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Subscribe to RSSPer the Washington Post, President Obama gave some hints about his upcoming economic proposal. "'I will be laying out a series of steps that Congress can take immediately to put more money in the pockets of working families and middle-class families, to make it easier for small businesses to hire people, to put construction crews to work rebuilding our nation’s roads and railways and airports, and all the other measures that can help to grow this economy,' he said."
"Obama said the plan would consist of 'bipartisan ideas that ought to be the kind of proposals that everybody can get behind, no matter what your political affiliation might be.'"
“The White House has issued detailed guidelines to government officials on how to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, with instructions to honor the memory of those who died on American soil but also to recall that Al Qaeda and other extremist groups have since carried out attacks elsewhere in the world, from Mumbai to Manila,” the New York Times says.
“The full measure of Hurricane Irene’s fury came into focus yesterday as the death toll climbed to 40, communities battled huge floods, and millions faced the dispiriting prospect of several days without electricity,” AP writes.
The outgoing chair of the National Labor Relations Board responded to the independent agency’s critics, according to the New York Times. “‘The criticism is grossly out of proportion to what has happened and what has been done,’ said [Wilma] Liebman, who was first appointed to the board by President Bill Clinton in 1997. ‘We knew we were going to have a boxing match, but we didn’t expect our opponents to come in with a baseball bat.’”
More: “Ms. Liebman said that under the Obama administration, the Democratic-controlled board had reversed only a handful of rulings made by the Republican-controlled board appointed by President Bush. ‘The perception of this agency as doing radical things is mystifying to me,” she said. “The rhetoric is so overheated.’”
Yesterday we wrote about those monogrammed fleeces we kept seeing on TV, well, the Boston Globe’s Johnson today notes Gov. Deval Patrick’s (D-MA) style: “Celebrity magazines have made the “fashion disaster” an everyday term. Governor Deval Patrick is working to make disaster fashion his personal trademark.”
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First Read is all tingly about the President's NEW JOBS PLAN! They are all excited, many more headlines coming.
No headlines, though, about the second Obama relative who is an illegal alien, apparently in the country for over 25 years, arrested....
"No headlines, though, about the second Obama relative who is an illegal alien, apparently in the country for over 25 years, arrested...."
The 2nd Obama is the guy we elected to represent our country, then? We got a 'two-fer'??
Who knew?
You know Bob you and Fox (aka tea people GOP propaganda machine) are the only ones who care about this subject so give it a rest. We all know it's a Karl Rove move, deflect from the real issues. You tea poeple GOP are so transparent.
Bob, we should all care about what the President is going to say. Regardless of our political affiliations or those of the President.
It's about the country.
Bob -- As an Independent (moderate leaning to the left), I have made note that Romney's mansions or expansion thereof is no more important than a 50th birthday party, or vacation, or buses for presidential candidates of both Parties. I have also made note that sex scandals, especially those associated directly to candidates are much more serious than a run-of-the-mill DUI of a distant relative who has no relations with the candidate. Heck, even Billy Bob (Carter's brother) was far more relevant than this.
So how about you contribute something germane to the topic, maybe even something insightful, intelligent, or informative? No, that's too much to ask, I'm sure. Well the rest of the nation is VERY interested in the president's agenda to create jobs and improve the economy. Moving on...
The President's uncle is irrelevant.
I don't see a 'hint or two' (per headline) in the article, well it's hardly an article. I'm on pins and needles to learn of the President's ideas that "ought to be the kind of proposals everybody can get behind".
The August jobs numbers are very important. The President had better gain jobs in Ohio and Florida if he is to expect to win those states in 2012.
The President could prevent more loss of jobs by not creating more regulations, possibly get back jobs he has killed by getting rid of the regulations that killed those jobs.
We don't need to start another "bi-partisan debate", we need about 7 million jobs and we need them now. Debate never got one job. The President is a fool if he thinks his talk gets jobs. The President could create a place in America where American companies now located in Asia would be motivated to come back to. In other words, create a place where the companies' bottom line exceeds their bottom line in Asia.
