The highlight for me was, "I like to know what I'm talking about before I open my mouth." It was such a good answer to such a needed question. The populists out there want the president to start burning down buildings over these bailouts, but that's not what's best for the country. Sometimes "outrage" sounds contrived and pandering, and I am sure he had an advisor or two who said, "You have to be ahead of this thing! We have to be the first to be outraged." The president, I imagine, responded to that advisor the same way he responded to the ABC News reporter. It is nice to not see a simple reactionary in the White House.

we are in a world of hurt if Obama is an example of knowing more than the rest of the country. His policies are so very misguided and destructive. The CBO constantly contradicts his assurtions, actual economists fear the results of every time he opens his mouth.

Obama has done nothing to stimulate the economy, he has only increased the debt and through his minions in the houses of congress has set about targetting specific individuals with unconstitutional tax laws.

Be very, very afraid if Obama is what most americans see as being more knowledgable than anyone else.

Uh oh, the Marvelous trolling is back. Get prepared, people, for a string of name calling, irrelevant, unrelated points, and shots at the President's wife.

People like "Marvelous" represent the Rush Limbaugh philosophy as in "I want this President and our country to fail, and I'm not going to let REALITY get in the way of my pre-conceived notions........"

I give Obama a D for the conference and an A for being a two faced liar.

Yo, Marvelous- we are already in a "world of hurt" thanks to previous administrations. You really think that anyone could have fixed the broken economy in 60 days? GOP never came up with a complete game plan to deal with all the issues. Mostly they just offered "tax cuts" to the ones that needed them least as an indirect way to stimulate the economy. Effects from tax cuts would take even longer to be noticed than direct stimulus.

Obama proved once again that he is just reacting on the so called "only" solution to the economy when even fellow democrats disagree with his spend spend spend policies. I feel sorry for generations to come for they will have to "try" and dig this country out of this hole and return America to her prominence!

All the reporters are always pre-selected. It's been that way for decades. And you can usually guess what the questions are going to be. For instance, do you really think a "Stars and Stripes" reporter is going to ask anything other than a question about the military?

This is nothing new. If he sounded prepared, that's because he was prepared. Every prsident is prepped before every news conference.

Incidentally, preparedness prior to a news conference is not a pathology.

It is the job of the president to sell his ideas and policies to the public. That's why it always looks like a PR job. That's what the president is supposed to do. This concept that a president should look blindsided by questions about the economy, is rediculous especially when everyone knows that's why the press conference was called to begin with!

Only a bitter, short-sighted conservative obstructionist would pan the president for doing what presidents do - holding a prepared press conferences to make statements on the most important issues facing the country. Where were these pinheads when Bush was doing the same thing? Bitter double-standards and partisan potshots are so...passe.

Black Knight, obviously you'd prefer that Obama stumble in response to unexpected questions and look like a fool. That would appeal to your seditious desire that he fail, or at least appear to be failing. Sorry you and Limbaugh are constantly so disappointed by this president, but that's the way it goes when your interestes are so narrow.

Were you aware that any President, who has ever disagreed with the CBO, has had his fanny handed to him?
No president has ever won a disagreement, with the CBO

I don't like the fact that everyone, and I mean everyone from the CBO, economists, to world leaders, thinks that spending our way out of our problems is a bad idea. I don't like how he is playing with numbers like Clinton did with his "surplus" or like Bush did with the war spending. I feel like we learned what a liar was, from the last two guys in office, but we are still ignoring the lies with this guy.

But you can't blame a politician for being a politician, you can only blame the people who gave him his position.

are you serious!!!

Jack313, please saddle off your high horse (by the way Jack, is A-s-s your last name, LOL!) . Now that YOUR man is president you suddenly notice how his critics are picking on him, boohoo, boohoo, boohoo! Yea right, typical of you libs. Ya'll were quick to sling your monkey poo at ole GWB, but now that the Messiah is taking a little heat (and compared to Bush, President Dumbo should be feeling MORE heat for being the incompetent, inexperienced, teleprompter boob that he is...the way I look at it, he's getting off easy), you are ready to cry FOUL like the little girlie men you and your Socialist Party are. Go get a life Jackass313! Come 2010 we will punish you and the rest of the Socialist Party members presently in Congress for the damage ya'll are doing to this once great country. The backlash is coming, you just wait and see (would you like a little TEA with that crumpet)!

InniAudi: I don't know about you, but I've had an abundance of incompetent professors during my lifetime. Most of them advanced by sheer political means. Some couldn't even communicate effectively in the English language, as if the university could care less. To me, the Obama Presidency seems more like a children's greeting card. Bunny is happy. Bunny is sad. Bunny is pensive. Bunny is mad. It's going to be quite a ride.

Waterdog, you might want to try something other than University of Phoenix.

Unfortuantely, a lot of people can't see past the talk and see reality. People need to stopping listening to the speaches and actually educate themselves on these policies. Everyone talks about how intelligent and knowledgable he is... Just because you can speak fluidly doesn't make you a genius. For all of you open minded people, you sure are quick to call all conservatives narrow, but then you spout off your biasis as if they are "only way"; seems a little narrow minded to me. Be a little slower to open your mouths and think first before show yourselves as hypocritical. I know that I may be rambling but I just get tired of hateful people that who have nothing better to do than spread their foul moods and ideas around. Whether you agree with me or not, our president does and will make mistakes and I fear that he (along with the senate and congress) have passed some very scary legislation. Bye the way, if you don't think the press is left leaning, you need a serious wake up call. They all tore Bush apart (and sometimes rightfully so because he did make mistakes), but rarely do they come down on Obama in the same way.

Schwannomin says:

Waterdog, you might want to try something other than University of Phoenix.

For what it's worth, the three universities that I attended are currently ranked among the top 25 major public institutions, but your response is even more significant. Why trash people who may not have the opportunity to advance themselves other than by means of online universities such as the U of P? Having lived in an Ivy league community for these twenty years, I have concluded that elitist, "know-it-all" attitudes such as yours are very much at the root of what is wrong with the world today.

You sound kind of know it all to me... Mr. 3 universities i've attended are top 25... who cares... Knowledge and intelligence are two completely different things.

