Obama quote "the days of earmarks and pork spending are over"....yeah right.....I'll say it again THE ONLY CHANGE HAS BEEN THE COLOR OF THE PRESIDENTS SKIN! Everything else is politics as usual in Washington.

Now all you Obamaniacs can cruxify me!

serious--

Did you ever stop to think that the amendments might be to do away with a lot of the pork. Amendments are often just that--forwarded to amend bad ideas. Also, there may be actual needs know by the Republican representatives that actually should be added to the legislation and are NOT pork.

Thank God this thing has stalled! Maybe, just maybe, some of these wasteful spenders are starting to feel a little guilty about their excesses? Yeah, right!

Vote 'em all out, starting in this next election of 2009. Send a clear message to all of these politicians, we're not going to stand for rubber stamping Obama's insane, socialist agenda.

America deserves better.

Do you really expect a lying Socialist to keep his absolute promise of NO PORK in his administration? King B. Hussein Obama hath spoken and he demands that you bend over and grab the ankles!! Just another corrupt politician!! A pox on all of them.

so you dont care that this bill is loaded with wasteful spending? 

juno, pork is in the eye of the beholder.

I have MS, so obviously I don't consider spending for MS research to be pork.

But I'd be a fool not to think that many, many other people would give a low priorety score to MS research.

It's all in the eye of the beholder. Setting National prioreties is the crux of the issue.

Why not post the bill online so that we call all read it. Or see the justification of each earmark on tv. The media skews everything. I want to see it for my own eyes. I am confident it is full of waste. I want to know who proposes what, so that I am an informed voter for the next go-around.

During his campaign, Obama promised to do just that - put each bill on the net for five days for public view. Yeah, right!

Why is the GOP so negative?!! Why do they put up roadblocks at every corner for the president? Shouldn't they support their president in the worst economic crises since the Depression??
Congress should be standing as a united front to combat the horrors we are facing and what is yet to come.

I liken this situation to 9-11. Almost the entire country stood behind that loser Bush while he chartered in unknown territory and lied about WMD's and going to war. Why isn't the GOP supporting Obama? They offer no other solutions to the economic problems and constantly criticize the other party when they should be working together. The repugs negativity and lack of cooperation is only bringing America down more!

And negative Lush 'stinky' Limberger.....he's no leader. The sole purpose of his rants are to increase his ratings. He should go away.

lauriesarno...

So the GOP should blindly follow the president while he goes against his promises to get rid of pork? The solutions that the GOP are proposing are not being addressed, that's why that are at a standstill, to get more time to address their solutions. Did you read the article or are you on here to blindly follow someone because he has an idea...regardless of what the idea is?

The Republican party, which no longer stands for Republican concepts, have sunken to a new low when Rush Limbaugh represents their agenda. If the Republican party would start representing TRUE Republican concepts like those of Barry Goldwater, Pat Buchanan, Ron Paul and others of the same mind set, they wouldn't find themselves in the state of disorientation as they are faced with today.

First off Laurie, its not the worse since the depression, look at Jimmys years. 2nd, your president is a liar, i stopped supporting him as soon as i realized it was going to be business as usual. Typical Chicago politician.

If you haven't figured that out yet. GOP and their wealthy friends want Medicare to fail so they can privatize it. You know that Medicare recipients are already buying Medicare supplement Insurance because of rising health care cost forcing government to cut benefits. Obama wants to fix this by using information technology to cut cost, GOP wants Medicare to fail, to cut more benefits so retiree will be forced to buy more Medicare supplement insurance from private insurance companies and eventually privatize Medicare. They have been blocking this Medicare reform for decades; it’s not pork issue. Everything with a price tag, everything for sale in corrupt Washington. Money will buy votes and the American people will get it.

This bill is laden with wasteful spending BY BOTH SIDES!

