What would you ask President Obama?
By on Mar 24th, 2009 at 9:45 am
What would you ask President Obama?
Tonight, I will have the privilege of attending and covering President Obama’s press conference at the White House for ThinkProgress. In the unlikely event that I do get called on to ask a question, I’d like to know what our readers are most interested in hearing from President Obama. What would your question be? Please let us know in the comments section below. Registered commenters, please utilize the green “recommend” button to vote for questions you endorse. If I get to ask a question, I can’t guarantee that I will choose one from the comments section, but I will give it very strong consideration.
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If incentive pay contributed to riskier behaviors and poor product quality on Wall Street, why spread the poison of pay for performance to health care and education?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:47 amPlease ask the President why he is allowing the neocon gang of Rubin, Paulson, Summers and their brainchild Geithner to plunder the FDIC with their latest cash for trash scheme. The FDIC is the only protection citizens like me have to protect their savings.
To put it a little more formally, here are the words of a Nobel Prize winner:
The U.S. government plan to rid banks of toxic assets will rob American taxpayers by exposing them to too much risk and is unlikely to work as long as the economy remains weak, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said on Tuesday.
“The Geithner plan is very badly flawed,” Stiglitz told Reuters in an interview during a Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s plan to wipe up to US$1 trillion in bad debt off banks’ balance sheets, unveiled on Monday, offered “perverse incentives”, Stiglitz said.
The U.S. government is basically using the taxpayer to guarantee against downside risk on the value of these assets, while giving the upside, or potential profits, to private investors, he said.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:50 am“Quite frankly, this amounts to robbery of the American people. I don’t think it’s going to work because I think there’ll be a lot of anger about putting the losses so much on the shoulder of the American taxpayer.”
How is “moving forward” without accountability, especially in regards to U.S. torture policy during the Bush Administration, evidence of change in how a presidential administration governs?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:50 amI would love for you to ask President Obama why he thinks Geithner and Summers, people who are so firmly entrenched in the ways of Wall Street, have to capacity to think outside of the box so to speak to fix the immediate economic crisis, as well as laying the foundation for a sound, regulated, bubble free economy that serves the nation, not just the wealthy elite.
Also, I’d like you to ask the president why he has not dispatched agents of his bully pulpit to counter the 2-1 margin the right wing has on the airwaves.
He may consider the cable chatter basically irrelevant, and that surprised me because it is precisely because of the incessant right wing negativity on cable that has him mired in this day to day battle for public opinion.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:51 amWould President Obama be open to allowing war crimes trials of our past administration by the Hague? If not, why not?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:52 amI would like to know what efforts are being taken to re-regulate the financial institutions to minimize the problems that deregulation have caused.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:53 amMister President, if you were a reporter, what would be the question that you would ask yourself, and then please answer.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:53 amWhy haven’t Bush and Cheney been arrested for obvious war crimes and crimes against humanity ?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:54 amSixty days have passed
March 24th, 2009 at 9:55 amYour tactics have been attacked
How can we help you?
I’d ask TP to reconsider running that headline with that particular photo…
March 24th, 2009 at 9:56 amAs a lawyer, a former Constitutional professor, and now President of the United States, how ashamed are you that your administration is not willing to uphold the rule of law and prosecute crimes by the previous administration?
March 24th, 2009 at 9:57 amI agree with Cheeseflap – President Obama said that he needed our help to fix the country.
When it comes to health care and education – what can we in the grassroots community do to further these causes? It would be nice to have some specifics, so that we can plant these seeds now.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:58 amUnder what circumstances would you declare that the United States is no longer “At War?”
March 24th, 2009 at 9:59 amIf he has seen, “Who Killed the Electric Car”- and if so, ask why not just take over (buy) GM, a failing, taxpayer money sucking, worker laying-off, backward thinking company, and mass produce the Saturn EV1 or retrofit all current GM models with that technology?
Have them all manufactured in the U.S. using U.S. resources, and create a “Manhattan Project” level program to develop or enhance battery technology for superior storage.
This would:
- Save thousands of jobs
- Create thousands of jobs with the new infrastructure created
- Give the U.S. something of value to export
- Give Americans something proud to export, instead of WMDs
- Create revenue for the government and it’s workers
- Save the environment.