His "performance" was Just that....a "performance" as has been with everything he does......all he did was read the answers.....he has a good writer on his team...so what? And might I add that he is quite smug and arrogant as well....if someone "dared" to question his answer, he was quick to say, "AS I SAID BEFORE"......so demeaning....does THAT make him a great president? He can stand there and say how much he "inherited" and some of that is true.....but then again, Bush "inherited" 9-11 from the "stick your head in the sand" Clinton Administration!

I agree that people should read up on the issues and form their own opinions, but unfortunately, that doesn't often happen. Many people buy into their party lines, or media bias, or whatever bias, with no real information on the subject. What I do appreciate about Obama's "professor" mentality is that he explains his stance on this issue in a way that most of the American public can comprehend. Obviously he is very intelligent to be able to convey this message, even if you don't agree with his views. As a reference, our previous President had a very difficult time getting the simplest of messages across and was almost painful to listen to.

Your ignorance of the events leading up to 9-11 is stupefying. About a month before the planes loaded with terrorists did their damage the president (er, that was GWB) was briefed "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." He is quoted as saying to his briefer, "OK, you covered your ass." Then, GWB went back to cutting brush on his Texas ranch. A month later, we were attacked. Don't try and lay 9-11 at the feet of Clinton. The entire episode happened on GWB's mindless watch. Just check out his reaction when he was told of the attacks, he sat there for 9 long minutes totally frozen, wondering "whathafu*k just happened?" Yeah, right on. That was the idiot this country "elected" not once but twice.

I VOTED HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE BETTER BECAUSE ITRULY BELIEVE HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE BETTER IF HE TRIED! ALTHOUGH HE DOES DELIVER A SPEECH VERY WELL AS REHEARSED AS IT WAS IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SPEECH WITH PAUSES.

I would like to share something with you from the United Kingdom (England in the north Atlantic)

Whether you agree with this article or not, you have to agree that it is very cleverly written. -

The Daily Mail ( UK ) wrote this editorial about Obama on 1/6/2009..

(confirmation, Google " London Daily Mail Obama's Victory")

Obama's Victory--A British view

A victory for the hysterical Op rah Winfrey, the mad racist preacher Jeremiah Wright, the US mainstream media who abandoned any sense of objectivity long ago, Europeans who despise America largely because they depend on her, comics who claim to be dangerous and fearless but would not dare attack genuinely powerful special interest groups. A victory for Obama-worshippers everywhere. A victory for the cult of the cult. A man who has done little with his life but has written about his achievements as if he had found the cure for cancer in between winning a marathon and building a nuclear reactor with his teeth. Victory for style over substance, hyperbole over history, rabble-raising over reality.

A victory for Hollywood, the most dysfunctional community in the world. Victory for Streisand, Spielberg, Soros, Moore, and Sarandon. Victory for those who prefer welfare to will and interference to independence. For those who settle for group think and herd mentality rather than those who fight for individual initiative and the right to be out of step with meager political fashion.

Victory for a man who is no friend of freedom. He and his people have already stated that media has to be controlled so as to be balanced, without realizing the extraordinary irony within that statement. Like most liberal zealots, the Obama worshippers constantly speak of the Fox News Network and Rush Limbaugh, when the vast bulk of television stations and newspapers are drastically liberal and anti-conservative. Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer said that just as pornography should be censored, so should talk radio. In other words, one of the few free and open means of popular expression may well be cornered and beaten by bullies who even in triumph cannot tolerate any criticism and opposition.

A victory for those who believe the state is better qualified to raise children than the family, for those who prefer teachers' unions to teaching and for those who are naively convinced that if the West is sufficiently weak towards its enemies, war and terror will dissolve as quickly as the tears on the face of a leftist celebrity.

A victory for social democracy even after most of Europe has come to the painful conclusion that social democracy leads to mediocrity, failure, unemployment, inflation, higher taxes and economic stagnation. A victory for intrusive lawyers, banal sentimentalists, social extremists and urban snobs.

Congratulations America! Your funeral will be sooner than you think!

The President has the ability to answer some very difficult and contentious questions in such a manner so as to make it look simple. For the simple minded they just might not get either the questions or the answers. However, he does a very good job of answering impromptu questions reasonably, comprehensively, and in a very civil manner. We have a person as president who is really behaving as quite a gentleman. If what he says goes over some heads perhaps the push to better educate the next generation of Americans will help to remedy this problem. A - for the overall performance!

Obama had a list of all the questions that would be allowed prior to the news conference, he had rehearsed all of his responses in advance so as not to appear as the empty suit that he really is.

The media lobbed soft ball after softball to him and the best he could do was dribble a grounder for a base hit. Pathetic performance for "The One".

I wont miss him after he is voted out after just one term.

Captain Marvelous, how do you know he had the questions in advance? I really want to know.

Marvelous makes up his own reality. Obama did NOT have the reporters' questions given to him before the press conference. Any idiot know that like ANY president, (INCLUDING George Bush,) he reviewed the likely questions before the press conference.

Is Captain Marvelous Jeff Gannon?

"Marvelous", I'd like to know how youcome by your inside knowledge, too. People like you never have a straight answer. On another blog I participate in, someone said that the president was a "puppet". I have written numerous times in reply to that person, asking who the puppeteer was and what his/her ends were. That started about ten days ago. So far the only direct reply I've gotten is that I'm an "educated idiot". If there are really answers to these questions, don't you think you guys owe us an answer for the sake of the country?
As for soft ball questions, I wish the press were a little more demanding in thier question, myself, in questions to anyone. We would get better answers and a better understanding of the person they were questioning and their policies and opinions. I think they are too used to questioning someone who cannot answer a complex question, or insists on talking to us like children, or is simply not too clear on the answer. (Does Bobby Jindal know what a volcano monitor is yet and why it's a good thing to have? Betcha even Sarah Palin could tell him that, now that Mt Redoubt is blazing away. Certainly the folks who live around Mt. St. Helens and in the volcanic northwest know, or Hawaii. Betchaeven Obama knows even though he hasn't lived in Hawaii for a long time. Do you know "Marvelous"?)

