Thanks to Mark & Domenico for answering multiple questions each week!

Yea, really great answers, too!

But really the reality is the numbers have shown his base of support has pretty much held steady.

Wow ....what numbers are you guys looking at?

Gallup has the approval dropping 8 points among blacks, 27 points among Hispanics and 25 points whites.

Maxine Waters and her constituents aren't Obama's base?

Actually, it is pretty funny that there was even an article today in IBD about the only group that hasn't dropped ....... the Muslims. Seems they really really like bigger government, more government control and more government services. 68% even want more than Obama is pushing. (Duh, the guys that want sharia?)

Now he's going to have to win 2 of 3 of places like Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio. You mix and match there, he's got some numbers,

Yea, he has some numbers there .... actually what you guys are trying to say .... he basically need to win 67% of those states.

That's a good number ..... if you're the repub.

Wow, Domenico!

The prospects for President Obama's re-election are only "a 50-50 proposition"?

I think I might cry, Domenico.

That's the nicest thing you've ever said to First Readers.

Uhh..

That is...

To SOME of us First Readers.

And, thanks for the question, devie!

Before I forget, Mark & Domenico...

Say "hi" to Chuck for me, will ya?

:-)

excess celebration in the end zone.

15 yards to be assessed on the kick off.

Bad Mixed Bag.

Spanky you cracked a joke, it still has your patented poke em every chance you get method, but was funny while doing it, good job buddy, I'll bet you are way more adept at this than you let on.

BTW did you catch my stance on the death penalty and executions, was hoping to discuss that some but was very busy today.

Actually, it is pretty funny that there was even an article today in IBD about the only group that hasn't dropped ....... the Muslims. Seems they really really like bigger government, more government control and more government services. 68% even want more than Obama is pushing. (Duh, the guys that want sharia?)

Here we go again, Obama is a secret Muslim, and so what if he was? You got to be getting tired of the same old lies you repeat over and over again.

The last week of September showed lower than expected new unemployment filings. It will be interesting to see final September jobs numbers next week. Some predict double digit unemployment by the end of the year on the news today. Some predict a second recession that will last 2 years and believe it is already starting and cannot be stopped. I'm hopeful for at least holding steady at 9.1% next week.

I don't see President Obama making much headway with the American Jobs Act. He may be able to reinforce his sagging base by posing Republicans as the bad guys however. If Congress refuses to do anythng the President proposes for the next 13 months then what?

I don't think any of the polls reflect sentiment of independent voters because most independent voters hang up when pollsters call.

I think the "Trigger option" will go into effect by default as I predict Congress and the President will not be able to come together on whatever the super-committee comes up with. I predict at that point there will be a lot of anguish and talk of repealing that deal.

Then the republicans will own the unemployment as much as Obama does, they came in on the jobs mantra if they don't produce then Congress takes the heat off Obama, and he gets a get out of jail card free courtesy of Congress, and they can't say his plan did not work.

Joe,

Can you read?

Great review guys. But...(there's always a "but'), you left out the variable of who will run against President Obama.

It's not hard to imagine Perry making a mistake like McCain did in choosing Palin for VP or saying the economy was in great shape just as things were collapsing. I won't waste time talking about Bachmann, who is Palin II the same way Perry is Bush II. What is it with conservative women, these Ann Coulters of the world? Like Herman Cain, why are they in a Party against their own interests?

Any-who, right now all the candidates are a "clear" choice, meaning they are very far to the right. Prayer Meetings are not going to attract Independent/Swing Voters. The Mormon Law of Consecration won't attract any Teapublican (other than Mormons), most of all Evangelicals in the south. And women, who, as you note tend to be more liberal, are not attracted to Psycho-B!tches like Bachmann (or Palin who thankfully isn't running).

The field is set. Christie, Rubio, maybe these guys are queing up for VP. But Christie doesn't have the physical stamina to last a week on a presidential campaign trail let alone being a heartbeat away from the presidency (currently that would make Boehner next in line...haunting). Let's face it, a crappy economy will not override crappy candidates--Anything like this in history?

Oh yeh thanks again for the transcript

The economy will pickup only when Obama is gone!The man is not a leader,he's a blamer.If you vote for Obama you vote for more government handouts and more taxes.The crap is going to hit the fan if he gets re-elected,and it will happen within 1 year of the next election.Even this lib rag has printed stories of government cutbacks,inflation of 30%+,and financial instability like never seen before.Your money will not buy you squat,and your way of living will be in turmoil.This is not a BS game.It is the truth.Believe it,or just wait to see it,and weep.

Well I sure like the value of my stocks now, than when GW bush left, he turned 401k's into 201k's.

