Obama Takes Jab At Bush Policies: ‘A Surplus Became An Excuse To Transfer Wealth To The Wealthy’
By on Feb 24th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Obama Takes Jab At Bush Policies: ‘A Surplus Became An Excuse To Transfer Wealth To The Wealthy’
In his speech before a joint session of Congress tonight, President Obama took a jab at Bush’s disastrous economic policies:
[W]e have lived through an era where too often, short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter, or the next election. A surplus became an excuse to transfer wealth to the wealthy instead of an opportunity to invest in our future. Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market.
Indeed, when Bush entered office in 2001, he inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion. He bequeathed a budget deficit of over $1 trillion to President Obama.
Read the text of the full speech here.
Update Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) notes on his Twitter feed: "One doesn't want to sound snarky, but it is nice not to see Cheney up there."
Update Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) twitters: "Pres just hailed the Recov Act. Sen Spector [sic] was a lonely Republican when he stood to applaud."
Update Speaking about fiscal responsibility, Obama began, "With the deficit we inherited --" as Democratic lawmakers broke into loud cheers. Watch it:
Update According to Fox News, Obama was interrupted 65 times for applause. The Australia Broadcasting Corporation counted 37 standing ovations.
Update Obama delivered this pledge on health care, eliciting a roar of approval:
I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. Once again, it will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and our conscience long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.Watch it:
Update Obama also said that the path to our economic future "begins with energy." He then challenged the Congress to deliver legislation to limit global warming emissions “to truly transform our economy” and “save our planet.”
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Is this from tonights speech – I didn’t hear it. But on the PBS station I was watching, the audio went out right after that first round of applaud because he stated we would emerge stronger.
Did PBS have a “glitch” when Obama made a jab at bush? I had to change the channel and did not hear a brief portion of what he said.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:21 pmHe just said that like ten seconds ago.
You guys are quick.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:22 pmcheney will just have to console hisself with some lawyer hunting.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:24 pmPresident Obama just referred to Joe Biden saying “No one messes with Joe!” to resounding applause.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:26 pmIs it me, or did Justice Thomas cut in front of Justice Ginsburg?
February 24th, 2009 at 9:28 pmP.D. Says:
——————————————————————————–
Is it me, or did Justice Thomas cut in front of Justice Ginsburg?
February 24th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Yeah………He spotted a pubic hair ……….
February 24th, 2009 at 9:29 pmRegulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market.
Clinton and Gramm are your ears burning yet?
And nobody messes with Joe, except Allen Stanford and your brother and son.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:29 pmI don’t know who all the headshots the cameras keep cutting to are – but some of those folks look mighty pissed.
Must be repugs – they know that whatever is good for the country now is not going to be good for their political future.
Really a sick bunch of monkeys.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:30 pmhell-they just showed joe LIE-berman. He was just another one of the grim looking folks.
Clearly, he is no longer a democrat. It appears he also believes that his political future is doomed if Obama is successful.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pmMCMetal @6, Eeeww!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:32 pmwell it looks like SOME of the pugs are putting on a good show…
is it normal to give a shout out to the first lady?
ha! i loved it!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:32 pmjacambece Says:
——————————————————————————–
Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market.
Clinton and Gramm are your ears burning yet?
And nobody messes with Joe, except Allen Stanford and your brother and son.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Stanford (among others) , is standing before Congress/inquiry panels/a jury ; are Joe or his offspring/family members , jerkoff ?
February 24th, 2009 at 9:32 pmP.D. Says:
——————————————————————————–
MCMetal @6, Eeeww!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll be here (part of the) week……….Make sure you tip your waiter and waitress , and try the veal…………
February 24th, 2009 at 9:34 pmkaty Says:
——————————————————————————–
well it looks like SOME of the pugs are putting on a good show…
is it normal to give a shout out to the first lady?
ha! i loved it!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Yes , it is ………And Michelle is almost as beautiful as you are………ALMOST
February 24th, 2009 at 9:34 pmFranken Files Amended Absentee Ballot List, May gain as many as 78 votes IF all are counted:
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=227&ArticleName=Franken%27s+Amended+List
February 24th, 2009 at 9:36 pmI can’t believe it. President Obama is pushing the plan I’ve been pushing in here for a long time now. I also presented my plan on his website. Now I’m sure others thought of it and I’m sure he didn’t see my proposal on his website but I can pretend can’t I?
He even used the very words I used.
He said he is creating a HOME and AUTO LENDING FUND!
Thats MY IDEA!!! He’s actually doing my idea.
Sorry for being giddy folks but I just can’t believe this.
Its like a weights been lifted off my shoulders.
OBAMA IS THE MAN!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:38 pmgood speech.
anyone who comes away from this dissing the Stim is going to sound pretty fussy.
he sure can make those R’s stand up and applaud.
i bet they don’t like that very much.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:38 pmDamn I am proud of my president! The repugs don’t realize how stupid they look with their glim faces and sitting on their hands until one in the front stands. What a bunch of morons.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:40 pmmccain voters on the “react-o-tron” are staying firmly in positive territory too.
weird. some of them must’ve taken that “country first” stuff seriously. good for them. shame on the maverick.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:40 pmYay, Waynebro – if I were you I’d go ahead and take the credit! That’s a great way to get a lot more people on board.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pmLove that line that “the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it/”
The sheer hypocrisy of the mainstream media and the repugs/neocons. If the American auto industry had gone bankrupt under a dem president – they would have hung him!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:44 pmmccain voters on the “react-o-tron”?!?!?!?!?!
WTF
I would rather see their colonoscopies than their opinions on anything.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:45 pm…just sayin’, Joe.
didn’t mean t’rile ya there.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pmThe admisistration has already passed legislation for health care for 11 million children who had none. The Grand Old Party’ers sat stoned face as the gallery applauds. Looks like the Republicans don’t care for children.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pmMan! I am lovin this speech. He is hitting everything important to the American People. Great line just now:Quitting High School is not an option anymore.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:49 pmanother shot of joe LIE-berman with half-hearted applause and a forced, half-hearted grin when Obama said that America needs every student to finish high school.
That bastard is really just one of the repugs.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:50 pmLooks like the Republicans don’t care for children
Only care for the unborn when they can use it for political gain – don’t give a damn after that though.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pmThis is a sickening applause fest.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pmBush’s transfer plan is still in place. It will be allowed to expire after 2010.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pmHe just threw a bone to the Repugs. And then reminded them who’s fault it is. Nicely done!
February 24th, 2009 at 9:53 pmBam! This country is suffering from a deficit of trust.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:56 pmyeah man….
the republicans just stood up when Obama discussed the ending of the shady accounting practices of the last administration. How soon do they forget
February 24th, 2009 at 9:56 pmOk, I know I know. I just can’t help it Jane. For once I’m blown away. I really don’t know what to say. I have been pushing this plan for a year now. Months in here and over a year elsewhere. I’ve emailed him, I’ve written my congressman, I’ve posted it on his “YES WE CAN” website.
I’ve pushed it to friends, families, bloggers, trolls, anyone who would listen.
And tonight I hear him get up before the congress and use almost the exact same words I’ve been writing on it for a year now. But you’re right. Its not about me. Its about the plan. And its a great plan. A lending fund for home and auto loans guarantees a resurgence of home and auto sales and that means JOBS! Economic growth.
And thats not all he’s saying. He’s on top of everything tonight. I don’t mean to sound like a giddy schoolgirl but I’m honestly blown away.
I’ve never seen a President so focused, so on track.
So forgive me, because I don’t get many nights like this.
Tomorrow I will be back to my usual droll self.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:58 pmI thought he already won the election, why is he giving the same old campaign speech?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:00 pmAnother Joe Says:
WTF
I would rather see their colonoscopies than their opinions on anything.
