We need to cut taxes across the board AND cut government spending. We CANNOT spend and consume our way out of this problem. Spending and consuming is what got us here. The fat ass Federal Government needs to stop spending money it doesn't have. Stop trying to reinflate a burst bubble.

This package doesn't help the working class at all! It only helps the democrat party to push their agenda! By the way, what happened to the "Great Unifier"? Sounds like he is the ultimate partisan politician! Obama, you can't keep blaming everything on Bush. You need to grow up and take some responsibility of your new job. The economy was terrific during Bush's administration until the last two years. Winder what changes in the last two years? Oh yea, that's right, the dems took over the house and senate!

This article should be titled "Obama has temper tantrum and pouts".

Awww. Wittle Baraky isn't getting what he wants so he's mad. Guess what BO....you were elected President NOT king! The President doesn't get to make the spending rules. Congress does that. You get to sign it or veto it but not dictate it. You can try to lead but so far, you suck at that.

James

do you know anything about this bill.

It is not at all for the working class. Its about bigger government

I thought he sold the american people on "I`m going through the federal budget LINE BY LINE to cut out the unnecessary ( pork ) spending".

All Omama is doing is adding more hogs to the corral.

James, I hate to break this to you. You and the dumbocrats don't need any Republican votes to pass this bill. You only need to convince members of your own party. That doesn't seem to be happening because only 34% of the American People support this pile of dung the Baracknids call a stimulus package. This attempt to turn the United States into a socialist state will not succeed. You, and the rest of the commies may be able to find solace in Cuba.

The Republican Governors flew to Washington to drum up support for the plan because their states are flat broke. Like it or not they are going to pass some kind of bill which means more spending. The Republicans all of a sudden have a new found concern over spending saying we are running up the debt. How does a tax cut reduce the debt ? Where was the outrage when we were spending 750 billion in Iraq ?

How does a tax cut help those unemployed ? How does a tax cut help the states from laying off Police and other emergency services ?

Unemployed people don't pay taxes...they collect them in the form of unemployment insurance.

While at the same time, the co-murder of the USS Cole is released from Gitmo, compliments of Obama, Lord Obama is ranting and raving about HIS stimulus plan that is so full of Democrat pork barrel projects its beginning to draw flies. Hold the line Republicians, the stimulus plan can work, but not in it's present form. Go back to the drawing board Obama, and tell people not to READ the present plan on-line, just believe what you say, without question. March in a straight line...

James, who do you consider rich? Have you even read the republican plan? Cut the effective tax rate in half for the lowest income bracket from 10% to 5%. Sure does sound like the rich are getting richer. Get some facts before going off.

As for that speech last night, so much for a bi-part admin. He made it sound as if he found this mess when he came to Washington. He voted for it as a Senator. Cut the pork, pure and simple. We can't afford another dime in spending without decreasing the vaule of the dollar. Once we start down that slippery slope there will be no stopping. You can't create wealth by dividing it.

Those Republican governors need to shut the hell up and lump it. They allowed profligacy while they were overseers of their state's budgets and now they want to be rewarded?

The government is trying to imitate the spending of the american consumer but they don't have that kind of money so they have to borrow it(with interest) or print it up(hyperinflation). Once the inflation kicks in it renders any "stimuli" moot. It's 1 step forward two steps back. The government is now hoping to sell of more treasury bonds but who the hell wants bonds backed by a government that is leveraged to the hilt and is so fiscally irresponsible that one doesn't even know if they will be able to pay the money back. Soon the government won't even be able to pay the interest on all the money they have borrowed. Our government has become a high risk borrower.

I have stated before, that in these times, NO President gets a grace period, they must hit the ground running. It seems to me That Obama must have hit the ground and stumbled. With tax evading nominations and an other under investigation. A stimulus package that if I tried to sell it to my 8 year granddaughter she would comeback and say, "Grandpa how are you going to pay all that money back that you are borrowing"? As for this great annual meeting he talked at I submit.... The Democrats are having their three-day annual retreat at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Va. -- and spending $100000 on the event, ... were we talking about saving the economy or was I mistaken?

Certainly if any state gets any money the Governor and the legislature of that state will have thier salaries cut and capped. If you receive any stimulus bailout the same rules should apply. If you get a mortgage bailout - no raises (send the $$ straight to the treasury until you have paid it back).

The above can not happen because equal treatment under the law does not apply. Any by the way the expecutive branch is explicity charged with enforcing the law.

Why can't and won't it apply - because we can not promote class envy if we apply the rules equally.

Be careful what you wish for - you might get it.

What??? Obama must be the biggest losed in the world. He has a Democratic Congress and a bill stuffed with pork to get it passed and he is still struggling. This man can not even lead his own party. What a joke!

Will the Democratic House members show the total bill we taxpayers are covering for them all to have a weekend party at the swanky resort that they absolutely had to all go to for their wekend "meeting" ??? Could they not have found a room big enough for their egos to fill right there in DC ???

I'm watching the news report telling us how horrible everything is in this country and in the background, waiters are filling champagne glasses around the room with buckets of bubbly that we the people are to pay for. What a crock.

I hope some enterprising news reporter gets a peek at the total tab for this little weekend festival.

If this was a "crisis" then they shouldn't put so much pork on board this pig. When 90% of a "critical stimulus plan" does NOTHING to alleviate the problem then you know Washington is back to normal. The "change" lasted about 48 hours, after that it is just special interests and stupid causes looking to get increased government spending - which will be our kids and grandkids in virtual slavery to the Chinese.

Is it better to get this incredible debt right, or is it better to pay off Pelosi, Reid, and Obama's handlers?

The reason that it's imperative that we waste 90 cents on every dollar quickly is because the press is finally looking at this rotting mass and they understand that the change is all that's left in our pockets. This bill does nothing for people laid off, it does nothing to free credit, it doesn't create jobs, it does nothing to help employers hold on to jobs - it just adds $870B+ of wasteful government spending.

We CAN afford to wait to get it right and to get it more affordable.

James Zander

Once again the republivan party has proved that they only care about the rich. If a bill comes out trying to help the working class people, they do not want it. We are in big trouble and the aconservatives want a tax break for the rich , who do not need it. We need to vote all of these conservatives out of office

OK, here's a party that's saying "Cut the pork, put in real stimulus" and you are ridiculing them. Anyone who's read the bill (and I have) knows that there is more PORK than actual stimulus. The Republicans are trying to uphold what Obama promised - change, and now because of that they're being told "Stop doing that" by the same person.

And - I'm sick and tired of the "The tax cuts only benefit the rich" nonsense. I am in what is considered the poor bracket in the United States (though I don't feel that way), and I get the full cut.

But, then again - I don't take out withholdings from my check every month, which BTW, if you think you don't have to pay that back at tax time, you're mistaken. That's one way that you lose part/all of those tax cuts, careless spending is another.

Sometimes I think people cut off their noses to spite themselves.

Bipartisanship is hard to achieve if neither party wants to listen and compromise. The global financial mess caused by the Dodd/Frank investment banking disease, which was spread by their requirement for sub-prime loans is now costing us U.S. taxpayers more than all the previous wars that we fought in. So the change promised is to shovel billions into some gigantic holes without clear restrictions and enforceable legal requirements for performance. This is not change but the same approach that resulted in the Dodd/Frank disease.

Where was the outrage when we were spending 750 billion in Iraq ?

Wait - have I been missing the past two - three years of the public and Democrats whenching and moaning about the spending in Iraq?

I admit, Iraq's current proposal of being able to run themselves by 2010 is a good project - if they suck it up and start working on it. Then we can reduce our troops and start putting that money to other programs (including military BTW).

Unemployed people don't pay taxes...they collect them in the form of unemployment insurance.

No, this is incorrect Two Cents. I know - I was unemployed and took insurance at one time. Businesses pay into unemployment - and yes, part of that is us through taxes, and AFTER we get off unemployment, we pay taxes on what we did pull out - even if it's not much. In fact, it's one reason I personally refused my last week of eligible unemployment after I found a job (though it also was the moral thing to do because I had found a job and had already begun work, and it says to get off it when you do that).

I just don't get it. Wouldn't this have helped the housing market?

"A plan by Republicans in the Senate aimed at pushing mortgage rates lower has gone down to defeat at the hands of Democrats.

The plan by Nevada Republican John Ensign would have encouraged banks to issue mortgages with interest rates of 4 to 4.5 percent. The government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have bought the mortgages on the secondary market. Jumbo loans would have been ineligible."

Democrats killed the idea Thursday night by a 62-35 vote.

Republicons don't realize they LOST, the people voted in a liberal Democrat and want to give liberal Democrat ideas a chance because OBVIOUSLSY the Republican ideas DON'T WORK! Obama, stand your ground! The Republicans are just a bunch of ideologues, just out for their party. The New Deal did work. We need drastic measures now!

And we need much more regulation, oversight, transparency, accountability of our financial institutions. Those people just make money from other people's money. All good working people have lost 30% of their life savings through no fault of their own. MAKE THEM PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No big salaries and bonuses for managers who are obviously BAD.

Zander, you need to read or re-read the article and get your facts straight. Also, the rich, as you call them, are the people that provide the jobs that we need a hell of a lot more than we need a cheesed*ck one time handout, a good price for your next vote but worthless for stimulating the economy. Why, if time is so critical, is there no condemnation of Pelosi for sending a bill so laden with pork, pet projects and get-me-some-votes earmarks that should have been held for the regular annual budget. And why no condemnation of Hairless Reid for not sending it back to the House and telling them to get their collective sh*t together and give the Senate a bill worth discussing and voting on. I've read down the list of the so called stimulus package, and saw a ridiculous amount of pork and very little economic stimulus. Have you?

No surprise as the core definition of a republic is putting the interests of the wealthy and wealthy property owners first...I believe though that they are a combination of fascist (putting the interests of the corporations first and foremost) and republican .

"Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them." We live in a Republic, this is a Republic country. Just thought I would clear that up for you. Republic has nothing to do with wealth, quite the opposite actually.

"Fascism - a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism." Again, commerce and industry were left alone and not under government control. There was no forcable suppression of opposition, quite the contrary actually, these boards prove it. The Repubicans do not wield complete power, Congress and the the Current White House proves that. And the charges of racism are false as the new head of the GOP is a black man, the SoS was a black man then a black woman, AG was latino, SoD was a black woman. The Bush white house was more diverse than Obama's.

Again, just clearing up what words mean, you seem to have an issue using a dictionary.

Losers who still haven't apologized for "thinking" there were WMD

WMD were found in Iraq. There was a warehouse filled with mustard gas munitions. Yes, they were improperly stored and less effective. Still doesn't mean they were not blister agents. Bush also apologized in January. Clinton apologized last summer. Try and keep up.

and killing well over a million people in the middle east,

You have lost the ability to count. The total death toll is between 90 and 98k, which includes all deaths, not just those related to combat missions or terrorist attacks. That is a far cry from a million. Not saying it is right, but the true number is less than 1% of what you are preaching.

don't you just hate it when republicans start "thinking"....and their continued arrogance...perhaps washing the blood off their hands would keep them busy instead of burdening the country with their thoughts.

I hate it when anyone stops thinking. Might be why I hate your rhetoric. The Congress, including our new SoS, all stopped thinking when this call for war came up. But there are checks and balances. Congress needs to check the Executive branch. I really do not care who is in power. I would have loved it if the Democrats had questioned the decision to go to war. If they had questioned the WMD intel. Maybe they could have questioned the continued spending. But in reality, they all just kept voting themselves money and power, and that includes good old Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the rest.

Not saying the Bush years were right, hell, most were wrong, but that is not going to stop me from saying this administration can do whatever it like since it is a prettier turd.

I don't recall ever being offered a job by a poor man.

James

How is this Raw Deal Fraud Bill going to help the Middle Class? What the Hell is $13 a week going to do for people? How is that going to Stimulate anything? This $13 a week will be saved or used to pay down debt for those who haven't already filed bankruptcy.

The results of this Fraud will be the same as Bailout #1. Hell behind the scenes they are already talking about Economic Recovery Crime Bill #3.

Your Democrats with a 6% approval rating just don't get it. Are is $13 a week + a $1500 tax rebate if you purchase a car / truck, when people can't afford it to begin with, because they lost their job, where down sized or had give wage concessions or a combination of the two.

I own a Business and speak with about 50 people all over the Country (I'm sure some are Dems. and some are Repubs.) but I have yet to speak with anyone who is going to run out and buy a car, a big screen, a computer or take that $5000 vacation. People are scared to death and they aren't going to spend a damn dime with or without the bailout.

They are trying to do exactly what they tell the American People they shouldn't do and that is borrow their way out of trouble. If you and I couldn't afford what we currently have as debt, how can we borrow more when we can't afford our current loans.

This is a recipe for a complet melt down of America. Socialism hasn't worked anywhere in the world, unless you are happy with 70 to 77 percent of the jobs being Government jobs with taxes so high, they for all pratical purposes, just take everything we make.

These people have a 6% approval rating and you're OK with these crooks managing our money? WELL I'M NOT OK WITH IT!

They are all crooks! And they are hoping you remain as stupid as you are and say nothing of this great fraud.

As I mentioned before, your type should not be aloud to roam the earth unsupervised.

One of your fellow Libs. just recently said he would feel better if Obamavich would come out and give his definition of what is pork and what is not pork.

Another fine Liberal statement filled with common sense. He too shouldn't be aloud to roam the earth alone either.

Good Luck spending and stimulating the economy with your $13 Obamavich Bucks.

We''ll see you back at the drawing board for the New Raw Deal #3 coming to you soon live from Obamavich.

Two Cents,

You said :

Unemployed people don't pay taxes...they collect them in the form of unemployment insurance.

Sure they do. If the unemployed collect $300 a week for unemployment, they pay tax`s on that at the end of the year.

Debbie-

Republicons don't realize they LOST, the people voted in a liberal Democrat and want to give liberal Democrat ideas a chance because OBVIOUSLSY the Republican ideas DON'T WORK! Obama, stand your ground! The Republicans are just a bunch of ideologues, just out for their party. The New Deal did work. We need drastic measures now!

And we need much more regulation, oversight, transparency, accountability of our financial institutions. Those people just make money from other people's money. All good working people have lost 30% of their life savings through no fault of their own. MAKE THEM PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No big salaries and bonuses for managers who are obviously BAD.

Let me see if I get this right:

1. If Democrats want "change," even if they're doing the same thing that Republicans were decried for last go (i.e. the $600 stimulus bills, the bank bailout - which BTW, was passed by a Democrat controlled congress). If they want this, it's "OK, this is excellent, Obama and Congress has it right."

2. If Republicans actually are doing change (Saying "Hey, wait up, this has too much pork") it's "Republicans, get it through your heads - you lost - pass the bill"

In case you haven't noticed, the current plan is more PORK - that means WASTEFUL SPENDING that does not help us, than true stimulus. We also do not need government controlling everything - this is where we get a socialist state, or at least a monarchy.

Oh, and BTW - everyone makes money from someone if you really think about it. That's called free enterprise - and it doesn't matter if you're wealthy, middle class or poor. That said, I do feel that people in Wall Street or CEOs who ran off with company money yet are asking for bailouts should pay big time for their transgressions. Obama has at least gotten that part right... so far, by putting a cap on what CEOs make.

jackjack-712749

Two Cents,

You said :

Unemployed people don't pay taxes...they collect them in the form of unemployment insurance.

Sure they do. If the unemployed collect $300 a week for unemployment, they pay tax`s on that at the end of the year.

You're absolutely right jackjack, but I need to add a little more here. I made about $250 a week when I took unemployment, and I had to pay taxes on it. Admittedly this was in 2002 (and for one month's worth of wages) so the threshold could be higher, but still, I paid them.

Personally, I think people like this also don't realize that you do have to pay back any withholdings you take out of your check. That's why I take out ZERO on mine. It also helps out some when tax cuts are concerned.

The reasons that they take so long to make an informed decision is because it does not effect them. They are not part of the lay-offs, notr do you or will you see them in line for govornment hand-outs. They should have just given the money to the people with guidlines and deadlines and said have fun. That surely would have boosted the economy, look how it has works thus far - and that is my humble opinion.

Obama said yesterday there were no "earmarks" in this bill....3 Billion for a secret service training facility (they already have 3) to be built where? West Virginia! I wonder which Senator put that in? any ideas? how about Sen. Byrd "king of the pork" from what state????? West Virginia? How about the money in this bill to provide health benefits to....drum roll please.....ILLEGAL Aliens! You noticed that they DID vote to remove the tax breaks for Hollywood....why? Because someone actually read the bill and smelled the stink! uh oh! they got caught so they had to remove it! This bill is a christmas wish list for every pet project and social program the democrats have been clammering for the last 20 years. Only about 200 billion will produce jobs. The other 700 billion is PORK!!! The best is the money to build "clean coal plants". This is too funny. We've all seen the clean coal plants commercial where they open the door to the plant and there is nothing behind the door. THE TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT EXIST! This money is not for research (which I would support) but to actually build it!

during the campaign, I saw a man wearing an OBAMA "change" t-shirt which on the back he had printed "THE ONLY CHANGE WILL BE THE COLOR OF THE PRESIDENTS SKIN" seems this guy was spot on!

JAMES ZANDER

I'm not rich, 45k a year, and I pay less taxes than I paid in 2002. You people need to get your head out and quit breathing methane.

I am outraged, but not surprised that our government didn't have a problem bailing outbig business and wall street for over $700 billion but are balking at helping the majority of the population of the United States.

Please bring back a government that is focused on serving the citizens, not just the wealthy, wallstreet and big business.

This is the only superpower which does not provide universal health care, has a crippled public education system and an infrastructurethat is falling apart. Care for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, substance abusers, homeless, the poor, children, elderly and vetrans has been slashed to the point that services have been discontinued or soon will be due to a lack of funding.

I know where I want my tax dollars to go, I want my taxes invested in my community, my city, my state, and my country. I back Obama plan 100%.

...so if I give you a dollar and you give me back 30 cents...I made money?

Mr. James Zander, Ignorance is bliss, obviously, or else you might actually listen and read what the republicans want: no more wasteful spending (we have learned our lesson and don't want the new administration to repeat the mistakes of the past...spending for things that doesn't help the economy or the average taxpayer). Obama is just going down the same walk as his democratic party did for the past two years...spend, spend, spend...and yes, the republicans did it too, but you and i are the citizens paying for our congress to make these bad decisions. We need to join together and educate them on how they are messing it up for all of us...and not let them get away with their rush and scare tactics to get us to sign on the dotted line before they have it right...and i don't know about you but my boss doesn't let me have all the time in the world to get it right or to keep bringing him proposals that make no sense in the first place. No, we don't need to sign it "as is" and both the Dems and the Repubs need to scrap all that pork...

The President said last night that we need to make the stimulus bill as big as the deficit we are experiencing, but think about this: Who among us would use that logic when helping someone out of a financial crisis? If cousin Bob was in the hole and came to me for money (or a bank when they used to loan to people), neither I or the bank would just hand over the amount he wanted without some guarantee it was going to work, right?

In fact, the banks and I would maybe loan some money and see if he was successful before we gave him the whole kit and kaboodle like we did for that failed bank bailout last ...which was also touted as needing to be done right away and for a large amount!

President Obama and congress have all said that they don't know if this will work or not. Okay then, lets just focus on approving a smaller amount (say $500 billion…as if that is chump change) and lets not put silly stuff in there that don't have anything to do with american economy…you know that stuff that sends money anywhere but here and for things that don't create jobs.

Reduce my payroll and income tax (it is tax season and we know how no one up there wants to pay theres!). That will stimulate the economy for me.

My questions is simple. Why are the Dems partying in VA while the is a Katrina type problem in KY? People are suffering there and no one is listening!! Great job Obama!! Way to care for the people!!

I wonder how much Republican support the Prez is going to get after throwing them under the bus last night in his "campaign " speech? If the "steal from us" package (from another newsviner--perfect analogy) is so great, then pass it WITHOUT the republicans, but don't dare come back and play nice with them. So much for bi-partisian support and working together. The Republicans may be sore losers, but the Democrats are SORE WINNERS!!