“Ms. Liebman said that under the Obama administration, the Democratic-controlled board had reversed only a handful of rulings made by the Republican-controlled board appointed by President Bush. ‘The perception of this agency as doing radical things is mystifying to me,” she said. “The rhetoric is so overheated.’”
So which policies were 'reversed'? I suspect they had far reaching consequences that most Americans would be shocked to learn - which they probably won't, since the press won't report anything controversial about Obama's decisions.
When 80% of the 'journalists' are liberal, I suppose that's what we should expect. That means that at least 80% of stories about Republican candidates will have a 'negative' spin, while 80% of the stories about Obama will have a 'positive' spin.
President Obama makes me so sad! Here he is quoted, practically begging the Republicans to put country before party, but you and I know they aren't going to do that! We all know nothing will get done to grow jobs till 2012 when Democrats get the House back. The Republicans are just working for the benefit of the top 1% and have no incentive to cooperate in legislation to grow jobs. Watch and see.
'bipartisan ideas that ought to be the kind of proposals that everybody can get behind, no matter what your political affiliation might be.'"
I heard Obama on the Tom Joyner Show this morning and he must have said "Bush did it" 30 times. I guess because the audience is 98% black. How in the hell can you expect someone to help you when in fact you are constantly carrying on with the Bush BS. No one is trying to hear that BS in 2011. Bush has been out of office for almost 3 yrs.
When you take a job, you take it AS IS, good or bad. No one forced him into the job. He knew the economy was ragged when he ran for POTUS. Basically he thought, along with gullible Americans that voted for him, that he could magically FIX things because he is the POTUS.
He thought he could fix things because he expected the Democrats in Congress to have a spine, and he expected the Republicans in Congress to prioritize the good of the economy over denying him a second term.
Basically, his mistake was having too much respect for Congress.
ITM, Bush left a lot of things off the books that were not readily apparent.
Obama also counted on at least some support from congress, as opposed to the constant blocking and fillibustering he has had to deal with.
Ash & fielden -- Exactly. ITM, it isn't so much Bush himself to be blamed, but the overall failed "trickle-down" voodoo economics he embraced. The far-right Republicans like Cantor, and of course the Tea Party minority in the House are even more to blame because they not only want to continue the failed policies of the Bush era, they want to put those policies on steroids.
Many are reticent to blame the GOP/TP specifically, even the president has referred to congress in general--up 'till now. But folks from S&P and even conservative economists or Karl Rove (and others in the "establishment" before Republicans moved SO far to the right), see that a monster has been created. Let's hope someone can get it under control, but this involves FOX Noise/Hate Radio dissemination and other elements not so easy to reign in.
In any event, I hope the president goes big, and then to see a full-court press on Republicans by the Dems, the media, etc. for obstructing efforts, especially against their own ideas. The Hater Obstructionists need to be exposed outside the FOX/Hate Radio filter.
Republican rhetoric is all heated up and over blown against whatever is on their agenda for the day and Democrats don't seem to be able or willing to fight back or simply control the conversation from the beginning. Paint them as the evil destroyers of the middle class, social security and medicare that they are and you will all be reelected in2 012. Do it at every opportunity regardless of the questions being asked of you and do it loudly just like they do against you at every opportunity in interviews, public appearances, etc. Wake up!
I agree. The Democrats might as well stand up. Shouldn't go out without a fight. Obama should offer up two plans to the republican leadership. One a balanced plan and if they balk and threaten to reject it then trot out the real plan and push that one. I suspect that no job plan will be passed so enough with the compromising plans.
First Obama would have to come up with a plan, second it'd have to be a plan that even the democrats would go along with. The last plan that he had on paper was voted down 97-0 that's pretty bad when your own party won't back you.
Obama needs to make the Repubs an offer they can't refuse, witout it costing them serrious votes. Put 'em on the spot.
isn't that what he tried to do with the 'Grand Bargain' and the little rascals proved to have a self-destructive bent no reasonable President could dissuade them from pursuing? Republicans have a death wish for themselves and a dark vision for America.
