The N.R.A. leadership and their gun bosses have conveniently 'forgotten' what their leader Wayne La Pierre said in 1994. Back then he was in SUPPORT of gun-free zones.

La Pierre, 1994: "First we believe in gun-free, zero tolerance, totally safe schools. That means NO guns in America's schools, period...with the rare exception of law enforcement officers or trained security personnel."

The stark contrast between La Pierre's insistence NOW against gun-free schools - and his speech after Columbine 19 years ago - is a hallmark of how hardened, false & extreme GOP positions have become.

"Organizing for Action" Yes we Progressives are on board.

Hey Joe in Albany,

You live in the wrong place.

The economy is doing fine in MN.

December unemployment rate was 5.5% in MN. The last time we had that percentage was Aug 2008, before the financial meltdown.

NorthstarDFL

Hey Joe in Albany,

You live in the wrong place.

Actually Joe lives in the right place, a bastion of Democratic control for decades. Albany is doing just fine. Ain't that right Joey?

As to the DDI, I am a happy memeber. No more cross-border shopping ... just cross-border free stuff. Get to work Righties, I need a new phone. Pronto now!

[Jan. 12-15, 2013] NBC Poll:

President Obama’s Job Approval 52/44 (+8)

Congressional Approval 14/81 (-67)

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/13018_JANUARY_NBC-WSJ.pdf

What else is new... ? The fact that any person in Washington even the President can speak lil white lies until it conveniently comes to light well after the fact is truly despicable. 1) Taxing the high dollar earners, which started at the 1% evolved into the 2% YET provide further loopholes for them to NOT PAY MORE is hypocrisy. Where is the outcry? Why does it keep continuing? Oh! This isn't about one party or another. It is in fact ALL of them. The willingness to absorb any story at face value should prompt folks to investigate even more.

*smiles*

Since the NRA was mentioned, I have this from Karl Frederick, president of the NRA, 1934.

"I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns, I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses."

How has money, and the gun manufactures changed the NRA? Wayne La Pierre is now calling for guns in schools. The NRA itself is backing open carry and concealed permits for everyone that wants one. No back ground checks or anything that might hamper the sale of weapons of mass shooting ability's. I believe the evils of money is what changes an organization to become evil as the NRA has become.

BCWC,

I believe Joe really lives in either Albany TN orTX.

He is an old retired guy who needs a low tax state to get by.

"If you cannot see that guns make Violent people more effective, there is no hope for you." unknown.

The best investigative reporting is now only found on fake news...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-16-2013/there-goes-the-boom

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-16-2013/there-goes-the-boom---atf

That's just plain hurtful and mean. It makes it even more painful to realize that a real man like Francis doesn't care about my family. I wonder if he feels that way about the families who lost their children in Newtown.

Careful there, David. Next they are going to label you a sissy. And you what they love to do to sissies. They like to abduct them on cold freezing nights, strip them down, tie them to fence posts, piss on 'em, then pelt them with rocks and bottles, then leave them there to die, relishing their handiwork. They are, after all, folks that represent family values, and nothing will deter their efforts to defend those values.

You know DF, it's pretty sad when the the Standard Bearers for what passes as investigative journalism are now DeadSpin (T'eo) and The National Inquirer (John Edwards).

Hey, RedDevPS, #1.20

There is no soul searching

absolutely.

no change of heart among GOP leaders while rank and file Republicans are agonizing over the wrong direction some of the key GOP leaders have led the party toward.

We all understand that most rank and file Republicans have common sense + wisdom ... and are disappointed that some of their core leaders have been so inept. We also have to give credit to Pres. Obama and the Democrats who have been deft enough to take over many core conservative ideas from the GOP - stealing the thunder from conservatives who have been thus left homeless.

Happy Friday

From the article above:

The members of the Obama coalition DON’T own guns, while those who are probably represented by a GOP member Congress DO own guns. If one were to map gun ownership in American, you’d see most of those folks living in the red congressional districts. And what does that mean? It’s unlikely the Republican House will budge on these issues because THEIR constituents will have a different view.

And so, the continuing saga of America’s Ying-Yang, Love-Hate divisiveness lumbers on.

This is great news for Faux sNewzzzzz. They will continue to rake in the money while they blatantly misinform half the population of this country because lying is great for business.

Makes you wonder just how many years go by before Faux sNewzzzzz viewers wake up and realized how they have been played for chumps.

We now interrupt this program to bring you the following message:

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.”
Benjamin Franklin

Salud

Pigotry, that's because there's no intent to push policies that are backed by a majority. Their only intent is to SELL policies beneficial to the wealthy elites, plus enough other extreme positions to pull in a coalition of people who don't realize the policies of the GOPTP aren't in their own best interest.

Conservatism isn't a political philosophy, it's a PR campaign. As such the movement is blinded to the fact that they're selling manure as a beauty aid.

First Read --

"If one were to map gun ownership in America[], you'd see most of those folks living in the red congressional districts. And what does that mean?"

A darned good question, the answer to which is way too obvious.

Which party cultivates fear, shifts blame, facilitates the ultimate objective of the gun lobby to increase sales, and enables the false sense of security that most gun advocates draw from their guns?

And which states also have the highest rates of gun deaths per capita, even though blue states have higher concentrations of urban areas?

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir-death-rate-per-100-000

(this handy graph shows quite clearly that the highest rates of gun death are consistently in the red states)

See also

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/states-with-most-restrictive-gun-control-laws-have-lower-gun-related-deaths-study-finds

Connecticut has more restrictions on gun ownership than most states, so gun-rights advocates argue the Dec. 14 schoolhouse massacre there illustrates the futility of gun control.

But a new study by a pro-gun control San Francisco organization reaches the opposite conclusion: States with the most restrictive laws, including Connecticut and California, have lower rates of gun-related deaths, while states with few limits on firearms have the highest rates.

In 2009 and 2010, the most recent years for which information is available, California had the nation's strongest gun controls and the ninth-lowest rate of gun deaths, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence , which favors firearms regulation.

Connecticut had the fourth-strongest gun laws and was sixth-lowest in gun deaths, while Hawaii ranked fifth in gun control and had the lowest death rate.

At the other end of the scale, the report found that Alaska, Louisiana and Montana -- all graded F for gun control -- had the highest rates of deaths caused by gunfire, more than double California's rate. The law center graded all 50 states and gave an F, for weak regulation, to 24 of them.

In 2010, the report said, quoting the federal Centers for Disease Control, California had 7.88 gun deaths for each 100,000 residents, compared with rates of 3.31 in Hawaii and 20.28 in Alaska.

Does anyone seriously believe this is a coincidence?

Even that great Conservative icon, Ronald Reagan, approved of sensible gun control.

Reagan's views and actions on gun control would make him a flaming Liberal in today's environment.