Just a thought.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:59 amFaiz, my first suggestion too you is that you frame the question very clearly–whatever the subject matter you choose.
Don’t get into the momentary personalities or politics, get into the fundamental subject that the public needs to know about.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:03 amMr. President,
why are you allowing the republicans to attack you and your activities – for example, your ncaa bracket and your visit to the leno show – without responding the their hypocritical partisan politics? don’t you think your not responding would embolden them even more?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am“Mr. President: Appalachia is under attack with 3 million pounds of high explosives per day, more than are used in Iraq. Mountain Removal coal extraction is destroying Appalachian communities, families and lives. When can Appalachian people be Americans, too? WHEN, Mr. President, will you put a stop to Mountain Removal mining?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:05 amAdding to #14
this would:
- spur competition with the other automakers to produce highly efficient electric vehicles
- make us energy independent
if anyone has other ideas/benefits to attach, please do so.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:06 amWhat would you ask President Obama?
1. Why don’t you listen to Dr. Paul Krugman and Dr. Dean Baker on what to do with the banks instead of Dr. Lawrence Summers and Sec. Geithner?
2. Why does your “Public-Private Investment Program” help the already wealthy, powerful and well connected in order to help working people? Why not just help working people and directly?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am“Mr. President: History has shown that any foreign military occupancy in Afghanistan has failed time after time. What makes you think the US occupancy in Afghanistan including adding 30,000 more troops will change what history has taught us?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:08 amHow will not hiring a special prosecutor to investigate the crimes of Bush/Cheney be reconciled with our justice system?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:10 am“Mr. President: Every American is being asked to sacrifice during this economical crisis. Don’t you think congress should also join in the sacrifice by taking pay cuts until our economy is back on it’s feet?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:10 amI’m worried of Geithner he doesn’t seem trustworthy I believe that Geithner deeply believes that the AIG people are so “tallented” and that we can’t afford to let them go, that he won’t do anything at all to stop bonuses etc.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:11 amAnd will probably convince Obama that they need these people.
I’d like to know what “Change” really means to you?
I’d like to know why you utterly reject HR 676 when now nearly 50 million Americans lack health insurance?
I’d like to know why you trust people like Larry Summers and Tim Geithner instead of looking at the history (e.g., the Scandinavian response to their fiscal crisis that worked).
Do you want to hand the Republicans the next term?
Where, Mr. Obama, is the Change?
You’ve done some good things, and I am so happy it is you and not McCain/Palin. But I am angry. And scared for my own life and the lives of the people I love.
And I am increasingly frightened of you and your policies.
Where is the Change, sir?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:11 am“Mr. President: While we are facing a dire financial/economical crisis in this country don’t you think that we should stop sending foreign add to countries like Egypt and Israel until this crisis has ended?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:12 amMr. President,
You took an oath to uphold our Constitution, i.e. the Law. Several members of the previous administration broke many of those laws and shredded the Constitution. They need to be held accountable. Why are you not allowing an investigation into those matter to move forward?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 amMr. President, what are you doing differently than the Bush/Cheney administration with regard to tracking down Osama Bin Laden? And when do you anticipate capturing him?
Also, please give the voters a month and year within the next four years that will constitute complete failure on the part of your administration in this regard if Bin Laden has not been captured or killed by said date.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 amMr President, we elected you to undo what the Bush regime created and get us out of an unconstitutional war. When do you plan to get busy with this assignment?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 amSummers, Rubin and Geithner were involved while the financial crisis developed — is keeping them on a form of “hair of the dog”?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:13 amAre you convinced that they recognize where the failures were and can rectify them, or is it that we really need to play the same game going forward? Will regulations be sufficient?
I just want to say to my fellow liberals, that it’s great that we are willing to police our own guy. If the Republicans had been willing to do the same, we wouldn’t be in this giant mess right now. Keep up the good work!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:15 amMr. President, do you support the Employee Free Choice Act?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:16 amI would ask what exactly leads him to believe that the GOP is willing to compromise on anything proposed by the Democratic majority. Oh that and why has Bush and his gang of thugs have not been charged with war crimes, domestic spying and treason.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:16 amPlease push for the pure single payer health plan for everybody(except for those willing to buy their own plan).
March 24th, 2009 at 10:17 amMedicare can do a fine yeoman job.
