This poll is OBVIOUS to the "most" of the country as it were. BUT and that's your wife's BIG but, it is simply another chance for the GOP to com out with there own poll that says it is helping them. ; ] Contrary to facts opinion relaity and what is in front of you. By Jove they will do no less. ; ]

Cheers

Eventually the long-standing strategy of the GOP of pandering to an evermore radical fringe base while trying to turn everyone else off on the concept of voting was destined bring them to disaster. At some point Conservatism was destined to be exposed as a coalition of often contradictory elements and not the unified front they pretend.

The sooner the GOPTP in its current form implodes the better for America. It is not until the party sees humiliating defeat that sensible Conservatives and moderates can once again take control of the party. Not until that happens will our political process once again become healthy when the Republican Party becomes healthy.

Newt is undermining Santorum and empowering Mitt rMoney.

Back in 2008, Hillary kept it close up until June. Then they voted in November with a better battle-tested Obama winning the Presidency. The Democrats wanted the primaries to end much sooner with the same fear of negative opinion which would cause the GOP to win. The negativity this time around is mostly from the Republican voters.

This group of republican presidential candidates is disgusting. The fact that a major political party is anti-contraception, anti-college, anti-woman, anti-Hispanic, anti-atheist, anti-reason and devoutly anti-Obama is just appalling and should be an embarrassment to our country. I'm sorry, you can shove your righteous indignation and "American Exceptionalism," clearly this country can't be too great with attitudes towards minorities and foreign people like those espoused by candidate Romney and Santorum. If America really is so great and divinely guided why has our political process been hijacked by big-money, plutocrats and fascists (sometimes all in the same person like Mitt Romney)? There is no hiding the fact that Republicans are now the party of hate, and greed and this clown car crowd of candidates proves it everyday with the hateful drivel that flows forth from their pie holes.

Obama 2012, obviously.

Oh goody, goody, goody. President Obama in a landslide, for sure.

Obama can only hurt himself. The liberals have decided not to have primaries. Of the 43 million registered democrats this is their best individual to put forth in the election????

The democrats don't have a say as to who should represent them in the election?

And who can trust msnbc.com when Griffin says he is driving nbc towards a progressive liberal slant?

“Four in 10 of all adults say the GOP nominating process has given them a less favorable impression of the Republican Party, versus just slightly more than one in 10 with a more favorable opinion”.

GOP primaries, that’s what you call it? I call it a circus, with presidential candidates ridiculing and backstabbing each other. The President can’t believe his lucky stars. All he has to do now is watch them fighting each other until there is only one left, then pick up his ball, bowl him out and finish him off.

" I don't think this country can survive another four years under Obama and his administration."

Where is it going to go? Very little has changed since the previous administration. Most of the deficit was already in place and the stimulus was about the only thing that added to it.

They all sound awful, out of touch...even a bit screwy. Not one has put forward a specific plan on how to fix the economy. They all say what they think people want to hear (except Ron Paul on occasion, who is so ga ga anyway.) They stumble over themselves with the tiring catch phrases: " I am the true conservative candidate," "I wholeheartedly support conservative values," and "I am a real conservative tax cutter." One night after I heard Romney say "conservative" 17 times in about 20 minutes, I got so disgusted, I wanted to throw the remote at the TV.

dgrant589: How do you know that this article isnt propaganda.The news is not reported no longer only created!!

Because, all this article is saying is -- the GOP candidates have been making total asses of themselves. And, since that is a factual statement (anyone can see that) -- there is no reason to think this is anything but a clear observation.

Cheers, poopie!

Headlines are spin. Playing a party pawn, accepting bias yellow journalism for news and pretending that the government actually has the best interest of its citizens at heart will continue for some, but those who are paying attention to truth in the face of those lies are trying to make a difference for everyone. America is every American. Full rights are guaranteed to everyone. Peace should be the norm, not the exception. Sound money should be our monetary policy on any given day, in any given year. Every other candidate, running or seated, is a status quo of government over the People, not government by and for the People. At all times, the citizen should be the most important element in our government, not the least. Ron Paul 2012!

If you actually believe this crap from NBC, you have got to be a liberal. I think it helps liberals to feel better about their chances of winning if they keep hearing this on MSNBC. Might we remind you that thousands of people are still out of work, and many more are in jobs they hate. If they think this situation is how the United States should be under the leadership of a socialist president then they are going to be in for a greater shock than before. People are reaching their breaking point. It will only be a matter of time, before they realize that this president will do something even more stupid if elected another four years.

No, it is the Republican candidates that are hurting the republican party, ain't one worth the @!$%# to run for office, let alone for President. All Four Remaining Candidates will get us into a war with Iran!!! War Machine at work again??? All republicans hate Blacks, Women, Unions, working Middle class, and the poor, because they say they make to much money. No more handouts, people need to pay their way or else. Health care is only for the rich!!! Rest, just have to leave Grandmom die by the side of the road. Newt said, make our kids Janitors, Romney said, I like to Fire People. Santorum, no birth control anymore. Paul, buy Gold!!! And the King of News Media said, ALL WOMEN ARE SLUTS!!! You vote Republican, this is what you will get, people. Obama 2012.

Well the GOP chickens have come home to roost. They should thank the 5 Supreme Court Judges that GOP presidents appointed. They ruled in Citizens United that corporations are people. That spawned the Super PACS and PACS that have kept Gingrich and Santorum alive. Most of Gringrich's money comes from just five men. The largest contributor Sheldon Adelson has said publicly that he is willing to donate up to 100 million dollars. "I'm against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections, but as along as it's doable, I'm going to do it," Adelson said. Now ask yourself 100 million "no string attached'? Since he cannot deduct that money from his taxes what is he getting for it?

The republicans make a mockery out of our process and our government............these are not the kind of people we need running this country or our lives................

the republicans show no mercy, no compassion, no unity of nation - let alone party - no ability to put forth a plan that is thought out or workable or that is not paid for by stealing money from the poor and cutting programs for the elderly and middle class while all the time making sure the top 1% wealthiest people in America get monstrous tax breaks and protections that the rest of the 98% do not get...

The republican agenda was made very clear when Mitch McConnell stated the day after the 2010 elections when the republicans regained control of the congress that their only goal from that day forward was not to help Americans - not even the ones that put them into office - but to get President Obama out of office in 2012, by obstructing the nations business and the need for reforms and the governments ability to help those effected by the disaster left by the Bush administration and to make sure the economy stays stagnant to ensure that the President does not look as though he is doing well by Americans.....................

so, ask yourself, looking back and listening to what Mitch McConnell said and what the republicans have been focused on (abortion, the pill, the picture on money, and a ton of other crap that is already law or is of no use to Americans trying to get back to work and feed their families) and ask yourself in all honesty, just who do the republicans actions seem to represent?....the wealthy and the republicans party..................NO ONE ELSE!!!

This is all documented in the news....in fact everyday when the news is reported they continue to do this........how can so many of you not see that you are being sacrificed for the wealthy and the republican party?

To continue to be loyal to a party that has proven to have no interest in the well being of its supporters or of the economic well being of America is beyond stupid.........it is suicidal....only you who choose this path are condemning your children and their children to the same fate you choose for yourself..........there is no future in supporting the republican party.

YAWN...

Gotta love MSNBC, making this look like it's gonna be a battle for the Presidency this year.

FACT: OBAMA = EPIC FAIL

That which does not kill us makes us
stronger.

Friedrich Nietzsche

It was mentioned the republicans have no ideas...ohhhh but they do. Privatize Social security and put the money into wallstreet so they can have all your money. Privatize medicare so it can go to corporations for more Ceos to take the rest of your money, privatize the post office so small towns lose all mail for their business and homes giving more ceos and corporations the rest of the money they have not taken from you. Give the rich even more tax breaks while feeding you the line that the rich are job creators...really? They vote to keep billions of dollars in subsidies to big oil, they vote to give big tax breaks to big oil, they vote against giving companies in America tax breaks and vote to keep tax breaks for the companies going overseas. They vote to keep money in fake companies offshore to avoid paying taxes. They voted against giving healthcare to the 911 responders who are now with cancer and other health problems, they lowered vets benefits, they did not fund Afgan war or Iraq war and leave it to dems to clean up mess, they destroy the economy with the greed of bankers, they created the corporations are people too with the change in republican Supreme court. They killed thousands of our soldiers and wounded thousands more with lies of mass destruction in order to give Cheney company war profits with no bid contracts. The cost of all the war dead and wounded is never ending for all the treatment they need and the destruction of many families with so many troops serving numerous trips back to Iraq and Afgan. They gave up on killing Bin Laden. This list is never ending.......Yes the republicans have a plan, to take away voting rights with voter id laws on the elderly, poor and students because they tend to vote dems. They have a plan based on greed for the rich. The plan is to get all the money. They already took over the government with corp[orations are people. Really? Ever see a corporation bleed and die like our soldiers.........and you want to vote republican?..........really?

One thing is for sure. The country is in bad shape but thank God the right man is president. I shutter to think what shape this country would be in today if McCain and his quitter side kick Palin had been elected. GM, Chrysler, and possibly Ford would no longer exist, unemployment would be 15%-20%, and we would have troops in Iran fighting another needless war.

Now we have a group of Republican candidates that have already said that they would attack Iran putting more of our troops in danger and let the automotive manufacturers close leaving over a million people out of work with no pension. On top of that they want to cut Social Security and Medicare so seniors living on a fixed income will have to get a job to survive. Let me tell you something...Wal-Mart only has so many greeter jobs open for seniors.

Given the choices Obama is the only sane choice to make.

Yes the republicans have a plan. Santorum wants to ban contraceptives because sex is only for married hetro couples. Romney wants whatever Santorum wants only 3 hrs later. Gingrich doesn't want to discuss it because he does not want to be on either side of the subject so he can claim he was on the correct side of whoever wins this argument. Meanwhile the watch is on for Newt's wife to get sick, so we can all meet his new wife to be. Ron Paul wants a pony........

Just how left wing do you think MSNBC could be when they are owned by General Electric? That being one of the most conservative companies around. How many untruths could MSNBC be slinging without being called out by any of the numerous news outlets, blog sites or fact check organizations? MSNBC has and invites the most reputable journalist in the business. All news should be viewed with open eyes but MSNBC is a fine organization.

I really don't know what the republicans are so upset about... before the 2008 primaries ended, all you could see were "anyone but Hilary" bumper stickers... well, you got your wish! Obama 2012!

To say the primary race has had a corrosive effect on the losers the GOP is desperately propping up as wannabe candidates is an all-time understatement.

For those that don't seem to be able to read even bold face headlines this was a joint poll conducted by NBC and Wall St Journal(you know, the same Wall St Journal owned by Rupert Murdoch that owns Faux News). I guess you will be telling us that Rupert conspired with the liberals to defeat the Republicans

Hmmm... Joe, no, the Republican Party is on a self-destruct mission, thanks to the Christians who hijacked the Party a number of years ago.

As a Republican, I am embarrassed to see that the GOP cannot find a more meaningful candidate - as in someone who knows something about making a budget and keeping to it, creating jobs, and, caring about people who are less fortunate.

None of the present gaggle of Republican Party presidential candidate wannabes are acceptable as a presidential candidate. Newty does not pass the ethics or morals test. Mitty, religious views aside, has not had any contact with average every day people. Ronnie is not age appropriate. Ricky is far too draconian, vindictive, and sanctimonious.

Until the Republican Party gets rid of the conservative Christians and other mean spirited people within the Party, the GOP will remain in the toilet for a long time.

@ Joe F in Vegas:

Rupert Murdoch is a media whore who will do anything to sell some advertising. He started Fox News because at the time, there was not one single conservative voice on any channel anywhere, so he saw a niche to exploit. If he could make more money getting the Fox News staff to talk about rainbows and lollipops, he'd dump the conservative slant in a heartbeat. I doubt even he imagined that it would be so insanely popular with American audiences. He's not even American himself. He doesn't give a crap about you, or me, or anyone else in this country. He just makes most of his money here.