Governor Reagan (CA) signed into law a bill making it illegal to carry a loaded firearm in public or have one in your vehicle. He also approved a 15-day waiting period for firearm purchases.

President Reagan signed legislation making it illegal to manufacture or sell machine guns.

Former President Reagan supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapon Ban (as did Pres. GHW Bush and Pres. Carter).

How far right has the Republican party drifted, when even minor common-sense measures formerly supported by Reagan are considered an outrageous assault on 2nd Amendment rights?

Tomas Grande -

I actually overlooked this gross over-simplification until you posted it:

The members of the Obama coalition DON’T own guns, while those who are probably represented by a GOP member Congress DO own guns. If one were to map gun ownership in American, you’d see most of those folks living in the red congressional districts. And what does that mean? It’s unlikely the Republican House will budge on these issues because THEIR constituents will have a different view.

That paragraph does not represent the true facts. I would suggest that while members of Obama's coalition are LESS LIKELY to own guns, a fair number of them do.

I would also believe the converse is true, that it is simply MORE LIKELY that Red-state Republicans own guns.

I abhor the media's attempts to constantly separate us into two Americas on every issue.

Their only intent is to SELL policies beneficial to the wealthy elites,......

John B, So that's why they acquiesced to the President on raising taxes on them. Ball is definetely in the Presidents court now.

David W, good one, thanks for the Friday laugh. Think I'll spend a little of my social security "entitlement" money--that I don't deserve because GOPers think it's free stuff--on something to toast President Obama's second inauguration.

As for the GOPers refusal to raise the debt ceiling without draconian strings attached (which they did 7 times for Bush 43 no strings), their paychecks should be the first ones that aren't printed--they should reap what they sow. Oh, and that also includes the government's portion of the GOPers health insurance--let them pay it all or lose it.

But a new study by a pro-gun control San Francisco organization reaches the opposite conclusion:

I am shocked, I tell ya!

Way, way off your game AM.

Dangerfield,

I watched the daily show segment " there goes the boom", excellent piece.

Just follow the twisted turns of how the NRA really has more clout than Grover Norquist ever dream of.

The NRA wrote the changes in the law tht got us to this point.

Norquist has the GOP to just say no, not do anything.

Larry ODonnell has also been reporting this week on the back story of the NRA and who controls this group.

Our US economy is doing so much better. The stock market is up, 401 K is going up in value from the 2008 crash, unemployment is down, housing is improving, the debt that was created under W. Bush is going down some, we as a Nation are again respected by the World, One war is over, and revenues will be going up.

President Obama has done a great job as President in his first four years as President. In the second term we will see even better results.

Also, folks need to realize that President Obama is not the reason for our high debt. That is a total myth cooked up by the extreme right, who know nothing but hate, and want our Nation to fail.

As Backhouse pointed out from a past post:

"Contrary to the tax-and-spend stereotype of Democrats -- President Barack Obama has actually presided over THE SMALLEST INCREASES IN FEDERAL SPENDING of any recent president". (Politifact)

Started on the Sammy's a little early today, eh, Joe? How much money was spent on the Romney campaign? And yet, the campaign couldn't find a person who'd stand up in a commerical and say Romney or Bain produced a job for them. Stew in your own bitter juice, Joe. To paraphrase a Ray Charles soda commercial, we've got the right one, baby!!

Repeal the Tiahrt amendment

Repeal the Sensenbrenner provision of the Patriot act

WCA-

Why the hell isn't Verlander pitching for the good ol' USA? It would be nice to win one of these things...

and...John Edwards? Really? That's more ancient history than news, isn't it? You may have been able to dredge up a more recent example that DIDN'T involve a conservative, I'm sure...or is Edwards the one thinking about running in SC?

Albany Joe -

BTW, it's interesting to note that businesses have learned how to grow profits despite the slow-bama recovery. The S&P 500 is now approaching its all time record level first achieved in October 2007. That's the thing about capitalism; it's like water running downhill. Put obstacles in front of it and it will adapt and develop ways to go around, over, and/or under the obstacles. Ain't capitalism great!!!!!

This brings your usual nit-witticism to a new low level.

The market IS doing quite well without creating any jobs precisely because the "job creators" now make their profits by creating job overseas, by reducing jobs here (thus increasing their short-term bottom lines), by keeping their taxes low, and by sitting on mountains of cash that they are not reinvesting.

The markets, in short, incent businesses not to create jobs, but only to create profit. That's a whole different animal. The President does not control the markets.

As long as businesses can get away with doing that, they will. And the economy as a whole will stay sluggish, yet the markets will thrive.

Yeah, you just can't beat "capitalism."

Or at least the greedy short-sightedness that passes for capitalism these days.

Be sure to celebrate that over some nicely grilled fresh salmon.

WCA --

I am shocked, I tell ya!

Way, way off your game AM.

Just like you to ignore the facts and shoot the messenger.

And besides, you completely ignored the other chart that went with that.

I may be a little off my game, but at least I HAVE game.

@ Beverly

Did I mention anything about any election?? Why is there the continual toss back of ' Obama won the election' and that is it. What does one have to do with another? How about you take your own advice and not provide FALSE equivalency. The last time I checked, my comment is based on the ' Fiscal Cliff Bill ' which was the latest impending disaster pushed onto We The People.

Sure AM, I'll start believing a Pro-Gun Control Group in the Heart of Libbie Land as soon as you start believing Fox News Polls.

Your game is old and very, very tired.

Hey DF, I think Manti T'eo is a conservative so I would call that fair and balanced. The examples were purely picked for their sensationalism.

We need JV in October. Don't need him burning out his arm before the World Series, so it's fine with me if he sits out. Priorities, my man, priorities.

Goggle "H.J. res. 15"

Why should America have a debt ceiling.??

America is no longer protected by the Constitution.

Congratulations Mr. President your doing a heck of a job. See ya for the 2017 inauguration.

RedDevPS

Negate all votes cast by non-whites

RedDevPS,

The crackpot right wing nuts have reduced themselves to a even lower common denominater.

RNC Chair: Rig The Next Presidential Election For Republicans

Republicans are in a unique position to make headway with such a plan nationally because Wisconsin and other key states that have gone to the Democratic presidential candidate in recent elections are currently controlled by Republicans at the state level. The change would give Republicans a chance to claim some of those states’ electoral votes.

“I think it’s something that a lot of states that have been consistently blue that are fully controlled red ought to be looking at,” Priebus said of the plan to change how electoral votes are granted.

Such a system “gives more local control” to the states, he argued. [Reince Priebus]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/01/14/1443731/rnc-chair-rig-the-next-president-election-for-republicans/

Nice try, WCA. We're talking statistics here, not polls.

And of course, I don't believe in Fox News polls. Please don't tell me that YOU do?

Because that would explain some things.

Karl Rove as your guru? Talk about tired.