Let the health care insurance companies faze out of that business. They have always been the toxic part of health care.
John Murphy of Jefferson, NH
I hope you can ask;
“if we wanted to create liquidity why didn’t we simply create a fund that would be used for loans and only loans to which a bank might turn a commission rather then giving them our money and hoping they would use that money to make loans”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:18 amWhat does equal justice under the law mean to you?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:18 amMr. President….When will congress and the senate and yourself concider removing the Federal Reserve and allowing the Government of the people of the United States(like the rest of the world) to control it’s finances???
Please ask him that …..PLEASE !!!!
March 24th, 2009 at 10:19 am“Mr. President, do you have plans to investigate price gouging and price fixing in the private health insurance industry? Are you concerned that too much consolidation of health insurers is leading to another industry that is too big to fail? When are you going to close down Medicare Advantage programs that, in your words, costs the U.S. taxpayers over $15 billion each year? When are you going to require Medicare Part D to negotiate prices with Big Pharma? Why are all the for-profit healthcare players invited to the table of healthcare reform?”
But I guess that’s more than one question.
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 10:20 amAnd now for a very deep question:
“Mr. President: If eggs come from a chicken and chickens come from eggs, why don’t eggs taste like chicken?” :)
March 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am“Mr. President: If things do get worse and the poor have to start eating the rich to survive, should we boil or fry them?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:24 amMr President, why won’t you call it a bank robbery?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:24 amMr President,
If “no one is above the law,” why are you standing in the way of a true investigation of the previous administrations alleged crimes, and failing to appoint a special prosecutor?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:25 am“Mr. President, Bernie Madoff received a 150-year sentence for his crimes. Do you beleive that the crimes committed by the Bush/Cheney administration are more or less severe than Madoff’s crimes?”
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 10:25 amMr. President, it seems that many of the problems in the financial industry were caused by outright fraud not incompetence. Many people were involved from the highest echelons of management and throughout the industry by those in a positions of knowledge and/or power. Do you plan to prosecute those who committed these crimes against this country?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:26 am“Mr. President: Is it really true that the president, regardless of party, is just a puppet and that his/her puppet masters who really run the government are the bankers, Wall Street, corporations and the defense industry?”
March 24th, 2009 at 10:31 amMr. President,
Given that the International Red Cross has determined the United States engaged in torture under the previous administration, I join with a chorus of Americans who demand to know when your Justice Department will begin prosecutions for war crimes and if not, are you prepared to become complicit in their crimes through your lack of action?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:31 amAre any features of your stimulus packages and/or your proposed budget targeted specifically toward helping the working poor lift themselves out of poverty? How will these proposals affect the daily lives of the working poor and offer them support in their struggles?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:34 amWhat I want to know is that we seem to have two models for trying to recover from this banking crises. The rather successful Swedish model of nationalization and the rather unsuccessful Japanese model of zombiefication. Why did Obama’s team choose the unsuccessful plan?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:34 amwatch Rachel Maddow’s interview with Turley last night…..then go from there.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:37 amIt seems there was systematic deregulation obtained through paid influence by lobbyists which created laws for special interest groups that in large part resulted in this financial crisis. Having to raise money for the next election by participating in the daily party circuit held in DC is viewed by Main Street as a particularly insidious hijacking of our democracy. What steps do you have in mind to push Congress into stopping the partying held by lobbyists and provide a level playing field for a broader field of citizens who might better represent the country’s interests? Would you be willing to outlaw lobbying?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:39 amWhat government entity is overseeing the AIG Financial Products division as they wind down?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:40 amMr. President, does your administration plan to regulate the legalized institution of bribery known as “lobbyists”, and how so?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:48 amADDdaddy – what IS the fascination with the label “Manhattan Project” ???
maybe there are too many young people who don’t know what that was about, the negativity, the destruction…
surely there are more who would remember the POSITIVE implications of an APOLLO project… it took us to the moon, it can help get us to the future too…
please – drop the ‘manhattan’ label…
http://apolloalliance.org/
March 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am“rastaman Says:
watch Rachel Maddow’s interview with Turley last night…..then go from there.”