Republicans are doing exactly what they were put there to do. It doesn't matter what you and the rest of the Democrats think of them. They represent their constituents in the districts that sent them to D.C. I do not want my Representative concentrating on what is good for Portland, ME.....he is from district 22 in Texas. We are the ones that will keep him there or fire him, not you or anyone else that doesn't live in the district.
ITM, congess is there to run the COUNTRY. Not just Portland and not just Texas.
[Republicans are doing exactly what they were put there to do.]
Really? The Republicans were put there to ruin the economy by NOT working with the president?
Hmmm...you're "Inthe Middle", alright...
Obama's got a real chance to make history with an effective jobs plan with a truly bipartisan approach... lets hope he follows through and capitalizes.
Repubs only want to create more wealth for the wealthy, not jobs for American workers. Anybody who believes that repubs, especially tea partiers, are on the side of American workers is lying to himself / herself. Then again - that's exactly how rich 'n powerful right wingers like the Koch brothers and the repub leadership has suckered the poor and middle income working class into the right wing -- lies, lies, lies. Yep, you less-than-six figure wage earners are better off voting repub or tea party. Vote for the rich and against your own pocketbook. You don't need entitlements like unemployment insurance, medicare, medicaid, social security, even when you're laid off and trying to support a family.
jeff, then which party is failing?
The D's have the poor vote wrapped up, so they want more poor people and that is disgusting. I understand why old school R's allow their buddies to have cheap labor by not having our immigration laws enforced, though I disagree, can you explain why the D's allow it?
that makes no sense... how can the dem's be FOR the poor people and then have policies that want to make people even poorer??? The poor ppl think "hey f*** being rich, being poor, living off food stamps and living paychekc to paycheck struggling to make ends meet is awesome! Ima vote democrat!"???
drew:
Unfortunately that demographic does it all the time. Over and over again and still haven't graduated from that group.
Let us use this premise:
R's are for big business and D's are for the little guy.
Which party is failing?
Follow the money....
Republicans are about another dollar in their pocket; e.g. Dick Cheney/Haliburton is investing substantial amounts of money in the shale region of Montana/Dakotas - even hiring a few thousand laborers in North Dakota - apparently knowing that the government is going to GIVE them the oil contained in that shale so they can increase the cost at the pumps, rob Americans of their dollars, and earn even MORE PROFITS for themselves. Take advantage of the other guy whenever possible for your own profit.
Democrats are about people; instead of the Republican cut throat competition, allow EVERYONE to profit and improve their lifestyle - enhance the nation as a whole. Better for everyone to get some instead of greedily grabbing all for yourself and deny others a share.
Personally, I believe that if Haliburton/Cheney are allowed to extract and refine the nation's shale oil, they should be mandated to have a price cap and compelled to split any/all profits with the government; such split should include profits from any associate and subsidiary conglomerates. (Remember how they acted with Lay and Enron about power/energy schemes... they WILL do it again if we don't regulate!)
D's "Do unto Others..."
R's "Screw you- ME First!"
You decide.
lvingbarefoot: "Which party is failing?"
The one whose tactics are restrained by having an actual conscience.
So Uncle Omar on top of being an illegal alien for some 40 years has a drivers license and social security card. Hmmm....I wonder who he voted for over the past 4 decades. I also wonder how much public assistance he has received as well.
This is tough news for Obama. He's lost the white vote, the female vote, the independant vote, and almost half of the moonbat vote. All the poor guy has left is the illegal wetback vote and now I figure they will be staying away from the polls for quite a while.
All this story about Uncle Omar proves is that President Obama's mother certainly improved their gene pool. Heck, we all have a few disreputable relatives, don't we?
Keep on harping about Uncle Omar, I'm sure eventually people will start caring
Use of racial slurs is super-classy, by the way
Rob:
[All the poor guy has left is the illegal wetback vote...]
Tick tock, bigot...tick tock...
