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House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) demanded on Thursday that President Obama's re-election campaign reimburse the Treasury for the cost of a two-day trip to three swing states.
At his weekly press conference on Capitol Hill, the GOP speaker accused the president of essentially campaigning during his trip this week, which took him to three college campuses in three swing states to talk, ostensibly, about student loan interest rates.
"This week the president traveled across the country on the taxpayer's dime at a cost of $179,000 an hour insisting that Congress fix a problem that we already working on. Frankly I think this is beneath the dignity of the White House," Boehner said.
Richard Drew / AP
House Speaker John Boehner demanded on Thursday that President Obama's re-election campaign reimburse the Treasury for the cost of a two-day trip to three swing states.
"And for the president to make a campaign issue about this and then to travel to three battleground states and go to three large college campus on taxpayer's money to try to make this a political issue is pathetic," he added. "His campaign ought to be reimbursing the treasury for the cost of this trip. Our country is facing some major economic and fiscal challenges, yet here's the president wasting time on a fake fight to try to gain his own re-election."
The president's trip was directed toward student loan reforms, making it official White House travel. The Obama campaign reimburses the government for any of the president's political trip.
But Obama's journey, which took him to the three swing states of Colorado, Iowa and North Carolina, also held undeniable political significance. The president assailed Republicans during the speeches, and the trip was coordinated to push a weeklong outreach message to young voters, a key part of the winning Obama coalition in 2008.
"As in other administrations, we'll follow all of the rules and regulations to ensure that the committee pays for whatever is required for the president and the first lady to travel to political events," said Jim Messina, the Obama campaign manager, last night in a conference call. "These are very specific rules that are similar to what Bush and Clinton and other presidents have had to do, and they're very clear and we will abide by all of those in our usual way."
Republicans have been eager to drive a message of Obama as the "campaigner-in-chief." The president's campaign is unlikely to reimburse the government for the cost of the travel, but the Republican attacks, led by Boehner, mark the beginning of an effort to engage in the general election fight against Obama.
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John Boehner and every TeaPeople in the House need to reduce their salaries by half and slash their benefits.
They are afterall part-time employees!
Every member (545) of Congress should Reimburse the Treasury for Stealing $$ from the Taxpayers. They were Elected to do a JOB & they have'nt fulfilled that Responsibility, by Any stretch of the Imagination.
2 Weeks Vacation Pay for every 1 Week of So-Called Work is Stealing & that goes on Every Freaking time any Branch of the Government is controlled by these RightWingBibleThumpers. 3 day work weeks followed by 4 day weekends is Stealing.
The American TaxPayer should Sue for Breach of Contract!
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
3-day work week is the new compressed work schedule for the House. Even in those 3 days, they deliver nothing but legislation renaming post offices (that they want to close) reaffirming 'In God We Trust' (for the umpteenth time), all sorts of legislation against womens rights, etc.
..The Weeper is delivering his one-liners, against the President, in his feeble attempt to prove to the TeaPeople that he's one of them.
Part-time work with full benefits = Stealing.
I agree totally Rick!
What petty nonsense. Did he ask President Bush to reimburse the government for all his trips? Well, Speaker Boehner, we're paying for trips back home for you every two weeks; we're paying you to work 9 days a month plus benefits. Boehner's just mad because they painted themselves into a corner again and President Obama made sure they were stuck there.
Jody, that is whatcha call Chicago Style Politics & President Obama is playing it the Best. As some say here & elsewhere, America knows when President Obama is most Effective, it is when Republicans start SCREAMING!
They've SCREAMED quite alot the last 3 years & the UNPATRIOTIC GNOP'RS better buy some EarPlugs, because they have till Janurary 2017 to SCREAM even louder.
This lil tidbit just in, President Obama has Reimbursed the Treasury $1.5 Million, while Bush Reimbursed $1.3 Million for related campaign use!
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
Senator McCain, Senator Rubio and Senator Johnson
are all away from the Senate. Campaigning for Romney.
Should they pay back the taxpayers?
I think we all know by now, IOKIYAR. Different rules.
This Administration is following all the campaign rules, just like GWBush and other Presidents. The student loan interest issue is a POLICY issue. Preventing student loans from doubling is an economic issue for our country.
The President effectively took this issue to the People after the Republicans said No, as they do on every issue that is not about protecting the wealthy.
The Paul Ryan (R-WI) Budget: RAISES student loan rates and CUTS $billions from Pell grants.
Republican congressionals voted FOR the Ryan Bill, including Speaker Boehner (R) - and now he wants to have it both ways.
Useless drunkard Boehners laxed effort to create Jobs is beyond PATHETIC
How bout' Boner and his Obstructionist colleagues reimburse taxpayers because they have done NOTHING to benefir this country
N O T H I N G!!!
From here on out, anything Boehner or any other Teapublican says is a waste of American's time -- Just plan to throw them out.
HERE's WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED -- Progressives, who have suspected a conspiracy, especially after Mitch McConnell admitted that the GOP goal is to prevent the president from any success... It is now confirmed...
Frank Luntz, along with others like Newt Gingrich -- both infamous for their list of propaganda words and talking points -- called a meeting with Republicans in Congress on the day of President Oabama's inauguration after seeing the huge crowds on the mall -- A four-hour meeting of "strategery" to win back the House, then the Senate and White House!
The plan was simple. To obstruct any and all efforts by the president and the Dems, not matter if they themselves supported the measures, or if the American people would be thrown under the bus. The motto was "just say no."
The GOP successfully obstructed efforts for economic recovery, with exception of the stimulus, which they were able to keep small and less effective. Then they were successful at obscuring their policies that caused the Great Recession with promises of jobs, Jobs, JOBS in the 2010 mid-term.
True that the Dem focus on ACA did not help public perceptions, though in fact ACA is very important to economic recovery, but other efforts such as cap-and-trade should have been put on hold. Nonetheless, as the article points out, the Teapublican obstruction on raising the debt ceiling that resulted in the downgrade of our credit rating, followed by ridiculous efforts against extension of the payroll tax cuts including attaching "poison pills" exposed their treasonous plans.
