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Subscribe to RSS“President Obama blasted Congress from the road on Thursday, saying things would be worse if lawmakers returned to Washington,” The Hill writes. “‘There is nothing wrong with our country,’ Obama said in a speech at a Holland, Mich. plant. ‘There is something wrong with our politics.’ Obama rolled out what sounded like a new campaign theme Thursday that makes Washington gridlock his foil and the obstacle to increased economic recovery.”
“President Barack Obama sought to reassert economic leadership on Thursday by pledging to deliver new ideas every week to create jobs, and he slammed Congress for ‘bickering’ that hurts economic recovery,” Reuters adds. “In a passionate speech to auto industry workers aimed at deflecting public anger over policy gridlock in Washington, Obama said the refusal to put country ahead of party ‘has got to stop.’”
The AP: “Obama aired his frustration with the ways of Washington just before pivoting to his reelection campaign and a pair of big-money fund-raisers in New York City.”
“President Barack Obama collected some big bucks Thursday night at a star-studded fund-raiser in the New York home of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein,” the New York Post says. “Among the guests: actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin; comedian Jimmy Fallon, designer Vera Wang, singer Alicia Keys, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who co-hosted the event. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was also there as the guests packed around five tables in a basement room.”
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"There is nothing wrong with our country, but there is something wrong with the Republicans in our politics."
Our president needs to tweak it a bit!
i hope he doesn't. He doesn't need to be on a side. How about the middle, eh? Those of us who are conservative or liberal depending on the subject. This extremist right and left stuff has got to stop. The country is speaking to all of Washington, please do the work you were voted in for instead of staging the 100 years war. We are so over this...and i need a drink
Yes he does need to tweak it - a lot.
@jaycrib: The middle is no longer the middle. The middle is now the far right. The extreme fanatic right have pulled it and pulled it so it is no longer recognizable as "the middle". We need to pull left in order just to get back to middle.
My A$$
"We need to pull left in order just to get back to middle."
Hey Cathy M., from where I'm standing, facing south, if I make a LEFT, I'll end up in GREECE.
I don't need anyone telling me where to channel my anger.
[...from where I'm standing, facing south, if I make a LEFT, I'll end up in GREECE.]
...so, you're comparing the United States to...a foreign country? Greece, no less?
...here's your sign...
According to the AP report, the evening started at the Ritz Carlton- where fifteen people showed up for a reception.
Fifteen.
They must have held it in one of the broom closets.
Five tables in the basement? Well, let's see- how big were the tables? If they were the largest, that meant there were no more than fifty people in for the dinner, since the largest tables seat eight to ten.
If they were the smaller, the maximum number would have been thirty people, as those tables seat four to six.
He's not, exactly, packing them in, is he?
i'm sorry Joe but you don't help either. Please find a way where we can come together. I could care less about who showed up where. I care more about the middle and lower classes getting health care and education so that this country can get stronger. Can't we focus on that?
jaycrib - That's not the Republican agenda. Everything they've done is to injure education, pollute the land, air and water, cut back and/or eliminate social programs that benefit the elderly, children, disabled, veterans, and disadvantaged. Republican agenda is to allow big business to rape the land and pollute the air and water; to shield wealthy corporations and individuals from taxation.
Summertime,
Who pays for these "Social" programs? What social programs do Vets receive?
Paul - You're not serious with that question are you?? What social programs do Vets receive??? Why don't you just look it up bud. Oh...and whatever social programs vets receive and there are number of them.....you shouldn't even question paying for them. In fact you should just say how much and where do I pay. There's never enough we can do for the vets of this country....where's your patriotism that you conservatives wear so proudly on your sleeves?
@Paul - WE paid for these social programs. The government has had its hand in the till of Social Security for years, taking any surplus to drop into their general funds. Well, it's time for the spendthrift 8 years of Bush to put money back into the pot and quit whining about the needy. We need to call in all those IOUs. There's a reason people are needy. It's called capitalism without common sense. It's called jobs gone overseas, unemployment, greedy banks and corporations, pharma, and all the rest. Example: Do you know that with Medicare Part D (Medicare Advantage), you pay the same amount of premium I do without being in that program, while the government pays the insurance companies an additional $600-$800 per month per person to enroll in it. Yay for big pharma. I chose a Part D plan that I pay approximately $50 per month for. While the Republican great plan for pharma and the insurance companies was to pay the addition $600 to insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies for the same benefits that I am receiving, and it still costs the beneficiary the same amount I am paying.
