Today we will find out if our constitutional law professor President really believes his ClunkerCare HCR plan can withstand constitutional challenges or not. According to an AP report yesterday, today is the deadline for Barry’s lawyers to tell the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals whether it wants to appeal the three judge panels 2-1 decision finding that the individual mandate is unconstitutional. Barry’s lawyers have two choices: Appeal directly to the Supreme Court and have a final decision during the 2011-12 term which starts next Monday and runs through June 2012, or appeal it first to the full panel of judges on the 11^th Circuit Court. If he appeals it to the full 11^th Circuit Court, it’s highly likely to delay the case getting to the Supreme Court until after the 2012 election.

If our constitutional law professor President really believes his ClunkerCare HCR plan can withstand constitutional challenges he will direct the Justice Dept lawyers to go right to the Supreme Court. It’s going to be finally decided there no matter what Barry does. And what would give his re-election chances a bigger boost than ClunkerCare being found constitutional by the Supreme Court right in the middle of the Presidential election?

If he doesn’t really believe ClunkerCare is constitutional, he will use the stalling tactic of appealing to the full 11^th Circuit Court to push that very embarrassing Supreme Court decision past the election.

My Bet? 95% chance of the stalling tactic, 5% chance of going directly to the Supreme Court.

God to see you back Ron - your voice has been missed!

So what do we make of Herman Cain’s surprising

PFFFT! Four words; Cain is NOT able...

Thank you to MSNBC and First Read for sponsoring Education Nation!

I thoroughly enjoyed it last year and am looking forward to it this year as well!

The Florida Straw Poll winner is…

Chris Christie...

Obama/Biden 2012!

Thanks Feisty: Bears and Colts fan can have the Monday morning blues.

Ron, good to see you again and good post.

Obama in 2012.

HeartlessFox News Cheerleads Gov Shut Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EDcz9vE-agE

President Barack Obama said...“The Republicans in Congress call this class warfare. Well you know what? If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as plumber or teacher makes me a warrior for the middle class, I’ll wear that charge as a badge of honor. Because the only class warfare I’ve seen is the battle that’s been waged against the middle class in this country for a decade.”

Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) need to pass his jobs bill.

“I prefer the Carnival Barkers cheer for FOX NOISE to shut down.

The heartless, disgusting and crazy carnival barking GOP are justice denied.

Should FOX NOISE shut down...

It would be something comparable to....I've waited my whole life for this.
Oh, Happy day

Great post, Ron...glad to see your sensible words back at FR.

The Florida Straw Poll winner is…

The scare crow in first...

The tin man in second...

The cowardly lion in third...

Welcome to the Emerald City - pay NO attention to the man behind the curtain! lol

Bears and Colts fan can have the Monday morning blues.

You know what they say... misery LOVES company I guess! ;o)

Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes," he said, his voice rising as applause and cheers mounted. "Shake it off. Stop complainin'. Stop grumblin'. Stop cryin'. We are going to press on. We have work to do." - Obama 2011/09/25 Annual awards dinner of the Congressional Black Caucus

Take off your slippers? What in the world does that mean?!? Obama has been the worst President for blacks. They have the highest unemployment, highest crime rate, highest rate of imprisonment, highest rate of out of wedlock births, and this goof of a President wants the black to vote for him? They should have turned their backs on this disaster of a President and walked out on his speech. Yes, Obama is that bad.

"[The Republican alternative] is an approach to government that will fundamentally cripple America in meeting the challenges of the 21st century."

That was some red meat the president was dishing out at a West Coast fundraiser this weekend. What an absolutely astonishing thing to say. This from the man who is presiding over 9% unemployment and anemic economic growth. This from the man who pissed away $800 billion in shovel ready stimulus, and when that didn't work is asking for $500 billion more. This from the man who has added more to the national debt in three years than Bush did in eight. This from the man who in 2008 accused Bush of being "unpatriotic" in running up debt, but has consistently submitted budget proposals that have massively expanded the debt. This from the man who talks the game of reforming the runaway entitlement programs that are driving us to bankruptcy, but has never submitted a serious plan of his own. This from the man whose divisive approach to governance rammed through unpopular health care reform that most Americans didn't want – and still don't want.

And YOU have the temerity to accuse Republicans of crippling America??? Sorry pal, the man who is doing a stellar job of crippling America is none other than Barack Hussein Obama. And this country won't even begin to heal until your worthless, incompetent butt is summarily tossed out of office in 2012.

Gee Ron, I was really hoping Bachmann would be the one to run against President Obama.

U.S. “Social Contract” Now a Leading 2012 Issue

Over the weekend, President Obama has changed the course of present-day politics – he’s squarely challenged the “tear it all down and start over” regressive vision of the Republican Party.

His speech now demands that the country examine the very different views of what sort of America we want – essentially, our “social contract.” That is absolutely essential now, because the ultra-right GOP wing and Tea Party adherents propose a country that would be more like the United States of 1840 than a 21^st century modern nation-state.

There’s a rather well-prepared article on this at the link below:

http://www.yahoo.com/_ylt=AvWvVwXCXMiS19qKvE2SQMabvZx4;_ylc=X3oDMTgxcWY5dWxnBF9TAzIwMjM1MzgwNzUEYQMxMTA5MjUgbmV3cyBvYmFtYSB0BGNwb3MDMwRkA3N0BGcDaWQtNTQ3MDgyBGludGwDdXMEaXRjAzAEbHR4dANPYmFtYTpHT1B3b3VsZCYjMzk7Y3JpcHBsZSYjMzk7dGhlVS5TLgRwa2d0AzEEcGtndgMxMgRwb3MDMgRzZWMDdGQtZmVhdARzbGsDdGl0bGUEdGFyA2h0dHA6Ly9uZXdzLnlhaG9vLmNvbS9vYmFtYS1zYXlzLXJlcHVibGljYW5zLWNyaXBwbGUtdXMtMjE0ODAzNTA3Lmh0bWwEdGVzdAM3MDEEd29lAzEyNzcyNDE1/SIG=12qtinamh/EXP=1317127311/**http%3A//news.yahoo.com/obama-says-republicans-cripple-us-214803507.html

Watching Europe now flounder and fail attempting to employ the Milton Friedman economic philosophy – an ideology that is absolutely know to fail – we in the United States should be warned about what the right-wing extremists actually would do to tear down America. Their proposals are a direct path to greater poverty, more misery, more economic inequality, and yet more declining capability of the nation to compete.

And while some of us agree with economists who wish the President’s American Jobs Act was even more robust, it represents a positive view of restoring our economy, helping bring employment back, and protecting our domestic national interests. Instead of “No, we can’t,” the ceaseless chant from the right wing, the President’s approach is absolutely an affirmative response that “Yes, we can!”

Pass the President’s jobs bill now!

And take a stand – to endorse an America that is hopeful, determined, hard working and united as a people to raise the well-being of all.

Last Friday the Senate blocked the House bill that would provide the stop-gap spending necessary to avoid a government shutdown later this week. The House bill includes disaster relief funds for FEMA, but also includes $1.6 billion in spending cuts to defray the costs of disaster relief. The Democrats want no part of that, complaining that it's unprecedented and unfair to insist that spending cuts accompany needed emergency aid.

Earth to Democrats: what's unprecedented is a $14 trillion debt that is still growing. What's unprecedented is a downgrade of the U.S. bonds used to finance that debt. What's unprecedented is the prospect of this once proud nation heading inexorably down the road towards bankruptcy. Yet in the face of all this, the Dems want to dig in their heels over a $1.6 billion cut in a $1 trillion spending bill???

Good grief. As long as those jokers retain the slightest bit of power in our government, we will never get this country back on track.

Take off your slippers? What in the world does that mean?!?

It means get off the couch, stop bitching Dems and start pushing back. In other words get out the vote!

Obama has been the worst President for blacks.

Really? Not by a long shot. Before 1860 they were all much worse and quite a few after them have been pretty piss poor in regards to civil rights. Talk about reaching. No cigar for you, JAS.

" Obama has been the worst President for blacks"

That is a really disgusting RW comment!

I would be shocked if Cristie were to get into this Presidential race. He's far to smart to get himself involved with the cast of fools the Republicans are presenting to our Nation. He's smart, knows he probably may have a slam dunk in 2016. Why should he run now against Obama? To chancy.

Since the relatively early days of the Obama Administration, liberal/progressive pundits (like Chris Matthews of "Hardball", for example) have insisted upon promoting the fallacious and corrosively divisive view that legitimate policy-based conservative opposition to President Obama's agenda is, in reality, thinly-veiled racism. False and unfair accusations of racism are routinely leveled at the Tea Party movement by Mathews and other left-wing media voices.

Writing for The Nation last week, frequent MSNBC guest, occasional host, and "contributor" Professor Melissa Harris-Perry weighed in on the issue of "electoral racism"...when white voters refuse to vote for a black candidate based solely on skin color.

Professor Harris-Perry suggests in her Nation article that her own analysis of President Obama's 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate election results, as well as the results of the 2008 presidential campaign, do not indicate the presence of electoral racism. She writes that:

"Not only did white Democratic voters prove willing to support a black candidate; they overperformed in their repudiation of naked electoral racism, electing Obama with a higher percentage of white votes than either Kerry or Gore earned. No amount of birther backlash can diminish the importance of these two election results. We have not landed on the shores of post racial utopia, but we have solid empirical evidence of a profound and important shift in America's electoral politics."

But, here's where Professor Harris-Perry's piece for The Nation gets really interesting...she believes she may have uncovered yet another, new form of racism:

"Still, electoral racism cannot be reduced solely to its most egregious, explicit form. It has proved more enduring and baffling than these results can capture. The 2012 election may be a test of another form of electoral racism: the tendancy of white liberals to hold African-American leaders to a higher standard than their white counterparts. If old-fashioned electoral racism is the absolute unwillingness to vote for a black candidate, then liberal electoral racism is the willingness to abandon a black candidate when he is just as competent as his white predecessors."

Oh my...

"...liberal electoral racism..."

Accusing the Tea Party movement and other conservatives is no longer an adequate method of suppressing criticism of, or doubts about, President Obama's competence and leadership ability; it's way past time to go after the other racists as well!

White liberal racists, to be exact.

C'mon...you know who you are.

What's more, Professor Melissa Harris-Perry knows you're there, and is calling you out.

Madness.

Although...after sorting through the responses to Herman Cain's victory in the Florida GOP straw poll here at First Read, maybe Harris-Perry is on to something after all.

"...liberal electoral racism..."

OK.

I get it.

Who knew?

I hope you all watched Morning Joe this morning where we had Melinda Gates, Scott Walker and Arnie Duncan talking about education. The most relevant statement to me was from the research performed by the Gates Foundation that basically found that class size is irrelevant when compared to how good the teacher is. (...and that a great teacher DOES have an effect on whether the course material is learned irregardless of family income). Also, through empirical research, they found that wages are not the major driver of teacher retention, it's professional development and peer, and principal recognition.

So, it turns out teaching is like any other profession. There are good teachers and bad teachers, and it is possible to discern through review which one is which. The goods ones DO make a difference even in a bad environment, and this is possible without simply throwing money at the problem. I am sure this will be accepted by all those in the left as this conclusion was reached using scientific methods, and they claim to be the science based party.

Another point is the claim that we need more graduates and that more money is needed to achieve this goal. I would question this. Do we need more graduates in total or more engineering and science graduates? During tight budget times is not more prudent to focus educational investment to create the resources that the country needs, rather than a diffuse general investment in higher education? No disrespect to the liberal arts, but I'm fairly sure we would not be scared of China and India if they were pumping out millions of English majors, or History majors or Philosophers.

Ron, well said and welcome back to FR.

The Florida straw poll paints about as representative of a voter picture as did the Iowa Ames Straw Poll. In Ames, it was the candidate who bought the most votes; in Florida it was a group of 3500 hand-picked folks which is hardly representative of all Florida.

I read that there will be 13 more GOP debates before the primaries begin in Iowa and that will likely help Romney. Thank God there are not any schudeled today or this week; Ron.

“You've got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change," he said, obviously referring to Perry. “You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay.” He went on to say, "We're going to have a stark choice in this election. But I have to make sure that our side is as passionate and as motivated and is working just as hard as the folks on the other side.”

I LOVE IT! President Obama summed it up perfectly!

@MB

I read that article and concluded the author was an idiot.

Judge Joe:

If he doesn’t really believe ClunkerCare is constitutional, he will use the stalling tactic of appealing to the full 11^th Circuit Court to push that very embarrassing Supreme Court decision past the election.

My Bet? 95% chance of the stalling tactic, 5% chance of going directly to the Supreme Court.

Excellent legal analysis, Your Honor. The smart money is with you.

Good morning to all and welcome to another wacky week in politics, where nothing substantive will be accomplished, while Herman Cain can win a straw vote in Florida and completely rob us here in Wisconsin of the chance to really muck things up with our open primary.

We were all planning to vote for Michele Bachmann. Sigh.

Bag Boy:

White liberal racists, to be exact.

C'mon...you know who you are.

What's more, Professor Melissa Harris-Perry knows you're there, and is calling you out.

Would you be surprised to learn that I am somewhat perplexed by Professor Perry's analysis, myself, and that I heard several liberal pundits say the same thing last week?

The Democrats want no part of that, complaining that it's unprecedented and unfair to insist that spending cuts accompany needed emergency aid.

Yes, too bad if you don't like it. Republicans are trying to make fundamental changes in American society, radical changes that will destroy the middle class and our future as the world's leading economy. If you don't like that Democrats will no longer compliantly go along with dismantling our republic and remaking it in the imaginary vision of Ayn Rand tough for you. It's a failed experiment and time to go back to what worked for Americans for many DECADES before the Reagan Revolution.

If our constitutional law professor President really believes his ClunkerCare HCR plan can withstand constitutional challenges he will direct the Justice Dept lawyers to go right to the Supreme Court. It’s going to be finally decided there no matter what Barry does. And what would give his re-election chances a bigger boost than ClunkerCare being found constitutional by the Supreme Court right in the middle of the Presidential election?

If he doesn’t really believe ClunkerCare is constitutional, he will use the stalling tactic of appealing to the full 11^th Circuit Court to push that very embarrassing Supreme Court decision past the election.

My Bet? 95% chance of the stalling tactic, 5% chance of going directly to the Supreme Court.

So sayeth the "Great Constitutional Authority" Joe in Albany.

Appealing to the 11th Circuit is not a stalling tactic. As a matter of fact, if you think it's so certain that the individual mandate is unconstitutional you should demand he go to the 11th Circuit before it goes to the Supremes.

Why?

Because that way, if it is all utlimately found unconstitutional you have left no doubt.

Sorry, but this is "Big Boy School"...we don't play "I Triple Dog Dare You".

Think Progress:

Flood victims in Pennsylvania are getting fed up with Congress for putting politics ahead of their need for immediate disaster aid. Families in northeastern Pennsylvania who have already lost their homes are further disheartened by the political bickering in Washington as Republicans refuse to increase FEMA's budget this week. "Members of Congress are playing with people's lives, not just their own political careers," said a local fire chief.

___________________________________

Yet people STILL vote Republican. Republicans are never going to change. Never. They are in the business of exploiting people for political gain, because they know Americans don't pay close attention, unless they get screwed personally.

Republican supporters b!tch all day long about President Obama, bloggers b!tch all day long about President, the media b!tches all day long about President Obama, yet he's the ONLY ONE FIGHTING FOR AMERICANS. THE ONLY ONE.

_________________________________

President Obama:

"Some of you here may be folks who actually used to be Republicans but are puzzled by what's happened to that party, are puzzled by what's happening to that party. I mean, has anybody been watching the debates lately? You've got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change," he said, to applause. "It's true. You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay." "That's not reflective of who we are," he added. "This is a choice about the fundamental direction of our country. 2008 was an important direction. 2012 is a more important election."

__________________________________

Republicans have no business having a say in our lives.

Get them out before they completely destroy our country.

NICE TO SEE YOU RON!

Alan NJ

that wages are not the major driver of teacher retention, it's professional development and peer, and principal recognition.

Exactly, and the war on teachers in Wisconsin and elsewhere - when they had already made all the wage concessions asked of them in Wisconsin before the Teapublican governor stripped them of their dignity, did NOTHING to improve the moral of those in the teaching profession, and NOTHING to encourage talented graduates to enter into teaching.

Teachers are like most of us in the middleclass, they just want some respect, some control over their working condition, and a modicrum of financial security. But the Republican ideology is "you should be grateful you have a job." And "the wealthiest 1% do not need to pay higher taxes just so the community can have better schools."

No, Anna Molly.

That would not surprise me at all.

Exactly, and the war on teachers in Wisconsin and elsewhere - when they had already made all the wage concessions asked of them in Wisconsin before the Teapublican governor stripped them of their dignity, did NOTHING to improve the moral of those in the teaching profession, and NOTHING to encourage talented graduates to enter into teaching.

Are you a member of union? Have you ever been a member of a union? Out of a local membership, particularly a white collar local like teaching, how many actually show up to meetings? I've been head of a local that had collective bargaining/closed shop, and we had to offer meals to get enough members to show up to get a quorum. I was president because no one else wanted the job. Stripped them of their dignity my ass. Apathy rules.

Da Noid:

Sorry, but this is "Big Boy School"...we don't play "I Triple Dog Dare You".

I totally get what you're saying as it relates to Joe, but can girls play, too?

Amy B:

Exactly, and the war on teachers in Wisconsin and elsewhere - when they had already made all the wage concessions asked of them in Wisconsin before the Teapublican governor stripped them of their dignity, did NOTHING to improve the moral of those in the teaching profession, and NOTHING to encourage talented graduates to enter into teaching.

Truer words never were spoken ....

