........ making her about 12 years and 362 days old or so - not 13 years old ............ Obama lied right?

Anyway, my bad ........

any comment on the salient point to the post?

From the article... He’s now at 49%, per our latest poll.

Yes, but that is overall...his numbers on the economy alone are in the 30's (37% I believe)

So, how does he think that he can possibly get re-elected with the economy being people's #1 issue and his poll numbers on the economy are slipping by the day....maybe it's time to move away from his personal agenda for our country and start moving toward the personal agenda of the people of this county.

Ron - what a great idea about a SuperPAC!! I am truly excited and have thousands set aside for just this type of outreach! Where can I send my check?

John A.

"It's really easy to check someone's home page and look up details."

Not necessarily, John A.

Some regular bloggers have deleted from their home pages every single comment they've made since Newsvine began moderating First Read.

Quite silly, really, since those comments are still available in First Read's daily log of articles.

And...all of those remarks were made in an undisputably public forum.

I wouldn't call you "revolting", John A.

Paranoid?

Definitely.

Why can no one 'splain to me why our entire financial system collapsed after we implemented "pro business" policies?

Is anyone else noticing how these folks just ignore stuff they don't have an answer for? Or blame it on the folks receiving bullsh!t mortgages instead of the folks handing them out? Like poor folks FORCED these folks to make these loans? These folks made these loans because they were GETTING RICH off of them! Duh!

No, these folks like to post statistics, not common sense. These folks tell us that an estimate is the same as a promise. And if ANYONE who works for the President says it, it means he said it. But, conversely, Republicans are not responsible for anything they said or did, like, ever.

And look at these stats.

And Think Progress is bad, even though we can't refute anything they wrote.

Not. ready. for. prime. time.

Damage 123:

Self-important posts? Self-indulgent posts? If you don't like them, don't read them. Now, if you have a beef with facts, call me out.

You did and you're right. I will flatly admit I took liberty with the clear definition of "welfare recipient". Yes, I took creative license with the term, but of course, you already know that.

Mitch McConnell has fed at the public trough for the bulk of his working career. During the time he has contributed to the national debt, approved debt ceiling increases, called for the destruction of the Presidency, voted for red-ink budgets, all the while taking a government handout.

Creative license and unclouded observation allow me to weigh the value of his contributions against his very handsome remuneration, which includes health care he denies his constituents and a pension that would be the envy of most Americans.

His contributions when compared to those of Democrats turn out to be virtually identical. He has basically characterized the Democrats' contributions as worthless. They aren't even on the table for discussion.

Yup, when you give nothing and you get a handout from the government for doing nothing, that pretty much defines a welfare recipient. I hope I have addressed your very genuine concern.

Bob lotsanumbers:

What was the salient point?

Mixed Bag:

You speak of paranoia . . . now why in the world would anyone be paranoid? I mean, seriously. . . its not like folks would try to peek in your window and tell lies about what they saw or anything like that. Not here at First Read.

obama is finished, he will have to suspend elections to hold onto power, he may do that. now with 6, count that 6 wars world wide that the US is pushing.

libya, yemen, and now somalia, on top of the other 3

polls say obama gets beat by any other republican candidate

ohh and our actions in libya seem to be more than just support, according to air force news below.

the question is not how hard is this mans time in office, the question is why is this man not being impeached now? I wonder if a president under the impeachment process for more than 1 problem could win reelection?

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/06/defense-africom-air-force-navy-flying-libya-missions-063011/

Was that before or after Fox became FAUXgop? Or was it always FAUXgop?

_________________________________

AM: I wouldn't know. I have never watched Fox News and likely never will. The only time I see anything from Fox News is when clips are played on the Daily Show or the prime time comedy shows on MSDNC.

I have shown proof that think progress are liars and make up stories

Ben -- many of us on the right have done the same, and it doesn't do a damn bit of good. The loons on the left are too comfy in their own padded spinzone and have no interest in the truth.

Joe-738652:

Your mama. :o)

Bill:

Ever notice how you never answer the questions I ask? Is it because you can't? Why did the policies you folks are still proposing not work? Anybody? It's about policies Bill, not personalities. Refute the actual information, not the source of the information. That is a cop out. And you know it.

There are those here who evidently believe that President Obama's hand-picked incoming economic team led by Christina Romer in January, 2009 somehow didn't reflect the President's views on the effects of their proposed stimulus program.

MB -- You're exactly right. It's like the remarks of his senior policy staff bear no relation whatsoever to what the prez is actually thinking.

LouisJ

MSNBC has lost credibility as a network. Professionalism is not in its repertoire.

Indeed

FR: You say Treasury secretary would be very difficult -- and painful -- for the White House, because the confirmation hearings would only serve to re-litigate the administration’s economic policies at a time the presidential campaign is getting started.

If MSNBC were fair they would not skew the truth. Any nominee would be rejected by the GOP/T-BAGGERS not because of the economy; but because it is part of the Master PLAN of Mitch McConnel, the T-baggers, and the Koch brothers.

Koch Industries won massive government contracts using their close relationship with the Bush administration.

All of these efforts are ultimately about subverting democracy, which is, for the right, since they're non-negotiable.

The Cato Institute -- founded by Charles -- as well as other Koch-funded think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, produced a blizzard of reports distorting the stimulus and calling for a return to Bush-style tax cuts to combat the recession

STOPPING CLEAN ENERGY: The Competitive Enterprise Institute, funded in part by Koch foundations, has waged an underhanded campaign to falsely charge that a set of hacked e-mails somehow unravels the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring.

http://www.alternet.org/story/144455/meet_the_billionaire_brothers_funding_the_right-wing_hate_machine?page=entire

Both Rachel and Cenk did a segment on this. Need I remind to report half truths is irresponsible and unprofessional.

The republicans are objecting to every nomination and crashing the economy because they want thee supreme court

mysterious change in Republican voting on the debt ceiling.

http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/users/600/WillFemia/6970835.jpg

Also why are you not reporting on the scam FOX NOISE is pulling on Media Matters?