So, what's your point? I still haven't heard one.

Some History Of The Debt Ceiling

Sarah Binder - an expert on congress - makes some interesting observations about the debate in Congress when the debt ceiling first became part of the U.S. Code in 1917:

The most commonly cited treatment of why we have a debt limit is a Congressional Research Service report that identifies 1917 and 1939 as critical turning points in how Congress authorized debt management by the Treasury Department. Before 1917, Congress authorized loans for specific purposes; with enactment of the Second Liberty Bond Act* in 1917, Congress moved to authorize separate limits for different types of securities (as explored in this 1950s treatment of the transition). In 1939, Congress again altered how it delegated authority to Treasury, creating the first ceiling on most types of borrowing instruments.

Judging from the NY Times coverage of the 1917 episode, legislators paid little attention to the implications of mandating a ceiling. They focused instead on Treasury Secretary McAdoo’s request for a higher borrowing limit so as to fund an expensive war effort. The ceiling was created to empower, not rein in, Treasury (prompting a failed effort to create a congressional committee to oversee Treasury’s actions). Similarly, the creation of the aggregate ceiling in 1939 reflected congressional deference to Treasury, granting the department flexibility in refinancing short term notes with longer term bonds. As the Senate floor debate makes clear, senators viewed the move as removing a partition in the law that hampered Treasury’s ability to manage the debt.

The law was meant, then to expand Treasury Department discretion in incurring debt and, in its 1917 version, to eliminate the necessity for Congress to separately authorize new loans.

.

quoted fully from the following website -

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/more-on-the-history-of-the-debt-ceiling/

For the conservatives who claim that President Obama (and all democratic presidents) grow the size of government and spend more, there's this to ponder. Annualized growth of federal spending by presidential term: Reagan, 8.7% & 4.9%; Bush 41, 5.4%; Clinton, 3.2% & 3.9%; Bush 43, 7.8% & 8.1%; Obama, 1.4%.

In summary, that would be republican presidents increasing federal spending by 34.9% as opposed to democratic presidents at 8.5%. Now, who is it that increases the size of government and spends more again?

Since Reagan, everytime republican presidents leave offce, it becomes the job of a democratic one to clean up the mess they left all while the GOPers claim it's the democrats fault that the debt is so high and the government spends too much.

The outcry came when our President was re-elected with 51% of the vote. President Obama was the first President since Roosevelt to transcend a dragging economy and the stifling unemployment which the obstructionist GOP/ T-Nuts created to stymie him.

He was the first President since Franklin D. Roosevelt, to win two presidential elections with an absolute majority of the nationwide popular vote. President Obama is the first president since Republican Dwight Eisenhower to win back-to-back presidential elections with more than 51 percent of the popular vote. Also, he is the first President to win with unemployment below 7.2.

Yes I also heard that he is the first president to part the atlantic ocean, he found bigfoot, he personally took out bin laden in hand to hand combat while being shot at with assault rifles that held more than seven bullets.

*yawn*

The way you libs completely idolize this guy is beyond sickening. He's a failure, you'll see. Like you, I have faith.

NRA 4.1 Mill in members is a pea in the pot to over 400 Million Americans, the NRA is going down with the GOP !!!

Hell, after reading the article, things seem pretty good for the President. Looks like most don't like or trust the Congress. That ain't necessarily "funk". It's more likely the reality of that bodies republican makeup. Most have learned, even in times of "plenty" never to trust or believe a republican. Give one the consideration of using your outhouse, and the sum-bitch will not only steal your cobs, he'll make off with the bucket as well. I like this "organization for action". I plan to be active in that, and I hope, all responsible "progressives" will be. If everyone will just remember, even during seasons of "red ass", when they trust any republican vessel to hold their water they will likely end up dying of thirst, especially the poor and middle class. Now, aye Gwad, I'm heading to town. My check's just come in, and I've got a passel of "food stamps". Don't really need a thing, but I'll find something to blow it all on. Hope everyone has a great weekend. FEISTY! You're great! IR! Best unspoken! All of you! Sensible, responsible people, worthy of the respect and dignity you present and demand.

David Walker! You're a SIGHT! Wouldn't trade the value of your posts for a young Bluetick Hound!

I'm in a funk over the Do Nothing republicans! Glad to see that only 26% have a positive opinion about them. Meaning that I'm not the only one, I'm in the great majority and the future of the party to survive is at risk. I hope it fails and dies!

I love reading posts from liberals, in fact if you read one you have read them all. Just endless blame and excuses. Constant finger pointing, name calling, and insults. Nope, certainly no division or hatred going on in this country, just another typical day. People can't seem to see that we have a country in disarray and none of the discourse is helping one bit. Of course people are less enthusiastic about Obama's second term, since it has just been more blame, more excuses, and an announcement of no compromise since the election. We need a leader, someone who can work across party lines, compromise, get things done for the country and so far Obama has displayed no capacity to be that sort of president. This country would be so much better off with less debt, more people working, and a brighter tomorrow. But the condition of the country is breeding many of our problems, and we need someone in Washington to step up and lead us out of this quagmire. Hopefully we will find that sort of leader soon.

Alex M.

You heard wrong! You must be listening to the Devil or FOX!

Polls - Statistics

Two sides of the same coins AM.

Surely you understand that you can make statistics, just like polling data, say whatever you want them to, right?

Then again, I am reminded that math isn't your strong suit.

"Impending disaster" in what way? "Impending disaster" because Obama stared down Boner and McConnell? GreatlyEntitled, the election was held, and you lost, for many reasons, number one, the average American does not trust the republican economic plan that enriches those that are already too rich, and in doing so makes the poor, poorer, and the middle class shrink. WE THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

Americans are exhausted by being held hostage by the Alice in Wonderland extremism of the Guns Over People, Party of No.

The markets, in short, incent businesses not to create jobs, but only to create profit.

Be sure to celebrate that over some nicely grilled fresh salmon.

____________________________________

AM: The sole purpose of a business is to earn profits for the owners. Creating jobs is a cost of earning those profits and a byproduct of the business, not the purpose of the business.

If you want to operate an organization that has as its sole purpose "creating jobs", then start a non-profit corporation and apply for grant funding from the govt and charitable foundations.

BTW, it's going to be in the 40s here tomorrow - perfect winter grilling weather. :~)

“If 2009 was all about hope,” NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) says, “2013 is about the ability to cope.”

LOL....

@Johntho

Again, have I mentioned anything about an election? I did not think that plain English was that hard to understand. Yet again, taxing the top earners was the idea which got approved ONLY to have them slide through more loopholes.

The buyers remorse the electorate feels now is nothing compared to how they'll feel in another year

We've been hearing this for 4 years, when does it actually happen?

"

Two workers adjust flags on the Capitol as preparations continue for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, DC, on Jan. 17, 2013."