So the oil companies won't get any more government welfare checks to beef up their already record breaking profits, is that what you are telling me srsmith or is it so that millions of little kids will go without because we won't be handing out food-stamps to those lazy, little liberals, which government handout is the reason I should not vote for Obama, there are so many of them I get confused.

forrest - many will starve regardless of the party or individual in power. With our current interest payment to handle our debt increasing and waste in government spending the government wants to have you keep on believing the lie "that the government is here to help us". Please do carry on with that fantasy.

BTW - CBS puts big oil profits at 6% for every $ of revenue while the computer and pharmaceuticals are raking in over 15% for every $ of revenue. Don't like a 6% profit margin, stop your transportation needs as well as your food consumption and use of electronic toys.

Oil company subsidies are a complete and unnecessary waste of tax payers money, every time you defend them you weaken your own case and make yourself look silly, you can not defend it, it is indefensible, because you claim to be so worried about tax money and that the function of government is not to help people, so why do the oil companies get help they really don't need at the expense of the taxpayers, from the US government. Your shot your own argument all to hell.

Forrest -- When the subsidies are stopped, what happens to the price of all petroleum products? I imagine they will go up. That's ok because i think we should stop all subsidies and let the market choose winners and losers rather than whomever is the current WH resident. What do you think?

The subsidies have nothing to do with the price, one oil company alone (Exon I believe) posted a 34 billion dollar profit for the first quarter of this year, they don't need tax payer money. Oil is a world commodity what ever the commodity traders are paying today for oil futures is what determines the price, all the oil in the world no matter where it is drilled is sold in this way. It is a finite resource the whole world wants, and it will never get anything but more expensive, the president is exactly right to give subsidies to other energy technologies, the oil company subsidies should be taken away and given to them as well, unless Americans want to continue to outbid the rest of the world for a shrinking and limited supply of oil. Horses ran there course, steam ran its course and the end of the line for petroleum is inevitable as an affordable and readily available source of energy for average Americans and everybody else.

I voted for Obama because I was tired of a retarded moron who bankrupted the nation and wiped his butt on the constitution, among other things.

As for Obama, stopping a depression and saving GM count for something in my book.

He is doing pretty good as CIC because he don't have to drag republicans kicking and screaming all the way ever time time he needs to carry out a plan. Republicans are dead weight, a good foreman can not make up for an inept crew, but a decant crew can make any foreman look good. I think the young man has done quite well considering republicans slipped him the weenie, and therefore the rest of the country every chance they got. I would keep this foreman and make some serious crew changes.

Then, the President should quit playing the blame game....blaming President Bush, blaming the Tea Party, blaming the Republicans, blaming the "soft" American people, blaming the rich, blaming Wall Street, blaming the oil companies, blaming bedroom slippers.

Come on Candace he does not say those things, lots of people say that but show me where the president said that, he has blamed Congress and he has every right and reason to, but I have never heard all the things you say come out of his mouth.

Hi, Forrest.

Seriously? Google "Obama blames...."

I will try that a little later Candace, thank you.

Personally the best thing that could happen to Obama is if he loses the next election. This way he could quit being accused of being born in a different country, being called a socialist, a communist, an extreme Muslim or Christian, dictator and every other negative characterization the far right can come up with. He doesn't need the money, he is rich enough that he doesn't need the job or the crap that comes along with it.

What would the far right do without Obama being their whipping boy? What would happen if these far right extremist got total control of our country. That's right we did that for the majority of the first decade of this millennium and look were it got us.

They would still blame him, they would say he put a voodoo hex on us, he gave us a bad mojo, or something, they don't take responsibility for the jobs they are being paid to do now. Republicans in the house have a year left so I hope there are still some buildings that can be named, I would hate to pay all the money and benefits a Congressman is paid and not get all the buildings named after Ronald Reagan we could get for our hard earned tax dollars.

Yes Forrest,

Whatever happens on Obama's watch is all his fault. The Obama Recession/depression, the Obama Wikileaks scandal, the Obama gulf oil spill disaster, the Obama unemployment figures, the Obama downgrade, etc.

This is called POLITICS. Get used to it.

You left out the fires in Texas, the hurricanes, the earthquake in Japan, and the Atlanta braves.

Sorry Forrest,

That was what the little "etc." was supposed to cover.

I don't blame President Obama entirely for the state of the economy. I do blame him for the mood of the country - he is divisive and negative. I blame him for losing focus on the real issues and wasting political capital, time and money on the health care bill and the failed stimulus. I blame him for involvement in Solyndra, the auto companies and his allegiance to supporters instead of the people. I blame him for being more of Campaigner in Chief than for being Presidential. I blame him for the lack of positive leadership he promised he would bring.