Fox is a devil and is encouraging its dumb audience to e-mail IRS because according to Fake News Media Matters is taking our tax dollars . If the IRS investigates Media Matters; then investigate Breibart, Eric Erickson, Brent Bosell et al.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1033280554001/viewers-stand-up-to-media-matters

Does Brietbart and other right wing hate websites claim tax exempt?

Ya' ll say goodbye to Glenn.

Here is hoping that Ark Beck is building for his trip to “Restoring Courage to Israel ” doesn't get hijacked by the imaginary members of the Caliphate in his huge head. I'd hate to see Beck drowning in is own hateful river of blood.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/beck-announces-major-restoring-courage-rally-in-israel-this-august/

Bill:

Actually, its more like bob got caught telling a lie. At least he was man enough to just go ahead and admit it. Spin away Bill . . . you got something to say about everything except the primary issue . . . how come pro-business policies led us to collapse and you are still advocating them.

Good point Bill,

And evidenced by his new stand on private aircraft, the thinking of the left teleprompter bears no relation to the actual thinking of the right teleprompter.

David,

You know the part about how the amount of money Obama has spent / wasted is so amazing that 14 million unemployed could have been employed for 3 years .....

Sorry it went over your head.

I've been on a lot of blogs, but this one takes the cake! I've been reading the articles and posts for about a week now; I posted an article called The Greek Way of Sorrow and several other comments directed at, what I now know to be everyday posters, and suddenly I seem to be some blacklisted poster. I've been busted? OK, I know cyberspace is hypersensitive, but geez people....really? Am I that threatening to your bubble?

I tend to read news from across the spectrum...maybe those of you here who decided to attack me should take a little advice and branch out once in a while.

Any thoughts on my post about Mr. Obama's falling poll numbers on the economy?

Both Rachel and Cenk did a segment on this. Need I remind to report half truths is irresponsible and unprofessional.

The republicans are objecting to every nomination and crashing the economy because they want thee supreme court

mysterious change in Republican voting on the debt ceiling.
__________________________________________________

If there is anyone out there that can provide a Bev-to-English translation of the above gibberish, I will nominate you for a Nobel prize in Literature.

bob,

Employed doing what where? We were losing a quarter of a million jobs A MONTH bob? You can't ramp up that many jobs overnight, ya know? Not to mention, that even if the President did that, you and I both know that you would be right here whining about socialism and charging jobs to the Chinese.

You are full of it bob.

You can say a lot of stuff, but you can't answer the question: WHY. DID. THE. CONSERVATIVE. ECONOMIC. POLICIES. COLLAPSE. THE. ECONOMY?

Beverly - Excellent post!

The pattern you documented has been in place since the 1980's. Jack Abramoff - yes, he of corrupt GOP lobbying fame - was one of the prime developers of the conservative "think tank" technique to draw in mega-bucks from corporations and then "independently" spew fear-mongering, propaganda, and outright lies on behalf of not only businesses, but even foreign governments. Until he finally left his hand in the cookie jar too long, Abramoff was one of the darlings of the conservative movement. Grover Norquist, who also pioneered much of the same garbage, simply assumed the fallen master's mantle.

What's being done now is simply more of the same bullying and disinformation tactics the right wing has been practicing for DECADES.

After all, we KNOW that the so-called "Reagan Revolution" utterly FAILED. We are now living through the shambles it led to. We are watching the conservative movement attempt to entirely re-shape American government, at all levels, into an extension of the corporate state - virtually an economic aristocracy - in which the working classes are in absolute peonage to the upper 2%. And all achieved by bending the power of the state to that purpose.

The "conservatives" are utter liars. They are not "conservatives" in thee of traditional values - they are paid pawns of business and the wealthy. THIS batch of conservatives are relentless bullies, haters, and feeders at the pig rough of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

An absolutely devastating history of this conservative movement is available and it's worth reading more than once. The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Ruined Government, Enriched Themselves, and Beggared the Nation, is by Harper's columnist Thomas Frank. Previously a Wall Street Journal columnist, Frank has written several other books as well. This volume, ISBN 0-8050-9090-8, is clever, easy to read, and devastating in its historical and current-day exposure of the contradictions and astonishing cynicism of the conservative movement.

John A.-400474

Beverly - Excellent post!

_____________________________________________

How about you give my challenge in #1.81 a try??

LMAO!!!!

To all the conservative FR posters: Have a Happy Independence Day!!

To all the FR lefty liberal posters: Have a Happy Govt Dependence Day!!

.

Joe in Albany

Both Rachel and Cenk did a segment on this. Need I remind to report half truths is irresponsible and unprofessional.

The republicans are objecting to every nomination and crashing the economy because they want thee supreme court

mysterious change in Republican voting on the debt ceiling.
__________________________________________________

If there is anyone out there that can provide a Bev-to-English translation of the above gibberish, I will nominate you for a Nobel prize in Literature.

All you had to do was click on the link below it and and it would have been self explanatory. Trying it again... here is the link

http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/users/600/WillFemia/6970835.jpg

I know you won't know because you couldn't know a fact if it bite you in your arse.

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

@John A.-400474

Beverly - Excellent post!

The pattern you documented has been in place since the 1980's

Thank you John. However, based on the movement which started with the union workers in Wisconsin it's going to change. I predict this because people are hurting and are not going to continuously sacrifice for the rich. Besides, it is against the law of nature and it's more of us than them.

Repost due to the cowards collapsing Feisty's post

LouisJ

MSNBC has lost credibility as a network. Professionalism is not in its repertoire.

Indeed

FR: You say Treasury secretary would be very difficult -- and painful -- for the White House, because the confirmation hearings would only serve to re-litigate the administration’s economic policies at a time the presidential campaign is getting started.

If MSNBC were fair they would not skew the truth. Any nominee would be rejected by the GOP/T-BAGGERS not because of the economy; but because it is part of the Master PLAN of Mitch McConnel, the T-baggers, and the Koch brothers.

Koch Industries won massive government contracts using their close relationship with the Bush administration.

All of these efforts are ultimately about subverting democracy, which is, for the right, since they're non-negotiable.