_______________
Aren’t the two interchangeable?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:02 pmjacambece, you know he won the election. And he won the election, not on any old campaign speech but on the leadership qualities he exudes and this country hasn’t seen for some time.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pmWaynebro, I’m just enjoying your happiness, we don’t get to see you like this often. :D But you’re right, Obama’s speech is so on target, and SUCH a change for a SOTU!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pmLoved the line about we can do good or ill – we all know what choice chimpy, cheney, the neocons/repugs, and military-industrial complex chose.
I just hope that America finally sees we don’t have to accept failure while a select criminal cabal loots the treasury.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:04 pmI have to wonder how he is going to round up all those “absent fathers” to make them read to their children and sen them to school? Didn’t Bill Cosby get hammered for saying the same thing.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pmHe’s actually got me crying now. Dammit.
God he’s a class act.
We’ve finally got us a President.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pmhellinabucket Says:
jacambece, you know he won the election. And he won the election, not on any old campaign speech but on the leadership qualities he exudes and this country hasn’t seen for some time.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Hear, hear!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:07 pmIt appears the Grand Old Party’ers are so leary of offending the overlords lest they lose campaign funds that they have to look around to see if it ok to applause even on items they seem to like or agree upon.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:07 pmI really can’t wait for my plug in ‘lectric car that runs on all that free electricity from my wall outlet. Where is my windmill?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:09 pmjacambece, your windmill? why aren’t you using switch grass?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:11 pmdamn lying liars at faux are now “catapulting the propaganda” that the repugs really agree with everything, but that there is no bipartisanship.
The dipsy blonde is actually giving a repug counter-point speech – something, that evidently, the repugs themselves are not man-enough to do.
Course, I had to switch to faux cuz local pbs lost audio feed early in speech.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:13 pmBiofuels WHOO HOOO that’s the ticket! Corn squeezins and French fry grease.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:13 pmI’m growing fond of this guy.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:14 pmGotta find a way to neutralize the talking point that repugs really want to help, but that they are not being given a chance.
They are obstructionists, their party leaders have already stated they want to see Obama fail, and it was their “tired old ideas” that created all these problems in the first place.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:14 pmjacambece Says:
I have to wonder how he is going to round up all those “absent fathers” to make them read to their children and sen them to school?
___________
Hoping to get lucky and finally meet your father/s?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:14 pmTAX FREE UNIVERSAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO FIX SOCIAL SECURITY!!
Finally something that might do some good.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pmDamn, it’s over? I could have listened to him for another hour.
Waynebro, I suspect that you’re not the only one with tears in their eyes. The aura of leadership is amazing, and the contrast with what we have suffered through with Bush’s pitful attempts at communication is so obvious that it’s hard to believe that they’re both homo sapiens sapiens.
Again, I’m glad that you’re happy, but I always look forward to your ‘droll’ comments, too.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:15 pmAnd a big amen to ending waste in ag subsidies and massive cold war weapons systems (I worked on submarines before I quit to farm and care for a special needs child). I’d go back to defense for no salary if I could help ensure we got our money’s worth from those who supply our servicemen and women.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:16 pmjacambece Says:
Corn squeezins and French fry grease.
_____________
Somebody’s mummy didn’t fee ‘im tonight…. she’s prolly out lookin’ fer his father/s…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:16 pmWAYNEBRO, quick! Play the lotto!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:18 pmA very stirring speech with more substance than the Reichwhiners will find easy to refute. And yet? Lush Rimjob and the hate brigade will dutifully tell the idiots that it was “Hitler-like” and “brainwashing”.
I’m sure Daryll’s friends at Rapture Ready even have a number of interesting reasons to hate a speech they’ll refuse to watch. And I would guess that the Freepers are already discussing how President Obama declared Marxist/Nazi/Islamic Martial Law and a Perpetual Librul Empire.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:18 pmGreat speech by Obama. Geez, Boner’s tan was more noticable as he was strolling in earlier. Was that a Jack Daniels bottle that Boner was hiding?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:18 pmGreen technology will rise on the heels of his recovery and stimulus plans, just like the IT technology rose on the heels of Bush 1 and Clintons recovery plans.
We’ve been here before, and fortunately this President is smart enough to know that, and not succumb to the baiting of the naysayers and defeatists on the right.
Either get on the train or get out of the way.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:19 pmHey good idea. Tonight it seems I can’t lose.
Tonight it seems like none of us can lose.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:20 pmWatch Fox… it’s hilarious. The commentators have LITERALLY nothing to say so they’re using the sound feed of the autograph aisle.
I can feel them praying for a gaffe that just won’t come.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pmSP Biloxi, the first time that they showed Boehner earlier I thought he looked drunk, too. He did look odd (odder than usual, not the year-round-tan odd.)
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pmTerriffic Speach! I think he was brutulally honest with the Congress and the American People. There are some big ideas on the table. What I really like is that he is not afraid to fail. He is more than willing to try something that might work than just let the status qou reign. And it looks like the ameritaliban will have one last chance to work with him.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pmSpray tans are expensive. We’re in a recession. lol
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pmI actually kinda feel bad for Jindal…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pmyou’ve got me flustered, mcmetal… … um. thank you.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pmNow lets see if Jindal S**ts in his pants.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pmUmmm… Im pretty sure he was referring to HSA accounts. Bush had a GREAT idea with those, but he only allowed them to if you got an eligible scam HDHC insurance.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:24 pmdeebaser Says:
I actually kinda feel bad for Jindal…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I don’t. Oh, here he comes now.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:25 pmOy, I don’t know where Jindal is going with his ‘rebuttal’, but it’s already kinda creepy…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:25 pmHe’s FAILING…. LULZ!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:25 pmKeep smiling Jimbo… you aren’t HALF the orator of our president.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:26 pmHe whistles on his “S”es…never noticed that before.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pmI am finding his response is making more sense with the sound turned down.
It makes him look like a Pantomime.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pmkaty Says:
you’ve got me flustered, mcmetal… … um. thank you.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I was wondering if you were struck speechless. ;)
February 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pmJindal follows Obama and immediately commits political suicide. Love it.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pmdeebaser says:
He’s FAILING…. LULZ!!!
***
oh, I don’t know..his delivery style indicates he could really read a good story to children, maybe “My Pet Goat”?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pmExcellent speech, but after the about-faces so far, I’m holding off on my adulation.
Deeds, not words, however pretty. 8 years can skin the trust off the burliest believer, and Obama’s telecom immunity, state secrets retreat and, lately, the bush email fiasco, I’m not wooed into letting down my guard at all. This is the country at stake, and one speech doesn’t undo a coal-ash-spill’s worth of lying (bush) and false signals (Obama’s drilling and immunity u-turns)
I know people who could write as fine a speech. I want to see what Obama’ll do about punishing America’s war criminals, promised transparency (which keeps getting the goalposts moved) and restoring habeas corpus and Constitutional rights.
I hear…I hear; so far…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pmWho wrote Jindal’s speech? Micky Cantor or Micky Mouse?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:30 pmNot a bad idea, Waynebro, his voice is bringing me back down.