We all know the President that we have now, can walk and chew gum at the same time, unlike the Bushie. I don’t want the Hague or another country to arrest and maybe foul up the scumbags who cheapened us to other countries and our Constitution, I want then tried here. All he has to do is start as soon as possible.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:52 amMr. President,
Your administration has made some admirable efforts of diplomatic outreach to the Muslim world through your video interview on al-3rabiya, your Nowruz message to the Iranian people, and Secretary Clinton’s visit to Indonesia. However, these actions will appear as no more than empty rhetoric as long as the United States continues to unconditionally support the genocidal actions of the increasingly right-wing Israeli government. Will you consider cutting military and financial aid to Israel, or at least conditioning this aid on positive and definitive efforts toward a lasting peace for the Palestinian people?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:53 amPresident Obama:
When someone steals everyone’s retirement savings and then burns down the neighborhood who on earth would pay that person to replace their savings and rebuild their neighborhood—even if that person were the only bank and the only building contractor left in town?
That’s not just how the majority public ‘sees’ the financial crisis you’ve been handed by the last 8 years of cozy deregulation and trickle-down economics, it’s how they are actually experiencing it in being forced to preserve a failed system and to preserve the profits of the few who created it, because supposedly there is no alternative.
What specifically is preventing you from changing this clearly broken system that is bankrupting this nation and its future?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:57 amI read over the questions a lot of people want answered and it seems they could be boiled down to one.
Mr. President, you have virtually the same people that the last administration used and it appears they’re doing a reverse robin hood.
Where’s the change?
March 24th, 2009 at 10:58 amMr. President: It Has been reported that you have taken single-payer health care reform off the table, and you won’t even address Congressman Conyers’ bill H.R. 676. What do you tell folks who have lost their jobs and can’t afford to pay for health insurance that you appear to be in the “pocket” of for-profit health care? You told everyone who was interested in reforming health care that all ideas were welcomed at the table, but you won’t entertain the single-payer system. Do you still believe that everyone deserves the same health care that members of Congress and you have, sir?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:04 amBoxers or briefs?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:05 amunbelievable Says:
——————————————————————————–
I just want to say to my fellow liberals, that it’s great that we are willing to police our own guy. If the Republicans had been willing to do the same, we wouldn’t be in this giant mess right now. Keep up the good work!
And to that I say Amen, Amen and AWOMEN!
March 24th, 2009 at 11:06 amOne of the lamest canards ever to be trotted out regarding a sitting President.
What next, accusing him of kicking puppies?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:08 amGiven the historic number of unemployed Americans, how can this administration and congress justify increases to their own pay while at the same time targeting bonuses for employees of those companies receiving federal aid?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:09 amI agree wholeheartedly, but…
Please keep in mind the tremendous amount of work our President has to do, and the (so far) very small amount of time he’s had to work on it. To say that his plate is full is a gross understatement. It’s more like he has to help the country climb out of a half-mile deep pit, then lead the country through climbing a mountain… all while keeping an eye on the 30 – 40% of the population that’s actively working against everything he’s doing. It’s no small undertaking. It’s going to take time.
So yes, we do need to be critical of President Obama. But give him time to address the problems. And keep in mind, even if he does something that you don’t fully agree with as a political compromise (for the good of the greater political picture), he’s working for you, and not against you (unlike some other recent presidents I could name). His intentions alone leave us better off than we have been of late.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:09 amThere are two narratives out in the public regarding this crisis, first by the right wing sound machine is the “soft” racism of the banks being forced to lend to poor minorities and the second is that Wall Street went crazy and made large bets on the mortgage backed securities etc.. My question is which scenario is most correct and how deep is the problem, what would a systematic failure look like?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:11 amI do not have a composed question, but I would ask about Obama’s views on Campaign Finance Reform. When? What? How?
The only way to change the way the country works long term is to change the way we finance elections. The banking crisis is directly related to the sharp increase in the price of campaigns and who pays for them.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:12 amIf you believe in the law of the land, why are Bush, Cheney and company not being prosecuted for WAR CRIMES?
There that was easy.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:13 amUnder what conditions will we begin to truly Nationalize the banks?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:13 ami’d like to know why the Treasury people aren’t talking to economists with other view points. I thought obama’s idea of having people around him who don’t necessarily agree with him was a good idea, but it looks like that idea is not being followed at Treasury.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:15 amUnder what conditions will we truly free ourselves from the oppression of Wall St and the Federal Reserve?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:15 amMr. President,
As of today, the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act still stands. Per the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, credit default swaps are still unregulated. A 2004 exemption that allowed Wall Street banks to leverage at 30:1 and greater is still in effect.