The Cato Institute -- founded by Charles -- as well as other Koch-funded think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, produced a blizzard of reports distorting the stimulus and calling for a return to Bush-style tax cuts to combat the recession

STOPPING CLEAN ENERGY: The Competitive Enterprise Institute, funded in part by Koch foundations, has waged an underhanded campaign to falsely charge that a set of hacked e-mails somehow unravels the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring.

http://www.alternet.org/story/144455/meet_the_billionaire_brothers_funding_the_right-wing_hate_machine?page=entire

Both Rachel and Cenk did a segment on this. Need I remind to report half truths is irresponsible and unprofessional.

The republicans are objecting to every nomination and crashing the economy because they want thee supreme court

mysterious change in Republican voting on the debt ceiling.

http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_vine/images/users/600/WillFemia/6970835.jpg

Also why are you not reporting on the scam FOX NOISE is pulling on Media Matters?

Fox is a devil and is encouraging its dumb audience to e-mail IRS because according to Fake News Media Matters is taking our tax dollars . If the IRS investigates Media Matters; then investigate Breibart, Eric Erickson, Brent Bosell et al.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1033280554001/viewers-stand-up-to-media-matters

Does Brietbart and other right wing hate websites claim tax exempt?

Ya' ll say goodbye to Glenn.

Here is hoping that Ark Beck is building for his trip to “Restoring Courage to Israel ” doesn't get hijacked by the imaginary members of the Caliphate in his huge head. I'd hate to see Beck drowning in is own hateful river of blood.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/beck-announces-major-restoring-courage-rally-in-israel-this-august/

This article states that Obama has his toughest months in the summer. The author should pay attention because winter, fall, and spring have been pretty tough for Obama too.

Obama will be a bad memory 2 years from now.

obama is finished, he will have to suspend elections to hold onto power, he may do that.

You can tell how desperate Conservatives are by the ridiculousness of their fear-mongering. Conservatives are obviously in desperation mode now...based both on the comment above and on the work they're doing to make sure contradictory messages are suppressed here on FR.

WOW.....I go out golfing early in the AM on Saturday and I miss all this fun. Why do Navyboy and Feisty seem like they are talking on their own blog, like there is no one else here! And Anna ....I have a bad visual of Anna saying bagboy with what sounds like marbles in her mouth! And Bev.......why do you start drinking so early in the AM. I know its 5 oclock somewhere! All this poop and all of us Independents are still center right! I rather like Mr Obama, I mean his speech the other night was down right hilarious! He teleprompts well and he has a slapstick sort of comedy! The real damage is done by Ms Pelosi and Mr Reid! We (us independents) were having a discussion and most of us agreed we could deal with Mr Obama was re-elected as long as the congress was republican. Anything to check his march through Atlanta! Cue battle hymn of the republic! I just re read through navyboys ccomments, I have pity on anyone that lives with that man!

Jolly: You sound about as "independent" as, Sister Sarah. I noticed several postings, where the writer professes to be "independent;" but I keep reading a huge lean to the right, between the lines. Words like, "I miss GW" or "I found WMD." and the ever famous, "Mission Accomplished" if you don't count the wars that continue to this day.

Now for, Michelle and her psycho hubby. I cannot help but wonder, how a wife, mother, attorney, congress woman, and super hero; could have possibly raised her own children plus, twenty three foster children. Years ago, Rose Kennedy was named "Mother of the year." Rose had nannies for her babies, along with a household full of servants. I read after she had Teddy, she travelled to Europe and never cared for her infant son.

So, here is my question: does anyone know for sure, if Mighty Michelle, actually provided direct care, for these foster children? My mom had eight children in twelve years. She had no help what so ever. She was exhausted and I wonder how she survived the stress and never ending responsibility.

So again, I ask anyone with the FACTS, did Bachman actually care for all these children, single handed or sis she have a few closet nannies? Just wondering. Oh any "facts" from FOX, does not count.

Interesting, while all the left-wing posts are being collapsed, I'm watching the news report about how free-market conservatives will rig the system when they can't win based on merit -- During Dubya and the staged town halls, the fake interviews ("Jeff Gannon"), etc. We are seeing the same tactics with Rick Scott in Florida to supporters trying to rewrite Wikipedia to cover for historical gaffes by Palin about Paul Revere and Michele Bachmann about John Quincy Adams.

Those who are resorting to collapsing opposing views because you can't handle it in any other way, I almost feel sorry for you and your pitiful mentality.

"Obama’s average donation in the 2^nd quarter of 2007: a little more than $200."

Thanks to those fat cat bankers on Wall Street, who donated several times as much to Obama as to McCain.

Roy, those "fat cat bankers on Wall Street" pay $200 for their lunches. Wake up, you're in terminal denial.

Yep, Mr. Obama has Summer 2011 to look forward to as ANOTHER FAILURE since "Obama Summer Recovery 2010" FAILED just like his other domestic (and International) bank busting policies.

Yes siree, his comments about locking the doors to get something done with the National Debt limit is like him having "behind closed door" meetings to make deals to get the Mandated Universal Health Care Reform passed.

Yeah, he is going to have everything on the table, excluding his Stimulus #2 $ 500,000,000,000 shovel ready projects since his Stimulus #1 $ 865,000,l000,000 shovel ready projects were not so shovel ready (everyone laugh now.......).

Disingenuous for Congress to suddenly become aware of economics after the public has given them YEARS to run our government....and frankly, they are AWFUL in their decisions.

The enforced "austerity" by the Republicans is hypocritical at best, and damn harmful if they refuse to concede that the wealthiest must "sacrifice" too.

Cutting social programs fore the work8ing poor while allowing the rich to get richer is a travesty.

I wish Congress was FORCED to sit and work things out without the benefit of air conditioning.

Let them "sweat" the way we do.

RI Mom

I agree 100%

Let them "Walk in other peoples shoes"

Or LET US FIRE THEM

GET THE GOP OUT

RI Mom, the austerity the Conservative Republicans are trying to force on us would be nearly guaranteed to be harmful. Historically the 1937 recession shows what happens when government austerity is enforced before the economy is ready. In current time one need look no further than Britain to see the same effect playing out. http://streetlightblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/effectiveness-of-austerity-in-uk.html

As you can see from the link, forced austerity is killing the economic activity that would increase government revenue. Patience, prudent budgeting, and sound investment in the economy will do the trick...if the GOPTP doesn't prevent it.