It's an interesting idea, since poor people are always more likely to vote Democrat for the much-desired, nonexistent social net they think will help support them. Now that the function of a Democrat president is to kiss Republican butt, though, it's anybody's guess what happens next.
Fern, when used as an adjective it is "Democratic" not Democrat.
Fern Poor people don't vote.
It is NOT gorvernments job to create jobs, that is the business sectors job. It IS governments job to ELIMINATE DEBT though. Eliminate debt and jobs will flow like milk and honey.
The private sector is sitting on trillions in cash and not creating jobs here but in India and China. Obama needs to sidestep the private sector in this situation and get a massive infrastructure rebuilding program going. Workers with money to spend will help get the economy back on track and lower the deficit. Maybe the middle class will make a bit of a comeback, too.
Some idiot actually gave a thumbs up on this suggestion? Did any of you take any kind of an economic course in school? How about at home can you balance a checkbook? You cannot take tax money collected by the Government, invest it in Government jobs, and expect it to have an effect on the economy. Here I will make it simple for you, you take a dollar bill out of your left pocket and put it in your right, are you going to tell me you think you just made a dollar? Geesh people no wonder you people think Obama is a genius, compared to you liberals he is.
The key is, macroeconomics involve more than one person, Mruseurhead. Government employees still buy things from the private sector, ergo stimulation of private sector jobs.
just chosing a article doesnt make it false, they know any article on Obama gets thousands of responses from both sides so they put them out everyday
also, President Obama is President.
I'm eager for Obama to cast aside his usual pragmatism and "let's start by reaching out to the GOP" approach and gets a massive infrastructure rebuilding program going. A modern day CCC for lots of unemployed Americans. And I hope he comes out fighting when he does it. If he is to lead in this area, he needs to do it now, and damn the torpedoes from Congress.
Wait..I thought the last stimulus was for "shovel ready" projects.
Casey,
Wait..I thought the last stimulus was for "shovel ready" projects.
I was excited to hear when that was initially announced. But then it became clear that the GOP was going to water it down and Obama didn't give them the right kind of fight--a fight that would involve him passionately making his case with the American people that 80% shovel ready stimulus on infrastructure was the way to go. To me that sucked. In lieu of depending on a GOP that really isn't supporting Obama on anything, and a private sector that is sitting on its cash-filled hands, then I hope that Obama goes the government stimulus route through infrastructure restoration this time.
I also think Obama should stop listening to Geithner and other enablers of Wall Street. The stimulus had to happen to prevent another economic depression, but look at how Wall Street took the money and ran. Banks are still not lending. This is time for government to bypass both the private sector and Wall Street casino operators and come up with a massive stimulus that will get money into the pockets of the working people. People who have money spend money. If you have a huge wealthy class just raking in money and not hiring workers in the U.S., what you are stuck with is a plutocracy, which is where we are going with our elected officials and a Washington flooded with lobbyists and corporate cash.
Errr...another "massive stimulus" really? News flash for you...we can't afford the last one and you want another? Where do you think this stimulus money is going to come from? Oh yeah, tax the heck out of the "rich" and evil corporations. I'll tell you exactly what will happen. Tax revenue will actually go down and we will have anemic growth rates like Western Europe. Then again, that's probably the perfect little social welfare state you want.
Casey,
If corporations and the wealthy are just raking in the cash and not spending it on hiring, then yes, government should provide the stimulus. The middle class is dying and big corporations, the ultra-wealthy, and Wall Street are just raking in the money. The trickle-down valve has been tightened and I can't foresee it opening again in this country. The wealthiest of the wealthy and corporations are already getting big tax breaks and they're not spending on hiring with that money. How the rich can expect to stay rich in a consumer-based society without a middle class, I don't know. But wait, maybe I do know--they are not hiring here and they are making all their money from paying low wages overseas or pretty much unlivable wages here in the U.S. The DOW does not reflect the real U.S. economy anymore, really. It pretty much lets us know how the Wall Street casino operators are doing at their gaming.
I don't want a welfare state. I want a country with a healthy, working middle class. I don't want this country to become a plutocracy and a Banana Republic.
