I am excited to see you back. I have so many questions during this wild time. I just don't know where to start.

I do have a question; which did you prefer when you were in IA - the fried buter or the fried kool-aid?

I would like to see a large WPA type stimulus injected onto this economy, right now.

Do either of you think that feasible?

Question:

Sarah Palin is coming back to Iowa this weekend. Do you have any idea as to why? I heard she's bringing Christine O'Donnell with her. The state fair has now ended here, and the fried butter and the side-shows are all gone. Any idea as to why this visit??

The last thing that is needed right now is a federally funded wpa. The unions don't need any more help right now, it's the rest of the public sector that the administration is ignoring!

My question, gents: Is it possible for the MSNBC political team to expand its reach of interview guests or frequent commentators to include people like Joseph Stiglitz on economics, Thomas Frank on conservative political tactics, or Naomi Kelin on Tea Party platform positions? And if so, is it possible that some of the outrageous assertions made by people such as the spokesperson from the Heritage Foundation or the former RNC chair can be refuted in a facutal sense rather than often passing by unchallenged?

130 hours until obama's 'jobs' speech. Like Chris Matthews there's a tingling up and down my legs in anticipation! Getting rid of obamacare would create more jobs that federal spending projects!

Ben Snead -

The canard that "the unions" were the intended and principal target of the last stimulus package has been pounded to dust. And the Obama Administration went out of its way to adi the public sector - although so much of that was diverted by governors balancing budgets (Rick Perry wasn't the only one!) or by governors refusing assistance on ideological grounds (as well as an unreasoning hatred for the President).

The great majority of economists are pleading for a substantial stimulus plan similar to that whose details are now being leaked.

Mark and Domenico:

Buncha lazy folks here. Nothin' but questions, know what I mean? They could look 'em up, but nooooo, they want you to.

So, as a lefty-sorta-guy, I'm going to do what the right says we don't. I ain't takin', I'm givin'!

Herewith a list of answers:

Yes!

No!

Romney.

Obama.

Palin, are you kidding?

Yes, Perry and Bachmann do get a lot of money from the government.

No one is dumber than Inhofe.

A lot. Yes, that's two words.

Of course you have to increase the tax rate.

Yes, the Tea Partiers will calm down after they burn a witch.

A lot of people would like to wipe the smirk off Cantor's face.

Will you both please start pushing the candidates for substance instead of generalities concerning issues such as tax reforms, governments role in stimulating economic recovery, healthcare solutions etc. More in depth interviews and reporting, if you can catch them that is.

Is NBC going to re-schedule the Debate on the 7th as Jay Carney so graciously offered to let you do? Or does NBC agree that this is the most petty administration in history?

Now now David, nobody in the Tea Party has ever suggested burning Nancy Pelosi... we need her...she's the baseline for "Stupid Liberal"

Hi, Mark & Dom-

President Obama's job approval as measured by Gallup is currently at 39% (approve) vs 54% (disapprove).

Rasmussen is only a bit more charitable (go figure!) to the President.

Isn't the 2012 Presidential election contest likely to be between President Obama...and some reasonable alternative?

Perhaps even...

ANY reasonable alternative...?

Thanks.

I just love you guys.

You're the best!

Nice suck up there MB.

Think it will work?

Please, someone, drill down on the many idiotic claims from GOP/TP candidates. Most notably Bachmann's $2 gas and how removing all taxes for companies off-whoring (excuse me, off-shoring) would turn around the economy and create jobs over night. If you must, get out a white board the way Bachmann does--oh, and please let people know that Bachmann is not Jewish. Thanks!

Has anyone done research into imposing a tariff on off-shoring, and to avoid the tariff the majority of production must be done in the US with American labor?

Are you ready for the Romeny and Huntsman "job plan"? Let me guess, it will be to remove all regulation and taxes that supposedly impede the so-called "job creators." Come on, how many folks in the richest 2% are creating jobs--anyone have real data on this? I don't mean corporations, but those who are defined as small business and in particular those who file as individuals.

Ed Shultz -- Your next assignment is to go to Eric Cantor's district to see if those poor people need charitable assistance from progressives.

Thanks!

Naw, White Collar...

Hardly.

lol

It hasn't worked yet.

This is still (and, always) First Read.

And, anyway...

What makes you think that Mark & Dom are incapable of answering my question?

I know I am deliberatley holding off on any major purchases until he is elected out of office. I will not spend one dime of my hard earned cash to stimulate his economy.

I want a new car and a new house, but not until he is gone. I have friends who are doing the same thing.

Corporations are too uncertain about the costs of obamacare! It's cost are still going up and no one can quantify it's costs. Defunding obamacare is a priority to getting the economy back on track! Only then will the private sector see job creation. Do you think that obama will consider redacting or defunding obamacare to help the economy?