Have you read this ridiculous "spending " bill? Its over 700 pages and is full of frivolous expense (that does not create jobs) very few tax breaks and was totally 100% written by the left wing Democrats.

If this thing passes with all this pork your illustrious leader will be known as the Pres. who destroyed the American economy! It is "Pelosi & REid --- irresponsible deficit spending pushed with threats. Mr O's true color is beginning to show --- and it ain't about being black!

This is not a partisan issue. . .this is about our freedoms and our ability to survive a depression. Taxes will go up next year and interest rates will skyrocket. By 2010 inflation will be at all time high. Look up "soup line" my friend if this goes through.

Next they will be threatening the Rep. with Marshal Law. . .that's what Bush did to get his Tarp money---that we all know now was stolen--- and get ready for Mon. Mr. O and his cab. are going to ask for more to bail out the financial institutions. This is madness and make no mistake. . .it is the people who have remained from the bush admins.

Oh, wow, Obama going to bring in an independent economic advisors team --who's paying for this? Who's picking them, his screening committee for cabinet members? More tax evaders going to tell us how to run our country?

That stimulus plan should be voted on line for line considering all the cute lawyer talk in it that is hiding money going to special interests ---habitat projects in the Bay Area?? Oh, please, that's a wealth expensive property zone! Any waterfront area property brings big money and that's in California as well --gee, Nancy are you feathering your own nest again?

$500M for 388 jobs --let's see now 1.3M per job and Obama wants to limit the salaries of bank and financial organization but this isn't either. Phillipine benefits for dead soldiers? Who are they paying the families that weren't even alive then? No, it needs to only go to living veterans or their spouse. Actually it needs to be cut totally out of this plan. They haven't needed or demanded it in 60 some years and I'd say the statute of limitations is way over on that debt.

Get real folks, this is not about the political parties this is about what they are going to spend eventually in one little area and it is not going to benefit the whole country at all. You people in the East actually think Nancy's Bay Area Bonus is going to help in your area? This plan is growing like a bad fungus......started at about the same as the bailout fund of $700B and just keeps going up...920B and expected to go over a Trillion. No tax increases to cover it? Get your brain in gear!

Alright SHEEP - first think for yourselves and quit letting the press tell you what to think.

All politicians are 'For the Rich' - they all are looking out for those that helped them get there, including Obama.

I love the part in the article where Obama is giving his speech at the 3-day retreat to the 'Democratic Rank and File'. Here we are up in arms about the spending of companies we bail out, but nobody thinks twice of the politicians that are partying on our money. Maybe I could show up and they could buy me a free drink with my own tax money :)

Capt

That's the new Republican Math.

We pay out $350 a week in unemployment and get back $35 in taxes so it's all good. I guess that's just as good as having a job.

Jkenny,

That is sad. I heard there are still 200,000 without power and zero temps. The answer to your question is simple. KY is a Republican state. I saw they didn't even send a FEMA person there for a week.

It's OK when Obama ignores a natural disaster but not GWB. I bet they'll spin it to show it's Bush's fault. At least it's supposed to warm up over the weekend. Hang in there and help each other out. Don't sit around waiting for help that isn't coming from this Admin.

president Obama for the first time in his political career is being told no. So he throws a tantrum.

I would just like the President to go on National TV, with the press there and go through line item by line item and explain how it will effect the economy. Then allow the press to question him.

The republican leadership of this country tries to help the new president get the shameful democratic pork out of a simple jobs stimulus bill and he "ridicules" them? Even as inexperienced as he is, it is amazing he is failing so quickly.

According to what has been often reported over the past few days, approximately 1/3 of the so-called "stimulus" money is to be spent in the year 2011. And just whom, may I ask, will be actively campaigning for re-election in the year 2011 ???

I thought this plan was supposed to save or create jobs and stimulate the nations economy NOW.

Starkat- You said, "No surprise as the core definition of a republic is putting the interests of the wealthy and wealthy property owners first..." At least, I, as a republican, thought enough to look up the definition of "Republic", before making up a definition that helps my agenda. Definition of republic, from the dictionary...(n.) 1. a. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president. b. A nation having such a political order. 2. a. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. b. A nation having such a political order.

Don't be so afraid that people don't want to just lay down and take this horrible "stimulus" package. The only thing it will stimulate is the democrat agenda. There is nothing in there that will help our economy. Read the list of $$$$ that they are spending, and show me where it will stimulate the economy! I wasn't for the first stimulus package, and I am not for ths stimulus package. This is a "Generational Theft Act", as it will affect our children and our children's children. I am surprised that the president hasn't thought about this as Sasha and Malia will be paying for his actions. If he is a good man, he wouldn't be trying to push this through in such a hurry. There is nothing wrong with looking it over carefully and making sure that it is a good thing for our country. Tell me how funding abortion clinics in other countries will help stimulate our economy? Tell me!

Maria312513- Please, don't make republicans look stupid by writing "dumocrats". That is just immature and doesn't help anything. I know you are frustrated, but be grown up about it.

Steve13- And unfortunately all that first 48 hours of change got us was terrorists brought into our own country b/c he is shutting down gitmo. That change scares me as much as the stimulus package.

Personallt, I think President Obama should forget partisan politics, the bad loser republicans are going to have their little tantrums and fight anything that will help this country and make less for their rich azzes . Though luck, repubs, you LOST!

Let me get this straight ! Some of the key democrats in Congress supported no real oversight for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who helped to make all these bad mortgages (along with the help of ACORN) and bundled them up and passed them onto the Big Five Financial Houses, who inturn rebundled them up and sold them all over the World. All this laid the ground work for the U.S. and Worldwide monetary Crisis.

(Incase some of you have forgotten, the Democrats have controlled Congress for more than two years ! Let's keep some of this activity by Congress in perspective! Am I saying that the Republicans aren't also to blame. No ! They definitely share the blame for at least 6 of the last 8 years.)

Then the Democrats along with the greedy Finance Houses asked and got a $750Billion BAILOUT with almost no strings attached. Gee ! DO YOU THINK THAT WAS GOING TO WORK ???

Now Mr. I AM THE CHANGE AGENT, wants to put together a FIRST Round almost a Trillion dollar PORK package and berates the Republicans for not getting on-board !

He seems to be looking for the other side of the aisle to help share the blame for this craziness! PORK ! PORK ! PORK !

I now have a new quote to add to my list: This is a quote from FDR ! "Nothing happens in politics that isn't planned." I would like all of you to think about that quote before you comment. It sure explains alot and it sure is scary!

As I have said Before GOD help us !

"While at the same time, the co-murder of the USS Cole is released from Gitmo, compliments of Obama"

Completely wrong. Go back and read the story; he was returned to jail. The *trial* was suspended, as per the order. No one was released from jail. Stop fear-mongering.

there are none of you here that know enough about economics to allow you to pontificate on this subject.

The funniest thing I saw this morning was watching "morning Joe" try to dispute the latest noble prize winner for economics about how to stimulate our economy

"I love the part in the article where Obama is giving his speech at the 3-day retreat to the 'Democratic Rank and File'. Here we are up in arms about the spending of companies we bail out, but nobody thinks twice of the politicians that are partying on our money"

The Republicans did it last week, at a different resort. Different party names, same lack of understanding. What, they couldn't rent a room locally for less money? They had to go away to a 5 star resort.

Once again the Republicans are trying to hold people responsible for wasting outrageous amounts of money on PORK. A emergency stimulus package DOES NOT put most of the money out 2 to 3 yrs. Our economics were fine until pelosi and her friends the dems took control. How much of her fortune is going to help do any of these pork item? She should give up her private Gulf Stream and fly 1st class. Every trip she(and family members)make to Washington from Calif. and vise versa costs the taxpayers(you and me) over $100,000.00 a trip. Pilots,gas, stewardess, wine, caviar etc. How can you make a stimulus package when you are part of the problem pelosi?

"The president named an outside economic team of advisers....."

Seems to me, the President has gotten the horse after the cart. A team of economic advisors should have been formulated immediately after his inauguration since our economy is the most pressing issue facing the American people. Instead, the stimulus package has been through the House and now in the Senate with our Congressional representatives in their normal mode of political posturing.

This economic advisory group could have put together a stimulus package which will get us out of this mess instead of issues brought forth by the States Governors, city mayors, and special interest groups. But look where the stimulus package is now......bogged down.

We all know who won the election. That is in the past. Get with the program and stimulate the economy.

Both sides are wrong in regard to this stimulus package. The rush to pass it is disconcerting. Ensure the bill is comprised of stimulus and not pork. What do some of the expenditures have to do with stimulus: dog parks, neon signs for Vegas, money for Hollywood, etc. The President needs to stop talking - I am sick of his speeches already - and get to work with BOTH SIDES. Pelosi and Reid are hardly bi-partisan and they created this mess of a bill that Obama now has to sell to the American public. We all know how well the last one worked.....

Obama was elected with the word CHANGE then he said he would be bi-partisan. Well he has been neither . he wants the republicans to rubber stamp his waste of money which includes much PORK it was written by democraps. he appoints lobbyists which he said he would not, and tax chreats looks like chicago politics all over bait and switch.

superpops you crack me up as do most people you post and know nothing.

I am outraged, but not surprised that our government didn't have a problem bailing outbig business and wall street for over $700 billion but are balking at helping the majority of the population of the United States.

First off it was not $700 billion. Bush and his people only threw away $350B. It was your Obama that asked for the second part of that money.

Please bring back a government that is focused on serving the citizens, not just the wealthy, wallstreet and big business.

Write your congresmen adn voted differently

This is the only superpower which does not provide universal health care, has a crippled public education system and an infrastructurethat is falling apart. Care for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, substance abusers, homeless, the poor, children, elderly and vetrans has been slashed to the point that services have been discontinued or soon will be due to a lack of funding.

The USA is the "ONLY" superpower left. maybe because we do not have universal healthcare. Stop hating the rich becuase all these plans that you want the government to pay for because you are to lazy to take care of yourself has to be paid by somebody.

I know where I want my tax dollars to go, I want my taxes invested in my community, my city, my state, and my country. I back Obama plan 100%.

You voted for the wrong guy.

Republican proposals to cut this bill include substantial cuts to scientific programs, including elimination of funding to the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science and reductions to Department of Energy renewable energy research. While efforts to reduce government spending should be applauded, these particular cuts are misguided.

Science is one of the most important sources of economic growth in the US. Scientific research and its spin offs are responsible for nearly half of US economic growth since WWII. Research into new energy resources is especially critical to continued US economic growth. Furthermore, many of these programs are shovel ready, and will contribute to economic growth in both the short and long terms.

An effort to cut science and particularly new energy research can only be driven by special interests in the, largely foreign owned, oil industry. E-mail your senator and tell them that cuts to most science programs are a poor way to save money. Rather, we should facilitate science and scientific oversight to insure that research is directed at essential development to serve the economic and public good.

President Obama needs to welcome challenges against HIS Stimulus Bill. The last stimulus package was passed with urgency and look what it got us. Nothing. I know that most of the posts here are from people who haven't read it, more less know where to find it. If they do read it, they probably don't understand what it says. It's 647 pages folks. If you want to run your mouth about it then read it or keep your mouth shut. Plain and simple. Any and all pork needs to be removed from it. Period. Let's get it right this time.

I agree that science is very important. Explain to me how this is a stimulus to the economy?

wow--this bill is like buying a house maxing out your 12 credit cards--at least think about what our country is getting into before we spend more money than both wars have cost in the last 7 years.. i'm sure the repubs are trying to make the pres look bad--i hope you don't think the dems tried to make bush look good--sadly thats politics as usual

Dear James Zander:

I have read these responses to your comment. Seems you are getting your A** handed to you in spades. Perhaps you should really sit down and THINK about the issues being discussed here.

President Obama is trying to RAM this bill down the throats of the American People and his urgency is disturbing. He is critical of Republicans for bring up a different point of view. That is the American way. Why is he soooooo objectionable to dissent? He seems to be throwing a temper tantrum.

On one hand, he says it will take months, even years to see it, (the proposed "Stumulus" package), make a difference. If so, shouldn't all of us Americans take a deep breath and truely look at what is in this bill? It is the biggest spending bill ever proposed. It is like when you go to make a car purchase... you don't just buy the first car that the salesman shows you and automatically pay full retail, do you? Have you ever told a salesman, "wait a minute... I am not ready to make a decision yet. I need to think about it first"? This is the same thing the American people are doing right now.

Obama is trying to push push push almost as if the sky is falling right now. We all need to wait and really challenge this bill. He needs to get a spine and sit down with his opponents and really listen. He has not done that. He is frustrated because for the first time in his life, he has had to face resistance, and THIS throws him into a fit? WOW. Watch out for this guy.

Thinkingman

Thank you for your post it was truly right on......wait a second I misread what you wrote. I thought you were talking about the Dems in Congress and how they treated Bush. My mistake

For all you saying that the Republicans want him to fail. Get over it. If this was such a great package don't you think the Dems could find 2 Reublicans to vote for it.

Lets recap the first 2 weeks. Tax fruads and lobbyists. Thanks for the CHANGE Obama.

Hey two cents---do you pay taxes on welfare? Paying taxes on un-employment is a slap in the face.

Science funding stimulates the economy first by employing scientists and educators. Second, the research and training so produced stimulates the economy by increasing the skills, competitiveness and productivity of American workers. Third, science improves the quality and value of American goods and services.

Consider it in a historic perspective. That computer you're sitting at is, in large part, a spin off of the space program. Were it not for John Kennedy committing the US to travelling to the moon (a scientific and engineering undertaking) you'd either not own a personal computer or you'd be sitting a a much more primitive computer running Russian software.

Cutting scientific research will cost us money over the long run. We need to continue the funding for NSF and, particularly, alternative energy research to recover our economy. E-mail your Senator today to tell them that cutting science is no way to save money.

Obama is an honest & intelligent person who is just stating the obvious - the GOP lost the election, is not taking responsibility for the current economic mess, helped Bush run up a huge debt just before leaving office, and now is trying to blame run-away spending on Obama.

America voted for a new direction, but the "obstructionist" GOP acts like it is still 2000 or 1980 with Regan. The policies of the GOP created this mess, America has spoken and 2010 will be another reckoning in the House & Senate.

We are in another Great Depression (severe recession by definition) losing jobs faster than the GOP lost the house. I guess some people are simply not trainable? Stupid people do not learn from the past, they simply repeat it. Ben Bernanke's book on the Great Depression almost exactly parallels current events, except the "steam-valves" put in place by the 1930 Democrats and Ben's quick action have thus far prevented absolute collapse.

"A recession is when your neighbor losses his job; a depression is when you loose your job" - Harry Truman

The GOP is smoking opium if they think they will win this one... history is against them.

Dumb republican....As we are learning, and just as many of us thought, Barack Hussein is much better at campaigning then actually governing.

Examples.

1, shut down gitmo with no plan ready on how to handle the detainees.

2. Dropped charges on USS COLE bomber....with no idea what he was going to do after charges dropped

3. Preaches bipartisanship then allows Pelosi and REID to put together this Stimulus plan with no GOP input.

4.Campaigned against GOP and GW claiming they used fear to get elected...then uses FEAR to try and get his joke of a stimulus plan passed.

5 Barack Hussein campaigns against GW attacking him for his "my way or the highway" attitude. Then when Barack Hussein cant get his way he whines "We won" meaning since he won he should get what he wants. Well GW won two elections I don't remember dems every saying "GW won so we have to support him"

Its becoming increasing clear that Barack Hussein is in WAY over his head.

What we need is someone, unlike you, that has enought sense to take the time to make it right. We don't need another fiasco like the last 350 bil. Rushing this ridiculous spending bill through is totally irresponsible and listening to Obamas fear tactics is stupid.

Just for kicks; I'd like to know where all you people who oppose this spending stimulus to help real America were for the last 8 years when that's all the GOP did was spend?? More tax credits for the rich and big business don't stimulate, either!!

JAMES- Hate to burst your bubble but...... there are actually REPS who are trying to look outfor the people. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. Right now some of them are trying hard to get help for those who are in foreclosure. They want the banks that hold their mortgage to renegotiate with them on their 30 yr. notes. SEN.SCHUMER is NOT FOR IT along with many other DEMS. So here you have an amendment trying to actually help the people with the issue that is DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for all our troubles today and you have DEMOCRATIC SENATORS trying to block it. THEY ARE THE ONES that do not want to help people like YOU AND ME. Keep that in mind! They would rather help ACORN and Indians stop drinking. That is just a sample of the garbage that is within this bill. GET EDUCATED and read what they are proposing. It is a travesty and it is all BS!!!

After the last administration, with the complicity of 6 years of a majority of congress and 2 years of a wimp dem controlled congress put over 5 trillion on the credit card, NOW all of a sudden when millions of Americans have lost or are losing their jobs, the so called fiscally responsible conservatives see the light and don't want to put any more "on the credit card." What a bunch of hypocrites. Cut the fat from the bill and get the damn thing passed. It is obvious that there are a large number of wealthy conservatives in congress that would rather seen the country fail economically rather than allow this president to bail US out of the mess that was left to him. This years' 1.2 trillion dollar deficit was already his by inheritance from them and bush. Stop wishing for the destruction of America to make your hate Obama point just because you already have your guaranteed retirement and millions in the bank. Start representing the people of the US instead of the same ones that you have continued to give billions in tax breaks while they get obcene salaries and bonuses

11b2EB4

If you are going to bring up computers you will have to include the military not to mention Microsoft which I think we can call it big business. You are help making the Rep's point you have to have both and they both have to work together. That is how we got to the moon.

What made JFK a great president is he knew that you had to have balance with tax rate cuts and government spending. He lived through the Great Depression he saw programs that worked and ones that failed.

I agree in part MacDaddy - it wasn't just NASA that developed the personal computer. But the NASA effort catalyzed the development of a new industry in America - the development of the personal computer. Think of all the people this industry employed. America maintains its place in this industry largely as a consequence of the momentum it gained by entering the industry early. We need to keep funding science, through government, so that private American businesses can stay at the front of the developing global economy. Why some Republicans oppose this business interest is beyond my capacity.

E-mail your Senator - no wholesale cuts in the science portion of the stimulus package.

My conern is that no one in DC has actually read the entire bill.

How could they? It's been revised as recent as yesterday.

I'd vote against it to until I knew, specically, what I was about to 'sign'.

Americans are screaming bloody murder that they didn't understand the terms of their mortgage. (But only after their houses starting depreciating, oddly enough.)

I'd think, as confused Americans who can't understand legal agreements that we sign, we'd want our representatives to at least take the time to read the entire package!

obama doesn't even care what the money is spent on, all he wants to do is run up the debt and cripple America, our ability to go to war to defend ourselves, and to destroy our industry. And just think 52% of you fools voted for this ba---rd.. He is a one man revolution against Democracy. I hate to see what happens in the next 4 years. I think that turmoil will be the rule for the day and I think that is his hope.

Jirby, you have so much misinformation which produces hatred that I won't answer all of your vitriol. But here are a couple of counters:

How in the world do you claim that Rush Limbaugh "announced loud and clear that he hopes Obama fails." Did you hear it?? Apparently not. Limbaugh said that he hopes America succeeds, but hopes that Obama's socialist agenda fails. And he is worried about America, quite approriately, as we see.

"Make Obama look like he doesn't know what the hell he is doing." Oh, Obama knows what the hell he's doing. And his socialist agenda, pork spending, rewarding ACORN, ignorance of terror (Gitmo, etc), phony "stimulus" bill, (really a budget proposal), are being so exposed that millions of Americans are up in arms about it.

Clinton wasn't impeached for disgracing the office of the presidency by having sex with a 21 year old girl whom he was supervising and for whom he was in a position of responsibility/authority. He was impeached for lying in front of a grand jury. And he stuck his finger out at us, the American people, and lied about his sexual adventures as he denied them. Only the discovery of the blue dress caught him in that lie, and also showed how phony Hillary's "right wing conspiracy" rant was. His lying in front of the grand jury was so bad that even the lawyers revoked his law license for a year.