Wow, the first four posts by the usual suspects collapsed or deleated. Obama has never stopped campaigning and those who voted for him still love him while blaming those running against him. Yes, give him another 4 years so he can completely bankrupt the country, then blame it on Bush.

The largest contributors to Obama in 2008 were:

University of California
$1,591,395

Goldman Sachs
$994,795

Harvard University
$854,747

Microsoft Corp
$833,617

Google Inc
$803,436

Citigroup Inc
$701,290

JPMorgan Chase & Co
$695,132

Time Warner
$590,084

Sidley Austin LLP
$588,598

Stanford University
$586,557

National Amusements Inc
$551,683

UBS AG
$543,219

Wilmerhale Llp
$542,618

Skadden, Arps et al
$530,839

IBM Corp
$528,822

Columbia University
$528,302

Morgan Stanley
$514,881

General Electric
$499,130

US Government
$494,820

Latham & Watkins
$493,835

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/donordemCID.php?cycle=2008&cid=n00009638

One must understand that none of these entities actually gave that much to the Obama Election Committee, these numbers were from adding up the individual contributions of EMPLOYEES along with the Much Smaller amounts that were legally able to be donated. This is one of those arguments that have been TOTALLY DEBUNKED that Ol' Buob seems to have not gotten the memo on or is trying to play scare tactics with.

Sorry Bob, your lies don't fly!

Have any LBGT friends, Tom? If so, see my post below. If not, see my post below.

bang up job anna molly!

California Tom

She's smart alright,

Using her state to get welfare checks for her "Foster farm"

and subsidies for her farm

and Medicaid payment for her Husbands practice from those "Barbaric Gays" he treats

Yeh now she is against ALL of that.

Bachman is a back stabbing bitch to the middle class

I am having real trouble trying to imagine what the USA, being led by this kook, would be like.

republicans seem to be willing to vote for any moron, = Chrstine O'donnell....

What would you expect them to do Roy? try to get a republican elected, that would allow the entire country's financial system to collapse, along with the rest of the world?

Yep, that's a good idea !!!!

Obama supporters are younger more affluent people who are almost always gone in the summer having fun on some beach.

... so you're saying they are all rich and not middle class, right. I mean MOST of us in the middle class work for a living around here ( ... unless you're unemployed which right now is still 9.1%).

no, he doesn't. attempting to be funny?

I was wondering when he was going to start working...

1 Term 0bama is having a rough summer - hardly - golf every weekend and arriving late to the debt talks to try and take credit if a deal is made. He isn't smart enough to lead a cub scout troop out of the church basement. 1 Term is gonna have a lot worse summer of 2012 when 0bamacare is ruled unconstitutional and the polls show the "shellacking" he is going to take on Nov 6 2012 which is under 500 days away - thank God. "The End of an Error" Nov 6 2012.

Just because we want something ....even if we really,really REALLY want it really bad doesn't mean it'll happen. Black belt you said the Pres isn't smart enough to lead a scout troop out of a basement, yet he became Pres of these United states. Somebody doesn't appear to know allot about what they speak about. Some how I don't think it's the Pres thats not smart. Just sayin'.

banana anna, that's a pretty ridiculous statement! lol Hasn't feist taught you anything!

Obama's entire Presidency is a joke, not just one season! The guy is an academic and the only position he really has had is that of a neighborhood organizer! Forget the Senate, that was his stepping stone... mapped out by my friend Harry Reid and financec by soros and huff huff post!. This administration is another example of a failed experiment... bigger than Jimmy Carter and even Woodrow Wilson!

"Obama supporters are younger more affluent people who are almost always gone in the summer having fun on some beach"..... that statement of yours doesn't describe Obama's supporters... it describes him!!!! Next september we will see more of a moderate agenda from BO, perhaps even slightly right of middle.... it is an election year of course and rhetoric and platitudes are something Barack Obama does very well.... look for lots of flowery language come September....! I know I will be looking forward to it!

Bill T, you left out "teleprompter", "messiah", and "Bill Ayers." Don't the folks over at the Beckistan Times ever come out with new talking points?

Times are tough, I'm not sure anyone has the perfect answer.

Auntie

Replace Romney with Obama and you have a PERFECT POST.

There are 50 states in the United States:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state#List_of_states

51, counting Edward's state. The state of delusion!

The DELUDED ones are the both of you. It was barry the twit, you call president that said while campaigning in 2008, that "he had been to all 58 states." This is the "brilliance" that has blinded both of you to the TRUTH. But why let a thing like that get in the way. Kool-Aid is much easier to swallow. Keep drinking.

Clotho- the one you need to refer to that on is Obama...

Right Alan,

I stand corrected. 58 states for Obama. All full of little bumps in the road. (unemployed Americans) who are anxiously awaiting the next "summer of recovery" LOL

Yea the evil corporate jets that get tax rebates that the Democrat controlled congress voted in...

OPPPSSSSS

1 Term 0bama can't even get his own kids age right - can't prounouce "corpsman" or Pakistan either. I would rather have Biden than 0bama - at least Biden knows he is a buffoon. For the Dems to have a chance in 2012 at the WH someone needs to educate 1 Term 0 about what LBJ did. Then Hillary can be the nominee and we will actually have 2 people to choose from. Right now it is just whoever is not named 1 Term 0bama.

How much mileage can a conservative get out of one misquote? These guys have to dredge up stuff from 2 and 3 years ago so they can have their little Obama bashing circle jerk. Too bad you guys are republicans because Bush made a stupid quote almost every week, that way you guys wouldn't have to use the same wore out material constantly.

Yeah, Obama and the 57, or whatever states

Yeah, Bush, and the Oil will pay for the wars. Well, which cost you more money. The 57 states or the $4 gasoline. Some of you are so flighty. I can help you.

Here. Take four snail shells. Place two over each eye. Close eyes tightly. Turn on Hannity. Then imagine Ann Coulter is massaging your feet. You righties will feel much better.

Frankly, it is a clear indication of what happens all the time behind closed doors, they constantly pump each other up by disrespecting the president and then take it to the set.