"It's going to be whether Republicans can be trusted again to govern in a responsible manner," he said.
This is key -- NO, Teapublicans can't be trusted, and if voters have not learned this from broken promises in 2010 to create JOBS, then how can they be so gullible to believe the GOP/TP or Romney now about job creation?! Fellow Americans, look at Romney's plan and the Paul Ryan plan, and you'll see there is nothing concrete about job creation. These plans are the same old failed GOP/Bush-ear policies of tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, increased defense spending, and draconian "eat the corn seed" spending cuts -- only more "severely!"
Per another article today in the business section:
What we need to do is increase taxes on the rich for now and not the 95% who are still struggling due to wage stagnation in order to off-set the automatic cuts in spending. After the economy has recovered enough, then let the Bush tax cuts expire for everyone. But this cannot happen as long as the Teapublicans are in Congress -- They will take this nation off a cliff!
Look at Boehner even now, playing games by trying to pay for extension of lower rates on student loans by taking money from ACA preventative medicine, such as immunization and breast and cervical cancer screenings. And Cantor too, who just passed a bill to give tax breaks to Paris Hilton, Oprah, and Donald Trump without paying for it!
This is NO accident -- It is the GOP/TP plan, people! Tell your Teapublican representatives "Enough! We are on to your treason!" The conspiratorial Teapublicans have proved they can't be trusted to put Country First -- Throw the Teapublicans out -- Obama/Biden - 2012!
They will still be overpaid
I demand that Boehner and all the rest of them pay for their own trips too! But that's not how it works with the POTUS because of security reasons. It's easier to protect the POTUS doing it the way the Secret Service prefers.
John Bone-head KNOWS that, and he knows it's a security issue for the POTUS, Boehner is just trying to piss off his base who Boehner knows is dumb as a bag of hammers.
Do Republicans EVER complain when any one of THEM flies on the taxpayers' dime? NEVER.
Obama / Biden 2012
Hey Chilled, you have to admit that was a pretty hilarious statement. Did you ever check this President's daily schedule? Today he had one ting at 1030, a daily briefing, then a 530 appt with that joke of a Vice President. Part time, indeed!!!!
Congress should not be paid a dime, no limos, no private jets, no retirement, no benefits until the budget is passed (just like in CA now). Also, their salary should be frozen for 10 years and the rest of these benefits should be erased other than a retirement plan like "We the People" have. No more limos, private jets, expense accounts.... They are mostly all millionaires, let them pay their way on their salary just like we do. Heck the Pres only gets 400k a year!
Yes, the college loan interest rates are a policy issue, one that Obama couldn't be bothered to vote yes or no on in 2008
Prove it, janet-489369. And, so what if he didn't vote for it then, he didn't vote against it, either. And now, all those Republican/TP Inc. Senators, and Representatives that voted for it previously, but can't vote for it now? Why is that? Is it because of their plan to make President Obama a one term president, rather than actually work for the country? (That was a rhetorical question, janet. Do you know what a rhetorical question is? I doubt it.)
wow you dont even know or care if he voted in 08. (he didnt)
you are one shallow confused fanboy.
Excuse me, but the issue at hand is the interest rate on student loans.....and yet we have people screaming about Pell grants which have absolutely nothing to do with loans, interest, repayment schedules.....The loan program is listed under Stafford. As for Pell grants, the percentage of students receiving this type of grant in aid, which is need based upon the tax filings of the student and their parents (until the student is at least 24 years old) means that the number of students-even those from modest middle class backgrounds-eligible for this sort of grant has declined each and every year....requiring students to depend more heavily on loans for the shortfall in college expenses.
RMoney campaigns all over the country, in every county, on our dime, with protection. He can afford to pay his own way.
As to the subject at hand. All presidents in recent memory have jetted around the country to campaign for the upcoming on tthe taxpayers dime.
But Boenher is right this President doesn't even try to mask it and has done it far more often than past presidents.
Other president could walk and chew gum at the same time. They still fulfilled the duties of the office. Obama has not. He has basically abdicated his responsiblities as President. This guy is doing NOTHING but campaigning. Congressmen from his own party have said that he has stopped communicating with them.
Rob really hate to point this out to you but nobody on the left believes a thing you say, nothing nada. We only respond to make you feel as though you matter. Not.
You're telling me president bush did NOT fly himself to the middle east, position an entire friggin carrier group within camera shot of Iraq, hang a banner on the island, and give a 'Mission Accomplished' speach for his re-election?
Hint: Using an entire carrier group as a re-election 'prop' costs a whole lot more than 200K.
Also. Sitting the entire house of representatives in session, drum up the media coverage, so he could climb up the podium and cry 'foul' over politics...not policy...
could conceivably cost around 200K.
Pot meet kettle.
Tis -- the left has become insulated from the facts because of their love affair with President Obama.
More than 6 in 10 Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction under President Obama's leadership -- or rather lack thereof.
The majority of Americans do not want the ACA. Health insurance reform is needed and can be done far more simply than what was passed by the democrat Congress and signed by the democrat President.
The majority want our country's financial house put in order but our Congress cannot be bothered to do so.
Can you help me understand why Harry Reid is so afraid of his own democrat Senators to do anything with a national budget?
I look forward to an answer.
Bull pucky, Rob. Bush jetted all over to sell his "privatize social security" idea; he jetted all over to sell "immigration reform"; he jetted all over to campaign. It's nonsense to say one president does more of it than another.
Now Bush really was a president who couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time let alone string 5 words together in a coherent sentence without help.
What would be the point, james? The GOP senators will block it and the GOP House would just sit it on a shelf to gather dust. The only way we get a budget is if the GOP decides they are serious and works together with democrats but since the GOP goal has been to obstruct, delay, deny and block, we know that isn't going to happen.
Yes I am. Unless my geography needs updated 30 miles off the California coast is not normally considered the Middle East.
Ok. So?