Tom, may I suggest you stop while you are ahead. You're getting dumber with each post. You idiot, in the same breath, you just confirmed what Marvelous said to be the case. Jenniferlayne, I am just going to say that after reading your post you get the "Obama Drone of the Day Award". You have got to be serious. Have the Republicans "work" with him, like the way he let them work with him on the $787 billion porkulus bill, right! And have the press work with him. Now this one really, really floored me. Either you have been living in a gray box or you have an IQ equivalent to your shoe size. The mainstream media IS working (and rooting) for this guy. But my question to you is, shouldn't the press be more "objective" in their reporting and less of a cheerleading squad. You think maybe its the misinformation and the propaganda that the MSM has been spewing about this guy that has people like you (and dumbo Tom) thinking he is the next Messiah. You think???

First of all, this country will never become a socialist nation and the free market philosphy will always exist. We've had some social programs in effect for decades so those of you who are thinking we're going to end up like the old Soviet Union, Cuba, etc, should really try to get a life (and possibly read a little more). The Obama administration had to do something to turn around 8 years of Bush. It's plain and simple, Obama was handed an economy in a rapid downward spiral and the Republican solution was more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Rush Limbaugh doesn't just want Obama's so-called socialist policies to fail, he wants Obama and his administration to fail on all fronts to pave the way for Republicans to shout a big "I told you so" to the nation. It's all rooted in politics along party lines which is why Republicans are trying everything to obstruct everything Obama is trying to do. It's not perfect, but if everyone pulls together, as we did during World War II, we will make the country better. Give it time, be patient, volunteer, make a difference and stop bitching.

Thanks, Loudmouth and Charlie, for so aptly representing the bitter mentality of the short-sighted conservative minority. You continue to reinforce the rest of our convictions about the last eight years and why they're over.

I can't imagine that those of you who are calling other posters names would do that to their faces! If you would, you must truly be a horrible human being. Statistics show that the majority of Republicans are also Christian. If this is the case, then I'd say that the negative comments are coming an awfully lot from the right, hence, a probable Christian! Whew, that scares me. I really don't think Christianity teaches that we should treat one another this way. SHAME ON YOU!

Amen, amen, amen. I can bet they have not read "The Purpose Driven Life".

Take questions from anyone???? He had hand-picked the few that got to ask questions before hand and had them on a list if you had watched him at all he was pointing to the name on the list with his finger. Dont you think he already knew what they were going to ask ahead of time. When will he quit using the teleprompter and act like a man instead of a puppett, OH WAIT, I forgot he is a puppet of Pelosi.

Jenn, sorry if you think this "Christian" is being un-Christian like, it's just that I am tired of the lies and misinformation coming out from the left in Congress, the media, and even Obama himself. I like to put these hypocrits in their place. Sometimes you have to remove the gloves and smack these people around just to get one iota of sense through to them. I believe you should fight fire with fire, even if you must do it on their terms and their battlegrounds. They test my patience, so don't ever try and shame me.

We Know he had the Questions in Advance because he chose the Questioneers from a roster, Even knowing the questions in advance he managed to side step the answers and divert back to his main agenda without answering some of the questions head on. Like the Nuisance those pesky Mexicans have become in El Paso and other places along the border.

Today there is a new challenge with North Korea trying to Flex their Muscles on a world stage...Will it be reason enough for the USofA to go in and kick A out of them and give it to the Chinees for partial payment of our deficit balance? I guess North Korea does not want to be part of our Global Village, can you Blame them?

As an independent, both the democrats and the republicans are one in the same. They both lie to the American people and like to spend money, just in different areas that cater to their party's morals, beliefs, and supporters.

Bill Adkins, you will be the last left-wing dummie I will respond to today, because I feel I am just wasting my breath. Nothing will ever sink into the thick skulls of you jerks. Let me remind you that your wonderful Dumbocraps took control of Congress in Nov. 2006. This recession began AFTER (since 2007) your Socialist Party took control of Congress, get it! Congress' legislative decisions have a MORE direct impact on economic issues than does the President. But obviously you idiots can't get over your Bush Derangement Syndrome. Last I remember, Bush was gone, gone, gone. Literally, as for the "buck stopping here". I think you need to preach that line to the "professor" living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. He obviously hasn't seen a buck he doesn't like, LMAO!

LoudMouth, couldn't agree with you more, well said. Our policticians need to do what's best for the economy and our country, in general, and not what's best for any one parties ideology.

I wonder what the Democrates were doing the last 8 years. They apparently weren't working, if it was only the republicans that made this mess we are in.

All of them are to blame. Let's get real!

Nana, the Rpublicans were in the majority for 6 of the 8 years, Bush srated using his veto power very late in his time in offlice, and their is something called a filibuster, which the Repubs continue to hopt to make use of. Check it out. I dare you. Then tell us about it when you get some good references. Will you take the little time it requires, use a variety of sources, including the Congressional record, and then be honest when you get back to us? Having an opinion, once you have, really researched things, is legit once you have good info yo back it up, no matter how you come down on an issue. But a lot of open-mindedness to reall knowledge and actual records and facts are absoluyly necessary. When you have all the background of an issue (or at least a pretty good layman's knowledge, you are then qualified to expres an opinion, whatever that is, and use your research to back it up. One of the best exercises one can do is join a debate club or class and then be called upon to debate both sides of an issue in separate debates. It can be difficult (and fun), but it really teaches you to research thoroughly the ENTIRE issue, not to cherry-pick, and you really have to think through your arguments, because you will be facing people equally informed (hopefully). It can be personally difficult arguing against something you are passionate about, but you put yourself in the other guy's shoes-never a bad idea. It's the basis of good diplomacy for one thing, no matter who you are talking with.

Selective Taxation was grounds for the "Revolutionary War"

AIG owns the Congressional retirement fund...Everyone in congress new and old will do whatever it takes to keep AIG afloat to ensure their checks keep coming. Lehman Brothers and others like them who were not so fortunate to get bailout funds, were allowed to fall. They were holding the retirement nest eggs of many individuals their money is gone for good. This double standard of bailout distribution should be at the heart of this debate. Not that some employee finally gets his commission check. The executives at AIG and any other firm are not to blame here, They are doing their JOB, Great work if you can get it.

The right to earn cannot be compromised by envious short sighted people without ability.