Oh, crap, he’s trotting out the stale old talking points, the high-speed train, etc. What a wipe. I gotta leave the room.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:30 pmJindal’s response has striking similarities to a Kent Hovin “lecture” about “geology”.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:30 pmWell said hanshiro
February 24th, 2009 at 10:31 pmThis is Jindal’s five minutes in the lime light. He is so over.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:31 pm- – Jindal, Slumgov Electioneer.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pmOops! Kent Hovind. aka “Dr. Dino”.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pmLOL HE HAD HIS EYEBROWS PLUCKED, LOOK!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pmAll Jindal is doing is giving the Stock Speech that Rethugs have regurgitated for the past 8+ years. Bascially nothing new. Same old bankrupt ideas. Plus some new ones from the current crop of rethugs in the congress.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:33 pmThis guy for the Republicans must be high – they can’t get away from dropping drills in the Gulf, and now talks about all the good done after Katrina – what planet is he from?? Transparency to Washington, put down the smokescreen at anytime, Skippy!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:34 pmIs bobby losing it. he’s talking like we aren’t in a recession. Plus he sounds like he’s making a high school speech. HAHAHA
February 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pmJindal is just the new sock puppet. Election time they will have James Dobson send them a new old white guy. This is probably the best they have though.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pmWadda ya think of the Bubba Jindal show?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pmNow he’s taking Obama’s remarks out of context. Typical when you have nothing to say.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pmPoor ol’ John Boner looked like he ate a worm. I swear that he has been botoxed, or, to quote one of my late father’s favorite zingers, “He looks pretty good. Who’s his undertaker?”
February 24th, 2009 at 10:37 pmIs bobby losing it. he’s talking like we aren’t in a recession. Plus he sounds like he’s making a high school speech. HAHAHAha
February 24th, 2009 at 10:37 pmWell you’re missing the point then. These are deeds. Not words. The stimulus plan is LAW. Its not words. And his announcement of a HOME AND AUTO LENDING FUND is not words. It’s action.
He’s covered every base and he is moving ahead with these deeds in spite of the can’t do republicans.
He’s is taking steps that will work. His lending fund idea alone will guarantee almost overnight job creation. All those builders, realtors, insurance reps, title companies, home inspectors, roofers, carpenters, brick masons, stone masons, drywall masons, plumbers, flooring installers, aluminum siding installers, painters, landscapers, mortgage brokers, home depot cashiers,..auto workers, .and on and on….who all lost or are losing jobs due to the credit freeze are going to be going back to work. Don’t you see?
We’re not talking small moves. We’re talking massive job growth on a rapid scale. This isn’t small stuff. And it isn’t words.
So take heart Hanshiro.
You’ve earned a little hope, so cut yourself a big slice and enjoy.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:38 pmFirst, Jindal congratulates the president on being the first African-American president?? WTF does that contribute? Guy just spits out meaningless syllables with the expectation that they will somehow combine into coherent sentences. Oops, that’s been done before.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:38 pmOTOH, Prez sounded good, let’s see him put it in play.
Jindal is a fool. He talks about personal freedom when he opposes same-sex marriage, a woman’s right to choose, and evolution.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:39 pmThat’s the first time I’ve seen Jindal, other than brief sound bites, and I don’t think he’s the future of the GOP. Though he’s not quite Palin. Even that smarmy ass, David Brooks, thinks he was awful.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:39 pmJindal’s speech was condecending and patronizing towards the American People. Very insulting. Just like the previous occupant of the White House.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:39 pmFox is even ripping on Jindal
February 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm80. hellinabucket Says: Well said hanshiro
Thank H. The post’ll go over like turd flambé, but I can’t relax just yet. I’m kinda hype-challenged.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm“Jane E. Schneider Says:
SP Biloxi, the first time that they showed Boehner earlier I thought he looked drunk, too. He did look odd (odder than usual, not the year-round-tan odd.)
Spray tans are expensive. We’re in a recession. lol”
LOL! That was funny. Geez, what a long speech by Jindal. And I mean snake oil speech. His speech was a combination of pre-campaign 2012 speech and his attempt to try to sell me a used Pinto car. If that is the GOP party golden boy for 2012, good luck on that. Bored me to tears and had me laughing at the time.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pmWow, this is the first time I’ve been proud of our President in like forever.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pmJindal says Louisiana has passed the strongest ethics bill and put corruption behind them. He forget his own Senator Vitter?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pmI didn’t listen because frankly I don’t care what he has to say. The republicans have by their partisan nonsense have made themselves irrelevant.
But from what Rachel Maddow said apparently he used the governments response to Katrina as a benchmark for where we should be….so I guess I might have missed a good laugh.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pmHmm the Fauz panel sez Jindal did from a poor to amatuerish job of responding
February 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pmI think this speech serves as a gage of Obama’s productivity, and being in office just over a month, I can say it’s been a record first month of productivity for this president.
By the sound of it, they will present a good, timely budget that gets our government into shape and finally tackles some serious problems. It’s great they have Orzag on board. He knows how to do some dirty work. I’m glad they will finally nix tax breaks for sending jobs overseas.
Troop withdrawal decisions in Iraq and additional troop numbers in Afghanistan have been passed.
American Recovery & Investment Act, Lillie Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Children’s Health Act have been passed and signed into law.
It’s going to be a long 4-8 years of progress. ;)
Sit and spin, trolls!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:43 pmBobby Jindal ……….An end to an unimpressive and useless political “career”……..Good riddance……….The 1st of a many an ex-GOP suckhole…….
February 24th, 2009 at 10:44 pmWelcome home, Dr. Matt. I watched on CSPAN. Check on their website!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pmGood grief, Jindal was supposed to offer a rebuttal NOT a campaign speech. Apparently he didn’t listen yesterday when Obama said there would be times later on to campaign BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pmJindal thinks that the people shouldn’t rely on the government to get out of this mess, he thinks that the entire country has to rely on its own ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Does he not realize that the people HAVE NO MONEY? The government, under Bush, screwed us all over royally; so the government, under Obama, has to help fix the mess. Jindal is incredibly naive if he thinks his platitudes are going to fly with his own constituents, let alone the rest of the country.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm“Everyone in this chamber, Democrats and Republicans, will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars,” he said. “And that includes me.”
Well, there goes my pony.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pmNote to BushitCo crime family, all extended members…
We want our mucking foney back!!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pmPresident Obama hit it out the park. Contrast President Obama to chimpy…what a big f-n difference.
Finally a president that is presidential.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pmThe president is leading and this is something to warm the heart. But as hanshiro pointed out, there is a lot of trash left over from the last administration. I too want to see action in dealing with the miss deeds of Rove, Bush, Cheney, etc…
February 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pmI just found a proper use for Bob Jim Bob’s speech – it’s an emetic, I just puked my ass off listening to his drool. Hopefully he is the Repukeians hope for ‘12, should be a pushover for Obama et al!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pmI wasn’t going to sit in front of the TV waiting for that calculating moron.
“Hi I’m Bobby Jindal. Go Freddy Krueger! Look at what I can do for you in 2012. Why eat when you can starve?”
February 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pmBubba Jindel thinks we all should work out payment plans for medical care with our doctors. Open heart surgery costs 80K without complications. In an emergency I can perform enough procedures in less than an hour and run up 10k. There’s five other people on the crash team and they get paid too! What planet is Baton Rouge on?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:51 pmI sure as hell see it! My day job is as office manager for a small construction firm. Even though we are a leader in our specialty in this area, we have been struggling to keep our small crew (and me!) working and paid these past few months.
If credit loosens up again, we will be back to our usual 3-month waiting list! And job security for 8 people.
It was an inspiring and uplifting speech, with fire and determination. I have to say, I am so pleased with this President, and totally willing to give him time to get it done!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pmCan’t understand why.
We relied on them to get into it.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pmBarbara Boxer and TP posters are right. bobby speech was off, it’s a stock speech…a silly repug self-serving speech.