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/article_f96306f5-86ec-5a8d-8015-9dff39b7adf0.html

.... and one of these days, people will finally wake up and wonder where all the good teachers went and why all the schools have deteriorated past fixing. We've already lost a decade or so to the fraud on education perpetrated by the right wing. By then, we will have lost an entire generation, and maybe more.

MB, I read that article, and was struck by the stretch-

Comparing Obama to Clinton? Ridiculous. The PROPER comparison is to Carter- whose plans, foreign and domestic, were also, spectacular, failures- and whose record was used to weigh his presidency against the ideas of his opponent.

Obama's obstinate refusal to recognize either opposition to his policies, or the failure thereof, are to blame for his sinking approval ratings- in other words, success or failure are color blind. Seems to be a notion liberals cannot comprehend.

The author never compared the unemployment rates of Obama to Clinton. She never compared GDP growth- or lack thereof. Certainly, Clinton abandoned HCR- he had to do so, as it was the kiss of death- something Clinton recognized, but Obama does not. He, and his dwindling corps of worshippers, (sorry, Mark), STILL do not realize that ramming it through was a major mistake that will be rectified by the next president.

Clinton was a master politician- and I mean that as a compliment. He recognized that the electorate was rejecting his vision, and changed course. Obama is incapable of such recognition, which is why he is back to whining that his "greatness" is not applauded, and chastising his base for not giving him enough support.

That worked really well in the mid terms, did it not?

There are some in the African American community who are taking great umbrage at his speech over the weekend to the Congressional Black Caucus- as well they should. The insulting words and tone used would have had any other president run out of there by the Secret Service. As it was, I heard a lot of rumbling- but very little applause.

The media focus on the "disarray" in the republican party is a hoot- they do not seem able to comprehend that there will be a nominee, and he will beat Obama handily, and it will not be as a result of racism.

It will be as a result of the disastrous failures of this man- who should not have been elected in the first place.

He would not have been, had he been subjected to one tenth the vetting the republican candidates are getting.

There is no question in my mind that we would have been better off as a country had either McCain or Hillary been elected.

There is also no question in my mind that the democratic party, and the sycophantic media, are the last bastion of sexism in this country.

At this point, Porky Pig could win the Republican nomination and conservatives would still support him. What I would really, REALLY would love to see is Tea Partiers forced to help Romney win the election against Obama. Gov Mandated HC vs...you guessed it...Gov Mandated Health Care! Oh and to make it more fun, the Christian conservatives would have to side with a Morman vs a Christian...err....muslim [sic].

JoAnnaSmith1

Obama doesn't stand a chance to improve employment. Not this year. Not next year. Obama a complete idiot concerning the economy

Sniff1 is musing AGAIN

I am truly loving all the racial insights I am getting on First Read today . . . let the games begin . . . yes indeed . . . us "blacks" really should trust the "corporate people" to handle things . . . hell, everyone should trust the "corporate people" now that I think about it . . . what could go wrong, right . . . subprime mortgage, anyone?

I am truly feeling uplifted with all the special attention "blacks" are getting around here today... yep, I can feel the love and goodwill just oozing through the screen! :o)

Sarah Palin will run and win, is there ANY question about that?

Bill, Fairfax VA

Earth to Democrats: what's unprecedented is a $14 trillion debt that is still growing. What's unprecedented is a downgrade of the U.S. bonds used to finance that debt. What's unprecedented is the prospect of this once proud nation heading inexorably down the road towards bankruptcy.

Reality-based community to Bill: What's unprecedented is the Republicans holding disaster relief hostage in exchange for immediate budget cuts that they know will further damage an economy already in the midst of a crisis they created. What's unprecedented is a political party deliberately hurting America in order to hurt the President of the United States.

I've been saying it all along. No viable GOP candidate will run until 2016. Christie will bide his time until then. The current Clown Posse doesn't stand a chance. I'm not a fan of Obama. I think he totally wasted his opportunity to prove he really did stand for change. But I will NOT vote to replace him with a completely unsuitable candidate just to make a point. That's not the kind of voting that will help our country, by any means.

Personally, I hope Hillary Clinton goes for the Democratic nomination for 2016.

How about you, Nash?

Are you buying into "liberal electoral racism"?

Does it exist?

Nashers: I am truly loving all the racial insights I am getting on First Read today . . . let the games begin . . . yes indeed . . . us "blacks" really should trust the "corporate people" to handle things .

Liberals Lament - In Obama We Trust.

Did the local dry cleaners run a 'special' on white sheets over the weekend?

This is the best you can do?

This is the best you can do?

I just call em like I see em...

There's some serious competition going on below for Grand Wizard...

All week before the Florida straw poll the beltway talking heads blathered on endlessly about whoever won the poll would almost certainly be the next President, but after their predicted establishment corporate/republican winner got his a$$ kicked the poll means nothing, do tell. The powers that be have already determined who the republican candidate for President will be, why don't we just quit all the pomp and circumstance of trying to make this look like a legitimate political process, throw an Exxon/mobil hate on Romney, march him out on stage and say here's the candidate "you" selected, enjoy.

Dearest Mixed Bag:

Ya know, I am trying to figure out why it matters whether electoral racism exists or not? You tell me how me answering that question makes the world a better place, and I will be happy to answer.

Something tells me, this is the part of the same old okie doke where the GOP detonates the racial stink bomb and we are all supposed to run around like chickens with our heads cut off and not notice that the "corporate people" think we are dumb as a box of rocks and we are going to let them run rough shod over us while they get richer and richer.

Get someone else to to play the dozens with Mixed Bag . . . I am more interested in insuring that some empty eyed corporate shill is not elected President, ya know?

How about that Wall Street protest? . . . now THAT is some news we can use.

"Hiya kids, hiya, hiya." Froggy

Good morning my fellow Americans. Sometimes I think it's important that we remember that we are all Americans and perhaps we would do a better job of governing this great nation if we took a moment to remember that.

I was inspired by the President over the weekend. His words to the Black Causcus and his statement that the GOP will "cripple" America were right on the money. Imagine how much worse things could get under a GOP/TP/LDS presidency. BUSH III anyone? The thought is terrifying to me.

And we had an absolutely disgusting display of exactly what is wrong with politics in this country and what the President it talking about on FACE THE NATION yesterday. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was responding to a question regarding the President's comments to the Congressional Black Caucus but she was continually interrupted by the Tea Party Dweeb they had asked to give equal time to the opposing view. He was rude. He was a bully. He ignored the topic and went straight to his "talking points". He and his party should be ashamed of his performance. I don't even remember who he is nor do I care. HE IS THE PROBLEM with Washington and he and the others like him need to GO or we will never be able to get this country back on track.

That's all I care to say about the Dweeb.

"Cain is not able." Good one Fiesty. Made me laugh. But what Cain and his straw poll win IS, is an indicator of the deep fractures in the GOP/TP/LDS party. As I predicted, Perry is imploding as did Bachman before him. Bachman, Gingrich, Paul and Huntsman may as well call it a day. They are barely registering on the radar. In the end, Romney will be the nominee, but the "my way or the highway" crowd will not be able to rally behind him and the President will be re-elected in an historic landslide.

Christie is too smart to get into this race knowing that in four years he will be able to run for an open seat in the White House. He doesn't want to have the loss on his record. He sees his election in four years as a sure thing. He's already having his underwear monogrammed "Mr. President." Heaven help us.

So, the die has been cast, the stars are in alignment and the President will be re-elected despite all the hand-ringing and crocodile tears shed by the news media and the weak sisters in the D-party.

But, unless we send the President some help it's going to be ANOTHER four years of grid-lock and talking points. It's time to dump the tea bags into Boston harbor and send some statesmen (and women) to Washington who can get the job done. We need people who know how to say the word "compromise" and who have the best interests of the American people (and not just their political party) in mind when they act.

Have a nice day, my fellow Americans, and remember what I said, the President needs our help.

"Plunk your magic twanger Froggy."

America held hostage, day 269.

Obama/Biden 2012

MB: Since the relatively early days of the Obama Administration, liberal/progressive pundits (like Chris Matthews of "Hardball", for example) have insisted upon promoting the fallacious and corrosively divisive view that legitimate policy-based conservative opposition to President Obama's agenda is, in reality, thinly-veiled racism. False and unfair accusations of racism are routinely leveled at the Tea Party movement by Mathews and other left-wing media voices.

Look at the source, Matthews, and you understand why this occurs. Matthews needs to appeal to the lowest common denominator. To do so, he has to crawl into the gutter to make his point. His lies are all he has because he can't make a defense of the liberals on policy, process, or results. In those regards, the liberals are total failures. Matthews knows his audience, lemmings that hang on his every word. It doubtful he even believes half the nonsense he produces, but at least it provides a nice paycheck for him.

Take a look at the photo of the audience at the last Republican debate. The goofballs in the front row make it look more like a Halloween party than a political event. The article is mostly about the ugly reactions in the crowds -- booing a US soldier in Iraq, cheering executions, etc. These are the idiots who are going to decide on a nominee who's going to have a very good chance of becoming the next president. Lord help us.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-debate-audiences-provoke-controversy/2011/09/23/gIQAJX6RtK_story.html?hpid=z2

Appealing to the 11th Circuit is not a stalling tactic. As a matter of fact, if you think it's so certain that the individual mandate is unconstitutional you should demand he go to the 11th Circuit before it goes to the Supremes.

Why?

Because that way, if it is all utlimately found unconstitutional you have left no doubt.

_____________________________________

If the Supreme Court finds ClumkerCare unconstitutional there will be no doubt regardless of what ANY Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. Appealing their losing position to the full court is only a stalling tactic because only the Supreme Court's opinion matters in the end.

None of the above:

Don't worry, you'll find someone. There are still a 100 million republicans to choose from.

The goofballs in the front row make it look more like a Halloween party than a political event

How cute - the stale, male & pale crowd is now playing 'dress up'!

At least they weren't wearing sheets & pointy hats!

You're right Houston!... Lord help us!

The most relevant statement to me was from the research performed by the Gates Foundation that basically found that class size is irrelevant when compared to how good the teacher is.

Class size is/will be relevant in older buildings. There simply is not enough physical space in some of these classrooms to accommodate a mandate in this area. So class size can be relevant.

Per the poll, nearly three-quarters of adults give the nation’s schools either a C grade (45% of respondents), D grade (22%), or and F (7%). In addition, more than 60% say they are “very willing” or “somewhat willing” to pay higher federal taxes to improve the quality of the nation’s schools.

Oh stop it please! You're going to give the rich FITS of terror from thinking that the poor, unworthy slobs (ie. middle class, poor, whoever isn't rich) could ever achieve the dream of getting a good education and be a contender..

"This straw poll should have been a shoe-in for Perry," I hate to pick but this is the kind of mistake you expect to see from posters - not people who write for a living.

Christie is too smart to get into this race knowing that in four years he will be able to run for an open seat in the White House. He doesn't want to have the loss on his record. He sees his election in four years as a sure thing. He's already having his underwear monogrammed "Mr. President." Heaven help us.

This is an incredible assumption given the President's polling in battleground states. You really think the Republican challenger has no chance?

Under the scenario that Christie decides to run, I think his unhealthy weight would be a factor in filling the very stressful job of the presidency. Therefore, his pick of a vice-president becomes significant.

chilled

" Obama has been the worst President for blacks"

That is a really disgusting RW comment!

Exactly, just what more ha ve other white Presidents done for Blacks?

What Pres. Obama Has Done For Black America

BLACK FARMERS' SETTLEMENT. On December 8, President Obama signed legislation that provided $1.15 billion to black farmers who sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the 1997 case, Pigford v. Glickman. In the suit, which settled out of court 11 years ago, the farmers claimed the government discriminated against them by denying or cheating them out of federal aid

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION. The new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) is an important part of the Obama administration’s efforts to reform America’s financial regulations. Designed to protect consumers from abusive and fraudulent practices in the financial services industry, the bureau “will be an independent bureau within the Federal Reserve System that will help empower consumers with the information they need to make financial decisions that are best for them and their families.” The CFPB will promote fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, and other financial products and services, and establish rules so that consumers know their costs and features. Minorities were hit particularly hard by the home foreclosure crisis. Blacks and Latinos were steered into predatory subprime

CREDIT CARD REFORM. Under Obama, abusive credit card companies are no longer protected. With the final set of provisions of the credit card reforms taking effect in 2010, the deceptive “fine print” of credit card agreements is no more. Credit card users can opt out of certain terms. Millions of consumers will have more time to pay their monthly bills, avoid retroactive interest rate increases, receive more notice of changes to credit card terms. Predatory lending costs American borrowers $25 billion each year, and the poor, African-Americans and Latinos are particularly susceptible to fraudulent practices and higher interest rates.

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invests $5 billion for early learning programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and children with special needs. The Act also provides $77 billion to improve elementary and secondary education, and to stabilize state education budgets. Black children enrolled in Head Start were “significantly less likely to have been booked or charged with a crime,” while African-American males were more likely to finish high school and participate in the work force. In August 2010, President Obama approved $26 billion in aid to school districts to avoid teacher and public employee layoff

HBCUS and STUDENT LOAN AID. In 2010, the president signed an executive order for the president’s Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The order provides $98 million in extra funding for HBCUs for 10 years. The order—which also provided for $20.5 million more to the HBCU Capital Financing program and $64.5 million for the Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institution program—makes nearly $400 million more available in Pell Grants to students at all colleges. Obama appointed Hampton University President William Harvey as chairman of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In addition, President Obama made a sweeping overhaul of the federal student loan program by eliminating fees to private banks. Much of the $68 billion savings will go to student aid, and the law

MINORITY ACCESS TO CAPITAL. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the Obama stimulus package, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has expanded its outreach to minority owned businesses. Twenty percent of the billions of dollars in SBA loans provided by the stimulus have gone to minorty owned companies

HEALTH CARE REFORM. The $940 billion health care reform bill will allow 32 million additional Americans to receive health care coverage. Under the terms of the legislation, insurance companies cannot arbitrarily drop policy holders. Insurance companies cannot deny children coverage based on a preexisting condition, and in 2014, insurance companies may not deny coverage to anyone with a preexisting condition. Children can stay on their parent's insurance plans through age 26. People who make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for subsidies to purchase insurance. Further, Medicaid would be available to everyone with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty level, which is $10,830 for an individual and $22,050 for a family of four. In recent years, one-third of working age African-American

DIVERSITY. The Obama administration is the most diverse White House in U.S. history. Eric Holder is the first black Attorney General. The UN Ambassador, Susan E. Rice, is also an African American, as is EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, NASA chief Charles F. Bolden, Jr., and Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin. Diversity is extending to the federal bench as well, with blacks as 25 percent of the President’s judicial nominees, and minorities as nearly half. For example, Irene Cornelia Berger was confirmed as the first black federal judge in West Virginia. Tanya Pratt became the first African-American appointee to a federal judgeship in Indiana, and Michelle Childs became the second black federal judge in South Carolina.

President Obama has done a lot. Unfortunately, some have gotten caught up in right wing rhetoric and cannot see the forest for the tress. This President has been the most progresive for Blacks since LBJ.

http://www.thegrio.com/politics/slideshow-what-has-obama-done-for-black-america-in-2010.php

Purnell: "This straw poll should have been a shoe-in for Perry," I hate to pick but this is the kind of mistake you expect to see from posters - not people who write for a living.

The comment is from a poster; doesn't appear in the article.

So the Republicans want to throw Chris Christie into the drowning pool. My thought is, he would be more like an anchor. Hey they still have Sister Sarah and have we all forgotten, the dead-beat, knight in shining armor, "Joe The Plumber?" Well he wasn't really a plumber and he did take public assistance, What's the difference between him and the other egotists? They didn't earn their wealth either. The Kochs and Murdoch have sold their souls to the devil just to keep their ill gotten booty. If all else fails, the Tea Party can always has Michelle Bachmann. When she isn't giving her "evil eye" she can incite the Tea crowd with her anti gay rhetoric up a crowd with her pseudo facts.

This is an incredible assumption given the President's polling in battleground states. You really think the Republican challenger has no chance?

The GOP challenger has no chance if it is Perry or any other right-winger. They may be the darlings of the tea baggers, but the rest of rational America, including the swing voter bloc, is scared to death of their christo-taliban, every citizen-for-himself rhetoric.

I have to agree that Christie is too smart to run now. He can't have been elected governor of NJ without taking positions that are too moderate for the tea baggers. He's already demanding that Washington stop bickering and send money to help storm victims, with or without offsetting spending cuts. That's not very tea baggy, is it? No, he doesn't need a bruising primary battle that'll leave him too weakened to defeat Obama. Much better to wait until the next election when the tea baggers will be history and there's no incumbent to battle.

@nozzie - you're right.

Barry, I agree with you 100%. I, being a swing voter, hopes that Christie runs. I don't see any candidate in the GOP field that looks promising. If he does not run, then it's Obama again in 2012.

It's smart of him to wait, but I still hope he runs. I think it will be good for America to see a viable candidate to oppose Obama.

Ron Indiana, Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL, Beverly in Chicago, John A.-400474 You are my Heros Period.

This cut everything and start over approach, because they the Repukes ran up the debt, is a direct assault to The United States of America. And any one who wants to continue to cut now is flat out wrong. With 46.1 Million families living in poverty it's the biggest and loudest noise against any cuts what so ever. Especially to the elderly and poor. We are not moving back to the 1840's where no minority had the right to vote, racism was rapport, women had no rights to vote, our air and water was polluted beyond belief, crimes of murder and rape were 1 in 4. We were last in education of all subjects. Any and everyone should refuse these extremest views period. It's flat out mad for what they want this country to look like. It's beyond belief.

And President Obama will make the case of choice. Lean Forward or go complete backward to the year 1840

Welcome to the latest game show...Lowered Expectations, 2012 election edition.