The real reason this Illegal Tax was delayed is that the feds know the can of worms this will open in the form of law suits will tie up the ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND THE COURTS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. That group is already distracted. The congress will have to write another blank check to bailout the Legal system. We need to clean house during the next election and fire them all. My bumper sticker will read "Vote No Incumbents" I hope yours will too because I do not want to be part of a global Village! No You can not borrow my tools! Nothing Personal!

Every Member of the SEC past and Present should be the ones on trial here and the Money Men From the private, Federal Reserve Bank who directed them.

Keep Governments out of the Markets, Period.

Go to Govtrack.us to view pending legislation

hr 1388 Mandatory Volunteerism...hr645encroachment of the freedom of speech... hr45gun control...hr875Food Processing...

Go to stimuluswatch.org to see where the money went

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When they Come to give you the “Mark of the Beast” you must say no!

You just can't cure stupid. As is the case of pointing the blame ONLY at Republicans - and worse, allowing liberals to call themselves Republicans. This has been a very long time in the works and is the course of many Presidents and Administrations. However, it is apparent that the Divide and Conquer wartime tactics still work very well in today's political arena. So many of you are busy with name-calling and self-gratification, jealousy and loathing that you do not see the shackles around your own ankles. There is an aisle, but that aisle is not between the Dems and the Repubs, it is between Us and Them.

Understand that if we were to retract several key Acts by Congress, there would be no divide among us. As it stands, we do not own our property, we do not even own our money. We are all Renters. They have stripped us of our Liberty and our Pursuit of Happiness through DECADES of seemingly small and irrelevant intrusions and this is just the culmination before the next revolution.

They have removed Community and Commanality from our citizens, which is going to pit neighbor against neighbor and brother against brother if you do not start to stand up for your Constitutional Rights and begin repairing the damage that has been strewn upon us for generations. We should be standing shoulder to shoulder WITH our neighbors and family - so that we can take care of each other. There is NOTHING that the government can do for us that we can't do better ourselves. The government produces nothing other than angst and animosity amongst us. They build no roads, they till no fields, they arrest no criminals and they provide no capital. All of those things come from our labours and our interests. What they do is create havoc and ploys, theaters that keep us pointing the finger at a revolving Head (POTUS). They create problems and then tell us they can fix them, when the reality is they should have never gotten involved in the first place.

If you read history, you will notice that before the Federal Reserve, the normal business cycles were much less pronounced and much less damaging. Shortly after the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 these united States of America encountered its first Great Depression. Today, with all of the Barriers to Entry and the Forced Inflation, these cycles are enourmous and devestating. These are not caused by Free Markets and simple greed. Free Markets combat excessive greed by providing competition. These Crises are caused by Artificial Monetary Controls by the Federal Reserve. They are enforced by the strong arm of the IRS and other beuracracies that are designed for control, not betterment of the citizens and society.

We all know how to do that by ourselves; We know that we are entitled to our opinions, and we know we are not allowed to IMPOSE them on everyone else.

What this president is doing is not leading, just as other presidents, administrations and congress have done in the past - they are Dictating. They are imposing upon us their wills, their wishes. We are not a democracy, we are a Republic - one of which is ruled by Laws. Play within those boundaries and all is well. Cross boundary lines and there are consequences. Move boundary lines and there will be hell to pay.

Stop pointing fingers at each other - bring back Community and Commonality between you and your neighbors.

Affirmative action reject, Are you saying he is the devil. Get real!!!! That should make you pray even more for him now shouldn't it. Just awful!!!!!!!!!

You must not be paying attention. Obama has said repeatedly that he wants to listen to input from others. Remember, he reached out to Congressional Republicans several times shortly after taking office, and he has solicited input from a number of world leaders. He's also indicated that he is willing to change course when a better solution appears. This is radically different from the previous president.

I agree with you, but I don't think his advisors are worth much either. He and his administration feel that they are special and know it all. That is sooo far from the truth. Running this country takes more than academics. He's off to a rough start. I hope that they "get it" and start approaching things more realistically for the sake of all of us.

Obama made token gestures to Republicans, when it mattered he shut down all voices of opposition remember his statement "I won!". Republicans tried on numerous occasions to offer alternatives to his porkulus bill but were shut down by Obama's minion Nancy Pelosi.

Obama is a real threat to the continued existence of this country, unless of course you prefer living in third world conditions like Cuba.

This is one time I don't agree with you re. My experience is that wise, competent leadership gives the impression of being on top of all situations. Of course we know every leader has weaknesses. They are human beings after all.

My ex boss was totally respected. He worked very hard to be informed and make wise decisions. He hated giving the appearance of being uninformed. I don't see that quality as a weakness at all. President Obama takes the blame for mistakes. He makes mistakes. He certainly works very hard and is blessed in many ways. I think we are fortunate to have him at this point in our history. He has the potential to not only restore our economy, but to revitalize it. I think he actually lets us see his human side more than most leaders I'm familiar with. But I agree with you that he does not appear intimidated by anyone or any situation. I am most impressed with the following: his ability to think before he speaks and to respond forcefully yet tactfully, his fundamental desire to improve our country, and that he is exhilarated by the challenge of being President.

Ahh Captain Mudslinglous, can you even IMAGINE if the repub answer, Sarah Palin, were in charge of this mess just now....along with " geez, the economy is not my forte" McCain at her side....aiyaiayai ! Left up to the Oil Barrons of the last administration, the country was headed exactly where you indicate - third world education, trashed environment, and pervasive joblessnes. We now have new leadership, real minds, and the necessary JOLT back to reality to bring some seriousness to the tasks ahead. We are in good hands, give it some time ( 60 days!!!!!!!) Palin, HA!

Gee. Affordable health care and education for EVERYONE? Sounds like a GREAT idea! Except to conservatives.

I have concluded that what differentiates Republicans from Democrats is FEAR. Rebpublicans are essentially afraid of two things: 1) they fear anyone who is different from them, and 2) they fear that by giving something to someone else, whether health care, education, civil rights, or (god forbid) financial assistance, it will take away from them. It must be sad to live one's life in fear.....

it's not fear, silly, it's being told i need to support those who cannot support themselves UNEQUIVOCABLY. Assisting those with disabilities, or on a temporary basis, etc. is of course fine and what builds a strong community and nation (not too mention the human thing to do)......supporting others without regard to laziness, poor choices, "because I make too much", because I somehow owe them - not so much! I've worked since I was 12 years old, paid my own way for education, am ambitious, good work ethic, a bit of luck and some common sense, etc. I resent being told I need to be 'average' when it comes to my income. May as well be unionized - way to demotivate the population.

