^ And your "whack" would be wrong.[Edited on August 26, 2010 at 5:13 PM. Reason : Why should taxpayer money fund religious sites? ]
8/26/2010 5:11:59 PM
8/26/2010 7:38:44 PM
I think until we get our economy out of the dump-heap, we should not be paying to rebuild churches in other countries.
8/26/2010 10:19:44 PM
8/26/2010 10:24:22 PM
8/27/2010 1:13:49 AM
^I don't see the current economic melt-down as a "False Dilemma". It's a pretty real problem for a lot of Americans right now. And if I'm one of those people suffering, I'd rather see our country spend it's money on helping me before it rebuilds a mosque in some other country.
8/27/2010 9:57:45 AM
8/27/2010 11:16:20 AM
I'd rather the money be spent on me than a religious building in another country, too. I still don't think the money should be spent at all, but at least if I get the money it'll go back into the economy. Funding religion is like flushing the money down the toilet.
8/27/2010 11:28:59 AM
8/29/2010 10:33:15 AM
He should just turn the teleprompter around so the press can copy their talking points right off that. Then he could get back on the links.
8/31/2010 12:35:40 PM
^dude, Obama saved like 100,000 jobs by using that big screen tele. Whats that? Proof?
8/31/2010 4:05:43 PM
Jobs "saved" is inherently something that is going to be nearly impossible to "prove." But its not exactly some huge leap to assume that a lot of people out there, who otherwise would have lost their jobs, were retained due to the stimulus.
8/31/2010 4:43:38 PM
yes, bajillions of saved jobs. What was the latest cost per job? it was in the 6 figures.Its a BS fudge factor and they should have been called on it.
8/31/2010 4:52:57 PM
Voters will look at Pres. Obama's argument that things would've been worse off without the stimulus spending. They will then see that most of that stimulus money was given to state and local gov'ts for pork projects. They will see that the Small Business sector, which hires the most people, got practically no help from the democrat's stimulus bill. They will see a democrat congress that wants to raise taxes in January on the very people who would be providing new jobsAnd they will see an economy that is no better for them on Nov 2.I don't see that argument as a winner for the Dems.
8/31/2010 6:33:43 PM
FTR, I think the attacks by some concerning Obama redecorating the Oval Office are absurd. It's not taxpayer money and the money that is being spent, even though it's a relatively small amount, is a help to the economy. And I don't think it's ugly, as some have suggested.
9/3/2010 4:35:55 AM
I agree about the redecorating, but I think he missed one important quote that should have been on the carpet.
9/3/2010 5:55:21 AM
9/3/2010 5:58:12 AM
from OReilly the other night....federal domestic spending increased 16% to $3.2 trillion in 2009 (highest ratio since WWII)projected to increase to $3.5 trillion in 2010US deficit for fiscal year 2010 is expected to be $1.3 trillion, compared to a 2007 deficit of $160.7 billionwhat are we going to tell these clowns in Washington that this ridiculousness IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
9/3/2010 2:28:33 PM
^
9/3/2010 6:52:59 PM
so your response to a criticism of Obama is to dig up a Republican plan and criticize it?LOL
9/4/2010 9:33:19 AM
if you were trying to be honest about it then why did you compare them to 2007? (before bush's record spending in 2008 and shared responsibility for more in 2009)
9/4/2010 10:02:13 AM
I just posted the statistic I saw and I gave the reference.nothing dishonest there. regardless, Bush was in office since 2000. do you want to address the numbers?
9/4/2010 10:04:59 AM
I really do hope the republicans retake the houses and pass some flavor of austerity measures and we get to watch the March 09 lows get smoked on the stock market like a bad memory. The GOP does a superb job of railing on the deficits and spending being done on the left right now but you are completely failing to educate your constituents and the populace on what happens when all the spending candy gets taken away. What is more likely to happen is the Repubs are going to talk big on deficits, get the Dems ejected (and they'll probably drag this shit out for two more years so they get the POTUS back) and when it comes time to actually do something about the state of the economy, they'll cave like the pussies they have been for 2 decades now.So sure, go ahead and cry about the spending done by this administration, I'm not happy with it either (mostly the way it has been targeted, the lack of jail time for perps in New York, and interest rates favoring banks not Americans) but don't fucking pretend for one second that the Republicans as a group really give a shit about the little guy or the economy for that matter either.
9/4/2010 10:46:24 AM
9/4/2010 10:53:57 AM
9/4/2010 12:37:20 PM
instead of adjusting SS for inflation simply adjust it for revenue. If SS revenue is down 10% then everyone gets 10% less. Doesnt that seem to make sense?
9/4/2010 4:27:48 PM
Federal spending rises a record 16%September 1, 2010
9/4/2010 6:50:13 PM
'This Week' Transcript - ABC NewsSept. 5, 2010
9/6/2010 2:00:11 AM
^ what do you think the context of that statement is?
9/6/2010 2:20:04 AM
^ Um. . .I included the link--it's actually pretty clear. Friedman, among others, has been saying that Obama and his administration can't get the narrative together. They've been fighting each issue in a somewhat disconnected way, rather than placing them as poles under the tent of a singular narrative clearly explaining what they mean to accomplish and how the issues relate.Furthermore, Friedman flat out states that the Obama administration is the "worst" he's encountered in over 20 years in communicating its message at the basic levels. You really should just read the transcript or watch online. And while I agree with Friedman about much of this, I would add that the Obama administration simply talks too much but says too little. This condition often afflicts academics.