The Republicans, and to be fair I am a Republican, need to start walking the damn walk! I agree with them that the Dems are spending like a drunken sailor but while you are doing that, and accusing the left, you need to make sure your staff has read the bill to ensure that your team has not contributed to the problem.

All of these politicians best forget about what some broadcaster said and remember what the hell they went to Washington for, and who the hell sent them!

Dammit! This govt. (and that includes all parties) had best get their @!$%# straight or they will have a revolt on their hands like they have NEVER seen!

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the bill is loaded with "unscrutinized taxpayer-funded earmarks" that are "a textbook example of why Americans have grown so fed up with Washington."

Good Job Ohio, keep doing what your doing!

Congress also awarded itself a 10 percent increase in its own budget, bringing it to $4.4 billion. But the House inserted a provision denying lawmakers the automatic cost-of-living pay increase they are due next Jan. 1.

How about using the word "NO"! All this bs backdoor talking (schematics) is what Americans are HATING about Washington.....and yes, we are hating, no just fed-up or disliking, I mean we are hating them right now. Before too long, you will not be able to win us back.....better put that in your next bill.

I'll say it again THE ONLY CHANGE HAS BEEN THE COLOR OF THE PRESIDENTS SKIN! Everything else is politics as usual in Washington.

Amen

I didn't vote for this guy...that's all I can say. We voted a guy to the highest office with no credentials or experience with handling these types of problems.

He is a pawn in the Democratic party and will only do what his party tells him to do. If this guy thinks he can spend his way out of a recession, he is sadly mistaken.

I'm an independent, but I'm pretty disgusted with the Democrats right now. You can blame the former administration all you want, but this idea of "big" government and "big" spending will ultimately make our people dependent on them...thus creating a socialist society.

The government is supposed to "serve" the people, not spend our money on crap. This is @!$%#ing ridiculous. I'll leave you with this quote:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." -Alexander Tyler in 1787 (on the fall of the Athenian Republic)

ms,

You have it absolutely right.  Laurie is one of those voters who were swayed not by his ideas but by his personality and eloquence.  She is blindly following him and won't even admit he is reneging on his campaign promises (that would require her to admit she made a mistake in voting for him).  Basically, it is what one of his own aides admitted to during the campaign.  Obama will do whatever necessary to get his way and if it means selling this country down the river.  He is willing to sign a bill into law that contains almost 8,000 pieces of pork legislation so he can have his way on healthcare reform.

BTW, in case you haven't notices the democrats are just bein democrats, they haven't changed.  They depend on the poor, low income, drug addicts, welfare recipients to vote for them xo they can stay in power.  Look at how they have been spending money.  There is nothing to help the middle class but the stimulus package had millions to increase medicaid and food stamps (they say it will increase spending).  Now this budget has a 21% increase in feeding babies and poor women and a 10% increase in housing vouchers for the poor.  The basic premise of the democrats has been vote for me and i'll give you more.  Their aim is to continue to tax the middle income wage earners and give it to the poor until you can't tell them apart financially.  They intend on taxing us until we are a classless society.  Oh, and by the way, for those of you who have forgotten their civics lessons, a government whose aim is to create a classless society where you take money from one group and give it to another so that you can't distinguish them apart financially is called socialist.  It won't be long before we start calling America the Union of American Socialist States (abreviated U-ASS).

serious

juno, pork is in the eye of the beholder.

I have MS, so obviously I don't consider spending for MS research to be pork.

But I'd be a fool not to think that many, many other people would give a low priorety score to MS research.

It's all in the eye of the beholder. Setting National prioreties is the crux of the issue.

I don't think anyone has a problem, issue or concern about the "project" or "topic" it self. Why we don't seem to encourage this spending is because we know that the money will never reach you (researchers), or someone else that it could help...we were proven this by the bailouts in the financial sector...where did the money go? If Americans had faith and proof that actual research is being done with the exact dollar amount in the bill, we would give it the "green" light...but we all know better. I would rather set up a fund asking Americans directly for donations than to have our government hand it over...or a small fraction of it. WE love our people and we want to help, but we know that politicians only love themselves on the ballot.