This is something that the republican candidates have done to themselves. They have spent so much time, effort, and money, attacking each other, that no one really knows where they stand on the issues that are important to the American people.

The GOP is a bundle of negativity - fear this, hate that - you really can't sustain a campaign, or a party, based on indefinite negativity. Whereas the GOP has put all their eggs in the "Anybody But Obama" basket, the President continues to ignore the personal attacks, and talk up the many good things his policies have fostered in our country. And try as they might, the GOP fail when attacking the President on the negatives:they might start off being concerned, but quickly fall back on ABO when it's pointed out that Obama's policies are basically GOP policies. That's another problem: Obama is a better Republican than they are at the moment.

The GOP are still reeling from the fact that they lost back in 2008. They let in the hate-induced Tea Party, who have very little to offer that is substantive, but are shrill about showing all they really care about is taking America back 150 years socially, and pay for nothing and turn the country into a gigantic militia camp fiscally. The core GOP is essentially leaderless - so stuffed with PAC funds, they don't even know their own purpose, afraid to cut off the boisterous but lethal Tea Party funds.

There's no winning for the Republican party: there's only degrees of losing. You can't win when you aren't even in the game, but are only there to throw bottles from the stand.

Indeed, the president’s job-approval rating now stands at 50 percent; Obama leads Romney in a hypothetical general-election match up by six points; and Democrats hold a five-point edge on the generic congressional ballot.

...and the news just gets better and better! Dullbart is dead, Limpballs is limping, and when Republicans try to stick it to America's women, they can't get it up. Did someone replace that little blue pill in their Tea with a placebo?!

Just say "NO!!" to the party of NO.

Oh, and justoneguy... you might want to consider calling yourself justoneVOTE.

Have a nice day in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. :)

Need not worry they have Rush.

This garbage could not win a Janitors contest; nothing on earth could persuade America that the GOP/TP Demented, are fit to have even a seat outside of the State of Washington. Such loony trash, is simply wasting taxpayers money...for make no mistake about it...our money pays for this demented circus.

You hardly thought that swindling corporates and Banksters, would spend any of their own ill gotten gains on these imbeciles.

@NeighborOfTheBeast

And yet, you fully support some semi literate gas bag calling an educated young lady vile, disgusting names so as to silence her for simply exercising her right as an AMERICAN to testify before a congressional committee. I have a feeling the opposite is true. You obviously don't want the best for America and Americans. Fortunately there are enough that do to cancel your hatred.

@ Lusitania

Need not worry "you" have Ed Schultz

All you teatards, birthers, flat earthers, religious fanatics, mindless dittoheads, evolution deniers, Fox noise cultist and all around 15^th century Republicans better get used to President Obama because he's not leaving office until January 2017. Republicans have offered up the most worthless collection of candidates in the history of this nation with no ideas to fix anything other than the failed policies of the past. Talking about birth control, birth certificates, teleprompters, college transcripts and wars on religion while yelling socialist and Marxist over and over doesn’t attract many voters. And if you don’t come up with some new ideas and find an entirely new group of leaders, a Democrat will win in 2016.

Corrosive is an appropriate word for the policies of G W Bush that in 2007 caused the bottom to fallout of our economy it took a long time [2001-2006] to corrode and it will take at least that long to repair-and even longer or the GOP

Ron Paul wants a pony. Obama caused reduction in US credit rating. This stuff is hilarious.

Polls are as less reliable than the weather and reflect the whims of those who paid to have them done. As for this one it's just more propaganda cooked up to garner support for a failed experiment, the public can see through this sham, as one seasoned politician put it:

"You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. "

Honest Abe had it figure out and so do the majority of Americans, the Obama administration has not been good for this country and continues to shove us farther down the rat-hole of despair.

After all is said and done we will see a news story on why polls like this one were a ruse.

euterpe-1641499

That's another problem: Obama is a better Republican than they are at the moment

I don't see him being either right or left. I believe Obama is middle of the road and wants to do what's right for the people. All the Republicans talking about Obama being a socialist is just talk. Bush started socialist programs like Medicare part B but Republicans ignore that and if they could they would try to blame Obama for that just as they try blaming him for the economic collapse,

What's laughable is the Republicans that can't deny that the economy is getting better saying that it should have been better. Well duhh, it would be getting better faster if the Republicans had not blocked every jobs bill that the Democrats have tried to pass for the last 3 years yet have not put one jobs bill before congress in that time for consideration.

@ realitycheck

Yes, the Republicans are running out of tricks to fool the American people. We're getting wise to their fear tactics used for the last eleven years.

Honest Abe had it figure out and so do the majority of Americans, the Obama administration has not been good for this country and continues to shove us farther down the rat-hole of despair.

realitycheck-3009300 - thank you for proving my post correct.

I don't see him being either right or left.

I agree, Larry, when comparing to today's GOP mindset. I should have said historically. I see a lot of similarity between Obama and Eisenhower or even Reagan.

Reality check, you are going to geta reality check, Just stare straight ahead until you see the next exit and take it.

"Normal" political sense would tell you this is going to be a landslide in November for Obama... Bush handed us crap. Obama is turning the crap around. Obama ended one war and is ending the other. Bin Ladin is dead. The GOP looks like crap. They have 8th Century attitudes and have only self-centered and shallow ideas.

It SHOULD be a landslide.

But other forces are working here. We all know what they are. Big money and latent prejudices means: take nothing for granted.

Sure, try to discredit the polls when they suggest an "inconvenient truth".

But, I agree in one sense...polls are not required. The basic decency of the majority of Americans is disgusted with, and rejecting of, the utter ugliness and vacuousness of the Republican 'brand'. What the prolonged Republican primary has provided -- for those who still didn't know it -- is having the 'sheets and hoods' peeled back thereby revealing the real nature of the abomination the Republican Party has become.

The polls merely document the growing national disgust with such a hideous political organization. No polls actually necessary...the ultimate 'poll' will be taken this November. Meanwhile, thanks for all those revealing debates (with their mob-mentality audiences) and keep this self-destructing Republican primary process going for months longer. Indeed -- a reality check!

Starsailing,

You owe me a new keyboard damn it! I was enjoying your post, drinking my coffee, until I got to the end. Bad timing on my part but I'd just taken yet another swig of coffee and read "Ron Paul wants a pony ..." I literally spit my coffee out I was laughing so damned hard. Now that's good stuff.

Keep up the posts. And send the keyboard, ASAP! ;-)

Alsa, another election year finding us once again choosing from the lesser of evils.

No matter how things shake out we're still in a mess, it's going to take years of good leadership to pull us from the mire, the kind of leadership that at present is no where in sight.

We are reaping the fruits of the kind of government we have allowed, and chosen. It's all just big business now and the welfare of the nation is expendable in the eyes of those who love money more than people.

Oh and BTW as far as politicians go; they're all skunks and are stinking the place up....all of them including the one who now runs the show!

the republican party is in a mad dash to the bottom, and no republican candidate can survive that race and still be a reasonable, electable candidate to anybody else.

I see some absolutely ignorant comments here...for one, this is an NBC poll which we all know is going to be reported how the liberals want to report it...put that spin on it to pump up the left. Thats not what is so ignorant though as that has become typical with ALL news agencies, left and right but we the people continue to buy their bag of sh!t.

What I see as ignorant is all of the rants about how all republicans hate middle class, minorities, women...etc. I am more of an independent but there are a lot of issues I am more conservative on....such as I dont believe taxpayer money should be used for massive entitlement programs and used for propping up the supposed "have nots". Its not that I dont think there should be help programs but we have obviously gone too far. Its not that I dont like minorities or anyone else but statistics show more minorities use those programs so the left media puts a "spin" on it to make it sound like I dont like minorities...I just dont like people who cant take care of themselves.

I read in the newspaper this weekend that in a rather large town in Missouri, there is a push to the state congress to NOT let kids drive until they are 18. The reason for this was that the drop-out rate was high in that area and people's thoughts were that if no one could drive until they were 18 then more would stay in school. When brought up in open forums that there are many 16 year olds that are contributing members of society with jobs already and that not driving would be detrimental to their lives the response was that "tough choices have to be made for the greater good of all" I about puked. Thats the problem with our schools and many of the liberal programs is that we cannot continue to weaken the whole because a few cant clean up their acts...its a free country and we all have free choice.

I think Thomas Jefferson said that "a country that can provide everything for you can also take it away"...think about that people

Reality, I think the "rathole of dispair" is just how you feel because things look bad for your side (at the moment). There a lot of us that are feeling pretty good about getting away from policies that WE think are bankrupting this country (givaway tax cuts for people that don't need them, unfunded wars, pandering givaways like Medicare Part D that are also unpaid for). We need employment to grow our way out of debt. Clinton (and congressional Republicans) managed it in th 1990's. We just need to do it again. Pretty simple.

Construction, if you look at where the money goes, assistance to poor is actually a pretty small part of what we spend, and most of that is temporary--that's the reason the budget is in the crapper. Get everybody back to work and a lot of this will be solved. Sometimes that takes a kick-start investment. That doesn't make Obama a socialist, he's just trying to get us into a Clinton-era economy again. I'm all for that, aren't you?

I agree completely with getting folks back to work and that solving a lot of issues...I also agree that that does take some kick starting with stimulus type packages. What I dont believe in is all the other program spending. Assistance spending actually takes up quite a bit of our budget...medicare/medicaid are massive money eaters but they shouldnt be done away with, the intent of the programs is good, we have just evolved as a country to a point where programs set up years ago arent as applicable now and need to be over-hauled, same as social security. It may be harsh but we cant create an umbrella thru these programs for everyone.

On the Clinton era economy, I agree that those years were great for our country. However, the housing crisis actually started in the Clinton years. His loosening of the reigns on Fannie/Freddy and pushing people to buy/sell homes is what started the bubble. I remember watching a speech by Bill where he said he wants to "make it affordable for everyone in the United States to own a home and thats why we need to loosen lending practices to people who otherwise couldnt afford homes". I like the idea and wouldnt it be nice if everyone owned a home but the reality is that not everyone is entitled to one and not everyone can make the right choices to afford one, there is just too much irresponsibility. So, in the end I have to take the Clinton era with a grain of salt. He gets a lot of credit for a great economy (and Bill was a good president, Im not saying he wasn't) but when the housing market starts booming because of this massive influx of homes, its not hard to balance the budget...

Unfortunately,

Once the republicans have a nominee - they will stop squabbling with each other, and start running one lying advertisement after another about Obama.

The question is, whether enough independents will be fooled into voting for a Republican candidate who offers nothing other than continuing the Bush tax cuts, more corporate handouts, and the relaxing of regulations that will allow companies to leave the country, and crush unions, women, and minorities under their thumbs.

While the republicans tell us that the economy will tank if the Bush tax cuts expire. I believe America will be amazed to discover - that when the Bush tax cuts expire - the wealthy will be forced to invest money in American business and manufacturing in order to make money again - and the economy will immediately get a huge cash infusion that will within a year have our stock market over 20,000 and our deficits will shrink dramatically.

@Festus: The Democrats have an incumbent President as their candidate. What could be better than that? There doesn't need to be a primary, because they already know who their candidate is.

A totally meaningless poll. Too far away from November to count for much.

Once the primary season is over and Obama has to go head to head with the GOP nominee, these numbers will reverse. The marginal economic recovery we've seen is going to end because of the increasing price of oil. Add to that a more rapid rate of inflation because Obama's policy of printing money is going to catch up with us sooner rather than later. Home foreclosures and business bankruptcies are picking up steam again. Over 100,000 small businesses, the acknowledged engines for job creation, have failed under Obama.

Further, Iraq is descending into chaos. Egypt, Syria, and Libya are too. It's too late to stop Iran from building its nuclear weapons. Obama is losing the Afghanistan war as we speak. The lack of a coherent foreign and military policy is going to come down on Obama, hopefully sooner than later. Iran and N. Korea are making a fool out of Obama.