I agree. We absolutely need to vote everyone out of office who signs this new "stimulus" spending bill and vote those in who will do what is right by this nation - ALL the time - not just some of the time or when it suits their agenda. This behavior by Oboma and the rest of these liars and crooks is indeed inexcusable and they think they we are suppose to let them lead us to the slaughter without saying anything! Passing this bill is not the cure and when there is a problem you need to get to the source. And of course Geithner, the tax evader, has the answer. Oboma's change and hope is definitely coming to light. Change the campaign rhetoric and do what I intended to do and hope no one notices.

James do have any idea what you are talking about? You are a typical small minded person that just thinks that only the tax breaks go to rich people. Let me educate you a little:

1. Inflation is about higher and higher prices (wrong: its about an increase in the money supply). 2. tax loopholes and deductions are for "the rich" (wrong: over eighty percent of tax deductions and loopholes are taken by the middle and lower class).

3. government spending helps spur on the economy (wrong: deficit spending only weakens the economy further, just like it does in our personal economies)

I hope you can wrap you brain around this

Haste makes waste! It's an old adage and it is quite true. Of course the politicians want to pass this so quick that no one sees the slight of hand. Obama's Magic Show! The more this plan is looked at the more inconsistences are showing up and special interest projects. Lets just give it all to them and hang ourselves out to dry! I say it should not be approved as a package at all - point be point should be the order of voting and Obama can like it or lump it. He doesn't get to vote any more so put up and shut up already. Quit trying to lobby for your pals who dumped big money in your campaign and work for the taxpayers, Obama.

"Economic Adviser" translation Obama's lobbying committee

Did you even read the bill? before writing that?

I love it! Blame the republicans even when the democrats have a majority in the House and Senate. Barack should man up and admit that his "plan" as outlined by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid stinks of pig dung. Then tell Nancy to STFU and actually allow the republicans to contribute to this bill, the same goes for Harry Reid. Then maybe there could be a bipartisan solution, but the heavy handed take or not stuff may be all they know.

HELLO - you don't need the Republican's to vote on this. The Democrates have a majority in the house and senate. Blame this on someone else for a change.

19jet54

You must be the one smoking the opium.

GET THE PORK OUT OF THE BILL!!!!!!

There are alot of taxpayers who feel the same way the Republicans do.

The Republicans want to cut out "state issues" like school construction - HUH???

I guess they don't grasp the concept that "construction" means jobs.

The amount of jobs lost in the U.S. last year amounts to every single job in Maine. The amount of jobs lost in the past 2-months amounts to every single job in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, it makes sense for the Republicans to do all they can do to make this stimulus fail, to make the economy fail, to make the country fail. Regardless of what they do, Obama and the Democrats will get all the credit. But that's unfortunate for their constituents, isn't it? Obviously, failure by the government, be it Democrat or Republican affects us all - right?

And you're wrong Gary, the "majority" in the Senate would be 60. The Democrats only have 58.

The Problem is, U.S., We keep voting in the same Idiots time and time again! Congress, Senators & Representives!! WHY?? We are insane! We keep voting in the same thieves time and time again HOPING FOR A CHANGE - A DIFFERENT RESULT!
Albert Einstein's therory of INSANITY IS - Doing he same thing over and over expecting a DIFFERENT RESULT!
We the U.S. VOTERS are to BLAME! We have become INSANE!
We all know, or should know, that MOST or ALL Lawyers or not HONEST! Who do we KEEP VOTING in to LEAD U.S.? LAWYERS?
We have become - Laud or should I say LAWED to SLEEP!
We the TAX Paying Americans are paying ALL the SALARIES for ALL the GOVERNMENT & STATE OFFICIALS! THINK ABOUT IT! Everyone that works for any part of the GOVERNMENT or STATE is paid through OUR TAX DOLLARS!
So WHO is REPRESENTING U.S.? The ones we keep voting in TIME & TIME AGAIN!
So keep voting them in and we will end up with the same result!
History, which we have not studied, is REPEATING ITSELF! Why Study History? We have not LEARNED from it so far!
We study, TAX DOLLARS AT WORK, are creating WHAT? Kids graduating from high school not able to read and write! WHY? NO ONE CARES!? We are more inerested in SPORTS! NOT EDUCATION!

The Middle Class, or working class as you put it, WE ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR THIS WITH OUR TAXES! President Obama and the Democrats are depending upon the media and people like you to fan the flames of CLASS WARFARE which will only endanger our precious democratic republic!

We should just give them a blank check it is basically what they are doing. Votes for sale, votes for sale. "If you give this ten million dollar project to my brothers company I will vote for you". They are making a joke out of the American system, this plan will have no more effect than the GWB heist. We need to get Robin from the hood out of the White house!!!!!

MY GOD I CANT BELIEVE THE CRAP SPEWED ON THIS BOARD. Lie after lie after lie, how long can you conservative Republicans just make up stuff to suit your own needs?? Don't bother with any of the facts. Fact 1 NO MATTER what the excuse is Bush came into office with a surplus he left office with a record debt FACT. You cant blame the Clinton's or the Democrats for that unless you want to live in your own fantasy land. Fact 2. When Obama first presented this stimulus Bill a MAJORITY of the Republicans said it was fair and balanced and PROMISED they would work with the him to help get it passed FACT But They did NOT do as promised and are purposely now standing in the way of a good bill which has also has been helped being written by LEADING economists many who are conservative which will FACT provide over 3 millions jobs NOW. Then why you may ask are the Republicans spreading lies and deceit and blocking a bill after just few weeks ago they had promised to back?" Simple. They are fighting for their political lives and they know if Obama is successfull and this helps turn the economy around Democrats will get most of the credit and the Republicans will lose what little power and control they have left. So ladies and gentlemen Republicans are NOT acting in the best interest of this country but are actually holding this country hostage so they can scratch and claw their way back to political power and they don't care how much damage they do in the process. This Truth has to be spoken loud and clear by the corporate media and by our President before these lies and half truths are believed and once again because of Republicans standing in the way of progress by causing INACTION this country will sink farther down into an economic hole that it is already in. ANd that would be the ultimate shame especially when the President is working his but off to try and save this great country.

Once again the republivan party has proved that they only care about the rich. If a bill comes out trying to help the working class people, they do not want it. We are in big trouble and the aconservatives want a tax break for the rich , who do not need it.

I'd like to know where James gets his information. In what way does this bill "help the working class"? If you're going to make that a talking point, I would hope you can back up your assertions.

By the way this BILL WAS written with Republican input and Obama admitted himself there are earmarks in it. Did you not see all the meetings Obama had with Repulicans about this very bill on the news?? Or do you refuse again to look at any of the FACTS!!!!

Is not simply AMAZING how the same GOP people in the Senate and Congress still do not understand simple economics. The way they ran this gov. for the past 8 years got us into this friggin mess. I hope and pray that every dang one of the GOP and any one else that vote no is "recalled" as they are way to dumb to be there. Did they not notice who won the election and why?

Totally agree!

Obama is trying to put this pork through by putting fear into the American public. He DOES need the support of the public. If the Senators and Congressmen hear "NO" from enough of their constituents they will eventually see the light.

Keep those switchboards and fax machines going!

I heard a solution on The Daily Show the other night..IF the government really wants to help the "working class", they should have just given US the $$$ to pay off consumer debt and then the banks would have their money and we would be free to spend to our hearts content!! Now that will stimulate the economy and we are free of all this partisan bull. The Republicans do NOT care about us..and the Democrats are in a position to DO something for all of us...We work,we pay taxes..and we still get the shaft..the only one's who benefitted under the past 8 years of policy, were the wealthy..how about it being OUR TIME!! Stop the insanity and help US..if we all stop working and paying taxes, then we would have no $$ to support the corruption visited upon us.

Perhaps on some bright and sunny day in the future, the Republican Party will stop taking its marching orders from loudmouths like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. But don't bet the ranch on it.

James

Read the Bill this does nothing to help any of the normal citizens of the USA

it only gives money to extreme liberal programs.

We didn't have the money for the Iraq War but that didn't stop you !

GOP can never admit any mistakes and won't be happy until they blame

Obama for all of them. Shame on all you who don't understand how the

GOP has robbed you blind. Wish you could see.

I'm very disappointed they are cutting education - esp k-12 so the Pentagon can get more of my $$!!!!

Let's make our kids suffer b/c of sorry partisan politics!!!! DISGUSTING! I'm sure many Republican constituents have children in public schools that are going to suffer. They should let their representatives know immedately how disappointed they are and should refuse to vote for them in 2010.

"We need to cut taxes across the board AND cut government spending. We CANNOT spend and consume our way out of this problem. Spending and consuming is what got us here. The fat ass Federal Government needs to stop spending money it doesn't have. Stop trying to reinflate a burst bubble."

We need to do these things after the economy stops shrinking. At this time we need to use the same old debt creation that we have already done. Debt creation isn't the problem, it is how often we have used it. It doesn't make sense to go deeper into debt when we are growing but for now need too.

Senate and Stimulus: Why Obama needs to act...but not in the way you think.

Put aside party lines for a moment and listen to this logical and proamerican argument.

Lets say that President Obama is correct and that congress needs to act quickly on this bill before them (I think there is actually two versions of it...well, three, if we count the bipartisan group of 15 democrats and 3 republicans currently trying to trim the fat). What is the fastest way to do this so we can get aid to the people in the economy who really need it, but eliminate spending what doesn't have to be spent right now (and wont affect the economy for at least two years even if it was spent now)?

It would be to pass the proposal by a senator in South Carolina, actually. Not my state, but I can't fault his logics.

His bill would get the money out there right now and without all the "extras". Isn't that what everyone is screaming for? Immediate aid.

Of course there is one catch, there always is, but this one really isn't bad if the democratic party would think about it.

What his bill would not do is fund any special interest stuff. Another senator on the floor today said that the Senate could always look at all those things everyone is calling "pork" at a later time, debate them, and vote to approve them (the Dems don't even need the Repubs to agree to that stuff to get it pushed through then, since it wont be an emergency bill - like this one now is - and they have a majority in the House and Senate.

That seems to solve everyone's problem. A real win-win.

Dems and Repub vote for the South Carolina's senators bill...Americans get the immediate help they need and the Dems introduce all those other extras to the Senate floor as soon as they want afterwards, in separate bills each, and just vote to approve it all, even if the Republicans don't want it. Of course, they will have to go back to the taxpayer in a couple of years and explain if they made bad decisions on any of those bills, since the Republicans wont be able to be used as their scape goat this way, but if all they really want is to get their bills passed why don't they do this instead of trying to force Republicans to join them in their wish list?

You have no clue what so ever.

James is an idiot. Where is the money going to come from for this $900B bill? Everyone! And for generations to come! Rich, poor, middle it doesn't matter! The neo-marxist dems are slobbering over themselves to pass this stupid bill. The republican senators and congressmen are this nations ONLY hope now. They are the only slim voice of reason for a while, untill the dems buy them out too! If this bill is so important to every American, why rush it? Get the experts to look over the bill, and make whatever cuts are needed to create jobs, save jobs and cut all the pork out of it. This is common sense people. From wht I read, only $150B will help with the job situation in the FALL of 2010!! Not now! Is BO upset that education programs may be cut? Why then aren't his kids in public schools? The rest of the "education" money is for construction and repair of schools, NOT JOBS! Cut the pork and lets see it pass then!

Pork is the life blood of politicians, they can not pass up an opportunity to lard up a spending bill especially one with this kind of money. The Republicans don't like it because it isn't their pork, the Democrats love it because it is theirs. The people don't like it because they know a stinker when they see it and they are finally getting a good look at how partisans operate. It isn't a pretty picture. The lack of restraint and focus is the issue for most of us, this being sold as a stimulus bill after all so lets focus on the issue and get things moving.

James Zander, you must be an idiot making a statement like this. If you had any initiative at all you would read about the crap that is in this bill. You are probably one of the many that is standing around waiting for your handout and could care less on how the rest of us will find a job. How is the government getting new vehicles, sodding the lawn, throwing more money towards Amtrac which has never made a dime, paying for abortions in other countries, and the list goes on and on going to help us get jobs. You are one of the typical dems that just want somebody else to do it for you.

YOUr wrong Obama is NOT peddling FEAR he is telling it like it is, to long BUsh and his cronies ignored the economy and look how well that turned out! Stefan your an IDiOT the bill isnt filled with liberal agendas have YOU READ the bill// I dont think so. So I guess putting people to work fixing roads and infrastructure is liberal PORK!! Improving schools which everyone admits are falling apart is a liberal agenda?? I guess having an educated public to compete in the real world is liberal agenda?/ I guess you fools just listen to anything Republicans say no matter how absurd and idiotic it is. Give me a f&ckign break!!!

Mr. Zander....I think that you are blinded by partisanship and incapable or recognizing that Republican opposition to this bill is in the best interests of us regular folk. President Obama is right about one thing. "Inexcusable and irresponsible" are two good words to describe the bill he's trying to ramrod down our throats.

Is it socialism to bail out, brokerage houses, banks and their stockholders( which under law are responsible for payments if a bank fails); auto companys, pension guaranty fund. It appears my republican friends only howl socialism when the money flows from the bottom up. Get the pork out of the bill, and pass the damn thing; before this house of cards come tumbling down on all of us.

I may have memory problems, but back before 2006...before the Democrat Party took control of congress, wasn't the econmy doing fairly well ??? gas prices were reasonable??? homes were selling??? inflation low??? employment fairly strong??? I don't rememeber many complaints back then.

Why are only Republicans being blamed for the "last eight years" ??? Didn't we have a president who could only get things done that were passed by both houses ???

Or did we have a "king" who made all decisions final and issued rule by executive fiat ??? Kind of like Mr. Obama wants the job description to read.

I don't believe you know enough about what's going on to talk about the issue. You statement holds no water as it is a Democratic place Package. We'll wait and see what you Democrats do. If you are smart, you should be able to figure out that if you spend, you have to have the money to spend. If you borrow, you must have money to payback, or take from someone. That someone is the American people. The stimulus will NOT help the economy. It is impossible, as America is not a manufacturing country. The only business in the U.S. that are visited and money spent, is Tattoo parlors, American wines and beers, and prostitutes. There is so much Pork in this package, it will hit the American people in about 1 and 1/2 years where they will se it come out of their paycheck. Don't believe me, just wait and see. Democrats have and will always take money out of your pocket.

To quote our Commander In Chief:

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig"

This is the perfect discription for this bill...nothin' but PORK!

The Republicans in this mock bipartisan committee better not sell us out by voting for this pork barrel or they will find themselves out of office come reelection time.

Wow!!! It's hard to believe, that any indiviual, is that thick headed.

Ths whole situation, was brought on BY Slick Willy buying votes, in 1999.

Not that the there isn't plenty of blame for the republicans in this.

They don't want to seem to be Against Slick Willy's proclamtion, that it was time for every poor person to have their own hme, so they kept quite about was was obvious to any one with half a brain.

If poor people had been able to make the payments, this legislation, wouldn't have been necesssary.

Even after the legislation, was passed, most banks waouldn't make loans, because, they were bad risks.

Suprising to no one except the people, who, actually believe that one political party is better than the other, the government put pressure on the banks.

And here we are today.

Now you want to have that same government given the authority and over 700 billion dollars of your money to "fix" the problem.

In the faint hope,, that B O might actually try to do the right thing, I voted for him.

So here we are, not even in office for a month, and it's business as usual.

All of the pork barrel specialist have really gone to town, on the on the "Stimulus bill.

Barack Obama -B.O.= BAD OMEN!!!!!

James ZanderRestored

"We are in big trouble and the aconservatives want a tax break for the rich , who do not need it."

I read the article and saw nothing about the Republicans demanding a tax cut for the "rich". Why not comment on the article?

Well, it's back to the good ole Washington bickering. The Republicans are protecting their special interest lobbying supporters and the Democrats are being blamed because an offense is supposedly a good defense. Times have changed and the Republicans need to change their greedy tune. This is the 21st century and not the past era of 'America right or wrong'.

Get off it Boehner and your buddies. The only ones who must take the blame are the self-centered, egotistical fat cats who care more about their own comforts and less about the working stiff who just wants a roof over his head and some future for his family.

There is such a word as 'compromise'.....use it and get on with rebuilding our economy and help the world dig out of an imposed poverty. What happened to the promise the GOP made of bipartisanship? They are doing everything they can to abuse their power. It's time they grow up and help this Country instead of dragging it down at every opportunity.

Cut the crap Zander. We need to vote everyone of these politicians out of office; democrats and republicans. They all want to hook their supporters up. The republicans will pay back the people that supported them the most and as we can see by the current "pork package" being "negotiated" in the name of "saving the republic" is nothing more than the democrats paying back their supporters. Why else are Hollywood Producers getting a $256 million tax deduction. We all know those poor Hollywood types are in desperate need of the stimulus. See it for what it is....another vehicle for politicians to pay back the only voters that matter to them; thjose with the deep pockets...liberal and conservative alike. Washington disgusts me!

James you hit it right on the button. Republicans are only caring about the rich and has always cared about oil, ceo's, etc. because they are the lobbyist who have run the Republican party the last eight years. President Obama has totally tried to help all and is trying to help the American People not the Iraqies, or any other country. I like to see the Bush administration prosecuted for war crimes, conspiracy, and lying/ cheating the American People. Bush has done nothing for this country in eight years which is the reason we are in this mess in the first place. Chaney, McCain and other republicans are just a bunch of overage fools with old time politics which are not working. President Obama is trying to get us out of a mess that the republicans have put us in. I was a republican until I was embarrashed about how our country has turn into an embarassment in the world. What is sad is no matter what happens, our children and their children will be paying for this long after we are gone. Also to comment on a post about the Republicans wanting more tax cuts. They want taxcuts for the rich sh... that are lobbying for them. That would be the same who ripped off Americans out of their homes. I am ashamed I was even a republican.

Two years ago the DEmocrats did NOT have the majority they did NOT have the majority to overide any of Bushs idiot bills he RAMRODDED through congress this economic crisis we are experiencing now is the DIRECT result of BUSHS policies, period. No if ands or buts about it,

James Zander sounds like a typical liberal idiot who understands nothing but government help.

Public opinion got Daschle to drop out of his cabinet seat prospect. I think that it is more than just the Republican Representatives and Senators who are balking at this stimulus package. I would imagine both sides are getting deluged with e-mails and calls from their constituents about this, so the President MUST listen. It's not just the guys in DC that are concerned. We all are, and seeing things like spending on birth control and building refurbishment just sends up red flags.

Sure, the republicans helped make a mess of everything, but so did the democrats. Looking the other way was the root cause of most of this mess. By not upholding the laws, rules and regulations, everyone allowed this to happen as is apparent from the story on the Madoff whistleblower. He saw it, but his boss looked the other way.

I propose a stimulus package that is just for job creation and other recovery steps. If they want to spend money on pet projects, bring it up as a separate package. That cuts the cost of this one, and puts everyone at ease about it.

Look, its simple, we’re addicted to spending other peoples money. But its an illusion, it’s a trick for the suckers. Everything is taxed at several levels every can of peas is taxed, from the grower, the fertilizer manufacturer, the canner the, marketer, no one is not paying taxes. 80c of every dollar that goes into Washington stays in the federal system, paying of the interest on debt, paying for more federal employees who become instant democratic voters. It’s is amazingly unproductive use of capital. Use my case as an example – I’m a physician scientist with 13 patents, I wanted to start a small business – it would save a lot of lives - and hopefully not go bankrupt. Fine, I’m broke, find, I can’t afford collage for my kind, congratulations to the revolution. But, my point is that everybody is being duped. Does it make you feel better to cut off my hands if they only cut off you feet? I am not pro-republican or pro-democrat. We should start over. All our elected representatives should be sent home, if not shot. I voted democrat when I was young – Irish immigrants, Italian immigrants, everyone is a democrat until they figure it out. Everyone is a democrat when they’re born – suck suck suck. – and then they figure it out – or not. All voters should be over 30.