Neither party has a viable candidate to date that seemingly has a clue. Not the current President (who was elected simply because everyone hated Republicans 4 years ago), and for the most part, none of the current cast of Republicans have any idea. Between 'English as the official language', and forced vaccinations who is going to step up and make a difference? I understand in every election there are 'issue candidates' whose job it is to simply force the major players to answer key questions, but right now the 2012 election will be won by a candidate that can speak in complete sentences....thats it.

Out of how many millions of people in this country, we are forced to choose between a President who has pissed away a perfect opportunity and a group of conservatives that cant get out of their own way.

The most relevant statement to me was from the research performed by the Gates Foundation that basically found that class size is irrelevant when compared to how good the teacher is.

Having been a successful teacher, I can tell you firsthand that this is NOT a universal truth. It is, in fact, a serious oversimplification of a complex issue.

To a certain extent, it depends on what is being taught. Some classes are amenable to large group instruction. Math or physical education might be an example. But many others, like lab sciences or English, and especially writing, simply are not. Not all learning experiences are the same.

Where a teacher needs to give individual attention, large classes are a serious detriment. It becomes impossible to give enough attention when you have less than 2 minutes per class per child to do it.

Inject just one special needs student, and the whole thing goes kablooey.

Enlightened school districts already know this. School districts that have more money pay attention to these kinds of details and do not see the advantage in packing children into meatlockers.

It's interesting to note that the study was from the Gates Foundation. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the Gates children were not forced to go to school in classrooms packed with 40 to 50 students.

And we all know why. Don't we?

I'm a little late, but let me go back to the first comment from Ron. All of his little clique members on this site went gaga over his statement that the GOP has no viable candidate to run against Obama. Well, Ron, that's great in theory, but in reality, every poll shows that Obama would lose to a generic Republican......in other words, anyone who runs against him.

This article is just another NBC hit job from Chuck Todd, whose main duty seems to be getting Obama reelected by daily trashing any and all opponents. And, he shovels this crap while pretending that he's such a learned political expert.

Beverly in Chicago,

Awesome Post on what President Obama has done for African Americans in the United States. Once the GOP and DEM debates start it will be game over once this stuff comes to light. Game Over GOP - R=Right & W=Wing, RW.

It's like the RW is on the Jerry Springer Show. No sense of reality.

Pat, Boston, MA

Republicans have no business having a say in our lives..

Pat

No truer words could be spoken particularly regarding Darrell Issa

Earlier this week, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, assured i.e. told Fox News host Bret Baier that he would not investigate allegations that Fox’s parent company News Corp. hacked into 9/11 victims’ phones and/or violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This, despite the requests of Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings along with other members of the Committee. Among Issa’s other excuses, he didn’t want to pick on any media.

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2011/09/14/318597/issa-we-won%E2%80%99t-investigate-news-corp%E2%80%99s-alleged-hacking-of-911-victims-because-we-don%E2%80%99t-want-to-pick-on-the-media/

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

Darrell Issa has been taking water over the sides for refusing to investigate the billion-dollar NewsCorp scandal, but he hasn't had any qualms continuing to give interviews to FoxNews.

GOP’s top investigator, Rep. Darrell Issa, finds himself in spotlight as target of critics

Last week, the liberal American Family Voices filed a complaint with the House Office of Congressional Ethics seeking an investigation to determine if Issa’s business interests conflict with his work as a government officials.

@spider-737231

No Spider Chuck Todd knows the GOP RW are crazy beyond belief. And there outlook for America is a disaster in the making, which you should be ashamed of.

So give us your outlook of what American should be in the Global 21st Century Spider?

Pat,

Also Mary Landieu exposed his crooked lying azz over Solyndra.Senator Landrieu reads Issa's letters asking for taxpayer clean energy loans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFE8-h44gsw&feature=player_embedded

on the Senate floor, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) mocked Issa’s hypocrisy. She carried with her copies of the letters signed by Issa, as well as other letters by Republicans asking for money for the clean energy program they had just voted to cut, and read them into the Congressional Record:

LANDRIEU: He’s a member from California, he’s a very powerful member of the House. I’m going to read his whole letter. [...] And maybe the press even writes, ‘Darrell Issa, the Republican leader, is promoting manufacturing in California.’ Because this is what he says in his district. And this is the letter he sends to the Secretary. But when he’s in the floor of the House last night, he voted to gut this program. That’s what this debate is about!

=======

Good on Landrieu I not a fan of her's but I hope she brings it up daily

Solutions:

Thank you for the shout out. I like what you write as well.

Thank you for the kind words Solutions - hope to see you around here more!

The notion you want to end Social Security and Medicare is a disgraceful thought. You and I have paid in this social security and medicare for 30 years at least now you say no one should get it. That means a 75 year old woman who made 25,000 dollars a year for 30 years would have enough money to cover the high cost of medicine and health issues throughout her life, will have enough money to retire on and pay the health care cost on her own going forward? No she would die quickly and for that you should be ashamed to call yourself human. There is nothing human about that period.

To the writers of this article; NBC's Todd, Murray and Brower; we are tired of your lies and slanted reporting.

The MSN lead into this article is: " First Read: Herman Cain's runaway win in straw poll reveals lukewarm feelings for Perry and Romney."

More bs reporting by the National media. Tell the truth, report the truth. Where is your integrity? There is a great tradition in America; The Land of The Free where journalism was respected. Today, you all seem to be in some one's pocket.

If any of the media reported more on Cain, other than the stupid and contrived "debates" the public would know where this man stands. The people might just understand that his win in Florida was not by default.

This man Cain is talking sense, but no one reports it.

The fifth estate is dead and/or dying. The people of America are growing sick or are already sick of the lies you proffer. You underestimate The People, they are not as stupid as you think.

At this point Herman Cain has won 5 or 6 of the various straw polls. He has the integrity and honesty that I look for in a candidate, and it will be very refreshing to vote for someone I can trust.

Kudos to MSNBC!!!

Finally somone in the MSM has the balls to cover the protest on Wall Street!

People have had ENOUGH and are taking it to the streets!!!

Nash-

It has about as much a chance of making the world a better place as any of the questions routinely asked at First Read...more than some, less than others.

Still...it's OK if you'd rather not answer. Not an easy one, is it?

Professor Harris-Perry is a frequent guest on all of MSNBC'S evening and prime-time shows. She has hosted them on occasion. The viewing demographic of those shows, I'm certain, includes a healthy portion of white liberals...the very sort of people she discussed in her article for The Nation.

In fact, some of those very kind of people are employed by this website.

I'm quite certain, that because of Professor Harris-Perry's relationship with MSNBC, many if not most of the people who write First Read's content actually have met her and know her personally.

Why would Professor Harris-Perry's article in The Nation not be a suitable topic of discussion at this particular forum?

And Nash...

It wasn't the GOP that detonated this particular stink bomb...it was Professor Harris-Perry, wasn't it?

Always a pleasure, Nash.

Simpletonian:

At this point Herman Cain has won 5 or 6 of the various straw polls. He has the integrity and honesty that I look for in a candidate, and it will be very refreshing to vote for someone I can trust.

Indeed. I can't wait to see Herman Cain, with all his private sector experience in the pizza business, mix it up against Vladimir Putin, a mere career politician -- not to mention that Dinner Jacket guy in Iran, or the thugs in Pakistan.

It will be just like the good old days when George W. Bush was in charge. Another private businessman whom we knew we could trust.

Oh, how I miss those simpler times.

Pat in Boston said -

Flood victims in Pennsylvania are getting fed up with Congress for putting politics ahead of their needfor immediate disaster aid. Families in northeastern Pennsylvania who have already lost their homes are further disheartened by the political bickering in Washington as Republicans refuse to increase FEMA's budget this week. "Members of Congress are playing with people's lives, not just their own political careers," said a local fire chief.

___________________________________

Yet people STILL vote Republican

Yes, they still do vote Republicans as they are the ones who created a bill with disaster relief in it, (and lots of other useful bills) and the DEMOCRATIC Congress, once again, won't vote for it. The Senate is stalling because they can't give up their out of control spending. It is astonishing how many posters here don't have the first problem with continuing to spend in the same manner as we did before we were downgraded. You've learned nothing. What do you do at home when you have an unexpected expense, spend money you don't have and not worry about it? No, you spend the money and cut back elsewhere to make up for it. Why should the US govt. not have to assume some responsibility in their spending habits. They are no better than the individual American.

Back to the article - Herman Cains "win" shows how much we want someone who is not Obama. Many of us are not interested in voting for someone who "may" be an "Obama Jr." We've been burned bad by those who thought voting for Obama was a good thing. We don't want more of the same. My sincere hope is to find the best out of the group, that will start doing what is good for America, not what is good for getting one re-elected in 2016.

Obama's speeches are getting really offensive, he is desparate to get help for his re-election bid. I hope he stops doing these speeches NOW!!!

I wish there were more than JoAnnaSmith1 representing the TP here... her posts are repetitive and tired.

JS, no one really argues that we should never fund FEMA... never funding something is an old GW trick. What is disgusting and unacceptable is the 1st grade antics from your puppet, Boehner. To suddenly demand a new process to fund FEMA and to threaten to withhold FEMA and national monies unless we fund it NOW with a pet Democrat green business loan program... then go out of town... well, it's called extortion and the Dems should spit on his bill (as they have).

You just don't seem to get that people are tired of the hostage taking, the lack of civility, the total lack of discourse, and the pure idiocy.

Sorry... not in a real "partisan" mood this morning... Boehner stepped on my "consumer confidence" and 401K last week.

It's interesting to note that the study was from the Gates Foundation. I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the Gates children were not forced to go to school in classrooms packed with 40 to 50 students.

And we all know why. Don't we?

Same reason as Malia and Sasha go to private school? You see AM, it doesn't matter if your a Liberal Democrat or a Conservative Republican, given the choice parents will pay top dollar for THEIR children and send them to what they think is the best school. It's like some Ayn Rand, selfish self-interest thing.

BTW the research was carried out by Scholastic for the Gates foundation.

www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/missionandcredo.htm

www.scholastic.com/primarysources/download.asp

The 'protest' on Wall Street would be a protest if enough people showed up to call it that. I can get 10 of my friends together and fill a camera screen and call it a protest too.

To be fair, there are more like 1000 protestors. Which means basically what I just said, anyway.

If you don't have 10,000 people protesting in New York, it is ANY day on the street in New York. Seriously, you have 1000 protestors at any given time at any point in Manhatten protesting anything. Therefore it isn't news unless you are paying too much attention to the Wall Street protests at this point.

In fact, it is rather pathetic that you can't even get 10,000 people protesting the banks. Rather pathetic, indeed.

.

I guess the clique of parrot bloggers out here just love to hear themselves talk since nobody in America believes a word they say! ROFLMFAO!!!! I hope you all go back into your moms basements after your oblamer is unemployed in 2012!!!!

Anna Molly - Indeed. I can't wait to see Herman Cain, with all his private sector experience in the pizza business, mix it up against Vladimir Putin, a mere career politician -- not to mention that Dinner Jacket guy in Iran, or the thugs in Pakistan.

It will be just like the good old days when George W. Bush was in charge. Another private businessman whom we knew we could trust.

Oh, how I miss those simpler times.

FYI

1. Herman Cain saved several businesses from going under, not just Godfather's Pizza. He also sat on the board of the Federal Reserve.
2. You obviously voted for someone with no foreign policy experience a couple of years ago, so it can't be too much of a bad thing if others do it as well.
3. We? Did you and the mouse in your pocket vote for George W. Bush? I know I didn't.

willowbrook

Yes, they still do vote Republicans as they are the ones who created a bill with disaster relief in it, (and lots of other useful bills) and the DEMOCRATIC Congress, once again, won't vote for it. The Senate is stalling because they can't give up their out of control spending. It is astonishing how many posters here don't have the first problem with continuing to spend in the same manner as we did before we were downgraded. You've learned nothing.

I guess you need to teach us. Is there an "extortion school" or somewhere specific you want us to go?

You're the one that doesn't get it. I guess you believe that the Republicans are such Angels... why they just put this FEMA funding bill together and those mean ole Democrats just want to spend spend spend... and they won't sign it. WHAT GARBAGE! Do you even read your own posts?

So I guess you haven't learned that others have half a brain? This is on Boehner. Plain and simple.

He COULD have presented the already agreed-to budget bill and let it pass.

He COULD have funded FEMA and proposed a new FEMA funding process for next time.

He COULD have engaged the super committee to find corresponding cuts in a bipartisan way.

He COULD have argued the merits (or lack of) of the green business loan package and asked for an up or down vote.

There were just so many other civil options available. You tell me. Why tie them all together, throw it over the wall, then go out of town? Because he cannot get his TP puppet masters what they want any other way... apparently. You tell us. Please tell us.

We don't want to spend, spend, spend... GW did that... and we're NOT GW. We want a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility... we want to help recover the economy and jobs... we want the wars to end responsibly... we want civility and grace in legislation... we want affordable and broad-based health care... are we Democrats? maybe. Could be Independents or even (gasp) reasonable Republicans.

All I do know is that you're historical rewrite doesn't work.

Derek-381097

Your post would be true if there were more than 1,000 people in New York that DIDN'T work for Wall Street. :)

AM: #1.92 is the best, most truthful post I have ever seen from a practitioner of the Black Arts of lawyering. :~)

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Arts-Witchcraft-Demonology-Throughout/dp/0399500359

LMarcT - just another confused Lib. Look at what you write.

He COULD have presented the already agreed-to budget bill and let it pass.

[and on, and on]

Lame.

The House has spoken. That's the bill. Elections have consquences.

You've must have not noticed that the country has a huge deficit LMT. The bill the House passed is something called "paid for". Of course you Libs always want to pay for it later, or not at all. Every lame reason you can find to continue spending is in your hand-waving "explanations". Boehner "could have done this" or " he could have done that". The House provided the Senate with a bill that provides for disaster relief and is paid for. That's called being responsible.

The Democrats in the Senate? What's their plan? Please explain that plan of the Senates to us LMT.

LMT: We don't want to spend, spend, spend... GW did that... and we're NOT GW. We want a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility... we want to help recover the economy and jobs... we want the wars to end responsibly... we want civility and grace in legislation... we want affordable and broad-based health care... are we Democrats?

Then get to work on it LMT. Obama gives speeches, Reid complains, and Boehner passes bills. The Democrats are phonies, and are being exposed as such.

MessNBC trying to carry the water for the 1 Term 0bama regime again. It doesn't matter who the GOP puts up there - people are going to vote for the candidate not named 0bama. Romney, Perry, Cain or Christie. 1 Term 0bama wins 6 - 8 states and gets swept out like Jimmy Carter did. 0bama and Carter are soul mates - the 2 worst Presidents that we have ever had.

MrCool

To the writers of this article; NBC's Todd, Murray and Brower; we are tired of your lies and slanted reporting.

...and, yet, here you are anyway!

Have a nice day!!!

LMarcT - somtimes your post are so funny, you must be in show business. Most of your reponse to me doesn't even merit a response, but this inaccuracy I can't let slip by....

We don't want to spend, spend, spend... GW did that... and we're NOT GW

No you are Obama, who has spent MORE in almost 3 years than GW did in 8! And still wants to spend more, and leave the responsibility of having the funds to pay for the spending to someone else some time in the "future." Yup, LMarcT - kick that can down the road farther. You can be Obama's first string punter.

Gee LMarcT, why didn't you comment on my portion of the comment that was about the article?

This is the field. Christie is not going to run - he's fat, out of shape and has health issues. He's not going to save the party.

The GOP Brand admitted to being bankrupt in 2008 - The Tea Party may have helped them win some seats in 2010 but the way they have done business in the Congress has turned off voters.

I think the backlash against the GOP/TP will be felt by every one of their candidates in 2012. The public is angry.

Why don't they use the billions in grants given to churches under Bush's faith-based charity program to fund the FEMA disaster relief? It is very telling when the righties only attack programs popular to the left. If they were true fiscal conservatives they'd be going after programs supported by the right.

Alan NJ:

Same reason as Malia and Sasha go to private school? You see AM, it doesn't matter if your a Liberal Democrat or a Conservative Republican, given the choice parents will pay top dollar for THEIR children and send them to what they think is the best school. It's like some Ayn Rand, selfish self-interest thing.

So, what you're really saying is that, under your view of the new America, education, which used to be the great equalizer in our society that used to allow the underprivileged to seize opportunities and ultimately to join the ranks of the privileged, which is what conservatives say everyone should aspire to, will no longer be equally available, but will totally depend on how much money you have.

And you think that's a good thing.

Thanks for clarifying that, Alan.

By the way, Scholastic is a book publisher, not an educational foundation.

Judge Joe:

AM: #1.92 is the best, most truthful post I have ever seen from a practitioner of the Black Arts of lawyering. :~)

LoLoL Black arts or not, it's nice to be the best at something, anyway.

African American (A A) Reality in America:

UNEMPLOYMENT among A A's: 16.7% (Aug '11). Men: 19.1%; Women: 14.5%

A A Teen Unemployment: 40.7%!!!!! (Aug '11)

source: CNN

WELFARE:

39% of all A A on welfare. 77% of all A A's support drug testing as a qualification for recipients

source: newsone

VOTING:

in 2008, 95.5% of all A A's voted for Obama. Obama in 2008 started with a 93% approval rating among A A's. Today- 58% among A A's from 83%- just 5 months ago!

source: Politico

HOUSING:

Foreclosures among A A's are 2 to 3 times higher than any other.

source: realtytrac

So- why does the African American community STILL follow the President?? The approval rating among A A's went from 93% in '08 to 58% today, so that would indicate they are not happy with him these days.

Join the rest of the crowd...

Nashville_fan

I am truly feeling uplifted with all the special attention "blacks" are getting around here today.