Missed it completely. I've got to start paying better attention.

The only way to solve this problem is to not allow any politician to run for re-election.

Steve -

As gun enthusiasts, we buy & sell at gun shows all the time....If the wrong thing is said in the course of a sale.... it's OFF. Any impression of illegal intent or questionable credentials and it's over.

Okay, but do all private sellers adhere to those "guidlines" since it is not the law? How do you know whether the person has a criminal record or mental issues? How do you know how many other weapons they have purchased recently?

We are being profiled & persecuted for the deeds of others

If that is the case then the licensed gun dealers that cannot sell without a background check are being "profiled and persecuted" also? How about car dealers? Are they being persecuted?

I fail to see how the universal background check requirement is tantamount to persecution. I also fail to see how you could possibly think your "impression" acts as any kind of safeguard against a weapon falling into the wrong hands.

Your "deeds" of selling firearms without a background check can also facilitate the criminal "deeds" of others.

Like it or not - you, sir, are part of the problem. You need to become part of the solution.

Especially when you look back through history and see that the progressive movement is what has brought about the downfall of most great nations.

That is an interesting observation that can't be proven. I will challenge that conservatism by inherent design brings about the collapse of societies because it doesn't keep up with societal changes. But hey, stick to your belief that the downfall of America was because we ended slavery and allowed women to vote. Yeah, there is your ticket for a shot at the White House.

Alex,

Man you are so pathetic. This guy is a straight up HATER, period..

You got 4 more years to hate, you little nut job..

Do you ever get sick of conservatives who come on here and say we need a president who can, "lead" "Reach across the aisle", or "Compromise". It is ridiculous how dellusional some have become. No where do they see how many times they have smacked away the Democrats out reached hand. They seem to have selective amnesia of their speaker on TV refusing to use the word compromise.

I just don't get it. What I do know is I will gladly be spending my welfare check this weekend!

Really wish there were news that was completely nuetral and just stated facts. Tired of sorting out which is lies and which is real. All these news channels are either pro right or pro left....and mostly pro left. You will never hear a negative comment about the person in which they favor. Even if Obama did something terrible, it would either not be covered or be made out to be good in some way.

All you people do is fight and bash each other. Doesn't it get old? Where are the REAL arguements and good debates from people that will truly listen to the other side and make reasonable arguements. Anyone know where these are?

Tired.

" Majority supports broad principle of gun control (but there’s a big divide between gun owners and non-gun owners)… Majority also backs immigration reform (but there’s a big divide between Dems and GOPers)… And Obama World sets up Organizing for Action. "

Sorry but I'm not buying one bit of this. What majority are they talking about...... the 35 people they surveyed?

We're heading to an inauguration watching event hosted by Sen. Coons in Wilmington, DE, on Monday and plan on having a FINE time. I feel such a sense of relief that our President was re-elected, as the alternative was a complete horror. That's not cope though, that's knowing that we have the right people in place to make positive changes in our country. Like JOE BIDEN!!!

We should continue to hold Fox News(?), and the blowhard Tea Baggers, accountable for the spin they put on reality. My neighbor is afraid she's not going to get her SS check.

Joe while you are right the purpose of business is to make profits, if all businesses cut down on staff, which leaner industries is the current trend, in a macro view it does lower potential customers and can have a negative effect on profits in the end.

Basically it does make sense for businesses to hire people simply to hire people if they can afford it, but it is quite useless if everyone else isn't. Of course there are two sides to that coin. It also makes sense to cut staff and operate lean so long as all other industries do not do the same. Basic Prisoner's Dilemma

We have law enforcement organizations around the country and entire states rejecting Obama's obvious unconstitutional gun grab attempts.

We have a population becoming increasingly depressed over a debt that can never be paid off and the promise of increasing and new taxes on just about everything.

We have a president that through his machinations has instituted divisions by class, race, gender, etc., ripping this country apart.

We have a majority of the population in despair that believes this country is going in the wrong direction and that this country's best days are behind it.

Yet, while Obama is primping for his coronation ceremonies, his propaganda ministry (The Media) claims he remains popular.

The BS can be spread only so far.

This is what I don't understand about the President's gun control proposals. What exactly are they intended to achieve? It seems they are a set of regulations and studies that do not address the objective of reducing gun violence.

During the first 16 days of January, 26 people have been killed by guns in Chicago -- the exact same number as at Sandy Hook Elementary School. By the time this year is out, the south and west sides of the city we both call home will have endured, in terms of sheer numbers of people killed, the equivalent of 20 Sandy Hook massacres. That’s on top of the equivalent of the 19 Sandy Hooks the city experienced in 2012.

Yet there has been little outcry by the national media, and not much public attention paid to Chicago’s crucible by either national political party. Just the sterile news stories in the local papers every morning recounting the details of yet another young person’s life cut short and another family ripped apart thanks to senseless violence.

The other sad reality, Mr. President, is that almost nothing proposed this week in Washington, D.C., by your administration will do anything to stem the tide of gun violence in our inner cities. Most of these crimes were not committed with semi-automatic assault weapons, they weren’t committed by the mentally ill, and they won’t be stopped by universal background checks.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/01/18/mr_president_chicagos_gun_victims_need_you_now.html

The only politician I have seen on this subject making any sensible proposals is Mayor Booker of Newark.

Really weird take by Joe in Albany - first he says Obama is a terrible failure, then he says the markets and business are doing great in spite of Obama.

Huh? It's going to take some pretzel twisting of logic to understand that one. The markets and businesses are doing great, but Obama is an economic failure, therefore it shows how great capitalism is...

Rightwing logic is entertaining, but a little crazy. I wonder how Joe explains economic collapse under Bush - Bush is an economic success, but the markets and business are collpasing, therefore it shows how terrible capitalism is?

Alan on the national stage how much can be done with out causing a knee jerk reaction from gun owners?

I do hate that the Chicago killings have been used a lot in this debate. Yes guns are clearly a problem there, and tehre should be steps taken to understand how these people obtain guns and to stop it. However, we all know ther are much larger issues that are driving this murders in cluding, poverty, gang violence and narcotics. Although limited guns to these people would definitely slow down the rate of violence, untill the other issues are solved there is not as much that can be done.

Many conservatives make the argument that taking away guns stops "gun violence" but not violence. In most cases I think the argument is stupid, but in many gang murders there are pre meditated, targeted killings so it sort of applies. Yes, we should try to get guns out of the hands of these criminals, but clearly the more pressing and more difficult challenge is to get rid of the gangs/criminals themselves.

@Akeem

Alan on the national stage how much can be done with out causing a knee jerk reaction from gun owners?

I really don't understand your comment. I have nothing against universal background checks but what exactly will the proposals cover? It seems to be me that most gun violence is not committed by people who are buying guns where a background check is possible. Also, will these checks include mental health issues? If so how do they get past HIPPA regulations.