I give him credit for many of his decisions on national security and Bin Laden and al-Awlaki.

Don't worry about the extreme right wing, Joe. The truth is the majority of the people are in the middle. The extreme right will never be in control. The extreme left will never be in control. And, thankfully for this, our country will survive.

Well frankly Candace I think you are way off I think republicans are divisive, He was at the very beginning of his term and as I said many times before and you can google it as well I am sure when the Republican Minority Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, The Republican Senate Minority Speaker, and a Republican US Representative of The United States of America publicly stated respectively, "we will break him", "my main priority is to insure he is a one term president", and "we will make this his Waterloo", did you ever think you would see the day when the people the nation has entrusted to take stewardship of that nation would publicly state they would work against the POTUS to very purposely with stated intent and determination to cause his failure. Why in the hell do you blame Obama for virtually everything, why don't you just congratulate your guys for being pretty damn successful at doing exactly what they said they were going to do. Like I said I will never vote for a Republican ever in my lifetime (which I have on a few rare occasions), never again, I will never forgive those men for proudly, boldly wishing and working for the failure of the POTUS, if he is failing, the nation is failing, the nation they swore to serve to the best of their abilities. In my book it is dereliction of duty at best, and frankly treasonous at worst. I will never vote for another republican in my lifetime, because not one republican legislator called out any of these guys. You are the same people that bash unions every chance you get, well me and my guys we don't submarine our bosses, we work hard so that both of us can be successful, and if one my guys thinks he is going to say and pull some crap like these guys did because he has some axe to grind, I will bust his ass right quick before the employer has to. Nope I don't see it your way Candace, I see republicans, big time, right at the top republicans, as a bunch of hosers, they said they would hose him and they did, so like I said instead of blaming Obama for everything you might give your republican leadership some credit where credit is do, you might tell them they did a pretty good at doing what they said they wanted to do. They did not do what they were paid by the American people to do, they did not do what they swore to the American people they would do when they took the job, they did not even do what any fair and honest person would do. As for myself I would not want a single one of them in my crew, I don't want guys like that in my union, I don't want guys like that draging on my employers, I certainly don't want guys like that representing us with the customers, those are the type of guys that I send packing, why would anybody want to tolerate somebody like them on your team.

Well put Candice.

It is obvious to anyone paying attention that Obama is leaving the Whitehouse in January 2013. He and Moochelle had better suck up a few more luxury vacations while they still can. the gravy train is pulling into the station soon.

As for the rest of us Americans, well, were just a little too soft. Lying around all day in our bedroom slippers and bitchin about Obama.

If we would just quit the griping and put on our marching shoes, we could all go out to the Obama parade ground and walk in circles. Kinda like the Obama recovery has been doing for three years.

Remember the Laser focus on jobs?? LOL How about the "Summer of Recovery?? LOL

What a walking joke this "President" has turned out to be. What a colossal waste of time and money.

ABO 2012. ABO.

Forrest - still don't get politics do you? The populace knows that there will be dissension within congress but also recognizes that the job of POTUS is to lead not only congress down a path of unity but also the nation as a whole. that is in part why the founding fathers created the three separate branches.

Obama threatening to veto this and veto that is not a sign of leadership but rather one of thinking he is all powerful.

Politics 101 says that the ruling party will always be under the gun from the opposing party. Only during war or immense natural disaster will this strife be minimal.

Joe R. - And look at where the total control of the house by democrats, one vote shy of total control of the senate (assuming the 2 independents went left) and the total control of the executive branch got us in 2009-2010. The laser focus on jobs and the economy were thrown under the bus or pushed over the cliff. The 2010 midterms showed what the populace thought about obamas and the democrats policy focus.

No one has ever said that bush2 was a great potus or even perhaps a good one, but one thing he was able to do that obama has failed to do time after time is to get policies thru congress that had bipartisan support by the time he signed off on them. Perhaps a little more time spent on government business would help.

Oh I think I do know a little something about politics, this guy has been hammered on non stop for three years, and he still has 50-50 chance with a year to go. This is against the worst Congress in history and his approval ratings are at least 3x higher than theirs, more people blame them than him, that is the politics, those are the political polling numbers. The republicans don't have much of a challenger and they publicly bemoan that fact, the young man we elected as president is a much better politician than any of them, if you really want to talk pure politics. This guy went from a community organizer to the POTUS in a few short years, right. Politically I like my chips right where they are, and if Congress continues to do nothing I will double my political bets. I'm betting on the decent young man we elected, so far he has handed any political challengers he has had their political heads, and has literally handed a few terrorists their heads, I'm proud of the young man, I'm betting on him.

yep forest you nailed it...