It costs more than 1 million dollars for a CVN or Battleship (BB, no longer in active service) to pull away from the pier. Nothing except casting off and getting underway.
james-Why does the right have a hate affair with President Obama?
Why did the right start there hate affair with the President before he even took office?
Why won't the house republicans work with house Democrat?
Same with the Senate?
I look forward to a answer!
So true. He just lives in that right wing bubble, and I myself laugh at every right wing post he makes. He should post over at FOX.
Republians need to stfu. Whine, whine, whine. It's ok if you are a republican, but there are special rules for Obama. Get over yourselves.
smitty -- some on the right probably do have a hate affair with President Obama. However I believe most simply take issue with the policies that he is following as President. I think he was the wrong person at the time and do believe either Senator Clinton or Senator McCain would have done better.
He was my Senator before I left Illinois back in 2007 and I do admit that I resented that he had run for the Senate and stated without any hesitation that he would serve a full 6-year term. As we know he quit before his term ended.
I suppose that the House republicans are enjoying their majority just as House democrats have in the past. It is unfortunate.
The Senate has been hamstrung for quite some time now. I presume you refer to the use of the filibuster. As a minority party that is really all that they have. We saw what the democrats did when the had a filibuster-proof majority with ACA. It was very ugly, no televised debate, bribes for votes and no real interest in hearing what the republicans had as ideas.
I think the President took his eye off the ball very early in his term with health care so he would have a legacy for all to admire. He and is team of advisers clearly missed just how precarious our financial situation was.
james I respect you answer. I also believe you answered it to the best of your ability. I feel your answers were weak. I wish I had more time to explain. I have to go to work. I hope to have this talk later.
smitty -- have fun at work today.
Obama has done a horrible job. Basically he punted, allowed Reid and Pelosi to write a bunch of terrible bills behind closed doors that he agreed to sign no questions ask. ObamaCare has been a disaster or a boat load of waivers never would have been handed out. The stimulus was a waste of a trillion dollars as it was nothing more then crony capitalism.
Obama parties, holds concerts, flys around the globe on AF1, takes vacations, and let us not forget basketball and golf. Obama loves the perks and benefits of the job, and that is the only reason he wants it. But it comes to managing the country Obama has been a total disaster, and other then his supporters that subscribe to the blame game, history will treat Obama very harshly.
Obama has done nothing but divide the nation, and on the leadership front a total failure. Let us not forget he moved the goalpost when he got agreement from the Republicans because that would have left him with no one to blame. Either Hillary Clinton or McCain would have been a better choice, but the nation was duped by hope and change. Now the country has no hope with Obama, and no one is going to like the way it changes.
The jobs are gone from this country and they are not coming back. NAFTA signed by Bill Clinton signaled the ended of the manufacturing sector as over 6 million jobs have been lost in just the past 10 years. Audi chose Mexico over the US to build a new plant, and when you look at the cost of doing business there is no reason to wonder why. Unions are much to blame for that situation, just as they are now bankrupting many states.
This country is in real trouble. We have a looming student loan debt crisis. The housing bailout is far from over. We are running trillion plus annual deficits, and inflation is knocking on the door. The dollar is pathetically weak as we head for a financial meltdown over a debt and deficit crisis that Congress and Obama simply refuse to address. Pretend cuts and smoke and mirrors have no hope of bailing us out this time around.
So all you liberals play your blame games, but this crisis is a long time coming and both sides have failed us. Unfortunately we currently have Obama, and he has shown neither the ability or the desire to solve anything. Obama has done nothing but pander to his cronies, and his complete lack of achievement proves he was the wrong man for the job.
The country cannot afford the divider in chief that only excels at blame and spending. Leadership and a willingness to make tough unpopular choices is what is needed, and Obama simply does not have those qualities. Obama has been on the campaign trail since he took office, and none of his supporters or the mainstream media willing to hold him the least bit accountable, and for that the country will suffer greatly.
Here's another one for ya Rob, how about you stop with the "politics of envy" and congratulate the president for his success -- all those large cheering crowds, being so talented on TV (great singing, very funny, and charismatic)? After all, Reagan and Nixon started this.
Seriously, the president's job is to to interact with the people about their concerns. More importantly, the president does more in one hour than most people do in a week. Especially the douche-bags in the Teapublican House -- tell THEM to get their arses to work.
President Obama Slow Jammed the News on a specific bill that is on the agenda for discussion and passage and that is somehow CAMPAIGNING?
My the tightie whities are snug today, Weeper.
They just can't stand to see him out there connecting with the VOTING public. It really chaps their ass that the public LOVES this President. And they are stuck with RoboFlop.
You know what I always say,...when the RIGHT is apoplectic,...The LEFT has done something RIGHT! lol
Clara KCMO -- YES, “the Preezi of the United Steezi,” the Barack NessMonster!” Four more years!
Video of Reagan and Nixon on TV/comedy programs were great -- So what's the problem? The "politics of envy" and the usual right-wing hypocrisy!
Romney who wants the peasants to congratulate him for his success would probably have statues and photos of himself all over the country. Gagh! But seriously, the cop who saves a life, or the teacher who prepares a child for the future, their "success" does NOT matter -- Only the amount of $$$$ one amasses!
As a minority party that is really all that they have. We saw what the democrats did when the had a filibuster-proof majority with ACA.
NO FILIBUSTERS?
Senior makes clear that health reform was not the only piece of legislation filibustered during the first year of the Obama presidency. As Gregory Koger notes, the filibuster played a prominent role early in the 111th Congress.
That Democrats succeeded in turning health reform legislation into the law—the Affordable Coverage Act (ACA)—does not mean the Republican filibuster had no tangible effect. In fact, the ACA adheres more closely to conservative ideals than it might have in the absence of unified Republican opposition. It is in structure, and in some details, similar to past Republican health reform proposals and to the Massachusetts health reform championed by former (Republican) Bay State governor Mitt Romney. It also includes many of the ideas Republicans proposed as alternatives
@Rick
Obama has done a horrible job. Basically he punted, allowed Reid and Pelosi to write a bunch of terrible bills behind closed doors that he agreed to sign no questions ask. ObamaCare has been a disaster or a boat load of waivers never would have been handed out. The stimulus was a waste of a trillion dollars as it was nothing more then crony capitalism.