9/6/2010 2:35:54 AM
Obama wants to blow...errr "invest" another 50B in stimulus. I doubt he will get enough Dems this close to election to go for it, thankfully.
9/6/2010 12:49:18 PM
It’s actually 150 Billion if you want to include the business tax credits in there, right?
9/6/2010 12:58:24 PM
come 2010 are we gonna stop buying things from the chinese?
9/7/2010 12:42:19 AM
I guess one good thing about Obama is at least the Supremes will not be totally tilted to the GOP, even at 5-4 Kennedy is not a die hard conservative or liberal. Ruth I am guessing will be the next one to retire.
9/7/2010 3:48:23 PM
initiating rant ... I've lost all hope that the Obama administration can do anything but campaign. Obama has clearly spent more time figuring out how he will throw mud at the Republicans than he has developing his newest economic fix, which is a full tax deduction on business capital investment through 2011, and a tax increase (or eliminating the decrease - six in one/half dozen in another) for the above 200K/250K crowd. These are both useless, if not outright damaging.I have many friends and family members who own and/or run small businesses. I've heard them all say the same thing - any investment at this time is a very risky proposition. They are beginning to feel like the economy is slowly rebounding, or at least that is has stopped getting worse. They don't really fear a huge drop in business like they did a year or two ago. The problem is they can't pull the trigger on serious expansion because they view Washington as too erratic to trust. In this way, the Obama administration's total lack of definition of clear short and long term goals has stymied growth.Take this proposed write off for investment. If enacted, I predict that effect will be similar to Cash for Clunkers. Those businesses that would already have invested will invest now, not later. The big problem for most businesses is not the need for a new piece of equipment, they need more customers, which means they need the unemployment rate to drop. Why would any business make the decision to take on new employees right now for anything but maybe very temporary work? The increased medical costs from Obamacare coupled with the proposed decreased cost for capital investment proposed makes the decision easy.Obama's magical figure for "the rich" is an issue as well. A recession is not the time for new taxes, and Obama's arbitrary campaign figure of 200K for individuals and 250K for families is just too low. Too many business owners fall under that level. The Obama refrain is that tax cuts favor the rich the most. Fine, but the sword cuts both way. Setting the cutoff for tax increases at more like $1M per year would likely net near the exact same tax income, and with less political issues and less fear from small business owners.
9/9/2010 11:45:17 AM
^Excellent points!
9/10/2010 12:31:25 AM
Letter from the President on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Certain Terrorist AttacksSeptember 10, 2010
9/14/2010 8:11:45 AM
^indeed. boo on that.
9/14/2010 8:50:17 AM
I'm willing to bet that the reason it is being extended is because there are certain laws and policies on the books that depend on said state of emergency being declared...
9/14/2010 7:16:52 PM
Noam Chomsky: 'President Obama Is Involved In War Crimes Right Now'Sept. 13, 2010
9/16/2010 7:27:37 AM
9/17/2010 10:52:41 AM
Obama takes questions from disappointed supporters at jobs forum. TranscriptSeptember 21, 2010
9/21/2010 8:35:44 PM
wow,he's lost Jon StewartWhen a liberal loses the daily show, he may as well mail it in.
9/21/2010 11:21:10 PM
is this the clip you're talking about?http://tv.gawker.com/5644504/jon-stewart-we-have-found-obamas-kryptoniteAnyway he has lost plenty of credibility IMO for continuing many of the Orwellian practices of Bush, and if he doesn't stand his ground on DADT by refusing to sign the Defense authorization unless repeal is written in, the only basis on which I will be able to support him is "his opponent will lead us down the road to perdition"
9/21/2010 11:50:49 PM
9/22/2010 12:17:54 AM
^^ i hadn't watched the daily show in a long time. that one had me rolling.got to agree with what has been posted. if obama isn't a one term president it will only be because the republicans can't find a decent candidate. the economy is one thing - inherited, previous administration, blah blah, i get it. but not doing shit otherwise, not closing guantanamo, not repealing dadt, etc. leaves him with no endearing qualities and no accomplishments.obama is also coming off more and more like a smug, out-of-touch, never accomplished anything in the real world douchebag. essentially telling people that yeah things sucks but i'm still right, it could have been worse, my job is hard - which is absolutely how he is coming across - is self-defeating.
9/22/2010 12:22:53 PM
Why CEOs can't stand ObamaCorporate leaders are slamming the president over taxes and the uncertain effects of his policies, and the executives' siege mentality is holding back the economy.Sept. 21, 2010
9/22/2010 3:12:31 PM
9/22/2010 3:16:10 PM
I've always wondered if we could raise the same revenue by getting rid of all corporate income tax and then taxing individual capital gains the same as ordinary income. Seems fair to me.But that would never happen because corporations are faceless entities so it's harder to score political points off cutting their taxes.
9/22/2010 4:39:13 PM
9/22/2010 4:48:37 PM