This guy went from a community organizer to the POTUS in a few short years,

Yeo, obama is a good example of what happens when one has limited political experience and runs for a position that he tries using on the job training for. Like I said above, he ignored the advice of his advisors and tried doing it all on his own terms.

Past presidents have been able to work with congresses. Why not obama? BTW - has obama found a house sponser for his jobs bill yet? Got the bill number?

He is in no hurry if republicans are not, he picked up on the Waterloo strategy, he has 13 months, just like Congress has, and the ball is in their court, not his, and if it don't pass it is not his fault, and republicans can't say it did not work well enough. All he can do is what he is doing cheer-lead a plan, the only plan anybody has, and hope Congress does it's job. If they don't for some reason, any reason, the American people will know it was not him that let them down.

The stimulus was stuffed with pork and much of the money was not spent in the most effective way. It was a particularly good example of political sausage making. It certainly wasn't pretty.

But it was fast and it needed to be fast. And it was effective. It just was't big enough.

Folks, and this is mainly repubs, love to say that the government should be run like a business or a family: "Why shouldn't the government tighten its belt when the rest of us have to?" is the refrain.

Well, this is exactly how the government shouldn't be run. The government should deficit spend when a recession occurs, particularly one as bad as the current one. To make up for that spending the government should save money when times are good. Guess which one of those we didn't do and on whose watch that occurred!

Give it up American you are never serious anymore, now you just babble, they vowed they would break him, this will be his Waterloo, our top priorty is to see him fail, you remember now, and you want to know why he can't work with them, that is why. The same reason I will never vote for another republican for the rest of my life. Republicans don't have a current candidate that can beat him, so you might want to get used to the idea that he is going to be president for another term, and quit trying to take it out on me. Why don't you run for the republican nomination you got as good as chance as anybody else in the republican primary, you know all the standard talking points, and just because you are somebody new instead of what they got you will be the front-runner for at least one day, hell I think you should go for it, you will have to beat Obama yourself because nobody in your current primary lineup will.

It is called a filibuster and the republicans used it a record number of times during the first two years he was in office, remember instead of saying they would work to make a good policy for the nation he two top republicans said we will break him, we will make this his Waterloo, our number one prioty is to see him fail and be a one term president. Does not sound like legislators with the best interests of the country in mind now does it. I will never vote for a republican, no matter what, while Boehner, McConnel, and Demint, are in office, not ever, no matter who, because of those statements from republican elected representatives who are the top 3rd and 4th man of our government. I will never forgive them for that, the country should never forgive them for that, we probably have people rotting in gitmo for less than that. The other reason is and every body in Congress has responsibility on this, is that these people are either too lazy or too dumb to do the work they are supposed to do, so the sad fact is that they let lobbyists write most of the bills for them, then we wonder how a decent plan comes back as a mangled mess of a bill.

Tes

Let's blame Obama for everything that is wrong, it makes it simpler than trying to get to the root of the problem. It's all one man's fault as you imply. So what you are saying is that when Obama is gone through election or term limits the United States will miraculously solve all its problems.

Ta Da

That's about it Joe.

Watch what happens just after Obama makes his concession speech. The markets will soar, jobs will become available for all. Everything else will fall into place.

You are ate up Edward.

Yeah, imagine the nerve of the guy! Wanting everyone to have access to medical care, wanting to prohibit insurance companies from excluding people and wanting to have some controls on costs!

What a damn jerk!

Dave Why should insurance companies be required to cover high risk people?! It is a buisness decision just as refusing insurance to a driver who has proven to be high risk! What it does do is raise rates for the healthy people who are already not buying insurance because of the cost. But we have the answer for that! We require you to buy insurance to support the high risk people!! And the health care reform has done nothing to control costs. You lefties have all the answers!

Personal attacks are supposed to be off limits but you have no other arguement!

We give CEO's outrageous pay and bonus for one thing only, to squeeze out every drop of profit possible in every way possible and to pay as little tax as possible on that profit. Perhaps we should make their pay and bonus contingent on how many good paying jobs with benefits in America they create each year and see what the hell happens. I got a feeling it would work like a charm.