He was making a campaign speech…cardboard man.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pmjacambece, you’re a leftover. I’m sorry that bothers you. Please jump on board (no, not to infiltrate us libs) or get out of the way. I know that sounds as if I’d be ok with leaving somebody behind, but I’m tired of your ideology bull-riding this country. It doesn’t work. We’re not sorry.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:54 pmI was reading a live feed over at RedState during the President’s speech and the republican response. It’s amazing to read when people only hear what they want to.
They were cheering on Jindal and even upset with Fox for not staying in lock step with support of the Party of No.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:54 pmTry pacifica.org, they played the speech on all their radio stations and probably already have it up and running. You can red the text on HuffPo too.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:55 pmHahahahahaha!
The local Reichradio guy is blabbering about “the end of checks and balances”. He also says it’s “the duty of conservatives to prevent a fundamental change in the fabric of America”. I didn’t give the whole speech my full attention but I think I would have caught a plan to change the fabric of America.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:55 pmHi, SKdeA, good to see you! Great speech, huh?
Jindal’s speech sounded like he didn’t read or listen to the President’s speech. It was a very non-responsive response. So in essense, a typical Republican response to, well, anything.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:57 pmAmen brother.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:58 pmMost of your questions are rhetorical, Philby.
That’s why we don’t answer them. Thje rest are just stupid.
Great speech tonight. Gotta run. See you tomorrow.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:58 pmWhat planet has Jindal been living on for the past eight years?! We need tax cuts to provide more jobs?? Republicans want to make healthcare affordable??
Dontcha know only about 23% of Americans are that stoopid.
And jacambece, we’ve heard enough of you to last us a few days. You may leave now.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:58 pmcuban missile crisis to name one.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pmFine. Don’t get on board.
Get run over if you want.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pmName one problem the gov’t has ever fixed……………
The problem of how to send a man to the moon and return him safely to Earth.
The transcontinental railroad to move train freight quickly across the country.
The Interstate Highway system to move trucking freight quickly across the country.
Need more?
Good night, everyone.
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pmSlavery.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:00 pmYou can be against us without obstructing us with the same old tired tried-and-untrue bullshit.
Lunatic fringe obstructionism has no place in the process.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:00 pmHi Jane! It was wonderful. I skipped Jindal’s though, I already knew he would have NOTHING.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:01 pmWaynebro, I am a sister not a brother! Taken in the spirit it’s offered in, though. You can google me – Miss 1929 (not really that old!).
Mr. P, weren’t you the king of “you’re with us or against us”?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:01 pmHypocrite
oh boy… i’m still at 22… exercise break during jindal’s …
what was that?
gonna need a separate thread to keep track of all those lies…
not to mention the piss poor attitude…
yeesh.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmMr. Philby Says:
Name one problem the gov’t has ever fixed……………
________
Uh… stopping Nazi Germany?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmMr. Philby Says:
Name one problem the gov’t has ever fixed……………
Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini…oops, that’s three!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmThe trollys are really getting their panties in a wad. There is not enough intelligence on that side of the aisle to even try to match this president. He is so far ahead of the knuckle draggers they will be joining or just waiting for their defeat in 2010.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmPhilby, your still in a trance from the past eight years. Do yourself a favor, stick your head in a bucket of ice water, shake it off and get with the program. Oh yeah – are you really this stupid or are you just a jerk trying to be the downer tonight. I feel sorry for your lost ass…..
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmI noticed that the GOP House leadership had smirks on their faces and sensed they were making snide remarks when Obama brought up ending tax cuts for companies that send jobs overseas, among other issues.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pmMr. Philby Says:
Name one problem the gov’t has ever fixed……………
There are a few but the Savings and Loan Scandal comes to mind.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:06 pmMr. Philby Says:
Name one problem the gov’t has ever fixed……………
Mail service
Military service
Police protection
Fire departments
Protection from contaminated foods (up until it was gutted by Bushies)
Rural electrification
WPA
CCC
Public education (until “conservatives” started gutting it)
CDC
You truly are the stupidest troll. Congratulations.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pmTRoS, Jinx! I’m sure I typed mine first.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:08 pmThat speech by the President tonight put the democrats back on the offensive and made the republicans just plain offensive.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:08 pmHello Wayne & Jane,
This is not the first of the beginner questions from the troll today. This morning, he was asking for proof that Obama actually won over McCain by a sizeable margin in the electoral college.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:08 pmProblems the government has fixed include: WW2, the Great Depression, can a man reach the Moon and return, smallpox, turning primitive nuclear hypotheses into a tool and weapon, basic sewage hygiene, and the wholesale death of our oldest and wisest citizen who became unable to work due to age or disability. Those comprise a very small selection.
Your point?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:09 pmSorry. Amen sister. Hey is that you in the Deutsche Myspace video singing? That was pretty cool stuff.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:09 pm93.WAYNEBRO Says: Well you’re missing the point then. These are deeds. Not words.
Not yet, Wayne. They’re words until the projects get off the ground; even then, my overwhelming concern is the Constitution.
The places where the most important proof of Obama’s convictions, where push literally came to shove, have been the ones found wanting. Telecom immunity. bush’s state secrets Constitutional violations. War crimes investigations. Obama failed all these tests. So far.
These are what this nation survives upon. These are what are getting the short shrift. Obama started, the day after he got sworn in, stonewalling CREW’s lawsuit to recover the ‘lost’ emails and Obama continues to confound the promised transparency. That frankly infuriates.
There’s a difference between running a legitimate company, and committing all sorts of crimes behind a business front, however strong the business. The CEO that deals fairly across the board is absolutely worth following. The CEO that covers up excesses and violations of the stated company credo, to keep the company propped up and running; that CEO is wrong, I don’t care how profitable he makes the company.
Do you understand what I mean?
For example, a few companies got wealthy off of holocaust slave labor and additionally tried to distance themselves from culpability, but the cloud and responsibility remains. Sure they employ thousands, but their ‘moral vacillation’ concerning profits at the expense of lives reduces their companies to little more than contemptible robber barons and ghoulish oligarchs. Look up Siemens sometime; notice how often they get dinged for underhanded sh¡t.
We decry KBR and Halliburton, but not our own government, particularly when they talk pretty and say what we want to hear.
I’m not convinced. They current congress has a residual stink of betrayers and desperate politicos who would sell out their mothers at the right price; gave bush everything he wanted. Witness the Plame affair and how ineptly the remaining congressional cowards responded. Unconscionable.
Sorry, Wayne, pretty speech and positive ‘message,’ but I am not that easy.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:09 pmGood Night Now!!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:09 pmMr. Philby Says:
(d) good
(R) bad
___________
Well…
***droll pause***
And all the nonstop “liberalism is a mental disorder”… “”we should just string up reporters from lightpoles”… “gays are the greatest threat to this country”… kind of nonsense for eight endless years… not to mention, torture, the DoJ mess, warrantless wire-tapping, Iraq, Katrina…
You’ll have to excuse us if we indeed do tend to think that R does in deed = BAD at this point.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pmI hear that Mr. Philby eats rancid roadkill while practicing reciting Mein Kampf.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pmThe only “trickle down” that has worked for the GOP is stupidity. Bobby Jindal has benefited and so has Mr. Philby, Proud & others.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pm???
February 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pmMr. Philby Says:
obama=mussolini
_______________
Botch was the one who said the Constitution was just a g-damned piece of paper ad this would all be easier if he were just a DICKtator, not Obama…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pmMr. Philby Says:
I hear obamas citizenship is still being questioned. Did he bring that up, tonight? No birth cert? A phony ad in a Ha. coupon paper is supposed to prove he was born there?
I forget—-from which supermarket tabloid do you get all your information?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:12 pmMr. Philby
You know, spinning like a Tasmanian devil should not be tried at home. ralph noted at one point that it could lead to heavy vomiting.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pmKeith Says:
TRoS, Jinx! I’m sure I typed mine first.