@Paul: And we are paying less today than ever before for those programs. Should make you happy! And of course we can see the damage that has done to our country, we're not first in much of anything. Where's your pride for your country? Where's your pride that your roads are driveable and your bridges aren't collapsing, and that your kids have the very best education in the world and that their teachers are honored. Oh, no, the repubs have to tear down everything in this country and sooner or later that's going to have the worst possible outcome for us, for our kids, for our grandkids. Not spending money, just not being able to make any money, or bringing in revenues by the working class becaue they are able to work. What would you do if you were suddenly let go? What would you do if your children were hungry. You people are so incredibly nihilistic and fearful and want to gut everything so that the wealthy can continue to collect even more from our backs.
@Laurie: It's usually a flag pin, with it you're a patriot; without it, you're not. Or your gun, or your AK47. That makes you patriotic. Or slamming your government and your President, that makes you patriotic in the minds of those conservatives.
"According to the AP report, the evening started at the Ritz Carlton- where fifteen people showed up for a reception."
Obama is a man who stands up for the underdog. You know, all those underdogs who frequent the Ritz Carlton.
@no jo, no bo, nj: I think you're focusing on the wrong thing. The number of people may have been small, but the guest list read like a who's-who of rich/famous/powerful people. I would imagine they paid a VERY high price to get that kind of small group facetime with a sitting POTUS.
So, once again, Obama is blameless in his failure to lead this country. What exactly is he trying to tell us, that the out-of-control government spending is the fault of a two-party system, and our solution is for everyone to become Democrats? Or just that this new voice in Congress, the so-called "Tea Party", is the new greatest threat.
After all, for generations Republicans and Democrats have been able to hit taxpayers from all angles, either massive spending on defense, or outrageous spending on social programs. But the result has been more spending, more borrowing, more debt.
So far, we have seen two methods by the Obama administration to solve our debt problem. The first has been to blame previous administrations - "hey - it's not my fault that I had to quadruple our deficit!" After two and a half years, this excuse has grown tiresome, and has lost it's punch.
Therefore, Obama's new strategy is an outright attack on the Tea Party. He is smart enough to recognize the power of their message, since, combined with Obama's lack of leadership, they were responsible for the landslide GOP victory in 2010.
He is also smart enough to realize that, unless he can somehow fool the American people into abandoning the Tea Party message of smaller government and less spending, he hasn't a chance in a million to achieve what he now so desperately desires - reelection in 2012.
So Obama does what Obama does best - character assassination, finger pointing, and class warfare. Hey - this is his strong suit, and after a lifetime of communtiy activism, it is all he truly knows.
IrateNate
Well, if Republicans hadn't decided to politicize raising the debt ceiling to pay for the two wars and tanking economy Bush left us, holding us all hostage and frightening the markets, then President Obama wouldn't be pointing a finger at them, now would he?
Didn't Bush give Obama 7% unemployment and an AAA rating? Nobody was holding anybody hostage. The TEA Party was voted in on what they said there were going to do and unlike other politicians they kept their word. Crazy isn't?
Paul - Bush didn't give Obama or this country anything but a major economic headache and the almost destruction of our society.
So even though we were losing jobs by the thousands every month at the end of Bush's term, that wasn't Bush's fault? Somehow, magically the economy changed in January 2009 and it is Obama fault? Yeah ok Paul.
In this case it wasn't a person it was an entire country and it effected the entire world economy. We were all held hostage, they said they would not vote on anything unless they got their way. What would you call that? That is not negotiating that is not compromising that is holding hostage. They did not just vote their way and win-they wouldn't vote unless they got their way.
A far as the credit rating, had it just been raised in a clean bill, like it has been done every time previously our credit rating would not have been lowered. McConnell even said it was a hostage worth taking.
"So Obama does what Obama does best - character assassination, finger pointing, and class warfare."
Things have spiraled downward in the last 3 years on Obama's watch almost to depression levels. That aside, he might still have America's ear if he would come out and say........."We went in the wrong direction for 18 months on Obamacare but I fired some communists/socialists, at least. We got 'shallacked' in 2010 so I pivoted in my speeches and started to mention the deficit problem. I should have at least fixed the border problem with Mexico and drawn down troops in 3 wars . Oh, and I would take back the $780 billion with which I was bailing out UNIONS if I could start over. Let's NOT forget, Michelle planted a vegie garden. Please America, GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE."
At that point, we'd all feel sorry for him and FIRE HIM ANYWAY.
jaycrib
I'm with you! the Problem is that someone has to take ownership of the mess we are in. Republicans will never do that. Democrates will never do that. Its time for the american working class to stand up and vote these thugs out of washington. why do the middle and lower class get screwed everytime?
areuserious
They get screwed because they support Republicans. Witness the four recent recall races where voters retained senators who cut the benefits of firefighters, cops, teachers, snow plow drivers, etc. in order to fund tax cuts to the rich.