Forrest Grump 2.0

A little off topic but I was wondering----- What union are you associated with? I am a union Ironworker (construction trades) for 32 yrs. now retired a few months ago due to lung cancer and chronic heart failure! (and NO! all you haters, I'm not on soc. sec. or any other Gov. program!) Anyway, I like your stance on my brother Ironworkers, I've always felt that we must give a fair days work for our pay because if my employer doesnt make a profit he wont be in buissness and if he isn't in buissness I wont have a job! As in any job (union or non union) there are the bad apples that are lazy dumb aces that dont want to work, they didnt last long in my crews, but most were hard working people who felt as I do!

I have and do watch and listen to what mc connel, boner, cantor and the rest say and do and I honestly beleive that if a rep. were to be elected President of the U.S.A. it would be the end of the middle class! If the American working class don't wake up to what these people (I use the word people loosly) are trying to do we are sunk!

Apparently they no longer teach labor history in schools anymore which in my opinion is a mistake! Americans need to remember the working conditions that spauned the rise of organized labor in this country and then they will understand whats to come if the current crop of repug/tp types gain control of the country! I fully expect to see the american worker taking up arms and am somewhat surprised that it hasn't started yet! Not advocating this just expecting!

Forrest Grump 2.0

In reference to your post about ceo's --------------as in the ceo of (I think it was) microsoft ----- was ceo for 11 months, company lost billions, he walked away with something like 13 million in severence! ------Imagine that!!!!!

Damn! I was going to apply for that job (I couldnt do any worse than him and I,m just a dumb construction worker) but they hired meg (I spent 14 million of my own money and couldnt buy the election) whitman ! AMAIZING isn,t it!

fauxhater,

No faux, the CEO of Microsoft is, and always has been, Bill Gates. Probably the most successful company ever. At one time Bill gates was worth $90 BILLION. That's 90,000 MILLION.

He used to work for IBM I believe, and he had this idea. They didn't care for his idea, so he quit and formed Microsoft.

Edward-1075991

Thanks for the correction! As I stated I thought it was perhaps microsoft but wasnt positive, it was on the news yesterday and I know they replaced the guy with Meg Whitman! My main point was that the guy was coe for 11 months while the corp. lost billions and he walked away with many millions in severence pay! Doesnt quite seem right does it!

fauxhater -

You're thinking of Leo Apotheker, formerly the CEO of Hewlett Packard, who is walking away with $13 million after getting fired. Absurd, isn't it?

faux:

It was Hewlett Packard. Here's some info...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/09/meg-whitman-gets-hp-stock-options-leo-apotheker-walks-with-millions.html

Fauxhater, I'm very sorry to hear of your health problems brother, you iron workers are tough as they come so I know you will hang tough, and I will say a prayer for you, my friend. I never give out my union affiliation, for a couple of reasons, I am still active and work for labor and management, plus I have a small consulting business, the problem is that I want to maintain my privacy, and in the past I have seen things on this blog with regards to peoples privacy that really bothered me, but believe me I know exactly how the skilled trade unions operate and they definitely give you a full days work for a full days pay. Many people just don't understand they your employer has to be the lowest bidder to get the contract and since he pays you better wages and benefits than his non union competition, you guys have to work harder and smarter, than the non union competition, you employer his counting on that from the moment he submits his bid. I know how hard you guys work, and you earn every dime you are paid, I will give you one clue I don't do what you did for over thirty years, I would be holding onto those beams so tight my fingerprints would be in the steel. I have no clue why many people feel like it is a sin for a guy like you to be paid well and have benefits, for his lifetime of hard work, but are fine with CEO pay, or a Congressman's pay for that matter, if the unions disappear the young people in this country will suffer, and they all ready are. The wages in the right to work states or much lower across the board in every occupation, even those that were never unionized, how is somebody supposed to raise a family on the median income in Texas of $11.20 an hour and no benefits, it is pitiful, to tell young people that is all they are worth, we made that 30 years ago. You are right my union does not tolerate slackers, and we police our own, we can't afford to tolerate it, it does not help our decent American employers, their customers, or us. However many people just think if you belong to a union, for some reason you are paid big money to stand around and do nothing all day, you never did that, I never did that, your crew never did that, like you said you would put yourself out of a job if you did. They should teach labor history in school so these people can see where they came from and then they will better understand what they are headed back to, Texas and many of the right to work states are just about there. Thank God you have the health-care and other benefits you earned for your lifetime of hard work, and are not at the mercy of government services for your medical needs. Good luck brother keep in touch, stay strong like the steel you wrestled for 30 thirty years. Fraternally Yours, Forrest

Yes! you can make a million widgets overseas for pennies and ship them to the U.S.A. but then who are you going to sell them to? remember the American citizens no longer have jobs, hence no money to buy your widgets! The illegals work for pennies so they cant buy them either! Quite a problem isnt it?