________
Heh… that’s what Llama Boy sez too…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pmTRoS,
February 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm2 to 1, it must be true!
Mr. Philby Says:
I hear obamas citizenship is still being questioned.
_____________
Clearly a raging case of ODS… poor li’l feller… it’s just ben too much for ‘im.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pmThe trolls are alarmed that we have a real president with intelligence.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:15 pmKeith Says:
TRoS,
2 to 1, it must be true!
___________
Riiiiiiight… keep telling yourself that.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:15 pmhey tros why dont you go yank your llamma boy?
(sounded in a puny, crackly voice, that only comes from a troll)
February 24th, 2009 at 11:16 pmMr. P,
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pmMcWars is right—Obama won 365 to 173. It was in most decent newspapers and websites at the time.
Come ta mention it, where is ralph?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pmMr Phiby says:
Not so much
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pmMr. Philby Says:
“Just words” would sum up tonight speech.
___________
Once again, irony is lost on you, huh?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pmMr. Philby Says:
obama=mussolini
Cain’t spell “hillbilly” without ‘philby.’
February 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pmDid you know that Alan Keyes left his daughter homeless for being gay and declaring herself a liberal? His own offspring.
Compassionate conservatism at work.
He’s still holding that grudge against his Senate opponent in 2004, by the way.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pmWow, what a speech.
Wow, what a lame retort, B. Jindal.
Wow, Pillsbury – were you also the kid who ate boogers in First Grade just to make girls scream?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pmoh Bobby . . . please stay OFF the air, before tonight I thought “maybe” from the past “sound bites”, there might just be a Republican Brown Hope . . . but after this performance . . . NOPE.
That was the WORSE imitation of “Mr Rodgers on acid explains history” . . . . didn’t Bobby get to watch or read Obama’s speech (or at least review the history of the past EIGHT YEARS)?
Jindal/Palin ‘12 OH PLEASE OH PLEASE!!!!!!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:19 pmDidn’t we have someone as dumb as Mr. Philby the other night? Are we sure it’s not the same fool?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:19 pmWhy did black-eyes bobby talk about slavery? WTF does he know about it? he was off the mark with President Obama’s personal history.
And why did we have to know about black-eyes bobby’s lacky history. So f-n what?
he’s a goofy repug like steele, mooseyak, mascara linsey etc.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:19 pmAs a newbie, I sense that most of you are much more articulate than I. I don’t understand why you don’t draw a better class of troll. This philby guy is all we get? When legions of right-wing talk radio parrots must be sitting horrified in their recliners? All we get is some guy who can’t even repeat the party line?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:21 pm#189
Jindal knows nothing of slavery as it existed in the U.S. But as I’ve posted before, his family must have profited from the caste system in India (at some point), which is just another form of slavery based on ones economic standing.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:22 pmI am not sure, maybe that’s a new one of me?
This is me, p[laying and singing…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-r1LMDk6j0
February 24th, 2009 at 11:22 pmBubba Jindal sounded like he was addressing the audience of,”Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” But with a Bushian twang. They still think we’re all stupid.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:22 pmI thought of Mr. Rogers, too.
And “Kenneth” from 30 Rock.
And how he was shadowboxing with a speech that wasn’t made earlier, and a different President.
And, I wondered whether it wasn’t a put-on accent, just like Dubbie’s.
’cause it sounded more Texas than Louisiana.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:22 pm#191 . . . . it’s late . . . we usually get a better batch to play with . . .
February 24th, 2009 at 11:23 pmPhilby fool, no it’s the incoherence and total lack of intelligence that had me confused. It’s hard to believe there’s more than one of you.
But I’ve got to admit, your posts have had me laughing tonight.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pmOutstandingInMyField,
February 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pmAs the great Zooey once said “we work with the trolls we have–not the trolls we would like to have”.
191. OutstandingInMyField Says: All we get is some guy who can’t even repeat the party line?
He’s worse than that, he’s into reruns, pasting the same posts from past threads.
Can’t spell ‘propaganda’ without G-O-P…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pmI know, with all the money that the Repubs stole from us, can’t they even buy some decent punching bags for us?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:27 pmWhat about the mission to Mars and the manimals and axis of Eeeevil?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:30 pmWell I do understand what you’re saying about some things, but you’re focusing on the empty half of the glass.
We’re never going to reach Nirvana here. We’re never going to see a perfect world, a perfect Congress, a perfect country. It’s always a work in progress.
But come on.
After 8 years of republican disasters and the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes I just can’t get down tonight after hearing his plans and actions. A lot of what he said is already underway so you’re being somewhat disingenuous by saying its just fancy words. Its not. He’s doing things and tonight, he told us what those things are.
Was it perfect? Of course not. But it was good, and I refuse to be drawn into negativity, ambiguity or trepidation.
Let me have tonight.
:D
February 24th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
ODS. Poor fella…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:35 pmThis is all fun and good, we’ve got J.K. on the newest thread.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:36 pmYea, that was you. You were singing in German. Du Bis Deutsch?
You’re fantastic. I love that 40’s stuff. That’s so cool how you guys dress the part too. That’s cool stuff.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:36 pmI can see Hanshiro’s point…but I think the economy is the fire burning down the house, and once it’s put out, we can get back to things like the foundation, the wiring, etc.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:36 pmAfter 8 years, I can give President Obama a few months to get things rolling. I really believe we will see prosecutions and reversals of the horrific changes wrought by BushCo, but if the whole economy goes in the shitter, that will be the least of our worries. Remember, the priorities are:
Air
Water
Eat
Fight
Sleep
and after that, we can work on the constitution.
What? No gratuitous babble about the sanctity of life?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:37 pmThis is a video I am not finding!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:38 pmI think it was Yiddish… Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen? Link please…
My own shortcomings not withstanding, if all that stands in the way of progress is philby and B J(indal), I’ll sleep well tonight.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:38 pmI thought SKdeA was the one tickling the ivories while Ann Gibbons(?) sang in German.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:41 pmYou are the soul of articulation.
philby is sadly lacking in grammar and manners…
And Jionald is a jackal of the right.
Sweet dreams!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:42 pmYou are correct, Ann Gibson. I am the pianist! But follow that other link to hear me sing….
February 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pmWe do live the art deco life. Next week, off to Yosemite for three solid days of it, Heritage Holidays is the godawful name but the festival is fun!
SKdeA,
February 24th, 2009 at 11:46 pmVery Good. Your video has a rating of 92 on myspace. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38198835
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38198835
February 24th, 2009 at 11:47 pmYes, I heard you sing two fine songs on youtube. I’m quite the stalker.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:48 pmRich H Says:
#189
Jindal knows nothing of slavery as it existed in the U.S. But as I’ve posted before, his family must have profited from the caste system in India (at some point), which is just another form of slavery based on ones economic standing.
Fair enough.
Let me rephrase the slavery part.
black-eyes doesn’t know a damn thing about US slavery.
he just said it to be mean and spiteful. he’s a tool token. he needs to get his thyroid looked at and worry about that.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:49 pmI have a question for the resident troll Mr. P.
Why is it that in a country as wealthy as ours, that health care is a privilege and not a right?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:53 pmSKdeA , you really are quite good.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:57 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
I was wondering if you were struck speechless. ;)
and i was… that was a special compliment…
if only it were true…
g’nite all…
and sleep well, mr.president… take care of yourself…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:58 pmand, thank you.
Poor Mr. Philby, what a small, sad little man.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:00 amAha, that drunken German version of “Mean To Me”! It was late, many, many Manhattan’s..