I hate to tell you... but "blacks" have been getting special attention for a VERY LONG TIME! It's the only way to stop their whining! (and here at First Read we can see how well THAT works!)

If I were Hispanic I'd be Pi$$ed! Especially since Hispanics are a larger group than the "blacks" but get only fraction of the special attention!

@ Dave 2550157 - Bush gave money to churches for disaster relief?!?!?!? Not something I've ever heard of. Our Church has given repeated to various disaster relief projects, and it came out of the Congregation's pockets, not from the govt. Unless it was for Churches in the area where the disaster was who were housing and feeding those who were affected by the disaster, I don't see how that could have happened. (And if the Church was doing that, I don't see a problem of funneling the money through the Church to ensure there are sufficient funds to take care of those affected by the disaster.) I don't have a problem you bringing the comment up, but you need to be specific concerning this. It could give the appearances of something different from reality.

This guy Cain can't be serious his 999 plan is a joke, our country is in debt past our eye balls and he wants to cut the TAXES, this clown should go back yo running a Pizza joint and let the Adults do the thinking ....

geekfish

in 2008, 95.5% of all A A's voted for Obama.

Anyone else think that sounds fishy? When whites vote in those numbers for a white candidate over a black candidate that is called RACIST!

Dear geekfish and SickofBickering:

Your concern about black people is noted and much appreciated, however, based on your posts, a little "self love" may be in order . . . a mind truly is a terrible thing to waste! :o)

P.S. Special shout out to SickofBickering for trying to work up a little inter-ethnic strife . . . nice touch! Muy bueno!

JS

The House has spoken. That's the bill. Elections have consquences.

I don't remember the part of the election that told Boehner to act irresponsibly... so irresponsibly that his "numbers" are close to the lowest approvals in history. It's obvious there's no discussing this because Boehner's antics give you no pause... the end justifies the means, as long as it's a Republican means. The bill would have been fine had he/they stuck around to negotiate an alternative funding source. But they didn't. They chose the low road. The "means" is important.

willowbrook,

We can have a long and important discussion on spending, but given that Obama's hand was basically forced from the day he got in office, it is best to compare what would have happened if McCain had been elected... and see what we can then truly blame Obama for.

The wars? Still here, still unfunded, maybe escalated even more.

The stimulus? Not likely spent. The free-fall or at least the risk of one would have been great. But your theory of let-em fail would have been in full force. And they would have failed. Higher unemployment, lower GDP, less tax revenue, increased debt. Not so good.

Bank bailouts? Would have still happened since Bush drove them. Would they have been paid back as they were/are? Who knows. I'm not sure McCain could have negotiated that one. Maybe Palin would have? LOL

Health care? Nope. Nothing... NOTHING would have been done. What we have now is ugly, but far better than NOTHING. 41 million or maybe more would be looking forward to being uninsured and would have assurances of future bankruptcies.

The auto industry? Gone as we knew it. GM... gone. Suppliers... gone.

Regulations? Yes, McCain would have continued the mantra of defunding regulators (starve the beast) (get out of the way of the private sector). So, yes, we would have less spending in the short term and huge liabilities in the long term. We will never agree on this one.

FEMA funding? I believe McCain would be on the side of fund now, give yourself 120 days to pay for it... in a rational manner.

But there would be a huge advantage had we elected McCain. We would be without the 24/7 right wing propaganda against Obama... and who knows what might be better if that BS wasn't surrounding us.

Ha What a circus and the road to nowhere. The Repub candidates stink and everybody keeps going back to Christie. He's going to explode so I would say he's out of the question.

RanRan

This is the field. Christie is not going to run - he's fat, out of shape and has health issues. He's not going to save the party.

The GOP Brand admitted to being bankrupt in 2008 - The Tea Party may have helped them win some seats in 2010 but the way they have done business in the Congress has turned off voters.

I think the backlash against the GOP/TP will be felt by every one of their candidates in 2012. The public is angry.

While I also don’t think Christie will run, I respectfully disagree with the rest of your post.

win some seats in 2010

Really, just some seats?? Republicans gained over 60 seats in the House in 2010 and 6 in the Senate, a historic defeat of the party in power. It was the biggest gain for one party since 1948, it was also the biggest setback for a President and his party in midterm elections since FDR in 1938. Obama lost more seats during his first midterm election than any President since 1922 and the Democrats have their smallest number of members in the House since 1946. I'd say that's more than a some seats...

While I don’t believe either party have done a good job in Congress, I think it’s very telling that the momentum (partially displayed in the TP’s power) that carried Republicans to a historic victory in 2010 has not diminished since that election. Voters are certainly angry and there is a lot of blame to go around. I think all the polls and recent election results (NY special election) actually show the momentum for the TP and Republicans is growing, and its Democrats who should be really worried for 2012. Then again, we have over a year to go...

Nashville_fan

Dear geekfish and SickofBickering:

Your concern about black people is noted and much appreciated, however, based on your posts, a little "self love" may be in order . . . a mind truly is a terrible thing to waste! :o)

P.S. Special shout out to SickofBickering for trying to work up a little inter-ethnic strife . . . nice touch! Muy bueno!

You are VERY welcome, Nash! Sorry if it touched a nerve with you, but the facts is the facts! ;-)

(BTW... there is that BIG CLOWN NOSE again! Hmmm... Go Figure!)

Solutions539

@spider-737231

No Spider Chuck Todd knows the GOP RW are crazy beyond belief. And there outlook for America is a disaster in the making, which you should be ashamed of.

So give us your outlook of what American should be in the Global 21st Century Spider?

My outlook is for nation of people that understand proper English and Grammar!

THERE, THEIR and THEY'RE are NOT interchangeable people!

It is hard to take you seriously when you make these 3rd grade mistakes!

LMT: I don't remember the part of the election that told Boehner to act irresponsibly...

It's responsible for the government to pay it's bills.

The Democrats, and you, apparently don't care about doing that. You're okay with borrowing more and more money and adding to the debt.

LMT: irresponsibly that his "numbers" are close to the lowest approvals in history.

95% of the incumbents in Congress will get re-elected. What does that say about your "numbers"?

You sure write a lot of crap, but you didn't answer the question. The Democrats in the Senate? What's their plan?

@Willowbrook

I see how my earlier post could have been misread.

It's not specifically for disaster relief. President Bush started a program where faith-based chairities could apply for federal grants. They don't talk about it much because a lot of people are opposed to our government giving money to religious organizations (my opinion). The federal government grants billions every year under this program.

I don't know a lot of the details, but to quailfy I believe your church has to have a separate 501(c)(3) organization. You can do a web search for "faith based grants" and find a lot of information. So for example if your church decided to open a soup kitchen, you could form a 501 and apply for federal grants to help run it.

JoAnna1 -- Are they offsetting the cost of aid to other Countries? Or is that okay to whip out the credit card for those expenditures?

Well, to Ron and Fiesty, sorry you are so blue, but since I'm from Wisconsin, I gotta say Go Pack Go! It's been an interesting weekend, and now the Tpubs are on bended knee to Chrisite, like he's gonna save your sorry butts, nah, not happening. Better start begging Sista Sarah, at least she's funny and can draw a crowd. It's downright pitiful where the Tpubs have brought the GOP down too. But, it's makes for really great Saturday Night Live ratings, so go Tpubs, go.

Then the Tpub House passes a bill they know won't pass, and goes on vaca. again. I know you all think the American public is too stupid to get it, but you just keep thinking that, and we will see what happens next year.. Four more years, yeah.

@ Dave, thanks for the info, it clarified things quite a bit. If a Church applies and qualifies as a 501(c), to do work like being a soup kitchen, I don't see a problem with it. Chances are, the local public will be better served this way. And since one has to be a 501(c) to qualify, the Church has to file with the govt. to keep their charitable status. To be honest, our local Church backed organizations like this serve more of our local public than does the local govt. (I don't know if they are receiving govt. funds, but I'm thinking not, as they send out info, and their need is ongoing due to the poor local economy.) I'm sure there would be those who would opposed this sort of routing of Federal Money. Unfortunately, I don't see where there are other, non-Church organizations that would step up if the Churches stopped receiving the funds. At least not in the State I live in. I won't speak for other states.

Ron,

You must be from Bloomington.

Cain will shred Obama. The libbies fear Cain being the nominee. All you hear from them is the support for the unelectable Huntsman. Cain is the man.

JoAnna1 --

Maybe you and some in Congress would like to cut FEMA to pay for the aid to other Countries? Sounds about right at this point. Nothing surprises me anymore not even Congresses lack of ability to do even the simplest things like funding aid to those in need in our own Country. Pitiful and disgraceful.

@AM

Alan NJ:

Same reason as Malia and Sasha go to private school? You see AM, it doesn't matter if your a Liberal Democrat or a Conservative Republican, given the choice parents will pay top dollar for THEIR children and send them to what they think is the best school. It's like some Ayn Rand, selfish self-interest thing.

So, what you're really saying is that, under your view of the new America, education, which used to be the great equalizer in our society that used to allow the underprivileged to seize opportunities and ultimately to join the ranks of the privileged, which is what conservatives say everyone should aspire to, will no longer be equally available, but will totally depend on how much money you have.

No that is not what I'm saying. I am saying that parents are motivated by selfish interests to do the best they can for their kids regardless of their political persuasion. It was you who brought up the little dig about where the Gates children were educated and I simply responded by pointing out that all parents would do that if they were given the chance. I have to ask do you live in the real world or in some Utopian dream world. I do not criticize the Obama for their decisions as to how their children are educated and yes I do believe in equal opportunity as far as it is realistic. However, I am not going to tilt against windmills and attempt to demand that all children have exactly the same education in exactly the same environment as part of some educational experiment at leveling the playing field.

@Willowbrook

I have mixed feeling about it. My point is that a lot of people on the right complain about government spending money on social programs, but none ever seem to complain that some churches get government money for social programs; maybe they are unaware of it. Obviously Republicans aren't going to attack funding that would be seen as an attack on churches. The Tea Party folks would gain a lot of credibility with moderates if they included cuts for programs favored by Republicans in their plans, but they seem to only focus on funding that appeals to liberals.

JoAnna1 -- How about the offset be cuts in foreign aid?????? Sounds reasonable eh?

Dcia: JoAnna1 -- Are they offsetting the cost of aid to other Countries? Or is that okay to whip out the credit card for those expenditures?

Maybe Reid should put that in the Senate bill and vote on it. Think it will help the Democrats with their "Jewish" problem?

SickofBickering:

Thanks for the irony of you appointing yourself the grammar police after letting me know that the "facts is the facts" . . . lol . . . you are the gift that keeps on giving . . . even got in a "nose" blast . . . you don't miss a trick, eh? You are a real gem . . . but I must say . . . that tired old . . . "blacks are racist" because enough of us are not being bamboozled by Republicans to put the interests of "corporate people" ahead of our own is kind of stale . . . but hey, everything else was on point, so I'll let is slide! ;o)

I mean with a welcoming committee like you, Damage, and geekfish, I am sure that more and more black folks will start doing what they are told any day now! lol

SickOfTheBickering:

The numbers don't lie- they are what they are. I went to the sources and got the numbers from there. Yes it's true! 95% of black men & 96% of black women voted for Obama in '08. You can find that stat just about everywhere. Nothing fishy other than blacks just blindly followed a fellow black man thinking he would be able to fix what ailed them. Obama obviously made it worse! And I say that without guile- I don't begrudge them for doing it- but it seems they did it without doing any research!

As to why I posted it- there seems to be a lot of discussion today about what minorities are feeling these days (mostly Beverly telling every one how much better off the blacks are today! post 1.63) and who they will support going forward- looks like Obama is losing ground with his base. Hispanics are not far behind in the stats (11% unemployment). If you don't have a job- everything in Beverly's post means NOTHING!

White support has all but eroded. Obama enjoyed good support of whites in '08 (at 43%). Not overwhelming- but solid. As I said- Hispanics are falling off that wagon just as fast (only 48% still support him today).

The Left will always side with whomever the Dems put up there- as do the Republicans.

Minorities & Independents are the key. Who ever wins them will win the day (and the future). The minorities are not listening to Obama any longer. They have woken up to a realization thet he all lip service and no action. Most Independents see the same thing.

It seems the independents and minorities are going to decide this election.

Nashville_fan-

Facts are what they are- facts. I didn't report them to bash anyone- just to point out reality vs. the points Beverly made in post 1.63.

What you do with them is up to you. If you like the current situation- then by all means- vote for Obama! If you don't like the way it is, then don't vote for Obama. Stay home for all I care. It's a free country.

Dave, I can see your point. I'm only looking at it from the ground level. I live in a county were 30% of the population qualify for aid. As I thought about your comments, I looked at what we have available here, and if you take away all the organizations that are feeding and helping the poor that are not supported by a Church or Churches, all that is left is WIC and I believe we have commodities that are given to some by the govt. Everything else is given through the Churches. Whether or not one agrees with distributing these funds through a Church, the need still remains, regardless of who is distributing it. Additionally, I do believe we need to cut back the govt. spending, but we need to examine where the money is going AND how efficiently it is being utilized for the purpose it is intended. My House Representative is on several budget committees and they have identified, numerous instances of duplication of the same services by different agencies of the govt. Look how much we would save if the duplications were eliminated. In some cases, it's not the program that's bad, it the "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" mentality. I would also submit that an honest Church supported organization would use the govt. money more efficiently than a group that thinks it's OK to give their chief officers 6 digit salaries. I could go on, but I will close by saying, I do respect your opinion, but believe we could do better than we are now.

@Touchdownplay

I think liberals and moderates like Huntsman because they like Huntsman, not because they are afraid of Perry or Cain. The Tea Party conservatives are going to deny a lot of people in the middle a Republican candidate they can honestly consider. I wouldn't vote for Perry for dog catcher, but I'd sure like to see more of what Huntsman has to say. But as you stated, he's unelectable, because the far right will never give him the nomination. They've already guaranteed my vote will go to Obama.

Feisty, Local stations in the tri-state area have been covering the Wall st. protests not so much on the National scene. This really doesn't surprise me. The last thing that Mayor Bloomberg wants is for anyone to focus on Wall St corruption. Wall St and financial institutions rule N.Y.C. former Gov. Elliot Spitzer was the only politician to try to reign in Wall St. and I supported his efforts it's too bad he blew it with a scandal.

geekfish:

I am sure you would like for me and all the other black voters to stay home . . . you are a real sweetheart . . . I am sure you were posting this same enlightening stat when black folks voted in the same percentages for Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and Al Gore, right?

Fortunately for both of us, most black folks don't need your help in figuring out how to vote, but I do appreciate the offer! :o)

@Willowbrook

Well stated. Thanks for sharing your opinion. It seems rare these days to post an opinion critical of Republicans and get a polite and intelligent response.

Yep Dave.

I kinda have to go back to an old saying.

"You can't fix stoooooopid."

Thanks for the update from the 'home front' lisa... ;o)

Totally agree with your assesment of Spitzer - what a shame he couldn't keep his pants zipped!

Nashville_fan-

Where did you get that?! I actually WANT you, and everyone else to vote, and I don't care what race you are.

What I really want though- is that everyone does their homework on the candidates!! To blindly follow like sheep is asinine and destructive.

Like I said- if you like Obama- then vote for him. If you don't- vote for someone else. The choices are rather limited though.

Me personally- I want the budget balanced- and Obama shows no indication that he will do it. I want spending brought down to realistic levels. Obama shows no signs of doing it. I want us energy independent. Obama shows he's against that. I want a smaller more efficient government. Obama want to grow the bureaucracy. I want the red tape strangling small businesses taken away. Obama wants more through the EPA. I want a stable tax plan that people can count on for years to come. Obama wants to play games with the tax code and cause class warfare.

If you do all these things that I want- the result is JOBS!!!!

but then again, I'm the selfish greedy conservative...

Feisty, I'll try to keep up with this. Have a good day.

Nashville_fan-

Hey- I was going to ask you- I like the moniker, but what in Nashville are you a fan of? sports? music? theater? scenery? what is it? My B-I-L lived there for a while and loved it. I'd like to visit but gotta work all the time to stay above the water level!

Personally, I've had it with Obama, and refuse to vote for him again. His nasty tone to the Congressional Black Caucus on Sat. was the last straw for me . His admonishment of the Caucus, i.e. shouting at them to "...stop complaining!...stop crying!...stop whining!...take off your bedroom slippers...put on your marching shoes...you've got work to do..."? This is NOT how to "rally the troops". He blames everyone and everything else (including a tsunami, for Pete's sake!). He's just too angry,and I see now totally unqualified. I don't even think he's such a great speaker: he just takes LONG pauses between thoughts, purses his lips together, and looks stern, or thoughtful, depending on how he thinks he should look. That "professorial" gar-bahge might "get to" impressionable, young college students, but no longer to me. Add to that the fact that he is surrounded by some really terrible, clueless advisors. He's supposed to be the "people's President", but he acts like an conceited, angry tyrant. Uh-uh, I'm done. I'll vote for a goat before I'll vote again for Obama.

Touchdownplay

Yep Dave.

I kinda have to go back to an old saying.

"You can't fix stoooooopid."

Republicans will definately not win moderate votes by calling people "stupid."

geekfish:

I am heading home for the day, but I did want to respond to your post:

Let me be crystal clear geekfish . . . you can post any stat you want and spin it anyway you want.

But your condescending tone is the problem I have . . . as if I as a black person don't have the capacity to figure out what is best for me without your help . . . as if the only thing I am capable of casting my vote based on is race . . . becasue of course, I don't have the ability to anaylyze the issues like you do . . . see the problem with that? You are making assertions you have no way of backing up based on nothing more than your opinion.