Call it what you will, 'caught with their hand in the cookie jar, caught red-handed...'

They showed their true colors.

Get it out of your mouth your sucking to hard.... LOLOL Get over yourself and your rants...

It's only the truth. You guys are just afraid to face up to it.

AnnieRich know a dick when she sees it, because she has one.

Annie needs to do a little homework. She's been watching False news and is blaming all the wrong people. false news talking points.........

Sorry Bill, Your argument is wrong. President Bush didn't know how to manage a check book.

Job1 and Obama knows how to handle a check book? You're kidding right? Not to mention Clinton did the same thing w/Bosnia. That was paid for under 'emergency funds' and yes, the Iraq war was paid for AND Bush spent MORE on education than the war. You PROGRESSIVE/SOCIALISTS can lie all you want but it doesn't cut it.

Sorry, Facts are facts and President Bush caused the mess.

Facts are facts

Yes they are, and I've been posting FACTS on the deficit issue for the past few days. So why do you ignore them?

I can read between the lines and I use other sources that prove otherwise, such as Robert Reich.

Very nice post Bill! To the point, informative, and full of facts! Thank you!

Bill Fairfax VA:

Yes they are, and I've been posting FACTS on the deficit issue for the past few days. So why do you ignore them?

The FACTS are that the deficit is almost entirely caused by the Bush tax cuts and the revenue lost because of the Bush Recession. Those are the facts that YOU ignore.

x

Job1 -- then show us the sources that "prove" your point. Otherwise you're just a typical leftist slug talking through your a$$.

John B. -- what, no rebuttal? Your silence speaks volumes.

Houston -- you're probably referring to the "analysis" done by CBPP. I'll have more to say on that slanted piece of trash next week. Stay tuned.

It called research. Just do it and don't be another right wing slug talking through your a$$.

No Bill, my silence speaks to the fact that I have other things in my life. Since this is a continuation of your conversation from yesterday I'll reference it, source here; http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/30/6981281-first-thoughts-obama-vs-congress#c55493642

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was only $157.8B in 2002, but the national debt increased by $421B. http://www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was only $377.6B in 2003, but the national debt increased by $555B, a new record.

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was $412.7B in 2004, but the debt increased by $596B, another record.

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was $318.3B in 2005, but the debt increased by $554B.

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was $248.2B in 2006, somehow the debt increased by $574B. It's subtle but I think I see a pattern developing here.

Yesterday you said the budget deficit was $160.7B in 2007, yet the debt increase was barely reduced at all landing at $501B.

Yesterday you claimed the 2008 budget deficit to be $458.6B, but in the year the Iraq war surged the debt increase did as well...to $1,017B!!

You're just wrong, Bill. Moreover you insist on claiming you're right no matter how often you're proven wrong.

Suck it Bill..

Bush has funded the war in Iraq and the broader "war on terror" almost entirely through "emergency supplemental" appropriations bills -- in other words, off the books. Ninety-three percent of the approximately $507 billion appropriated for the war in Iraq has come through such bills, and the president is reportedly set to ask for another $100 billion in "emergency" funds in February to cover costs.

the president and the former Republican-led Congresses placed them on a legislative fast-track. Congress had little opportunity to ask tough questions about how these funds were being spent, and little opportunity to strip out offending items -- including a litany of earmarks and other domestic spending that had nothing to do with the war.

Calling these funding requests "emergencies" also automatically exempts them from spending caps. The president can thus claim that more than $500 billion in recent spending is not part of the deficit. Nonsense.

By doing so, the true costs of the war are not understood in relation to the other programs that are shortchanged to pay for it -- including providing veteran's benefits to the 22,714 American servicemen and women wounded in the war, funding the chronically underfunded No Child Left Behind education law, paying for affordable housing for Hurricane Katrina victims and investing in clean energy.

Last year's budget resolution, which this Congress has adopted, defines "emergency" as addressing a situation that is "sudden," "urgent," "unforeseen" and "temporary." After almost four years, the war in Iraq cannot reasonably be called "sudden." The Pentagon is capable of "foreseeing" the costs of the war with a reasonable degree of accuracy. And it stretches credulity to call either the war in Iraq or the "war on terror" "temporary." (I will grant the situation is, without question, "urgent").

John B

Did those wonderful calculations take into account the growing interest added to the national debt? Did they take into account the growing interest rate at the time paid on treasuries which are the nations debt instrument? More to the point, did you even consider that the disparity between the deficit numbers and the increase in the national debt had a valid reason to exist? Here's one more for you. The projected deficit for 2009 was around 460 billion, the actual deficit was over 1.3 trillion. In Obama's first 6 months, two bills made up the majority of that deficit. First was an omnibus spending bill that added 400 billion in spending to the government above the budget without paying for it and second was the 787 billion dollar stimulus package meant to keep unemployment from rising above 8%. Those two alone represent 1.2 trillion of the 1.3 trillion plus deficit that year. Since the stimulus passed it has grown to well over 800 billion by reports from the OMB. Neither one of those two bills had anything to do with the military or the wars, both were focused on civilian domestic spending. Note also that since 2006, the interest paid on treasury notes has decreased from a high of 4.6% to under .25% thus reducing the accrued interest rise in the national debt! The only games being played with the numbers are happening in the media and your head! If you take the time to learn what all the numbers mean and how they relate you might even come close to knowing what you are talking about.

Nice attempt to explain it away. First of all, interest on the debt is PART OF THE BUDGET, unlike the Bush wars and Medicare Part D. http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/08/news/economy/national_debt_interest_costs/index.htm

Secondly, you've stated in your post that the interest rate on decreased dramatically, so how do you support your claim that the annual deficit DOUBLED from 2007 to 2008?

C'mon, at least TRY to make sense.

Bill Fairfax:

Obama hasnt been president for 4 years! BOOM!!!