Obama is one and done.

That would be a great thing doulos but I think everyone needs to keep in mind a few things and understand that there are reasons for government actions and attempts at balance. The Bush era tax cuts for example, everyone wants to bang on republicans for it but democrats have had the chance to take them back and didnt. Im not saying they are good or bad, just that the dems kept them for a reason (I actually think this is a media thing where the media has repeatedly banged on the reps for the tax cuts, yet when the dems keep them there is not much backlash from the media). I also look at the comments about corporate tax cuts/special tax conditions and again, these are actions taken by both dems and reps but the media highlights the reps more for it. The truth is that our country is more expensive when it comes to mass producing goods and companies absolutely have the right to produce their goods anywhere they want. Are the goods made in China as good as what is made here in the United States, I would think not on more technical things but if someone half way around the world wants to work for $2/day then there isnt much to be done. The government can/has tried to offer tax incentives and give backs as much as they can to attempt to level the playing field but it hasnt/wont worked. Ideally, we would tax things made in China 70% when brought back to the US but China owns so much of our massive debt we cannot do that.

Some of the issue is that people need to realize the unfortunate truths about a few things and deal with them. Its not that unions are bad, I am pro union but when people are willing to work in other parts of the world for so much less, unions become ineffective and begin to hurt society. If EVERYONE in the US began to buy things only made in America, we could change this but on average things made here are quite a bit more expensive and while many people preach "pro-union, pro-middle class" they still go to Wal-Mart and buy the cheapest stuff they can when no-one is looking and/or listening to them...

"The GOPigs are being destroyed by the Tea ReTards in Congress"

"Rush represents the insanity of the GOP TeaPugs"

"Santorum is a big fan of Rush, two nuts in a pot"

"Rick Sanatorium Spits on Women's Rights"

"Santorum wants Church & State to be a Union"

"Reaganomics destroyed our Country, Supported by the GOPigs"

"The primaries have not raised the stature of the party, nor enhanced the appeal of the candidates..."

Seems to me that the American People have wised up.

We see the "Ryan Plan" which robs seniors of both Social Security and Medicare, we see Republicans constant call for the repeal of quality health care for all Americans, we see Grover Nordquist waiting on the side lines for someone to come in and sign everything HE wants which is all contrary to what the American People need, and we see (and hear) Republicans tell us that, whether we like it or not, Republicans are going to stick the American Workers with the full cost of that Lie Called the War in Iraq while Republicans give the Rich and full, clear, and complete pass, and American Workers' wages continue to be stagnant.

There is NO logical reason for any ordinary American Citizen to vote for any Republican, and the ones who would are suckers for punishment.

Obama / Biden 2012

The only thing attempting to erode the GOP and conservative values is the Lame Stream Media, and of course the typical Joe Liberal.

Even if Obama wins in 2012, he's still be a "Lame Duck", thanks to the historic election results of Nov. 2010, the greatest seat-swap in US History..... which leads me to there's "HOPE" for "CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN", this on Nov. 2012. Stuff that in you liberal pipe and smoke it.

Obama 2008 campaign was about "JOBS", "HOPE" and "CHANGE". America got nothing except a dead terrorist, utilizing the methods, techniques and people put in place by Conservatives.

The Liberal's and Lame Stream Media will continue to point fingers and blame the 2008 economic meltdown on the Conservative party, there is no doubt about that, because there was a Conservative President at the time of the melt-down; They'll also always and forever, ignore the fact that the remaining 534 seats on the HILL were predominantly controlled by none other than "Democrats".

Facts are facts, and one of my favorites to share with Liberals is the fact the GW Bush's economic advisors warned of the impending melt-down in April 2001, less than 3 months before he even took office for the first time. And what were the Liberal Democrat's response to that... while here's a little sample from the Architect himself, or is that herself?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW5qKYfqALE

here's another cute video from the other chief Architect, Mr. Raines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbIb75JdwY&feature=related

To all the Liberals who insist the Conservatives are the blame, and that the Housing Boom and Banking Regulatory changes created by Billy Boy Clinton would have no repercussions.... you're BS has just been smashed.

SmBusOwnerinNY:

My despair is not personal, look around, ignore what the papers say and the trumped up numbers and "fuzzy math" (they all use it) you hear about on the news. While I realize my views reflect what's going on in my neighborhood more closely than they do the rest of the country, reports indicate things are not good elsewhere. I live in the heartland where a diversity of jobs and lifestyles exists everything is at an all time low and with 5.00/gal gas on the way things will just get tougher. Crime is on the increase and there is a feeling of tension in the air, look out when the rubber-band snaps!

While I agree with you on the need to get people back to work you must first find jobs, and then people who are willing to get off their backside (I'm being nice here) and do something. No one will work when there's a free income available, I told an unemployed man about a job opportunity the other day and he replied that he still had plenty of unemployment money to live off of for a while and would look for work when that ran out. Though eligible, I have not taken one dime of government assistance and had an income of $16.35 last year, I'm living off what little savings I was able to accumulate and worked like a dog for 30 years and get raped by penalties and repetitious taxes to the point I only get back a portion of my own money.....thieves!!! and so it goes. I just lost over ten thousand dollars and a year of my life investing and struggling to build a business of my own, my biggest enemy besides the dead economy was dealing with the red tape put in place by big government. They're all crooks and the only difference in the two parties is how and who they desire to steal from. The kick-start you spoke of has failed not once but many times in many forms. You are also correct about subsidies and tax breaks given to the monopolies that have a strangle hold on the people, however, if you think Obama has a better plan your mistaken. His rob Peter to pay Paul economics is a sham. Like I said our only real choice is deciding who we would like to see pick our pockets.

I'll tell you what will work, when the cable TV and electric is shut off and the smokes, pizza and lottery tickets are gone people will get off their lazy butts and go to work......some of them that is.
The rest will take to the streets like the entitlement crowd in Greece did recently demanding more money for doing nothing. It's going to get ugly, sooner than you think, and what will big government offer for a cure; more benefits at the expense of liberty.

You'll not see a lot of votes for my comments, they are depressing at best; however, to expect "change" using the same old methods that have failed for years is foolhardy at best!!! You are also correct in that it can be fixed, however, it will not be until we a group of people in Washington who as as concerned about their country, "the people", as much as they are about their own miserable hides and the priority of perpetuating their existence!!

Bitter you bet! It grieves me to see our once great nation that people like my forefathers worked so hard to build being cut up and sold down the river by a bunch of greedy self-serving fools who will "light out of Dodge" to a comfortable little chateau somewhere when the trouble comes. God help our kids; the government has no intentions to do so!

Well said Doulos63 - especially your first sentence. The hatred toward President Obama is so vile that no matter who the TP candidate is there will be a huge rally behind him. In my opinion, that is why the primaries have had such a low turnout rate. The TP really doesn't care who their candidate is. As Norquist recently said - all they need in a president is someone who can hold a pen and sign his name. Now that is very scary. We had that in Reagan and Bush.

Obama/Biden 2012.

all they need in a president is someone who can hold a pen and sign his name. Now that is very scary.

ModerateIndy

To be honest that's all we've had since Harry Truman was in office, politics bought and paid for as usual with the middle-class left holding the bag.

BTW: "Scary" is the understatement of the day for sure....try devastating at least!

"Marilyn Monroe, Rocks"

ConstructioninSTL - I am very liberal but I do agree with some of your comments. I don't want to see unlimited welfare payments and I'd like to see cuts to welfare payments when reciepients choose to have additional children after they begin to receive welfare. I would definitely want them to receive free contraception, because they need to take the responsibility of not having more children, but do not receive enough to pay the extra monthly cost. I would like to see higher disablility payments, but there needs to be accountability so as to limit fraud. I also believe in times like these, unemployement benefits need to be extended. There are so many people I know whose benefits have run out, but they still can't find a job. These are good, hardworking people, who really want to work and are scared because they are loosing everything they've worked so hard for. I think that most liberals think like I do. There are some who expect the gov't to pay for everything, but the majority think like I do. As to your example about drivers license age, I would totally disagree with extending the age, just because some kids can't stay in school. It would be detramental to the majority of good kids out there. You might want to call these "liberal" programs, but they aren't really. They are "nanny state" programs that most liberals don't agree with (just like in San Francisco where they banned McDonalds from giving toys with Happy Meals - gimme a break!).

I am a liberal who fully believes in personal responsibility. Some people fall on hard times, sometimes its their own fault, but often it is not. Let's help them climb back up and get back on their feet. As a human with empathy and compassion, I don't want to see other people suffer. But I don't want to be taken advantage of either. Let's help those who really can't help themselves - such as our elderly and disabled. Let's be good to each other, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Moderate, while Norvil is a complete whack, he isnt wrong in his logic on the president's job...bills and legislation get written and passed in the congress and then are sent to the president for none other than signature. He/she get the glory or become the goat pending on what those policies do, and for the most part the president is the loudest/most public voice in "pushing" political agendas to his/her party but thats the extent of his job. He obviously has military control (which a team of advisors actually runs) but other than that, pushing for his parties views and signing bills...a figure head

The TP is the equivalent for reps that the extreme libs play for the dems, they have views that are largely shared in principle by the rest of the party but the extreme lengths to which they take them make them TP/extreme libs...both parties have their extremists (and the media again will push their agendas which call out the TP far more than an libs). The fact that the congressional election produced a lot of turn-over from dem to rep does say something on how everyone feels. I see the argument about the the downgrade of our credit thrown out a lot as an "example" of how TPers hurt our country since they would not approve borrowing more money. I think everyone needs to look at the fact that the TPers ran their campaigns saying they werent going to go along with giving Obama more money and they got elected to office. Then they actually did what they said they were going to do for a change. Im not saying its right or wrong but they said and did exactly what they campaigned to do and a lot of people voted for them. The fact that the US was downgraded was only a matter of time, our debt is so far beyond reach that we are going to get further downgrades. Think about this, a trillion seconds ago we were in the 40,000 BC range in years and we have a debt that is 10 times that high...

The republican situation is a conundrum. Chemists believe the snake oil they are peddling is so corrosive it eats holes in their buckets just after it is poured into them. Engineers though, are claiming the problems are more associated with the buckets themselves. Claim the brims flair so much, spillage is unavoidable, especially when pouring is attempted by dolts unfamiliar with anything past personal voiding. Damn shame.

"The GOP has a New Health Care Plan, they call it Nocare"

Sally, I can tell you have a good balance of helping others but also the expectation to help yourselves too. We arent too far off in our beliefs as sometimes people just need help and we need to set an example for the rest of the world and take care of our own. In your post, where you and I would differ is that you think there should be free contraception...why should I have to pay for others to get free contraception? Why isnt the response that those people should take control of their own decisions and if they cannot afford contraception then they should not be having sex? If someone cannot control themselves enough to not have sex and not get pregnant when they cannot afford contraception (let alone the kids that sometimes happen), why should I as a tax payer have to burden that?

@Joe F - I was confused about that too. All these right wingers on here attacking this poll seemed to miss the part where it was conducted mostly by the Wall Street Journal. I thought those guys LIKED the Wall Street Journal, since it attacks Obama so much.

Yeah. Just noticed. Spelled "flare" wrong. I am plumb ashamed. As humbly as one suffering a broken back in hell, I apologize.

To....That's Your Right.........I do have extra keyboard for you laying around someplace. Yes what I said is true. Ron Paul wants a pony, a train set and a new baseball glove. Santorum wants a pointed hat like the popes so he can wear it in parades. Gingrich wants everyone's wife, and Romney wants whatever anyone else wants...3 hrs later!