Mine1: do you belong to a church or any other religious or charitable organization? Helping people out is still a big deal in a lot of such groups, but they are having a hard go of it. The church I went to in Ohio growing up made as it's pet project, aid to legal migrant workers who were really needed at certain times of the year, but often lived in less than ideal circumstances (squalid comes to mind). The town was a small WASPish town and bedroom community for one of the then largest SAC bases in the country. I started working at about the same age as you in my Dad's small business (under the table) and most of my earnings went to savings for college. I continued to work through college, plus had scolarships and loans. Unfortunately, I am now on Social Security because of a genetic disease that probably began showwing mild symptoms in high school and worsened gradually over the years. I worked until 2001 when I was 55, and it was becoming nearly impossible. I was diagnosed in about 1992-it's a rare genetic disease which few doctors had heard of let alone the bloggers here. After years of experimentation my docs and I found the right constellation of treatments that literally brought me back from the edge of slow suicide by alcohol (untreated it is excruciatingly painful and absolutely debilitating). No church, except maybe a large city church, could possibly have helped me-too expensive. Thank Heaven for Medicare! I don't drink AT ALL now, not since 2001, and can lead a reasonably normal life, but it is dependent on the treatments I get. I cannot work, but I make myself useful through volunteer work, as I am able, and run a household.
As a life-long social worker type, I can guarantee you that the sleazeballs who work the system at our expense are out there, but few an far between, and they usually get caught sooner or later. They stick out like sore thumbs if the agencies involved are paying attention, which the vast majority do. One of the worst cases I ever saw was two unmarried sisters who were constantly pregnant and refused to use birth control, their reason? They liked being pregnant! Don't think they were living the life of Riley, though. The didn't even know how to game the system. Last I heard, they had six kids between them and there was no one at Social Services not totally disgusted by them. The kids finally all went to foster homes or were adopted out and the women were told they would not be receiving any aid unless they got their heads screwed on straight, and certainly not for having more kids. They were unfit mothers. But they were not welfare queens driving Cadillac, believe me!
In our mind, the kids came first. They had no choice in the matter.

You illustrated my point completely -- you ARE afraid that something will be taken from you if you help someone else.

It's sad that you don't understand that by improving the health of ALL Americans, we strengthen our country and reduce the burden on health care costs for EVERYONE including those who can afford insurance, not to mention the risk of communicable diseases to everyone. And, if you think educating the poor is a bad thing, you must believe that the less knowledge the citizens of a country have, the better. This makes no sense.

Tom-Since it does not bother you to give away your hard-earned assets, please let me know how I may contact you so that you can send me some money. I pay over $13k in Federal taxes every year and quite frankly, do not use nearly that amount in government assistance. Sounds like you may have some extra cash for me. Maybe if all of you libs sent me some money I could actually quit my job and start blogging for a living. Shoot, I may even start to like this socialism thing, "Sit around, drink, party, sleep in everyday, and hey responsibility for my own life....what's that?"

Yes, Tom - I am afraid you will take my money.

As I said, helping those truly in need is important and noble, but I have NO faith that anyone is going to make sure those handed a payday are in need.

Eric,

Don't start partying just yet. $13K in federal taxes does not equal $13K in government assistance; not under socialism or capitalism or whatever society we live under. Remember the roads we drive on? The schools our kids go to? The FDA to make sure our food supply is reasonably safe? We all pay to live in a civilized society. Maybe you should do a bit of research before you start attacking taxation, socialism, and post another blog.

TOP 10 POVERTY CITIES

This has got to be one of the greatest American tragedies. What do the top 10 cities with the highest poverty rate all have in common?

= Detroit , MI (1st on the poverty rate list)...hasn't elected Republican mayor since 1961;

= Buffalo , NY (2nd)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1954;

= Cincinnati , OH (3rd)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1984;

= Cleveland , OH (4th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1989;

= Miami , FL (5th)...has never had a Republican mayor;

= St. Louis , MO (6th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1949;

= El Paso , TX (7th)...has never had a Republican mayor;

= Milwaukee , WI (8th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1908;

= Philadelphia , PA (9th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1952;

= Newark , NJ (10th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1907.

Einstein once said, 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'

It is the disadvantaged who habitually elect Democrats --- yet are still disadvantaged.

Opinion: The Disadvantaged remain disadvantaged because they are looking for a Liberal Democratic Government to give them something, when all they have to do is work for it.

(How can a person be 5th generation & disadvantaged in this country?)

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free".

-Ronald Wilson Reagan

People elect Democrats when they need a change to happen. All of the cities you listed aren't poor because they have Democrats in office. There are a miriad of issues that contribute to each one. They are all industrial cities whose citizens rely heavily on the extremely rich for their jobs. Maybe if these people were all paid a decent wage and their jobs weren't shifted to some third world country where the uber-rich could save Billions for themselves, they wouldn't be the 10 poorest cities anymore. Without a Democratic leadership protecting them against the richest of the rich only trying to get richer, they probably would have disintegrated by now.

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else (Benjamin Franklin)

You, Sir, seem to be good at making excuses. And blind as a bat to boot.

Hear, hear.

Nothing but platitudes. I hope all of his policies fail, America cannot afford Obama.

I really don't understand how any American can hope that the policies of his President, policies that have no other goal than to strengthen the country, however flawed you think their execution may be, fail. It's like there is a small portion of Republicans who were so fervent in trying to keep a Republican in the White House that they would say anything, just want to continue to say "down" to every "up" the President tries to say. I know that people don't like being proven wrong, and if Obama's policies succeed, this is how they may feel. But, to wish for their demise just so you can be right, that's just wrong.

There is a reason Obama is out on the road making appearances. He knows that for him to succeed, he needs the support of Congress. Republicans know that if he succeeds, they lose power, and lots of it. They have to move farther away from him and be more adamant about how wrong he is, and they have to undermine everything he does. By Obama speaking directly to the people, he puts every hiccup about his policies executions squarely in the hands of Congress.