Wow, rick, that's sticking to your idealogical guns in one of the best house buyer's markets ever.

His economy? How about our economy?

Buy that new house and new car. I will not tell anyone.

Robin hot in NM

Cause healthcare insurance worked out so well during the Bush administration....and that's what you want to go back to...people going bankrupt from medical bills they couldn't pay ... emergency rooms providing basic healthcare for the non-insured at exorbient costs to the rest of us...oh, yeah the good old days.

Amy, obamacare went way too far in the other direction! Many companies, large and small.. are afraid to expand these days because of the yet undetermined costs of obamacare. I have to consider the effects of obamacare one of the major reasons the job market sucks!

Gosh Rick,

Why didn't you buy the new car and house when President Bush was in office. Things were great then.

Yeah Amy... it's a giant conspiracy between all taxpayers and those greedy corporations... they're colluding against Obozo just so the economy will tank, their wealth will diminish, and we'll be in a recession for another decade.... you don't suppose it has anything to do with Obozocare, or onerous regulation... or gov't borrowing/spending that's off the chart... or Bernanke's "print more money" policy, or outright attacks on companies like Boeing whom Obozo's union goons have targeted do you? what an idiot you are...

Fed Up-2683606

I think you are one of those low information voters that is stuck on stupid. W. Bush caused these budget woes and President Obama has been doing his best to correct the situation.

Do yourself a favor and stop listening to right wing media.

All I know is what Maria Bartiromo tells me, and she tells me, with a big smile on her face, that Wall Street is "looking for leadership" (code word: holding out for a Republican administration which will revert to Bush regulatory practices) before they start hiring.

@rick, Texas - Wow Governor Perry, thank you for taking the time to visit First Read and talk about your spending and economic plans!

Amy B. You have to admit Maria Bartiromo has such a great smile! ;}

A response to a couple of questions:

1. We have a WPA in place now except now you don't even have to pretend you are working. Lyndon Johnson called "The Great Society"

2 Does anybody think EMTLA has anything to do with the high cost of health care? Keep in mind that hospitals report that 50% of the costs of emergency room visits go uncollected now.

Maria Bartiroma is a beautiful woman but she could lighten up on the eye shadow. Does seems like heavy eyeliner is some kind of code in Republican circles; Michele Bachmann often sports a smokey eye.

I would really like to hear which regulations are keeping businesses from investing. I'm talking specific regulations.

Yes, Maria Bartaloma is a stone fox. Wished she was on Dancing with the stars.

What do you think was the primary cause of the 2008 recession?

I don't know who you are, but you aren't worthy of carrying Presidnt Obama's golf clubs. Isn't the library restricting your computer time? Surely your hour is up.

Amy, your left wing friends make snarky personal atatcks and vicious insults at Republicans all day long, and you are good with that.

But any lame jokes at your hero's expense, you get all worked up.....unless you have a pecuniary interest in the Nanny State (as many who post here no doubt do), you need help for your Obama-mania..it is so 2008...

It slays me how Republicans call liberals "libtards,"smear our politicians and claim God and Christ are on their side, and their side alone...then turn around and play victim when any liberal stands up for her beliefs. Darn right I get angry when right-wing posters insult the President. I voted for Obama in the primaries in 2008 and I will work to re-elect him in 2012 and I won't let some lazy, old, male stand in my way.

Lazy, Old, Male?????

I am not Lazy or Old! I work for a living Amy!

Now get back to answering phones and stop spending so much time on FR. You'll need to bank a lot of hours if you intend to help get Obama re-elected.

Amy,

I think Bob was pointing out how hypocritical you are.

White Collar Auto

Every Tea Party supporter, I personally know, has a beer belly the size of a baby walrus and gets some form of disability, food stamp benefit or housing assistance and claims they are taking the government's money just to "show them!" Oh, and they hate President Obama, but can't explain why.

Amy,

Sounds to me like you have Daddy issues. You just described the average UAW "Worker", except for the hate Obama part.

I find it hard to believe that you "Personally know" anybody who supports the Tea Party. Your ilk are to close minded to even consider a contrary opinion.

White Collar Auto

It's impossible to completely avoid Tea Party types, especially when they are sitting across from you at Thanksgiving.

PPS I loved my Dad. He was a Republican, but the smart kind, not the stupid kind. Eisenhower couldn't get nominated in this primary - too liberal.

Damage123,

Close, but Moochelle will be hawking some diet product on the Oprah Winfrey network.

NCAA Champ! Now there's a question worth asking!

Season starts tomorrow. I can't wait. Go PAC-12!!!!