In terms of what I am a fan of? I am a fan of the truth, among other things. I orignally got that moniker on another message board long ago . . . and it just kind of stuck . . . at that time I was a fan of a reality dance show! :o)

JoAnna1 -- Well as Israel needs our support may I suggest looking elsewhere. Many other countries to choose from you know. Where were the wise ones when creating the original funding bill? Making plans for their vacation this week and it seems they neither had the time nor the wisdom to do the right thing.

407 DAYS, OR 58 WEEKS AND I DAY

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

And the Liberal Progressive Teabaggee's are already calling the race. Does ANYONE who has been involved in politics remember anything from more than 13 months before any election? I sure as hell don't. Does anyone remember anything Barrack Hussein was saying in 2007? Other than his repeated nonsense and socialist grandstanding, nothing was said.

Why?

Because most Americans can't remember what they had for lunch 3 days ago let alone what some corrupt politician said a year ago. They won't remember any of this. This is introduction time. You can get in the race in October or even November and still have an impact on the election. This bickering over what you call a Ponzi scheme or what HPV had to do with anything will be forgotten in a month or two. As the old saying in politics goes, "Make your mistakes early, get your story straight later".

Herman Cain is making a statement, not a promise, just like all the other candidates. The rhetoric will increase as time goes on. The only one whose past accomplishments and failures will be constantly exposed is Barrack Hussein. And most of that will be his failures which significantly outweigh his accomplishments. This failed presidency will be exhibited over and over for the next 407 days. Not that most Americans will need to be reminded.

Massive debt created, persistant under/unemployment of over 18.5%, people on unemployment for years, housing further collapsing (sales were down ANOTHER 2.3% today), Depression level poverty (15.1%), manufacturing crumbling, trade deficits rising, inflation rising, consumer confidence crashing and uncertainty preventing any growth. The corruption, bribery, extortion and fraud during the Health Care Redistribution of Wealth hoax. A world wide apology tour that shamed every real American, especially as Daniel Ortega insulted and belittled our great Republic for 50 minutes as Barrack Hussein sat submissively and embarrassed himself and us. Pepe Calderon, the incompetent Mexican El Presidente, comes here and disrespects our laws and States as his nation becomes a corrupt war zone for drug cartels. Then the Liberal Progressives shame themselves as they stood and applauded him as he mocked our Congress. Accusing the cambridge police of "acting stupidly". Calling the opposing party the "enemy", "hostage takers", "terrorists", "extremists" and his AG calls Americans "cowards".

This, and much more, will be the highlight of the 2012 election. Barrack Hussein is flying all over and begging his side to vote for him as he promotes another massive Redistribution of Wealth scam called his "Jobs Bill".

Speaking of the "Job's Bill", has anyone seen a CBO rating on this? You need a CBO rating before it can even get to the House.

Maybe we should just pass it and find out what's in it later.

Willowbrook: However, whenever we have to cut back at home, it doesn't affect the entire United States population! There is a BIG difference in how you deal with a budget within your family and within the nation. We MUST pay for infrastructure; i.e., police, roads, bridges, freeways, firemen, etc. from that same budget. If these were items that were in MY family budget, I'd be hard pressed to decide which one I can do without because they are ALL important. This is just my opinion, of course. You are talking about apples and oranges here!

It would be as "Mysterious as God", if the Republicans are not VERY concerned over their selection of contenders for 2012.

Why should they be concerned, Wilberta. According to every poll on the election, Obama would lose to the generic GOP candidate.....that means ANY GOP candidate. Either you Obama boosters don't realize, or you're unwilling to admit, how unpopular this guy is, even among groups who voted for him! His ineffectiveness is astounding, and his abilities are limited to speechmaking.

Didi, I don't think so. It is apples to apples when you look at the responsibilities of each group. Individual Americans are responsible for their infrastructure, like, if you own a house, you are responsible for the upkeep. This morning I discovered a small leak in my roof. I have to pay to fix it, not someone else. Nor do I hire 2 companies to do one repair. The govt. is responsible for their upkeep as well. It is different upkeep, but upkeep just the same. Many possible cut backs would have no impact on any of the American population. I think that is the real truth here. Despite the threats and scare tactics from Washington, cuts are possible.

No one asked individual Americans to take on govt. level responsibility.

Spider, "Generic Politician X" ALWAYS polls better than an incumbent. It allows a person to put in fantasy ideals into a character that doesn't exist, which always manages to share a person's political views. Fictional candidates always win, but you can't vote for a fictional character, and as such, nobody in the running has any chance of beating Obama. Not by a long shot.

Joe is Albany, I guess it never crossed your mind that President Obama would go the delay route to cause you a few extra sleepless nights.

Nashville_fan-

I was not, nor was I ever trying to be condescending- I'm not that kind of person. I trust you and your judgement to make an educated decision.

I was pointing out reasons why I wouldn't support the guy and making my case for someone else in the office. and yeah, I was questioning, based on what I found, why someone would still support him. I just don't see it on any level.

I would actually LOVE it if someone would come and make a LOGICAL, REASONABLE argument for Obama- that didn't take it personally if & when I disagree. So far, I haven't seen it. All I get is crap about all the big, bad evil Republicans and how they want to destroy the world at large. I have even went so far as to watch some of the liberal talk shows (Maddow, Sharpton, etc...) and all they can do is the same thing! Nothing about what Obama has actually done that is GOOD- beside giving a good speech. It's all about what that they think the Republicans are or are not (which is ALWAYS wrong). Even these boards are filled with vitriol & hyperbole that boarder on insanity- on both sides! "Libs are always this!" "Cons are always that!". Complete nonsense.

... but in reality, every poll shows that Obama would lose to a generic Republican......in other words, anyone who runs against him.

A "generic Republican" is not the same as "any Republican." It is easy for many people to agree that they'd rather have a Republican in the White House. But, fill in a name (i.e. Rick Perry or Michelle Bachmann) and the answer can change in a hurry.

I'm all for paying for disaster relief with cuts in spending. Instead of job killing cuts to green startups and businesses, however, lets put big oil corporate welfare on the cutting block. That would pay for a lot of FEMA funding. Oh, I forgot, the republicans in congress all go to the homes of big oil guys and bend over for their daily "inspiration."

Pay for our bills with cuts to people that don't need the extra money in the first place. That's simple enough.

I understand the fluttering doubtfulness of the republicans. They so,o,o much want to recapture the White house, but the current crop they are tendering are all infected with blather weevils. I'll bet, if they held their mouths just right, they could get "Rush Limbaugh" to run. Course they'd have to have a good, strong sidekick with him to ensure his and the parties "up rightness". Oh! Oh! What about "Fred Thompson"? Hell, he ain't doing anything much. Selling reverse mortgages on tv can't pay all that well. Oh yeah. Tried and failed huh? Where is "Colin Powell" when the party needs him? Hmmmmm?

I say go for broke GOPhers nominate dick chaney. he no worse than the rest of the losers running to date.

The hyper-partisan hate speech and racist overtones coming from the left are disgusting.

Mr Cain is not only a good candidate, he is eminently more qualified for the job than the idiot you folks elected. Mr Obama does not hold a candle to Mr Cain when it comes to integrity, truthfulness, success, making a payroll, growing business, or understanding the real world.

You left wing loons are hoping and praying Mr Cain does not become the nominee. If he does, Obama has not a wing or a prayer. Obama has already lost the independents. Split the black vote and what's left? Ha, get it, left.... hey, that was kind of funny.

Glad your amusing yourself "Paul". I don't have to hope and pray regarding Cain, he has no shot at winning the nomination of the GOP. Since when is a business person imminently qualified to run a country? Sorry, Cain isn't able...

Mav -
So serving less than a full term as a Senator qualifies to be President but creating and managing a massively successful business does not qualify? We've had many Presidents whose main criteria was based on their business experience, not their legislative experience. A President who has never served public office is not unprecedented. If former actors, farmers, tailors, writers, teachers, engineers, inventors, newspaper publishers and peanut farmers have held the office, why is it such a stretch for Cain to be considered?

I'm not saying he will win but he's certainly qualified to run as a serious candidate.

Compared to the present occupant in the White House, Cain is more qualified by at least 10-1....Obama has never accomplished anything other than talking and promoting socialism...plotting against the system that we have.

JA, why would we take the word of someone who clearly doesn't know the meaning of "socialism"?

John B...Ah, yes, another liberal stating that the public is just too ignorant to understand socialism and to even know the meaning of sicialism....Big news buddy, the public is becoming more and more aware of the lefts politics and their drive to kill all the things that made our country great. There is more and more information about Obama coming out now and his history of studying and promoting socialism and radicalism is becoming more and more well known. And, why would we blindly take the word of a leftist promoter who is disatisfied with the free enterprise, democratic republic that has made our country the best in the world and all of history??? Do you and Obama share that description?

I'm accusing "the public" of no such thing...I'm accusing YOU.

Is anyone suggesting a centrally planned economy? How about nationalization of the means of production and distribution? Have workers' collectives been established for which we'll all work? Hear anyone talking about "dictatorship of the proletariat?" How about abolition of the free market?

Since the answer to all of those questions is NO, neither of the major parties is advocating socialism. Next time you might try knowing what you're talking about before you throw around such accusations...especially after you've already been questioned on them. That really should have been a clue that you really don't know what you're talking about.

John B....Yes, from reading your posting history, I can see that you would certainly celebrate and look forward to the adoption of socialism...just as you push for it and support it inch by inch. Yes, I think the way the president took over GM had socialist aspects. He fired their president, he took value away from bond holders, he gave value to a union. The administration worked with GM and Chrysler and ordered the closing of two thousand dealerships. The federal government owned GM stock. ....Obama pushed for single payer(government run)health care and everyone knows that he wanted to eliminate insurance companies. Obama also tried to buy votes to force this plan and he was using government money to buy those votes. This administration works without producing a budget, apparently Obama doesnt feel the need to have a budget...and I will bet if you put that to a vote of the people that the demand for a budget is there. Obama fired an Inspector Gerneral for invesitigating the misuse of government money. Obama personally demanded that another country re-install a socialist ruler that they had expelled and demanded sanctions against that country....Obama authorized a war without congressional approval and lied to the public about our part in that war....and he will not reveal the true nature of the people he supports in that war...he is simply lying about it.

Yes, I can see very socialist tendancies of this administration..Apparently you are blind to all these things..

History will not look well upon this time when the Republican Party mainstreamed crazy.

History will not look well upon this time when our radical president and his very liberal followers are trying to take our country from the very best in history and change it into a second or third class country. Most of the public now sees this trend and are no longer fooled. The question is whether we can survive this administrations failures and rebound from the damage that is being done....

Unfortunately for your Ayn Rand fantasy of how the world works and your Glenn Beck version of history, reality always prevails.

Americans are plenty angry at Congress in the aftermath of the debt crisis and Republicans could pay the greatest price, a new Associated Press-GfK poll suggests.

The poll finds the Tea Party has lost support, Republican House Speaker John Boehner is increasingly unpopular and people are warming to the idea of not just cutting spending but also raising taxes — anathema to the GOP — just as both parties prepare for another struggle with deficit reduction.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/poll-finds-boeher-gop-losing-support-1239799.html

Thanks for letting me demonstrate just how out of touch with reality is the Tea Party fringe. Goodbye.

You didnt demonstrate anything other than how far out of touch the liberal media is and their tactics and errors in their support of the leftist cause. Do a poll on how the public feels about the media and you will find that they are trusted even less than congress....But, of course they will continue their lies and politics and support socialism openly. Without this lame media, the liberal cause would die immediately.. Meanwhile the leftist media is suffering financial losses and listeners and watchers because they simply do not actually report the news and people do not think they are doing any positive service to our country...MSNBC is a great example of what I am talking about....No one believes them anymore except fewer and fewer liberals like you..

Great post to start the day, Backhouse. The 'creators' not only aren't creating, many of them aren't even TRYING because American business has been perverted into a game in which they can't lose.

I would like to see a Republican try to refute any facts in Backhouse's post. Good luck with that!!!

Nice work Backhouse!

Loaded with the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth!

Navy would be proud! ;o)

Navy-Your post means NOTHING if you don't tell us the exact definition of American poverty. I have a feeling it's not the way most of us expect. We all know Mississippi is poor, but doesn't that state vote GOP year after year? Anyway, please don't ever again compare my country to a stinking, backwards craphole like Yemen. Have a good day!

Backhouse, tremendous post.

Terrific post, Backhouse. Truth and facts are hard to dispute but no doubt the naysayers will give it a good try.

This morning on the local news, the local money and Wall Street analyst stated this fact--the average income tax rate paid by all Americans is now 12.2%--and we wonder why the debt is so high? That rate might be fine if we hadn't fought two unfunded wars and an unfunded Rx Medicare Plan along with all the other unfunded spending done by the GOP from 2001 through 2006.

There's the latest twist on Conservative denial of a responsibility to those who cannot help their situations...a dismissal of the importance of poverty in our society because the poor here don't huddle in huts cooking over wood fires. One more example of the FYIGM mindset of the GOPTP.

Once upon a time huddling in cold rooms cooking on wood fires described people who were quite well off. It's called progress. I realize Conservatives are against that except for enrichment of the already wealthy, but that's how it is.

Damage,

Go see with feeling:

http://ccf.georgetown.edu/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=statistics/federal%20poverty%20guidelines.pdf

regarding 2011 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.

Then,

Pls define for me the 'exact definition' of your feeling.

Thank you.

I agree. The 2012 election will be a referendum by the American people on what role they wish the federal government to take.

If they want social security, medicare, medicaid, government response to natural disasters, aid to the poor, a decent education for their children, job training for the unemployed, job programs. unemployment compensation, and many other programs to continue and survive, it will mean increased taxes. The government can no longer afford these programs with their present revenues.

If they wish the federal government to take a smaller role, and continue to pay less taxes, they will have to be willing to give up many of the programs that they have some to depend upon. The government may not be able to respond to disasters, inspect the food that we eat, regulate the drugs that we take, and maybe even the security against terrorism that we now enjoy. These are expensive programs, and the money may not be available for further funding.

If the rich are going to be taxed more, I would prefer they have a choice in where their money goes since they pay a larger "sum" per person. Choose 1) Deficit Reduction, 2) Military spending, 3) Education

I feel that today's debate is scattershot on things that (as usual) muddy our politics. To reduce the deficit, you must cut spending and you must raise taxes. I know that raising taxes on the rich will not help our deficit and I know that cutting entitlement programs instead of military spending and medicare will not reduce our deficit, but I know that Education is competing with military spending. We really need to target education and get the best teachers to produce the best students in the world. This is not a game anymore. You ever heard of Stuxnet? We won't fight on the battlefield, we'll fight with the internet. We have got to be ready. We are up against some fierce global competition and they are eating our lunch and about to eat our dinner. Tax the rich and Let the Rich choose their "investments"...

Hunter,

The luxury of such a choice would be something, for sure.

Economic analyses show that America's focus #1 must be on job creation, hiring and putting folks back to work. More revenues and cash being spent directly from us ~back into the system due to increased employment, will go a long way to fixing the hole in the Treasury's heart.

Hunter I don't get to choose where my tax dollars go, why should the rich? The rich are not more important than the rest of us.

I thought we were all equal in the eyes of our government, one man and one vote kind of thinking.

Great Post Backhouse. Many of these business leaders should be serving time in jail for trying to crush the middle class and playing their shell games that hurt us all.

@ Backhouse

That post was awesome and made a grown man cry.

No teacher can do for a student what they or their parents will not do for themselves. When did education start to decline? Did teachers change or did students change? Did arithmetic change. Teachers teach your kids, they should not be expected to raise your kids. If any student at any age and especially when they are young do not develop the proper discipline, respect and habit of doing their homework and thereby practicing the lesson taught in school, there is little even an outstanding teacher can do. How many young couples for 25 years now both come home from work, pick the tots up from a sitter or a day care place, these tots don't get the full benefit from interacting all day with their own mothers, they get Cookie Monster instead. Mom and dad are busy working multiple crappy jobs just to make ends meet and a hell of a lot of young kids come home to an empty house and are on their own until the parents get home with some fast food. After dinner the parents are just thrilled if the kids are out of their hair, in their room quietly playing the video games they are working multiple jobs to provide. Mom and Dad both worked all day they are too damned tired to help the kids and maybe argue about their schoolwork, or to play a board game with and see what the kid knows, and how he thinks, let Duke Nukem handle that. Meanwhile back in their room, kids of all ages have quick and ready access to any and all information with nobody to regulate what is age appropriate, or to show them how to properly utilize and harness good information and disregard the bad. The lack of good jobs combined with a huge appetite for personal consumption has left many kids without a good old fashioned full time parent in the home to nurture, guide, and teach them what they need to know, and require of them enough self discipline so that they may be effectively taught in school. All these changing lifestyles, they are freedom, and I am in favor of people living the lifestyle they wish to live, but having said that, the truth is when parents change their lifestyle, the lifestyles of the kids change too. Teachers will never be able to do for a kid what his parents do not, and the kids whose parents play a more active role, they learn from all their teachers. In my opinion at least in grade school we should go "back to the future" with regards to education, turn off the TV, turn off the Internet, turn off the calculators and computers, clear the dining room table get out the pencils and paper, sit down and do some long division with a kid, make him find it on a globe and then read a simple paragraph about it in an encyclopedia, instead of googleing it and pulling up a you tube video. This why you have teenagers that can steal your credit cards on the Internet, but can't count your damn change back if you throw a quarter on the counter after they push the cash register buttons.

@tweet-2832581,

So now we must settle for competing with third world countries. No protection from anything including common criminals, wow those concepts and theories have no place in The United States Of American.

Tare down what you build and we will be great again is concepts and theories of buffoons.

That will be no such place for my grand children and you should not except that backwards thinking for your grand children as well.

@Forrest Grump 2.0,

People got poorer read government reports on poverty. As household breakdown so does education which according to you has a direct relation how a child should is educated. THE HOME.