At the end of the day the proposals seem to be more regulation for very little benefit. In other words the Administration is trying to look like it is actually doing something but in reality nothing much will change.

Really weird take by Joe in Albany - first he says Obama is a terrible failure, then he says the markets and business are doing great in spite of Obama.

Huh? It's going to take some pretzel twisting of logic to understand that one.

_______________________________________

noncoms, it's not very difficult:

Just ask some of the MILLIONS of long term unemployed who have given up all hope of ever getting another job if Barry's stewardship of the American economy sucks and is a failure?

Then ask some people, like me, who are long term investors in the stock markets who are doing just fine because businesses have found new ways to make profits even with the obstacle of Barry's crappy economy, if they think the markets and businesses are succeeding in spite of Barry?

My bet is you will get "yes" answers both times.

Your logic problem is solved.

Joe: The sole purpose of a business is to earn profits for the owners. Creating jobs is a cost of earning those profits and a byproduct of the business, not the purpose of the business.

I have to disagree. While profits for owners and shareholders might be ONE of the purposes, without a product or a service, a business cannot succeed. How many companies do you see selling only profits? Would you buy only a profit for the owner? If you are parting with your hard-earned dollar, do you expect something in return?

This is what is wrong with business. Profit, making money has superceeded everything else. Good products, quality, customer satisfaction, caring for workers be damned.

The regulation for very little benefit isn't a great argument to an issue like guns. To answer you more directly, basically I am not sure there are clear cut laws that can stop people like those responsible for the murders in Chicago, people who obtain guns illegaly . Increased regulations and further steps to ensure that people who can own guns legally are more responsible would have an effect on those people who purchase them through other means.

Really weird take by Joe in Albany -

Noncoms - this is the fallacy of little Joe, hence the name Albanian Idiot. He couldn't invest his way out of a paper bag loaded with stock certificates. Notice, he blew through his conservative party platform stance they have been preaching for the last four years - Government doesn't create jobs. Yet there he goes, on a cheap Salmon bender, claiming business doesn't create jobs. He now claims job creators are non-profits backed by government.

It will be interesting to see what claims little Joey makes next .. he is getting eerily close to "Isn't Marxism great?"

For the conservatives who claim that President Obama (and all democratic presidents) grow the size of government and spend more, there's this to ponder. Annualized growth of federal spending by presidential term: Reagan, 8.7% & 4.9%; Bush 41, 5.4%; Clinton, 3.2% & 3.9%; Bush 43, 7.8% & 8.1%; Obama, 1.4%.

Are these the figures calculated by the appropriately named Nutting? Below is an alternative analysis from the highly conservative Washington Post. How about we agree that Bush spent too much and Obama has not reduced that figure but has continued to spend more?

First of all, there are a few methodological problems with Nutting's analysis — especially the beginning and the end point.

Nutting basically takes much of 2009 out of Obama's column, saying it was the "the last [year] of George W. Bush's presidency." Of course, with the recession crashing down, that's when federal spending ramped up. The federal fiscal year starts on Oct. 1, so the 2009 fiscal year accounts for about four months of Bush's presidency and eight of Obama's.

In theory, one could claim that the budget was already locked in when Obama took office, but that's not really the case. Most of the appropriations bills had not been passed, and certainly the stimulus bill was only signed into law after Obama took office.

Bush had rescued Fannie and Freddie Mac and launched the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which depending on how you do the math, was a one-time expense of $250 billion to $400 billion in the final months of his presidency. (The federal government ultimately recouped most of the TARP money.) So if you really want to be fair, perhaps $250 billion of that money should be taken out of the equation — on the theory that it would have been spent no matter who was president.

Nutting acknowledges that Obama is responsible for some 2009 spending but only assigns $140 billion for reasons he does not fully explain. (Update: in an email Nutting says he attributed $120 billion to stimulus spending in 2009, $5 billion for an expansion of children's health care and $16 billion to an increase in appropriations bills over 2008 levels.)

On the other end of his calculations, Nutting says that Obama plans to spend $3.58 trillion in 2013, citing the Congressional Budget Office budget outlook. But this figure is CBO's baseline budget, which assumes no laws are changed, so this figure gives Obama credit for automatic spending cuts that he wants to halt.

The correct figure to use is the CBO's analysis of the president's 2013 budget, which clocks in at $3.72 trillion.

So this is what we end up with:

2008: $2.98 trillion

2009: $3.27 trillion

2010: $3.46 trillion

2011: $3.60 trillion

2012: $3.65 trillion

2013: $3.72 trillion

Under these figures, and using this calculator, with 2008 as the base year and ending with 2012, the compound annual growth rate for Obama's spending starting in 2009 is 5.2 percent. Starting in 2010 — Nutting's first year — and ending with 2013, the annual growth rate is 3.3 percent. (Nutting had calculated the result as 1.4 percent.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the-facts-about-the-growth-of-spending-under-obama/2012/05/24/gJQAIJh6nU_blog.html?wprss=rss_fact-checker

Steve, regarding guns, I am also an enthusiast. But, it appears the NRA has flip flooped and basically this is a partial cause of the problem gun owners now face. Gun enthusiasts have jumped to the front of being their own worst enemy. The radicals, sound like radicals, but why have the enthusiasts not offered some ideas? Where are the mature gun enthusiast in these debates? With the path this thing is following gun enthusiasts are going to be the big losers becuasue they are sitting on their butts. As long as the radicals talk about putting guns everywhere the rational person sees that as a Police State, not a free state.

So do all gun owners want the US to be a Police State? It sure as hell looks like it.

@Akeem

The regulation for very little benefit isn't a great argument to an issue like guns. To answer you more directly, basically I am not sure there are clear cut laws that can stop people like those responsible for the murders in Chicago, people who obtain guns illegaly . Increased regulations and further steps to ensure that people who can own guns legally are more responsible would have an effect on those people who purchase them through other means.

So wouldn't the Administration be more productive if it proposed regulations, see Cory Booker's suggestions, that addressed the illegal guns rather than the legal guns? Again I don't understand your point.

As usual Beverly doesn't know what she is talking about...Reagan won back to back presidential elections with majority of the popular vote....

WCA --

Two sides of the same coins AM.

Seriously? Then, excuse me while I take a poll to see what time the moon will rise tonight. Because I'd like it to be a little earlier.

Surely you understand that you can make statistics, just like polling data, say whatever you want them to, right?

I don't know. Got any of your own to refute mine that we could take look at?

Then again, I am reminded that math isn't your strong suit.

Your, neither, apparently. Because I haven't seen any yet.

I think that this poll, as the NBC and most other news-site polls that gave Mr. Romney the lead of up to 320 electoral votes, is sensationalism at it's worst. "538 BLOG" is the ONLY polling website that I feel is legitimate. Inaccurate, hate/slanted polls are always a money maker for the news websites.