February 25th, 2009 at 12:05 amThat isn’t me singing, that’s Ann Gibson. I am playing the piano. And drinking, as you can see in the last second, reaching for the cocktail…
Good night Katy!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:05 amGoodnight Katy. That was very sweet of McMetal. I think you underestimate yourself, though. Beauty on the inside can’t help reflecting itself somehow on the outside, whether just in a smile, a look, or a kind word. I saw a great ‘thought for the day’ recently: “Be yourself – everyone else is taken.”
Sweet dreams!
February 25th, 2009 at 12:10 amWill matthews (MSNBC) stop calling President Obama’s speech “left-of-center”?
It isn’t that simple matthews.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:11 amMr. Philby Says:
Great speech tonight. Gotta run. See you tomorrow.
———–
Tail between legs……
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Well, if you must know, I was rushing off to watch The Daily Show. It’s very popular with Liberals like me, the kind that enjoy intelligent humor, unlike Fox News Channel’s version of comedy. What’s that show called again? Oh, yeah. “The O’Reilly Factor”.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:18 amHow much is enough, “barack obomber”? At what point are you satisfied with how much money you have? Just curious. Is there a limit to how much money you need?
February 25th, 2009 at 12:19 amThanks, WayneBro! They even pay me for it… and it’s a lot of fun.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 amThank goodness the teleprompter was working.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:24 ambarack obomber Says:
So none of you guys want to ever be rich?!?!? and make more money. Its easy to just sit happy in the middle class but some strive for more. Nothing wrong with that.
Where in the world did you get that idea?
February 25th, 2009 at 12:28 ambarack obomber Says:
Bush didn’t just give the rich FREE money like Obamamama wants to do. All he did was take from the government and let the rich keep THEIR OWN MONEY with tax cuts. Its funny mmaama is doing the opposite by giving free money to everyone and is getting away with it. I guess just sit back dont work and wait for your piece of the pie.
chimpy gave away TARP like he was in Iran.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:29 am*Iraq.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:30 amYou’re right, there’s just no wealthy liberals. Except Oprah, and Sean Penn, Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Bill Gates and Steve Wozniak. You can be wealthy without making a self centered pig out of yourself, but you wouldn’t understand.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:38 amStrawmen and BS? It’s all the freaks have left.
To paraphrase some washed-up GOoPer, “sane adults have taken over.” And all the GOoPlet wannabes set off, once again, to project their faults and fears across the airwaves and blogosphere.
The tell-tale characteristic of the more hysterical crap is that the sources admit they didn’t bother listening to Obama’s speech and press on with debunked, pre-speech, protests. They merely paint their strawmen and flip the BS with a shovel. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remember that the neocons, and the religious extremists they exploit, still have a dangerous and disproportionate amount of representation.
It’s also becoming more and more clear that the GOP will continue to hemorrhage any who show any signs of moderation. The circular firing squad has yet to reach full steam but, I certainly enjoyed a local radio caller whining about RINOs “destroying America by giving in to the Socialists”. What drivel!
In fact, the crap has become so repetitious, it’s redundant to bother debunking it. I miss the old days when, once in a while, some Reichwhiner would raise a question that gave one reason to investigate. Cause I can’t remember one of the screechers making a fresh point about real-time events. They have become so divorced from reality they can’t even formulate questions which deserve answering.
G’night, good people.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:58 amYou too, trolls.
Yes, Obama finally spells it out. The tax cuts were nothing more than a transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich. From those with nothing to those with plenty. And because Obama wants to let those cuts expire and let the tax rates return to 1990’s levels, the Republicans are accusing him of a tax increase..
Blogger at http://plunditry.com
Check it out and tell me what you think!
February 25th, 2009 at 1:01 amTroll, do you actually believe that a mainstream, realistic economic system is where everyone can become rich if they try hard enough?
Earthy people don’t expect to come rich, and they know that only a few become rich, most of the time by chance. They’re more into income stability, being able to afford health care and putting away some money. Having something decent to retire on.
The casino mentality as an economic model doesn’t work.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:02 amAm I in America or Russia. Of course there is no limit and never should be. Do you want the government to tell you how many guns you can own or how much food you “need ” a month? This ideology is where it all starts.
If you strive and do good why should there be a limi for earnings.
This isn’t about limits, which is irrational blather, this is about what most people realistically hope to achieve — adequacy, not excesses.
There is no platform to earn something if there’s no proper investment in people. I’m “passing debts on to my children” is the the wingnut tripe tacked onto this long-overdue social spending. Of course, they’re programmed to overlook their own deficits and debt, almost none of which has the potential to pay for itself, only incur future cleanup costs.
Investing in a child, on the other hand, isn’t passing on debt, because their well-being as adults provides an endless return. The same goes to helping people in need — the homeless, the hungry, our vets, high school dropouts, others affected by hands-off policies.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:12 amBeethoven Rules Says:
Thank goodness the teleprompter was working.
Your hypocrisy is mind-boggling! Compared to Dubya, Obama is Laurence Olivier. Compared to Dubya, I’M Laurence Olivier!
February 25th, 2009 at 2:40 amJust like MN’s Tim Pawlenty’s higher office aspirations fell into the Mississipi River along with the 35W Bridge, Jindahl just flushed away his last night. The GOP have some work to do if they are counting on Jindahl, Palin, and Joe the Plumber.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:53 amI was hoping Obama would declare martial law and arrest all Republicans. It’s only a matter of time.
Myst
February 25th, 2009 at 5:36 amNo doubt about it, Obama gave a good speech. Where do we go from here? It certainly seems that we are heading down the road to socialism in a big way. Is that good or bad? No way to tell till we get there. As far as I know socialism has always failed in the past but maybe the Democrat party has a better socialist plan. As for me, I will hang onto my freedoms as long as possible with whatever it takes.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:26 ambarack obomber Says:
Wayne A. Schneider Says: I
Is there a limit to how much money you need?
Am I in America or Russia. Of course there is no limit and never should be. Do you want the government to tell you how many guns you can own or how much food you “need ” a month? This ideology is where it all starts.
If you strive and do good why should there be a limi for earnings.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Am I in America or Russia.
Nice, meaningless rhetorical start. The kind of answer an ignorant person would give.
Of course there is no limit and never should be.
Again, meaningless. Of course there has to be a limit. There’s only so much maoney to go around. Do you honestly think that, at today’s prices and in this economy, that it is even possible for one person to become a trillionaire? It’s neither possible nor necessary.
Do you want the government to tell you how many guns you can own or how much food you “need ” a month?
Straw man argument. I never mentioned guns or food. Are you both starving and paranoid? What the hell does personal wealth have to do with guns? As for food, are you implying that you have a moral (not legal) right to have so much food that it goes bad and has to be thrown out, while people elsewhere in the country starve? Or are you one of those idiots like Ronald Reagan who think that the only people who go to bed hungry in America are people on a diet?
If you strive and do good why should there be a limi for earnings.
IF you “do good”, why would you need to have so much money? Do you think that all wealthy people in this country got that way by “doing good”? Are you one of those people who equate financial worth with social worth? Are you of the belief that if you’re making a lot of money, you must be doing something good? Need I remind you that among the rich and famous families in our country, there are those who made their fortunes illegally? The Kennedy family and the Bush family come to mind immediately.
The simple fact of the matter is that in order to survive, to have shelter (even two), to have clothes on your back, and to have enough food to eat, you only need so much money. Anything beyond that will not do you or your children any more good, because it’s unnecessary. You should give away your excess wealth, and do something good for other people. Not to get into heaven, but simply because it;s the morally right thing to do, to help your fellow human beings. (Notice I did not limit that to your fellow countrymen, because we are all human beings on this planet regardless of which geopolitical boundaries we happen to be in at the moment.)