Thanks Job1, John B, Jody, Feisty, Pat, Tom, Americans First, and Solutions thanks so much,

Jody said, " This morning on the local news, the local money and Wall Street analyst stated this fact--the average income tax rate paid by all Americans is now 12.2%.."

And mindboggling when we totally grock that the top marginal tax rate in the 1950's was more than 90%,

and lots of folks got rich on that.

Well I am certainly not advocating home schooling, I am just saying that if kids don't have huge amounts of supervision and guidance when they are not in school, for any reason, not just poverty, they suffer in school. Many parents are both working very hard to provide a very nice living for their kids, sometimes that is also a problem if the kids escape the supervision and guidance. I do agree there are not enough good paying stable jobs with the kinds of benefits needed to allow young couples to afford a stay at home full time mom, which in my case I feel is the main and essential reason my kids never got into any trouble and did what they were supposed to do, and all grew up to be happy successful adults. Mrs. Grump taught them how to do that, she helped them do that, she made them do that, they certainly needed many teachers to teach them many things she could not, but no teacher could teach them what Mrs. Grump taught them.

Forrest,

With you on how much children someone to look out for them just for being who they are, when they go home. Every teacher I know is doing the work out of caring and wanting to give/pass on whatever they have.

But that is why we can't have GOP governors laying thousands of teachers off and scapegoating them. The big right wing goal is to privatize us all out of affordable education and teach their anti-science agenda.

Yes, to your point about our children's futures. Who can put a price on Education? Other countries are not messing about. They're not wasting any time and they're getting their upandcoming generation fired up and ready to compete asap in this century.

Pls tell the teepers the days of the ol' Pony Express are gone.

MSNBC Shame on you...

Your suppose to be a neutral News organization and yet, here you are, screaming, begging, praying that twisted evil Governor Christie of New Jersey gets into the race and runs. This is more proof that you are trying to become like Fox News. You kicked out Keith for no reason, you sent packing others who deal in truth and liberal causes and now your begging Fuhrer Christie to run for President.

Shame On you. (If this is not the case, then why your headline "Christie Please Run" ????????????)

And thats my Opinion.

Thank You Backhouse, you are exactly right, the party of do it yourself, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, take responsibility for yourself and make a better life for yourself by working hard, has given up, they have totally surrendered to the notion that things can't be solved. You can't fix SS, get rid of it, you can't fix medicare get rid of it, the government can't create jobs, so they lay off people that have been employed by their local government for years. They have no vision, they plan no investment, no increase in revenue to go along with cuts in waste and fraud, to address budget issues, or invest in American infrastructure, they want to kill all regulations and completely put their faith in the failed notion that multinational corporations will do what is best for America, they are acting just like the kind of sorry, timid, lazy asses most Americans do not consider themselves to be. It's all coming to head to soon for republicans politically, all the layed off government employees are learning their Governors were using "Obama's failed stimulus" money to pay the bills for the last 3 years, while they gave tax breaks to business, until the republican Congress put a stop to ant more stimulus money. I have been saying this for weeks now but if they persist in this scorched earth policy until election time, if they don't come up with a positive plan of action of putting people to work by way of spending some money on things people can see in their state, unemployment will be a real losing issue for them, much more so than for president Obama.

PS Backhouse I did not mean to detract or change the subject of your outstanding post, Education Nation and Christie were both mentioned in the article and I was throwing my two cents in on teachers and education.

Back house teachers are more dedicated than ever, about half the kids in the classroom parents have divorced, many only have one parent in the home at one time. It is not fair to expect a teacher to be any more than that, a teacher, but many find they are expected to somehow take responsibility because a kid with a single parent with a drinking problem never gets help with or is even made to attempt to do homework. Pretend you are in 8th grade, you are in your room, mom and dad are unaware for whatever reason, so what do you do, a practice sheet of Algebra problems or surf the net for porn? How the hell is it the teachers fault that a kid spends 4 hours a night putting some serious concentration and determination into playing a video game, but nobody ever asks him is your homework done, let me see it.

Forrest, just enjoy speaking out for our amazing teachers. But check this out,

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry likes to tell Washington to stop meddling in state affairs. He vocally opposed the Obama administration's 2009 stimulus program to spur the economy and assist cash-strapped states.

Perry also likes to trumpet that his state balanced its budget in 2009, while keeping billions in its rainy day fund. But he couldn't have done that without a lot of help from ... guess where? Washington.

Turns out Texas was the state that depended the most on those very stimulus funds to plug nearly 97% of its shortfall for fiscal 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures".

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/23/news/econo Conference of State Legislatures."my/texas_perry_budget_stimulus/index.htmational

Forrest,

Correction ~ meant to tell you I'm "just enjoying" speaking out for our teachers.

Yes, I do believe the City Blocks program has trained folks working in teams to spot the children who are having big troubles at home and help address those. It is a brilliant, brilliant program from all I hear.

Now they have killed anymore stimulus, layed off the people who did the work of the community even villainized them in some cases, and still expect those people to vote for them, now the republican controlled house and all their primary candidates proudly proclaim more of that is what you really need folks. In about 13 months we will know exactly how over 14 million unemployed Americans, and many millions more that are underemployed, or now just under payed, and all their creditors, and the small businessman that depended on them really feel about the republican planned course of action, and just who they will blame for their unemployment, and their future prospects for employment. I can already see how it is going to go for them, look at their primary, their candidates are all the same, they all preach the same message, it is not that they don't like any of their candidates for more than a day or two, the real cause is that they don't even like their message anymore, they can't afford to like it, they are suddenly unemployed liberals hoping they can get an unemployment check so they can buy groceries.

You bring up some interesting figures. But I think you are blindly one-sided. Do you really think that under taxing the "rich" is the root cause of our problem? I tend to believe that it is politicians of both parties that has lead to our decline. You know the ones that put the rules in place. You are lying if you blame that on one party. In regards to Obama, he has simply made a bad situation worse. A failure.

GROCK backhouse? At least being a heinlein reader gives you a little credibility. Now if only we could find us a real hari seldon character out of asimovs foundation series.

Forrest, have to disagree with your post 2.22 premise on the right giving up. The right recognizes that change is inevitable and $$$ won't solve all problems.

The left that the status quo is good and the failed premise that "I am from the government and I am here to help". Government handouts have rarely been sustainable without support from the tax payers in understanding what the true costs are.

Years ago, some yo-yo woman spilled some hot coffee in her lap and suffered a probably embarrassing injury, she sued mcdonalds and was awarded big bucks because mcdonalds didn't tell her the coffe was hot. I don't recall what the final judgement was after all the appeals were said and done. But I do know that many regs have been written since then trying to protect consumers from their own foibles.

Not all regs are bad, but some certainly are. To carryon with the suggestion that the right thinks that all regs should be eliminated is ludicrous and flies in the face of what our founding fathers created in our constitution.

The concept of vision must be lost on many libs as well. Kennedy had the vision of putting men on the moon by 1969. LBJ had a vision of a great society and ending poverty, reagan had a vision of changing the malaise of American thinking from the seventies into one of believing in ourselves again.

Only LBJ's vision failed in the long term because politicians turned it around by giving man the fish, rather than teaching the man to fish and that peoples attitudes still meant that some people don't want out of poverty. Don't even try expounding on the "what about.." category of the physically or mentally handicapped.

As for education, thanks for bringing up the importance of the parents role is, but I do have some reservations on the excuses you present for the failure of the parents.

Backhouse - Thoughtful post. While I agree with some of your statement, including the obscene corporate profits being made while few jobs are being produced, I must disagree with quite a bit of your arguments and statistics.

According to the CIA, income inequality in the United States is greater than in Yemen.
We must build a new bridge between the superdoubleplus rich and the very poor in our country. Right now, 1 in 4 children live in poverty ~ one in three children in Mississipi. This has not come about overnight.
Most Americans want to rebuild that bridge, they want to help others out and lift them up. If we commit, if we recognize that it is within our power to put the needed revenues back into our system; we can save and create jobs, pay for our social safety net and prevent needed programs from being scapegoated and cut down to zero.

While I don’t disagree with bridging this gap between rich and poor – what we are doing now is simply not working. Throwing more money at it won’t help.

Our poverty rate in 1968 was 12.6%, and now after 4 decades of federal programs targeted at reducing poverty in America and trillions of tax dollars spent, our poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3% (the latest report). It’s time for another strategy because we have failed the most vulnerable among us with the current programs. Just because the intentions are good doesn't mean we should keep wasting money on the programs. Because of politics, many are not open-minded to finding more effective solutions and just bash anyone that criticizes these programs as not wanting to help the poor when it couldn't be further from the truth.

against repairing and modernizing roads/bridges/airports/schools.

The House have passed 3 bills in 2011 alone that include infrastructure spending, with cuts elsewhere to pay for the bills. All were shelved by the Senate.

against commonsense environmental protections

Republicans share the same ideology as GE CEO and Job Czar Jeff Emmelt and President Obama in their opinions of environmental protections stifling business growth. I guess you also believe Obama and Immelt don’t have commonsense in this area.

against disaster relief and

The House Republicans have actually acted on this matter and passed a bill with disaster relief and spending cuts to pay for the bill. The Senate voted it down

against green research and development?

Against wasteful spending on green research and development, yes. Bush and Republicans were against “green research and development” such as Solyandra. Bush with Republican help did subsidize green technology for farmers, solar and wind. Just blindly spending on green technology without finding a successful business model is will not help the Earth or America.

For example, in 2007 Koch Oil made $34Billion in profits. In 2011 the Koch Oil made $50Billion in profits. But they did not. During that same period the number of employees working for Koch Brothers fell by 13,000. From 80K to 67K.

Your figures are incorrect. At Koch’s height of employment, they employed 50,000 workers. Its now about 45,000. They laid off 2,000 workers in the last 5 years. And many of those layoffs occurred overseas because demand was lower. They closed an entire plant in Germany. My figures are from ThinkProgress.org, not exactly a Koch friendly source. Their profits also have not grown since 2008 and 2011 numbers are not yet available.

This is why we have no choice but to INSIST on equal revenues from those among us who earn the most, in order to balance our budget, put cash into the Treasury and recover from this recession.

Backhouse – what do you consider equal? According to the Associated Press, those making over $1 million/yr paid a tax rate of 29.1% in 2010. Those earning $50-75K paid 15%. Those earning $40-50K paid 12.5%. So millionaires paid at least double the rate of the middle class and yet you believe they don't pay their "equal" share. What rate would be “equal” then?

Having a great day! Interesting posting, some good, some not so good, some make me laugh.

so many opinions, and opinions are like........ you know what I mean.

Both party are dysfunctional, but does this mean America is dysfunctional? Both party (and their supporters) are so defensive (and hateful), but I will enjoy the "show" until Nov '12. If things do not pick uo economically, the writing is on the wall what the results will be....

Have a great, productive week.

From many articles I've read.....do you think that just maybe some of these big corporations are sitting on their butts and not hiring ONLY because they KNOW it makes President Obama look bad? I can guess that IF (hopefully NOT) a Republican president is in place, jobs will pop out of the cupboards like rats! Got to think on that one, right? Kinda makes you wonder.....hmmm. Question: Is the GOP/TP party holding jobs hostage in order to win the election?

Didi,

Who in their right mind would hire someone they do not need? Unless of course you want to lower productivity.

Backhouse, in a single post, pretty much summed up what the entire mainstream media has been hiding from U.S. voters for too long--the crony capitalism of the new GOP and its slide into plutocracy American style. Keep it going, Backhouse, in calling out the GOP bamboozling us into buying into all that "don't raise taxes on job creators" nonsense!

@ american the right has most certainly given up, signed pledges to some goofball named Grover is part of the proof, their answer to everything is to cut taxes and cut regulations, and hope big business will take over and solve all our problems, but they never have and they never will, they serve one function, to generate the highest profits possible and to keep as much of it as possible. They have no desire or purpose to solve the problems with SS, medicare, poverty, education, and unemployment, we have to solve those problems for ourselves and it will take more money not less.

I did not offer any excuses for the parents, I called them out, I offered what I think happens with some of them and their children, and the reasons for it, but I did not make excuses for them.

TripleDogDare: Your poverty numbers are dated. 2010 census puts the poverty rate at 16.7%. That's 50.7 million Americans, folks.

One of the problems with the class warfare strategy is that Obama and the dems in Congress are mostly millionaires. Many are the top 10% of the top 1%.

And they have done nothing substantial in the past 4 years controlling Congress, or 3 years of the White House to make any notable difference in these stats.

They haul out these arguments during campaigns, and then stuff them back in the closet when the campaign is over.

Taxing will not redistribute wealth in a meaningful way, it only enriches the ruling class. And they are the biggest problem in America - they produce nothing, and mismanage the largest cashflow on earth.

Now that's what I call connecting the dots JohnB!!!

BRAVO!

Obama doesn't stand a chance to improve employment. Not this year. Not next year. Obama a complete idiot concerning the economy (and most other things). Obama is just trying to spin it that he's actually accomplished something when in fact he's made things worse. A trillion dollars for "infrastructure" and "shovel ready" jobs back in 2009 has failed miserably. That money was used to bail out the teachers unions, GM, and the construction unions. Now that that money is gone, the Idiot in Chief now he thinks the country is stupid enough to go for another half trillion dollars of the same thing.

Sorry Barry. You and your knuckle-head friends Reid and Pelosi stole the taxpayers blind in 2009. Not happening this time.

Way to go John B!

"Also, Congress must find additional revenue to fund essential services. We are a rich nation, known for an ability to do what is needed to strengthen the country. Right now that is additional revenue.

The Clinton administration raised taxes early in its first term. The result was eight years of unbroken prosperity and a budget surplus."

These points compliment my own comment above.

Thanks for your work and have a good Monday.

President Obama didn't say ANYTHING in my post...and you haven't bothered to address any of it. The evidence is clear. Three decades of Conservative dominance in economic matters has crippled our economy and Republicans aren't even willing to try something different, let alone admit those failures.

JoAnnaSmith1==I was taught that it takes an idiot to know an idiot. Does that shoe fit you?

Excellent points JohnB, I do believe that the conservatives have no vision for the future, especially for ordinary Americans, which as you know is the bulk of our population.

Shucks, these guys cant keep the government running, never mind helping those who have suffered dreadful losses in natural disasters.

GbM: Excellent points JohnB, I do believe that the conservatives have no vision for the future,

Not like the liberals, who haven't come up with a budget in the Senate for going on 3 years. Budgets are "visions for the future" right Gb?

GbM: never mind helping those who have suffered dreadful losses in natural disasters.

The latest CR from the House has funding for disaster relief. The Senate rejected that CR.

John B, terrific post. Facts are facts.

JS1, what a bunch of drivel you post every day. Not an ounce of truth in it yet here you are spouting the same nonsense because you choose to believe it. "The ultimate aim of the human mind, in all its efforts, is to become acquainted with Truth." Eliza Farnham. I'd suggest, JS1, that you acquaint your mind with some Truth--even a little bit would help.

Obama doesn't stand a chance to improve employment.

Yes, the GOP Congress (lowest approval rating EVER) will see to that.

Sorry Barry. You and your knuckle-head friends Reid and Pelosi stole the taxpayers blind in 2009. Not happening this time.

True. The GOP Congress are taking over that job, and they're SO much better at it.

The latest CR from the House has funding for disaster relief. The Senate rejected that CR.

Maybe if the House GOP are serious about funding disaster relief, their bill ought to deal with ONLY disaster relief"

Even before the House vote, however, the leader of the Senate promised that majority Democrats will scuttle the measure as soon as it reaches the chamber on Friday. Democrats there want a much larger infusion of disaster aid and they're angry over cuts totaling $1.6 trillion from clean energy programs -— and the strong-arm tactics being tried by the House.

According to Reid, the House-passed bill “is not an honest effort at compromise.” Therefore, he vowed “It will be rejected by the Senate.” And rejected it was.

It was the hope of the GOP that Senate Democrats would be forced into accepting the cuts to their favored programs. That did not happen.

Good morning Jody! How are you?

Hope you have a fine day sweetie!

Great post, I have come to despise and respect the republican "dis-information" machine, fact is it works, most people scurry about their lives paying little or no attention to what is "really" going on or why, they take political adds at face value and never question who is bankrolling them, and after the supreme court ruling opening the flood gate on corporate campaign financing one can only imagine how many less than accurate sound bites the public will be bombarded with this go around, that being said president romney seems an all too real possibility.

*stands and applauds!*

John B . . . I thank you . . . America thanks you . . . some TRUTH through all the BS . . . together we can break through the lies. . . we really don't have a choice!

Hi John B.,

Another GREAT One. Thanks

How about another term for former Pres George W. Bush. How hard can it be to circumvent the

Constitution? I would love to see a face off between him and Pres. Obama. Which would

be the wildest election in history

John B, That was Great. Well done. We must break the mis information machine of the GOP. This blog is a great start and should be repeated across the internet like a virus and in return, drown out the 1840 theories of the GOP/RW/Tea Baggers.

What yielded the smallest benefit? Tax cuts for high-income individuals and corporations.

Shocker!!! We heard the GOP and now the GOTP spout off how raising taxes would kill job creation. Trickle down economics what a bunch of hot air. The government must raise revenues to pay for the debt and eradicate the deficit.

The irresponsible GOP starts two wars and lowers taxes. Who in their right mind think that was a good idea? The GOTP destroying the middle class one election at a time.