I apologize for being blunt but they are simply incompetent – the single party system of liars who run our government – but mostly the media who sell us what we want to hear and whose major reward to their narcissism by shaping the minds of us, “the little people”. Politicians are expected to be ticks but reporters should not be allowed to work for the news media unless they have a mental age greater than 10.

And if you heard Barbra Boxer’s somewhat inelegant explanation of the economics of the stimulus package yesterday on C span – well it can only be described as embarrassing.

I’ve got an Airedale with more brains than that. jeff

Once more the Democratic Alexrod is trying to bend the truth to suit their purpose - a majority of the taxpayers do not support squandering tax dollars on special interest politics no matter who is pushing for it.

This kind of lying is getting old quick. First we heard the when 57% voted for Obama they suddenly were 2/3 of the voter. Must be new math because the figures don't add up at all.

g-331557
I don't know which country or planet you are from, but for the last 2 years Bush did not ramrod anything through congress. Here in the United States of America on the planet earth the democrats have had nominal control of congress since 2006.

Another bone-headed comment from McCain. I think he caught the Palin bug.....Shows how little he knows about all this, and how he will parrot anything he is told to say. Sad. He is a good man too old to realize he is being manipulated.

This is no more socialism than the New Deal, or Eisenhower's federal highway system. Our infrastructure is an embarassment compared to other western powers. The government usually sets up these projects. Why not now?

The Republicans are laughable - they created the gigantic defiits and overspent in the trillions any time Bush asked. They cheerfully spent hundreds of millions on Iraq. Now that the hole they dug has no bottom - they suddenly are worried about spending when the bill is supported by Obama? That is the ultimate partisan game playing that got us in this mess.

Do any of you think that the Republicans are taking this position to benefit you and me? Of course not. Are any of you that gullible?

Go ahead, McCain and the Republicans - follow the instructions of Rush Limbaugh - the noted economist (are you kidding?) and obstruct until this place collapses. I GUARANTEE you, none of you will be re-elected if that happens.

Why do you need conservative support? Both houses are controlled by the democrats. Seems like cutting taxes by 42% and increasing speding by 58% is increasing spending by 16%. thats the way i do my checkbook

James, if you had bothered to read the original bill, the 900 Billion one;even you, a liberal would have had to say there was a bunch of DEMOCRAT pork barrel spending in it. Don't fear, I am sure the compromised bill will have plenty of pork in it too. Until your Obama can show us he can walk on water, the Republicans can question his every move...oh by the way, he needs to work on cabinet selections too, he's not real good at that either.

James, Your so lost. "for the poor," "worker," Your so lost in Marxist lingo. You've been brainwashed. Freddie/Fanny is at the root of all this... they existed "for the poor." I am so sick of hearing for the poor, our children, the elderly. Is everything we do in this country for the weakest link? How about I walk through your home and tell you what you need and dont need. What you need to buy and what you should not buy. It's cool, you'll like it... I'll call it the fair equal rights clean air workers paradice bill 666.

First poster,

Learn how to spell and read a book on Socialism. Socialism is what this bill is all about. The Feds can never spend enough money to get out of a recession. It takes jobs and all of those have been sent overseas by rich Democrats and Republicans.

This is a waste of taxpayers money. Write it down on a notepad so you don't forget you were warned.

Wow, how many posts here talked about the retreat the Democrats are on.

The Republicans were on the same retreat last week and no one here seemed to care about that expense.

Dan, fannie and freddie are not the root of all this. If you added the total dollar amount of poor or working class mortgage default the total would not be more than 150 billion dollars. If you believe that 150 billion dollars of default caused trillions of dollars in investment bank debt, then there is no chance of reasonble discussion with you. The cause of this crisis was really rich guys swapping worthless paper (unregulated). Listen to Greenspan, he told us that he could not believe that these guys would not police themselves.

Zander get real. This is about trying to hold down all the added special interest garbage and creating a bill that is for everyone. You are screaming because the Republicans are trying to keep this down close to the orginal amount Obama asked for without all the ear marked projects. It isn't even just the Republicans trying to keep the lid on this thing. Just because Obama is screaming that it needs to pass right now does not mean beans. He couldn't even pick Cabinet members who paid their taxes. He is not in control......he just gets to sign what is handed to him like every other president does with spending budgets.

No one even knows whether any of this will work. You are acting as though it's a guaranteed way to fix our Economy and it is a big fat expensive shot in the dark at best.

Oh, Lisa - what the heck is a "reteat" I can't even find that work in a Webster's Dictionary

This bill contains about $700billion worth of pork that will help no one except those that helped to elect the czar obama. No one has a spine anymore...in 2010, 2012, and 2014 the effort will hopefully focus on reversing some of this excess and getting the old elite out of the government and return the control to the people who did NOT want this kind of debt for the generations to come. Such a sad day for this country!!!

Try again, all we want is a package that is NOT larded with democratic pork. REPUBLICANS please don't vote for this unless it is very, very close to what you want. Don't be pressured into approving a bill just because obama is whining. America has done this before and we will survive and be stronger but if you give in, we will be that much closer to Socialism. Don't be pressured!! The Dems can try to put their pork into the budget (which hasn't even begun yet). DON'T be blackmailed into doing something we all will regret.

Obama should veto this bill, send it back, and give the people the bill we elected him to give the people! The Republicans and the rich have had their way and it did not work. Give us what we need and make government work for the People!

Debbie, The New Deal did not work; the only thing it did was to extend the Great Depression. What "worked" to boost the economy then and to end the Depression, unfortunately, was WWII. Please don't think that I am implying that we need WWIII; I'm just stating an historical fact.

The deal will not be completed until Limbaugh tells the Republicans how to vote. This will work for the solid red State Senators that only have one party but if going to be very rough on the Republican Senators in States that have two parties and pay the majority of the taxes.

I am amazed how the intellectual Left allways goto the Rush Limbaugh card. Okay well maybe if liberals would be smart enough to earn money and support yourselves rather than ask the government to do it for you.

Anyways they stripped out the K-12 and Healthcare portions because those industries are expanding currently and are not suffering. On Cspan they even explained they will address those issues in another bill next week.

When people do blame Bush for this they are correct. He was the most Liberal Fiscal President on record and the government is way too bloated, regardless of who was controlling congress.

But in 2002 that recession could be blamed on Clinton for NAFTA, De regulation etc. The economy goes in cycles, this downturn is huge and will get worse.

I cannot wait for them to post the new bill to check out what was deleted or added.

Now for all you that so dislike the rich, sucks that you do not know how to work hard. If you put more effort into getting rich rather worshipping a false idol like President Obama (who is rich) you would probably make some money. The poor keep themselves poor with self-pity and the inability to think beyond their next paycheck.

James, first of all learn how to spell, or use spell check. It's Republicans. Yes, you have to have their support during the next two years to get anything done. Like I aid, until Obama walks on water, or descends from a cloud, he'll need the Republicans to get anything done. Please also read the bill when its posted and then comment on it. I am sure it will still be full of pork. Until we have term limits and not life long senators and house members, Washington will not change.

I am a Vascular Surgeon that probably pays more in one quarterly estimate than you make in a year so don't start the big shot lecture. I also am not a liberal or a Democrat but I absolutely despise Limbaugh and find it sad that people listen to him, especially Politicians. He is not a Republican or a conservative he is a radical fundamentalist that is in the entertainment business.

The stimulus needs to be a lot bigger. There's a five trillion dollar hole in the economy; that's the (former) value of all the securities the con-men on Wall Street created based on the sub-prime mortgages.

Yes you can spend your way out of the crisis, if the stimulas is big enough, targeted right and includes long range programs/policies to spread wealth downward, like raising the minimum wage to at least what it was in 1968, adusted for inflation (about 10 dollars and hour). People who say that the New Deal didn't end the Great Depression are right. FDR couldn't go far enough with spending and government direction of the economy because of Republican/business opposition to his policies. The Depression ended when we entered WWII and the government completely took over the economy. Wage/price controls, the whole 9 yards. (Sweden, was the first industrialized country to emerge from the Great Depression, in 1936. They adopted democratic socialism, which was not possible politically in the U.S.-- Wikipedia: "...Sweden emerged sound from the Great Depression with a brief, successful "Keynesianism-before Keynes” economic program advocated by Ernst Wighorsst a prominent Social Democrat who educated himself in economics by studying the work of the British radical Liberal economists.")

Government always redistributes wealth. Since Jimmy Carter (yeah, I know a Democrat but he started the trend) the government has been redistributing wealth upwards..and doing it big time. Reagan greatly intensified this up ward redistribution. Clinton and Bush did too and maybe in the long run, Obama. The result is that the general public doesn't have the money to buy enough of the goods and services the country produces to keep the economy going. After they maxed out their credit cards and with drew all the equity they could from their houses their buying power was exhausted. The same thing happened in the 1920's which resulted in the stock market crash of '29 and the Depression.

The sub-prime based securities were the trigger but it would have probably happened some other way if not that.

Some democrats put millions of dollars of provisions in the stimulus package to build frisbee parks, update golf courses, for Pennsylvania and Vermont, etc. How many jobs are those going to create? Very, very minimal. And those would just be temporary, because once the parks are built and golf courses updated those jobs will disappear. Talk about a lot of self-interest provisions. Why not open up off-shore drilling, which would not cost the government a dime. It would open up jobs in the oil business, manufacturing (for structural materials), construction, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs for new oil refineries, etc.

I found this article very interesting..Considering the guy wrote it in 2006

James Zander

read the stmiulas package before you open your big fat liberal uneducated mouth... some people think, you fart.

My big question is when is when will some of the congress and senate be laid off? They all pay more in txes, when they pay then most of us make in income.

You are an idiot. there is nothing in this that will imediatly hep the working clas people.

During the Clinton years there was more prosperity for more people than during the George W. Bush Administration.

Clinton was paying down the national debt at the end of his term. Bush caused a gargantuan explosion of the national debt -- even worse than Reagan.

The longer, more substantial Clinton economic expansion started with motor fuel and income tax increases.

The Bush tax cuts went overwhelmingly to the country club set.

The Bush administration neglected the required maintenance of our economic engine. It froze up. We need to get it running again and then we can balance the budget.

Some of those "pork" projects look mighty Kosher to me -- a tradesman working to upgrade a school can buy at the local store which be able to hire clerks and buy from wholesalers, etc, etc. In addition, upgrading a school is an investment in our future ability to pay down the debt.

God Bless America!

spending more tax dollars to create jobs is not productive. spending a tax dollar that takes 3 more tax dollars does not work. we need to give businesses a reason to invest in people and equipment. not penalize them for making money. that is what we all want to do make money to have a better life for ourselves and our children. all politians are wealthy compared to the average working person. so if you think that they are actually going to raise their own taxes you are badly mistaken. being without a job sucks, i have experienced that myself twice for six months over the past 6 years. it is going to take me 10 years to get out of debt.

James is a simpleton...just like all liberals...guess what dum dum, when the 'rich' stop spending their money...you are the loser. My wife and I make well into 6 figures and have no debt because we have lived within our means. I was going to buy a new american car but now I am not...I guess a poor overpaid american union worker well have to be laid off...awwwwwwwwwww...When I do buy one, it wont be american made I can assure you. People like me in this country will do the same and your simple a$$ will have nobody to complain to 'cause WE have the money and the power in the end and we will take this country back by force if necessary from this onslaught of far left hysteria. I personally would like to say I told you so to duma$$ Khris Bhatten in NP Richey Florida for being led down the road by this corner boy crack smokin, black pied piper who obviously is in way over his head already and is being led around by his little di ck by nancy 'botox' peeyoulosi and barney 'the embarrassing fag' frank...wow..I never thought I would miss George Bush so soon, if not at all, so soon.

mel-680625

No, this is incorrect Two Cents. I know - I was unemployed and took insurance at one time. Businesses pay into unemployment - and yes, part of that is us through taxes

While you are correct in that buot the business and the employee pay in unemployment benefits, the real bummer is that we ALL pay for it. Where do you think business get their money? From the consumer....you and me. The business collects enough for it's products to pay those taxes. It is included as overhead. At the same time they make a profit so the more people who collect unemployment, the higher the cost of goods.

In the long run there is no Santa Claus!

dumbrepublicans

If the goal was to make Obama fail, they wouldn't be opposing the great amount of pork in the so-called stimulus package. They would just sit back and chuckle quietly. Actually the opposing Republicans are doing their best to get some of the pork out of the bill for the sake of the American citizens.

I frankly believe the bill will pass with not enough of the pork removed. I frankly believe Obama will live to rue the day it passes.

Watching President Obama throw his temper tantrum in last nights press conference was the one thing that finally convinced me that he has a complete lack of experience in any form of executive leadership. This is what the Republicans who ran against him in the election accused him of and what Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and others in the Democrat party who ran against him for president accused him of also. The attitude he took when others did not just "roll over" for his "big spending plan" was perhaps the most telling event concerning The Presidents ability to be a "Executive Leader" that I have seen thus far. I truly believe he thinks he knows it all and should not have to listen to the people we voted for here in our States to represent us. The US Government has multiple layers to protect us and our Country for single minded Presidents who are in way over their heads. He should seek all the help he can until he gets up to speed. Right now....He is falling fast and hard. What a rookie...

It's only 2% of this bill that the Repubs are calling pork and arguing about. It's just all about Repubs pouting and pounding there fists because they want more tax cuts, which have already been shown to not be very effective in stimulating the economy, and economists agree on this. The bill is already more than 1/3 tax cuts already.

We DO NOT need more failed Repub tax cuts. We need direct investment in our economy which will immediately create jobs, besides the fact that funding things like education, infrastructure, and renewable energy is a good long term investment. A lot of people have been brainwashed to think this is "socialism" while what we've had is socialism for the rich. Force the Repubs to fillibuster and let them have a tantrum in some room, this country needs to move forward.

Jim Bush

Most of us saw the hearings on what Clinton did during his administration, but somehow, it slipped his mind.

Along with those things it happens that during his administration unemployment was over 7% six different months.

During his administration it was "happy time"! When he was warned about the danger of Osama Bin Laden at a time when Bin Laden could be dealt with, Colinton ignored it. Maybe Bush's spending over his presidency had to do with the explosion of terrorism here and around the world, as well as the worst national disaster in many, many years, Katrina.

Seems like a lot of folks have a memory problem.

It was a shock to see Obama throwing his tandrum last night. I had just turned the tv on and was completely caught by surprise. I can't remember ever seeing a President in the past behave that way. At first I thought he was hysterical and didn't know what had happened. In past tragedies the past President's have always acted so calm.

I remember Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. I was very young but because of the situation everyone was sitting in the dark (blackout to prevent area from becoming target) and watching Kennedy. He was so calm through the whole event. During the various financial crisis, during wars, and other crisis the past President's always stayed calm. I'm sure on the inside they wanted to run screaming down the hall while tearing their hair out, but you couldn't tell by their behavior. They knew it was their job as our leader to remain calm, the American people were counting on them.

As far as comments made about people wanting Obama to fail. If Obama fails the rest of us fail. Including the Republicans. The Democrats only need two Republicans to vote for this to carry. But several Democrats have voiced their concerns about this package. I understand the urgency, but we need to make sure the jobs this plan creates are longer term than a few months. Depending on the state you live in those people who are currently laid off and accept a job for only a few months may loose the right to accept unemployment benefits. Some states require employment for a specific time before receiving benefits again. Also, they need to ensure they need to evaluate what jobs are really needed. It won't help those who are unemployed now if the jobs offered by this plan aren't something they can do.

According to some Senator's they are already talking about another stimulus plan after this one. They need to make sure this one's going to work because I doubt anyone will be happy when the next one comes up shortly.

I am a Vascular Surgeon that probably pays more in one quarterly estimate than you make in a year so don't start the big shot lecture. I also am not a liberal or a Democrat but I absolutely despise Limbaugh and find it sad that people listen to him, especially Politicians. He is not a Republican or a conservative he is a radical fundamentalist that is in the entertainment business

Roger I have two family members who are also Doctors, you wanna bet who makes more money and wanna bet on who donates more money to charities? Wanna also bet who employs more people than you? Your education is the same as mine. BS and doctorates. (I have 3 b.s. and a masters).

Wanna bet who is gonna not be making money for working so hard if they do socialize medicine?

For someone who claims to be a vascular surgeon I amazed you condone this. Your Malpractice should be out the roof. Oh wait that is right Doctors are never wrong.

I employ people, you doctors do nothing but over charge and claim to be Gods.

I have the feeling we should all be dropping trou and bending over.

We have a progessive tax system....the more you make the higher the tax bracket. Rather than go through all the social engineering exercises the government is trying to force down our throats, why couldn't they focus on the immediate need...a jump start to the economy.

We were promised an economic JOLT in December. This is not an economic jolt, it is a two to three year infrastructure spending plan. The funding will be dribbled out for major projects, and the funds released for immediate projects will be sporadic. And most of the programs do little to quickly put people back to work OR put cash in their pockets.

Inflationary as it may be, perhaps it would have been better to take more of the money and rebate it to the taxpayer as a "Regressive Refund" (since the apparent long-term goal seems to be income distribution anyway).

A large rebate will see a lot of it going to pay down debt, true but that means that weekly cash flow from paychecks will be spent normally going forward. Another substantial portion will be immediatly spent by those who are more frivolous on consumer goods i.e. women, booze, drugs, bling...which will circulate faster through the economy than any government program.

Not that I don't think there may be some merit in improving roads, bridges, sewers, pipelines and electrical grids, but any plans to widen or build new will have to submit to 20 years of environmental reviews before any can happen.

Another thing, at my age, if I lose my job, I don't see the capability for a lot of heavy physical work when compared to someone in their 20's. (The imprint on my deskchair is proof of years of "hard labor" in accounting.)

On the other hand, perhaps I should quit and apply for a cushy guvmint job tracking costs of labor for a three month project? Don't think so.

(hmmm...the edit feature apparently ran out in the middle of my rant and self posted)

Another unmentionable is the the payback for the largess we've bestowed on financial institutions and now government programs.

And we will DEFINITELY be paying this back.

We will be paying this back with middle income tax brackets from 45-65%, we will be paying back with super-inflated costs as the dollar sinks to the level of a Peso, and we will be paying back by buying practically all of our goods from foreign nations as our national manufacturing base totally disappears.

We will also be paying this back by kow-towing to banks, corporations, politicians and unions as we eventually beg for work, food, or shelter which they will ultimately control in an economy with a huge over-supply of labor.

How can there be super-inflation with an over supply of labor? Look up Zimbabwe and hyperinflation. Better yet, imagine how you can continue to go to work when your wage is constantly behind an inflation rate that rises hourly?

"Lisa-468433

Wow, how many posts here talked about the retreat the Democrats are on.

The Republicans were on the same retreat last week and no one here seemed to care about that expense. "

The Democratic Retreat was tax-payer funded. The Republican Retreat was privately funded.

No excuse for either one, they should have kept their asses in their chairs and did the job they were hired to do.

This bill is BS and everyone knows it except the leftist.. I don't want an increase in Welfare, Food Stamps or a tax cut to those who don't pay Federal Income TAX.. I don't want illegals getting any benefit at all.Or do I want to pay for your kids healthcare. Lisa in-case you missed it Privately funded vs Taxpayer funded. What part of that are you missing? What incentive can there possibly be for buying a new Car? What more debt? Come on Democrats are pandering. If obama is serious about no PORK in this BILL which he is not .. He will veto it until it comes clean from all of Nancie's PORK and Harry's PORK and Barney the pet is removed. How can you any of you American Taxpayers stand or sit there silently and let the Government spend 1 TRILLION DOLLARS above the Budget it does not have the money for? Are you all that pathetic? I hope not for if you are we are all in for a world of CRAP for the next 4 yrs.. And re elections start in September..

After reading the 1st 100 POSTS here it appears the

REPUBLICANT's

ARE OUT IN MASSES!!!

Wonder where you all were while

Obama was being elected...LOL

WE THE PEOPLE PUT OBAMA IN OFFICE REMEMBER???