Fy 2009 was bush's last budget having been passed by the republican controlled congress in late 2008! It was largely in place BEFORE Obama took office. BOOM!!

http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/dont-blame-obama-for-bushs-fy2009-deficit/

So all of you righties that blame Obama for the huge deficit of FY 2009, remember that it was passed BEFORE Obama was inaugurated! SMARTEN UP! This isnt a political game anymore. This country is in financial danger. The last 3 GOP presidents signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets that led to over $11T in debt. ( see above US treasury links) And according to the strategy of "starve the beast", adopted under reagan, it was all DELIBERATE so they could give us the yarn about privatizing the entitlements as the ONLY solution. ( see the last 3 links) What they REALLY want to do is eliminate the deficit and debt by funneling entitlement money to corporation, bankers and Wall St so THEY can provide those services with NO GUARANTEE of benefits! . The GOP will do ANYTHING because the money at stake runs into the trillions!

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo4.htm

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

http://www.lafn.org/gvdc//Natl_Debt_Chart.html

http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/06/tax-cuts-republicans-starve-the-beast-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10054/1037783-109.stm

http://www.dlc.org/print.cfm?contentid=251788

Tom - I used to think you had a brain. The Congress was Democrat controlled when the 2009 budget was passed. Dirty Harry Reid and Nancy Piglosi took over Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House in Jan 2007. I didn't bother to look at any of your links because when you get something this well known wrong anything else you say is pretty stupid. The 2009 budget that Bush left behind and 0bama continued adding to it with supplemental budgets and the failed stimulus program. Better come up with some real facts - 0bama is going to be One and Done and a bigger failure than even Jimmy Carter.

black_belt3, On the 2009 Budget the Dems had a BARE majority and so were not able to make many changes at all to the Budget that Bush handed to the House. It is not at all like they had the Majority that they would have 2 years later in 2008 when the Repubs were handed a blistering setback. The Repubs then did everything they could to delay, derail and block EVERY bill that came along, including the 2010 and 2011 Budgets. So it is YOU who needs to come up with REAL FACTS and not just spin on old, tired and debunked subjects and trying to rewrite history. It is pretty silly for you to try to rewrite the history of these well known and acknowledged facts and just makes you look like an ignorant extremist.

Actually, with the way that the Repubs/TPers are playing Russian Roulette with our economy and doing EVERYTHING that they can in order to smear President Obama with their OWN misdeeds just to TRY to make him a one-term President and to H3LL with the economy or the poor and middle classes, it is the Repubs and TPers that are going to be bounced out of Washington DC and not allowed back for decades, if they ever recover at all. The Majority of the populace KNOWS who is really to blame and it is Not the Dems who have shown the willingness to compromise while the Repubs/TPers walk out when the discussion get to having a balanced approach on balancing the budget. The Dems have agreed to 1.3 Trillion in cuts and when they said that there Had to be revenue increases the Repubs/TPers walked out. The Repubs/TPers are trying to totally destroy Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, like they have loudly avowed to do for 70 years and during Bush's Admin ran the deficits and National Debt up to extreme levels saying that deficits do not matter, and have refused to change the things that are making it worse, most notably the BUSH tax breaks and Unfunded programs let alone the wars, and NOW, when we have a well spoken, intelligent Black Democrat as president they go into a fake panic saying that the only way out is to destroy the social programs that tens of millions of people depend upon for survival since the people that funded them (the Repubs and TPers) refuse to hire or pay true living wages. All the while they push and push for tax breaks and deregulation for the very richest, heck, even the Ryan Plan, which would destroy Medicare as we know it, goes ahead and turns nearly ALL of the money thus saved from destroying Medicare and gives it back to the Too-Obscenely-Rich-To-fail Club in the form of FURTHER tax breaks and not doing a darned thing towards reducing the deficit or National Debt...at all.

The Nation as a whole is rejecting that stance and because you are living in your Fox News and Right Wing Talking Point Bubble you are clearly not seeing that. The TPers will be one term Congressmen and he Dems are going to sweep the Repubs to have an unfilibusterable majority again the way things are going. Bet On It!

It's not just W though. All the republicans are against balancing a budget. As soon as they get close they want to lower taxes for the rich.

The plan is to break the government and start with a clean slate.

No medicare, no ssi, no nothing, except a giant military budget !! Yeah that's the ticket !!!!

Black belt,

wouldn't it be great if we could see where we would be with the repubs in charge?

40 % unemployment, US dollar = worthless, nationwide rioting, bohner crying .....

This is the Liberal ideology that Barack is doing a "great" job! The numbers don't lie, he sucks!

You don't pay double for gas. If you want action, quit voting for Republicans. They are the ones screwing everyone.

The National avg whe 1 Term 0bama became POTUS on Jan 20 2009 was $1.84 per gallon. Depending on where you live it is 2x what it was then or possibly 2.5 times. Surely you know how to use "Google" and look it up. But don't let facts get in the way of your talking points today.

Too bad gas was $4+ just 6 months prior to that. You know when your boy George crashed the economy it made the price of gas drop dramatically. But hey don't let facts get in the way of your talking points.

Gas was $4 under Bush for a very short time. It has been double what 1 Term 0bama began office with for a long time and will be $5 during election season. This guy has gotta go back to Chicago or do something he is competent at - organize for Rahmbo on Jan 20, 2013. 1 Term 0bama - its in the bank.

He just doesn't get it, D-Nice. Doesn't even understand that this oil price bubbles are a result of deregulated commodities markets in which the fat cat speculators are free to steal from the rest of us...and endanger the entire economy in the process.

It's gotten so bad even the American Trucking Association is calling out for help on this front. http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=23718

Most people disagree with you. However, the important thing is that you, and every other American who can vote, does so in 2012. It doesn't matter who you vote for, just go out and cast your vote. It is so sad that Americans do not appreciate the rights they have, even as arab nations are fighting and dying for those same rights.

The low voter turnout in 2010 is what got us into this current mess. Make sure the majority voice is heard in 2012, whatever that voice is.

Apparently, Clotho, most people AGREE with Steve! Check the most recent polls, and even if slightly askew, those that agree with Barack do not come close to qualifying for "MOST"! As I've already pointed out, the numbers don't lie.

Most people are saying they definetly will not vote for 1 Term 0bama these days. You need to get your poll data from people other than the HuffPo or the Daily Kook.

Barrack Obama....Affirmative Action carried to the "Nth" degree.