Grimey, face facts. You will be voting for President Obama in 2012 or staying home. THere is no moderate Republican choice in this race.

Never too early for Mark & Domenico to jump on the Steeler bandwagon! I'll save a spot for them.

Detroit or Chicago. High minority population.

Probably Texas, seeing as they have so many on welfare. That's where the term welfare state came from.

Los Angeles, Compton, South Central area in California, hands down. We already have a few riots under our belt, what's one more.

By law, the President and the Federal Reserve are required to keep unemployment under a certain percentage.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/08/11-0

"In the aftermath of the rise in unemployment which followed the “oil crisis” of 1975, Congress addressed the weaknesses of the 1946 act through the passage of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act of 1978. The purpose of this bill as described in its title is:

An Act to translate into practical reality the right of all Americans who are able, willing, and seeking to work to full opportunity for useful paid employment at fair rates of compensation; to assert the responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable programs and policies to promote full employment, production, and real income, balanced growth, adequate productivity growth, proper attention to national priorities.

The Act sets goals for the President. By 1983, unemployment rates should be not more than 3% for persons age 20 or over and not more than 4% for persons age 16 or over, and inflation rates should not be over 4%."

Perfect - Government could be required to do direct hiring under this law! We do need something huge that only the government can and should do immediately. Direct hiring for infrastructure would be a great first step. Deficits can wait. Jobs cannot. High speed rail, schools, roads, bridges, etc...And revenue increases. All good here.

Excellent query sir.

Better hope not Richard, there wouldn't be any tea people GOP republicans on this blog.

Mark - you may be able to find some interesting information related to your question in a new book, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. It was just published, and in the usual authors' media tour, the two men who wrote it delivered some surprising news about the Tea Party's composition and attitudes. The book, though, is less about poltics than it is the role of religion in society.

Thanks, John.

Achilles

Nice to read a literate and reasonable comment on FR. I hope you come back often!

What kind of boost would Rubio as VP give to either Perry or Ronmey?

Rob you need to get out more. Just conversing with people that agree with you makes you, well uninformed. That has to be what, maybe 10 people Rob.

Actually I have 140 employees over 50% are nonwhite employees. And as I said the VAST majority not only think he sucks at his job but can't stand him.

this seems to be another example of someone who claims to be busy running a company and talking to lots of people, but who's writing messages on this board each and every day.

Following on that question, Independent, I wonder if the Republicans are considering any changes to their primary system in light of the ability of one wing of the party to hijack it.

My question is why?

Maybe because Liyba is now in complete caos with imprisoned al qauda terrorists now running free in a power struggle to take over in a counrty that DOES have unsecured weapons of mass destruction.

So much for you break it you own it........The Obama doctrine let's F' up a sh@thole and run.

Your right Rob we should have done nothing to help the Rebels over throw a good man like Qaddafi who has our nations good interests at heart, the thousands of his own people he was prepairing to slaughter are just the price that has to be paid to keep Libya's status quo.

w

Than why ignore Syria? The crackdown there is far worse and they have asked for outside help to stop the killing of innocent civilians. What's the difference? Don't they deserve "humanitarian " protection too? Last time I looked, they were humans too! Or are you ready to concede that there never was a "humanitarian mission" in Libya? It was all about protecting European oil supplies at a time of increasing oil prices.

Answer= Because he doesn't know how to manage a calendar.

Questions for you to ask Republicans in Congress:

What is your plan to stop deficit spending and debt creation? When, if ever, will your plan result in a balanced budget? Why have you not put forward a plan to reach a balanced budget sometime in the relatively near future, given that the overwhelming majority of Americans favor a balanced budget? Specifically, what taxes are you proposing to raise and how much revenue will your proposed increases generate over what period of time? How much spending are you proposing over the same period of time? Will you agree to exclusively utilize any revenues raised from increased taxes to pay off the debt? What effect will legalizing 10 to 20 million illegals have on the ability of our existing legal citizens to obtain work when the unemployment rate is still at 9%? Why have you committed our resources to military actions in Libya, Yemen and Somalia, without Congressional approval and when Sec Gates says our national security interests are not at stake? What actions, beyond sanctions, are you prepared to take to prevent Iran from building/acquiring nuclear weapons? What steps are you going to take, if any, to prevent the Chinese from continuing to steal our economy., manufacturing base and jobs by use of unfair trade practices that include anti-competitive wage/benefits and unfair anti-competitive production and safety standards? When you give speeches you have a tendency to talk in generalized terms, can you please give our readers specific details in all of your answers?

w bush

The answer to your question is see the Cut , Cap and Balance bill the House passed which Harry Reid refused to bring to a vote in the Senate while Obama threatened to veto it if Reid allowed it to come to a vote in the Senate.