Very good fieldguy. You sound very concerned.
Let's analyze this further. Lets look at a given unit of work. How about installing a nut on a bolt and tightening it down. same work, same tools, same work speed anywhere in the world. In the USA lets put that labor cost at 10 cents. In India lets say 1 cent. Same work, much different pay. How do we equalize this playing field??
How come nobody ever mentions the "T" word?? Tariffs?? Nobody ever goes there. From either party. Why??
I don't see a 'hint or two' in the article, well it's hardly an article. I'm on pins and needles to learn of the President's ideas that "ought to be the kind of proposals everybody can get behind".
The August jobs numbers are very important.
The President could prevent more loss of jobs by not creating more regulations, possibly get back jobs he has killed by getting rid of the regulations that killed those jobs.
We don't need to start another "bi-partisan debate", we need about 7 million jobs and we need them now. Debate never got one job. The President is a fool if he thinks his talk gets jobs. The President could create a place in America where American companies now located in Asia would be motivated to come back to.
More money handed out?? Is THIS his master plan?? Spend even more??
I guess the warning about giving Obama another blank check was true. This is his solution to anything...throw money at the problem. If it works, take credit even if the math is stupid. If it fails, blame Bush.
He has way overregulated the business community. I sense the growing disdain for this administration more and more every day. No one is hiring until those stifling regulations are eliminated, and they are sure of NO NEW TAXES. In other words, when Obama is long gone.
Fieldguy is simply a naive liberal with no real economic or political understanding. Simply put he has already drank a gallon of Obama koolaide "liberally" provided by the lame stream media. It is apparent by his statement when he said he was excited hearing about Obama using the first stimulus for Government funded infrastructure jobs, but he knew the GOP would "water it down". What fieldguy seems to forget is at the time that the first stimulus was tried, Democrats had majority control of all three branches of Government, the GOP did not have the votes to prevent any of this. Even now the Republicans only have control of 1/3 of the Government, and with Democrats in control of the Senate and the Presidents veto power, all the Republicans can do is try and "slow the bleeding", but they still do not have the power to pass their own Legislation. QE1 and QE2 stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy because the Government cannot take tax dollars to pay people to work and expect it to create new revenue. It is as I said earlier, it's like taking a dollar bill from your left pocket, putting it into your right pocket and thinking you just made a dollar. Now if the Government wants to create shovel ready jobs and require people on welfare and unemployment to pick up the shovels, it still does nothing to fix the economy but atleast the taxpayers would be getting something for their money. Nothing the Democrats have done has worked because it can't, Government can't create wealth it can only take it away and redistribute it. Mr. Parent above is correct in saying it is over regulations that are killing jobs and the economy. And that is the reality of liberal Democrats, " trickle down economics ". Every new regulation and tax passed by Democrats cause prices to go up. Just pick anything out in your life, be it the clothes on your back, the gas you put in your car, to the food in your belly, the reason these things cost so much is because of the regulations and taxes. The Democrats as regulations and taxes on the companies that provide these things, the cost is then passed down to the very people they "claim" to care about, the poor and middle class. So the next time you get angry about the cost of something, THANK a Democrat and Obamas AGENDA.
Mruserhead,
it is over regulations that are killing jobs and the economy...
Was it over regulation of Wall Street that caused the U.S. economic meltdown? No, it was lack of regulatory oversight. Lack of regulation does nothing but allow a companies and corporate CEO's to rake in the bucks at the expense of the consumer, environment, etc.
Mruseurhead,
What fieldguy seems to forget is at the time that the first stimulus was tried, Democrats had majority control of all three branches of Government, the GOP did not have the votes to prevent any of this.
I understand that. I was extremely disappointed when the Blue Dog Democrats also watered down the stimulus. But, nobody in the GOP would go along with Obama's stimulus plan and make up for the loss of the Blue Dog vote. The shovel-ready aspect of the stimulus was hobbled from the very beginning by too many in Congress who are beholden to Wall Street and corporate lobbyists and $$'s in D.C.