The welfare paid to the poor people is a drop in the bucket compared to what republicans give to big corporations. Repubs give welfare t in subsidies to big oil in the billions, they give offshore bank accounts to hide money to avoid paying taxes for the rich in the billions, they gave war profiteers no bid contracts in Iraq war to the tune of billions of dollars and when skids of millions of dollars go missing in Iraq , Repub exSen Coleman of Minnesota did nothing to investigate the money disappearing although he was in charge of investigating these matters. Etc, etc, oh those little evil doers getting a couple of bucks to live on. Repubs want no birth control, no abortion, but when innocent children are born it is ok to starve them, and send the money subsidies in the billions to the rich corporations and wallstreet and banksters.

starsailing, have you ever looked in to why these corporations get these tax breaks? The bulk of it is paid to them to basically get them to stay in America and manufacture as much of their goods as can be negotiated...if Apple can make 50% of their Ipads in China and it is cost effective to do so, why dont they make 100% of them there? Because our government pays them to keep some of their operation here (Apple is just an example too)...Im not saying it is right but think about it, if large corporations can mass produce over seas and make more profit (which history tells you they can), why would any company stay unless there are incentives to do so...

Festus 23 -

How has President Obama been making a mockery out of the office of the Presidency and our government?

Please give specifics that support your assertions.

Perhaps it was in trying for continually to get the republicans to work WITH the democrats to the betterment of the US and her people or perhaps you could pick from the following list:

Apparently this is only a partial list too!

Nope, can't see where their is any mockery here, just an excellent President looking our for his people and his nation...

if you have a differing opinion please go down the list and make comments as I would be interested to see what you have to say......after all that is what newsvine is about...differing opinions.

Legislative Prowess

Despite the characterizations of some, Obama's success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson's success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY

*Fiscal Responsibility

Within days after taking office, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5

Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1

On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx

He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending. http://www.cio.gov

He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd

Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa

*Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression

He pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as "the stimulus package," despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk

In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE

He completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6

He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl

He oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY

He also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf

He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7

He signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

He signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn

Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL

He initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b

He created a $60 billion bank to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges. http://bit.ly/e1SSaQ

He implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30Dc

Provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR

*Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection

Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq

He pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD

He made it so that banks could no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers' interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

He wholly endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM

He made a deal with Swiss banks that permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw

He established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

*Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination

He advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7

He pushed through and signed a repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that forced soldiers to lie to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuH

He appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0

He extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj

He's appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D

He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg

He expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x

*Fighting Poverty

He provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM

He signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8

Improved Foreign Relations and American Status Abroad

He visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda

As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g

He re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj

He established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP

He established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde

He ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and a smattering of Democrats) who prevented him from following through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF

Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called "enhanced interrogation." He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC

He ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax

He released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0

On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zve http://nyti.ms/hzWWys

*Better Approach to "Defense"

Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE

He authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2

He restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i

He signed and pushed to ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw

He created and executed a plan to end our involvement in Iraq in a responsible manner, and followed through. http://nyti.ms/fHTfrJ

Through the Defense Authorization Act, he reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ

He developed the first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs

*Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Respect

He made sure that families of fallen soldiers could be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB, by providing funding for it. He also ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA

He funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans' services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo

He provided the troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h

Created the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW

He supported and signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1

He ushered through the largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs for improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x

He created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY

He oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX

*Education

He has repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq

Completely reformed the student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt

He passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe

*Greater Transparency and Better Government

He signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN

He signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years. He also put strict limits on lobbyists' access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV

He held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX

The Obama White House became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5

He established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov

He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV

He crafted an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. This will provide the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb

He improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent in the processing of FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2

*National Safety and Security

He's restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z

Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i

Killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw

*Science, Technology and Health Care

He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw

Opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U

He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7

He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb

Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr

He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP

He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as "light."

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA

He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3

He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9

He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b

Two weeks after taking office, he signed the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv

He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C

Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established http://www.healthcare.gov/

Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents' policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo

Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

*Strengthening the Middle Class and Families

He worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS

He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America's working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F

Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they've been since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8

He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP

He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he's extended unemployment benefits several times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz

*Environment and Energy

He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x

He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM

He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y

He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu

He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)

He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R

Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5

He doubled federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE

He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y

He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq

He reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a "hoax." http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv

He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO

He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P

Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV

Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk

He strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH

Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2

He increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY

*Other Stuff

He has expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY

He oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv

Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/dFb8qF

He nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court's history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6 http://bit.ly/i02wgP

He appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB

He eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and he rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF

He loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j

Ushered through and signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5

Something that seesm to be missed in this mess of republican debates is that at no time have any of them actually talked about job creation.. Their claim to that is the cuttinbg of taxes for the wealthy and big business...which they all are a part of. As for the cutting of taxes and job creation...Bush tried that last time round...and we lost thousands of jobs per month...we had a war that was not paid for because of the cut in taxes....and the republicans want to do it all again ? AS for jobs..it will take a while to replace the manufacturing jobs that have left this nation in search of lower wages and higher profits. The concern for us all should be ...what will we now do to get back the job base...and manufacturing that this country once had ? Thanks to our politicans and the huge amount of funds handed to them by lobbyist....companies can leave the USA and get tax breaks to send goods back to the states...why ? Goods from this country face higher import fees than goods sent here...Why?

Debbie, sounds like he went on a spending spree to me...look how many of your posts contain the words "increased spending" and/or related to him starting another "position" to over-see something which also spends money. Im not saying they were all wrong or bad but when you spend the money, it makes it easy to look like you are doing some good...

Ivan, these companies get what everyone calls "tax breaks and big dollars" form the government so they dont completely leave the country. I used the example earlier, if Apple can make Ipads cheaper in China (which they can), why dont they make all of them in China? Because of what tax breaks they do get from the government...if they didnt, most of these companies would completely leave and why wouldn't they, if they can make more money over seas why not?

Until we middle class completely stand together and NOT buy anything not made in America this will continue...labor is expensive here compared to other parts of the world and we cant tax countries on imports like China because they own a massive part of our massive debt and will not allow it...

Most people in most economically healthy countries work.Their governments make them all pay their fair share of the tax burden of those countries .when times sour they expect to reap that which they have sown. Why is it that so many of our fellow Americans think that they are lazy,idle ,bums when, through no fault of those who are unfortunate enough to experience the unwanted fate of the unemployed, the unemployed hope for help. We pride ourselves in being a Christian nation,so why are so many people so bas-------. towards those unfortunates. I can see where the greedy wealthy and their lackey's are coming from, surely the majority of this nation,who pride themselves ,without reason, of being Christians should be practiceing what they claim.

I agree with you Listoire that as a large, christian super power of a country we should be able to take care of our own...however, the politics of it get brought it because paying your taxes isnt like a savings account. Taxes pay for public services and a small benefit of unemployment for when the unfortunate happens. I dont necessarily think its greed that drives many people to evaluate and get fired up about how the government spends money but when everything is tight for everyone and politicians talk about raising taxes to support additional entitlements or that our country is in massive debt already and is going to keep going down the rabbit hole people dont want to hear it. I have sympathy so far but only so far...there are jobs out there, it may not be what you want to do but sometimes you do what you have to do

Construction.....repubs just voted against giving tax breaks to business that bring companies back into U.S. Repubs voted against giving tax breaks to U.S. companies. Repubs VOTED against taking away tax credits to American companies that take MFG plant overseas. Repubs voted against tax subsidies for big oil corps even though BIG OIL is raking in record profits! I was in layoff 3 yrs ago, not because my company was losing money,it is one of the most profitable, it was because of age. They used economy to get rid of1/4 loyal workers with 20-30-40 yrs with company. Then they hired younger to fill the jobs with less benefits and lower wages. This is the republican way. GREED. Yes Dems are trying to get tax breaks for companies here and repubs just voted not to! Repubs voted to keep tax breaks for companies going overseas!!!!!!!!!!!!FACT.

I think you listen to the media star and dont do much searching for the facts yourself...

and getting laid off because you are older in a company isnt the "greed republican way"...it is the business way. Its a shame but after being at a company for that many years, it was probably more economic to hire someone younger and pay them less...thats just the way it is. Business owners are in it to make money, period. When a company goes out of business who is virtually ruined for life? the owner...the workers get to go off on their merry way while the owner more than likely had to file some sort of bankruptcy and doesnt get to just go across the street and get a new job. People seem to think being a business owner guarantees some great life but the reality is that there is risk involved that not many people see unless they are also a business owner...

The republicans did this to themselves..............

how poetic....I'm sure somehow they will blame the democrats....just like Rush did.

Cowards.

Cons./So you think that it is o.k. that the company that you have been loyal to for your most productive years ,to dump you at your age when it is most difficult for a person to get a job . There is no such thing as age discrimination ? Are you in the real world? That is one of the major issues addressed by labour unions. As someone pointed out in a previous post ,there are only so many greeter jobs at Wal-mart. In this down turn in the economy, the greatest complaint from the laid off is that they are told that they are over qualified . Employers continue to say that their workers aretheir greatest asset So they should return loyalty,but often don't.

Constructionin STL-

These programs that the President enacted help ALL the people where as the republicans concentrate nearly exclusively on helping only the 1%.......the republicans didn't even flinch at holding the nation hostage to get $750 BILLION in tax breaks for the uber 1% wealthiest Americans, which by the way we had to BORROW FROM CHINA on our Credit Card---is'nt it the republicans who keep bellowing that we are in debt and borrowing too much?!

It would seem they are not so concerned in what is borrowed as long as it goes to the 1% uber rich....those who DO NOT NEED IT.

So, how do you reconcile your opinion of what the President does with our money and what the republicans have done with it -- don't forget 2 unsubstantiated wars that we were told by the Bush Adminstration would only cost $200 million and last less than a month, over these 10 years and that wonderful UNFUNDED prescription drug program and no child left behind that has closed more schools than it has helped and my favorite the fact they Bush grew the government more in his 8 years than ALL THE OTHER PRESIDENTS COMBINED OVER HISTORY and while doing so managed to take away your civil liberties as well.................oh yeah, I also think we really benefited from the tax break the republicans enacted giving giant tax breaks to business who out sourced jobs over seas........still feeling love on that one....

please list for me how the republicans have , are or will spend our money and lead our people and our nation better than President Obama..........

I am eagerly waiting you comments.

It is also worthy to note that the republicans waste tax payer funds by using their time in Washington to push through and bring to a vote things that are already law or have nothing to with what the country needs right now............which would be jobs and a growing economy....as they feel a jobless faltering economy would make the President look bad----how ready they are to throw the citizens to the wolves for their parties cause.

"Its Losers like Santorum that's destroying the GOP"

1950s'??? Don't you mean 1850s'?

Hitler huh? The peanut gallery chimes in folks! It was only a matter of time.

Hitler used Christians then dumped them after he was elected. In interviews he said he was an ex Catholic. He sucked up to the Christians under his "positive" Christianity crap, and when he got in power waged a subtle war against them. The decent ones that knew what was going on usually ended up in concentration camps or just shot outright as with the White Rose Society kids. I wouldn't get all enamored with Obama either. This guy has only built on the tyranny George W had set up with the Patriot Act. Now anybody anywhere that doesn't agree with American foreign policy can be targeted for a hit anywhere on the globe. Domestically, the military now can black bag you from your own house and make you disappear. Obama was supposed to reverse this kind of crap, not expand it. Why so many lemming in here think their guy is any better than the schmuck he replaced is beyond me. As for the economy? Pure dog and pony show, which is mostly based on juiced up economic stats, and let's face it since we are so used to the crappy economy we all have lowered the bar on what constitutes good economic growth. We have another 2 years til the @!$%# hits the fan, so get ready!!! And it will hit the fan regardless of who wins in Novmember.

All these guys except Ron Paul are liberals in conservative clothing. They all are for Engineerd Socialism. This country and the rest of the world is headed for an era of totalitarian domination.Worse than the Roman Empire. This has been in the planning stages for years. 9-11 the overthrow of middle east countries the war in Iraq and Afganistan all by design;also the 08 financial crises all by design. Marshal law bill that passed all by design. The patriot act all by design. We are losing our freedoms because we are too docile to do anything about it.