Since you dodged the question, I won’t. Personally, in today’s dollars, $100 million ought to be more than enough for anybody. Why woudl you need more than that? Do you feel you have a moral right to be greedy, at the expense of others? I don’t, and I think most humane people would agree.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:52 amPresident Obama’s speech last night was a great speech. It sounded almost too ambitious. (But, maybe that’s good). If anyone can pull it off, he can.
I walked away from the speech hoping that my reservations about big government are wrong and rooting for Obama to success in his vision.
I was also struck by what seems to me an incredible weight put on one man; President Obama, especially as he made his way thru the audience to the podium. An incredible weight of hope.
So far, his execution has been outstanding.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:26 ambackup,
With all due respect, and I mean that most sincerely, I find the use of the term “big government” to be a shibboleth. I hear a lot of right-wing people claim that they don’t want more “big government” and will fight it every chance they can. The problem is no one can clearly and consistently define what they mean by “big government.” Do they mean more employees on the federal payroll? Do they mean more government departments or agencies? Do they mean more spending by government? Because under the Republican rule of 2001-2007, all three went way up. Why wasn’t “big government” a problem then?
It’s just a buzzphrase, without true meaning, meant only to rile people up and get their emotions running and their brains sleeping.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:37 amI walked away from the speech hoping that my reservations about big government are wrong and rooting for Obama to success in his vision.
So much concern about big government, when you didn’t utter a peep about Bush’s expansions. Those must have been prudent, because they were rubberstamped by your fiscally responsible party.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:41 amWayne and barfly. My comment was not meant to be divisive, but I’ll try to respond.
barfly. you’re right about Bush’s spending. Conservatives have traditionally been (or supposed to have been) fiscally responsible. That didn’t happen under Bush. However, conservatives have traditionally supported a strong defense. (I know that you would both probably dispute that).
I think that it is because of those two relatively divergent positions (fiscal responsibility/significant defense spending), conservatives are/were hypocritical on the issue.
When conservatives suggest big government, I believe they (and I) conveniently or unwittingly ignore defense spending; which is one of, if not the biggest, component of government.
I concede the point.
And Wayne. The idea of big government may just be buzz words that I need to reinvestigate. If you asked me today what ‘big government’ is I would say this:
Although government provides a role to help regulate our society, too much of it can impede our society. It’s a balance.
The stimulus is an example (the tax code, is another). We are going into debt to the tune of a trillion dollars to try to spend money to help solve a problem that was caused by people going into too much debt to spend money. Maybe it’s necessary, but you can see how the premise raises questions.
Government acts as an intermediary. It takes money from society and then decides how to either spend it or redistribute it. Some of the functions of government are necessary, or even essential. But, as an intermediary, government creates inefficiencies that, if great enough, act as a detriment to the economy and to the society.
The question is: How much government is too much? I guess when I say ‘big government’, I’m only communicating that idea. I like Obama’s plans, I only hope that we don’t sign up for too much government intervention. (spend too much money, enact too much legislation, create too many new agencies, etc). Too much intervention that would slow progress instead of create it.
I’ve got some stuff happening, but I’ll check back later.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:13 amWhy does Reagan get a pass. Federal spending DOUBLED in eight years when Reagan was president.
If you want to make the claim that conservatives have been fiscally responsible, you need to show us an example.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:35 amI guess you’ve never heard of Canada, or Sweden, or France, or England, or Denmark, or Norway, all of whom have higher living standards compared to the United States.
Really, educate yourself instead of vomiting up Republican talking points.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:40 amshoeless. this is a good point. my inclination is the impression comes from democratic support for social programs (that cost money) that republicans don’t support. And republicans support for tax cuts that democrats have often not supported. And, again, little or no regard for the massive military spending. And responsible is probably the wrong term. just because you stand for less spending doesn’t mean it’s responsible. maybe restraint would be more accurate for the idea.
And, you’re right. without examples, the impression is meaningless. I’ll think about what you said.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:16 amand shoeless. you’re right about socialism. It is alive and well; and in many aspects, more successful than capitalism.
Duece would have had a stronger argument with communism, which with few exceptions, has been a failure.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:20 amRepublicans are only fiscally conservative when they are in th minority role. Each time they win an election they spend more than any democratic administration ever has, with the exception of WWII. They use fiscal responsibility and red meat like gay marriage and abortion and guns to be elected. History reveals that Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II were not fiscally conservives while in office. They use that to lie their ways into the oval office. They cannot be honest and win. Who would vote for their ideology? Well I give you the brain washed and brain dead.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:52 amtest.
http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?year=1960_2010&view=1&expand=&units=b&fy=fy09&chart=F0-total&stack=1&size=m&title=Total%20Spending&state=US&col=c
February 25th, 2009 at 11:03 amthe above link shows spending from the 60’s til present. What it shows is continuing increases in federal spending regardless of whose in the white house. It contradicts the notion that republican presidents preside over periods of less (or even reductions in the increase of) federal spending.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:08 amAnother home run speech by Obama.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:59 amCritics will pick it apart, particularly the trolls, but he encouraged Americans, he explained his vision, and the public reacted with even more approval.
We all know these problems will take years to remedy – we need to look down the road we travel rather than the individual foot step.
barack obomber Says:
Am I in America or Russia.
Presently Russia is much closer to your ideal of a capitalist system – effective economic anarchy, unregulated mafia-controlled corporate deals and mass pollution everywhere. Given that you don’t know that, it would make more sense to ask if you’re in 2009 or 1989.
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barack obomber Says:
Of course there is no limit and never should be. Do you want the government to tell you how many guns you can own or how much food you “need ” a month? This ideology is where it all starts.
If you strive and do good why should there be a limi for earnings.
Nobody told you that income should be capped by law. Just that for your own personal reasons, you might want to consider capping your greed. That “ideology” was originally introduced in the West by that pinko economic philosopher Jesus Christ, BTW.
Of course everybody wants to be rich. Being rich is awesome. Which is why I don’t feel bad for askig the rich to shoulder a bit more of the load. Even with a more progressive tax rate, being rich would still be awesome. If you wouldn’t want to be rich if the tax rate on high incomes was a little higher, then either you can’t do math or you didn’t really want to be rich anyway. How does it make sense to pity the wealthy?
And here’s the real justification for a progressive tax rate: if you “win” at the U.S. economic game, then you owe more to the system that made it possible than someone who “lost.” If it was all your own grit and hard work that made you wealthy, then you should be able to prove it by giving up everything, and starting over in a third-world hellhole. Let’s see you make your millions there. The fact that you can’t do that proves that it’s the economic environment of the U.S. that makes it possible to have economic mobility. Those who benefit more from that system should invest a greater portion of their winnings back in to maintain it. If you don’t invest in the economic environment around you, then any gains you make are unsustainable over time. Hence the market crash under Bush.
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Deuce Coupe Says:
No doubt about it, Obama gave a good speech. Where do we go from here? It certainly seems that we are heading down the road to socialism in a big way.
I’m really getting bored with this usage of the term, because you have no idea what you mean when you say “socialism” except that it vaguely must mean something like “hell in a handbasket.”
Try this: socialism is the degree to which we take economic action through government, whereas capitalism is the degree to which we take economic action privately. For any given country, you can give it a ratio of government spending to GDP, and that’s how “socialist” it is. But you can’t say it “is socialist” or “is capitalist” and actually mean anything.
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Deuce Coupe Says:
As for me, I will hang onto my freedoms as long as possible with whatever it takes.