How about: If you demand your "right" to carry a 30 round semi-automatic rifle, Then I demand my right to carry a M72 LAW with a fragmentation round to defend my family from you? Cause, let's face it, who knows what anyone will do when agitated.

Alex M.

You heard wrong! You must be listening to the Devil or FOX!

Don't listen to either, so no go!

But hey, stick to your belief that the downfall of America was because we ended slavery and allowed women to vote.

You might want to research both of those a bit more...

Alex,

Man you are so pathetic. This guy is a straight up HATER, period..

You got 4 more years to hate, you little nut job..

Oh ouch, painful, go pray to your obama shrine and you'll feel better good little lemming.

"Really weird take by Joe in Albany - first he says Obama is a terrible failure, then he says the markets and business are doing great in spite of Obama."

Obama is great for the markets ie: banksters etc, he just isn't any good for anyone trying to make an honest living.

@ Trevor --

Albany is not inconsistent, just revealing.

Read my response to him earlier. The market has recovered despite weak job growth precisely because of weak job growth and the new, jobless ways of making a profit being adopted by corporations and institutional investors.

As long as that model is followed, and Congress won't cooperate on jobs legislation, there isn't much the President CAN do for "anyone trying to make an honest living."

In short, we are living trickle-down, and it's not working out.

The best argument for renewing and improving the assault weapons ban is in some of the comments from gun rights advocates. When I hear the argument that we (the free citizens) need the weaponry to withstand government tyranny, it is obviously a dangerous situation. We live in a democracy and we get to vote for our government. We have the courts for redress of grievances.

To argue that we need weapons to stand against our government in the most violent way seems to me to be a fantastic argument for disarming these people. I bet many people are quite willing to live without a semi-automatic assault style weapon in order to reduce the prospect of an armed insurrection.

fielden, you're over thinking the purpose of a business (other than those specifically set-up to be non-profit), it is purely to make a profit. Some of what you said make no sense at all, "selling only profits"? What they make is irrelevant, the owner (or share holders in the case of corporations) want to make as much money as possible, they do this by producing products and services people want, as competitively as possible. That is making a product at a selling price that accounts for all the raw material, labor, upkeep, utility bills, etc., but yet keeps that product at a level that consumers will buy it. There is not one blessed thing wrong with that either. Its how our country became great and prosperous.

The Republican Party has taught Rubio well. He lies like a rug. He's a giant B.S. artist and he thinks he really has a chance to be elected President 2016. Ha it's laughable.

Here in the far left Independent land, I do NOT support gun control, I do support Mental Health issues. And am full aware that you do not share my views but guns are not the problem, crazy ass people are the problem.

To the people out here who are stating how the GOP has gone incredibly right and that, from the sounds of it Ronald Reagan would be turning over in his grave. I believe that JFK would be turning over in his grave to see how left, commie, socialist the democrat party has become. He was FOR capitalism, he WAS filthy RICH, he was for LESS govt. not MORE....ask not what your country can do for you....ask what you can do for your country. He would not even recognize his party anymore. The party that is taking us down as a nation, one that thinks FAILURE and economic downgrading is apparently OK, NO budgets, giving ALL benefits to people who aren't citizens and never intend to be, while people who work their asses off are treated like the eneny. The democrat party is now the american socialist party.

Can't you right wing nuts get it through your heads. The money going out has come from Bills voted on for generations by republicans and Democrats. Obama has not spent this amount from anything he has proposed. Republicans haven't passed any of his bills except for jobs. Get in touch with reality folks!

eg,...

Do you have the slightest idea of what you are talking about when your use the word, "Commie?' I doubt it! I can assure you that the republican party has gone extreme right. I voted for Ron Reagan and at a party meeting was told he would be called a "Liberal" today at a meeting of the North Shore Rep party. I left the party shortly after that! Praise God!

Backhouse, you must be one of the Most Uneducated Idiots I have ever seen post in here, and must be one of those looking for those Handouts Obama Promised for your vote, I have never seen so Many UnAmerican Idiots in my life. Obamas a Dud, an Idiot. My Oath was and is to the Constitution, Not the Idiot in the White house who is nothing more than a Snake Oil Salesman, and if you cant get your head out of your ass long enough to realize what people like you have done to this Nation, then You deserve what your about to get.

The political theory or system in which all property and wealth is owned in a classless society by all members of society.....communism. The democrat party is definetly of the verge. Obama....punishing the employers....the producers....the small business owners....the middle class....taking from them more and more and giving more and more to the non workers. Obama is doing just that....everything MUST be even. Socialism-commusnism.....the NEW DEMOCRAT SOCIETY. No room for capitalism. Welcome aboard.

49% approval for Obama? Well with 47% receiving some type of assistants from the Gov. that means he really only has a 2% approval since the 47% are being coerced by the $$$$$

We have law enforcement organizations around the country and entire states rejecting Obama's obvious unconstitutional gun grab attempts.

Right wing BS talking point #1. Neither unconstitutional or a 'gun grab.' If you knew diddly about constitutional law, you'd know that the SCOTUS already addressed this issue in 2010.

We have a population becoming increasingly depressed over a debt that can never be paid off and the promise of increasing and new taxes on just about everything.

Nobody likes the debt, and it has to be dealt with. Your taxes did not increase, as a matter of fact they went down.

We have a president that through his machinations has instituted divisions by class, race, gender, etc., ripping this country apart.

Obama has promoted the middle class and worked to protect women and minorities. Just because ignorant neocons throw a hissy fit whenever they don't get their way, it hardly qualifies as 'tearing the country apart.'

We have a majority of the population in despair that believes this country is going in the wrong direction and that this country's best days are behind it.

And yet Obama won more popular votes than any Democratic candidate for president in history—except Barack Obama in 2008.

Yet, while Obama is primping for his coronation ceremonies, his propaganda ministry (The Media) claims he remains popular.

He is popular-as evidenced by that 'coronation' ceremony.

The BS can be spread only so far.

Then stop spreading it.

… “Cope” instead of “hope”… But Obama remains popular in poll…

If he wasn't, you wouldn't report on it anyway. So, what's the difference?

Never before has someone done so little, and been given this kind of undeserved credit for accomplishing so much.

Wake up America!.....We get the leaders we deserve, and this brainless motor-mouth is living proof of it!

49% approval for Obama? Well with 47% receiving some type of assistants from the Gov. that means he really only has a 2% approval since the 47% are being coerced by the $$$$$

i can't fathom the disconnect from reality one must possess in order to believe nonsense such as this.

47% do not receive government assistance, that # has to do with income taxes, and many of them are Republican, and.... ah @!$%# it. I don't even know where to begin, not that you'd understand it anyway...

In fact over 1 out of 5 Americans are RETIRED.