Edward-1075991 - stupidity carried to the nth degree!

degrets,

Once Obama extended those tax cuts, they became the Obama tax cuts.

Didn't really address my question.. I was just wondering if anyone else found the timing kind of suspect to a back door deal involving Geitner.

I'm a moderate, and as such, I don't care what you call them. Fine - Obama tax cuts. Anyone have any thoughts about the original question? Why would he wait until the debt talks are over to announce if he's staying or going?

Like the other rats on this sinking ship that have already jumped, this rat has just got to get that last piece of cheese before he goes ....

It's good for his resume.

Sorry, Bush TAX CUTS. Get your facts.

Good point, Steve... makes sense.

But, if all he wants is resume meat, he could still say he's announcing his departure before the conclusion of the talks... he'd just set the date for afterward.

I still find it odd that his decision to stay or go hinges on the conclusion of these talks.

job1 - when Obama signed them into law they became his. i can see why you wouldn't like that.... hypocrite

No matter whose owns the cuts now is irrelevant. If Obama wants a 400 billion tax increase, he should be willing to except at least 600 to 800 billion on spending cuts to go with it! The problem is that once the taxes are in place, the new revenue will be to tempting to spend on anything but deficit or debt reduction and make the matters worse than they already are! Cut spending first before adding taxes.

I wish they would the GOP would go ahead and let the tax rates go back to 39.6% for the top 2%. It would add $70 billion per year to their taxes and would take away a liberal talking point. The $70 billion is rounding error when compared to the debt this moron has run up ($5 trillion) in 2 1/2 years. Taxing the rich more won't help the economy - they already pay most of the taxes anyway. Keep talking about the corp. jet tax breaks since this regime was the one that gave it to them in the so called stimulus bill. Nov 6 2012 - "The End of an Error" from 1 Term 0bama!

WHAT new revenue? Without a surplus there is no revenue to spend. Your Conservative standard talking point is completely irrational.

Just another dysfunctional member of this administration on his way "OUT".... the biggest bunch of losers ever to run (ha ha ) this country.... come 2012.... they all will be gone.....

CHANGE AND HOPE will soon be CHANGE THE DOPE!!!!

ubetcha-3161816

Just another dysfunctional member of this administration on his ay "OUT".... the biggest bunch of losers ever to run (ha ha ) this country.... come 2012.... they all will be gone.....

CHANGE AND HOPE will soon be CHANGE THE DOPE!!!!

Yep the GOP will be gone, THANK GOD

never happen

Obama is in political rhetoric mode. he's attacking corporate jet tax breaks that were apart of the 2009 Democrat stimulus. a tax break that helps aviation mechanics and machinists unions, for less money than Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid said was a drop in the bucket when they defended all their earmarks as campaign contribution kickbacks.

Edward. Thanks to the Ryan budget plan, democrats will have no problem getting elected and reelected.

Patrick,

There are 22 Democratic Senators up for re-election this cycle.

Republicans only need a net win of three of those seats to gain the majority in the Senate. (I expect many more) This will put Ol Harry Reid to the back of the bus where he belongs.

It may become an insult to even be referred to as a Democrat. Like being called an idiot.

Some Republicans have expressed sincere concerns about losing the GOP majority in the House in 2012, since the surprise Democratic win in the NY special election. I think the GOP might be wise to focus on keeping what they've got, since it might not last.

18% approval rating for Congress. 29% approval for Florida's Rick Scott. Tick. Tick. Tick.

With the way Republicans in charge are dismanteling states with their power, they lose Republican support everyday. The typical Republican does not hate America like the T.P. (Toilet Paper Party, I name them that because that is where they want America to end up in the toilet.) Party. Listen to people like Grimey, he is intelligent and makes a case worth reading. While I may not agree with all, I will read his argument. The rest of you hate mongers, I mostly skip.

So far the states being attached have responded with recall elections and having bills being voted on by the public with over a million signatures. Now that the public knows your plan, you really think they will continue to vote T.P. Party or even the Republican party?

I meant being attacked by the Republican Governers.

The GOP picks up about 20 House seats and the WH. The only question is whether on not the get to the magic 60 numbers in the Senate. The liberals on this site are so out of touch with reality they think 0bama actually had something to do with getting bin Laden - hell 0bama has even deluded himself into thinking he got bin Laden and is working hard and providing leadership. 1 Term 0bama couldn't lead a group of cub scouts out of the church basement. "The End of an Error" Nov 6 2012 and bye bye 1 Term 0.

PACO: Yo begrudge the President some vaction time???

FYI: Dubya took more vacations days than any other president and he did this, while spending this country into ruin with two UNFUNDED wars, an UNFUNDED Medicare plan and giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy. But of course, all that was OK with you, Right??? Did you keep track of every nickle the Bush's spent while in the White House???

Now Obama tries his best to dig us out of the mess that your party created and you want to nickle and dime him for taking vactions. You should be ashamed at displaying your blatant partisanship but are probably not even intelligent enough to realize it.

I was simply pointing out the irony of his shot at corporate jets. It was poor timing on the part of his writers. And someone will pounce. Sure it's fluff, but that's what news is today. Shots of those jets will be on every morning 'news' program filling a few minutes of air time. You know how it goes. A reporter will show the ferry ordinary people take to 'The Vineyard'. Then a long or overhead shot of the jets lines up wingtip to wingtip. It's hard to escape the graphic image.

Ozzie Boy: do some homework. Go back and research 1997 Sub-Prime Mortgage "new industry" according to the NYTs CLINTON....................CATALYST bud.

Ozz - you are repeating Dem talking points that are not true. Dubya didn't take more vacation days than any other POTUS. You better Google it so you don't keep looking like a fool. Time spent at Camp David and his ranch where he was working is completely different than time spent on Martha's Vineyard, Spain and traveling around the world apologizing for the US. 0bama spends more time on the golf course than your avg. retiree!!! We are better off when 0bama is out of the country or on the golf course tho - he spends less money and doesn't screw things up as bad. We needer leadership - not 1 Term 0bama.

