Amy,

I didin't see NBC news last night - as for C Todd, could it be that he is still looking for Obama's "written" plan? Recall during the debt disaster, Todd, Tapper and (was it Chip) kept asking Carney where Obama's plan is.

What you should have watched last night was Ed Schultz... he is really angry at Obama (Ed usually loves Obama) but he put up a quote from BO out of Iowa (yesterday) "To my friends in the public sector unions... (as Ed puts it) -- it's time you take another haircut". You can see it online (the entire last night show) - this particular segment is at 26:30 into the show. Ed finds these remarks by Obama as very troubling.

I have to give Ed credit for being passionate especially compared to Brian.

The mainstream press, and even so-called liberal media like Ed Shultz are always the first to criticize their own. Sometimes it for ratings and an attempt to prove they are unbiased (CNN), but most of the time it is just the way liberals are--more honest. I don't like unfounded criticism, but I sure as heck won't watch FAUX News, which has no integrity.

The president's comments to the teacher about public unions was to say that public unions are not held to market competition the way private sector unions are, and to say that the benefits like holidays and health care are better than many other Americans enjoy. Now, the pay and pensions are pretty measly, so I say give them the perks or pay them more in the first place. For "white collar" college degree, teaching certified work, the pay is WAY below market in most of the nation (rural areas in particular).

Right now congressional representatives are meeting with voters, albeit some are charging fees like Paul Ryan, but these Teabaggers really need to get a taste of their own 2009 medicine at these town halls and do some explaining about privatizing Medicare, and causing the S&P downgrade, and being against revenue of any kind, even a 10 to 1 ratio.

President Obama is going to present a plan in September when congress reconvenes. In the meantime, my guess is he is putting great thought into it, which is preferable to the GOP/TP who have never had any plan, so must use propaganda for cover.

True,

Just a quick note on "news"... all the channels have thier news shows and mostly they are just that - news. Guests appear and some guests are on more than one show on a given day. Sure, they have their opinion but the show is geared for delivering the news. Opinion shows are just a different category.

I don't think I know any gov't union workers - none come to mind. I'm an engineer and am expected to perform. Based on what we all know about public unions (in general), accoutability is important. I'll pick an example (I know its isolated and rarely happens - at least we hope)... recall the Detroit MTA bus driver in January, while driving he had his girlfriend in his lap. I saw the video on TV and on the web. If that wasn't bad enough, the union boss was stupid enough to go on TV to try and jutify why the guy shouldn't be fired. Come on - if the union boss' wife or daughter was on that bus, the driver's head would have been served on a plate.

I can't imagine a "servant" (Ryan) charging $$ to folks to listen in. Are we all sure that is really the case.

As for the downgrade - I'm not a TP guy nor do I know anyone who is but if you really believe that 60 or so rookies have enough power to shut down Reid and the Senate and Obama, what does that really say about the Dems and the King Dem? I don't buy it. Oama should have resented something in writing - the CBO eve said they don't score speches.

As for the plan -- let's hope its more than just words.

For staters he should fire Jeff Immelt - and you know why. Back in 2008, the air wasn't bad, rivers and lakes weren't black your drinking water was god... BOshould tell the EPA to back off - as well as back off Boeing so they can open the jobs in SC (if Obama is eally about jobs, he should do this now). Bill Clinton said the corporate tax rate should be lowered... is Bill right?

Obamacare and the 1000s of regulations needs to go - he should kill it.

Felonious Monk tells it like it is. Take a listen Mr. Obama. A must view for everyone!!!! Including you Amy

http://theswash.com/2011/08/11/felonious-monks-anti-obama-rant/

Krell, for an engineer, your thinking isn't very rational. You take one example of an incompetent bus driver in Detroit being protected by the union, and you use that to smear all the teachers, firefighters, snowplow drivers and clerics who are represented by a union. That doesn't sound very scientific.

Paul Ryan, and a buch of other Teapublicans are charging constituents to enter their Town Hall meetings. It's supposed to cut down on the riffraff.

“It will cost $15 to ask Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) a question in person during the August congressional recess,” Politico reports. “The House Budget Committee chairman isn’t holding any face-to-face open-to-the-public town hall meetings during the recess, but like several of his colleagues he will speak only for residents willing to open their wallets. Ryan, who took substantial criticism from his southeast Wisconsin constituents in April after he introduced the Republicans’ budget proposal, isn’t the only member of congress whose August recess town hall-style meetings are strictly pay-per-view.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/?nvo=0&16862776|a|nu|30|1|t|a|0=12

Krell -- Engineers are the few Americans in a field that is relatively stable. Hey, I give you credit for becoming an engineer, but the engineers I know in person have worked for the same company their entire careers and have never known what it's like to go through a lay off. They tend to be right-wing and unfortunately not very empathetic. With that said...

You bring up lesser known issues such as the Detroit bus driver and Jeff Immelt, but don't know about this:

It will cost $15 to ask Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) a question in person during the August congressional recess.

The House Budget Committee chairman isn’t holding any face-to-face open-to-the-public town hall meetings during the recess, but like several of his colleagues he will speak only for residents willing to open their wallets.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61454.html#ixzz1VJYRwGiD

The Boeing SC issue is a Teabagger talking point too, which has been blown way out of proportion. My guess is you have no idea about media other than right-wing media.

The bottom line is right-to-work states like SC are poorer states as a result of low wages. Most of the states that received more federal funds than they send in are red, right-to-work states. States that have a living wage or higher than federal minimum wage are wealthier states. The more people earn, the more they can spend, and the better businesses do.