I am and always will be a Democrat! Do I agree with all policies of the party? NO! As far as "ILLEGAL" imigrants my veiw is---- legal immigration is fine! The first word in ILLEGAL immigrant is not! It is illegal to "rape, pillage and plunder" and that is why most people dont do it. ITS ILLEGAL! 'all' illegal aliens should be shipped out along with their anchor babies period!

As far as the Repug/tp types blaming the illegals on the Dems. consider this-----------The vast majority of people who hire the illegals are probably Republican farmers/buissness owners so who benefits most by illegal immigration? The Repug/tp types------ Why do they hire them? Low wages, no benefits, no insurance, they wont complain because they are here illegally! This amounts to slave labor pure and simple!

I bet you never had an illegal alien working anywhere on your union job-site Fauxhater, union shops don't hire illegal aliens, they don't have to. They pay the best so they expect and deserve the best. If they even mention they might be hiring, young people with college degrees will line up around the block for a chance to do back breaking work because it is the best thing many can find right now, if they want to earn a decent living.

I have played both ends of the spectrum and have prospered. I am currently enjoying a comfy retirement from a Public Sector job, and I always shop at Wallmart, always. even for groceries.

In a nutshell, I got mine fellas, now you can try to get yours. LOL

Your a real standup guy Edward, If you have kids or grandkids I'm sure they are proud of you, and the future you have in store for them. Ha just kidding, you are one of the reasons I will never vote republican again, you do a good job of reminding people of why they should vote against lazy smucks like you, who don't have the sense or the backbone to even want to try and make things better, because as you say I got mine so HA HA screw the future. You are useless Ed, in all your years the only thing you have learned is to give up, grab what you can get for yourself and run, and you want to knock unions I would not want you in my union, you just don't have what it takes, you would not make the grade, and you don't understand the meaning of union, not when it comes to this nation, this union of states, and you certainly don't understand the meaning of brotherhood. You are glad you got yours, so be glad, and quit worrying so much that other people in America want a decent chance to get theirs.

Like Stephen Colbert, Edward's playing the Devil's Advocate makes some good points against Teapublican mentality and belief in a pure free market, which doesn't work any more than pure communism for the same reason--greed. A fair market is what we need.

The Occupy Wall Street rallies are taking off around the nation. In the coming months we will see more of this. The folks who can't retire because their 401ks and home equity have been wiped out, the college graduates with student loans who can't find a job, the disparity between rich and poor -- We are not that far away from the Arab Spring.

Teapublicans in congress refusing to pass the jobs plan, and continuing to protect the rich and corporations from paying their fair share, are about to see what people who are "mad as hell" really look like.

Actually I have belonged to two unions. the United Steelworkers, (Totally corrupt), and the SEIU, (Totally inept). I could have , and should have, just worked without joining either union. Same benefits, no union dues.

As for Obama's jobs bill, I understand it is not even being discussed in the Senate. Thats Okay, as it is probably just another worthless "stimulus" bill that will just throw away 450 Billion.

If anybody read my post above, it asks just what a young person should train for to make a decent living?? Nobody seems to want to venture an answer.

And Gump, Why would I ever want to be an ironworker?? They are the dumbest of the dumb. (I know, ya gotta be smarter than the steel) LOL

Edward, the Dems have presented several jobs bills, and the president has presented his plan -- Which is not being given the respect it should in congress. "Nobody seems to care what a young person should train for to make a decent living..." = The GOP/TP specifically the Republican-controlled House. McConnell, Boehner/Cantor, where are the JOBS?!

It's grump not Gump Edward, and the man made an honest living, doing some damn hard work day in day out, in all kinds of weather, that is to be admired Edward, there is not a damn thing wrong with it, did you ever try to make either of the unions you were in better, or did you just get yours and now that you have it you still just complain. I 'll throw in with any "dumb" iron worker like fauxhater evertime, before I would a guy like you.

Truepatriot.

You need to be more specific. Obama's jobs bill is languishing in the senate because of the obstructionist Harry (Whorehouse) Reid. It isn't even being discussed thanks to harry.

What do you think Gump??