WHY? Because America was sick to DEATH of the TRICKLE DOWN FAILURE POLICIES of TAX Cuts for the RICH! Lets see, you REPUBLICANT's put this Country $11.8 TRILLION dollars in the HOLE, (Oh and that doesn't count the surplus Clinton left you) OH THAT Helped!!! Now when the Dem's want to try to HELP THE WORKING CLASS, All you do is complain about spending???

It appears you all forget that - MCLAME LOST THIS ELECTION.....

Wonder why it is, Dem's took so many seats this last election? Some of them are STILL shaking in their Boots, (Can you say RE-ELECTION) as the article says "Despite the struggle, some Republicans seemed to sense the White House would ultimately prevail, and sought political mileage."

So let me get this straight....ridiculous lending policies established by the Federal Reserve and various regulating agencies allowed banks to loan money with complete disregard for standard laws of lending (otherwise known as common sense). This disregard placed our nation in grave danger by causing the economy to inflate extremely rapidly; which is now consequently deflating even faster.

I'm confused. If excessive consumption is what got us here; how is spending "another" $8,000,000,000,000 going to solve things? Even if they're right, will it even be possible to bring the national debt back to a manageable level before 2050 (assuming we actually work at it)? And just imagine if they're wrong. Our economy could crash based on solvency ratio alone since we borrow so much money from the Feds (Federal Reserve) and foreign nations.

If the government really wanted to help, they should cut out these crazy and unconstitutional social programs (not to mention the fact that are being completely abused); therefore allowing us to keep more of our paychecks, and ultimately rebuilding wealth so that spending can resume. This seems a lot more productive to me, but it appears people actually enjoy living in hell otherwise they would be more leary of government and news sources like this one (msn.com)

Great and intelligent individuals built this great nation; and greedy and ignorant ones will destroy it.

glw-458921 said:

Lets see, you REPUBLICANT's put this Country $11.8 TRILLION dollars in the HOLE, (Oh and that doesn't count the surplus Clinton left you) OH THAT Helped!!! Now when the Dem's want to try to HELP THE WORKING CLASS, All you do is complain about spending???

First of all, you should probably check your facts a bit better. Bush II took over with just shy of $6 trillion, and left office with just over $10 trillion for a total we'll call $5 trillion (p.s. your boy Obama helped W break that $10 trillion threashold by supporting the first stimulus that hasn't done anything). Now in no way am I a fan of that moron from Texas (in fact he ranks second worst president ever in my book), but Clinton was just as much of a chucklehead; and Obama won't be any different.

Don't you understand these guys (Presidents) are just puppets? They don't care about you; they just want your vote and will do anything to get it...including making you dependant on them to survive. Their plan is actually quite brilliant; but if you had that hard of a time verifying your information I doubt you could actually fathom a political agenda that goes against what you have been led to believe. Read "Somebody's Gotta Say It" by Neil Boortz if you are ready to climb out of the darkness.

Oh yes, and I just wanted to say that there are a lot of good people that got involved with the republican party this last year or two, myself included, in an attempt to save our country. We aren't these Neo-Con jerks we've had for far too long now; we believe in limited government, significantly lower taxes, and liberty and freedom. We also feel people control their own destiny, and that means working hard to succeed. If the good life was easy, everyone would be there. But that's a fantasy; so if I you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

would you please explain to me what part of the funds would actually go to help the people. How does buying cars for government employees help people?

Of course the republicans want tax cuts across the board, they wrote this entire predicament. They don't want the middle class to rebound, it is all about themselves. The rich want to inherit the earth, they don't want to help us, if they did they would never have allowed $4.00 gas prices, while the rest of the world is taking a hit the big oil companies are boasting record profits. No regulations for the rich, no watchdog on wall street and these greedy thugs got caught up in all their schemes and failed and now the taxpayers are expected to bail them out. Why do republicans insist on tax cuts, it's the only way they can protect the rich, the only way they can escape carrying their FAIR share of the load, because we all know how trickle down works, it doesn't, that is the biggest farce anyone has ever come up with, give the rich a tax cut so they can build up business and hire more people, THAT'S POPPYCOCK!!!!!!!! They invest it in themselves and big ponzi schemes and there it went, no new jobs, the business is shipped over seas and the middleclass citizen is expected to bail them out, with what???? Our last president, a REPUBLICAN wanted to let people invest there social security, guess why! Had you made your own investment with your social security when he was pushing that scheme, today you wouldn't have a cent to live on, the rich grabbed it all and ran. The republicans are still trying to scare the American people with terrorism, even now after they're out of office and I say, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF TERRORIST WE'VE SEEN IN 8 YEARS!!!!! Not a one cares about AMERICA, it's all about themselves and their rich friends. I hear them say this stimulus package will be a debt that our grandchildren will be paying, what about the $11.5 trillion debt they left behind funding a bogus war and the 4,000 lives that were lost protecting their oil wells, women and children already suffering the loss of husbands and fathers, the blood that was shed, shattered lives of men and women who were wounded only to be ignored on their return home. I hope you conscienceless Republicans are sleeping well at night, but of course you are, you are all that matters in this world. When will the rich be expected to carry their fair share of the load? Not while there's a republican around, that a certainty!

Spartan - I have crawled out of the DARKNESS AND SAW THE LIGHT!

You REPUKES have brought the entire WORLD to it's KNEES with your TAX CUT POLICIES, THEY HAVE HELPED NO ONE, EXCEPT THE RICH!!!

Give the $$ to those that create JOBS??? I don't see Any FREAKEN JOBS being created???? Matter of fact, HAVEN'T YOU BEEN READING, 3.5 HAVE BEEN LOST THE LAST YEAR!!!

All I see is Boosh and Co. Cronies taking luxury vaca's, on TAX PAYER MONEY!!!

A lot of GOOD people DID get envolved and KICKED YOUR REPUBLICAN'T'S A$$E$ out of the White House....THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND!!!

Roll over Beethoven, it's our turn to show you how it's done.......

We didn't see a republican plan when Bush proposed the bailout along with Paulson....did not see any limits or checks added by either party....the pork does need to be cut out for sure...but in reality some of this "pork" will be replacing funds they cut out for their own agenda long before this. Such as with education and our roads and bridges funds . Both parties need to stop playing politics with our lives and do what they were elected to do....and leave special interest out altogether.

And you obviously do not pay any taxes

demitrix,

"For someone who claims to be a vascular surgeon I amazed you condone this. Your Malpractice should be out the roof. Oh wait that is right Doctors are never wrong.

I employ people, you doctors do nothing but over charge and claim to be Gods."

You are making some very big statements but like all Political puppets you fail to explain what you do. Tell us what you do that makes you so knowledgeable and beneficial? By the way I have about 500 employees at my Clinics and two other businesses I co-own.

I see the people posting favorably for President Obama are being collapsed, Very intelligent of the right wingers. They spew their racist hatred, and we are all expected to agree.

from diogenes--08 i offer:Once again the Republicans are trying to hold people responsible for wasting outrageous amounts of money on PORK...Our economics were fine until pelosi and her friends the dems took control...

Really...please tell me, just what is the colour of the sun in your world...diogenes lies...

James,

Follow the lead of our new CINC and get away from the name calling crap.....and by the way, republicans and democrats like tax cuts for the wealthy alike....everyone that is filthy rich is not a card carrying republican. Ever ask yourself where all of those multi-millionaires and some billionaires that backed Obama got their money from?

Furthermore, you're missing the point on why there is a lot of resistance to the stimulus plan....most Americans did not want it done when Bush pushed his version and most polls still show that the majority still do not want this new one, especially at its price tag. Does it not worry you when you really read what the money is going for? I mean, how can one say this new plan is expected to "create or save 3 million or so jobs"?....I feel bad for those out of work, but increasing their food stamp allowance, subsidizing their healthcare, and increasing their unemployment benefits do not put them back to work....in fact, it may encourage some to even adapt to their new lifestyle....most will not, but unfortunately we still have some irresponsible people that will take advantage. Another huge chunk is going to state governments just to help them balance their budgets to prevent them from cutting back on any services....once again, not creating a job.....I get the sense that congress is just using this extraordinary time to just tack it all on and try and clean up every little government mess out there and that is not going to help the average citizen. And before any of you get on here and start trying to play the whole "it's the republican's fault that we are in this mess" card.....just save it.....better yet, go to your public library and do some reading, or use your internet for something other than just going to your favorite slanted news source and get in touch with reality.....American politics are peaking at their highest levels of corruption, dishonesty, and deception this country has ever seen and it does not wear a single party suit.....it is the whole lot of them that have been taking advantage of this great nation for far too long.

My biggest hope is that a good independent shows up to the dance in 2012 as well as 2010 for congressional spots..........time to start culling the deck.

This is typical big government mentality... the senate added over a hundred billion to the house bill, then 'negotiated out about' 80% or that increase and now they're talking about how they 'cut spending'! This bill has almost nothing to do with the economy except for the fraction of 'tax cuts', which are mostly payoffs to those who don't pay taxes so they'll vote stupid again. Don't even pretend that the tax cuts are for the 'rich', they're the only ones who are paying taxes of any consequence now... no matter what the media and democrats keep saying. There is one group of 'rich' who aren't paying taxes...and that group was exposed by BOs nominations! The 'rich' democrats only pay taxes when they're uncovered in a very lax vetting process.

every respected economist tell us that if we don't have a large spending law soon we will slip into a depression that would last for years.

I wish to remind the pugs that when they were forcing judges on the bench and the dems used the sixty vote rule the pugs warned that they would remove that privilege if the dems continued to refuse to allow the pugs to have their way.

I remember a loud mouthed pug saying that and I think it is time for that rule to be abolished as it only gives the minority to block the majority's will

g-331557

"Two years ago the DEmocrats did NOT have the majority they did NOT have the majority to overide any of Bushs idiot bills he RAMRODDED through congress this economic crisis we are experiencing now is the DIRECT result of BUSHS policies, period. No if ands or buts about it,"

I wish people would gain some basic understanding of how the Government works. The President does not have the ability to legislate. Only Congress can present bills, and, unless one party has 60 or more votes in the Senate, it can't be RAMRODDED anywhere.

350 billion dollars of the plan is tax cuts???? the cave in to the trickle down policys continues, how about forgetting tax cuts for corporations and demand the fed lower rates for corporate debt, then put back the diversity in the stimulus package, the Japanese economist say their stimulus failed because they didn't put enough diversity in their stimulus, not enough social programs and new energy programs, to much infrastructure jobs that were narrowed to construction only jobs, not enough for education, it seems we are going to follow their path and our stimulus is smaller, they also say they bailed out to soon instead of injecting more funds and they spent two trillion and change in two years. I say forget bipartisinship the Republicans know only one idea and that's tax cuts...well how is that going to help when nobody has a pay check and corporate America keeps outsourcing jobs and finding tax shelters overseas, and as far as the mega banks J.P. Morgan and friends go maybe they are to big to keep, we should restructure loans and tell the banks what price they are going to get not ask them what they want, if the investors loose faith in the big boys maybe they will invest in the mid range and smaller banks who got it wright, maybe then future investment and banking companies will act more responsible, we do need a redistribution of wealth but not from the bottom up but from the top down.

IMHO, one of the GOP objectives to to take attention away from Bush and the GOP for getting us in this economic mess in the first place. "If you don't let me play I'm taking my ball home" attitude.

In some respects I'm glad the GOP is taking this stand. Because it will result of many of them not being re-elected.

for the question above " how does buying cars for government employee's help create jobs" ? It keeps auto workers working and the plan calls for the government to buy echo friendly type cars, either we are going to start putting money in environmental ideas or as they say "put up or shut up" and accept paying $4-5-6 dollars a gallon and polluting the earth. everyone keeps saying we have to start being energy efficient and its the first thing that gets shot down, I think this adminstration is serious about this but the Republican oil boys are not.

To the right-wing posters...

The spending (most notably the invasion of Iraq), the deregulation (most notably the finance sector), and tax cuts for the wealthy and Big Business has been going on since the first part of the Bush/Cheney administration. So you can try to blame the Dems for your crap, but it doesn't stick. The reason most Republicans walked away from this bill is because they wanted more of the same and aren't going to get it. Also, they don't want a different ideology to be successful.

Nonetheless, the bill will consist mostly of tax cuts instead of spending, so the people who are pouting little brats are the Republicans. Why? Because the tax cuts are mostly for the middle class; not for them and their buddies and Big Business. I am glad some spending was cut, like birth control. That would have been a handout that would do nothing to create jobs. But this was a result of moderate Dems--good for them.

Now on to other Republican attacks on the working class, and their desire to make it impossible for labor to organize... Thanks to Republican control over the past many years, the gap between the rich and poor has grown so much that we are now in a class war in this country. But it's more than a class war. To preserve democracy, it is a fight to retain a middle class. I don't know why Republicans hate our country so much. I think it's time to kick some anti-American butt.

This stimulus likely won't work for 3 reasons:

1. Fiscal policy has never been able to change the course of the business cycle. Monetary policy and manipulation of "markets" create the ups and downs in the business cycle - it is only with the removal of these factors can we affect a "recovery". further, the truth is our "capitalist" economy is poorly suited for managing a depression, since private interests and cpaital tend to do all the "wrong" things to end the depression - layoffs, repossessions, forclosures, flights to cash or government bonds, etc. This will make the problems worse, not better - and the government cannot spend enough to change this "anti selection" process.

2. The stimulus is too broad based to have a material impact. Tax breaks, infrastructure spending, questionable special projects. The main goal of this paln should be to assist those who are most effected by the crisis: the unemployed, the poor, the working poor. As noted in #1, fiscal stimulus to fix the business cycle is throwing good money after bad - like the collossal corporate welfare scam that TARP has become, we have seen Trillions wasted for little or no benefit to Average Americans. Had this money been spent on the people most effected, it would have immediately been spent, creating demand and jobs.

3. Failure of any stimulus or bailout to reform the institutions who directly caused this mess. Banks and the Fed, Insurance Companies, Regulators, etc. We have seen our entire way of life brought to the precipice by misguided, short sighted and incompetant monetary and finace policy. The clear intent to play chicken with out credit and monetary system by these groups has largely gone unpunished. We need some strait answers and solutions before the page can be turned here.

At the end of the day, much of this stimulus will be too little too late. A significant portion of Americans have gone too far down the path for this program to save them. Unemployment, destroyed credit, foreclosure, depression, marital breakdown .... This program is not a paradigm shift that we need - but a rerun of the failed policies of another age..... The biggest problem is that we likely have neither the will nor the cultural reach to do what needs to be done to end this.

Did Congress preserve funding for the development of alternative energy and infrastructure? Programs to reduce our trading deficit must be percieved as a top priority for the economy and security. We must produce our own energy as well as other goods required to maintain our homeostasis. Are the repubs selling us down the river again for their cash cow oil companies and global payouts?

Gee, Obama wants the Republicans to quit wasting time on voting but it's the Democrats who went on a 2 day retreat which is cost us little ole taxpayers $1M and won't be able to vote till Tuesday. How ironic!

He so unhappy now that most of the pork to his buddies and campaign funders has been cut back by $160B -- I guess that's something we can all be happy about because it's that much less WE have to figure on paying back. The DC Politicians don't pay income tax their salaries are tax-free.

You think that outrageous spending irresponsibly is the answer here? You need to stop being a liberal and be an American who values freedom. You are running headlong into Socialism by suporting these kind of policies. This is not a partisan issue --- it is an American issue and if you are for Socialism then you are against the U.S. constitution!!!!

'Move swiftly' on stimulus, Obama urges

Yeh, before anybody looks too closely at it.

Once again a Smelly dem pushing the blame of "this mess to the republiicans"! What a crock of self proclaimed ignorance from Nobama the Crook Clown! The economy wasn't the best the whole 8 years Bush was in office, but i'll tell ya, they were there. Up untill 2 yrs ago, when the dems started runnig "junk bills", crap proposals, and pocketing, or should i say laundering money from the government, and the taxpayor! The repubs call fannie/freddie in of the scam they had going on with houseing....who backed F/F? The dems! How long ago was that? hmmmm bout 2 years ago.

Who here thinks it costs nothing to fund/finance a war? If you raised your hand, you can leave the room, you have no more intelligence, than that of a drop of water to add.

Instead of looking to pump pockets full of cash to satify everyone for 30 days, they need to look more long term, into fixes, and exspanding our government isn't the way to do it. If you want a grant to go to school, grant yourself a job, and get a loan from the government to pay it back. Want to fight STD's, teach your kids to keep thier pants on, stay in school, off the street, and learn them some morals like a REAL parent should. (Billions saved right there)< Instead of shoveing billions into roads to thumb rides on, how about working on getting real jobs, long term pernament jobs, including the ones that left the country! Mass Transit? For what? Going to the welfare/unemployment office?

Push the bill thru....yup, who ever does it is not too bright, and i'll bet i can sell them my 84 pick up for the price of a hummer if that person buys into it! Ya, if i sound a bit peeved, might be because I am. Ths crap spending, and printing more money to go where? Not to the economy that's for sure. Welfare? Mass transit? STD's, "$4.3 billion to provide an expanded credit to homeowners who make their homes more energy-efficient in 2009 and 2010. Homeowners could recoup 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500 of numerous projects, such as installing energy-efficient windows, doors, furnaces and air conditioners." Coool! Cause now, let's see who all has buddies in the contracting buisness, on the government plan?oooh what's this?"$2.9 billion to weatherize modest-income homes"? Looks like a double standard draw for those who own slums to me. Now, for all realistic aspect, i can take this onto 3 pages, but this is just rediculous!!! Can any one say the word ACORN? Yup, thats who will be getting a real nice chunk of this, and the rest of the Nobama the Crook Clown people who helped shamwow his butt into office! Not even gonna spellcheck

James, point out one thing that the "stimulus" bill does to help the little man. You can't but you are as stupid as Obama to look at history which proves time and again that tax cuts do stimulate the economy. Look at FDR and Jimmy Carter for your proof that larger government with excessive spending doesn't work. Try picking up books by economists not liberals or Democrats and learn the truth. It is as simple as Econ 101. Quit drinking the Koolaid and try to fix your stupid by education.

If Republicans had all the answers, our economy would not be in the state it is now. It is more than Koolaid it is reality Obama is President....get over it!!! Cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes yes that may be part of the solution in the long run but the considering the awful state your President of 8 years left the country in, an action plan is needed right now! If we can spill billions of a dollars into a war to fight for freedom for another country, why can't we do something to help our own country to become the economic powerhouse we once were? There has to be an end to all of this before America hits a great depression all over again.

Thanks to Sen Susan Collins, facilitating the $110 B stimulus compromise in spending, thus wiping out jobs directed at women. Education, health care, community /social services are welcoming industries that are female accessible. Must we remind Congress that the largest poverty"group" in America is single moms' facing low wages and few opportunities?

Shame on Susan Collins for not even knowing this! What planet are these people from?

This is not about parties - both parties have blood on their hands here. this mess took 15 years to build. There were lots of people warning about the debt levels or consumers in the late 90's, in 2003 .... It wa Greenspan and his clown apprentice Bernake who led us down the garden path that we could expand the money supply exponentially (with absolutely nothing to back it up) to infinity and beyound .... We got lots of support from the Chinese, Koreans, Indians and Saudis who now own our country.

We need solutions that are going to fix this mess. We need productive, sustainable economic growth that creates real jobs - not legions of mortgage brokers, insurance salesman, realtors and bank managers. To do this is going to take alot more than this stimulus plan.

The real problem is that politicians and bankers have conned us into believing that they can "fix" the economy for us. The problem is that since these guys have been "fixing" the economy, we've had nothing but problems - booms and busts. Since this system clearly isn't working why not try something else.

The government has no business in running the economy in a "free market" economy. What they should be doing is regulating the economy and managing the money supply. Their failure to do either is the cause of these problems, and the refusal to adress these issues means we are not out of the woods. The government needs to reign in the Federal Reserve and the Commercial banks.