Keep trying to rewrite history, bb3, the evidence is out there;

President Bush recently spent his 879th day at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, since the Supreme Court, in all its great wisdom, elevated him to the presidency. This according to NPR's "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me," which noted that Bush broke former President Reagan's record for taking vacations from the White House.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/11/politics/uwire/main3927378.shtml

President Reagan, in 1981, spent all or part of 42 days away from the White House "on vacation" at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif, according to Knoller. President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, also spent three or four days around New Year’s Day each year in Palm Springs, Calif., at the home of philanthropist Walter Annenberg. (In 1993 the late Mr. Annenberg founded the nonpartisan Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which is FactCheck.org’s parent organization.)

President George W. Bush spent even more time away from the presidential mansion in the nation’s capital than Reagan. Of the 77 total "vacation" trips the former president made to his Texas ranch while in office, nine of them — all or part of 69 days — came during his first year as president in 2001, according to Knoller.

Bush’s father, President George H.W. Bush, spent less time "on vacation" during his first year than his son, but spent more days than President Obama. According to travel records provided to FactCheck.org by the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the former president took six trips — spanning all or part of 40 days — to the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1989. The archivist at Bush’s presidential library told us she didn’t have a list of all vacations but did have the Kennebunkport visits.

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/01/president-obamas-vacation-days/

Crowley is lying. Bush spent 1,020 days of his presidency on vacation. To put this into context, John F. Kennedy spent fewer days in office, 1000, than George W. Bush spent on vacation. Bush spent 487 days at Camp David, 490 days at his Crawford ranch, and 43 days in Kennebunkport. George W. Bush spent 69 days in Crawford during his first year in office. In contrast, according to FactCheck.org, Obama spent all, or part of, 26 days of his first year in office on vacation. This was less than all three previous Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, but more than the two previous Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-bush-vacation

Fox News lies...not exactly "man bites dog" news to anyone paying attention.

I remember seeing many times the saying that if you tell a lie often enough, you're a Republican. The problem is that the left has the same problem. The same old lies told over and over and over again. Isn't it sad that we can't just stop calling each other names? Is that really how you want to live your life? No, Fox News doesn't lie anymore than MSNBC lies or CNN lies. They have their opinion heads who may or may not espouse your particular view, but the News is usually as truthful as their owners allow them to be. We do not have a media that is unbiased. None of them are. So, you should stop calling each other names and work to bring America's press back from the dead.

I get that everyone--journalist or not--has a personal opinion. That doesn't change the fact that only one journalistic enterprise has gone to court to establish a right to KNOWINGLY lie...that would be Fox News.

Floridamom. Studies have shown that regular Fox viewers formed the impression Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11. Saddam was a terrible man, however, he was not involved in 9/11, in fact, Saddam Hussein was enemies with Al Qeida.
Fox News, however, conveyed the idea Saddam was involved, in order to support President Bush's invasion of Iraq. Is that a news station that just reports the news?

Greenspan? Yeah, listening to him really worked out well for our country, didn't it? If the stimulus did not have enough impact it's likely because it was not big enough.

Greenspan said in a interview that stimulus program had little impact on the US economy besides weakening the dollar and helping US exports.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/economy/24panel.html

Oct 23, 2008 – Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, said he “made a mistake” in trusting that free markets could regulate themselves.

So, should we believe Greenspan when he said that, too, or should we believe Republicans who want to make regulations even weaker than they were in the years leading up to the near-collapse of the US economy under George W. Bush's misadministration?

Houston,

So, should we believe Obama when he talked about - shovel­ ready jobs, close GITMO end the war, decrease spending, transparen­cy?

thetotas

So, should we believe Obama when he talked about - shovel­ ready jobs, close GITMO end the war, decrease spending, transparen­cy?

The fact that you changed the subject so quickly just proves that you filter out facts that don't agree with what you want to believe.

As for Obama, like every other president who preceded him, he has been a disappointment in some areas (transparency is the only one that you mention that I think is valid). But for the most part, he's done exactly what he promised to do during the campaign that was within his authority as president.

Houston - at least Obama promised something, the Republican candidates have not offered one solution or "if you vote for me I will" nadah, not one thought, not one solution except sign Norquists BS no taxes - by the way I thought all of Congress swears to abide by the Constitution not Grover Norquist - I believe that is treasonous - as Michelle Bachman said shouldn't these people be investigated as being UnAmerican?

So, should we believe Obama when he talked about - shovel­ ready jobs, close GITMO end the war, decrease spending, transparen­cy?

Since you brought it all up,

Shovel ready jobs- More jobs created in 2 years under Obama than the entire 8years of Bush... promise kept.

Close Gitmo- Tried to close Gitmo multiple times in various ways, each attempt was blocked by the GOP to keep Obama from keeping this promise... Promise kept then Obstructed.

End the war- End of combat operations in Iraq, drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. I would count this as promise kept, the only argument you could make otherwise would be that he didn't IMMEDIATELY end the wars and withdraw all troops, which would have been just as reckless and irresponsible as lying us into Iraq in the first place... Promise kept.

Decrease spending- The Obama administration has made sensible cuts to spending even in the face of this Bush created recession. That he hasn't fixed the Bush created deficits in 2 years is more of a testament to the destruction cause by GOP policies. Also, Obama continuously offers compromise to include more spending cuts and in return gets more ultimatums and posturing from the opposition who demand policies that will further destroy jobs and punish average Americans to benefit the wealthy... promise kept.

Transparency- Yeah we're all dissapointed about this one, perhaps there are some things the government needs to keep under wraps for various reasons, this administration is still far more transparent than the previous. I'll give you this one point with the admission that when you sling enough mud on the wall, some is bound to stick... Promise broken.

We're going to use Alan Greenspan, who worked tirelessly to make sure derivatives--the flashpoint of a world economic collapse--remained unregulated, as the final arbiter of whether the stimulus worked? As a true disciple of the Supply Side faith Greenspan will AUTOMATICALLY speak against it. Guess what? He ran the fed for YEARS and in the process set up the biggest world economic debacle since the Great Depression.

Republican economist Mark Zandi, chief economic advisor to John McCain's presidential campaign has a different take. By his calculation without the stimulus unemployment would be far worse, the economic contraction would've been far greater. http://www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/End-of-Great-Recession.pdf