The "Change I Can Believe In" is the $.88 cents I have in my right front pocket.

"The basic premise of the democrats has been vote for me and i'll give you more".

How do think FDR got reelected 4 times....get people on the dole......then campaign that if ypou don't reelect me all these programs will be canceled.....FDR said that every election as we continued with the depression. FDR didn't get us out of the depression. WW2 got us out of the depression.

It's ALL pork! If you read the article, it says that the Republicans are against the Democrats waste, yet they're going to get 40% of the pet projects to waste some money on. Not to mention the Senate wants to increase their budget by 10%. Again, we come in here and want to tell each other that "Our Team" is better, but when you're able to piece the fragments of facts together, there is only one conclusion. Our government is full of crooks who will do and say just enough to remain in power. If you want real change, don't vote for anyone in the next election and send these idiots a message. Maybe they'll get it through their thick skulls that the American people are tired of "Business as usual" politics.

no only pork but a raise for them selfs how many do they get a year when people are out of work and doing with out they give themselfs another raise for what they suck. If the President signs this he is nuts. don't want to wait for there cost of living raise they should not get any raise they suck at there jobs all them time to kick there ass out.

Stimulative NOT, Porkulous Yes

NK, dead on. I really see a lot of promise here, but only if the Dems start calling out the Republicans too. They are too chicken s*** to do so though because then their pet projects will get cut too. i mean look at the evil Republicans asking that their pay raises get voted on each year instead of automatically happening. That is down right devilish. Maybe Ried can call out the $75 million Mitch tossed in that bill too and get it taken out.

But nope, both sides are too scared to do whats right.

More bull**** about how things need to be rushed through so that Congress can steal more of our money.

We sat back when Bush did it, we sat back while Obama does it, so now there are no controls in place.

I have tried to tell myself that today is the bottom, but I've been trying to convince myself of that for 2 months.

why not trim the fat of the pork, if its that important? Why is the president still holding court to an adoring audience, instead of governing? Is he that afraid of Pelosi & Reid, or is he too inexperienced to get a handle on things. Remember the old saying talk is cheap. The world is full of gifted orators but lacks enforcers. Obama, is one is good at telling people what they want to hear, but then he has short term memory for a young guy.

In the end though the blame is on us, we did not vote checks and balances. we gave the Dems a one-sided victory. Who's policing whom?

Several points to remember with this thread:

1) A budget takes a long time to put together and is not written by the President . The first budget that a new President signs was put together under a previous administration. Just as this President has done, previous Presidents have chosen to live with the previous President's budget rather than run the risk of shutting down the government.

2) What is pork to one is not pork to another. What is silly waste to one is well thought out expense to another. Long ago there was a Sen. Proxmire who liked to get on TV by giving out "Golden Fleece" awards. Two of the awards that he gave out that are still relevant today were a) the $612 dollar toilet seats for the P-3 Orion ASW aircraft and b) $5,000 into research into European honeybee respitatory diseases. In the first he neglected to mention that on small lot bids, the military allows suppliers to include the cost of MilSpec Certification with the first item in the bid. Therefore a toilet seat for the Orion --- which ran missions up to 22 hours routinely --- was $612, but two seats were $624, three were $636. Not the military allows contractors to spread the cost of MilSpec Certification over then entire contract and the total costs for the same items have more than tripled --- if anyone bids at all. Thanks, Proxmire. And as for the bees --- that research was cancelled and it became impossible to get funding for any research into honeybee problems for many years with prominent researchers leaving the field entirely. The European honeybee pollinates about 40% or our crops and food prices had been going up because of the two parasites being researched spreading and killing off lots of bees. Now beekeepers are facing Sudden Hive Collapse (SHC) an unknown problem that causes bees to suddenly abandon hives and disappear --- presumably to die. Beekeepers are going out of business and crops are being decimated because of the problem. And there is no research money and no researchers to fiknd out why. Thanks, Proxmire. (And BTW there is an item about "beekeeping insurance" that keeps popping up on Republicans' lists of "pork" --- well that is the government's last ditch effort to keep people raising bees while they try to get some research cranked up to find out what the problem is. Without bees --- look for 20-30% increases in grain and meat prices and up to 500% increases in some crops like almonds.