I call BS
Like the GOP never had behind closed doors deals...WOW...GOPer want a cracker?
Second, the ACA HASNT EVEN TAKEN FULL EFFECT YET, in FACT only a small percentage is in place so far...
AS for the WAIVERS they are TEMPORARY..I looked it up, did you?..NOPE
The waivers are for certain industries to get their stuff in order so the bill will not adversely affect them...THATS what the waivers are for...
As for the stimulus, waste of money?
Oh ok so if the Big three had gone under the economy would have shed almost 2 BILLION dollars of personal wealth the FIRST YEAR, then the second year OVER 3 BILLION dollars of personal income/wealth
At the time of the bailout, the auto industry contributed 3.6%, or $500 billion, to total U.S. GDP output. A 30% decline in auto sales translated directly into a 1% decrease in economic output. The auto industry also employed 850,000 workers in manufacturing, and 1.8 million workers in auto dealerships. Therefore, a decline in output resulted in direct job losses, as well as auto-industry related losses. (Source: BLS, Auto Industry Employment)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- U.S. taxpayers likely lost $1.3 billion in the government bailout of Chrysler, the Treasury Department announced Thursday.
The government recently sold its remaining 6% stake in the company to Italian automaker Fiat. It wrapped up the 2009 bailout that was part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program six years early.
"The fact that the company has done so well -- that they were able to go out and raise private capital to repay us the loan so quickly, is really the big story," said Tim Massad, Treasury assistant secretary for financial stability.
Fiat paid the Treasury a total of $560 million for the remaining shares, as well as rights to shares held by the United Auto Workers retiree trust. Fiat now owns a 53.5% stake in the company.
Originally, the government committed a total of $12.5 billion to the struggling automaker, Old Chrysler, and the company's newly formed Chrysler Group. Of those funds, $11.2 billion have been returned through principal repayments, interest and cancelled commitments, the Treasury said. The new Chrysler Group paid back $5.1 billion in loans in May
As part of the loan agreement, Chrysler was given until 2017 to return the bailout funds. If it had taken the full term, the interest accrued on the loans could have significantly reduced the government's losses.
Overall, $1.3 billion will not be recovered from the bankrupt Old Chrysler, but Massad still called it a "major accomplishment."
That's because the government originally expected it would lose much more on the auto bailout. Initial estimates from the Congressional Budget Office in 2009, predicted the government would lose $40 billion on the overall auto bailout.
Now it estimates, by the time the $80 billion program is completely wrapped up, taxpayers will have lost $14 billion.
The Treasury Department also considers the auto bailout a success because the industry has recently shown signs of a recovery
In the year leading up to the Chrysler and General Motors' bankruptcies, the auto industry lost 400,000 jobs. Since the bailout, about 113,000 of those jobs have been recovered.
"We didn't make the auto interventions to make money, we made them to save jobs -- and on that front, we dramatically succeeded," Massad said
General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) has already repaid loans it received from the bailout, but the Treasury still owns about one-third of GM's shares, worth approximately $16 billion.
TARP OVERALL, WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHURIZED TO COST $700 BILLION, but the Treasury Department has only paid out $411 billion.
Of that amount, $101 billion have yet to be paid back, mostly due to losses from assistance to AIG and mortgage modification programs.
The bank bailout part of TARP is expected to turn a profit of $20 billion, making up for some of those losses.
WOW LOOKS LIKE BAILOUTS WERE A SUCCESS TO ME
Excuse please MR. Boner why are we paying you to campaign for the GOP. How about you pay us back.
What is a few bucks here and there flying to college campuses compared to the trillions of dollars that he has run this country in debt. Oops... Was this mic hot?
I cannot afford this Obama nation.
And you can afford a Republican nation? Unless you are part of the 1% you will be like the rest of us.... gum on the bottom of a republican's shoe.
So, Marcus, are you talking about the trillions that are a direct result of the Bush tax cuts? Or the trillions that are a direct result of the unfunded Medicare Part D prescription plan? Or the trillions that are a direct result of two wars that were funded 'off the books' until President Obama did the right thing and put that money back onto the budget? Or the trillions that are a direct result of the lost revenue due to the recession that the Bush policies caused?
You see, Marcus, the only spending done by President Obama that added to the debt was the $750 billion stimulus that actually kick started 25 straight months of job growth, which resulted in more tax revenue (hmm, seems as though Keynes was right!). The ACA? It actually saves money over 10 years. The auto
bailouts. . . wait a minute, those were actually loans that are being paid off with interest.If you're going to complain about something, and want to blame someone for it, try blaming the right people.
Which are you?
Part of the rich 1%.
Part of the burdened middle class that pays for the obese government.
Part of the honest poor.
Part of the faithful Obama followers looking for free handouts.
If the government defaults on its loans, it won't matter which group you belong to. For a glimpse, read up on Greece.
I agree with saying both Bush and Obama are irresponsible on spending. Check your facts!
Google The CBS news article "National Debt has increased more under Obama than under Bush"
Excuse me.....everyone seems to be awfully short sighted....it is very easy to justify Obama by blaming Bush, but we don't go back yet another step to some very disasterous policies that contributed directly to our financial meltdown and the signficant loss of manufacturing. NAFTA-and President Clinton....his wife Hillary, made it part of her platform when running for President, that she wanted to eliminate NAFTA, reverse it.....so, it would seem that you cannot lay the whole of the financial crisis and collapse on the backs of the Republicans and Bush.
Actually, Sue, you're the short-sighted one, it goes back to Reagan embracing Milton Friedman/Friedrich Hayek economics. You can't blame everything on NAFTA, it did not cause the housing bubble, the CDOs, CDS, synthetic CDOs, or mortgage originators handing out liar loans, while the banks bankrolled them, and then sold the toxic securities. But in your desire to blame anyone but the Republican/TP Inc. party, I'm sure you'll bring up the repeal of Glass-Steagall by Bill Clinton, ignoring that the act that repealed it was written, and pushed by three Republican/TP Inc. party members.