Because we constantly vote against our own self interest and split tickets every time we go to the poles to vote - that's why we get screwed.
I don't believe anything Obama says. He is a hard-core Socialist and as anti-American as anyone in the world. Don't vote for him in 2012 no matter who he runs against.
careful, Jim, you're going to give Socialism a good name.
Jim, this is 2011, not 1950. If you are more than 80 and have kept your mindset since 1950, I will give you a pass. Otherwise, please explain: what is a "hard-core Socialist" and what is an "American." Is it possible to be socialist AND American? If not, please explain why. Is being American the same as being a capitalist? Wouldn't immigrants be allowed to come in, then, if they say they are capitalist? while people who don't raise capital would be deported?
Jim - Your post is ridiculous. Of course Obama is an American. Why do you say he's unAmerican? He was born in American just the same and you (I presume) and I. We already are a half socialist society and I love my socialized medicine (Medicare) and so do my friends. I love my Social Security that I bought as "old age insurance." If we didn't have regulations and social programs the robber barons and capitalists that run big business would chew us up that spit us out.
Jim obviously has issues...
Reviving the tired name calling proves it......'hard core socialist', 'anti-American', 'Marxist', 'job-killer', 'anti-?'
Name calling does not help move the discussion in a positive direction. When your position starts with a lie, YOU have NO position!
Too much Faux news for "Jim". The socialist crap is old and out of the Ayn Rand playbook that republicans follow. I guess he prefers the oligarchy that exists now. Let's just all go back to 18th century England - Bah humbug!!!
Jim from Lodi - You don't even know what a Socialist is. You just throw that word around because it sounds good. If you knew what you were saying you wouldn't be applying that term to President Obama. If anything he's a centrist. He's certainly no liberal in the true sense of the word.
While the Republicans think that governing our country is a joke and just some major board game!
It does bring me a sense of relief that we have a party of serious minded political folks - known as Democrats.
Let me clarify - there are two generally types of Republicans - Those that are rich, selfish and greedy and those that are racist, poor and ignorant. (not all mind you - I have many smart open-minded Republican friends).
The most powerful of the two groups - are the Greedy rich... they will sell their soul and their mother's as well - just to keep materialistic things. i.e. houses, yachts, cars,cash, etc.
These are the people, that are bribing our elected officals, threatening their jobs by having them rely on their finanical support.
The second half of the Republican people debacle - are just followers...they have no clue and are unable to think for themself... all they know is- "these are the same people that hate Obama". LOL.
So, we Democrats, Independents, open-minded Republicans - will be the only ones to save our Country and take it back for all it's citizens, by reelecting President Obama.
President Obama's comment is 100% on point. We all know it - we need to spread that message. Our Country finances, business, Corporations, wealth is ALL just find.
There are policies waiting in congress to be passed - that will soar our economy - RIGHT NOW.
Put people to work - bring down the unemployment rate; control the out of control stock markets, reign in the greedy banks, rebuild our bridges and roads, etc.
But guess what folks, the Republicans are sitting on ALL of this!!! Their only strategy is to let those who need these actions the most, SUFFER!!! in hopes that these same people will be dumb enough to blame President Obama and not vote for him.
That's it! These Republicans are so far gone from reality - that they honestly think - they can get away with destroying peoples lives - by sitting on policies that are meant to build them.
Our best bet is for the MEDIA to tell the truth!!! stop overlooking the obvious...stop cherry picking news... and tell the TRUTH about our Republicans in congress.
The GOP/TP is the fault for our high unemployment rate, the GOP/TP is the fault for Wall Streets greed, the GOP/TP is the fault for high gas prices, the GOP/TP is the fault for the growing poor in this country.
The GOP/TP will be the fault for people meeting in the streets -
The Republicans have sold their souls to the highest bidders - Fox news -cherry picked a quote from Rev. Wright to glorify their BS... It was something like - GOD Damn America...well guess what folks - the Republicans has done just that!!!!
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Kool-aid for one......................Kool-aid for one.
"TRUTH - not CRAP"
Here , I will give you what you ask for.........THE DEMS had the Senate, House of Rep. and the Presidency in their control for TWO YEARS. What did they do (behind closed doors) ?? OBAMACARE. Nothing but Obamacare, which, if you havent heard is beginning to be deemed unconstitutional in the courts.
LEONA:
[THE DEMS had the Senate, House of Rep. and the Presidency in their control for TWO YEARS.]