3) "Earmarks" are a way of getting items into a budget without having them subject to individual debate. It does not mean that an earmark is either good or bad, but it does mean that it has never been subjected to scrutiny by public debate.

4) Look who are the largest recipients of "pork" per capita. It is mostly Republicans and people on the very committees in the House and Senate that write the budget bills. This started in the 1990's as a Rove-suggested way that Republicans could use to keep in power by buying votes in their home districts/states. Cutting out "earmarks" will significantly hurt Alaska, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas the most. Go check it out.

5) While it is still a very small part of the budget and will probably disappear entirely in the next budget, the reason "earmarks" will disappear is purely political. Removing them benefits Democrats much more than Republicans. It is a smart move politically for Obama, so not just vetoing this spending bill and saying --"Go ahead and shut down the government until you send me a bill without earmarks." had to be a hard choice for Obama. It would have certainly been the easy choice and an easy way to punish people like Cnambliss, Shelby, Barbour, Jindal, Palin and others who are the leaders in securing pork.

8000 pork barrel projects. WHEN IS THIS CRAP GOING TO STOP!!! Both parties are guilty. This has to stop. The president has to VETO this bill until all are removed. Force the government to a standstill. VETO,VETO,VETO,VETO,VETO The one pork project is to study "pig odors" The only pig odor that should be studied is in the hall of Congress!!

Omahoff,

If you recall we did the same thing 8 years ago too. Voting one party into complete control is never a good thing.

A liberal is just a conservative that hasn't been mugged yet.

Happy Friday

Very good points Chris. I wish more people realized that this appropriations bill was not penned by Obama. I read about the honeybees recently, terribly interesting stuff.

I would also point out that by the GOP's own calculations, some 5.5 billion is allocated for pork-barrel projects. 5.5 billion is only 1.3% of the 410 billion. Perhaps this is 1.3% too much and there are indeed things we could cut in light of the recent stimulus package; but relatively speaking, 1.3% is a drop in the bucket.

All power corrupts. Absolute power is pretty neat, though.

Failure is not an option. It's bundled with your software.

ok ill stop...its friday thou

wk -

you state that the GOP just wants people to buy Medicare supplemental insurance for big profits.

Newsflash -

My mother had that insurance in Louisiana - it was FREE

She now has it in Texas and it cost $40.00 per month. With that she gets FREE membership to the YMCA for senior's excercise programs plus she can go to various other excercise clubs for FREE, and the $40.00 includes prescription coverage.

Yeah, can't you see how that can add up to trillions of dollars in profits.

Serious, they're quoting Boehner because his last name makes you giggle when you read it. You should try and catch the House doing roll call on C-SPAN, when they get to him he yells 'Boehner in the House!'

Cuba is on trade issues I think???

You are what you eat.....

Obama is $100/pound imported Japanese steak?

capt. marv. is absolutely brilliant!! Just wish I thought of that first.

From Iowa--I wrote this jerk (dem) this morning and will not share what I told him----One being made me ashamed to be from Iowa=) Also now if we are farming and create farm dust-will be fined by the EPA--also still threatening $178 Tax per dairy cow for their farts/or something --Our sensible govt at work--Maybe obama wants Milk from Japan also???

Lily, you just had to add the milk thing! You probably gave them another idea!

Already do---It is called soymilk----Makes a bigger "Footprint" to manufacture and like ethenol utilizes Zillions of gallons of water-That is beside the point I guess.