Obama/Biden 2012

JAS1 -- Your mind is so filled with hate that you can't see the forest for the trees. You have been solely brainwashed, and you refuse to even CONSIDER there are other factors involved other than those taken by President Obama. Wake up and face reality! It isn't ALL President Obama's fault! He has made some mistakes, granted, but things were happening well before he become president.....but you've closed your mind to only the FAUX News blogs and won't see any truth set before you. You are much like the current GOP/TP party in that you REFUSE to see that compromise is the ONLY way to get through this. It's people like you in our government that are causing the problems we're having and only exacerbating them! Until we have compromise in our government, we will get NOWHERE!

johnb - surpised you didn't throw in donald kaul's editorial opinions as well.

President Obama didn't say ANYTHING in my post

Really? Didn't you mention the american jobs act?

Three decades of Conservative dominance in economic matters has crippled our economy and Republicans aren't even willing to try something different, let alone admit those failures.

Interesting, I never knew that the honorable tip oneil was a republican or that the congressional democrats didn't dominate during the 80's. I also didn't realize that the government policies of the last 30 years were all enacted with no democrat support as well. Perhaps you can tell us how this occurred, did they hold a gun to congressional democrats? You also seem to think that the republicans had complete control in our government from 2007 - 2010, care to extend that to 2011?

While some of the op ed pieces carry an element of truth that can be carried either way or in some cases simply fails to understand time lines, historical events and realities of private sector job creation.

Take infrastructure and related jobs. Will jobs be created? yes, long term jobs can be created with sustainable spending and with sustainable revenue. Jobs created within the timeline and in the quantities that obama suggests. Sorry, the answer is no, Initial planning, government and public approvals all slow the processes down.

Deficit cutting now? Most discussions put cuts over 10 years starting in 2013. Immediate smaller cuts can be made at any time to discretionary spending programs. Cuts will entail a probable drop in GDP, but using those cuts to fund other programs boosting private sector jobs, productive jobs will boost GDP back up.

Dave swenson ignores a basic premise when he looks at government jobs by saying...

Government is a part of the whole economy, and by making it smaller you make the whole economy smaller. Given the situation we currently find ourselves in, it is not possible to cut our way to near-term prosperity, and to conclude so is folly.

First, larger government doesn't contribute to a larger economy as much as a larger private sector and growth does. Case in point, Cuba reduced the size of its government by 50% (as reported within the past year). Why? It wouldn't be that Castro wanted to increase Cubas economomic growth now, would it? Yrepper lets keep government jobs up so more of the private sector taxpayers can pay for their jobs at the expense of private sector jobs. Sounds fair right?

Second, he seems to making the observation that government workers are essential for our well being, because they are employed. Sorry, I can wait a little longer in line to pay my taxes, get my license or have a quetion answered. Besides, I can do much of that online just like millions of others do. Heck, even with no home internet access, I can go to my local public library to access the internet to search for work, file unemployment and even apply for SS.

Ah, chad stone again as he observes the 2009 stimulas boosting GDP. Of course it did, the economic data is there for all to see. Just like the data is there to see the GDP decline to its present levels of what? Just over 1%. The implication is that obama and company failed in seeing that the funds were properly applied. There is that laser focus again. You can step in and balme the right here, after all you say they dominated the econpmy at theis time. To bad dots can't be connected to GDP that rises and falls again.

We all know what obamas real intent here is, the jobs bill will increase GDP before the nov 2012 election and that he will use it only for political theatre of a policy that will duplicate what the 2009 stimulas did. Another flash in the pan without sustainable growth.

Interesting also is your supposed support in quoting this...

Also, Congress must find additional revenue to fund essential services. We are a rich nation, known for an ability to do what is needed to strengthen the country. Right now that is additional revenue.

The Clinton administration raised taxes early in its first term. The result was eight years of unbroken prosperity and a budget surplus.

To bad the author implies that more taxation is the only avenue for increasing revenue or that clintons tax increases was the real reason for eight years of inbroken prosperity and budget surplus. Surprised he failed to mention the tremendous tech and dot com boom that occurred during this time. Interesting how he forgot to mention the dot.com crash and that the republicans dominated congress during this time. Bad republicans, right john B?

Sweeet!...

Keep in mind that a tax increase on the upper class has almost nothing to do with job creation. Every single penny of the cost of additional employees — wages, employee benefits, even the necessary equipment — is income tax deductible.

As such, these expenses add to product and services cost that is passed on to the end users. The deductability only applies to the net profitability of the business and its ability to sustain business and jobs for its employees, just like tax increases can also diminish net profits and erode job demand.

Hmmmm, the tax cut argument by mr swenson...

At every turn candidates advocate tax cuts, adhering to the idea that they will lead to new investments and create private-sector jobs. “It’s never happened. It’s never happened in the way they fantasize about,” said Iowa State University economist David Swenson. What tax cuts absolutely do: reduce revenue to the U.S. Treasury, which exacerbates the country’s deficits and debt

Rather suggests that obama shouldn't of renewed the bush tax cuts, payroll tax cuts or FICA employee tax cuts, bad obama!

Mr swenson needs to rethink his logic. Cuts occur because revenues far exceed expenditures and taxpayers know that they can spend excess $$$ better than the government. or

politicians see them as a means to garner votes, or

in recessionary times tax cuts work to increase the consumers discretionary spending and to buy more.

If mr swenson thought a little deeper on tax cuts he would also have recognized why the obama (bush) tax cuts aren't effective to the extent they could have been. The cuts really were no longer cuts, consumers had 10 years to factor them into their psyche to where they no longer added discretionary income wrt to how consumers overspent prior to 2008. Bush's tax rebates are much the same as obamas proposals. Liberals tell us these rebates were not effective back then, but now they will be?

Well johnB, is this what you suggested joanna to do in addressing your remarks. Within the context of your links, I also believe I answered the why the American jobs bill will not create long term job growth, but one of the links did hold a truth that no politician or FR poster can deny...

The number one need is for patience — by politicians, by consumers, by everyone who cares for the future of this country.

Everything else was merely an attempt to promote biased theory.

Thanks for attempting to play johnB.

Nice superior attitude american, too bad you put downs only make me laugh. I do appreciate the attitude you've put into a reply, however. Let's see what we can do with it.

Interesting, I never knew that the honorable tip oneil was a republican or that the congressional democrats didn't dominate during the 80's.

Yes, O'Neil was a Democrat but he doesn't constitute Democratic "dominance." In fact Republicans controlled the Senate for 6 of Reagan's 8 years as President. Democrats made the best deals they could squeezed between the Republican Senate and President, with a greatly diminished majority and a very popular new "Trickle Down" economic theory being pushed by Supply Siders in the Administration and the Federal Reserve Board. Remind me why they call it the "Reagan Revolution" if Democrats were dominant?

Cuts will entail a probable drop in GDP, but using those cuts to fund other programs boosting private sector jobs, productive jobs will boost GDP back up.

What programs would those be? Republicans aren't proposing anything BUT cuts...cuts in taxes for the wealthy elites and cuts for programs that help the rest of us.

Case in point, Cuba reduced the size of its government by 50% (as reported within the past year).

We're not a centrally-planned, Communist economy and no one is proposing that. Your comparison example simply isn't comparable because it's an extreme case.

To bad dots can't be connected to GDP that rises and falls again.

GDP didn't fall. GROWTH in GDP SLOWED once Republicans gained control of the House and brought any legislative work to a complete stop. Congress STOPPED TRYING TO HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE through GOPTP efforts and the lack of growth in GDP reflects that. That's the entire point of the links I collected in my piece, and you're ignoring that.

Surprised he failed to mention the tremendous tech and dot com boom that occurred during this time

Always the excuse Conservatives use to explain away 8 years of strong growth in the economy...far stronger than was achieved during the GW Bush Administration. Will you be as quick to admit that deregulation in the financial sector is what drove the unsustainable bubble which created virtually the only growth during a lackluster decade?

in recessionary times tax cuts work to increase the consumers discretionary spending and to buy more.

Yes, the least effective means of stimulating the economy, as noted in my original post and verified by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Which brings the whole thing around full circle...the ONLY ideas favored by Conservatives are the LEAST EFFECTIVE means of stimulating the economy (tax cuts for the rich) and action that will actually have a CONTRACTING effect on the economy (budget cuts and layoffs when the economy is already sluggish.)

Looks like you forgot to play the 9th inning.

johnb thank you for your correction on a senate controlled by the right during reagans administration.

What programs would those be? Republicans aren't proposing anything BUT cuts...cuts in taxes for the wealthy elites and cuts for programs that help the rest of us.

You need to re-read the house passed FY2012 package. Cuts for the wealthy down to 25% were part of tax reform by decreasing deductables. Even ryan explained this publicly. You know, a revenue neutral approach as obama stated in his 2011 state of the union address as being worthy of consideration. Remember the 1986 tax reform act? Its intent was also to be revenue neutral with individual taxes going down with appropriate ofsets and increasing corp tax.

Interesting that you ask "what programs" for cutting. I am still waiting for obama and the senate to give us the programs and amounts they were willing to cut for the grand bargain. Ever stop and think that maybe, just maybe spending needs to be brought more into line with revenue? Prior to 2010 politicians (L or R) always seemed to want to spend more than what was taken in and not always because of wars, natural disasters or recessions. That would be over 50 years of bad political spending habits on both sides of the aisle. It is easy to just say increase taxes vs cut spending. Everyone has a special program that MUST NOT BE CUT, right?

In our difficult recovery why should it be expected that cuts not be made even though revenues went down? Local and state governments have had to adapt, why not the feds?

Cuba example doesn't count??? Why not? The fundamentals are there to argue against a large regulatory government sucking up private sector income to support it. Whether centrally controlled, communist or otherwise. The editorial you copied makes the comparison valid.

Government is a part of the whole economy, and by making it smaller you make the whole economy smaller. Given the situation we currently find ourselves in, it is not possible to cut our way to near-term prosperity, and to conclude so is folly.

Government requires the private sector to fund its spending, since it is only the private sector that sells goods and services. Yes, I am discounting licensing and regulatory fees that the government collects as well as taxes paid by government workers. Everything flows ultimately from the private sector and it is only the private sector that can grow an economy. Even an argument for the ability of a government having the ability to print and inject cash into the economy can still leads to expenses thru inflation for the populace to pay for government largess.

Ever stop to consider government programs that could be sustained if we weren't paying out so muc interest on our debt? Even with our current low interest rates, what happens in 2013 if the FED decides to raise rates?

Sorry johnb, trying to say that our GDP went into decline (or slowed) because the right now controls the house is rather lame, even if one tried saying that the republicans blocked legislation in either the house or senate. still would deny passed hoiuse bills being tabled by reid with no debate. You imply that GDP is like a light switch and has no lag or lead time as determined by economic policy decisions.

If QE2 wasn't done don't you think GDP would have still declined but faster?

Nice to know that you consider the tech boom of the 90's as having no significance to an economy as jobs were created and revenues increased. I suppose the events of 9/11 were also of no economic consequence as well. Was the dot com bust at the end of this growth a figment of imagination also?

Deregulation in the financial sector caused the last recession? As a contributing factor yes, but probably not to as great of an extent as easy consumer credit and consumer greed. I haven't looked up data on housing recovery during the 1930's depression, but I do know that in past recessions housing had a "V" shaped recovery and that so far it has basically flatlined since 2009. If the consumer thought real estate would always increase rapidly and that they could treat thir homes like an ATM, that is the governments fault?

If tax cuts are so ineffective than why did obama extend them or decrease payroll and SS taxes for consumers? Why doesn't obama just eliminate the cuts across the board? If revenue is so important to obama and company, why doesn't obama go after the big revenue increase of eliminating the cuts accross the board? An even better question is why didn't obama and company just vote to eliminate the bush tax cuts in 2007? The opportunity was there.

You want to maintain the belief that the left didn't play an equal part in establishing federal government policy in the 20 th century good luck with that.

Why not play the full game johnB? You forgot to mention QE1 & 2, You forgot that obama and company left the field of economic recovery in 2009, only to return to it in september 2011.

Yep the left believes not in balance, fairness or even shared sacrifice, but only on spending us into oblivion and make someone else pay, anyone else but them. Nothing shared, balanced or even fair there, is there? Rather doubt that obama and company ever really wanted any type of tax reform or spending cuts as well.

Whether the tea party ever becomes a viable political party is immaterial, they woke up the republican party, independents and even some on the left as to the unsustainability of our current government policies. If you think we have played 9 innings, America hasn't even gotten to the 7th inning stretch.

sidebar, I am impressed that for once you made an effort to reply with some thought.

The GOTP is all about cuts. Cutting out the middle class. Class warfare it's what they do.

Great information, IR. Proof positive that Conservative economic principles are a failure for the middle class. Check that, an attack on the middle class because much of this was already apparent, yet the GOPTP wants to hit the accelerator instead of changing lanes.

Mighty fine post this morning Floyd!

Reminds me of something someone sent me on Facebook;

REPUBLICANS 2012

Keeping millions out of work to put one man out of a job!

Good post IR, we might now refer to it as Trickle Down Poverty.

Thank you Friends and Neighbors. Betty I think that Bumper Sticker about says it all. Ain't it a shame but that's about the long and the short of it.

Terrific post, IR. Add to that, 30 years of neglected infrastructure spending, 30 years of rhetoric telling us how evil government is while the GOP systematically reduced Government revenues for the purpose of making government ineffective, 30 years of emphasis on the Military Industrial Complex while neglecting education and investment in the country for the good of all. As former republican John Dean said in his book, "Broken Government", America can't afford any more republican leadership.

Great post this morning.

The republicans have no argument, so they will be out soon calling people names.

The Republican-Tea Potty is an embarrassment to the United States and it's people.

You seriously can't pin this all on tax cuts. After all, we've had plenty of good growth periods over the last few decades. Also, quite a few of those tax cuts actually increased tax revenues collected by the government. There are certainly a lot of factors that got us to where we are now, with fault on both sides ...... 2 wars, housing market collapse, free trade agreements to name a few. However, I haven't seen any real solutions coming out of this administration. Obama's been in the white house for almost 3 years now and the Democrats controlled BOTH houses for 2 years. That was their time to try something different. Unfortunately, the only real thing they did was pass Obamacare.

I have read that business about the increased revenue in business of about 23.3 billion total in the 10 years of the tax cuts, only problem it meant the government borrowing 2.7 trillion during the same time for the tax cuts.

In truth tax cuts brought in more money, just not enough to cover the cost. This tax cuts create jobs is the stupidest, more moronic lie ever told. The fact that it has never worked, seems to stop no one from believing in it or republicans pushing it daily as the rich are now known as job creators.

Hi Ron so glad to see you back

GBM: We are definitely on the same page. Have a good Monday.

Ron Indiana,

Your post at the top of the page reveals the search for Republican's best candidate is all over the map. The Republicans/teaparty folks reminds me of the fairy tale of Goldilocks, looking for someone who is not too soft, too hard but just right!! They will never find a perfect match.

Gingerbread Mamma, so true. I bet the phone lines to New Jersey and Indiana are humming. What the GOP seekers of someone else fail to realize is that even Christie or Daniels would suffer the same fate as Perry and Romney until that party finally throws the TPers under the bus and finds its soul again.

Why are all you libbies worried about Cain winning the FL straw poll? Maybe you a fear a black man who is actually capable of running our nation?

Liberals!! God love em! LOL!

Yeah Red we are afraid of a black man who is actually capable of running our nation. If that is true why did we elect one?

President Obama is not our problem, our problem is the republicans in congress determined to destroy America for the rich. We can't have a jobs bill, because we can't possibly raise taxes on the richest to pay for any jobs programs or pay to improve infrastructure or even pay to rebuild our schools.

Republicans think it is more important to stand by Norquist and their promise to protect the rich than do anything for America.

Cain is for more tax cuts for the rich, ready to kill America for the rich, wants to kill health care for the poor. Just the kind of man the republicans have been looking for. Best of all the republicans think that they can now call liberals racist because we don't support Cain.

This is the same stupid thinking that put Palin on the ballot because republicans thought any woman would do. All of us Hillary supporters were just going to rush over and vote for a woman any woman. Republicans didn't think women were bright enough to tell the difference and women naturally vote for other women.

I have seen all the racist signs at the tea party parties and I would venture to predict that it is your party that will never choose Cain and the tea party is the one afraid of a black man running our nation.

@Red Neckelson,

He wont get one African American VOTE.

Well, if Cain showed himself capable of running his company into bankruptcy, so he's at least as business-savvy as Donald Trump.

Notice neither of them suffered personally, only the people who work for them.

Watching the Republican debates, I keep looking closely at the crowd shots trying to spot a non-white person. I'm not having any luck. Has anybody else had success at this? It makes for a very sober drinking game. Maybe I should switch it to whenever they cheer death you take a drink.

Correction: It is disheartening to hear cheers for Perry's execution record.....

Guess I need another cup of coffee. Sorry for the double correction post, FR is behaving strangely here today.

Absolutely right, Jody. The rigid ideologues of the GOPTP are destroying the government, and the United States in the process. It's not accidental either. With Grover Norquist wishing to drown the government in his bathtub and Rick Perry wanting to make it inconsequential this is the consensus vision of the radical Conservatives. A modern society requires a certain level of government to support its functions. The Libertarian utopia of the Tea Party is a mirage, a myth as fictional as Galt's Gulch.

John B and Jody, The GOP/TP , as you both pointed out ,are not about governing but stopping government at every turn. This is not because they are incompentent but as the party of No they will never compromise on anything.

Their actions are beyond partisanship just look at the failure to pass the FEMA aid bill. I do not blame Reid on this one. The Senate wanted more money for funding help for disasters past and future. The GOP/TP again holding hostage a simple bill that would have been passed easily in the past.

Congress is now in repeat mode from the debt crisis gridlock of last summer....

I don't think it's rhetoric to assert the idea that the Tea Party wants to destroy our government.

I have always found it interesting that the non-rich in the republican party for smaller government has not put 2 and 2 together. They don't even question that the path to this mystical smaller government is by never raising taxes again especially on the richest.