This is a crazy false premise, unless you’re referring to freedom to “opt out” of any collective responsibility whatsoever. Or your freedom to use government-paid infrastructure and services without paying for them. I understand that you’d like to go live in a little shack waaay out in the middle of the forest and not file income tax returns, but that’s just not feasible.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:06 pmYou know, I’m not as excited about this speech as many seem to be. Maybe because I’m always paying attention to this stuff and the Obama administration is constantly communicating in so many ways that having him put it all together is kind of – “yeah, I knew that.”
February 25th, 2009 at 1:12 pmbarack obomber Says:
You are a liar and a fool and a pathetic moron. A frozen cod has more intellect than you ever will. Dont you ever just think how said it is that you are so stupid and so pathetic? Grow up. Dont even try to think for yourself though. You will NEVER be capable of higher brain function. The stupid will be with you always
February 25th, 2009 at 1:14 pmbarack obomber Says:
So none of you guys want to ever be rich?!?!? and make more money. Its easy to just sit happy in the middle class but some strive for more. Nothing wrong with that.
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No, I make a good living it is all I ever wanted. If I wanted to be wealthy I would be. See this is what makes you an ignorant punk. You think having more money makes you better. A sad and ignorant delusion. I have always wanted to CONTRIBUTE to society not be a parasite that makes MY money off the sweat of other peoples labor. Then again as stupid as you are most likely you will never have the talent to excel in actually contributing. So keep asking if they want fries with that and dreaming about the day you will be Donald Trump while you carry water for the Rich just like they have brainwashed you to do. MORON.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pmElBruce. In a way, I know what you are saying. But, I don’t personally take Obama’s performance for granted. There are huge problems. The administration is setting out a very ambitious agenda. To communicate that America (and the world) is watching would be a monumental understatement.
Putting it all together is important. And, although Obama has proven he can deliver a speech, the gravity of the situation and the expectations, create an environment that I imagine is very challenging. Even for him.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:21 pmEugeneDebs. I’m asking the question because I don’t know the answer. Who doesn’t make their money off the sweat of others?
February 25th, 2009 at 1:24 pmThe ones doing the sweating.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:53 pmbackup Says:
EugeneDebs. I’m asking the question because I don’t know the answer. Who doesn’t make their money off the sweat of others?
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I dont. Labor doesnt. Those who PRODUCE dont. Those who buy and sell and only own DO.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pmEugeneDebs. I am labor. But, someone pays my salary. The money that they give me, where does it come from?
The company that I work for provides me a mechanism to trade my labor for wages. The effort that it takes to provide that mechanism costs money to create. Somebody sweat to make that mechanism for me to use to profit. If I didn’t need that mechanism, I would trade my labor directly to the end user. In either event, the money that I’m being paid came from somewhere, somebody sweat to produce it.
If I dig a ditch, I could go out and drum up ditch digging jobs on my own. I would be trading my labor for the client’s money. The money that they sweat to produce. So, in essence, you are making money off of other people’s labor. If that person didn’t work, their would be no money to make your profit.
If I dig a ditch for a company. I rely on that company to provide me a shovel, to find ditch digging jobs, and cut me a pay check (and whatever other benefit I can negotiate). The shovel, the effort to find the jobs and getting the funds to pay me, all took effort on the part of my employer (sweat). So, in this case, I would be profiting off the sweat of my employers labor.
Being a laborer and being an employer both require effort. Both parties agree to the exchange.
EugeneDebs. Think about were the money that you get in your paycheck comes from and convince me that someone else didn’t work for it, before they gave it to you.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:36 pmDeuce Coupe Says:
As far as I know socialism has always failed in the past…
Shoeless, you’re right. Deuce doesn’t know much.
Ranking of countries by Human Development Index:
Iceland
Norway
Canada
Australia
Ireland
Netherlands
Sweden
Japan
Luxembourg
Switzerland
France
Finland
Denmark
Austria
United States
The USA looks down on all the others with a higher standard of living as crazy socialists.
ElBruce Says: For any given country, you can give it a ratio of government spending to GDP, and that’s how “socialist” it is. But you can’t say it “is socialist” or “is capitalist” and actually mean anything.
That’s the honest assessment. No country is totally free of “socialism”.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:33 pmOf course, it seldom occurs to right-leaning folks who yell, “socialism”! to examine what they are yelling about. I suspect that few can answer these three questions:
1. What is socialism?
2. Why is it harmful to Democracy?
3. Can you name a single “socialistic” law which has caused verifiable damage to American society?
And I doubt many of their attempted answers wouldn’t be a regurgitation of some tired old talking point from one, or another, of a relative few Reichwiners.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:59 pmBTW. Thanks for the Human Development Index rankings, Keith. I was just looking for that the other day and couldn’t remember the name.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:02 pmOr, the title of this article could read…
“A Recession Became An Excuse for Obama To Transfer Wealth from the Middle Class To The Government. And then the government used the confiscated money to bail out irresponsible slackers who bought houses that they could not afford”
February 25th, 2009 at 6:19 pmI has been wishing some attention would be paid to bringing back a strong middle class, and having that as the American Dream rather than the overpaid hacks. I guess that’s somewhat what Obama was talking about last night in his speech. Read a great essay on “Strengthened Middle Class” by Andrea Batista Schlesinger and Amy Traub in this book: Thinking Big.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:19 pmbackup Says:
Your convoluted logic doesnt make sense. No it DOESNT take effort to be an employer it takes MONEY. I dont care who else was involved in making a bussiness possible that OTHERS also profited from THEIR sweat to make the infrastructure doesnt change the FACT that I am profiting off of MY sweat and no one elses. I am NOT making any money off of what THEY did I am making money based on what I DO, just like THEY made their money off of what THEY did. The ones that made the MOST money off of what we BOTH did is those who bought stock owned without doing any of the WORK. It is like the tomato. The farmer grows the tomato he has contributed. Someone trasports it to market HE contributed. Someone has a place to market the tomato HE contributed. The guy who bought the tomato FROM the farmer and SOLD it to the market did NOT contribute and HE made the most profit from the tomato. None of the three who contributed made their money OFF of the sweat of others because they were all part of the process of contributing. ALL wealth is created by those who work and labor. Not ONE BIT is created by buying and selling NOT ONE BIT. This is basic economic theory. I have never made a dime off of another mans sweat and I never will.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:23 pmTimmeh the title of every single post you make could be I am an ignorant piece of garbage who never had an original thought in my life and I am going to repeat what the screechmonkey who does my thinking FOR me told me to think recently. You are a sad and pathetic moron Timmeh.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:25 pmTo my fellow liberals:
It’s going to be a long haul on this one, because although the majority of Americans are now on board with our President and what he’s doing, there are also folks who hate our upcoming course of action so much that they’re going to do everything they can to sabotage it.
They think this is just another game of politics: if we fail, they can say “I told you so” and claim the public favor, and power, again. But there’s so much more at stake here. The problem is, if we fall down on this one as a country, we won’t be getting back up again. That includes those potential saboteurs as well.
So while we’re working hard at making our recovery a success, hang in there against those who are working toward our failure. We can win over the rational conservatives with successes, but we’ll never win that special quarter of the population that are too far gone to reach.
So when those folks are trying their hardest to destroy our efforts: DON’T… BACK… DOWN. Take heart and remember the words of a very wise man, Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th president, whose words ring just as true today as they did a century ago:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
February 26th, 2009 at 12:10 amEugeneDebs. I don’t think you understand the economic system.
If what you say is true, and buyers and sellers create no value; why does Obama insist that we have to insure the credit markets begin working again?
Why would he put the focus on an area that adds no value?
The answer is, there is value. Value that you just don’t see.
And if you think that you don’t profit from other people’s sweat; you have a misunderstanding of where the money comes from that’s in your paycheck.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:48 am