Lily, I'm from Iowa and I hear where you're comin' from!

i happen to live in ia, we think this is bulls--- spending too! any one who has been around a pig farm know`s there is no solution to this! just more wastefull spending like the 30 million dollar mouse program!

Oscam,

Our new president made lots of statements about pork and how he was going to go through every bill before he signed it and get rid of pork.

Two problems--he obviously lied as he has already signed the biggest porker package in history and Obama obviously had no idea of presidential powers with the line by line bit since Presidents do NOT have the line item veto.

I'm no Constitutional lawyer, but I think the Supreme Court said that the purse strings belong to Congress and that giving the President a line-item veto was in essence removing power from the legislative branch and giving it to the executive branch.

Good old(graying hair now) Obama is on the road again----Bragging about some program---Should be doing his job in Washington instead of leaving it to the congress-Bunch of idiots!

No, Obama will say there are no earmarks in this bill and everyone will believe him. Just like he said for the stimulas bill "there is no pork in this bill".

serious, you're exactly right. The President currently does not have a line item veto and cannot assume one on his own for any reason. The pursestrings belong to Congress. That said, there are some qualifiers:

1) Congress can give the President a line item veto permanently. No Democratic Congress is ever going to give it to a Republican President or vice versa. No Republican Congress will ever give it to a Republican President. But a Democratic Congress might give it to a Democratic President. The Democrats have a lot more to gain at this point in time than the Republicans from a line item veto and elimination of earmarks.

2) The President also has two ways around the situation. a) He can take the funds and just not spend them. Called impounding. This was done a lot by Reagan and Both Bushes. b) He can put his own earmarks in the budget. Bush II used this a lot --- for example he had Congress put in an earmark for millions for AIDs in Africa, for the political benefit of proposing it, then never spent it. So earmarks can be used in a variety of political ways, not just in the obvious ways.

3) And unlike the lists of "pork" that are so popular that make such fun reading, there is often much more to the story than meets the eye and the President is tasked with looking at the whole story, not just the part that a partisan wants him to look at. A good example is the widely-touted stories about funds for "tattoo removal." Sounds stupid when presented like that, but police departments all over the country say that gang tattoos are the most coercive way that gangs use to keep their members in gangs. Police departments everywhere are coming to the conclusion that removing or tattooing over gang tattoos is one of the most effective ways of getting gang members to leave gangs. So the people who want money for "tattoo removal" are trying to get people out of gangs. So that means that the people who oppose support gangs? No, probably not, but they are ill-informed and jump on things without knowing what they are talking about. This is true of many, many of the so-called "pork" items. Much of the country does not care about "pig odor" but the handful of states what account for most of the swine production are having serious problems with urban growth coming close to long-standing pig farms. The battles in court are huge with each asserting their own set of rights. One of the easiest ways (and least expensive) might be to find some inexpensive way to deodorize pig manure. Sounds stupid when you first say it, but as a practical matter it makes sense, but only in a few locations. And that is what earmarks tend to be --- local issues that are huge to local politics but are lost in the shuffle of national politics. Doesn't make them bad.

Chris,

Very good post. In principle I agree with what you said, however is now the time to take on so much additional spending? That should be the real issue at hand. At a later time we can delve into the validity of the proposed "earmarks" and, if Obama would keep at least ONE of his promises, we should be able to look at the proposed bills on line so we can make informed decisions and make our opinions known to our representatives.

let's say I make a very large donation to my local Senator. (I couldn't and would't, but let's say I did.) And I told him I have MS. If he added an earmark for MS research via the Mellen Center at the Cleveland Clinic (in our State) would that be "pork?"

Would it be a "targetted earmark?"

Would it be "payback?"

How would you classify it?

yep it is if you made a big payment it pork just like all the other there for sale

you're right. everyone is losing jobs but the govt jobs have increased, guess who gets to pay for that, us. more obamanomics and the country will be bankrupt.