When can the American people expect substantive action to reverse these policies?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:19 amAre you willing to admit there exists a entrenched class system not only in the distribution of rewards but also in the application of justice?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:25 amHonestly…
March 24th, 2009 at 11:25 amMr.President
1. While some funding has been provided to states as part of the Reinvestment Act for education and talks about a teacher rating system have been reported, these programs only affect public K-12 schooling. Getting a HS diploma is important, but the emphasis on college education in this country is overhwhelming. What plan does your Administration have in helping student pursuing college degrees in light of the fact tuition rates have been increasing at rates of anywhere as high as 6-7% per year; double that of inflation alone?
2. 401k retirement plans are outdated and entirely too risky, as the past year has shown us, to be relied upon. In addition, social security is anticipating a reduction in pay-outs at a rate of $.75 for ever $1 invested by the time I retire. Experiencing the losses in my 401k plan and reading about the lack of return on my social security taxes, what, if any, good news can you give those employed like myself about retiring?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:28 ambonzo 1958 Says: I read over the questions a lot of people want answered and it seems they could be boiled down to one.
Mr. President, you have virtually the same people that the last administration used and it appears they’re doing a reverse robin hood.
That’s a broad charge don’t you think?
BUT…everything else hinges on the economy–popular support, elections, policies. Picking Geithner and Summers as leaders instead of advisers was and is stupid. On the present economy, rather than the future economy, Obama appears to lack both vision and what seems to me to be blindignly obvious.
By compromising on this issue, he’s compromised (in the bad way) a whole lot more. I can still (barely) afford to be unimpressed and disappointed.
I’m sure a hell of a lot more people, regardless of political sensibilities are very pissed-off,
As Bill Clinton said, it’s the economy, stupid!
The compromises Clinton made with a GOP majority came to roost in the Bush regime, but though Obama has a much worse inheritance than Clinton, he’s got a workable majorities in the House and Senate. Assuming that’s a break-even equation, Obama should reference his philosophical roots and take some decisive action–right now he seems to have become disconnected, and it’s doing no-one any good–except the usual suspects, the minority financiers.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:30 amMr. President,
Given the history of The University of North Carolina’s men’s basketball team of choking on big games, why did you pick them to win the NCAA tournament?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:31 amWill he pledge NOT to block the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the Bush Administration for War Crime should one be called for the by Justice Department or Congress?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:31 am#66 I do have a composed question particularly relevant to your post. Please see if you would like to recommend # 49.
I too believe that the partying that takes place throughout a congress members entire career while he should be taking care of governing is EXACTLY the reason why we are where we are. That and the laws that are written at the parties because how would they hold on to their job otherwise.
Watch this video and it will tell you how we are being governed and why. This video should have a million hits.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7NJ8Z5sE_Q
March 24th, 2009 at 11:33 ammr. president – can you explain why, in this world of mass communication and instant knowledge at our fingertips, are there STILL stoopid idjit ‘getty’s in this world?
yea, me neither…
March 24th, 2009 at 11:34 amIndustrial hemp is perhaps the world’s most versatile crop. It could greatly help address environmental and energy problems in the U.S. Do you support removing industrial hemp from the definition of “marijuana” under the Controlled Substances Act, and if not, why?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:39 amPlease ask President Obama: if he disagrees with Cheney that our justice system can’t handle Gitmo detainees, why then did he, in the same breath, scoff at the idea of them getting Miranda and other rights afforded other defendants? Also, why is he blocking prosecutions of Bush Administration officials?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:39 amkaty @ 80…
amusing. :D
March 24th, 2009 at 11:39 amQuestion:
March 24th, 2009 at 11:48 amWill you, Mr President, return the $104,332 received from AIG in campaign contributions and will you encourage the Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate to return their AIG contributions totaling $563,869 in just 2008? If you return these funds from AIG will you also return the other funds from other failed institutions on Wall Street?
President Obama,
March 24th, 2009 at 11:52 amIn order to assure that the crimes and abuses of power of the Bush/Cheney administration are not embedded in the collective consciousness as legitimate, much more than a “commission” is needed to create awareness of the crimes and excesses and to write laws that explicitly correct them. Why do you refuse to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the crimes of the Bush/Cheney years so that the truth can come out and the law-breakers punished appropriately? We won’t be freed from the malignant history of the Bush years by hiding their misdeeds!