D. Grant,

Please look up "socialism" in the dictionary. None of the Republican candidates are socialist. Neither is President Obama. Your posts will sound a lot more credible if it sounds like you know what you are talking about.

Socialism do mean like " Christian Social Party " that would mirror your Republics more

p.s. feel free to Google - Christian Social Party - if you don't know

dgrant589

All these guys except Ron Paul...blah blah

Another attempt by the left to take votes from Romney...lol

@Re-evolution:

Nah. More like: Socialism-a political and economic system in which the government, not the individual, is presumed to be the source of political power. A system which takes the majority of a person's income in order to create and sustain social welfare programs that provide every citizen with the necessities of life, but does not leave them enough left over to even dream of improving their station in life. It encourages stagnation and ennui. It rewards mediocrity. There are no rewards for working harder, so people lose the will to try. It has eventually proven to be an abject failure in every society which has instituted its policies.................THAT socialism.

Nobody has to try to 'take votes' from the GOP/TP Demented, they are giving them away, every time they open their stupid mouths.

Right and your boy is doing so great. Tell me Yakmik, how many of George Bush's policies has Obama reversed? I mean the real bad ones, like the wars, the bailouts, allowing the Fed to print money like it was like Monopoly money and sending prices upward on food and gas, and well everything. I mean seriously now, govt subsidized birth control? Our economy is on the edge of the abyss and Barack and Santorum want to make a big deal about birth control?

Robert Bruce,

Please don't use the word "boy" when you are describing a black MAN. I assume you are not a racist; you don't want to sound like one.

yakmik

dumpublicans ......

yamik,
you just conceded the debate. You attacked Republicans, and not the points discussed. That's an informal logical fallacy called "ad hominem". It basically doubles as white flag of surrender while hurling insults during your retreat. Congrats on losing a debate on your reply.

Haha classic. This guy wants to blame the uproar over birth control pills on Obama. Did Obama force Rush Limbaugh to open his fat Oxycontin addicted mouth and make it more of an issue? Did Obama force the Republican Congressmen to make it an issue for the last month? This has always been a Republican wedge issue to rile up their base.

I suppose Obama forced all those Teapublicans to ignore jobs legislation in favor of abortion bills too?

Was it Rush or the Repubs or the Tea Party that made Obama try to force Christian church-owned businesses to provide birth contrl for all their employees, in direct opposition to their religious beliefs? It was the unpopularity of the Executive Branch overreaching its authority once again in trying to pass a law respecting the free exercise of religion.

Did any of the aforementioned force Obama to change tactics and make the issue one for the insurance companies? No, his own stubbornness did that for him. He wants what he wants, and to Hell with anything that gets in the way, especially that stupid old Constitution.

As for the media frenzy over the issue, that is the media's doing. They are bending over backwards to give Obama covering fire over what should be a non-issue, because it's un-Constitutional. Meanwhile, did anybody notice the latest round of recess appointments Obama made while Congress was still in session? I thought not. Guess the distraction worked.

Finally, if Harry Reid would allow one of the dozens of spending bills the House has sent over to the Senate to even be discussed, let alone voted on, you would see for yourself how many jobs the Republicans could've created by now. At least they don't resort to ignoring the total number of jobs lost overseas to account for the drop in unemployment.

NotB, there's really nothing new here. BUSINESSES owned by churches have ALWAYS BEEN REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE SAME LAWS AS OTHER BUSINESSES. Since Contraceptive coverage is now required of group health plans that's the case of BUSINESSES owned by churches. Those BUSINESSES are also not allowed to discriminate on the basis of religious affiliation, and to follow a lot of other laws as well.

THE CHURCHES THEMSELVES are not required to cover contraceptives. This isn't a fight over religious freedom, it's a Conservative attack on women...Rush Limbaugh proved that.

Neighbor,

Which part of the Obama policy forces employees to actually take the contraceptives? That's right, none. All it does is guarantee that IF THEY WANT IT they will have access to it. Maybe you'll tell us that employees of Christian organizations that want access to bc aren't real Christians or something. They are still free to NOT use it in accordance with their beliefs. It's worth noting that the vast majority of Christians in the US are protestant, and have no problem with birth control. Many married couples use birth control to prevent having children that they cannot afford or do not fit in to their family plan. This idea that this policy is somehow anti-Christian is a stupid lie. But what else do we expect from stupid liars like the Republican/Tea Party.

I am curious, which part of the bible condemns birth control? Oh, that's right, none! Of course, you'll tell us there was no such thing as birth control back then, right? Well, isn't the bible the divine inspired word of God? Isn't God omniscient? If so, he knew that birth control would eventually exist, and if he had a problem with it, he would have made sure to address it in his bible.

The simple fact is that the right wing wants to control women, and this is just another attempt at that.

The weird thing is, some people like Rush, and the less educated among you, were trying to say this meant the government would be providing contraceptives, which is a stupid argument, because most local health departments already do provide free contraceptives. What is does is ensure that the health insurance policies that these employees PAY FOR provides all the same benefits employees of secular employers get. So tired of the right wing lies.

Excellent points, VirginiaDemocrat!

I'm beginning to believe, though, that there exists an element of the population that is intelligent enough to use a computer but incapable of digesting facts and making logical conclusions.

They seem to be immune to open-mindedness, tolerance and progress. It's so much easier to let Limbaugh do all their thinking for them. Whatever will they do if he goes away?

Truth falls on a lot of deaf ears. Keep trying though. If nothing else, it bolsters our side.

Also note that by the arguements of the right that "a woman is having so much sex she can't afford her own BC'. Clearly none of the men have the slightest clue how BC works. I'm guessing they aren't real familiar with se exither since they get all hot and bothered if they think someone else might be having sex for pleasure. Oh gasp!!!

Heads up to republican men who are flailing in stupidity over BC. If you are on the pill, you only take one pill a day, even if you plan to have sex every thirty minutes of every day. That's right, same amount no matter what. You don't need a new IUD every time you have sex. You still only need 1 depo shot every three months no matter how many times you want to have sex. You all got that? it makes me wonder if republican women are taking a pill every time they have sex! lol

Let me ask you Shellie, why should tax payers or anyone else have to make contraception available to women? This blows me away, can someone who thinks taxes or businesses should provide BC please explain to me why...how can we not expect the people having sex to provide their own BC??? If you cant afford a freakn condom dont have sex! If you cant manage a way to find some sort of BC then I dont think you should even take the chance on having sexy and getting a kid out of it bc the child will be doomed from the start...simple

You're missing some of the facts, CSTL. Contraception SAVES MONEY for the insurance companies. Women using contraceptives cost them LESS than women who aren't.

So it doesn't cost you a dime.

Any idea what this is all about ?

Hungry4food, I suggest that you have something to eat - perhaps your blood sugar is low or something.

Just another rightwingnut republican liar. Nothing to see here folks. Move on.

That's OK GBM, let them keep telling themselves everything is OK.

There is a really interesting documentary on recent propaganda titled "Videocracy" (2009) its an Italian film about how the media in Italy is run by the government as entertainment, it was an independent film released of course to select theaters in the U.S. Once can draw some parallels between their media and ours although it varies greatly in portions but systematically and methodology its not that different.........

there is a conversation as of late in some alternative think tanks and sub groups of artists in America that feel politicians and conservative types grew tired of complaining about censorship so they found a way to cut out segments of our cultural norms of musical and film expression by replacing with a product more they feel fit as more appropriate to what is expected, thus radio has become a kid pop free for all, eliminating specific types of art and music found to be too inspiring and confrontational, such as rock and harder music plus other forms of music "not suitable" for citizens.

"Reefer Madness" is another propaganda movie from 1936. There are few films which examples Nazi Germanies propaganda movement, including a movie titled "Architecture of Doom" which depicts Hitlers obsession with aesthetics and art which he collected and removed from the public as he found fit.

There is a history of propaganda movies, and I suggest visiting alternative film video stores and theaters to see what is not funded or displayed readily to the masses for various reasons.

This is not Faux news where everything since the beginning of dirt is Obama's fault and where snarkey

Kens and Barbies relay whatever the equally snarkey Rubert Murdoch tell them to. You don't like he news here, go back there and to your coma.

There's TONS of positive things about Obama, but Fox "News" doesn't show it!!! A big difference with MSNBC viewers compared to Fox viewers is that the liberal (msnbc) audience tends to have various news sources, educated, and DO investigate topics. Fox watchers; however, take what "news" is given to them and believe in it as much as they do in the bible!!! If you watch the Rachel Maddow Show, you know that it goes into a lot more detail in current issues - while Hannity just takes cheap shots at Obama, without having to really explain whats the problem!

If it wasn't for Faux News, our country would be light-years ahead of where it is now...

Guess what??? This poll, you moron, was conducted by both parties, oh, thats right you cant read, you just make @!$%# up! Motorsicker

Well said, Ryan S. I listen to Conservative talk radio, read the local newspaper that features editorials by people like Cal Thomas, watch MSNBC, blog here, and listen to NPR.

That variety of sources and good research is what makes it so easy to tear down all those ridiculous Conservative arguments.

Yep, the republican rightwingnut liars are out in force tonight. Nothing to see here. Move on.

IMHO-2730490 Explain why Obama gave a Finnish Car Company $500,000,000 to build a competing electric car company and build a factory in Finland. Explain why Obama refuses to release all his education documents. Explain why Obama sat every Sunday for 20 years in the Marxist Pastor Wright's church listening to him telling people that America is responsible for 9/11 and that Jews should be exterminated.

I believe everyone would love to listen to the same theology that Obama listened to for over 20 years from his Pastor Wright:Jeremiah Wright was a committed Marxist, as he himself confirmed in an address in September 2009:
“My work with liberation theology, with Latin American theologians, with the Black Theology Project and with the Cuban Council of Churches taught me 30 years ago the importance of Marx and the Marxist analysis of the social realities of the vulnerable and the oppressed who were trying desperately to break free of the political economics undergirded by this country that were choking them and cutting off any hope of a possible future where all of the people would benefit."
When Obama became a member of Trinity Church in 1991, he accepted what the church calls “the Black Value System,” a race-based code ethics that black Americans to shun the middle class life as a white trap, and to patronize only black-owned businesses.
As Jeremiah Wright put it, “We are an African people, and remain true to our native land, the mother continent.”
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a … law, and then wants us to sing God bless America, no no no, not God bless America, GOD DAMN AMERICA, it’s in the Bible, killing innocent people.…."Shocked? I am!
Obama spent 20 years in this indoctrination and wanted to be president of a free multicultural democratic society?
Shocked as to why Obama spent 20 years listening to and accepting this disgraceful nonsense? I am not!

I can see a man listening to this horse manure for one week and then not returning. But Obama returned and listened to this crap for 20 YEARS.

Now you explain THAT TO ME!

well said ryan. its almost like, good news for america is bad news for the rightwing and bad news is good for them.

My, my, it appears the teabaggers are throwing a tantrum about the media again. Yes, that liberal media keeps criticizing things like Rush Limbaugh calling a law student a slut and a prostitute because she wants access to contraception. The media questions things like the GOP's new outright contempt for the separation of church and state. The media questions things like the GOP's adoption of the Catholic Bishop's opposition to all forms of birth control. The media questions things like the GOP's cheerleading for a new war against Iran. The GOP is now Phyllis Schlafly and Pat Robertson all rolled into one. Throw in the fat, cruel Oxycontin addict and you've got a real party. Now why would the media question the likes of that?

ryan...

Maddow? As in rachel "this is why obama is right and the the right is wrong" maddow?

Then we have posters citing op-ed pieces from the daily kos and thinkprogressive.

Educated liberals? Book smart doesn't imply that they can think for themselves.

hey American.. the same BS could be said about the far right wing disease machine

You far right wingers are off the charts INSANE. You've married yourselves to a serious group of whack jobs and the nation is taking notice

Bue american has no problem with using youtube, wikipedia and facebook as sources. LOL

5 of the other 6 already had a really bad impression of the GNOP. It couldn't get worse. At least that would be my answer.