Yeah and who the hell are they to grant themselves a raise??? WHO OUT THERE is happy with Congress' progress on anything????

Can't wait-to vote them out!

We had that chance in November................

I will be very interested to see where Reid, Pelosi, Frank are in the future!

I agree. Our tax dollars pay for all of this crap. Why don't we get to review it?

Oh, and why in the hell do people get to vote if they don't pay taxes? This is the most baffling to me. If you don't pay into the system, then why do you get to vote who runs the system?

If people that didn't work or pay taxes were NOT able to vote, Barack Obama would still be sitting at home.

What makes you say there are no Obama supporters here?

I seeded the thread, and I voted for him. I'm not a knee-jerk follower of anything. Maybe that surprises you.

both partys are sh#t!!! poly = many, tics = blood sucking insects

IT DOES SURPRISE ME! it's just that usually when ANYONE says anything negative about the "messiah" the Obamaniacs start up, shouting the person down claiming it's all the fault of Rush Limbaugh, Bush and Newt Gingrich (insert leftist enemy here). I was just making a point that you might, just might be starting to realize that Obama is a Cook county politician who said whatever was needed to get elected. last time I checked Rush, W, and Newt weren't running this country. The dems where.

if you voted for obama your as much to blame as he is, hope your kids like there free handouts. if there`s any left by the time they grow up!

don't blame me i didn't vote for the socialist lowlife piece of s***

Lantry,

Don't worry about my kids. You don't have to - I've taken care of them.

AND our dear president does not even read the darn things---As well as most of congress!!!!!!

TO Confining to read such things as a big Budget Bill. Obama is such a free spirit and gets bored with mundane whitehouse stuff. Must continue to try to sell these bills just like when he was still running for election.

The only thing he reads are the teleprompters

his term might be over much sooner then 4 years as well as all those in office now

I don't know about that. Last time I checked, his approval ratings were at 65%. WTF is that?????? You watch----------all this will go on for 4 yrs. AND THE PEOPLE will STILL VOTE him in again next election. I am trying to find a place where I can hide.

Oh and yeah, OPRAH has NEVER EVER had anyone pose with her on her magazine. GUESS WHAT!!! Michele Obama will be on her next issue standing next to her. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....................................

They probably could not have since both chambers of Congress are held by the opposition party.  The Presidential Veto could have been exercised, but likely would  have been overturned.

We have what we have; that's what elections are about.  However, it's not wrong for people who believe these bills being passed are harmful to the country to oppose and criticize the administration and Congress.  The margin of victory in the Presidential election was about 7%.  Therefore, a swing of 4%, which is a relatively small change, in the electorate, and this is a spot-on, dead even electorate once again.   

Not knowing Sen McCain or Gove Palin I'm really not sure what they would be doing right now. I would hope though that we would not have just had our congress spend $3 trillion in the past 3 months knowing not where most of it is going.

Reality is that this is a troubling time, and it is clear that no one knows exactly what to do.

That said, we do know what not to do. It is unwise during a downturn to spend like drunken sailors with money that is not your own. Spending your own money will help, amassing debt will only hurt now and later.

We also know not to expand government during a downturn.

And we know not to add to the tax burden during a downturn.

My guess is that maybe, just maybe, Sen. McCain would have been wise enough to not do these very unwise things that Pres Obama has done.

Oh - and if he was lucky, Sen McCain's top picks for his cabinet would not have been liars and tax cheats.

Finally - maybe Sen McCain would have kept his word if he said things like "no more earmarks" and "there will be no lobbyists in my cabinet".

Then again, you never know.

cut taxes to stilulate the economy. Works every time>

There wouldn't be a crisis if the government would back away and let the money stay in the people's pockets.

ebracke, I hate to tell you this, but the Republicans are just as at fault for this one..they have 40% of that pig bill request for earmarks. All parties are guilty, they are just fighting the Democrats because they are in the minority. Doesnt matter what party affiliation, were screwed anyways.