Guess what, Sue, everything good was not created by Republican/TP Inc. members, and everything bad was not caused by Democrats. Are you part of the top 1%? 2%? 5%? Because if you are not, then defending the Republican/TP Inc. party is defending the very people who are causing you to live pay check to pay check, pay more for health care, pay a higher tax rate that your employer, and causing the ability to get an education harder. And you obviously need to get an education, Sue.
Keep trying to fight the good fight, Matthew!
lol One day, one of them might learn something.
It's going to take longer than we all thought, though. There's still NAFTA conspiracy theorists roaming about...
Hey Rob, how 'bout a President that travels around during the MID TERM elections and stumps for his party.
You can take your fake concern and apply it to something meaningful.
Like, how 'bout those TSA workers who took bribes and looked the other way so someone could smuggle in drugs.
Qustion: If they looked the other way, how do they know for sure it was drugs being smuggled into this country?
And even if it was, what else would they let into this country for a nice payday?
Chilled,
By using your thought process, the should the Dems in the Senate slash their salaries to $0? Harry and his tribe haven't approved a budget for how long now, or by tabling Republican bills, haven't they also done nothing for the taxpayers?
Fire them all make them all pay back their salaries for the past 4 years and lets start over from the ground up. Dump the bible thumpers, dump the dems dump em'all. Hows that for ya.
@ winemaker-4308406
So, you agree with the premise?.....otherwise?
Chilled, I don't buy into your premise of only being critical of the Republicans.
I will, however, state that all of the professional politicians need to go. How can Charlie Rangle actually state he can't understand the tax code when his Chair was to regulate the tax laws. Or Tiny Tim having the same difficulty with his taxes. Or those Federal employees, Czars and government contractors who haven't paid back taxes while still working for the big government we have.
I am in favor of limiting the time those professional politicians spend in their seats.
I am in favor of a free press who reports, not creates news for a politician or president. We only have one media outlet that investigates, and the libies call them liars.
I would like to see those who abuse the public trust be removed from their current position, be jailed, and be stripped of all perks, pensions, and liberties.
I am in favor of doing my part to see responsive government again, and that means I am not in favor of this administration.
I am in favor of defeating Obama during this election.
Okay?
@winemaker######
Meanwhile, back to the Weeper, the Part-Time Speaker.
Under his 'big gavel', the House is only scheduled to be in session 109 days this year.
Oh, and I agree with your post regarding that those who betray the public trust, etc.......a la Bush/Cheney! See, we can agree.
I won't linger on and on.
Bush & Cheney might still be prosecuted for a federal felony: authorizing torture committed in foreign countries. When Nixon skipped out w/o consequences, a youngster in his administration, Dick Cheney (whose surname actually rhymes with "meanie" but was changed for the 2000 election by Karl Rove) learned that if you're high enough in government, you can violate the law w/impunity. Unfortunately, many other pols learned the same thing. What this country needs is justice, with the clear understanding that no person is above the law.
After Bush & Cheney, we should go after the banks who defrauded the nation leading up to 2008--there are literally tons of evidence in proof.
If the President giving a speech urging both houses of Congress to assist students trying to get an education is politics, then I guess everything is politics. Nice try Mr. Boehner.
They don't like the message the President is sending and couldn't match his reception if they tried so instead they pull a play from the Karl Rove playbook and cry foul over "politics."
"Well Gee it's just not fair when you do what we do Mr. Obama" - John (not sure if I have a bottle in front of me, or a frontal lobotomy) Boehner
Oh gee, first Obama takes control of the student loan program, then berates congress to lower the interest rates he established in his take-over.
Now it's someone else who is accountable when the rates increase.
Good government Mr. President!
Everyone needs to check the heads of every republican and look for a big 666 on them. If republicans take over Washington, the end is here anyways.
The republicans got a loser on this one, they have been campaigning on the public dime against the president since the day after his inauguration. Every speech every president has ever given can be seen as presidential business or campaigning depending on your point of view. If the republicans in Congress want to highlight this they will lose politically because they already have the lowest ratings ever recorded as the most do nothing but politicize every issue Congress. They play this card at their own political peril. They got a very weak hand Mr. President, Mrs. Grump would call and raise if she was you.
Well, perhaps we could consider it if, and only if, Boehner also requests a refund from Newt for Secret Service coverage for his book promotion tours.
Red Dev- Like your idea about Newt repaying back the government. But then again the check would bounce.
Can read how much reagan was spending back in 1981
And a loaf of bread in '81 was 69 cents. Plus, his plane was a piece of junk compared to what WE have these days. BTW Boner, thats not just Teapublican money being spent. Democrats pay taxes too. We just don't piss and moan as much about it. :-)
oh Yeah I just bet you pay taxes, I would bet a grand you are one of the 47 percent plus who get and dont pay crap.....If you did, you like your idol would be whining from here to hell and back
Joe-3711787, you're an a$$. I'll bet I make more money than you, and pay a higher percentage in taxes than you. You're too stupid to have a good paying job, like I have. Did you even finish high school? (see? two can play that game) You bring up a stupid argument that has been shown to be specious, at best. And let's not forget that there are over 1,000 millionaires that don't pay any income taxes.
Do you really think justifying how the President is screwing taxpayers is OK because Reagan or Bush did it is OK? This is the most ignorant argument there is.
BTW I am not a republican. I am an independent that is
alarmed more every day by both Democrats AND Republicans that have let their
"party hat" fall so far over their eyes they are blind to the
destruction their own party causes and seem OK with it because, after all, it's
"their party". By doing this, you enable corruption in BOTH
parties. The truth is there is very
little difference between the two parties today. Most the members of each are
more concerned with re-election than doing their job IE: doing what is best for
the COUNTRY not their own personal gains.