Raeboy,

In case you didn't know, Democrats control the COngress, so if they fail to approve Obama's agenda, then he goes down with them. There is no split in the Democratic party, just like there is no split in the Republican party. So what you are saying is the Obama is for the people, and Congress is against? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Good luck with selling that one. In fact the real "bridge to nowhere" is being built by the Democratic Congress and the Obama administration!

Rae, someone who understand why the President is putting himself out there so often! Thank you! I would just add that he has expressed a desire not to become trapped in the White House or D.C. bubble. That's not just good politics, it's trying to stay in touch with US! Oh, and for all of those who have bought into the idea that the Pesident can't speak without a teleptompter: why has he had two press conferences in a little ove two months? The teleprompter does not give him the answers when reporters or townhall attendees ask questions, and he seems to do equally well. You can see him thinking as he answers, or before, which is wonderful! Of course Captain "Mahvalus" thinks he gets all the questions in advance so I'll call on him for a second time to tell us how he gets this vital information. If it's true, it really is dangerous and we should all know all about. I am as seripous as a heart attack! If he knows something from a good source, we ought to be able to check it out. It's the patriotic thing to do, "Marvelous". But I betcha he dodges the question and comes up with all sorts of irrelevant replies.
I don't usually get this angry, but I am really sick of the know-nothing know-it-alls who wave their arms and flap their lips with not a whit of information except "the line" from Limbaugh, Beck and the others, which is rarely information (yes, I DO listen to those people and go on their websites regularly, just so I know what this week's "line" is. I DON't just take Keith Olbermann's word for it, though he makes it laughable, at least. Actually listening and reading those people is painful!).

Captain Marvelous knows all as he is George "The IDIOT" Bush

LoudMouth, I like your style, keep up the good work buddy! The only problem I can see is that you make too much sense for this thread, LOL!

I believe your questions were answered previously on this post, You have to go back a few to read, or is that re-read? Even so it is a fool who, when confronted with the truth would seek another answer because the real answer caused some discomfort.

When they come to give you the mark of the beast, you must say NO!

Great reply there Chucky. Don't tell me, let me guess. You're a blind liberal.

I believe the thanks go to the telepropter (as usual with this guy).

Wrong. He used the telepromter only for his opening remarks. The questions from the reporters were not on a teleprompter.

No the questions were given to him before hand. Let's see him do an interview without picking,and choosing which questions he will answer,and which reporters he will take questions from.

"maggiemay" and you know this HOW???? Do you work in the White House? The truth is, that like ANY president, INCLUDING George Bush, he reviewed the likely questions before the press conference --- it doesn't take a rocket scientist for a president to guess what the questions might be about before the press conference -- even Bush could figure that out.......

Die Hard - so a teleprompter makes a wise and dynamic President. For God sakes, why didn't somebody buy President Bush one!

York,

GWB was not a lawyer and his news conferences were more dynamic and enjoyable.

Enjoyable? Enjoyable?! In what way? The way he was able to stumble over words? Since when should press conferences be enjoyable anyway? Obama is not Dave Chappelle. He's the freaking president who is leading the country during the worst economic downturn in decades. Maybe enjoyable isn't the tone he needs to be setting.

GWB was not a lawyer and his news conferences were more dynamic and enjoyable.

Dynamic and enjoyable?! HA! They almost caused me physical pain to watch him talk and realize that the rest of the world was seeing this idiot as our leader. As someone said the other day, we were all dumber for hearing him open his mouth.

Sorry determined, but President Son-of-Bush didn't know what a press conference was, and his education and profession should have well prepared him to speak, think and act intelligently. Nothing could have fixed his incompetence. Talk about a effective PR campaign!

GWB never used a teleprompter. He had a receiver in his ear, why do you think it took so long to answer. Anybody would have a problem if Dick Cheney was telling you what to say.

Didn't you know? They used Bush's voice only for those bin Laden tapes and Cheney's voice for Bush's. Worked for them.

Hawkeye...I caught that too. He made the reporters more nervous than I've seen them in a long time. Of course, that may be because he speaks so articulately. I like too the way he looked that one reporter straight in the eye when he tried to slam the Obama budget. Best slam dunk I've ever seen.

The questions were designated and the answers were on a JUMBO TRON! as well as rehearsed, even so some answers were side stepped very effectivly.

Not my original idea but I found it very funny:

The Teleprompter in Chief.

Knowing that your words, or misspoken words, can make the markets of the world rise or fall, and considering the number of speaches you give each day would be impossible for anyone to memorize accurately, using a teleprompter is the responsible thing to do.

Yes Barbara! Together there is not telling how quickly we can clean up this mess and move ahead on a new, sustainable and more equitable track !

Rave for Barbara and livenlearn. I wonder why people are so adamant in their denunciations of President Obama. It's like they would be considered traitors to their cause to admit he's doing a great job and help him. I’ve never felt that way about supporting a Republican. There were many times when I supported both Bush Presidents . But I have always regretted how the far right seemed to shackle them.

livenlearn - More equitable???! as determined by whom? gimme, gimme, gimme. what determines what's equitable is how much someone is willing to pay for your skill set. supply and demand. not how much a president is willing to cave to secure his popularity and spread the wealth. I agree that passionate Teachers (educated, focused, engaged), for example, should make more than they do, and that's a shame; but don't begrudge a business exec (just for example) for making more than a laborer. everyone makes choices. Obama's blind whitewash of spreading the wealth is not the answer.

What's your definition of equitable? Are you hoping that Obama taxing Americans at different tax rates will somehow make things more equitable? That's socialism!

He did fine last night, but he always does fine in a press conference. It's shame that he doesn't do so fine in less structured interviews, like Jay Leno.