Just a bunch of rightwingnut liars. You can fool all the people some of the time...

Popo: you miss the point of the statistics, I'm afraid. The point is that the most dramatic drops in opinion are coming from the very groups that conservatives need to be courting - independents and conservatives!

And what Romney campaign have you been watching? He openly attacks others and then slides a backhanded reference to the issues you stated only if there's any time left in his spots. I've seen less mud-slinging at swamp buggy tournaments. Let's not be disingenuous here.

IMHO-2730490 Explain why Obama's wife at a jounralists' conference contradicted Obama and said that Obama's mother definitely was not married when Obama was born. Also explain her statement that she was never proud of America. And this is the tip of the iceberg. Who paid Obama when he went to school? Who paid all his expenses? Who pulled the strings to get him into Columbia and Harvard?

Obama never wrote one article for Columbia or Harvard that was published. All of a sudden he writes best selling books? Who Ghost Wrote them and how much did he pay them. Even his own publisher had the books analyzed and found someone who could have written them. The publisher found similar errors, similar repeated instances of history. He also found similar syntax, sentence structure and word use. Using a computer that seeks out plagerism and similarities in writing structure, he has a definite opinion who wrote the books for Obama. What happened to the $300,000 advanced royalty check for the one book that Obama never wrote?

Got hundreds more IMHO. What strings did Obama pull to get his aunt admitted as a refugee into the U.S. after she was declared an illegal alien?

Gee, festus... Are you saying that people in positions of power use that power to grant favors to those who support them? You also seem to be asserting that people will use other authors to write books for them (a perfectly legal and accepted practice, btw).

Here's some more heavy enlightenment: If I fall naked into the ocean, I'm going to get wet.

Whoa! Did I just blow your mind, or what?

Got hundreds more IMHO. What strings did Obama pull to get his aunt admitted as a refugee into the U.S. after she was declared an illegal alien?

Probably the reason why Obama does not want to handle the problem of illegal immigration. He would have to have his relatives deported. I still don't know why liberals still see this as a good idea? PROBABLY THE REASON WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO SHOW ANYONE HIS ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE EITHER.

Ghost writers are usually acknowledged. Obama is so ashamed of what and who helped him that he refuses to show his transcripts. If he were open and honest, that would be different. He is hiding the information. You forget Obama is your employee and your pay him.

I always want to see everything about every person who applies for a job with me. He worked as a clerk for four yers in a small civil rights law firm, a fuc*ing researcher.

In the Illinois state senate not one of his 130 initiatives was passed into law.

jmwhite540, you just proved my point about liberals, they think everyone is at their level.

You have to use your neurons to think. Why are the transcripts hidden? Why wasn't bin Laden captured? Why couldn't Obama get one of his initiatives in the Illinois senate passed into law?

Why couldn't Obama get along with the democrats? Romney got along with the democrats in Massachusetts and left the state with a surplus, more jobs and a higher percapita earning.

So many things you think you know and are not capabale of investigating that you are ignorant of asking the right questions.

You want the man in charge of the U.S. to have strings pulled so he could get into college as he wasn't smart enough to do it on his own? OH MY GOD WHAT LOW ESTEEM YOU HAVE OF HIM! HOW CAN YOU TRUST HIM TO RUN THE COUNTRY?

Remember he didn't have sufficient high school grades and SAT scores to get into Columbia from high school. He went to a junior college first and then someone pulled strings to get him into Columbia. You are not worried, that he needed poltical help to get into college?

You are not worried, that his law firm was a no name law firm and he never was lead lawyer in any simple civil rigts case?

You want a man who stupidly gave money to G.M. to bail them out, at the same time give a Finnish Car Firm $500,000,000 to build electric cars to compete with G.M.?

Now that really takes brains!!! And he used your money to send to Finland.

A perfectly legal and accepted practice too, according to you?

Unhappy-1583758 I Love you. I have a copy of the reported Kenya birth certificate with a babies foot print. I would love to see Obama give a copy of his foot print and see what happens.

You do know that as soon as Obama's mother could leave the hospital in Hawaii, she moved to Washington State? And after Obama's father returned to Harvard he was told to leave and Harvard asked immigration to remove Obama's father?

jmwhite540 I got news for you. You already are all wet. It takes some smarts to get out of the rain.

jmwhite540 I didn't go to Columbia or Harvard, I worked to get into college and grad school, but I can tell you one thing. I am a hell of a lot smarter than Obama.

I know at least if I am at war, I will try and capture the opposing general alive to get information from him and not order my forces to go in and immediately kill him.

festus, ol' chap, you just proved my point by calling me a liberal. I'm not, by the way, and did not vote for Obama. This isn't about party lines. Just like the article had nothing to do with Obama, but yet, here you are, braying as loudly as you can all over this thread about him, whipping the dead horse you've been told to whip.

Whether he is qualified for the job or not is irrelevant. The voters have spoken, as they will again in November, and no amount of pointless distraction will change that. What is completely relevant is the large contingent of politicos who seem to obstruct at every turn just because he's not "their" guy, without ever vetting the merit of the agenda at hand. The polarization within politics (and without, obviously) hinders all of us as citizens, regardless from which side of the aisle it comes. You're feeding into this, as well. They ALL want you distracted from the real issues.

When it comes to Obama, I want to see two things: 1) I want to see him use the time he has left in office to continue to do the job is getting paid to do and 2) Should he be re-elected, I want to see the other elected REPRESENTATIVES suck it up, skate it off, STFU and do the jobs THEY are getting paid to do! RUN, don't RUIN my country - to hell with the letter behind your name.

I know this must be difficult to wrap your black-and-white mind around, sir. You already have me tagged as the "evil" liberal and yourself as the "good" conservative. I'm sorry that the world has been distorted into that simplistic ignorance for you; it must be terribly boring, if not a bit frightening. For I see the Technicolor world as it really is, ever-changing and dynamic - a kaleidoscopic reality that reveals, bit by bit, how diverse we all really are. Good luck to you.

jmwhite540

Well said.

festus23,

Everything you have said is easily researched and proven untrue. Why do you persist in in using anti-Obama urban legend propaganda that convinces no one? The Newsvine crowd isn't the Fox crowd, you know, a lot of people here actually bother to check facts. The two main things your posts accomplish is making you look 1) misguidedly gullible and 2) unauthentic.

Put up or shut up, festus. If you're so much smarter than Obama, then you'll have no problem abandoning your attacks on him and enlightening me with your step-by-step solutions to the economy, unemployment and foreign policy.

Educated, smart people dwell not in the realm of ad hominem attacks and idle gossip. That's very telling.

jmwhite540 You sure do sound like a liberal. You are saying that it is irrelevant if the president is qualified for the job?

Well there is no use trying to reason with a person who doesn't give a damn about the U.S. and who leads it.

What msnbc.com or nbc writes is irrrelevant. You have to do the research into the candidates and estimate who is the best person for the job.

You don't read an admittedly leftist opinion piece and base your thinking on that. But you don't know that Griffin head of NBC said that all his businesses and companies will have a progressive slant and that he is proud to affect the media towards his way of thinking. You are proof of that.

The voters haven't spoken. Certainly not for the democrats, they are muzzled. Of course you don't understand that.

You haven't been alive long enough to have gone through the 17 or so elections I have. You haven't studied them and why the people got elected and what the issues are. I doubt you even went to college with the really dumb statements you are making.

It is not obstruction, it is a lack of leadership from Obama. Even when he had an all democratic congress he couldn't get anything done. You are saying that his own party was obstructing him? Get real and get some common sense. Every sentence gets more ridiculous.

You sound like a child. Romney was a republican governor with an all democratic congres in Massachusetts and he had the leadership to get a balanced budget, put people back to work and raise percapita income. Obama hasn't been able to do anything like that.

It is always good that the two parties share power and negotiate. Obama is so out of touch and out of his mind, that he couldn't get things done when he had an all democratic congres.

You want Obama to continue to be a do nothing president? You want him to give Egypt 1.3 billion dollars, Pakistan another 2 Billion dollars and you want him to give North Korea another 240,000 tons of food to feed their army? Are you out of your mind?

If Obama gets reelected, take your money and put it under the bed or in Gold or Silver. The Shi* is going to hit the fan. Didn't you see he extended the free trade agreement to Australia, New Zealand and South Korea? How many thousands of jobs is that going to cost?

jmwhite540 You sir are a scoundrel, I have more education and kinowledge what is going on in my little finger than in your entire body. Your comments are not only irrelevant but ridiculous.

I am a libertarian. Everything is gray. Politics is in the gutter. And the only way to keep it up a bit is to have the two parties sharing power fighting, not letting one dominate and believe they have the keys to the kingdom.

But you libeled me. And that is how liberals get when they get trapped. They start name calling and attaching labels. Besides that they make ridiculous statements such as you are making.

You are on a carousel that made you dizzy. Your statements lack meaning, facts and substance. There is not one fact or point of knowledge that you printed.

Someone that wants to see what he wrote on a screen and believe in his own greatness.

Obama is hiding a lot and that will be part of the issues. His education records, his employment records, his including in the budget 3 Billion dollars for the unions to buy their votes.

You don't know 1/10th of what I know, and you have just showed it.

The only qualification you need to be president is to be placed there by winning an election! By it's very nature, it is an office that any citizen over 35 can hold. I would've thought that by living through 17 elections, you'd have picked up on that by now. And yet, it is my intelligence that is attacked.

Oh, I get it now... You're a strawman... I made the mistake of thinking I was talking to a real person.

My apologies, good sir. Please, carry on. My MENSA brothers and sisters are loving this... ahem... debate we're having. You DO realize that we need only scroll upwards a bit to see who has been slinging names derogatorily here.

jmwhite540 You need the intelligence and time to understand what I, an economist, have in mind for this country. I doubt you could read the programs and know how the economic system works here in this country and why.

If you don't know why it was wrong for Obama to bail out GM and Chrysler then you don't understand the free market system and how it works.

After 7-10 years and running several businesses, you might have a feeling for what is needed.

Romney has that experience and neither you or Obama has the experience.

Taking time to talk with you is ridiculous. As a starter go back and read the articles on Romney since his father left Mexico and how his father brought him up by his boot straps and how Romney worked hard to get where he is. Slowly analyze how it was done and why. Romney has INTELLIGENCE!

He went to HARVARD ON HIS OWN QUALIFICATIONS! Nobody sneaked him in. And he did a double major, Law and Business. He was married at the same time. Do you know how hard it is to do a double major at the same time? What dedication work and intelligence is required?

His records are an open book. Obama is hiding his eduation records. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. I can't teach you what that means. You need the common sense and innate knowledge to figure that out.

Why should I abandon my attacks on Obama? He is as stupid as a JACKASS! He has shown that to everyone. HE HAD BIN LADEN'S BODY DUMPED IN THE OCEAN BEFORE THE DNA PROOF CAME IN THAT IT WAS BIN LADEN!

I don't trust him. I don't trust what the government says. You have to go to three sites to confiem any information that is printed. Your statements get more and more ridiculous, stop criticizing Obama! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT SAY?

I know what has to be done to turn this country around, but first you have to get rid of the dead wood. And that dead wood is Obama and most of congress. Then you instill in the people the fact that they have real leaders and start doing some smart moves. Invest in Hydrogen technology as a fuel, spend billions like China, Japan, England and Norway are doing. Hydrogen can be used in every internal combustion engine in America. It can be used in every electric generation plant. No more nuclear plants. No more imported oil. No keystone pipeline. Drop the cost of manufacture, remove the teacher unions, study the private, catholic and charter academies that have been successful and start an education revolution. Put up the wall on the boarder with Mexico, start using the drug ankle bracelets to prevent reoffenders. Get the illegals out and train the American residents and citizens to do the jobs. Stop the high school drop out rate. Stop the high college drop out rate. It takes work but the solutions are there.

Get rid of the unions. They have proven time and again to be a block on progress besides being corrupt.