Time to stop looking at the party and judge the individual.
1000 millionaires who pay not taxes, vs how many supposed poverty level....I would imagine millions nationwide who do not pay any taxes either....People who are living in higher style than I who am working every day....
A little something for those who like to bash unions and believe right to work for less and less and less laws will help them. The median income in Texas is $10.80 an hour that's $21,600 for 2000 hours work a year, that means over half the people in Texas do not pay any federal taxes, that's an awful lot of republicans not paying any federal taxes. Ok lets give them a about a $5000 a year raise, the person who made the 26,400 paid 1,491 in employment tax, no fed. For 2000 hrs per year he/she made 13.20 per hour. That's way above minimum wage. Let's say he or she was union and made twice as much 26.40 in wages per hour ie 52.800 per year, same standard deductions as the person making 26,400 the union person would pay 2983 employment tax also fed tax of 3,168 total 6,151 that goes a lot further to pay down the national dept. The union guy paid over 4 times as much to the government. He would also have some extra money to spend to help out the capitalist, and trickle up some jobs, to make those products. So basically everybody wins, when decent wages are paid, benefits would be icing on the cake if you are trying to raise a healthy secure family, but most non union employers are loath to pay any benefits to supplement the ridiculous low wages. Unions make America strong and prosperous, that is a fact, unions rock.
I want the 4+ TRILLION dollars. And all the lives lost, back from a Republican created war in Iraq. BUT. I ain't going to get that, anymore than the orange man is gonna get money from the President of the United States. For simply doing what EVERY other POTUS has done since Washington. But if Boner can raise the dead, and open up HIS wallet for all his "golf" outings. We'll see.
As Far as I am concerned the Republicans have been Part Time Employees every since President Obama took the Oath. They planned from the very beginning to make this President fail even it was for the GETTING THE COUNTRY OUT OF A DEPRESSION they CAUSED.
Republicans have been on the Tax Payers Dime and getting nothing done except to CUT THE TAX PAYERS off OF everything this Government does to keep the Country running and give everything to the Rich and Corporations AS they go their merry way to keep POLLUTING AND PILLAGING the Coffers.
I wonder how many of the those people in the Mid-west and East Coast who were hit by Devastation of the Earthquakes, Tornadoes and Flooding, who tend to vote Republican against their own interest, realize, that Eric Cantor wanted to deny Relief until FURTHER CUTS TO THE BUDGET could be made to OFFSET THAT HELP?
The Deficit Fight was one of the MOST OUTRAGEOUS things to witness in Modern History by a Republican Congress who has totally lost their way on FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. In my lifetime, I have never seen a Republican Congress be so Irresponsible, except when Newt started this Revolution of SLASH AND BURN and SCORCHED EARTH POLITICS.
At least President Obama speaks in front the American People. Bush and Company would only speak in front of a HAND-PICKED SELECT Republican crowds and all of us would be paying for it. Sometimes Reporters and other were not allowed, while they were campaigning.
ENOUGH OF THE FAKE OUTRAGE AND THE MEGAPHONE OF DIS-INFORMATION to Low Information Voters. The only thing Republicans have been good at in the last 10 years is MESSAGING AND FAKE OUTRAGE. GOVERNING, that is something they have NOT done in the last 10 years and it shows in our CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS, AND THEY BLAME IT all on President Obama.
The President Inherited a BIGGER MESS than the Bush Administration admitted to the Public. Nevertheless, the President is suppose to fix it overnight by Re publican's Time Line. Republicans have been taking the Country DOWN since Reagan came to Office and the final Result of that take down CULMINATED IN THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE OF 2008.
You have Republican Governors turning down Federal Funds to help their STATES all in the Name to SAY President is the one HOLDING THE ECONOMY BACK.
Republicans and their Operatives have called this President everything but a Mother's Son, and they have TOTALLY RE-INVENTED who President Obama is. Then they FAKE OUTRAGE when one person says something that is ABSOLUTELY TRUE about a Republican and their underhandedness.
To make Sure they keep Power, they are INSTITUTING VOTER SUPPRESSION in as many States as Possible. Suddenly this is a issue, but it was not acted upon during the Terrorist Alerts of 2003-2008 until, the Republicans got Control of State Houses. I won't go into the War on Women, that is whole new Subject.
what a line of crap......Do you really think thay argument is going to hold water 4 years after the fact, which wasnt true in the first place....You arent going to get away with blaming Bush, but it will be fun watching you liberal jerks trying your best to.....oh and PS, Bush informed both Obama and McCain in October 2008 as to what was transpiring, but Obama stayed on the campaing trail and chose to ignore it....He also was in a 90 day transition period and was told everything there was to know.... and of yourse you know what he did about it. He pushed healthcare through which the people, except those like you despise, and added trillions to the already booming debt...Get real, no one and I mean not even the stupidest among you, and there are MANY, will not buy that Bush didnt say how bad it really was...Go back to playschool now Johnny
What a line of Crap, Indeed, Joe##########!
Sen. Mccain after asking for POTUS Bush to call a meeting, Suspended his Campaign like he knew what he was doing. President Obama(Sen. Obama@ the time) was second to the meeting, arriving behind Only Treasury Sec. Paulson. Sen Mccain arrived with some talkiing points on Index cards, Never said a Word at this meeting. POTUS Bush soon left the meeting after POTUS Obama(then Sen. Obama), suddenly Took Control of the Meeting, therefore In Effect, taking over the Presidency at That moment in 2008. Bush said something like"Heck, yall don't need me"!
President Barrack Hussien Obama answered the 3 AM Phonecall in 2008, before he got the 375 Electoral Votes!
Watch PBS sometimes, ya might learn sumpin!
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom
John Boehner is just helping to make the republican umbrella small enough to fit in his cocktail glass with this ploy.
Ha you just run with the Ryan plan, and the republicans stance on taxes for the ubber wealthy, subsidies for oil companies, ect ect, and then demand the president pay for these trips John. You go with that buddy as hard as you can, and we will see how that works out for you politically. I'll give you a hint: you are about to get your head handed to you one more time by a community organizer. Ha Ha go have yourself a good cry after being bullied by a skinny kid from Chicago with big ears.