TARP has been at best a massive cop out. Instead of installing a wtchdog on the boards of these banks and nationalizing the ones that "failed" to ensure compliance, they have beat around the bush. Now we are down Trillions and have nothing to show for it - less than nothing - they need another 3 Trillion and counting! They need to take control over the issuance of money and get out of the debt game with the Fed. The current mess is going to create a system where Congress is borrowing Trillions of dollars at interest from the FED which prints the money on their behalf - why not just jave congress print it's own money and forget about the Bonds? If you had a money machine in your basement would you go to the Bank for a loan? No you WOULD PRINT YOUR OWN MONEY - WHY DOESN"T CONGRESS???

Finally, government needs to focus on what its real job should be - looking after those who aren't able to look after themselves. I for one, don't need a couple of hundred dollars in tax savings. I have a job. However, if I lost my job I would like to think that the richest country in the world could hold me over until we created some new ones (not the government, the economy) without losing my home, my car, my family ....

Megalodon,

You are a very funny person..... As much as you would like to twist the situation it is very clear what is happening. The Politicians South of the Kentucky line will not vote until they get Limbaughs approval. They have no alternative solution, no answers to the questions, or no clue what is going on. What I want to see is the amount of tax money these people get compared to what they pay in.

All we ever hear on this forum is the 12% that believe we can just pretend everything is fine. Those of you that want to play the stupid game get ready we are going to put people up against you. The majority of the people cannot control how the one party vote of the South but we sure as hell can get to those in the two party States. There is a Congressman in Southern Illinois that better be very worried. The only reason you are in to begin with is because of the redistricting that gave you the advantage. We have a Republican that wants you out. You no longer represent the people who elected you.

James - get your facts straight. The Republicans are trying to borrow only the amount required for a stimulus, not bankroll special interests.

This is supposed to be a stimulus package...so we should only spend money on items that will help us stimulate the economy.

I've been away for a while... stimulus??? Again??? What, are they giving out vibrators or something this time? I wasn't stimulated the last time.

This bill or bailout may help a few of the real working class but not many. And of all the items the republicans and the democrates are willing to cut is in education....nothing new there though..they cut that one all the time but are always sure to keep their personal "pork" projects in. Neither party is willing to really help the working class...but special interest will get help every time.....its about time that stopped...but to stop it we need to elect new people into office the next time the voting starts.

It is UNBELIEVABLE how ignorant people are on our monetary system. DONT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THESE STIMULUS' ARE ADDING JETFUEL TO THE RAGING FIRE. This money comes out of thin air and WE get put in debt for it. The inflation from these are DESTROYING our money. The International bankers of the privately owned Federal Reserve are doing this ON PURPOSE to bring about a collapse of the "world's reserve" to set up a World Government and another debt based world curency. And they are LAUGHING at us while they turn us into a 3rd world country.

This stimulus package destroys the middle class if you work for a living and pay taxes. It is about $750 - $800 Billion over what should be in it. The congress is spending your retirement funds, your childrens retirement funds, and your grandchildrens retirement funds. A tax refund or a tax free year would have brought the economy soaring back, but then the people and organizations that got obama elected would not get paid for their work nor would the people who are waiting for the government to provide for them. The pigs at the trough are the only winners with this bill.

James, you like most of the other liberals don't get a clue. This stimulus package went from 825 billion to 920 billion and back to 800 billion. Not much in cuts. This bill will not support hardly any jobs for two years. It still has spending that has no business being in the package. When the money runs out for this package, it will be one or two more years and we will be right back to square one. When the millions of people are out of work again, after the package money is gone, they are all out of work again and if they are out of work, they do not spend money. They don't spend money, factories and businesses lay people off, again!! The government can not spend us out of a recession. Where to they get the money from? Either printing it, which lowers the value of a dollar or taxing the people who have the initiative to get off of their butts and find a job instead of whining about what the government owes them, which is nothing. Roosevelt's new deal did nothing and this is the same old stuff and it will do nothing. The economy did not turn around until tax cuts were implemented for the businesses and wealthy. Pure and simple. The Republicans had a plan presented that used half the money and created twice the jobs. This was calculated by obamas own people. obamas plan spends twice the money and 1/2 the jobs. It's a fact. You libs need to wake up. I am not rich, but I am sick and tired of the liberal politicians taking my money and giving it to people that are too lazy to find a job. You use every excuse to sit on your butts, when there is no excuse. You liberals ought to get rid of the illegal immigrants. This would create millions of jobs for our people. But, you are too lazy to go out and do that kind of work. The liberals are pushing us to a socialistic society and I can tell you that we do not want to go there. Government running everything and nationalizing, that is what Russis did decades ago. Do you really want that? In this society, they will make you get off your lazy butts and work.

Typical loser resonpse. Give me money for being a couch potato, and punish those who work hard. Hmmm,, sounds like Karl Marx

Haste makes waste. Is there a more perfect example?

James, I'll bet you get your job from a poor man. I got mine from a company that's owned by guys who get big salaries, but are still paying for buying the company. Yeah, they make more money than me, but they take all the risk AND they work 60-70 hours a week. For even the opportunity they worked years the same 60-70 hours while being paid only for 40 hrs just for the opportunity.

Totally agree!

I know its hard for us all, but President Obama, the issue is fairly compromise, compromise, compromise. Please Democrats and Republican's try to work together for all of the people who voted for "change" and equity for the people of this country. Having worked in the private sector, the legislative, executive and with the judicial branch for many years, we need to carefully examine how all sectors conduct themselves on behalf of the people of this country which we ALL have a vested interest in. God bless all of you and I will pray for wisdom for your dealings amongst each other so faith will be restored in our country's care for its people.

The current GOP in Congress apparently did not pay any attention to who won the Election! They still believe more in IDEAOLOGY than doing the peoples work. The whole bunch of GOP's still in Congress need to be "RECALLED" and maybe we should round them up and ship them off to GITMO, as they seem to think that place is so good..maybe a little waterboarding would do some of them good.

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt hat her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

"We can't afford to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary," President Obama.

OK. Lets look at that saying closely. This bill would be the enemy (since it is what is not perfect) of the absolutely necessary. So the absolutely necessary would be to spend less and this bill spends more. Got it. Thanks Mr. Obama. DO NOT PASS THIS BLL!!!

Well, someone needs to give the Democratic party a reality check. The Democratic party keeps trying to throw in a bunch of garbage to add to the so called stimulus package deal. Repulicans speaks the truth and lets them know that they are over spending. For one thing all these jobs that are being created is going to be on a short term basis. Republicans know that the jobs that are going to be created thus far will benefit the Illegals-road and building construction. They need to put a stipulation on school budget spending (have you seen some of the new schools that are being built, they have high ceilings-which cost more money to keep it warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, super attendants and administrators overpaying themselves-just like the auot, banking and home buying industries.
I don't see how creating short term jobs, such as the construction industry is going to benefit the American people-economy. These jobs are out sourced by construction companies that get hired on by the government(so family member of the party), and then the construction companies hire illegals-who in turn send their money home to their families in Mexico. So, I don't think all these quick so called American jobs that are being pushed out there by the Democratic party is going to benefit our economy, instead is it going to relive Mexico's/ economic crunch, and a year or so down the road, the American tax payers are still going to be the one's who are paying the bill. They expect each taxpayer homeowner to pay out $800,000.00 footinh the bill for this stimulus plan that Obama and his party want to slap the American people with. The over spending has to stop somewher, other wise we are all going to crash and burn.

I for one am tired of having to foot other countries/and illeglas medical, food stamps, education bills. I have my own family to be worried about, struggle to make ends meet and see to it that my own bills are paid for.

Excuse,but, not all middle class taxpayers are rich, We work hard for our money, keep our jobs, pay our taxes, and then get caught in the middle, we are the between people. Between the poor and the rich. And then we are the ones who get to pay for the poor man and rich man's things. Sad, but, true. So, yes if the Repulican's are fighting for the middle class people. I say, go for it, because we need all the help we can, since it is the middle man who boostes the econnomy. Funny, how the poor and rich neither one of them pay taxes. But, people wants to call the middle class blue collar worker rich, go figure that one out. The Rich support Obama and the democratic party, no wonder, he had all that money for his campaign-all supported by Entertainer's and big corporations. I guess that's why him and his team could spend all that money to be publisized in magazine's, tv time, and newspaper article's because the rich helped support his public campaigns. I guess they will get a big tax break this year. It worked out just great

Did you bother to read the stimulus bill. This bill will only help feather the nests of an "elite" few. Just a flim-flam excuse to steal more money. Won't help anything. "READ IT". then talk.

from article+++++The president was to name the economic team members Friday as the White House braced for more bad news in the unemployment report for January.+++++

Does this not seem strange? Obama is pushing for the biggest spending bill in the history of the world and NOW he's gonna name some economic advisors?

Maybe get some advice from your economic advisors and THEN worry about spending a trillion dollars. Do something with that $350 billion remaining from TARP b4 you try to push through this other crap. How much freakin money do you think you have to waste?

The skinny, little hoodlum blasts bush for running up the deficit, but he'll outspend bush in less than three years.

bobr, and the dems want to give the money to non-productive people. I'd rather give to someone who will create jobs and not spend it on booze and cigs.

This spending, so called stimulus bill will NOT put money in the pockets of Americans who need it unless it contains tax cuts. A cut in payroll taxes is an immediate increase in take home pay.

Three years??  More like three months.  He complained that Bush left him a trillion dollar deficit.  Wasn't BO a Senator for the last two years?  Didn't he vote for much of the expenditures or did he just vote "present" while he spent most of his two years there campaigning.  If/when he signs the Great Socialization Bill of 2009, at the stroke of a pen he will authorize anther trillion plus.  It took the Bush administration  eight years with Democrats in control of Congress the last two years.  His first six years set record lows regarding unemployment rates, low interest rates, low inflation.  Then, along came the Democrats and it all quickly went to hell in a handbasket.  The dumbed-down American voters put the Dems. back in control (Frank, Reid, Pelosi, etc) and we immediately started having serious problems with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, etc.  Bush and the Republican minority tried to warn us but the Dems.  could see no evil, say no evil, and hear no evil so they took no action and blocked efforts for anyone else to do so.  The American people should have punished the Dems. for their serious errors in judgement.  But, what did they do?  They voted to give the Dems. total control of the country.  Now Comrade citizens of the USSA, it's time to pay the piper.   

Sickoftheleft - it's people like you who make me sick. Your platitudes are so tired and old. You think dems want to give money to unproductive people on welfare who spend money on booze and cigs. The 60s called and wants their stereotype back. How childlish and simple.

Obama is running scared on this bill. He is having to use the OBAMA Media Network to try to convince the American people that he And his pork filled no stimulus to the economy spending bill is the only thing that can save the country.

Obama keeps blaming only Bush and His economic policies for the large debt conveniently forgetting the cost of WAR.

Shame on Obama for not being a Leader.

Debbie-

Sickoftheleft - it's people like you who make me sick. Your platitudes are so tired and old. You think dems want to give money to unproductive people on welfare who spend money on booze and cigs. The 60s called and wants their stereotype back. How childlish and simple.

No ma'am, you are incorrect. Right now the stimulus bill is offering a handout to anyone "even if they do not make enough to report income taxes." (Direct quote from the listings of what's in the stimulus bill proposal). Therefore, YES, the Democrats (and Republicans who are in Congress if they vote for it) want to give money to unproductive people.

And, while I know some people are on welfare who really need it, there are a bunch of people who take it just because they fit the threshold. Hell, we have Hurricane KATRINA victims SUING FEMA to keep their government housing. That hurricane was nearly four years ago, and they should have found a job by now, but just don't want to work. Personally it disgusts me when I read those stories - especially since I do technically qualify for government assistance but do NOT take it because I have a job and know I'm supposed to work for what I earn.

or at least the woman with the 14 kids wants the control of it.

That's because they do Debbie keep them happy and they will vote again.

And we do not need to be in any kind of a hurry to throw this money away, no matter how smooth the oration is.Will his new advisors be people who pay their taxes? I will vote against any lawmaker that supports this.Timothy Geithner is an affront to all law abiding citizens, and should be removed from his position immediately.

Mitt Romney said that he wants the 2001 and the 2003 tax cuts to be made permanent. Are not these tax cuts mainly for the rich Republicans? What about the poor people?

Mel: Just because people don't earn enough to pay income tax doesn't mean they don't work hard or are unproductive - it means they don't earn much, and are most likely being exploited by their employer. Some of the hardest, most loyal workers I know earn minimum wage or less. The rest of your rant is pure rhetoric. Go read the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 - lifetime limits, education requirements, limits on the number of children that can be claimed. The rolls have been reduced by 60% since 96. BTW the most lazy azz person I know makes close to 100 K per year and surfs the net at work all day and manages to do the bare minimum and blame the rest on co-workers. But I guess in your book he is stellar and "productive" because, hey, he pays income taxes.

Mike, my husband and I are middle class, and we benefitted greatly from the Bush tax cuts. When they go away, we will pay thousands more in taxes each year.

Poor people do not create jobs, we need for companies big and small to create jobs, that will help the poor people. Like it or not everyone in one way or another works for big business, so when you tax any business making over $250,000(which is a tiny company) everyone will pay the price. Businesses do not pay taxes they collect them from us. I say give the President and congress whatever they want, so there will be less excuses later. Because there is no way what is being proposed has a chance of working. Have a nice life.

Mike---Are there no rich democrats? Last time I looked, there were plenty. Obama was one of them!

OH,,,,,,,,,and the Repug's want more tax cuts ? for who, the rich like Bush gave them? The proof of the Bush plan is already in the history book of failures,,only Republican's would want to do the same time tested failure over again,,,,,,,ONLY REPUBLICANS!!!

I hate when people ignore the facts. Take a walk over to the IRS site and compare tax rates from 2000 and 2008.

Let's say you make 35,000 a year (I think this is a number that people would not consider to be rich.) In 2000 (Clinton taxes) you would have paid $6,387.50 in taxes. In 2008 (Bush taxes) you would have paid $4,848.75.

Yeah and Clinton left a surplus and Bush left a nearly 12 trillion dollar deficit. See what unfunded tax cuts will get you? Go Republicans!

Seriously, did you just say Clinton left a SURPLUS! How about $6trillion in debt. Yes the Bush years have been bad, very bad, you know with all that spending by the Dem Congress and all. The debt is both Republican and Democrats fault. By blaming the defceit on Bush is like blaming the Cardinals lose on Warner. It is the fault of all the Senators that you all keep voting back into Congress.

Clinton did NOT leave a surplus. Clinton left a $5 trillion deficit. It grew every year he was in office. It was not much a couple of years but it grew. He balanced his BUDGET by BORROWING from Social Security. The Government under his watch spent more then it took in every year.

Does the expression the poor farm bring up any memories for anyone - it will for people who are over 70 yrs. old - well i have a feeling that no matter what happens the gulf between the rich & the poor is going to get wider. How many politicians will ever live on a poor farm? Maybe if the politicians, judges & lawyers, you know all the people who twist the law to suit themselves (Republicans & Democrats) paid the taxes they really owe and stop using their expense accounts to live on maybe this country would not be in such a mess. Whenever a politician is elected everyone knows the newly elected politician has someone to thank and I do not mean the American public, so to pay back the people who really put the person in office PORK is attached to different packages they want passed and we the AMERICAN PEOPLE GET STUCK WITH THE BILL! Wake up it does not really matter what party is elected the working class will always have to pay for it again & again & again............... Nothing new here! This stimulus will not really benefit the working Americans but it will benefit a few select individuals!

Nothing but social engineering. This package has very little to do with stimulus. I hope he fails, as well as his radical policies. This man proved in his press conference last night what an imbesol he truly is. He has no idea how a president conducts himself in a public forum, and made a complete spectacle of himself last night. Rush Limbaugh is an absolute genious next to this man. I think his exposure of Obama is truly coming to fruition with the liberals.

jkenny-

Yes, the dems are having their annual retreat this month. You need to do more research because the reps are also having their annual retreat this month in Hot Springs, Va. Check it out on thehill.com.

Looks like they are also having a retreat while Kentucky is in crisis.

mike, the Bush tax cuts helped me out a great deal, and I am far from rich. If you get 5% more money, than its 5% more. If the guy next to you gets 5% of 1 million and you get 5% of 100k, then take your 5%, wish the guy next to you the best of luck, and have a great day.

"Forget about this corporate and local government welfare. We don't have the money to do it. This money can only be spent by borrowing,taxing or printing more. It will not help! "

If a few local goverment were having a non-disaster problem then yes, let them die.

If a few coorporations begin to shrink that is the market.

If normal percentage of people are unemployeed they had better get themselves out before thier benifits end.

However this is very much larger than your average time. We are shrinking not growing. I'm all for letting people fail as long as on the whole we are growing and can continue to grow. But now we are collectivly failing and we need to rob our future to pay for it. It's too bad that the past robbed us so many times when they were goring and didn't need too.

ITs the DUMBED DOWN conservative right who are the idiots who voted for BUSH! And who now are believing all the BS spewed out by their fearless leaders Limbaugh and Hannity while they are laughing all the way to the bank. I guess you never read the small print that said "its for entertainment purposes only"Of course the dumbed down moronic stupid conservative right is being robbed blind and doesn't even know it while they are still begging for more I guess once a sucker always a sucker. So the rest of the country has to continue to suffer because of the small minority of the moronic right?? Time to stand up and say we are made as hell and we are not taking it anymore!! Its time to say enough is enough and not allow ourselves to be bullied by these Republican MORONS anymore. This country has spoken, the majority has voted.

I've never heard posts from so many brain-washed Republican supporters. Giving 'tax cuts' is impossible if you don't have a job to tax. If there are 8 million people out of work, the IRS is losing money faster than some of these poorly run companies. Where do you all think the money is going to come from to stimulate jobs if there are NO taxes collected? Bush got his way and reduced taxes...for the wealthy. Gradually there won't be anyone left to tax.

Obama wants to stimulate jobs and therefore spending by providing the money that was stolen from our infrastructure funds and thrown down the rat hole called Iraq. If we didn't have Bush's war to pay for, there would be no need for a stimulus package. How were tax cuts possible during the Bush years? -By borrowing money from every foreign government who was willing to lend it to us at a high interest rate. Now we have no money, no jobs, and no one to tax.

If anyone has a constructive suggestion, please send it to the Senate. It seems they need all the help they can get. Stop this blame game. You all sound like a bunch of arguing kids.

Yes G,

The dumb American public has spoken, now we who disagree with you are supposed to remain quiet? Is that the best you can do is call names? How sad, how typical of you "intellectuals", not speaking about any issues, just ranting your infantile hate.

I love what I just found out, while the nation is in such trouble as President Obama considers this lie he is foisting on us, I mean the stumbleus package. Where are the dems? At an annual retreat. Where is Obama? Taking a break at Camp David...not 3 weeks into a new job, during one of the biggest crisises of our time, and he splits town. Ya this bill is sure as hell important.

Folks:

rightron739266 wrote:

"This money can only be spent by borrowing,taxing or printing more. It will not help!"

As it turns out he could have said this money will all need to be repaid out of our taxes for as long as it takes, even if it is our great grand kids doing it.

Seriously, there are 149,500,000 taxpayers in this country per the unemployment figures from this morning. Lets do the math:

• For each billion dollars spent that is not somehow repaid from where the money was placed such as at a financial institution or auto manufacturer, it requires an average repayment of $6.69 from each individual tax payer, (this excludes other tax payers such as businesses).
• For each trillion dollars this is $6,690.00
• As far as I can tell we have run up a bill of around 3 trillion dollars in the last 8 years, so this works out to $20,066.00 each, ($1T for the wars; $1.5T for economic stability; $.5T just thrown away on dumb stuff like infrastructure in foreign countries, strange natural disasters, getting rooked by jerks like Enron and Madoff, etc.; taking care of beat up soldiers and their families).

Of course the problem is that we do not pay in averages. As you may have heard the poor pay little or no taxes, and they should not, they are poor. The rich pay as little taxes as possible with their great CPA's and lawyers cooking up loopholes, not to mention the political pull they have, plus there really aren't that many rich people anyway.