But you spend your time dreaming about solutions instead of planning them.

jmwhite540 Yes of course, when did you miss your medication? Put anyone who is over 35 and born in the U.S. as president. Did you graduate high school?

Sure your intelligence is attacked, you made a very faceitious statement! "Whether he is qualified for the job or not is irrelevant. "

Then any jackass who is 35 and born in the U.S. you would approve of being president as long as he was voted in. You approve of Carter and his disasterous time as president. You approve of Johnson and the 50,000 American boys he sent back in body bags. You approve of Clinton not taking bin Laden?

You approve of Kennedy not supporting the Cubans he sent in to over throw Castro? You approve of Kennedy ignoring Eisenhower's advice to stay out of Viet Nam?

How little you know. When Kennedy was preparing to invade Cuba, if the ships breached the blockade, you did know that Russia had sent tactical nuclear arms to Cuba and the first wave of American soldiers would have been massacred and that Cuba would have been wiped off the face of the earth?

But what do facts mean to you when you can ask dumb questions and play the jester?

Mensa people in general have one fault, they are out of touch with reality. Not that I believe you are intelligent. You have said so many stupid things and are so ignorant that you haven't said one intelligent statement.

Explain to me why Kennedy trained the Cubans and left them on the beaches. Explain to me why Kennedy didn't listen to Eisenhower and stay out of Viet Nam. Explain to me why Kennedy didn't know that the Russians smuggled in tactical nuclear bombs into Cuba.

Explain to me why Johnson continued the Viet Nam war and created thousands of widows, orphans and grief stricken parents. Explain to me why Johnson didn't take out the bridges between North Viet Nam and China. Explain to me why Johnson didn't mind the harbors. Explain to me why Johnson had to hand pick the targets in North Viet Nam.

Explain to me why Carter thought he had enough intelligence from his experience as a peanut farmer to run the U.S. Government? Explain to me why he pulled the rug out from under the Shah so fast and didn't allow time for a pro western government to be installed? Explain to me why he authorized a stupid attack on Iran to get the U.S. prisoners out. Explain to me why he showed himself such an idiot that he told everyone to call him Jimmy? Explain to me how he showed how weak he was that the Russians walked into Afghanistan when he had a handshake agreement for them not to do that?

Explain to me how Carter lead the country into economic chaos with record unemployment, 20% mortgage rates and 10% inflation.

Explain to me why Perto entered the election to allow Clinton to be come President twice. Explain to me why Clinton was using his cigar to diddle Lewinsky when he should have been paying attention to business. He couldn't screw around with her in a hotel room?

Explain to me why Clinton refused to capture bin Laden THREE TIMES!

Now the pulbic has elected these idiots and you approve of any man over 35 and born in the U.S. to be president.

You approve of these idiots?

jmwhite540 As you are not being polite, I stayed up two hours past my bedtime to teach you some facts of life and you didn't say goodbye, I have you say you have abscounded and left the field of battle bloodied and scarred. Mensa reminds me of the spanish word menso. In spanish that means a person who lack intelligent or in mentally handicapped. I believe you are not mentally handicapped, but lack the intelligence and ability to think. I have some friends who belong to mensa. But they are handicapped by not being in touch with society. They are so far above normal thinking that they relieve themselves of the chore by saying they are mensas. Now where have I heard that before.?

Good luck with your studies and I will grade your replies if you answer the questions.

I'm convinced now that festus is a paid troll. He gives himself away by flooding the page with post after post, replying to his own posts (like a guy that's not funny laughing at his own jokes), not addressing the facts that refute his claims and the fact that he's still a birther, saying "why won't the president release his birth certificate?" even though we have all seen it. He's the president, man, that isn't changing, deal with it.

Fetus, please, let me know what you think.

"Lets not make another mistake like "W"

festus/.Asking anyone to explain so much political history to you would be a waste of time and energy.If you were truly interested you would study ,with an open mind,which I have the feeling you are incapable of doing. I will explain no points that you are asking to have explained to you, as you have obviously made up your mind already. There are quite a few intelligent and,or knowledgeable commentators on this article and blogs who might be tempted to do what you ask,but I doubt it. Instead of asking why don't you just put up your unsupported statements the way they should be . Fare thee well!

http://www.americanselect.org/candidates

They (republicans) don't stand for anything, just lying.

IMHO-2730490 Tonight you better say your prayers for your own good that Romney becomes president. You will be broke in four years with Obama president.

He has no economic experience.

He has no political experience.

He has no leadership qualities.

He has no accouting experience.

He has no military experience.

He has no foreign affairs experience.

He doesn't even know enough to get out of Afghanistan and let the crooks fight each other.

He didn't take the time to set up a western friendly government in Iraq in 3 years.

He had bin Laden killed instead of capturing him to obtain intelligence.

He had bin Laden's body disposed of before conclusive DNA evidence was obtained.

He bailed out the car companies instead of allowing the normal economic process of letting them go into chapter 11 and sorting the mess out themselves. He probably doesn't know how free enterprise works. He gave a Finnish car company $500,000,000 to compete against G.M.

The list goes on and on. The man is a complete incompetent.

Now Romney is highly intelligent. He worked his summers as a guard at Chrysler. He earned his places at his schools and at Harvard had a double major Law and Business. He started at the bottom, worked his way up, became a captain of industry, made his millions. Then became governor of Massachusetts with an all democratic state senate and worked with them to turn the state around, producing a surplus without raising taxes.

Obama is a wet rag compared to Romney. And believe me all this will be repeated milliones of times.

We will find out who bribed Columbia and Harvard to accept Obama. I want to see his Columbia and his scores on the entrance tests to get into Harvard. I researched their requirements and from the leaks, he had someone pull a lot of strings to get him into both Columbia and Harvard.

I don't know what Obama's test scores were but at least you can tell when he speaks that he went to Harvard. With W., it was clear that daddy's influence got him into Harvard Business School. (The University of Texas Law School rejected W. - but Harvard couldn't resist a Congressman's son.) As for Romney, do you think that the fact that his father was Governor of Michigan helped him a little in his school admissions? And that nice little job he got at Bain Capital, do you think he got that plum grim reaper job completely on his own? You think maybe the fact that daddy had been president of American Motors twenty years before helped a little? But I personally could not have been the head of a corporate cannibal organization. With all of the choices available to Romney, I find it very interesting that he chose a parasitic organization like Bain. Bain often hooked into companies and slowly bled them with management fee charges. Then it took the carcasses into bankruptcy. Romney was Mr. Potter - on steroids.

In nine months, I'd very much like to meet with you here on newsvine to discuss your rather bold predictions. I doubt you'll show, but that, like your predictions, is merely my opinion.

it was a wallstreet journal poll. you know, the one owned by the owners of faux news.

You will hold on to the house, maybe even make some gains. Republicans probably WERE going to take the Senate, but now with Olympia Snowe retiring (plus Elizabeth Warren likely cleaning Scott Brown's clock) we'll probably hold on to the Senate. However, despite your best fantasies nobody is beating Obama this year. That's why the Republicans ran a cadre of losers and joke candidates.

They've shown their true colors...and it ain't pretty.

Absolutely! Not even when it is the truth.

Yeah, Fox is sooo much more truthful . . .

Don't/won't/can't believe reality...too bad.

You won't believe it, but you'll comment on it... ad nauseum... on a primarily liberal site owned by NBC...

There's a certain amount of madness in that, my friend.

Ron Paul is an excellent candidate. Name calling and labels diminish comments. How does that help us share in making our situation better? How does that bring people together? We have a warrior mentally against ourselves. Is there no common ground?

We have a warrior mentally against ourselves. Is there no common ground?

Not when so many at the table are basing their world view on articles of faith rather than on rational experience. It is not an accident that the same people who believe that the Rapture is likely to occur in their lifetimes would believe that Obama is the anti-christ or something equally moronic. How do you find common ground with people who refuse to be even remotely rational?

@alim, I don't know how you came to your conclusion that Ron Paul is an excellent candidate. While its true that the other candidates have been more combative and spirited in the public eye, Ron Paul has run a nasty finger pointing war under the radar. Paul has sent out many hard hitting emails and campaign videos to Republicans across the spectrum while staying squeaky clean on the debate stage and in the general public eye. Seems like a logical strategies, however I don't like how he operates.

Remember also, that if lyin Willardo, the Mexican Mormon Moron tax evader gets in he will take away all subsidies to Amtrak, which essentially puts a tax on riders and will cause a major decline in the rail system. By almost doubling the cost of a train ticket it will force more people to drive cars to work and use more gas. But this is a typical thoughtless idea from a dumb repuke. And he thinks he is a businessman. All this will do is help his oil company masters get richer.

Yes, I agree. Like Obama and the rest of the Democrats, they stand for Hand Outs to their voter base that sucks off the entitlement system.

Obama will win. The reactionaries will lose.

US--Keep clinging to your dreams. It's nice to see that at least one Republican hasn't lost all hope. Meantime, here's a dose of reality: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/president_obama_vs_republican_candidates.html.

Yep, just another group of lyin rightwingnut republicans. You can fool all of the people some of the time...

Roadkill if you dont like entitlements then when you retire you can just not take your social security. I for one with take mine, I paid in my whole working life for it along with medicare and I earned it. I wont let these republicans take it away and give my money to wall street.

You can fool the Republican bass 100% of the time. That's about 30% of Americans. Scary isn't it.

Keep dreaming, Mike. Unemployment is down, the GDP is up, the stock market is at record levels, but maybe the country will collapse and fulfill your wildest dreams. Meanwhile, for a dose of reality, see http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/president_obama_vs_republican_candidates.html. As you can see, Obama is ahead of every Republican candidate. As the Republicans continue to chew each other up and as the economy continues to improve and as Obama starts demonstrating the difference between his moderate views and the extremist views the Republicans have taken during the primaries, what do you realistically think is going to happen to that gap between Obama and the Republican candidates? A rational person knows it will get larger. But keep hoping and keep contributing to the wacko of your choice. If you give enough, it may strengthen the economy further and help Obama even more.

Yeah, because Obama can control: Gas prices (the GOP candidates say drilling is the solution, when we're drilling more than Bush!); the fact that $2 trillion of the debt in OBama's tenure was from leftover bush policies; and congress denying every fiscal plan he puts out - even if it would give millions of Americans jobs!!!! Don't point fingers, because four are pointing back at you!

Anything from MSNBC is crap news. That's why FOX NEWS is number 1 in ratings.

No, FOX is number 1 in ratings because old conservatives have nothing else to do!!!

Haven't you heard the economy is improving. Can't you see how we all are doing better than we were 3 1/2 yrs ago. We are all doing so good that we can go out and spend 40 to 50 thousand dollars on a chevy volt.the elite need all those so they can creat jobs.You old and disabled don't need social security and medicare your family is doing so good they will take care of you.We need all of these wars, war is good for the economy it creates jobs.The government needs to take away our rights to protect us.The government needs to put drones in our skies to protect us. The government needs to watch our every move to protect us.The goverment is mandating that we have health insurance, It doesn't matter whether we have jobs to pay for it or that we can't pay for it because the insurance company is charging astonomically for it. It goes on and on when do we wakeup and tell the government to stick it.

Gee, if the economy wasn't bouncing back, how could they charge $5.00 a gal?

Here's some facts I thought were interesting:

#1 Today there are 88 million working age Americans that are not employed and that are not looking for employment. That is an all-time record high.

#2 When Barack Obama was elected, the percentage of unemployed Americans that had been out of work for more than 52 weeks was less than 15%. Today, it is above 30%.

#3 There are 1.2 million fewer jobs in America today than there were when Barack Obama was inaugurated.

#4 When Barack Obama first took office, the number of “long-term unemployed workers” in the United States was approximately 2.6 million. Today, that number is sitting at 5.6 million.

#5 The average duration of unemployment in the United States is hovering close to an all-time record high.

#6 During the Obama administration, worker health insurance costs have risen by 23 percent.

#7 Since Barack Obama has been president, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has increased by 90 percent.