Why anyone in the US would want to become like a third-world country, I'll never understand. Stop buying foreign products at Wal-Mart -- that would be a good, patriotic start.

Amy,

Come on... I said the bus driver was an isolated incident and I don't see where I smeared anyone. All I said is accountability is important. Please re-read what I wrote, I just did and don't see any smearing and I admitted up front that this is an isolated event.

If Ryan is charging $$, I wouldn't pay (not my state anyway). Since they are servants, they shouldn't be doing that. So yeah, I'm against it.

True,

Do you agree with Amy that I smeared anyone?

I've been unemployed 6 times in 16 years (7 months off was the longest interval) so I do know well what unemployment is all about. I've had quite a few jobs because of variables outside of my control (like 9/11). I mention the EPA because I worked for Bechtel Power for many years... Obama has put the lid on the energy sector by thinking we can power the US on solar/wind/and rainbows. It ain't gonna happen.

I don't live in SC and have no ties to Boeing. That said, I only know what I read. So why is the NLRB involved? It is a private company - since when does the gov't get involved in this type of thing? If Boeing sends those jobs out of the US (like Immelt does) it will be the fault of Obama and the union.

I've been in Wal-Mart maybe 3 times in 15 years - and one of those times was back in the spring because they were the only placed that carried a specific eye-drop that I had to use.

True,

About engineers... conservative may be a more accurate word. Certainly not all but most - why? I can only speak for myself but I like order and symmetry. I can park both cars in the garage and my basement is not filled with boxes of junk - I could go on but you get what I mean.

Forget the true needy - we all like to pitch in and help and we as americans do a good job. It's the lazy worthless slugs that are a problem. If I have to get up everyday and work, they should too. No free handouts. If you call that a lack of empathy, than so be it.

Well, Krell. I apologize. As I re-read your post I see you didn't slander anybody. It gets my back up whenever someone appears to diss unions. I have only belonged to a union once, in my life, when I worked in the circulation dept of a newspaper, but I have worked at more than my share of jobs that didn't provide health insurance, cut my hours at the the slightest seasonal dip, didn't provide sick days or vacation, and even split my check in two so they didn't have to pay me time and a half overtime. So, I may be a bit touchy on the subject of unions. My apologies.

Its Ok Amy... I know you feel strongly about unions which is why I wanted to make sure you actually read what I typed.

I'm not the slandering type - at least not intentionally.

Thanks for replying.

Krell, you said you don't know any govt union workers, so I replied in regard to engineers I personally know.

When there is a job opening, even one at Mickey-Ds, and the line of applicants stretches for blocks, I find terms like "lazy worthless slugs" to be the problem. Obviously these folks are not looking for a free handout--they want a @#$%&! JOB.

My reference to Wal-Mart was not directed specifically at you, but rather the mentality that American workers expect too much, and this is why companies off-shore. And these same people ranting about such things turn around and contribute to the problem by shopping at places like Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart forces competition at the supply level globally, not at the local level per free market ideals. People might as well support countries like China directly. This is why we need to demand that all companies, including US companies, create jobs here if they want access to our market here.

It's interesting that the UAW wages and benefits are not that much greater than foreign auto makers with plants in the south, especially when taking into account the lower cost of living in the south. But would the pay be even lower in the south without the UAW in Detroit? Probably.

Still, if foreign companies want access to the US market, it is better to have them produce goods and services here, and the same should apply to US companies that offshore. Free market concepts only work when kept in the same market, and the same can be said about illegal labor brought in from elsewhere. Unless labor is as mobile as companies, and of course labor is not, then labor will be taken to the lowest denominator. Meat packing wages dropped from $13/hr to $9/hr due to illegal labor, for example.

If Republicans were serious about jobs (good paying jobs), they would be talking about trade agreements, and investment in plants, and public work projects. Both Partiesshould get behind mandated eVerify to hire. There are many things to look at aside from infrastructure or vouchers for the unemployed.

But stuck on stupid "out-of-control spending" won't do sh!t.

True,

Lazy slugs... here's what I mean: I work for a private company as a contractor to the Fed Gov't. There are some that make more than me and what do they do 2 days/week? Spend 3 hours watering their plants, then stop over at their friends cube, walk around outside... do any work? Are you kidding. Of course this is a small % but its blatant (after all, they can run to the union). This is what I meant by accountability.

I do not mean people that are looking for and want to work. I don't care what job it is, the attitude is what I respect.

I agree that we (the US) need help and something has to give. Unfortunately, the next 16 months ain't lookin' pretty - Dec 2012 can't come fast enough - and I'm not referring to the Mayans.

Thanks for writing.

You have anything knowledgeable to say ettucat? Or just your same old President bashing tea people talking points. Nobody is listening to you Waco's anymore.

This president has lost all credibility, what is he hoping to accomplish? Waiting until September to lay out his newest plan or two.

People without jobs are put on hold,while they play politics. Someone needs to step up and say enough! Its obvious Obama wont do it.

Please, see you in September, not good enough!

"You get the feeling?" Dubya, is that you? ettucat -- YOU stop shooting from the lips and try backing things up with a credible source, facts, data.

Your posting to the wrong story AnaBanana. Give us some insight to this barry wait till September speach. Which is it, one all the times before when he supposedly he had aplan he didn't have squat or two the plans he had before were typical barry they did more damage than good.

Bob Jones,

You got me to re read the story and yes I did post to the correct story. I quit reading your post after "barry". Want my attention? Try respecting my President.

AnaBanana, Some times dreams really don't come true.