That statement means very little...Are you still spouting the "super majority" bullcrap again? If so, you might want to check your sources (FOX "news").
Hey Mickey, That fact only " meant very little" as you say because the DEMS chose to DO VERY LITTLE. Put down the kool aid and try green tea, it's better for your health.
LEONA:
Did you refer to the democrats having a "super majority" for two years or not? Because if you did, you are wrong..
...just sayin'...
LEONA:
[...because the DEMS chose to DO VERY LITTLE.]
Another falsehood...check your sources...check how many bills the Republicans have passed so far...21...TWENTY ONE...compared to the last two congressional sessions controlled by democrats...
...just sayin'...
Mickey, Talk about "falsehoods"....I bet you cant wait for Obama campaignisms for the next 14 months.........." I said I would end the wars" ( but it's Bushs' fault I couldn't), "I said unemployment would fall below 8% if you let me spend 780 billion" ( there were no shovel ready jobs), "I said if you elect me, it will be the END of politics as usual" ( but it's Repubs fault ), "I said we would go after the Wall Street millionaires and billionaires" (but they give millions to my campaign), "I said we would stop exporting all the jobs to China" ( but CEO's like Jeff Immelt are my friends/czars so GE & others are exempt) and "I said I would fix the illegal immigration situation " ( but they are the future Democatic voters so forget it). BTW...I killed OBL ( unless you think the Navy Seals did it )."
Just sayin......
Mickey let me repost your explanation of how the Dems did NOT have a FILIBUSTER PROOF MAJORITY from another FR Topic (Gridlock)
http://on.msnbc.com/ru4ito
adidas 503:
Thank you...LEONA is one of those that thinks facts are opinions, and opinions are facts. He/she has posted this tripe before, and it's just another emotional, ideological response to a situation that is not in his/her control.
UNFORTUNATELY, Mickey, you think that our current govt. is a system that should only work if Liberal Democrats shove legislation down the throats of Americans who are against it ( i.e. Obamacare). There has never been a time in history that a few Democrats/Republicans would not join the other side on a piece of legislation, with few exceptions. That's a new phenomena. It's called ObamaBLAMEpolitics. Obama knows how JOBS are created ( he's no dummie ) but he'd rather push a "green" job-destroying agenda in order to redistribute wealth in this country. Meantime, people like you bought into it. It's a sad day.
I would like to see Obama point out a few of these bills that the Republicans are sitting on and they blast them thoroughly for blocking those that help the people to get jobs, reign in Wall Street and the banks, stop Corporate Welfare. All he would need is three or four points and hammer away on them.
People are telling Obama what to do - but it is all of us who need to defend the President. There are ten Republican candidates roaming around Iowa talking trash about him, not to mention FOX going 24/7. The media, in general, thrives on drama, they don't care what the merits of the criticism is.
A new idea every week on how to create jobs. He really doesn't get it... What you will hear him say is "we need to invest in roads and bridges, this will create thousands of jobs...." WE HAVE NO MONEY!!!
JFK - We have no money because we haven't invested in the one resource that would garner more money for the government and that's jobs for Americans. Certainly public works projects would put people to work repairing our infrastructure which is badly eroded. That in turn would put more taxpayers on the books and more revenue in the public coffers. That in turn would reduce the deficit and drive demand in our economy therefore fueling the economic engine and robust growth in the country.
Laurie, what kind of profits can we expect from these pubic works projects and how will we pay for these projects, WE HAVE NO MONEY.
JFK - These projects would generate revenue in the form of income taxes paid by the people working. Part of the reason for the large deficits is so many people out of work not paying taxes. The only way to get this economy going is by the government investing in infrastructure projects that would put thousands of people back to work and generate not only the immediate jobs but other jobs that would spring up as a result of the construction activity all over the country. It's a win/win.
Laurie, Where do we get the Money?
JFK - Float Bonds like we did during WWII. It's a more than worthy cause. That would be one way or deficit spend. It's what the government is supposed to do in times of emergency. I would suspect most people would agree with me. Businesses won't hire until they see demand in the economy. There can be no demand in the economy unless people have money to spend. There can be no money to spend unless people have jobs. The government has the capacity to start the economy up again. Too bad if you don't like the way it's done but it's a very viable solution.
JFK 2112: At the end of WWII, the USA had a much higher debt-ratio then now, as well as hundreds of thousands of vets returning to the job force. Given that production had not yet re-tooled for a peace-time economy, there were no jobs for them, so there would have been a huge unemployment rate. What does the US do? Pass the Marshall Plan (to rebuild Germany (!)) and the GI Bill, which resulted in the best-trained workforce the world had ever seen. HOW did they do it? TAXES, and a lot of revenue as the vets finished college and got high-paying jobs. Let's raise taxes on the super-wealthy, and have a new "GI Bill" for those unemployed, and a new "Marshall Plan" to rebuild America.