Then they want to believe that the rich are pushing this smaller government for the people.

Then suddenly after Norquist kills America, we will all be free.

Free to die on the street corner without health-care. Free for children to die of starvation without food stamps. Free to live in poverty and illness in our old age. Free to work for less than minimum wage. Free to kill the earth even faster with less regulations about global warming. Free to trample over women's rights. Free to kill unions and workers safety rights. Free from helping our American neighbors when disaster strikes. Free from good education for the children. Free from food safety. Free from any environmental protection. Ah, the sweet taste of freedom.

The republican tea party just can't wait to embrace all the new found freedoms. We could all wear guns and funny costumes and pretend we are still in the late 1700's.

dunno where you read that, but i cant think of any democrat or liberal that would vote for any of hte extreme conservatives over obama.

According to a recent Gallup Poll 83% of Dems still
support our President.

Exactly, the operating word is.......as opposed to who? Who would vote for any of the second string the GOP/TP is parading around so far. Gov Christie is losing groung in his own state...so he is a no go too.

Christie kills obama in the general election. Not even close. I'm worth $8.5 million and once again, I'll bet all or any part of it that the GOP candidate wins in 2012. Even that idiot Palin beats obama. Of course all you libbies like bev, feisty, navy, etc who bet me last time have never paid up. Typical welshing liberals!! LMFAO!!

if the baggers are true to their posts...let Cain take it all the way...

Can you imagine Cain sweeping the south?

That's okay - I can't either! ;o)

Yup, I can see it now........a pizza, with fake cheese, on every table!...and the 9..9..9 Chilean tax rate plan!

Would be fun though........but the GOP will NEVER have a token black man take the top of the ticket.....they don't even have more than a token in Congress. Geez, what is Cain thinkin anyway.

but the GOP will NEVER have a token black man take the top of the ticket

Michael Steele worked out SOOO well with that little experiment! lol

Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan sounds simple enough but what people fail to realize is that it will again be the middle and low income wage earners hurt the most by a 9% National sales tax, added to the often high state and local option sales taxes. The middle and low income earners will pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes on basic necessities as well as high-end purchases than will the wealthy. 9-9-9 does nothing to solve the tax inequity problems or solve the declining wage problem for the middle and low income workers--it actually harms the bottom 98%.

"Token black man?" How is he a "token"? Ahhh. I know. Because he dares to think for himself and stray from the Democrat plantation, right? You know how to treat them runaways, don't you Kathryn? Maybe you also don't like him because he's rich and has made something of his life, unlike all those Black Democrat Obama fanatics who sit around all day in Detroit and South Side Chicago waiting for Obama to GIVE them something.

You go Jody, Iowa- you make sure the 41% that pays nothing continue to pay nothing.... we know the essence of your opinions- greed. You are just fine to have 42% pay 0% as you ask others to pay more (which I have no problem raising taxes on he wealthy) and you then call opponents that they are engaged in "class warfare". What a joke.

I can see math is not a strong point in may posters, if some making a million dollars pay 9%, the gvt gets $90K (assuming NO loopholes and or deduction) and someone making 30K pays only $2700.00; the issue with many of you posters is that you do not believe you should pay anything, you believe you are entitle to your deductions and want more from the govt.

Wake up America, your account is overdrawn! Got Greece?????????????

Atlas,

I am trying to understand your 'rules of engagement'. When mocking folks for no strength in Math Skills,...are we allowed to mock back that you have no strenth in grammar skills?

Just askin'.

More insights on race from noted internet sociologist/commentator Damage123 . . . I am enlightened as always . . . I find your fascination with black folks to be a never ending source of entertainment . . . carry on you brave visionary. . . carry on! :o)

Pure old southern racism in its most vile form.

Right. And by the end of this day there will be at least 20 posts claiming that people don't like Obama "because he's black", by race-obsessed liberals. If I choose to ridicule that and play it up, more power to me! lol

By the way. When will you explain your theory that White folks who act responsibly and have good jobs had that and their $40,000/yr salary "handed down to them" from their ancestors? That was a great flash into the liberal mind when you said it but now you won't elaborate. Please explain to me how my peniless ancestors (and millions of other people's) handed down their "priveledge" to me?

Damage:

I love how you continue to repeat that same lame retort each and every time you post to me. Now we both know that you are full of it, and you are trying to change the subject from your curious obsession with black folks and the GOP's lack of plans for the future and refusal to take responsibilty for the past. Seems like what was "handed down to you from your ancestors" is becoming clearer and clearer each day.

Let me break it down for you . . . if you want to have a discussion with me about something I said, I suggest you start with an ACCURATE depicition of what I said . . . but of course, you really just need an excuse to post your curious race theories . . . and I am entertained everytime . . . so please do continue . . . folks like you are like oxygen for me . . . you light my fire Damage . . . just say what you've got to say man . . . don't be shy . . . I can take it . . . enough pussyfooting around . . . tell us why "black folks" are so special to ya? I'd love to hear it! :o)

At first I thought this might be a reprint from The Onion. Until I realized it's not clever by half, and too racist, mean and unfunny times five. There are two kinds of political humor. The first kind is genuinely funny and clever. The second causes some people to laugh only because it's mean. Christie fat jokes, Obama black jokes, Bachmann women jokes, etc. Even if you hate the President for a non-race related reason, it doesn't make it OK to be racist.

People who make racist jokes about President Obama seem to be saying, "Since I've already decided I hate him for his politics, that gives me permission to make racist jokes, since I'm not really racist." Bill Maher does the same thing with women. He thinks it's OK to make sexist jokes about Palin and Bachmann, because he hates their stupidity and vile behavior. Make fun of Bachmann for being a naive, symbol-spouting, empty provocateur, not for being a woman. And if you disagree with the President, make fun of him in a non-racist way.

All Democrat politicians have a funny and embarrassing habit of changing their manner of speech and the things they say when speaking in front of a Black crowd. It's hilarious. AlGore did it. Hilary. Bill and Obama too. Youtube it. It's friggin' cringeworthy and hysterical! Far be it from me to post something humorous when there are so many regulars on here with so many IMPORTANT things to post.

Don't be too hard on Maher. You might get your Libtard Card taken away. lol

Damage

Late breaking news . . . "black people" have a unique culture and dialect that folks trying to get their votes sometimes pay homage too . . . like they do with every other group . . . Spanish for Latinos . . . Jersey accents in Jersey . . . Southern saying's down South . . . it is neither remarkable or unusual . . . but it is another opportunity for you to feed your never ending hunger for discussions about black foks.

Nash----when politicians come here to Pittsburgh, they say "yunz" (instead of y'all), eat pierogies and wave a Terrible Towel!

Wow-

The Associated Press published this text of the President's remarks?

Was that an accurate transcript?

Clotho,

I literally un'friended' someone on facebook for that EXACT behavior. I told them I was doing it and he said, "what did I say?" so I quoted back to him and he said, "I voted for him so I can say whatever I want."

Really? Your vote bought you a one way ticket to bigotville? All righty then. As you were. I got no time for foolishness, especially when it's cloaked in some kind of twisted logic.

You people were saying the "GOP is dead" and is a "regional party" back in 2006, weren't you? Guess you were wrong. Your cultural elitism and condescension is typical of your ilk but you people always forget one important fact: Young people tend to do a very sneaky and tragic thing: they grow up. They get older. As people grow up and get older, they become more conservative. They become more wise to the ways of the world and less naieve. Where do you think all the idiot hippies and liberals of the 60s and 70s went? They became Republicans when they grew up. It's natural. Those that continue to be libs as they age are just refusing to grow up. Sad, really.

Jennifer, nicely said. Keep posting and above all ignore the naysayers, they repeat the same nonsense every day hoping that repetition will make it true. They also ignore that democrats, since 2010 midterms, have won a number of long-time red districts among many other truths they choose to ignore.

Great post Jennifer, your generation gives me great hope for the future. A lot has to do with how one is raised, and how one applies the lessons learned.

We are now at a crossroads of generations, hopefully not too many of your generation will not have been carefully taught to hate those who may be different in appearance or beliefs.

This song from South Pacific says it all:

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

Keep posting, we need you voice.

And, obviously, some of you have to be taught to have one set of standards for all people.

Obama is a failure because every single thing he has done has failed to produce good results.

He has continued to fail because he refuses to admit that any of his policies have failed.

So, we stand on the threshold of total disaster- and all you've got is the race card? Give me a break.

He'd be just as big a failure if he were orange with blue stripes and purple polka dots.

No jo, You are always out here throwing a blanket statement out and everything Obama has ever done is a failure, but you fail to ever mention what they are.

The only big things were the stimulus which many economics said the main problem is that it wasn't big enough. This after the republicans stripped it down.

The health care hasn't really taken effect yet. Health care is taking down our country like the unfunded wars. Being I use to post the payments for health insurance to employee accounts for several years I got to watch the trends. As the rates went up to $600 and $800 a month(depending on your plan) from $150 a month (for the best health plan) in a couple years, working employees were giving up health care as they could no longer afford it as wages were stagnate and all the rest of their cost were going up too. It wasn't that they didn't want it, they could not afford it any longer.

As everything else only the rich deserve health care. Isn't that right no jo?

Pretty much everything else that would be President Obama's plan has been obstructed and filibustered. So if you don't like the economy or the direction our country is headed look to the obstruction in congress for they are the ones responsible.

There are somethings nojo has never learned and flaunts them like the poll dancer she is.

Anyone who would steal others private writings, when they thought they were private, and then post them on the Internet for all to read has much to learn, yet, then again some never learn. Everyday she's here spreading her her particular brand of hate, twisting words, outright lying about our President, then when corrected and presented with facts, deflects or outright ignores what has been written. Some are not teachable as it does not fit into their twisted perception of the world they choose to live in.

Jen Jen,

Guess you missed the 2010 record-seeting GOP victories in every state. Even in local elctions, the GOP cleaned up. The latest polls have Colorado clearly voting aginst Comarde Obama in 2012.

Maybe you live up in the mountains and don't get tv? Or perhaps you enjoy making up things?

Liberals! God love em! LMFAO!!

Should Democrats have been so quick to accept the "permanent Republican majority" of 1994?

How about Karl Rove's "permanent Republican majority" of 2004?

Did you just roll over after the Democratic victories in 2006 and 2008?

Political fortunes swing like a pendulum, and the Republicans have been pushing that pendulum away from them from the moment the election results were announced. That's why public approval for Congress is knocking on the door of single digits. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20114992-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain

Disinformation? Really?

The unemployment rate is "disinformation"?

The civilian labor force participation rate, down to 1983 levels, is "disinformation"?

I'll give you GDP- it's probably negative, rather than flat- but that comes from Obama's Commerce department, so try are responsible for that "disinformation"- nonetheless, it's pretty poor, as most folks know.

His mishandling of the the Palestinian Israeli peace talks is not "disinformation", either.

Then, we have HCR- tell me, if it's all going to be so great, why on earth does it not kick in until AFTER the next election?

Face it- while many liberals left in the Obama cult would not know a fact if it seeped on a rake and hit them in the face, facts ARE still, facts.

And Obama is an abject failure.

Nashville, so true. It would be a pleasant surprise and a positive step if the debate moderators and journalists started challenging the GOP about their repeated lies instead of simply reporting what was said. Of course, it means having more debates sponsored by anyone but FOX and the Tea Party.

Disinformation? Really?

The unemployment rate is "disinformation"?

The civilian labor force participation rate, down to 1983 levels, is "disinformation"?

I'll give you GDP- it's probably negative, rather than flat- but that comes from Obama's Commerce department, so try are responsible for that "disinformation"- nonetheless, it's pretty poor, as most folks know.

His mishandling of the the Palestinian Israeli peace talks is not "disinformation", either.

Then, we have HCR- tell me, if it's all going to be so great, why on earth does it not kick in until AFTER the next election?

So the Democrats lie, too. How is that an excuse for the GOP candidates to continue to do so? "They did it first!" stopped being a valid excuse for most of us by third grade.

How do we know Republicans are in campaign mode, Nashville Fan? Well---Mitch McConnell told us the day after the election that his goal was to see the failure of President Obama. They have never deviated from that but in case we forget, last week Sen. DeMint said they can't do anything about the economy because then they would "own" it and might not defeat the President. Republicans---24/7 to defeat the President.

Seriously, FR-----dropping 'g's = campaign mode? Really?

Great point Steeler Fan . . . the Republicans never left campaign mode . . . they aren't even taking the time to pretend anyomore.

P.S. Thanks to your Steelers for taking down the Colts . . . sorry Ron! :o)

Well, during the election of 2010, the Republicans pretended that they wanted to be elected to bring us jobs but they soon dropped that pretense and went back to their usual obstructionism----I'm sure it felt more natural to them.

Ron's Colts gave us a good fight last night---glad to help out your Titans! A fun benefit of posting here is being able to root for friends' teams (as long as they aren't playing the Steelers!).

Dearest JobSeeker:

Let me help you out with something . . . "blacks" don't need "redemption", however, it would seem that you need a place to vent your thinly veiled racial dog whistles.

Glad you found it.

With love,

A "black"

If Iowa and New Hampshire don't end Cain's candidacy, South Carolina surely will. Do you honestly think the same Republicans who bought into the evil lie about John McCain's adopted daughter are going to let Herman Cain win the nomination?

The first black president has failed miserably. The polls show it and the economic numbers show it. Cain can show the world that a black man can be an effective leader of the free world, not just a figure head who got a Nobel Peace Prize 20 days into his presidency and driven the economy into the bottom with nothing but "I inherited the mess".

..........and that is the truth Nashville....

The primaries take place in 57 states, not just SC, NH and IA.

Wow ObamaSucks . . . here's hoping you are not the brains of your family! lol

That's all you have JobSeeker? The 57 states nonsense which ranks right up there with the teleprompter as grasping of straws. Anyone with a tiny bit of gray matter recognizes a one-time comment as a clear mis-statement rather than a repeated one like "noocular". BTW JobSeeker, I'll take 57 states and "noocular" over the daily, intentional repeated lies coming from the GOP presidential candidates.

HC would be a great president but it's not because he is or isn't black... it's because he qualified

He would be a great president because he qualified?! Qualified for what?

Did you mean he would be a great president because he IS qualified? You're going to bash Obama's experience in government and hold up Cain's experience as a pizza purveyor?

Okay, then, what about this nation building an "Intercontinental" railroad?

See, we built a "transcontinental" railroad- but never one that went into South America.

Never mind Europe- although, that would have been some bridge.

That one is up there with "corpse" men.

This is the most intelligent president you've ever known? The man is an idiot.

Hi, No Jo - I wonder if you've ever read or heard of Bushisms? Every once in a while I get a chuckle out of the former occupant's speech patterns and though processes. Come now everyone mispeaks. Even Obama who you agree is a great orator isn't immune. That said a candidate's vision is more important than oratory skills, according to Rick Perry.

Saw your shout out to me in the first thread. It was appreciated. However, something I don't understand. You tend to place me in a different place than other Obama supporters. I find that odd since at times other posters here agree and accept Obama's economic attempts and foreign policy decisions that I either disagree with or deem insufficient.

I do appreciate our talks however, you do know that I am a bit to the left of some of the posters you criticize as "followers".

Mark, I know all about Bushisms. If I had not heard them myself, the media did a fine job of repeating them, over and over, until I could recite them in my sleep.

That's my point. Why the double standard?

Stumbling over words, mispronunciations, garbled syntax- all ripe for media exploitation when the president is a republican.

A democratic president who cannot pronounce "corpsman"- actually, renders all such as deceased- is ignored.

Far more troubling is the total ignorance of the difference between Transcontinental- a railroad actually built- and "intercontinental"- never even attempted.

Sorry, I have a problem with that- and the double standard that overlooks it.

Then, there is the related problem of a president who believes that the future belongs to the 19th Century. Billions of dollars for trains that will be under utilized- if they are utilized at all? Sorry, but that's one expensive boondoggle that is never going to happen.

I understand that you want a democratic president- but, surely, you agree that on issues where a president avows an embarrassing tendency toward ignorance- either of pronunciation, or actualy fact- there should be ONE journalistic standard? Cause, if not, we have less in common than I thought.

No Jo - I understand that you want a democratic president- but, surely, you agree that on issues where a president avows an embarrassing tendency toward ignorance- either of pronunciation, or actualy fact- there should be ONE journalistic standard? Cause, if not, we have less in common than I thought.

No Jo - Sorry but I can't fault the President or any other candidate for lapses or errors in speech. For me that is a bit picky. Believe me I would rather critique their policies vs. their syntax. I understand that this "intercontinental" crisis came from the right side of the media. I think we both can think of other more important issues that can cause "intercontinental" problems.

I think that journalists should be fair and unbiased. That allows folks like us or opinion talking heads to be a bit unbiased at times when we are trying to make our points.

No Jo we probably agree on a few issues though probably not any economic issues. I've chosen to listen to your views because it has helped me understand where a conservative is coming from. I can't say I agree with them but at least I know where you are coming from.

No Jo - Far more troubling is the total ignorance of the difference between Transcontinental- a railroad actually built- and "intercontinental"- never even attempted.

You are right there have been no attempts at intercontinental projects although there have been plans to build a crossing between Europe and Africa. Even wild dreams about connecting Alaska to Russia with something called an intercontinental peace bridge. In my view the Alaska Russia route probably wouldn't be a viable alternative to other transportation choices. The Spain/North Africa one isn't possible with the current Euro problems.

_________From wikipedia

A Strait of Gibraltar crossing is a hypothetical bridge or tunnel spanning the Strait of Gibraltar that would connect Europe to Africa.

The Spanish and Moroccan governments appointed a Joint Committee a to investigate the feasibility of linking the two continents. This resulted in the much broader Euromed Transport project 2003 - 2009.