So the yeoman's share of this repayment burden will fall to the shoulders of the ever shinking middle class, mostly to the mid and upper categories, (roughly 1/3 of all workers), of this rapidly disappearing species. It would not be a stretch of imagination to believe that this group will be paying for 90% of these funds and the interest on these funds. If this runs somewhat like any government obligation the amount paid in interest will roughly equal the amount of the principle. So we're talking about $6 trillion dollars to be paid by around 17% of the people in this country, 305 million population x .17= 51.85 million people.

More math:

• $6,000,000,000,000.00 x 90% / 51850000=$104,146.00 each

Now, I hate to complain, but it seems like this is a lot of dough, especially since this is in addition to the taxes we were already paying to run this country.

Where is the heck are we going to get this kind of money if we are unemployed or under-employed; if earnings are eroding as they have for the past 2 decades; if college costs $100K per kid; if health care costs $500/month; if fuel costs 20 cents per mile; if energy for the home doubles in price in the next 10 years; if we are to continue trying to pay into retirement programs; if we continue to live in the 'American Dream' homes?

I have to admit I am more than a little concerned.

Good Luck.

Sorry ChevsMark but with completly uneducated comments by most of these conversatives on here its hard not to get upset when the enitre country is at stake I am trying to do what I can to save it, so sue me. Like the comments you just said Obama is foisting lies upon us, what lies is he foistering please give me just one example? As bad as your lies claiming he is taking a break at camp david?? He NEVER skipped town he is working hard 100% on this crisis, with lies like yours no wonder I get upset. Being stood up and cheated and getting stone walled by the Republicans after being told they would work with you and then instead they turn around and refuse to work at all purely to protect their own as@ that should get anyone who cares about this country mad as hell.

g-331557
Sorry g, but it was reported on the news this afternoon that Obama was on his way to camp David. Perhaps if you had been watching or listening you would know. BTW, the House part of the bill was ramrodded through by Pelosi and her democrat minions who would not listen (accidentally on purpose?) to President Obama when he said he wanted a bipartisan package. Didn't you know about Nancy's new rule after her fellow dems were sworn in? No republican additions, amendments, or discussion allowed on any bills we present. So how are the republicans to do anything? Oh wait, it wasn't on MTV so yo wouldn't know.

ChevsMark, Camp David is real close to DC and he is not taking a vacation. BO has worked harder in his first three weeks then your beloved GWB did during his entire time in office. When Republicans were the majority party there was no bipartisan efforts, they just ramroded legislation and threatened nuclear options. Hell, they wouldn't even provide conference rooms for the Democrats to hold hearings. So now the democrats are supposed to be bipartisan.

Bill in Florida

Although I had no intention of voting for him, I checked his voting record...very, very sparse.

I also remember that when voting on thefirst stimulous bill which came up for a vote during the campaigning, he didn't even think it necessary or him to go to Washington to vote, and only went because at the time of that vote he and John McClan were scheduled for a debate. Senator McClain said he would just skip the debate as it was more important for him to support his constituency. Then, after the fact Obama did go and voted on that bill.

I really don't believe he was ever "into" being a Senator, I think his eyes have been strictly on the "Prize" for a long time. He should have matured first!

sickof the left- SOMEONE THAT WILL CREATE JOBS???

3.5 million jobs LOST??? REPUKES HAVE GOTTEN 11.8 TRILLION DOLLARS, WHERE ALL THESE FREAKEN JOBS????

Roll over Beethoven, let the DEM's show ya how it's DONE.............

I remember McLames slogan

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR ECONOMY ARE STRONG!!!

WHAT A FREAKEN JOKE!

These guys who claim that Poor people don't create jobs are wrong. Poor people use whatever money they have to consume. Food, clothes, shelter, even cigarettes, booze. If you have even a basic understanding of Economics this spending goes directly back into the economy - therefore creates jobs. Even better, they tend to create jobs for Americans. Regardless, there is a element of fairness in helping those who are unemployed, disabled, etc ... Helping the local banker or real estate developer??? I think they've had enough help with all the TARP welfare!

The argument that rich people "use" their money to create jobs is pretty much completely discredited unless you attended the Cheney Rove School of Economics. Rich people tend to buy expensive items (made outside USA) and/or invest any extra money. Predominantly, these investments have gone to fund the dot com/housing bubbles, and the industiralization of Asia. Today, with little or no expectation of safety in business, most if not all of any tax windfalls as proposed by the GOP would go into banks or bonds. That will create NO JOBS.

We need to stop buying into the failed GOP trickle down economic model. It never worked, there is absolutely no empirical basis for this to work, and it won't work here. Conservatives should forget about tax cuts funded by huge deficits, corporate welfare and other Bush style policies. Sorry to tell you, the moves made by this last administration were alot closer to socialism than capitalism. You should deamnd that government get out of debt, actually promote free markets and competition not cartels and price fixing, and create prosperity for all Americans not only the top 1%. Now if you are one of that elite who actually benefits from this stuff - not likely you have time or interest to be on this site - then continue to post your desire to see these tax breaks for the rich - otherwise - why do you care if multimillionaires pay full taxes on capital gains or not? If they pay estate taxes? Im sure they don't worry about how you are going to pay your bills!

Question #1- Who will be filling all of these new construction jobs that this bill proposes are supposed to start turning the economy around? All of the laid off bankers, retail workers, and autoworkers? Somehow I doubt that. Is there money in the bill for retraining them to be masons, asphalt, layers, plumbers and electricians? I suppose some of the engineers will be useful in their current form, as will the truck drivers.

Question #2- What will happen to these jobs once all the roads, bridges, buildings, etc. are repaired and/or built? Are we going to retrain them as demolitions experts and destroy everything so that we can build it again?

Question #3- Does anyone seriously think that the same old answers for 1932 are right for 2009? I thought that this administration was about fresh ideas. The GOP has only been peddling supply-side economics since 1980; the Democrats have been pushing New Deal Keynsian ideology since 1932! Everything in our economy now depends on the federal, state, and local governments, and on you and me, deficit spending. Spend, spend spend.

Maybe if we tried to, I don't know, pay down our debt instead of incurring more? The Chinese save like crazy, and they're currently our sugar daddies!

economics101-You're using too much Common Sense here. These People JUST DON'T GET IT!

SPARTAN - I apolgize, Boosh and Co. are not resposible for ALL of the $11.8 Trillion. BUT it is STILL double, what they came into.

I guess what my concern would be is; Their Policies FAILED? Is it not time to try something else? Do we "Continue the Course"? We've seen what the last 8 years have done?

Do 10's of MILLIONS of Americans loosing jobs, homes and medical insurance NOT concern you people? Would you have these people in the streets and their children with no medical insurance?

I do not agree with this stimulus 100%, but at least it does NOT put Billions MORE, in the pockets of those that have done NOTHING, with the Billions they've already received? The so called PORK, was in the initial $350 BILLION given to these Financial institutions with NO Oversight! I can assure you, that won't happen again!

Americans Elected Obama to see "CHANGE" in the Policy, not More of the same. We tried it your way for 8 years. It Didn't work..............

Spoken like a true Conservative GOP.

The policies that failed started in 1928 with government intervention in the stock market. Investors were purchasing stock with loans. The government only needed to phase out the practice over a number of years - slowly. Instead Hoover used raising interest rates federally (FDR was Federal bank chairman at the time). Private banks (2/3's of all banking) continued until late 1929, when they ran themselves out of money. When the money flow stopped, stocks dropped and the crash was on as panicked investors sold stock to pay the loans before the value of the stock was less than the loans. Trouble is the monetary policy dried up all money - 30% less cash in circulation.

With famers losing the farm, Hoover proposed agriculture tariffs. Tariffs make prices artificially high - the market should be left to pricing based on supply & demand. Congress went nuts, gave Hoover hundreds of raised and new tariffs on manufacturing. Exports dropped 50% that year.

Starting in 1934 Roosevelt began selectively exempting countries from the Smoot-Hawley Tariff act of 1930. It appears that though studing history, we would find that the unemployment dropped as more countires got exemption. When Hitler invaded Poland all allied forces were exempted from Smoot-Hawley. 1941 unemployment was finally ant 9%. The exception in 1937 - 1938 when unemployment spiked to 19+% from 14.5%. Companies shut down or stopped expanding because cardcheck was re-introduced to promote union membership. Companies don't want any parts of unions. Eventually, as politicians know, companies start hiring anyhow despite restrictive regulations and higher taxes, they just are slower to expand.

McCain was no economic guru. But he had 2 things right. 1) "in bad times, why would raise taxes on anyone". 2) Protectionism doesn't work. "Buy Amercian laws" are protectionism without raising tariffs.

Our economic crisis is because of 4 things.

1) Aggressive use of the 1977 anti-discrimination laws (something we should have) coupled with

2) Government mandated reduced home loan qualifications that if banks didn't make the loans by government mandate, they would be "discriminating". Business understands that if you don't play by government rules, you can't play in the game at all.

3) The accounting practice of Mark to Market - allows values to rise artificially high during properous times. This allowed banks to make more loans on unrealisticly valued assets and more loans based on unrealistic expectations of property values. Unfortunately, Mark to Market hurts aggressively when values decline. Hmmm sound like making loans for stocks.

4) The belief that government is your friend or big brother and all businesses (and republicans) are evil. "A government big enought to give you rights, is also big enought to take your rights away" Ronald Reagan. The Constitution was written to protect us from Government. Under the current trend government will be majority holder of all companies in the near future.

I still prefer the term "Trillion Dollar Crap Sandwich".

Your right on Quinn!

Because mediocrity minded mainstream media lovers fell for hype, and smooth oratory, even as he ridiculed them for 'clinging to their guns and religion." And because the Republican candidate, who should've stood for fiscal conservativism, didn't. This method of making laws, which amounts to giving and taking of pork benefits between lawmakers is pure and simple thievery for the taxpayer. It is shameful and unethical. Those of us who are prolife do not wish to sponsor abortion world wide, yet we are given no choice.

Even if McCain had won the election this stimulus bill would still be on the floor to be voted on (a different version for sure). The country really does need an injection of cash. However, we should let the banks fail too. Throwing money at them is a waste.

Mike, I agree.

GBA,

If you benifited greatly you are not middle class. Over 90% of the Bush tax cuts went to the top 10% who pay 50% of taxes and have 90% of the capital gains taxed at only 15% under Bush. It has been a bizarre distribution of wealth favoring the top 10% with disproportionate benifit. 35-40 % but a significant increase for the middle 50% you can't possibly benifit more from Bush tax cuts.

JKhayes

Everyone who pays taxes got a tax cut under Bush.

Jim-375865

If you think this plan is going to work, you my friend are a moron. You let your disagreement with the former POTUS cloud all reasonable thought. But do as they like and maybe we can get rid of pelosi, reid and those other nut cases in a couple of years. If you think this is going to be better than the last eight years, have fun. I know I will.

"Call this "stimulus" bill what it really is: chock full o' pork."

It's not *chock full*. Granted, there is too much in there that isn't job creation and quickly. If you add up the "waste" announcement put out by the GOP, it came to 2% (which means 98% non-pork - hardly "chock full"). Even if you think the figure is 100 billion (and that's only if you consider any Democratic initiative "pork", as opposed to party platform issues), that's 12% ($100B out of $819B). Again, too much, but hardly "chock full". You make it sound like more than half was "pork".

And then the Senate added another $120B to the bill. The House bill was $819B; the Senate version (at the moment) is $937B. And the increases do *not* all come from the Democrats. So the Republicans are griping about it being too large, while at the same time, they are proposing ammendments to make it larger ...

This bill should be job creation, and jobs within the next 12 months. The stuff they talked about - repairing roads, bridges, modernizing schools and gov't buildings to be more energy efficient (which employs people to upgrade the buildings, and saves money long term), building more alternative energy (short term job creation to create the wind farms, etc. with long term energy savings). The *next* bill can be the other parts ...

Obama is complaining that he inherited a deficit. A question to Obama: What kind of pork goes well with that whine?

Grow up and be the leader you were elected to be.

I still like the idea of a "tax holiday" posed by the congressman from Texas. No payroll, social security or medicare taxes for 2-3 months. That's a hell of a lot of money in most folks pockets--I know it is in mine. Funny how that idea got tabled real fast.

Whoever said that everyone who paid taxes got a tax cut under Bush is blowing smoke (or more likely inhaling). I did NOT get any tax cut, or rebate or any breaks at all. I own a business, make a reasonable income and employ several people. As a middle class business owner, I welcome the end of the Bush era of huge tax cuts to those in his millionaire club and then some loaves of bread for the lower income while those of us in the middle or upper middle got taxed to the max. We need this stimulus right now. I agree it needs more tax cuts for small businesses and the middle class, and get the pork out (which regardless of all the hoopla the republicans most against it can only find about 1% of it to complain about) and make sure we do not shovel more money into the banks like the 350 billion dollar gift Bush and Paulsen gave to them so they could give themselves bonuses. But stop wishing failure on our country just to sabotage someone you did not vote for! It is not about your "Barack Hussien" hatred. It is about our country right now, and we need folks to offer "how to" instead of more C.A.V.E. people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything).

ONLY 3.6 % of this bill is directly linked to helping our infrastructure. Isn't this what is was supposed to be all about, our infrastructure and the jobs it would create?? Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

"However, we should let the banks fail too. Throwing money at them is a waste. "

Banks do need to face failing. However can't let too many fail at once or the whole thing goes bye-bye. We also need to work on removing these too big to fail enitities after things settle down a bit.

boatrash,

I have no idea whether it will work. I do no Republican Voodoo has been a failure. Tax cuts do not create jobs they are stimulatory and cause equal parts debt reduction, spending and saving but they do not create jobs that can sustain a society, they create retail or clerical jobs and can provide short term stimulus but are pretty much a waste of time and money. Jobs create new tax payers an expanding middle class provides growth from the bottom up that spreads throughout society, trickle down simply does not do this.

JKHayes

Ron,

This should not be hard to comprehend. If 90 % of a tax plan goes to 10 % of the taxpayers and those 10% pay 49% and the 90% who pay 51% of the taxes get 10% of the benifit the 90 % are getting screwed. Just because you received an additional tax break of $30.00 on $1,000.00 earned should not make you happy if one out of ten people get $100.00 on $1,000.00 it should make you feel like an idiot for voting the people who did it into office.

JKHayes

Jim Hayes-375865

I don't know where you got your figures sir, but I know the top 20% income group pays 80% of the taxes and that is with the latest figures available from the congressional budget office. I hope this is not "too hard for you to comprehend."

Obama is a smart cookie. By playing the "past practice" card, he is trying to humiliate the republicans into accepting a bill that goes against their ideals. I didn't say their ideals are perfect, they are just different.

Cut out all the bogus spending in this bill and I bet most republicans would get on board. They can get a spending bill passed later, after the dust settles from this one, UNLESS this stimulus package won't really help us and is just a ruse.

jim hayes - Reread your statement

Over 90% of the Bush tax cuts went to the top 10% who pay 50% of taxes and have 90% of the capital gains taxed at only 15% under Bush. It has been a bizarre distribution of wealth favoring the top 10% with disproportionate benifit.

How can 10% of a population paying 50% of taxes be favoring that group?

With benefits like that, I don't want to be rich.

Phillip, when the top 10% hold 90% of the wealth in this country, then only paying 50% of the taxes is a huge favor. If they hold 90% of the wealth they should be paying 90% of the taxes. Us unlucky people in the bottom 90% hold only 10% of the wealth and we pay 50% of the taxes.

You will need to define what holding 90% of the wealth is. For instance, is owning property part of that wealth? Or do you mean that from year to year they receive 90% of the income?

Sen. McCain has suggested that tax cuts come in the form of cutting the payroll tax in half for two years. By doing this every working person will see an increase in his/her paycheck, and every business will also benefit by keeping half of what it would other have to match. I haven't heard any more about this suggestion.

Phillip, according to the latest government statistics, the top 300,000 wage earners earn as much as the lower 150,000,000.

Linda, if you cut payroll taxes it includes Social Security and Medicare. I guess if you want these programs to fail you go along with McCain's plan. If the Social Security system would have been left on its own and the government would not had borrowed all the money from the trust, it would have been solvent forever. But the federal government has been borrowing the money from the trust forever to mask the deficit, if you took that money away from the government the deficit would be about 15 trillion. When the federal government borrows this money, they replace it with IOUs in the form of Treasury bonds. If you remember when Bush was trying to sell his Social Security reform he held these bonds up in the air and called them worthless. Since all are debt is basically in Treasury bonds, I bet the Chinese would be upset if you called all the bonds worthless.

If you are short of money in your home budget what happens when you spend money you don't have? You won't be able to pay your bills. The same thing happens if your borrow more money than you make. Suddenly, you can't make your bills. Instead of borrowing money we typically start cutting unnecessary expenses from our budget to make it through. Spending money we don't have will have the same effect.

That's why it's very important this stimulus will work. But eventually this money has to be paid back. If they really want this to work, they need to go through our budget and remove all unnecessary programs that do not make an income or are necessary for the country to continue. That may mean we don't pay for aids to foreign countries, it may mean we have to cut spending that isn't absolutely necessary. It doesn't mean it has to be permanent and it may make it harder for some people but if we don't we are going to end up with a bill we simply can't pay back. And our possibilty of resolving this problem will become less likely.

frenchconnection

Of course you didn't get a tax break for your company!
The tax break was on personal income tax. Didn't you pay yours?

Put that pipe down!!

Texas Girl-677795

You, personally, don't have to worry about that, since if this money is borrowed it won't be repaid for generations to come...we'll be long gone by then.

This President promised during his campaign that the first thing he would do as President would be to go through the budget line by line and eliminate waste. He hasn't done that, and I for one do not believe he ever will. It was just another campaign lie.

Now he is getting all upset and whiny because some of our Congressmen want to cut the pork out.

rose-382980

I'm a California resident, and frankly I feel that a good package would be to rid ourselves of Nancy along with the two bleeding heart liberals, Feinstein and Boxer. It would do our state a world of good!

daybarb - OH YES, lets listen to the Ca. poster!

$42BILLION in the HOLE!!! You're full of good advise!

The TERMINATOR, forces State employees to take time off without PAY, while your State, supports MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS than any other?

What would do your State a WORLD of good, is that BIG ONE dropping you off into the depths of the Ocean. Not only would it RID us of the MILLIONS of ILLEGAL's, but I would have some nice Ocean front Property!!!

Why don't you go save some whales or something and leave the real HARD decisions to the DEM's, we'll save your Sorry A$$e$!

YOU REPUBLICANNT's have put this country $11.8 TRILLION is DEBT! Now when the DEM's want to spend to HELP the working class, you all complain?

YOUR POLICIES DID NOT WORK, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO REALIZE THAT AND TRY SOME "CHANGE"???

ChevsMark,

So what Wealth distribution in the US gives the top 20% 86-87% of wealth and a slightly larger share of income. They pay less proportional taxes than the rest paying in with far more ability to defer or avoid taxation by discounting and buying debt moving money offshore and calling income a capital gain. It is exactly what much of my family have done for the last decade.

Income taxes do not even begin to show the inequality of the tax burden when including state, local, sales, excise, property and school taxes. The effective savings of the lower 80% is essentially zero, two months of lost income would wipe out savings for almost the entire 80% exclusive of penalized 401K withdrawal. The previous safety net was home equity vs debt the vast majority of this has been lost in the last two years along with a 35% loss on Retirement savings.

Once again you are deluding yourself into believing that trickle down is equitable.

JKHayes

Actually, Ron Paul is one of the few guys in DC who admits to what the real problem is - the Federal reserve, IMF, World Bank and Global fractional reserve banking system.We know that these guys have created every recession since the 1830's by manipulating the issuance of currency. The solution to the current problem is a simple as getting rid of these ridiculous institutions and taking control of our money again. Mr. Paul stands virtually alone in DC in opposing these interests, and as such has little or no chance of getting anywhere ..... "We can solve the World's problems .... We just choose not to!"

Yeah, this bill is full of pork-and other stuffed crap-DAB in the middle. They are just throwing us a big line and the Obama voteRs want us to fall for it. They even believe that he walks on water. This so called stimulus package that is going to help us, is going to help who ever has a family member in the builidng construction, highways, water and sewer. They are the one's who are going to make the money, the will hire illegals, who in turn will send thier money home to Mexico, then it in turn is going to help Mexico's economy, not the United States, then, we the American tax payers are going to be in further debt by paying back the money

You nailed it.