You made entitlement reform a priority in your campaign. With all the balls you’re juggling, do you have room for one more? When can Americans expect to see you take action in this area?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:55 amHow come Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, et al aren’t being prosecuted for war crimes.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:55 amHow does the US get out of this Credit based economic system and into a system that will allow people to save money and live off of one paycheck?
March 24th, 2009 at 11:56 amMister President:
March 24th, 2009 at 11:59 amWhat are you pointing at?
The Legend Says:
Rich H Says:
How come Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, et al aren’t being
prosecuted for war crimes.
Innocent until proven guilty. Remember that? You scream for terrorists caught in the battle field to have those rights, right?
There. The relevant portion about innocence and guilt has been bolden-ed.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:00 pmHere is my question for the Prez:
What is your administration doing…or planning on doing…to hold accountable those responsible for this banking crisis? Are you planning a massive criminal investigation task force? Major income taxes on profits gained during the sales of these toxic assets? Or nothing? Please be specific.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:01 pmMister President:
What are you pointing at?
—
The Legend’s big old melonhead.
So Mr. President wouldn’t you really enjoy slapping these crackers silly?
March 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pmWhy won’t you appoint a special prosecutor and then step aside and allow Bush/Cheney to be investigated for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against the environment as they were charged at the International Tribunal in Tokyo
March 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pmhttp://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/TOK403A.html
Don’t you have a legal responsibility to withhold the law if the previous administration is guilty of these impeachable crimes? The Geneva Convention states that it is the Red Cross who determines if torture has occurred and they have affirmed torture was committed by the U.S. Won’t NOT prosecuting those responsible make the U.S. more vulnerable to terrorist retribution and thus don’t you have a responsibility to allow a truth commission, investigation, and prosecution to progress?
Since the car-makers are unwilling to make electric cars, let’s use community colleges to teach some of the unemployed to convert existing cars to electric. It’s being done many places around the country, but is expensive. If more technicians were available, the price would drop and it would disseminate the technology more widely across the country.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:15 pmMr. President:
Why are all of these billions and trillions of dollars going to the banks and financial companies rather than to the taxpayers that are, apparently, the cause of our economic problems? Rather than spend a trillion dollars trying to work out of the toxic assets, why not give these dollars to homeowners who could repay or at least pay current their mortgage loans? Wouldn’t that solve the toxic asset problem from the bottom up…and give taxpayers much needed relief from stifling mortgage loans? And those taxpayers that don’t need help with their mortgages could instead spend their money on new cars or consumer goods. Or put their money into their bank account, which banks could then use for lending. Why not switch to this bottom-up approach?
March 24th, 2009 at 12:16 pmMr. President, on a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate the two crisis the world is facing right now:
March 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pmeconomic meltdown
climate change
Mr. President, I realize that within the bigger economic picture, the financial world’s expenditures on bonuses and private jets are the least of your economic team’s worries. However, it seems that the contracts with Wall Street employees are more relevent than those contracts with auto workers? Why are labor unions continuously ask to compromise for the good of the industry, while the AIG employee contracts are contracts that can’t be broken for fear of lawsuits?
March 24th, 2009 at 12:26 pmGood Morning Youngsters, Thank you all for the great questions, great read’s..
Dear Mr President, our country and the world has been at constant war’s from all front’s, big business has distroyed our soil’s, water and air for profit..
Political money machine’s like the stock market, banker’s and just plane money changer’s like lender’s have helped cripple us and other countrie’s all the while hiding their asset’s in hidden account’s..Our own polatician’s have sold us out as a manufacturing country and created an open door to junk good’s to come in and no equal trade and shipping good’s out..We are now a crippled, poor, non manufacturing country of cheap good’s consumer’s, many living on fixed income’s of Social Security or welfare..