When the british markets went unstable and riots sprouted up in the streets
Tony Cameron ended his vacation early, recalled both houses of Parliament,
called up and deployed 10,000 additional police officers, convened a joint
session of the house of lords and the house of commons and began to work all of
the problems out in the open for all to see.
By Contrast, Obama Bin Lyin gets his toadies in the house and senate to
appoint a Super Committee to begin working on the budget behind closed doors after their vacation,
ignores the riots that his class warfare speeches fomented, goes on a "jobs"
tour which really is a campaign tour, and announces a 10 day vacation on
Martha's Vinyard so he can go hob nob with the rich.
What a contrast. The UK has a Leader and we have a cheap shuck and jive artist that
plays golf and vacations when he isn't hiding behind closed doors
proclaiming the great transparency he has brought into american politics.
Throw the bum out in 2012!
"bftz" - Quite the leader Cameron is... Oh, were is rioting in the streets taking place? So much for the austerity plan...
Philadelphia PA and Milwauakee Wis.
There is something very wrong, it started almost 3 years ago, Obama. But thank god their is a cure, take the narrative away and he is more useless than normal. I myself am looking forward to this disaster of a President losing.
bfitz -wtf are you talking about? I live in Philadelphia and there are no RIOTS here!
See what I mean folks? - prime example of the second type of Republicans.
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
You know...
It's useless diatribe like this that perpetuate the dislike for Democrats. You think that all Democrats are holier than God and that you never do any wrong and that Obama is the savior of the nation. Well...guess what? This country was screwed up by BOTH parties! Your failure to admit your parties fault just belies your blindness to your party.
Here's the quote from your local paper:
In and out in a flash, that's how Upper Darby police describe
the mob of about 40 youths that alleged robbed a local department store last
Thursday.
Upper Darby police confirm that 15 kids and one adult
(19-years-old) were arrested after a flash mob rushed into the Sears on 69th
Street and stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.
Authorities tell the Delaware County Daily Times that the
gaggle of youth exited the El train at the 69th Street terminal, walked up the
street and entered the department store a little after 7 p.m. Thursday. They
quickly went to work stealing anything they could grab.
"Imagine the guts of this gang of young hoodlums. One was 11
years old. The others arrested ranged from 12 to 16 years old. They planned this
out earlier in the day on a social networking site. It was pre-planned," Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood told the Daily
Times.and if you still insist it didn't happen, here's one of the surveillance vids the Philadelphia PD is using to identify some of the thugs involved:
So WTF, OVER? Guess you aren't up on current events aftar all. are you!
So much for your CRAP
Oh yeah, that sounded like a political protest to me...
JK1963 - Here the thing ... I have said many of times that both Parties are responsible for alot of things.
But the TRUTH of the matter is - the Republicans are responsible for making things worst than ever before.
It all began with George Bush and continues with Republicans and Tea Party Republicans!!!
I am concerned about what can be done to fix things now and there is plenty the Democrats wants to do.
It's the party of NO - aka GOP/TP that are to stubborn, self centered, tunnelled vision and closed minded, has voted no on anything sensible or helpful, caused Government disfunction, downgrade of credit rating, high gas prices, wall street robbery, on and on and on ... and that's the problem with Republicans!!!!!
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
bftiz - that's not a RIOT!!!!!! - get a dictionary and figure it out!
And it is certainly not worth the Presidents time - as you tried to compare it to what happen in LONDON!!!
Geeezz... you would compare Dog Crap to a T-bone steak it you thought you had a point.
Typical Republican.
TRUTH - not CRAP
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
[Geeezz... you would compare Dog Crap to a T-bone steak it you thought you had a point.]
Now THAT'S a keeper!
Good job, DS...
hahahaha what a joke President Food Stamps thinks he's playing on the country with this BS
he speaks as if he isn't the most divisive POTUS in recent history and the #1 cause of the problem!
Democratic Soldier,
How can you stand there and not admit your party is just to blame. The Democrats get a big kick out of calling the Republicans the party of "NO", but the Democrats are equally to blame for making this country worse, despite your blindness to your party. This Democratic president has spent more with no results, and continues to spend at a pace unlike any other president has seen (yes, including Bush), but you would stand there and not admit to your parties failure in this mess, just shows that you are looking at this discussion with open eyes.