Barbara, you're right.
We should all start working with him, right now.
Doesn't matter if we think his policies will work, or not
I have heard thi same statement by others usually the socialist press.
One journalist went far enough to say, he has beeen elected, we should all get behind him.
Are you and the liberal press, hear of the TWO PARTY SYSTEM?.
If we agreed with him, we would be democrats.
The people working aginst him believe that his policies have no chance of working.
I think momentum will problay get him elected again, because of the large number of people, he has promised freebies to.
I also, think, some where down the road, we will hear trial baloons, attempting to remoove the term limits for this man.
Maybe this is where he's going with these policies, I can't think of any other scenario, that fits.
This man is making assumptions, that he will continue to raise taxes on business and they will smile and say, thank you BO take some more.
He seems to think, he will continue to raise taxes on the rich and they will say, thank you BO take some more.
Please tell me, why business, shouldn't just smile and say, okay BO you got all you're getting, and either shut their business down or move it offshore. They have already forced huge numbers of business, offshore.
why, shouldn't the rich, just take their money and go offshore?
Why should they continue to stay here and pay 3 to 5 times as muc as most and get nothing out ot it?
Great Britain did this in the 70's, all of a sudden, they had no Doctors no engineers or other technical people.
Ho wlong, do you think, it will be?

I'm gonna take a page from the Bush playbook and tell all you pathetic @!$%#s crying "socialism":

YOU DONT LIKE IT? GET THE @!$%# OUT OF THE COUNTRY! AND GOOD RIDDANCE HAHAHA

Those of you who say we should all stand behind the president have forgotten that he only received 52% of the vote. So the other nearly half of the population should ignore their beliefs and jump in line. I think not! Remember, our country is a democracy and we have a right to freedom of speech.

Root of all evil - no, there are already socialists countries - you need to go to them....Capitalism is one of the founding tennents of this country....why are you entitled to my salary?

Here we go again. Did your Daddy take your allowance away from you people or something? Why do you all resort to that stale old mantra: "You are stealing my money?" Here's the skinny: Your tax money and mine and 200 million other people's all goes into the same federal kitty. If that's a problem with you, too bad. You don't have the right to deny the rest of us quality of life our tax dollars pay for. Now...go see if Mommy will give you a quarter...that's all your silly post is worth at this point.

In reference to the Skeptic, taxing people at different tax rates is not socialism. Taxing people at the same rates would be a flat tax, something independent Presidential candidates have proposed but has never been a popular idea in this country (yes, even among CAPITALISTS). Taxing different tax brackets at different rates is viewed by most as the fairest tax system, and this great country has been running on that principle for quite some time.

"How many Lemmings does it take to make a dozen?"

A dozen what?...

After taxes 9...

Do the Lemmings work or get a Government stipend?

Are the Lemmngs American or just visiting?

Do these Lemmings Know who their Parents are or have they been cloned?

Where is the nearest cliff?

Take me too you leader if he is still here!

12!

Coming from the right, you should know Bushloads about empty suits !! Honestly, Obama is demonstrating leadership by insisting on addressing these thorny issues. It is too easy to simply dismiss this new start as 'socialist'....I believe you have more intellectual integrity than that. The old patterns failed miserably under the neglectful and misguided Cheney- Bush administration. Sit tight, and try making some constructive crticism instead of this mindless whining. Barbara is right, we are all Amercians and need to pull together just now.

So let's see....an empty suit but a loaded brain. Yep. Fine by me. Better than a suit full of it and no brain, a swagger and a smirk and a whole new language known as Bushspeak.

Clif i have to disagree with you when you said that the president doesn't have any idea on the the contrary he has all kinds of ideas. However the ideas that this president has are going to bankrupt us once and for all.People when are we going to wake up and realise that our answer and or answers will not be found in these two parties. We must take a third party seriously if we ever expect to turn this country around and get it going in the right direction again.It doesn't seem to matter who we elect we loose more and more liberties.Ohio under Republican Robert Taft passed more laws restraining and impeading Ohians civil liberties than probably any other preceding govenor.Even staunch conservatives were crying out against his administration.

More of the same Republi-fascist idiotic lies. Do something to help your country and get a life.

Just go back to your Meth lab

FEDupNow: another person with secret, vital information that he won't give us the source for? Ther was more of a question re: John McaCain's origin of birth and eligibility to be president in 2000. He was born on a U.S.military facility in the Canal Zone. Everyone decided it was just fine for him to run and become president if elected. You can Google Barack Obama's birth certificate by goin to the proper Hawaiian website, public record or something like that, or just type in Barack Hussein Obama birth certificate. And please don't start with the conspiracies! If all the conspiracies I have read or heard about over the years were real, they are, at the very least extrememly inefficient: the Masons, Knights Templar, CFR(a very informative website, a very diverse membership), One Worlders, etc. They ahve been around a long time and don't seem to have gotten far. Maybe it's because such conspicies are too big to succeed???!!!

Cynthia, think about it. Would George W. Bush EVER have made it to the presidency if the right wingers hadn't preoccupied the entire country with the sordid details of MonicaGate? All of us have to remain sharp when it comes to "How to Take Down a Sitting President 101", the lesson taught to every card carrying right winger. We all want our president to succeed. Only total idiots wouldn't, particularly at such a dire time as this. But, never think for one moment that such high minded ideas as ours aren't the greatest threat to those who benefit most from policies that only benefit the right wing. That's what they are all about.

I think you're right Terry. He lifted the conversation above the sound bite, poll-tested, catch phrases to a real discussion of the issues that face us. Imagine! A President that speaks in paragraphs that make sense! Seriously, the problems he's trying to make progress on (economic collapse, energy crisis, health care costs, educational decline, deficits) are all hugely complex, intractable problems that have stymied administrations for decades. To his credit, Obama is addressing the foundational issues that impact our country's competitiveness and long-term growth. He's not picking symbolic issues like school uniforms or flag burning, he's focusing on the issues that help move the needle in a meaningful way. And, he's using his teaching skills to educate the public about these goals and the tradeoffs involved in addressing them. Yes, investing in education, energy and health will worsen the deficit short term, but it's the only way to win the long term war of economic sustainability. It's a strategy that respects the intelligence of the American people. What a refreshing change.

You know, Terry, I doubt you have ever watched a press conference. Of course, this were no real press there, just the leftist rags, who ask no real questions. I want my money back, that's a statement and how can I get it back? That's a real question. I'm tired of paying taxes to a government that just wants more of my hard earned cash. My family deserves every penny I earn. Not a race of do-nothings.

so the journalist from Stars and Stripes is a leftist??? New to me. Blanket statements not needed here.