Pelosi feels more food stamps and birth control will help economy more than any tax cuts. You'll have to go about half way into her interview with stephanopolus b4 she gets to that.

http://www.kxmb.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=324479

This woman is a nut case. She should not only be impeached, but stripped of her US citizenship. She is about as un-American as they come. People like her in our government is the reason our country is in the shape it's in. Wake up people!!!

THIS WOMAN IS A DANGER TO THE WHOLE WORLD... NOT JUST THE U.S!

Windfall Tax on Retirement Income

Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, "You're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you." That's what the Speaker of the House is saying. Read below...............

Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words, tax what you have made by investing toward your retirement. This woman is a nut case! You aren't going to believe this.

Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds!) Alas, it is true - all to help the 12 Million ILLEGAL Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!

This woman is frightening.

She quotes..."We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income (didn't Marx say something like this?) in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest.' (I am not rich, are you?)

When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:

"We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans". (Read that quote again and again and let it sink in. 'Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it'..

Scary, isn't it!

"We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans". (Read that quote again and again and let it sink in. 'Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it'..

I'm sorry, but if they're illegal, they don't need our financial help. They need to either get a green card, then get citizenship legally, or they need to be shipped back to their country.

Pelosi and other Democrats who think that illegal immigrants should have the same rights/benefits as working class citizens need their heads examined. It's almost as bad as some of PETA's ideals. If we tried to demand these rights in another country, say Mexico, we'd be deported - if not jailed already.

The whole bunch of them at the top in Washington are scary!!

Crystal: I called you on a different Urban Legend e-mail about Pelosi on a different thread, now I'll call you on this one. This is an Urban Legend and has been exposed as such on the fact check sites. You are so pathetic all you have to post are spam e-mails.

"Every month that we do not have an economic recovery package 500 million Americans lose their jobs." Pelosi has said this on more than one occasion. Every month???? There are not even 500 million Americans!!! And this woman is second in line to the President behind Biden?? Scary.

Signed: Different Debbie from previous notes.

mel--they won't jail you in Mexico, they'll just kill you!!

BOB- look it up! You are a pathetic sheep, unwilling to admit you screwed up!

Representative Nancy Pelosi has had the worst record when it comes to border security. There are currently at least 12 million (with estimates reaching as high as 30 million) illegal aliens in this country. The first line of defense is controlling our porous borders. Representative Nancy Pelosi clearly opposes securing our borders.

After an illegal alien has entered our country the next line of defense is interior enforcement. Currently employers are not required to verify that an applicant or employee is legally allowed to work in this country. In addition, local law enforcement at the state and local level have had their hands tied when dealing with illegal aliens by not even allowing them to inquire about arrestees' citizenship status. Representative Nancy Pelosi has worked against allowing state and local law enforcement helping to reduce illegal immigration and putting in place workplace verification systems allowing employers to quickly verify the legal working status of their employees. This Representative's motto is "if you've made it in illegally you're safe".

If an illegal alien avoids being picked up, or remains here after receiving deportation orders, the next thing they look for are incentives, rewards and benefits. Amnesty is the largest of these rewards and gives illegal aliens a path to citizenship or makes them instantly legal. Representative Nancy Pelosi has voted in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens.

Representative Nancy Pelosi has voted in favor of giving illegal aliens further rewards and other incentives to come such as in-state tuition, educational benefits, welfare and health care services.

Once here, many illegal aliens have what is known as an "anchor baby". This is caused by a misinterpretation of our 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which calls for all born on American soil to be given US Citizenship. Unfortunately this Amendment has been misinterpreted and was initially put in place to ensure that freed slaves were citizens and has been twisted and misused to include even the children of foreigners who cross illegally into this country and have a child. Once born this new "citizen" allows the parent to gain benefits at the expense of the taxpayers. Representative Nancy Pelosi has not yet had a chance to vote on anchor babies and the increased illegal population that they support through taxpayer dollars.

On the issue of legal immigration Representative Nancy Pelosi is in favor of the visa lottery. Each year 50,000 names are chosen to come to the US legally without regards to their needs, intentions, education level or whether they would benefit the United States. "Winning the lottery" takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to immigration. Once in the country these new immigrants can apply for taxpayer funded services.

Once an immigrant is legally here they can send home to bring in more adults from their family such as parents, siblings and adult children. That legal immigrant can then bring in more family members directly related to them. This is called chain migration and Representative Nancy Pelosi wants it to continue. Chain migration has exponential growth and is the primary cause of the 4-fold increase in immigration to this country since 1960.

A high majority of refugee and asylum seekers to this country are not by international definition in need of relocation. This program is ripe with fraud and Representative Nancy Pelosi doesn't want to stop the fraud and may even want it to increase.

Representative Nancy Pelosi has voted for increases in permanent and temporary foreign work visas such as the H1-B. Sometimes foreign workers are desirable in fields where there is a lack of American workers to fill the positions. All too often these work visa programs are abused by employers and used to get lower cost workers into this country rather than hiring American workers. For the foreign worker it is common to see them not return to their home country and remain here on an expired visa.

Overall, Representative Nancy Pelosi has the worst record when it comes to immigration reform.

Representative Nancy Pelosi has one of the worst record on immigration in all of Congress. Representative Nancy Pelosi actively encourages, and may even be helping, illegal aliens to enter our country and flout our laws and is in our opinion a threat to this nation. We cannot give Nancy Pelosi our seal of approval.

"they won't jail you in Mexico, they'll just kill you!! "

Actually they and the majority of the rest of the world veiws captial punishment as barbaric. Now a corrupt polica could off you and it would be less likely to become an issue there rather than here.

Let us not forget we are the barbarians. In other countries the jails are more of a hell but you only get like 5 years for murder. While I can't our system is perfect I just can't comprehend living in some of the other systems.

Crystal - Maybe you should go look up what you wrote which was "Windfall Tax on Retirement Income" which is an Urban Legend. I happened to be reading it the other night when you posted the Urban Legend about her flying in the private plane.

By the way please provide the source for where you cut and pasted your latest rant from.

Bob, Pelosi is from California! Look at the things that state government comes up with.

California is whacked, no argument there!

Icon... Do you have any idea what is going on in Mexico right now...with the cartels and the drug thugs, the murders on both sides of the border, the kidnappings on both side of the border, the sex slave trade, the ditch with the little fence in between that "protects" people in states that border Mexico?

mel-680625

You are right on with this one! First, however they need to go to jail for breaking our laws, as we would have to do in any other country!

Debbie -785548

Darn! I've been so concerned about this pork bill, I forgot about what would happen if both Obama and Biden died, I completely forgot that Pelosi was that close to the top! Never though I would ever pray for Biden to live a long healthful life, but I'm praying. (Even Biden would be hard to accept)

crystal - Your Man "The fundamentals of our Economy are Strong" McLame as wants the same for these illegal's....

The fact is that "WE the People" ELECTED OBAMA, to do a Job......For CHANGE!

and don't feed me this CRAP, about them creating JOBS! We know where that one is at the moment....

The Policies of Booosh and Co. have done NOTHING, to help the American people...Oh excuse me, they have done MUCH for the RICH!!!

Call it Socialism if you MUST, but MILLIONS of Americans loosing jobs, Homes, Medical insurance is not a joking matter. Something needs to be done and the REPUBLICANT WAY hasn't worked!

glw-458921

I can see from this message that you don't know anything about national politics nor what various government officials believe in.

You also don't know anything about California politics or you would know that California is a Democratic State, the California Senate would not cut the budget as the governor wanted...why? The senate is majorly Democratic and are of the type who would bite the hand of those who feed them. We also have the honorable Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer as our State Senators in Washington. Two of the most bleeding heart liberals I have ever known of, and that between them and the charming Nancy "Botox"Pelosi, another bleeding heart, they are doing their utmost to see that your and my taxes will be going to support and pay for the care and feeding of illegal aliens.

Finally, if you think the Republicans were so wrong, why do you suppose that Obama's first decision is to make yet another (only larger) stimulus bill that was made in 2008...or did you know about that?

Learn something before you start pointing the finger.

Agreed. The libs are now resorting to the same fearmongering they accused Bush of resorting to. The more things change the more they remain the same...I love how communist libs bitched when the GOP and Bush overspent but now that they have the majority 2 wrongs makes a right. Here's a clue pinko libs: We didn't like it when the last batch of pols overspent what makes you think we are going to love it when you do? Obama, the pols and the media don't think the amreican people are paying attention but clearly we are. You are playing with our money and our lives. It's the american people against the politicians.

Yay Team!

Uh, we need something as soon as possible - this is a drastic situation or haven't you heard? All economists agree. Why would we listen to someone clueless as you? It's not the same as Bush's fearmongering at all. And if Quinnward can call liberals "communists" and "pinkos," I can call conservatives "fascists." BTW, the 60s called and wants their stereotypes back.

Debbie,

Yes, we need some stimulus, but not this current plan. It's full of pork that doesn't help this country one damn bit, only an elite few. Read the bill - I have and know that it's more wasteful spending than true stimulus. So, I'm not clueless - I read more into what's being proposed.

And, read the news stories - every day it's doom and gloom, when I know for a fact there are businesses that are expanding (small businesses BTW), in this economy. There is some good here, but we're instead hearing Obama say "Pass this bill," and "The Republicans are obstructing" HELLO... they're just doing what you promised in the election - change. They realized that they screwed up with the bank stimulus and are trying to NOT do that again so we don't get kicked in the butt as taxpayers.

So, did Bush fearmonger? - yes, but please do not turn a blind eye to Obama's fearmongering either. Not when you see as many stories about doom and gloom around, and how fast one pops up when there's positive news anytime on the economy.

We are seeing signs of what can be seen as socialism, that is a fact. I will not call any party by the names you have suggested, but I do find it funny that you decry someone for using '60s stereotypes, but then say "And if Quinnward can call liberals "communists" and "pinkos," I can call conservatives "fascists."" You just did, so *ahem* "The '60s called and wants its stereotypes back.

Debbie, you are right, we need something........................ but we do not need this, this bill is nothing more than a democratic policy laden SPENDING BILL............. it has nothing to so with stimulus.

Debbie since you have read the bill like I have, please point out specific programs and entitlements that are going to immediately effect the economy.

gpoaccess.gov is where you can find it, it is HR1

Also explain why the President thinks it is so important to get the Republicans on board? Could it be that he doesn't have the faith in this bill he says he does and needs a scapegoat?

The Democrats control the House and the Senate. I am not even sure the Repubs would filibuster it in the Senate.

Oh and that is not a blog that the congressional website.

Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.

.

And for other purposes .... there is the majority of this 'stimulus' package money.

Yes. If the Republicans support it, then it will be their fault also, and he can point his finger that way. He is about to find out how lonely the oval office is.

Well, they are cutting the bill back now. Primarily, they are cutting the traditional funding to the states which supports our police, fire and paramedics, community hospitals and public schools. Obviously, they feel that these are the most unnecessary pieces of
pork": our public safety, our health, and our children's future.

"Read the bill - I have "

So did I.

"and know that it's more wasteful spending than true stimulus"

And I know it is not. There is more true stimulus than wasteful spending. There's too much wasteful spending - there should be as close to zero wasteful spending as possible - but it's certinaly more stimulus than waste. I'll even be generous about the waste and say it's 80% stimulus, and 20% waste.

Of course, "waste" depends on your political viewpoint.

And of that 80% stimulus, they should have chosen some different plans - plans that have a quicker impact. But it's still stimulus.

How if the majority of monies are for fattening up and refitting Government agencies going to stimulate the overall economy?

If you look at the money going to Homeland, Secretray of State, National Art Endowment etc. Those should all be addressed in the BUDGET not in a stimulus package.

Also this stimulus package needs to address the entire nation not just small populated areas.

Last year it was the same problem. Urgency is still required.

Sorry that under Obama that gravity, physics, and economics have not changed.

Demitrix the Democrats do NOT have the majority in both the house and senate get your facts straight!! Dems have the majority in the Senate but do NOT have the majority in congress I guess you dont read as much as u say you do. Yes the Republicans can still fillibuster if they want. Do you not remember the election at all?? How 6o would give the Dems the majority thats all the Republicans talked about during the election and that was not reached only 54 right now.

Debbie - If these economists are so smart and so right about the urgency of the situation why didn't they speak up and prevent it?

g-331557
Sorry g, but once again you are wrong. The dems have majority in the House 251-173. In the Senate 58-41 with Minnesota only having 1 Senator with the election not being settled yet. That means they only need a couple of east coast liberal republicans to have their way.

Have you not been listening? This out of control economic slide was not stopped because no one was listening to them...that is, until we were in the ditch. I applaud Senators Nelson and Collins. They opened their ears and recognized that the deaf and blind Republican leadership had dug their partisan heels in and would not budget - not even for the sake of out-of-work, hungry displaced middle-class Americans. President Obama's outrage is welcomed. I want leadership and I want leadership that will express outrage on my behalf. I watched McCain and Boehner and Graham and they looked like flailing little children - restating LIES consistent with their MIS-PERCEPTIONS of the stimulus bill. If they do not support the bill, it is because they refuse to swallow their ideological pride to help me and I take that personally. Bipartisanship is only possible if each party is willing to listen and give a little.

Well, at least this is going to "We the People"!!!

$350 BILLION to these financial institutions has helped a lot....HUH!

Republicants LOST all those seats, for a REASON.....Re-Election is coming again too!!!!

Yeah, and maybe a few more Republican voters will get out there and vote this time, and get rid of a few more democratics, That's why we are in the mess we are in, out with the old democratis, in with the new Repulican voters. We need a change alright and that is to get rid of a lot more Democrats/

The President put a person who cannot even do taxes correctly in charge of the IRS. I wonder if he would let Michael Jackson babysit his kids?

JIrby - Apparently you do not read all newsvine postings. I have been on plenty where it was full of nothing but rantings from liberals. When I would post it was like a swarm to see who could refute me first. But the thing I noticed is that the liberal dominated threads are usually about something trivial like Cheney's "So." remark. In fact, I think I saw your name there.

Michael Jackson for Obama's babysitter? That's ludicris. Obama has daughters, Michael prefers boys.

Damn!! I wish I would have thought of that one!!

Political math is a beauty isn't it?

They also like to spout of the number of people who lost their jobs ... but neglect to say how many of them have already found new jobs.

I was wondering where Comrade Obama got all of those votes - it was Comrade Pelosi doing the counting! Where did she learn her math - Comrade Barney Frank's school of economics?

And BO campaigned in 57 states with 2 left to go

Yeah, Hussein Obama campaigned in all 57 ARAB states!!

Nancy Pelosi demonstrated her lack of leadership when she delivered a vitriolic partisan speech against everyone in congress who had the sense to stand up against the first spending stimulus bill. She should be removed from her position - she is a poor example of leadership.

It would be a wonderful thing if people in SAN FRAN got a clue and voted out PELOSI in the next election. But I know that's asking too much. IF SHE GOT THE BOOT, I wonder what she would do in life. What skills does she have in life???

PROBABLY NONE!!!!!!!

She seems to be pretty good at screwing people.

A paid spokesperson for Botox? Umm . . . a shining example of the dangers of Botox (brain damage)?

Yeah, Nancy says that 500 million American's are loosing their jobs, but, she doesn't tell you that the new jobs being created are for all the illeglals. So, that means there is still going to be 500 million Americans without a job. Mexico's economy is going to look real good. Thank's Nancy for all that change.

I am with you Truth and Honesty.

I have heard and seen enough to make me sick for the next 4 years.

Never have I lost sleep over what a President is doing. But now I find myself constantly hearing his name,,,Barack Hussein, barack Hussein, barack Hussein.

Somehow I cannot Associate that name with America

I'm sure the Indians and the Mexicans felt the same way when the Eurpoeans came over here and savagely tortured and killed the originals Americans. You people just don't get it. I like to think that everything good and bad with the country is because of Europeans, because Blacks never had any power! So you can thank GWB for this bull$hit! President Obama inherited this crap, he did not create it. I guess you would feel better, safer, more impowered with McCain and Palin in the White House. PUHLEEZE!!!!!!!! Get over it!

BOMBADIL- My thoughts exactly. I just can't bring myself to saying it, PRESIDENT BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. When I look back at the names of our prior President's, this one is hard to come to terms with. HIS NAME is totally MUSLIM. It's not the fact that he is black that bothers me. I have many, many good friends who are black. IT'S HIS FRIGGIN' NAME that is hard for me to utter. CAN'T DO IT!!

Enough with the Muslim-hating! The only reason there is ANY friction between the US and the Muslim world is spelled I-S-R-A-E-L. If the US didn't support that fascist regime, gas would be $1.00/gallon, no 9/11 would have occurred, my harem would have more blondes, and everyone would be getting along JUST FINE!

MPEVANS - Just remember that when the Europeans came here to torture and kill the original Americans they had to get in line, they were already torturing and killing each other. I like to think everything good and bad with America is because we are all humans and, hopefully, try for the best, not because Blacks never had any power.

Its "empowered" and after the O's first national security steps, yes, I would feel better and safer if McCain/Palin were in the WH.

Sheikh... I agree, enough with the Muslim hating! But the reason for friction (what a mild word) between the US and the Muslim world has much, much more to do with 2 attacks on the World Trade Center, an attack on the Pentagon, hijacking planes with innocent people on board, the attack on the USS Cole, the attack on the US embassy in Africa...should I go on? Maybe the hate that the Muslim world has for the US is spelled I-S-R-E-A-L, but that isn't the whole picture either, is it?

LOL...your harem would have more blondes??? Enough with the blonde jokes. We're really not that dumb.

And as far as Pres. Obama's name not being like the rest of the presidents...as long as the rose smells like a rose, I don't care what its called. When it starts to stink, I know what to call it.

Also, Sheik, do you know where the Sicilian word for donkey came from? The word is "sheccu", and it is one thing that has endured from Sicily's history of 900 years of Arab domination.

rose and her cronies: I guess you hate the Japanese too, Obama is a Japanese word. Better do better research about other countries and faiths.

I agree, the stimulus bill should be way smaller and I hope the American people will vote out all repubs and dems and get in some new parties, they sure can't be worse then what we have.

Well said!! That is the crux of this problem. Everyone clammered about change and then voted the same career criminals back into office. If anyone has any doubts, look at Tom Dashcle's history. He was not a millionaire went he went to Washington, but he sure as heck is now!!!! 5 million a year to be a "CONSULTANT"? He isn't even honest enough to call himself what he really is... " A LOBBYIST"!!!!!

And who was Dashcle a "lobbist" for.......the health care industry! Bush did this and the dems called it "putting the fox in charge of the hen house" but when dems do it, it's called "putting someone in with industry experience". HYPOCRACY!

bonehead - Bush put industry people incharge of policing their own industry = conflict of interest. President Obama put a consultant in an industry in charge of working with that industry - no conflict of interest.

I was hoping the Republicans in Congress would do something to provide meaningful input. That didn't happen, they just held their breath. This isn't participating it is adolescent.

It is fun to throw out hot rhetoric but much tougher to take action. If we have such uber knowledgable people on economics and finance, apply for a job that allows you to make a contribution of more than words.

xray--They'll only come back as "consultants" and rip us off more.

Personally, I think some money for overseas abortions and Acorn will do wonderous things for the economy. What's a few wasted billion here and there?

Yeah, Republican's be smart-vote more Repub;lcan's to make a big diffeence for a change. Get more Republican's in, vote Democratic's out. Now, that would really make a big difference and a very smart move on the American voters to see that big hoop-da-la that they call a change. Isn't that what Obama wanted was a change? Well, Repulican voter's get out there you can make a difference, oh, yes you can. Let's all gather up the voters and make a big change---get rid of the democratic party from the house and senate. In with the new and out with the old.

Republicans voters get out there and do your civil duty. Vote straight Republican this time. Get rid of the hard heads (Democratic party) that have been running our government for way too long. The democrats have had too much power---too long, get them out of our house and senate seats by voting Republican.