#8 Since Barack Obama has been president, home values in the United States have declined by another 13 percent.

#9 Under Barack Obama, new home sales in the U.S. set a brand new all-time record low in 2009, they set a brand new all-time record low again in 2010, and they set a brand new all-time record low once again during 2011.

#10 Since Barack Obama took office, the number of Americans living in poverty has risen by more than 6 million.

#11 Since Barack Obama entered the White House, the number of Americans on food stamps has increased from 32 million to 46 million.

#12 The amount of money that the federal government gives directly to Americans has increased by 32 percent since Barack Obama entered the White House.

#13 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of Americans living in “extreme poverty” is now sitting at an all-time high.

#14 When Barack Obama first took office, an ounce of gold was going for about $850. Today an ounce of gold costs more than $1700 an ounce.

#15 Since Barack Obama became president, the size of the U.S. national debt has increased by 44 percent.

#16 During Barack Obama’s first two years in office, the U.S. government added more to the U.S. national debt than the first 100 U.S. Congresses combined.

#17 During the Obama administration, the U.S. government has accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office.

#18 The U.S. national debt has been increasing by an average of more than 4 billion dollars per day since the beginning of the Obama administration.

So, I guess it's recovering.

MtMike.....The peoples memory seems to be improving lately. They remember what 'priority one' was with the GOP, and they've watched as the country paid the price for their partisan politics. And they will also remember how many times Romney has come back from the dead by using his access to millions and millions for negative ads. These tricks may mesmerise the Republicans now, but I believe they will be old and tiresome by the time November rolls around.

This is by far the worst crop of Republicans that I can recall in my almost 60 years. The party of Lincoln and Roosevelt seems to be in self-destruct mode. The only thing they need to make sure the final nail goes in the coffin lid is to trot out Palin, Bachmann and Perry.

IMHO..you are most likely the biggest dope I've seen posting in quite a while. If you were in possession of one functioning brain cell, it would inform you that people will pay anything for gasoline or diesel fuel, because they HAVE TO...duh! This country and the rest of the developed world can't function without fuel. I'd bet that you're a flaming libtard who also loves $99 round trip airline tickets. No wonder Odumbo is infesting the White House...clowns like you are allowed to vote.

clowns? was their another republican debate?

Itiswhatitis: and when obama took over we were already losing 750000 jobs a month, that is what Bush's policies got us, if it continued at that rate, nobody would be working today. It was bad and getting worse so yes its getting better and will continue to get better as long as Obama is reelected.

To all you Obama Supporters, please explain how Obama will address and fix this debt and deficit, not one has answered yet!

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Robbing Peter to pay Paul does not work! Living beyond your means, demanding and expecting someone else to pay your way, does not work!

Taxing the wealthy is a Obama campaign slogan, to pit American against American.

This country could take (tax) the wealthy's income and it would not solve 1% of the Federal Debt/Deficit. The problem lies with a government that can not pay for what it is delivering and promising, so crooked politicians can get elected or re-elected.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/warren-buffett-s-taxing-rich-wont-solve-deficit-says-tax-foundation

Kicking the debt "down the road", and rewarding those who live beyond their means, rewarding those that demand immediate gratification and greed, does not work!

Printing money, as has been done, will cause inflation, as has been done. America is no longer competitive on a global scale, hence the US Dollar is worth less, as global demand for oil and gas increases (our costs go up)

When Obama has to address his record, Obama is done!

What,

I guess you would have brought Coolidge/Hoover policies in 1935-1936. Obama faced the same problems as FDR without the obstruction in Congress or without being saddled by the massive GOP debt load and two wars. No nation on the face of the earth has ever prospered by driving wealth upward it causes mass poverty and social unrest. It led to the rise of the Anarchist, Communist and Socialist movements in the late 19th and early 20th century and brought about 100 years of social unrest. It has happened from the time of Rome through Medieval societies right up until the industrial revolution when a new but different cycle started.

The blame for this mess sits squarely with the policies of Reagan and Bush in every possible way. They deliberately and unabashedly directed the full economic might and social policies of the US to creating enormous wealth for a small number of people creating an economic aristocracy whose only merit was the acquisition of capital. Unlike former aristocracies who got their titles through service and/or intellectual achievment these got it for manipulating a rigged game. The GOP presided over market crashes in 1987, 2001-2002, 2007-2008 and caused last years mini crash by getting our credit rating dropped by refusing a new debt ceiling. They also presided over the destruction of US manufacturing base losing 30% of all manufacturing and 80% of garments , 60% of metals and textiles, 21% of metal fabrication, 35% of electronics, 35% of paper and dozens of others. They also presided over the bailout and death of The Savings and Loan Industry after their cronies looted it a successful and safe industry for over 150 years it took them 10 years to strip it and kill it. It took them another 20 years to do the same to the banking and financial services industries precipitatating the biggest bailout in world financial history. They accomplished this by deregulating industry and non enforcement of remaining law while allowing credit companies to extend credit to anyone and their pets by allowing interest rates as high as 32% a rate that would have the lender jailed even in Victoria's England .

While doing this they encouraged bubbles and short term investments by dropping capital gains rates and top brackets to half of what they were while we experienced unparalleled growth. Low capital gains on stock transactions causes risk taking and short term investment strategies. High apital gains encourage long term plant and capital investment. Reagan doubled the size of government and tripled the debt. Bush redoubled the debt and increased the size of government by 65% with almost 1/3 of the budget off the books. Bush mailed people checks and told them to spend it while cutting taxes with two wars on both things which have never occurred in the history of the Republic. Bush the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of The Fed all assured Americans that ARMs balloons and negatively amortized loans were perfectly safe investmaent vehicles and that America was entering a new era as The Ownership Society.

No nation EVER has experienced growth through cutting and your tax statements show and incredible lack of understanding of basic economics. Taxing the wealthiest and cutting taxes for the middle class and working poor along with stimulating job creation through government spending and investment in education and research expand the tax base and bring in new and expanded revenue streams. The exact same arguments were made in the 30s,40s, 50s and 60s where high tax brackets and government investments in the economy exploded the tax base.

A continued focus on oil and gas will eventually strangle us as we constantly play catch up to the rest of the world in alternative energy in which they have gradually been investing for 30 years while we fought wars to keep the oil flowing.

jkh

Great posting.

I would encourage everyone to make sure you are registered to vote and do so. People voted in 2008 and it resulted in our reversing some of the most egregious GOP policies. Then, in 2010, many students and thinking Americans became complacent and didn't bother to vote. The result was disasterous and obstruction resulted.

This year, after the empty suit Romney wins the Republican nomination, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS will be spent on vile, misleading attack ads against President Obama and Democrats such as Elizabeth Warren. Attack ads will be far worse and more frequent than we have ever seen before.

DO NOT BE FOOLED!! These attack ads are financed by a few billionaires who don't give a rat's ass about anyone other than themselves and becoming even fatter cats.

Unfortunately, the weak and uninformed will fall for this kind of crap and lies.

Please, go volunteer to work for the Democrats. The Social Security you will be saving will be your own.

economy is working fine for me - market up- people are going back to work with good jobs gas is a problem however we can survive that- what is the real reason you are complaining?

Great post, Jim Hayes. That was excellent.

dzaffina: re. your post 24.10 omg LAUGH!!! Best ever! Thanks.

Jim Hayes-375865

Have you read this? Definitely worth a read and consideration:

What is the solution? There is no solution. This is not about what we are going to do. This is about what we have already done. An entire nation cannot borrow from the future for decades and then hope that all will be fine when the future arrives. You can only save yourself if you were lucky enough to stay out of debt. At the bottom of the kondratieff cycle, it will be the time to borrow again. We are not there yet. How do we know? Stock market tells us:

http://www.kondratieffwavecycle.com/economy/deflationary-crash/

Mt.Mike,

Thank you for the link there have been many similar articles in the Economist and others over the last 7 or 8 years. Paul Krugman postulated very similar scenarios as long ago as 2003 in that unregulated financial markets and the Bush tax cuts were going to be almost impossible to overcome. He also told us in 2009 that to really bring about recovery we needed a stimulus twice as large staged over several years to ensure the development of new industry and to repair and expand infrastructure. Creating bubbles in non tangibles like tech bubbles hurt creating bubbles in tangibles like housing, food or medical care are devastating to the economy. Healthcare accounts for 19% of GNP and rising but accounts for only 10 % of the workforce even with National Healthcare it is likely to reach 22% before leveling without Universal Health coverage it will reach 30% which is entirely unsustainable.

The Fed is doing the right thing as is the president in trying to keep as many mortgages as possible above water while stabilizing the housing market. Hopefully the market will gradually lose another 10% over 5-10 years allowing prices to again rise as new consumers are brought into play. The fears are not unreasonable and much deserved everyone wants to blame the Fed but it was the absurd lending practices of the financial industry that caused this problem. I myself have been fortunate in property vis a vis debt and will take advantage of the current mortgage rates again and reduce my terms. Good luck.

jkh

Too bad for the Republicans.. they are a dying breed... the reactionaries have no chance to re-impose their disasterous policies on America.

Bye Bye Republicans. You were loud while it lasted. Obnoxious and socially unacceptable. Fade away.

That is why the Tea party is going to take over, Ninety percent of Conservatives hate Corporate Republicans almost as much as we do Socialist Progressives.

The teaparty could take over. Because the republican party does not have enough guts to stand up against them. Hopefully they will wake up before they have done some real damage to the country. The GOP thinks they are kidding and ready to play tiddlywinks. These guys have their own agenda and they don't care what they have to destroy in our country to reach it. However, I wonder for what? Apparently the teapartiers have no idea what hardship is and why anyone would inflict it upon themselves. do they think they will be find like the ruling class in Russia or something. It won't work that way here. They will be poor too. And they won't like it. Why should we have to rebuild what some misguided zealots want to do to us. We are fine. Congress and the country as a whole needs to get their big boy pants on and cooperate to make this country stronger and what people used to want it to be. Now it seems to the GOP it is whatever Obama doesn't want. Too bad he wants what is good for our country because they surely don't seem to. Come on voters grow up and vote intelligently while you still can. Say no to everyone who even hinted about being a teapartier. We have seen enough of what they do. WE don't need to see more.

Speaking of rhetoric and spin?

Why? Because it sheds the light on the right wing nuts that you love.?

Your shedding something and it is not Light?

Personal attacks on the vine will not be tolerated RULE NO.1.

I liked the reference to Nute Gunray in the Star War movies. Leave to Lucas!! Your Nut Gingerhead is pretty good also.

You should be taken off the air. That was pathetic

I don't trust Ron Paul enough to vote for him.

He says he against war and the last time he could vote to end a war he didn't he voted to keep it going.

He says he is for the people and yet the last time he had a chance to vote for the people to increase minimum wage he voted against it.

He says he not for corporate takeover and yet the last time he had a chance to end the billion dollar oil companies special tax cuts, he voted for them to keep them even though it added to the deficit.

He says he cares about the deficit and yet he has voted for every tax cut that are a huge part of the deficit.

He claims he is smart and can lead our country and yet he wasn't smart enough to realize that even if you are against wars if your country starts one you need to raise taxes to pay for it.

Ron Paul has a couple good ideals, but I sure would not want him to be my president.

I want a president who has shown to be cool under fire and does the right thing while republicans are running around like a chicken with their head cut off. I want someone who has shown they can be restrained and doesn't have to have boots on the ground and leading every charge to prove his manhood.

Obama/Biden 2012

Write as long as argument as you want but it ain't gonna happen.

Ron Paul hates Blacks, Spanish, other countries, women and any thing that took us out of the 1800's. Voting for him is like voting to go back in time. Stupid.

My Vote

President Obama 2012

Ron Paul also thinks gays should be 2nd-class citizens (he fully supports DOMA and wrote the "Marriage Protection Act"), and he thinks the states should be allowed to enact religious laws (he wrote the "We the People Act").

If you want a neoconfederate who thinks the pre-1860 constitution is preferable, Ron Paul is your man.