Hey John you know why Obama has such big ears? So he can hear the middle class better than any republican. Thanks for the laugh John, you are a fun drunk!
He is by far the worst Speaker in a long time. He talks of the White House being diminished yet the House has done jack s&*t since it began. He picks the wrong fights and ALWAYS backs his people into a corner. They need a new leader with some drive and imagination. Not a leader consigned to attrition and losing..
I agree. He needs to switch parties. If nothing else, he'll at least "learn" how responsible adults run the country. :-)
Obama is a responsible adult? or did you mean Pelosi or the bufoon Reid? I am confused, we are talking about adults here correct, and responsible too right?God, (oh I forgot, I cant name him) you are the biggest kool aid drinkers of all time.....Where is Jim Jones when you need him??
John Boner is Jim Jones reincarnated.
I'm just waiting for all those closet Republicans, like Lieberman, to finally defect all the way.
Obama playacts at being president. He hasn't a clue what it means to uphold the constitution and couldn't care less what I think or what you think. He is the first president in U.S. history that grew up hating his country, you can see it in everything he says and does, Even his wife said on multiple occasions," she never had any reason to be proud of her country". Obama has surrounded himself, in his cabinet and advisers a collection of communists, socialists, and every manner of anti-capitalists he could find. If he gets 4 more years, the USA we grew up in will cease to exist.
Steve--The USA you grew up in was one organized by labor unions to provide you w/a 5-day, 40-hr. work week, lunches, breaks, job security, health care, and retirement. It ended about 40 years ago when Reagan smashed the Fed Air Traffic Controllers Union, and Republicans have taken everything else in the ensuing years, identifying solely with extreme wealth and dirty energy money for self-interest rather than public service.
I'm an attorney & I can assure you as a Constitutional Law Prof at the University of Chicago, this President understands & supports the Constitution, whereas the 5 Republican Supreme Court Justices made a mockery of it by holding money to be the equivalent of free speech & corporations to be "persons" within meaning of the 1st Amendment. In fact, judges are supposed to limit the scope of their judgment to the issues presented by the parties, which in that case were purely statutory & didn't address the Constitution at all.
So those Supreme Court Justices set themselves up as a final legislature without any checks or balances, a treasonous violation of the Constitution they swore an oath to uphold, a violation of the Separation of Powers in that precious document.
Get the facts. Leave your prejudices behind, they aren't working for you or any of us. This President has done very well, especially in restoring the world's opinion of us in foreign policy, despite unprecedented backlash like yours.
If you'd grown up black in this country, I can tell you you'd feel exactly as our First Lady did. But how proud we were that this nation broke the racial barrier in 2008 has been all washed away in the torrents of hatred folks like you have been spewing ever since.
Why didn't you complain about losing the nation you grew up in in 2000--when the Supreme Court gave the election to the man who LOST?
I think you've lost your right to complain.
Obama playacts at being president.
You've obviously confused the brain dead actor Reagan, with this President. At least he didn't go for HIS first pick for VP. That monkey that co-starred with him, back when he "tried" acting.
John Boehner is weeping over White House travel expenses, while he travels back and forth to his Ohio district almost on the average of twice a month.
How much is Cry-baby Boehner re-imbursing all of us who don't live in his district, and thus didn't elect him to any office at all? We pay for his expenses, and yet he doesn't represent anyone outside of his jerrymandered safe little district in Ohio.
Come to think of it, I seem to remember Republicans throwing tantrums when Nancy Pelosi used the same assets that Boehner uses. Double standard anyone?
Boner needs to STFU. Republican politicians should have all their wages garnished because of their damn obstructionist bullsh1t!
Gee Gary, maybe we can have the GOP's wages garnished and give it to your Senate pals. After all, look at all they have accomplished, over the last 5 years.
And all because of the farthin obstructionists called Republicans. 5 years huh? Finally admitting to yourself that Bush and his cronies were fascist dickheads? This class of Teapublicans are worse don't you know?
Well, not that BRIGHT Gary has chimed in, what needs to be said.
Too bad Gary you have no clue about OBSTRUCTION.
MAYBE you should attempt to educate yourself. Take advantage of Obama's FREE college philosophy, as the ACTIONS of House PROVE they have attempted to bring forward legislation. OF COURSE IT is Conservative in nature. House is controlled by Conservative Republicans. Too bad Senate has been MISSING IN ACTION under Harry Reid. Can't have compromise between House and Senate when 1/2 is doing NOTHING. But WHY bother with facts, right Gary. It's easier to curse and scream about "Republicans." I bet it makes you "feel good."
Jerry--The House has passed over 1200 bills since the mid-term election in 2010--exactly 2 have had anything at all to do with economic policy. Because of vitriol directed at them by a tired public, Congress finally passed a law against insider trading by congressional members--only after Eric Cantor ensured it was so watered down as to have little meaning.
The 2nd was a jobs bill proposed by the President, which was also whittled down to nothing much by Republicans.
What they voted for?? "In God We Trust" over & over again, acts against women's health care, against Islamist Sharia law (in effect nowhere in the USA, altho' in a cosmic joke kind of twist their tactics against women & attempts to be rid of the Act Against Violence towards Women are very similar to Sharia law). They put together a commission on women's reproduction & refused to allow women in the discussion. (R-CA) Darrell Issa has spent millions in House investigative commissions for this & that in never-ceasing witch hunts against the White House, coming up empty each time. Not for lack of trying
You have a problem with America's children becoming educated to compete successfully in a global economy? How do you think that will turn out for our nation, eh?
Fact is, government IS US. Without a strong government, the bullies take over, which is exactly what's happened, beginning with Reagan.