Our country’s polatician’s have created unjust war’s, supported and fully funded Israel’s unjust war’s and genocide’s on their neighbor’s…Here’s my question Sir, When are you, we, going to stop all war’s? No more funding for bad behavior, our’s and their’s…Woulden’t we be better served to penalize the polluter’s, thieve’s and killer’s….Stop making bomb’s to give to some countries and not other’s…Stop telling the rest of the world how they should run their country and instead show them Peace….How about spending more money on Peace and none on War’s….Save our country and the world with Peace not bomb’s..What say you Dear Mr. President?…….Blessings all
March 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pmWith millions of existing vehicles on the road as we speak, would it not be wise to implement a Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle conversion program that could allow lower income individuals to afford much cleaner transportation? New car purchases will be a heavy burden on lower income workers. To offer substantial tax incentives for PHEV conversions paired with training programs for technicians and incentives for conversion kit manufactures could clean up significant numbers of vehicles that lower income consumers who are not currently thinking of upgrading to cleaner vehicles.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pmyou have stated that there will be loan modification programs for homeowners who are not yet in foreclosure, to prevent them from having to go into foreclosure and possibly ruin their credit to no avail. Where are these programs? We need them NOW.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pmMr. President. I believe that I am a part of a group that played a large and active part in getting you elected; the new progressives. Please know that the most important issue to me and many like me is that those from the previous administration who engaged in what YOU yourself would define as war crimes are prosecuted. Will you please allow independent counsel to investigate the key players of the Bush administration and any possible violation of not only the Geneva Conventions, but of our own Constitution?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pmIf we are the greatest country in the world, then why can’t EVERY person have medical care like they do in other countries?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:02 pmPreCsident Obama -
March 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pmEx-VP Cheney has admitted to torture, Justice Department memos tried to justify torture, the International Red Cross has said we tortured. When are you going to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this, and fulfill our obligation under the Geneva Convention to investigate this?
When the government bails out a company, why don’t we fire the top executives and replace them. And then offer rewards to anyone who will give us the information we need that will help convict those who deserve it.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:17 pmInstead of throwing good money after bad, why not start new banks and insurance companies with that money and let the old ones fail?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pmWhy do Republicans seem so out of touch with th emajority of the world?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:19 pmWhat gives Israel the right to have Nuclear weapons but no other country in the region should? Also what about Israel practicing apartheid in the west bank and Gaza?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:25 pmMarch 24th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Mr. President what checks are you using to make sure mortgage companies are actually using the incentives to help troubled homeowners and not waiting for HR 1106 to pass/fail to decide what to do?
IndyMac isn’t. Its not in their system and won’t be for weeks yet. It seems to me they are waiting to see if they’ll be forced into helping.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:35 pm#14 ADDdaddy- Add to the list of benefits- National Security. Not only would the production of those cars be a major economic boost, but the reduction of the demand for oil would be a major blow to terrorist supporting states.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pmMr. President—Last week you reasserted your commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform in the coming months—how do you see immigration reform fitting into your plan for economic recovery and DHS’ recently announced approach to stabilizing the U.S.-Mexico border?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:46 pmYesterday Federal Judge Wu halted the sentencing of Charles Lynch on 5 federal counts that are Medical Marijuana related. Charles broke no Ca. Laws, only Federal ones. Since AG Holder says the new US Drug Policy on Medical Marijuana is to only go after those that break BOTH Federal AND State Laws, will you direct AG Holder to ask for time served saving Charles from going to prison for up to 100 yrs ? Judge WU has requested the new policy be laid out in written form, will you order AG Holder to make those changes public ?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:52 pmYou could fix the mortgage crisis with perhaps $200 billion, use the courts to solve the foreclosure problem (cram downs)which would in turn stabilize derivatives. Instead you are borrowing $1 trillion to fix what could be a $4 trillion problem. Why not focus on foreclosures to fix the bank problem?
March 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm#72 legend
March 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pmflagged
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DrC
March 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pmWhen all repugnicans also do the same.
Returning contributions to campaigns is not limited to AIG nor to Democrats.
Campaign finance reform is the answer and until then, STFU
anti-tax cheat Says: why are you an asshat?
Do you really think you are better than Obama? You could do a better job? You are smarter? You have a plan?
March 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pmHAHAHAHAHA.
President Obama,
What are the first three items on your priority list of problems to solve?
March 24th, 2009 at 2:40 pmSerious question to President Obama: When will you push for the Glass-Stegall act to be re-innstated, along with repealing the Commodities Futures Moderinzation act and closing the Enron loophole? I realize that’s a multi-part question, but really, all those issues Need to be addressed.