All of them, from both parties, want to bring home the bacon for their districts.

Believe it or not, it's not a one-party issue.

NJ Resident, Incorrect. The 40% is a TRAP. If the republicans accept it - they haven't changed, they can be BOUGHT and the more Republicans who sign on the less it is the democrat's fault!

IF they vote it down, the next election, the opponent has the plenty of ammo to unseat them for turning away federal funding.

The problem is that the politicians understand that to be returned to office, you have give the people of your district money from the Fed. Consider this statement "The begining of the end of a Democracy occurs when the Voters figure out how to vote themselves money". Both parties know this, that is why we have a Federal spending problem.

You will never get rid of the leadership of the parties, because they make certain that their districts get plenty of federal money. The rest of the money is allocated on a risk / reward system.

Hey DB: Here's a better quote for you.

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." -Alexander Tyler in 1787 (on the fall of the Athenian Republic)

All the Congress and Seantors should be ashamed....you can bet they ALL have added a little slice of ham to this raging Porker. Face it my fellow Americans....your elected officials just don't care for anyone but themselves and the ones who line their pockets....and that's the way it is.

ebrake

The New Republican Party - The Party of Fiscal Responisbility beginning Jan 20 2009

Hey Bill, you don't want to really look back in history to prove your point. You will only end up looking even dumber! Just answer 1 question, Did Obama lie about the pork in the bills? If you can't answer a simple "Yes" then just Shut Up!

This is not about 1983. This is about 2009. We are in serious trouble and I do not believe President Obama is headed in the right direction. I do not want more government. I do not want the government handling healthcare and my husband is one of those who can not get healthcare because of a preexisting condition. The government is not going to solve the probelms. The government is the problem. People need to start thinking of what is going on with this new administration and stop complaining about the past admnistrations. President Obama promised change. This is not the change I believe he promised is it? I have tried very hard to give him my complete support but I am hate to say it but that support is over. I fear he is going to cripple this country and quite possibly do exactly like some are saying and turn us into a government controlled socialistic country. I hope I am wrong.

Hey Bill - it was Reagan - and guess what he did? Lowered taxes, which expanded tax revenue (actually doubled it) while the pathetic congress spent more than all of the increased revenues. And yes, Reagan signed those spending bills - his only big mistake.

So what do we learn from this Bill? That tax cuts actually increase revenue to the government - and why does this happen Bill? Because when free people in our neation are left to their own and allowed to spend and invest, our economy booms.

Conversely - when government adds new taxes like your idiot in chief is doing now, the economy shrinks, as does tax revenue, which is exactly what is happening.

I thought enough time had passed since 1983 that even the slow one's would understand this.

So we are headed in exactly the wrong direction due to current leadership dimwittery.

jack23--unfortunately, Zippie is trying to associate the health care issue along with our other woes in this country (HOUSING) He made a false remark yesterday in stating that every 3 minutes in this country, someone losses their home that is directly related to claiming bankruptcy due to medical bills. LIED!!!! Not a fact. Our health care does probably need an overhauling. I worked in the industry for 18 yrs. Burnt out went into another field-------BUT..............it is still the best DAMN health care in the WORLD!!! Just ask Canada, England, France and Denmark.

Well said! The only problem is that our "elected" officials did an ole backdoor play on the people of this country...ever hear of the POPULAR vote and the ELECTORAL vote?? I can't remember when a President actually was voted in on the popular vote. The goverment created the Electoral vote to "protect" the people when in fact it was created to protect the corrupt politicians!

All of them, from both parties, want to bring home the bacon for their districts.

Believe it or not, it's not a one-party issue.

NJ Resident the electoral vote was to give a voice to all the people of a state and the country and not just those in the most populated areas such as the cities. If you went by just the popular vote, the states with the most population would always be the deciding vote. Our founding fathers wanted every voice heard.