The 9,400 Texas state government employees that Rick Perry laid off, probably though it was working well enough, their landlords, creditors, and the small businessmen in the communities where they lived and spent their paychecks probably thought it worked well enough, the people who will now do without the services those 9,400 people performed probably thought it worked well enough. Those people are not going away, they are still in Texas, they got to eat, so now they will collect unemployment, food stamps, and will provide no services for the citizens they once served, because they still got to eat. Many will lose their homes and cause more downward pressure on real-estate prices, and values. Many will offer to work for less at anything they can do and somebody else will get pink slipped and be replaced for the lower wages, and the median income in Texas will drop even lower. BTW no body hands money to "unions" Leona, unions are just a bunch of hard working individuals, they earn that money by going to work every day and doing their jobs, nobody hands them a damn thing, you act like people who belong to a union somehow have a magic cash flow from the government right into their wallets. You must know better because it is ridiculous to think anybody pays these people a dime that they did not show up at their jobs and earn. They just earn a modest living they are not going to your Beverly Hills neighborhood, with a tool box in their hand. You can pay people a decant wage and benefits for thier work or you can pay it out in wefare benefits, but sick people need health care, and hungry kids need to eat, you can support emplyers and unions who support themselves by taking responsibility for their health care and retirement, or you can force them to be on SS, medicaid, and food stamps, buy they are not going anywhere and they won't let their children starve, so they will collect whatever welfare is afforded them, many people collect welfare in Texas even though they are working because wages are so low. In the end many states will find that the stimulus money they using to pay their bills was working out well enough, they will soon find they have to beg for more or raise taxes, but either way the jig is just about over and one way or the other the piper needs to be paid.

Once Reid comes back from vacation and clears up important things he has suggested that the president's bill that must be passed now -- said for the first seventeen times three weeks ago -- might be introduced. Sure would be nice if the democrats could do some work for a change.

In a hurry for that jobs bill now are you James.

Thats just too cool, Harry Reid won't let republicans have Obama's jobs bill that they really don't want but that they need as much as anybody, because if nothing passes they can't claim unemployment is all Obama's fault, or blame him because it did not instantly solve all our woes, welcome to Waterloo, it can be played by both sides.

forrest -- i am in a hurry to have the bill introduced and debated. once harry finds the time to get it on the floor we will see what both sides think. the house has passed a half dozen bills relating to the jobs environment but the senate has not acted on any of them. why is that?

James,

Notice now, Forrest is strangely silent when you mention the half dozen jobs bills sent from the House to the Senate. Seems someone so concerned with employment would be harping about all the stalling tactics going on in the Senate, thanks to the #1 obstructioist, Harry (Whorehouse) Reid.

He probably needs to assemble a bullet proof majority so it is not filibustered, he needs some republicans to do that, so I guess he is doing what he needs to do with regards to how McConnel likes to play, as long as the president keeps pushing Congress sooner or later they will have to do their job all of them.

Yes Leona,

It seems that we were right all along. Raising the debt ceiling was just giving Obama another blank check to run up the National Debt a few more TRILLION.

And when congress caved and gave in to Obama, what happened as a result?? The Obama Downgrade. that is a real feather in his liberal hat. No President..EVER has caused the credit rating of the United States to be downgraded. That's a first for ol' Barrack.

He is truly destroying America from within. Any Republican candidate can beat him hands down now. Hell, he defeats himself. (Bedroom slippers indeed. LOL)

Edward, adding to what you said, here's Obama killing terrorists like Awlaki with drones ( not that I am against it) while he protested for 3 years that we need to give KSM a "fair" trial in NYC instead of a military court ! I would laugh ( if I wasn't so disallusioned ) about the fact that we have a President who ALWAYS says one thing and does another ! WHERE DOES HE STAND ON ANYTHING ?!

liberty, unless you are a GOP candidate or Obama, you do NOT have a 50/50 chance. You have a zero chance. haha Check the polls , Obama has LESS than a 50/50 chance and Romney has GREATER than a 50/50 chance.

Leona, hate to burst your bubble, but to my major disappointment and grief, the Republicans have zero chance of winning the election unless they can come up with at least a mediocre candidate and Obama does his best to give the election way. Obama is doing his part. Republicans????????????

Liberty if republicans would have came in with any decent plan of action at all, they may have swept the whole nine yards, they got 12 months left, they could still help themselves but they seem too worried it might help Obama some as well, it's the damnedest thing I ever saw. Leona does not want to listen but even republicans such as yourself realize that we all go down the tubes together, it is not just liberal democrats and their children suffering out there, its way past time these politicians work together for some balanced solutions to unemployment, SS, Medicare, the debt, ect. If they don't quickly find a way to work well and play well with each other the American people are going to give a lot of them a spanking, on both sides of the aisle, but will keep this president, over any current republican candidates. I appreciate your honesty Libertyforyou, we can do better than this, shame on all of us if we can't do better than this for each other in America

@Forrest Grump 11.3--yep, can't argue with that.