Marie...I appreciate the vitality of this young president, the deep introspection of his thoughts and ideas and most of all his unrestrained willingness to accept the worst job any president has had in history. So what if he is still a young guy with a bit of whimsy? Would you rather a sour puss like old Scowl Face Cheney?

I agree, looks like Daly politics are headed our way. But I disagree with you on one point - plenty of we the people ARE at odds with the administration. The press is doing what they are supposed to do. Bush deserved criticism and so does Obama. We certainly don't want "state run press", do we????

How can you, 2.5 months in, make a statement that Obama should be around for 4 terms? This statement just proves that a majority of his supporters are blind. He can only do right and they will never see anything wrong with his actions. How about a realistic look and some true analysis of the work, not the man. BTW I thought he was really boring.

What Bush said was that Mr. Obama didn't need any criticisms from him and that he wasn't going to get into that mode, or words to that effect. I didn't/don't care much for Bush, but how do you twist what he said to mean he's not going to help the president. The very fact that he refused to lay any criticism on the president is proof enough that he's willing to help this man succeed. Get a grip, take your overtaxed imagination to Disney world for a much needed vacation.

Are you stuck inside a video game or something? what world are you living in? if your only concern is enjoyable entertainment, maybe your parents should have watched this. If you are the parent, maybe your kids should have, because somebody needs to tell you, these are serious issues.

the question is when is he scheduled! transperency, like the emporer has no clothes!

ERROR CODE BUBBLEGUM, I MUST BE ON THE BUBBLE!

We are not involved, this is all theater and I am not willing to sacrifice the future of my family for his extravagant mentality and picking a Clinton administration staff. That gives to me a glimpse that he doesn't have his own people to trust and even his choices did not pay taxes.

Obama is doing the best he can do to drag this country down and getting you idiots to beleive he is doing the country good. Wake up and see the true obama as he realy is worthless, self centered and cares not one iota for the american public.

Please sir, may I have some more gruel?

That's actually a good point. Does anyone know who she works for? The Pres said it, but her place of employment didn't pop up on the CBS telecast. Anyway,if she actually works at some legit news agency, it would be an awfully big waste of her one shot to ask "the perfect question."

She is a reporter for ABC News.

Ann Compton

Close the SBA? you are a Lemming!

If we are going to let government infiltrate the work place at the highest levels then why not every small business in america?

I guess you do have a point from the Left...They are not with us and they can not be controled so who needs em get rid of em!

How do you think that will affect unemployment?

It is interesting that you would mention RIOTS, that is the last bastion of social extortion. I imagine there would have been some hometown Fires if McCain could have extracted a few more votes from the O"ZOMBIES

TOP 10 POVERTY CITIES

This has got to be one of the greatest American tragedies. What do the top 10 cities with the highest poverty rate all have in common?

= Detroit , MI (1st on the poverty rate list)...hasn't elected Republican mayor since 1961;

= Buffalo , NY (2nd)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1954;

= Cincinnati , OH (3rd)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1984;

= Cleveland , OH (4th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1989;

= Miami , FL (5th)...has never had a Republican mayor;

= St. Louis , MO (6th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1949;

= El Paso , TX (7th)...has never had a Republican mayor;

= Milwaukee , WI (8th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1908;

= Philadelphia , PA (9th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1952;

= Newark , NJ (10th)...hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1907.

Einstein once said, 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'

It is the disadvantaged who habitually elect Democrats --- yet are still disadvantaged.

Opinion: The Disadvantaged remain disadvantaged because they are looking for a Liberal Democratic Government to give them something, when all they have to do is work for it.

(How can a person be 5th generation & disadvantaged in this country?)

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free".

-Ronald Wilson Reagan

The least he could have done was some juggling, maybe pull a rabbit out of the hat! I want the president to be an entertainer, not some cerebral "professor type." What a turn off! OMG, this guy would definitely not be my BFF, and Simon would rip him a new one for this performance.

I am not a fan of any political party, but having survived a number of terms with Democrats in office I find that party economic platform scary. Carter, and Clinton being the worst. Reagan was terrible. Now we have another reident in the white house with good entertainment value. Evidently the posts here blaming the economy on the last resident do not remember the Clinton era very well. The "new economy" a paper house burning the year before the end of his reign, Nafta, lack of border enforcement, lowering the U.S. flag on a naval vessel so as to not offend the communist government, bombing a sheep pasture and declaring America safe. The budget surplus never existed except on paper folks, the economy started its downward spiral before he left office, we are still dealing with the damage he did. Remember 4000 dead in New York city? At least we had someone in office who did not just "feel the pain".

you are just suffering from the Obama trauma!! i somewhat understand after 8 years of the bumbling rants of GWB...your brain got used to that and in the process you lost a few IQ points.

Read a book or two, join a class and then you can better conprehend our new prez!

I don't know which interview you were watching, but I saw a man who wanted to say something but did not have the courage. Instead he stayed with the inane ramblings of "as I have said before". President Barack Obama is in way over his head. He knows that no matter what happens he will be remembered as the man who caused the deficit to drive to the quadrillions in record time. Even those in his own party are beginning to distance themselves from them - I am betting they are the ones up for re-election in two years.

COMMON SENSE IS NEEDED IN WASHINGTON DC, NOT HOPE AND CHANGE!

You really should think a bit before you spout. YES Clinton is responsible for for what happened 8 years after his residence in the whitehouse. Clinton allowed (and encouraged) the lose of manufacturing in the name of his "New Economy", like it so far? It will takes decades to recover from his insanity. I suggest you study a bit of history and economics before you claim more than one brain cell working at any particular monment.

annyc

Unlike most posters here I have read. Not only history and economics, but one of the greatest books in history "The Federalist Papers" that outlines the vision of the founding fathers had for this nation. It is because of a study I grieve for America today. I can only hope that at some point the American people reclaim the government to that vision. The government is not a solution, it is the problem. The founding Fathers would not even have understood how it is possible the citizen could concieve the government is a solution to personal problems. That is why they designed it so you had control of your own destiny. A foreign concept to a citizen today, let alone a foreign national in the country in violation of the law.