March 24th, 2009 at 2:48 pmFor the ‘czar’ for the automobile industry bailout, we were told that it had to be someone who was completely separate from the auto industry — someone without a viewpoint. At odds with that, for the banking industry criminals, we are told that it has to be someone connected with the banking industry. Why are criminals being allowed to run the trillion dollar banking bailout, but automobile people are denied a hand in the twenty billion dollar automobile bailout? If anything, it should be the opposite. Do Not allow the banking criminals to control the banking rewards, bonuses, gifts, and other criminality. Put them in jail, not in charge.
March 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pmYou were elected to bring change to Washington but most of your appointments have been old Washington hands, why don’t you go the colleges and universities to find people? Noble prize winning economists, environmentalist etc.?
March 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pmMr. President. We live in a society where people are free to voice their opposition to your policies. However, that opposition makes it more difficult for you enact the policies you feel are in the best interest of the American people.
In your view, what is an appropriate balance between the people’s right to voice their opposition and the need for public unity to successfully implement your policies?
March 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pmYou might want to ask him if he considers Republicans sore losers.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pmGeithner says his plan promotes / anticipates an increase in the value of toxic assets. If they do not increase, what will be the consequences?
March 24th, 2009 at 4:31 pmIt’s amazing to see what everyone is really concerned about, an old dude and his buddies. While I agree with everyone that they should be investigated, there are more problems that will affect our future here in America. It’s all well and justifiable to want to prosecute those that have committed crimes, but how does that help us?
Education, fuel shortages, taxes, income, jobs, etc. are all more important at a time like this. Pursuing Bush & Co. is sure to follow, but how about focusing on the things that are more important to the people of this country. How are you going to watch the trials of Bush & CO. when you can’t afford a TV or Cable to watch it on? Because after all, many newspapers are going belly up so we have to rely on our stupid box for our news.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pmIs there going to be restrictions put in place for executive bonuses and compensation for the counterparties of AIG since some of the counterparties that were not failed companies received TARP money?
March 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pmRule of Law
March 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pmPlease ask our president Obama if the rule of law applies to Bush administration torture abuses and financial fraud at AIG and others.
Considering 95% of our population makes less than $250K/ year, how many years would it take 95% of America to bribe Congress with 5 billions dollars to lets us get away with whatever we chose regardess of the peril it brings upon our nation’s existence?
I personally don’t give a flying fart whether the corrupt politicians like their little bribe scheme or not and whether they want real reform or not, it needs to change for the sake of our democracy.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:46 pmMr. President could you provide examples of true bipartisanship from the republicans since you took office?
March 24th, 2009 at 7:39 pmPlease ask the president if he agrees that the FCC should regulate the fine line that now exists between news “reporters” and news “commentators”. In these curious times, it is increasingly difficult to discern whether news is being reported or created. Perhaps programs that fall under this vague “news” category should be placed under a newly adopted label of “News Entertainment”.
Thanks!
March 24th, 2009 at 8:06 pmI was just wondering why the president didnt send stimulas checks to all the people who make under $100,000 a year,if you would have taken all that money you gave to the automotive industry and divided it among all the people who make under $100,000 a year, people would have money to buy cars, Which,in turn would jumpstart the automotive industry. I mean, I see car dealerships trying to sell brand new cars from 2005, Why would you give them money to make more, They can’t even get rid of the vehicles they have. Since Their are so many people unemployed, Alot of people have no money to buy cars at this point in time. The consumer buys the product, without a consumer, Their is no profit, No profit, means no business.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:43 pmTwo observations of readers’ responses to questions posed on this thread, based on number of “recommendeds” by readers:
1. Voting is heavy at the top of this thread, then declines as the thread goes long…..
2. The main question on most peoples’ minds revolve around war crimes prosecutions of Bush/Cheney.
Interesting…..FWIW.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pmMarch 25th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Just asking
March 25th, 2009 at 1:48 amKarl Marx is great. Have you ever read him?
I will have the privilege of attending and covering President Obama’s press conference at the White House
How about “what can I do to help you” ?
It’s Jeff Gannon come fully circle.
Really, tell us how this would look when posted by a conservative blogger…
I will have the privilege of attending and covering President Bush’s press conference at the White House
That’s right.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:52 am