Ike warned us in the 50s against the military-industrial complex; now we engage in endless wars and have bases in more than 140 countries why-- for our freedom? To protect lives? NONONONONONO. For the profitability of private contractors like Halliburton--Cheney was their CEO before he suggested the war in Iraq by fraud. And to steal "our oil" that of course happens to be in somebody else's soil! So let's drill, baby, drill, and frack, baby, frack, who cares if the next generation hasn't clean water to drink or air to breathe? Let the hunters and the armed survivalists into our National Parks to whoop it up!--killing the animals and each other. It's the great American Way!!
If the extremely wealthy paid taxes according to their share, if we disengaged from policing the known universe, if we put our people back to work so they COULD pay taxes--half earn $30,000 or less now, pathetic? Yes, there's pathos, indeed. We'd have no financial problems at all. The deficit problem is non-existent. It's been ginned up to frighten people like you--it's fear that makes the Republican Party, not facts.
So you want austerity? EUROPE'S TRIED IT; IT'S NOT WORKING. ENGLAND, TOO--NOW IN DOUBLE DIGIT RECESSION. Fact is, if we don't grow our way out of this by putting America back to work on our crumbling infrastructure and bringing back the draft, America will soon be a 3rd World nation--not despite the Republican Party, but because of it.
So pardon me for placing blame where blame is long overdue.
NO Dee,
Sorry, Lies don't hide the reality that it is the Democrats in House and worse yet, Senate that are FAILING to DO anything.
YOU attempt to say that the Republican things wouldn't WORK, well, SHOW ME anything the Senate has attempted. Senate won't even VOTE on Obama's budget. And you Lib nutjobs somehow blame REPUBLICANS for Senate's FAILURE.
Regarding Europe, Obama is attempting to take USA towards where Europe is trying to LEAVE. FUNNY...Libs can't quite grasp that.
YOU like to blame Republicans, because you create "revisionist" history though.
Can't HIDE from FACT that Freddie and Fannie are the major cause, and THAT is on Bill Clinton, but why would Libs care about that. YOU didn't care that he was under the desk with Monica. YOU didn't care that he HAD A SHOT at Bin LADEN, and said NO..thus leadingto 9/11. FUNNY, that revisionist history thing DIES in the face of facts.
Regarding wealthy paying "fair share." Do your homework. 50% of this country doesn't pay a damn thing. Excuse me for thinking that they SHOULD get up and help.
Funny, sitting in my ROTARY meeting Tuesday, I KNOW almost everyone of THOSE were Conservatives, wanting to help and helping with their OWN money. Lord OBAMA wants THOSE people to pay MORE, to create more programs by Gov't to "help."
He's wanting to "govern" everything. That is a problem.
So pardon me for realizing that Liberals like to BLAME Bush, failing to recall the disaster called Bill Clinton. Again, if you Libs had given a damn that Clinton didn't get Bin Laden, 9/11 doesn't happen. Freddie and Fannie debacle could have been avoided. BUT WHY BOTH WITH FACTS...
Some of you Liberals REALLY need to READ the article before chiming in.
First off, you bring up GWB, and from the records on file, he DID reimburse for these things. You Libs (I assume) are adults and understand how to google, so I'm not pasting a link, as you won't read it anyway, so know what you are talking about. The links I found don't reference the exact events, but you'll find the totals to be significantly MORE than POTUS OBAMA.
Considering, to DATE, Obama has reimbursed Gov't a WHOPPING $5000, you guys may want to know what you are talking about.
Regarding House and Senate Republicans, IF they aren't paying the Gov't back, then they too should be held accountable. I don't think there are ANY conservatives that have an issue with dumping those too, as ALL that do that are cheating.
Just right now, THIS story is about OBAMA. Somehow, Liberals seem to avoid actually discussing THIS POTUS, constantly redirecting your venom towards someone else. OF COURSE you don't care about what Obama does. Funny how that works...
Funny,
Here's that BIAS journalism...
Fox News showing Rupert Murdock owning the issues with is British scandal.
FUNNY...
MSNBC and NBC have YET to OWN their SCANDALS...all 3 of the most recent. Funny.
You CLOWN Liberals talk about Fox...but sure don't mind BLIND MSNBC and NBC, do you?
He'll probably just say he's on vacation. He hasn't been on vacation in a couple of weeks, has he?
El Presidente has danced around Congress (House and Senate) for more than three years. He has given short shrift to them on every item he does not like. When he wants a law, he simply makes it so with an executive order--rule by decree, like a true dictator or despot: Make it so, Number Two." What would ever make the Speaker of the House think Obama will pay attention to a call to pay for something he has gotten free up till now? If Congress had been vigilant and done its job this incident would not have happened.
How nieve you are! Dubya spent more on traveling and vacations than any president ever.
True that. As reported when he (Bush) & Boehner were campaigning all over America in 2004, from Air Force One.
Yeah, Bush spent his time at Crawford ranch. Not jetting around the world.
FUNNY, Wasn't it Obama on "Late Night" the other night, being COOL and singing? IS OUR GOV'T paying for that?
LOL...LOL...and LIBERALS don't mind that...
ADD up stuff like that...appearing on Oprah, Jimmy Kimmel, having wife on TV...YOU LIberals won't like the results.
To pretend that his visits to these Late Night Comedy shows are BUSINESS is what IDIOTS to...Welcome to Liberals in America.
Boehner you need to pay us your salary back for the last 4 wasted years of your leadership or lack of.
Now stop your crying and face up to the fact, Nancy will have your seat back.
Yeah, Obama will reimburse the government for this as soon as G.W. Bush reimburses the government for the 60 days (SIXTY DAYS!!!) he spent traveling around the country in 2005 to sell his doomed Social Security Reform package.
You are right. He spends more on Merlo on the government tab and does absoluteky nothing.
MERLOT, dear, MERLOT. Read all my comments here. Please educate yourself and leave your blind prejudices at home.
oncearepub sounds like you still are and you write like you have been in a pub too long. you write drunk - funny
Pete – That makes no sense at all. Are you are saying that stealing the taxpayers' money is a good thing? Or it's only good if Obama does it? Or Obama should do it as long as Bush did it first? Or ... what?
Seriously?!?