Liberals are just flat stupid ! I wouldn't of voted for Bush had He been able to run again, no way in hell. But You idiots swoon, and praise Your failed leader Obama. I guarantee if Bush would've been running the country the last 4 years, You never would of voted for Him, but You vote for a loser like Obama, even withe Him more than doubling the debt, increasing the number of the people on food stamps by 40%, and the list goes on. You are a bunch of stupid ass low lives and deserve what this POS is doing to the country, it is just ashamed the rest of us have to live through it with your scummy ass's !

Facts Republicans Hate:

Job losses per month in January 2008: 800,000

Job gains last month: 160,000

33 straight months of private sector job growth

GDP growth in 2008: negative 6%

GDP growth last year 2.9%

Dow Jones Average in January 2008: Under 8000

Dow Jones Average today: 13,500+

Record domestic oil production

GM – all time record profits

Near record corporate profits across the board

Osama Bin Laden --- dead

Iraq war --- over

Eg.

So you are calling all Democrats commies! See what I mean about you not knowing what you are talking about! Then by your standards republicans can be called Nazi's! (voter suppression like the National Socialist, allowing unlimited funding for political campaigns that aides the rich over the middle class like the National Socialists, tax laws that allow the rich to pay a smaller percentage than the middle class like the National Socialists, support for the industrial industry and the push for war to increase their profits like the National Socialists! We can now see your thought process and it is extreme right like the Nationals Socialists!!!!

Pigotry...fitting. You do nothing but divide and condemn. YOU are more part of the problem than the solution. I feel you should run for office, you would fit right in there. Are you even employed or are part of my contribution program that I pay for day, after day, after day, after day.

Hooked on phonics lesson for you...only 4 syllables ME TAX PAYER

Joe,

you always crack me up!

clwyd....I ache in my heart that what I have said is true. I ache that this once great country...the leader of the free world is broke and is only funding our country through borrowed money and a printing press that NEVER stops printing money that is worthless. I ache that our career politicians have put their own agendas before the constitution and America. I ache when I see our future far less prosperous than it has been. I ache when success is punished and laziness and poor decisions are rewarded. A society that takes no responsibility for their own actions and therefore take no responsibility for the lack of success in their own lives. I ache when children are all given trophys for winning AND losing, as this teaches us all that we are entitled to what others have even if we don't deserve it. I ache that our best day's are over and that we have voted again for someone who has been a failure for the first four years and we will now give him four more of the same.

It is ironic how Fox News actually is hurting the GOP, the NRA, the Tea Party, and the entire right wing, more than it is helping.

Although this tabloid media source has brainwashed a large segment of the population, more and more rational Americans seem to be voicing their opinions and seeing this newsrag for what it is ... propaganda.

It is almost embarrassing to watch and often too ludicrous to even read.

Any GOP politician hoping to survive the 2014 mid-terms would be smart to limit his airtime on Fox because it is almost surely a death blow to his eventual election. Reasonable people just aren't going to vote for someone who is championed by or touted on this silly news media source.

Charlie, cherry pick much? You can't even do that right. I'll take the worst 4 year period of Bush's presidency any day over the best 4 years of Odumbo. Maybe you want to look at the total # of people employed in Dec. 2008 (in the midst of the crash) VS Odumbo now. Opps that doesn't look so hot either. Everything was far better under Bush than the current clown and a$$ kisser. Below is the DJIA for 2008. I don't see a single number less than 8046, but maybe its my eyes. Read it and weep.

January 4, 2008
12,800.18

January 11, 2008
12,606.30

January 18, 2008
12,099.30

January 25, 2008
12,207.17

February 1, 2008
12,743.19

February 8, 2008
12,182.13

February 15, 2008
12,348.21

February 22, 2008
12,381.02

February 29, 2008
12,266.39

March 7, 2008
11,893.69

March 14, 2008
11,951.09

March 21, 2008
12,361.32

March 28, 2008
12,216.40

April 4, 2008
12,609.42

April 11, 2008
12,325.42

April 18, 2008
12,849.36

April 25, 2008
12,891.86

May 2, 2008
13,058.20

May 9, 2008
12,745.88

May 16, 2008
12,986.80

May 23, 2008
12,479.63

May 30, 2008
12,638.32

June 6, 2008
12,209.81

June 13, 2008
12,307.35

June 20, 2008
11,842.69

June 27, 2008
11,346.51

July 4, 2008
11,288.54

July 11, 2008
11,100.54

July 18, 2008
11,496.57

July 25, 2008
11,370.69

August 1, 2008
11,326.32

August 8, 2008
11,734.32

August 15, 2008
11,659.90

August 22, 2008
11,628.06

August 29, 2008
11,543.55

September 5, 2008
11,220.96

September 12, 2008
11,421.99

September 19, 2008
11,388.44

September 26, 2008
11,143.13

October 3, 2008
10,325.38

October 10, 2008
8,451.19

October 17, 2008
8,852.22

October 24, 2008
8,378.95

October 31, 2008
9,325.01

November 7, 2008
8,943.81

November 14, 2008
8,497.31

November 21, 2008
8,046.42

November 28, 2008
8,829.04

December 5, 2008
8,635.42

December 12, 2008
8,629.68

December 19, 2008
8,579.11

December 26, 2008
8,515.55

December 31, 2008
8,776.39

January 2, 2009
9,034.69

hardtostarboard,

I think you should start your own blog if you are gonna take up that much space. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but seriously, nobody is reading that stuff.

eg. Only your brain would believe such dribble and make up such lies! A true Nazi!

What I want to know is this - the American people have their voice but the majority in Congress keep ignoring it, and their numbers go down. Why can't they do some simple math?

I asked this question of my local (Republican) congressman and his long-winded, slimy and, arrogant answer basically said "because I know better". Well, apparently, no you don't. Do you think Lance Armstrong was practicing to become a congressman? He certainly had the same type of sleezy arrogance, apparently.

Richard! Your % are off. The last approval rating was 56% and even FOX has it at 52%. What do you think a 26% approval rating for the republican party tells you or should tell you!

Silverton, Sean Hannity ruined fox news !

jan,

Yes, I agree, Sean Hannity has a lot to do with the demise of Fox News watchers. Seems he vigorously predicted a landslide win for Mitt Romney and even had slanted polls that he spoon-fed viewers. In the real world, most election polls taken in the weeks leading to the big event showed that Romney didn't have a great chance, and those polls were ultimately validated by Obama's 332 electoral votes versus Romney's 206.

Seems Hannity's viewers simply felt duped by his skewed predictions and therefore his viewers fell off significantly. Can't say I blame them. I remember how Fox news viewers quoted those polls over and over, and I am sure it was embarrassing to see that they had fallen for such bogus propaganda.

NoCommi's

You must be quoting one of the Fox polls again.

Although I do know that Fox News used to have the largest percentage of cable news networks.