What don't you understand? There is NO majic pill never has been and never will be. This whole mess will take more than two terms to fix. The Stimulus DID work but he took to little. He kept us out of a depression. AND they should PASS THE BILL.

deborah, haha, get a grip on reality. Harry Reid won't bring this "Jobs bill" for a vote in the Senate. Many of the Dems won't even vote for it. Doesn't HARRY hear Obama screaming..........."IF YOU LOVE ME....Pass this BILL, PASS THIS BILL ! "

Huh? Sorry, I can't follow the grumblings. Put the kool aid down and start all over when you sober up.

Keep trying you will figure it out.

Yeah Leona,

Old Forrest lost me there too. I think his fingers move a lot faster that his mind ever will.

Ha it makes perfet sense read carefully!

They can't see the Forrest for the trees....................LOL

Ha that is a good one deborah, I wish I thought of it LOL

yeah Rick, the American people ( the tax payers, that is) have been asking about that for 3 years. Good luck with that.

Ronnie,

First of all, learn to use the spellchecker at the top. Then you won't appear to be some kind of ignorant liberal.

Your ashamed to be white?? Maybe you could consult with that doctor that helped change the complexion of the late Micheal Jackson.

Ignorant liberal, eh?

Well, you never saw a liberal afflicted with that old time religion have you (anti evolution, anti big bang, anti global warming, anti science)? I notice that it's epidemic in conservative circles.

But then, I'm just a dumb old liberal who thinks science is a pretty good thing. Just sayin..

Teabagger morons. Where the hell were they when dubya was squandering a suplus, passing tax cuts in a time of war and wiping his butt on the constitution. Not a damn peep out of any of them!

Apparently dave schaffer the Tea Party was waiting on the democrats to do something. since the democrats failed to do anything they decide to come after the big spenders. What most of you seem to forget is that the Tea Party finally came together because they really hated Bush's TARP.

@ Edward1075991 ... since you are going around the boards "correcting" everyone's grammar, you might try correcting your own, dumb-nuts!

Edward1075991 quote: "Your ashamed to be white?? Maybe you could consult with that doctor that helped change the complexion of the late Micheal Jackson."

Your = possessive pronoun You're = contraction of the words you are

Therefore, your address to Ronnie Patrick should have started with the word You're NOT Your

Now, shut up, sit down, and read a grammar book.

No, we'll all be traumatized after 2012 if the repukes get re-elected. Folks that trashed the economy in good times will be especially bad caretakers now.

Save some of your wine for the stock market crash.

Who is going to beat him Edward, I honestly doubt that any of your current candidates can.

No Deborah,

I drink Pinot Noir. Something you wouldn't understand.

You are down to drinking aftershave colonge! Get help Ed, before you start eating Sterno.

Yes Joe,

Obamanomics will hurt all of us eventually.

His policies are inflationary and will hurt all those on a fixed income the most. Obama is like a bad cold that threatens to turn into pneumonia at any moment. His "solutions" are like overpriced over the counter remedies that haven't worked before and will not work now.

We need to boot him and all his socialist cronies out of office to really become cured. looks like the Obama sickness will hang on for another year. Ahhh-choo.

JoeBuck,

Methinks his poll numbers are much worse than the "published" numbers. This is just the most that the pollsters want to stretch the truth in his favor. Kind of like the unemployment figures.

Edward,

I think you may be right.

Wow that's new info...............can you tell me one President that didn't have the luxury of free travel while campaigning for their second term? I'm sure Bush did everything on his own dime? You guys really need some new material.

AND what are the PUBs approval ratings? Not so good are they?

So NOBAMA,

You have to ask yourself. What was it that mesmerized normally rational people to vote for this fool?? Was it his charisma?? He talent for rousing speeches?? What the opposition was offering?? Vague bumper-sticker slogans like "Yes, We can" Or "Hope and Change" ??

Or was it the fact that we didn't actually know where he came from and what his experience was??

His school records are still sealed. grades, papers he wrote. All hidden. That Reverend Wright was silenced quick enough.

Boy, talk about buyer's remorse. all those unemployed people who bought into Obama's B.S. are now paying the price. They will continue to pay for their errant votes till we can rectify the problem in November 2012. That will be the real start of hope and change.

@edward - you are a PUB talking head. All your assertions are so stale they have lost their bite months ago. Try again.

Just look at the mess of candidates that the TP has offered up - quite pathetic. No buyers remorse, we are all taking out extended warranties on Obama and supporting him so that there will be HOPE but no CHANGE in 2013!

deborah: "No buyers remorse, we are all taking out extended warranties on Obama and supporting him..."

SEND that memo to Harry Reid. He won't bring Obama "jobs bill" up for a vote in the Senate ! haha, Can anyone say The Democrat Party of the Rediculous.?