No commi, ( Idiot)

It gets me, but I go there to see how many days O'Reilly bashes the left, and that is all he does, and they call it "Fair and Balanced!' I laugh my head off at the gullibility of so many! It is 15 straight days do far!

There used to be a show on called "The Joe Pine Show" In college we all watched it to see how stupid one man could be and we ridiculed him every where, in class, in the dorm basement! Sound familiar? FOX!

AlexM-3929653

The outcry came when our President was re-elected with 51% of the vote. President Obama was the first President since Roosevelt to transcend a dragging economy and the stifling unemployment which the obstructionist GOP/ T-Nuts created to stymie him.

He was the first President since Franklin D. Roosevelt, to win two presidential elections with an absolute majority of the nationwide popular vote. President Obama is the first president since Republican Dwight Eisenhower to win back-to-back presidential elections with more than 51 percent of the popular vote. Also, he is the first President to win with unemployment below 7.2.

Yes I also heard that he is the first president to part the atlantic ocean, he found bigfoot, he personally took out bin laden in hand to hand combat while being shot at with assault rifles that held more than seven bullets.

*yawn*

The way you libs completely idolize this guy is beyond sickening. He's a failure, you'll see. Like you, I have faith.

Oh??? So liberals idolize our leaders, but conservatives look at them with an analytical eye?? I'm a liberal (well, more of a "European progressive left-wing social democrat"), but I don't idolize Obama or any other Democratic president since Roosevelt (Roosevelt had the internment camps for Japanese citizens, Truman screwed up the Taft-Hartley Act, Kennedy had premarital affairs and supported the Civil Rights Movement too late, Clinton was too conciliatory towards his extremist Republican adversaries, and Obama didn't rely on a more progressive approach to governance and administering our troubled nation). You conservatives worship Ronald Reagan, who (in your eyes) is the greatest American president to ever come to office. You view him as a superhero swooping in from heaven and saving America from the "evil" that is liberalism, progressivism, and the welfare state. You worship his deeply conservative, tax cutting and neoliberal/supply side ideology. And yet you fail to understand that he RAISED taxes 11 times, tripled the national debt, COMPROMISED with Democrats, supported the assault weapons ban in the 90s, AND ruined the U.S. economy via deregulation, tax cuts for the rich, and a lack of investment for prospective industries.

The reason why liberals are blaming Republicans for our current faults, my conservative colleagues, is because it's true. The current deficit and debt is mostly due to the idiotic policies of George W. Bush and his Republican predecessors all the way back to Reagan, who cut taxes for the rich while weakening the economy via deregulation, leading to a chaotic and unstable cycle of booms and busts. Our economy's struggles is thanks to REPUBLICAN policies of deregulation, bubble-causing tax cuts, the unrealistic policy of free trade, and the de-unionization of America. These factors have eroded the heart of the U.S. economy (the middle class and manufacturing), dramatically widened the gap between rich and poor, sent millions of jobs overseas that need not have gone, and took America from being a creditor nation lending aid and expertise to other nations to the degradation of being a debtor nation, enslaved to the whims of the massive monster that is the American financial industry (banks, credit agencies, auditors, etc). I spit on your Reaganesque Bible and condemn thee for your narrow-minded and misguided interests.

For laughs, I tune to Fox news or read the 'in-between' comments on the Vine - Stewart and Colbert would be finished if these people went into comedy.

The 2nd amendment was ratified to preserve slavery.

The northern states did not want to use the standing Army to put down slave revolts, so gave the southern states the right to use their state militias. It even says "states" instead of "country".

Think about it. If you told Madison that his slaves have the right to bear arms in order to revolt he would shoot you on the spot. He needed that well regulated state militia to put down those slave revolts.

Daily Kos: The Second Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery

Bush gets the blame because his Administration led by the evil Dick Cheney was the monster that created this financial crisis.

No! Bush is a commi trying to start wars we can't win and then leaving the next man to take the blame!

No Commi,

The Dow Jones reached a 5 year high today 13,560 When Obama took office the Dow was not at 14,100, it was 12,000. We were also losing 850,000 jobs a month on that date. We have cut that negative to a positive and the numbers range in the 150,000 range now! So what is your lying point?

I see you like to tamper with the facts like the commi's do and did!

12,000 and falling FAST.

Good catch clwyd.

When Obama took over in 2009, the Dow was slightly under 8,000.

But Clwyd's point is clear and correct - there is vast improvement under Pres. Obama.

Now the DOW is 13,650.

No Pigotry, I wanted it to be that low, but it was 12,100. Remember, Economists say that the economic situation of the past president usually is the result of that President for 6 months to a year so the 8,000 you mention would be accurate. Bush screwed up things for generations in my book, but then I'm a former Reagan republican!

No commi! You are so sick in the head. Seig Heil Sir Dummer Eisel! Sheist Kopf!

Nazi Sheist!

We are being profiled & persecuted for the deeds of others. If this was to happen to any ethnic group or "alternative lifestyle" group the media would be yelling RACISM or BIGOTS, but since we are law-abiding citizens expressing our Constitutional rights, we are being forced to pay for the crimes.

Today, we are under attack. Who will it be tomorrow? Maybe you?

The only category you fall under is possibly the mentally ill because that's just plain nuts. No one is under attack, so stop the fear mongering. It's old and no one, other than you and the NRA devotees are buying into it. Read the polls: 85% of the population wants some kind of gun legislation and 57% want a ban on assault weapons. It's called sensible gun control and I think the President's ideas are just that, sensible. Since your beloved NRA decided not to involve themselves in the VP's discussion, you only have yourselves to blame. You paranoid freaks need to step back and take a deep breath.

Obama the Coward,

Your dense man! Over and over you complain and over and over people tell you what the problem is! Get a brain or get a new line and blame those who are responsible. You can't do anything if it goes unreported. Oh, there have been more illegal deportations in Obama's first 4 years than in all of bush's 8 years.

So tell the big businesses and corporations to stop hiring them. Your line is getting boring as many of us have told you, me included, that businesses are giving them jobs knowing they are illegals to get their greedy profits at low wages. I told you of the foundry here that had 5 men working with the same name and Social Security number and they did nothing. Tell your buddies in the republican party to start reporting these people if you can't stand them!

Fully agreed with Chwyd. Those rich ones (the "DO not want to pay fare share of taxes") are the ones stealing from the illegals (Paying less than minimum pay) Example: to do their gardens-Ask MITT (the food pantry candidate).

And stealing from American's poor (paying minimum pay rate) Example: Talk to executives at Walmart, Whole Foods, Papa John, Dennys &....,

We must not shift any blame on any illegals; we are the problem. We do not educate our people (many lack basic skills), we do not take care of our people (many lack basic healthcare and are always absent from work) and........WOW. And, what can you do????Oh, I forgot, you are the coward. LOL