Goat,,,you really have some issues. Have your eyes been closed for the past eight years. Clean out the goat milk!

I'm sorry. This just simply isn't true. I have lived and travelled abroad extensively over the last ten years and I can promise you that Bush won us no friends, anywhere. I was living in China when the US invaded Iraq and the general consensus was it was just another example of US imperalism and arrogance. I was living in Europe when Spain voted in Zapatero, widely seen as rejecting previous support for the US (with all due respect to Spain and without trying to belittle their elections to a simple referendum on the US). And I was in Italy on the day Obama was elected. The general consensus was "Finally, it's over." Did you see his speech in Berlin? His trip to the UK? The Nobel Peace Prize?? I met Americans who moved overseas *because* of Bush and were "embarassed" by their administration, apologetic. I saw sympathy for 9/11 evaporate as the US went from victim to bully. Obama, if anything, is at least seen as someone who is willing to discuss and negotiate. The US' position is going to change. China, India and Brazil are going to become more important players. That's economics. But we are in a FAR better position to work with these countries with the government we currently have. And we are going to have to work with other countries to solve problems like security, global warming... even our own economic issues.

LN -

1) the chinese delegation in Washington DC was cheering when the towers fell on 911. It's more than Bush.

2) you need to learn the difference between jealousy and hate.

3) I worked for an American Institute of Architects president a few years ago. He would go to meetings. He could never make any suggestion - or be considered arrogant. Yet, the US Insitute was viewed as superior and they despirately wanted what we had. To enter ideas to meetings, any ideas first had to be handed off in private to another countries representative and introduced as that countries idea.

These countries are jealous of what we have and are too proud to accept advice. Furthermore, the leadership in the country can never have any country look good to their citizens or risk losing their own favor from their own people. So they teach their own people be suspicious of us and blame us for everything.

Our political parties do exactly the same thing to us.

You are an idoit. Pay attention to what is going on. You kind of people are the reason nothing is getting done. The previous eight years before Obama just back that up. You're not even willing to try. Anything. At all. It is "You Lose. I win." May God help us that someone like you never comes into power.

you just cant fix racists

Mark, you're not dealing with racists, you're dealing with people who voted for the most promising candidate every election year, only to be let down. Democrats and Republicans are equally to blame. I for one have lost all faith in politicians. I'd rather go with secession or a federal tax revolt, anything that will bring Washington down to its knees. We Americans are hurting. Obama's speech last night was nothing more than false optimism. Nowadays, politicians do only what benefits them and their friends in the private sector. Lowly American citizens get nothing. We do most of the work and pay all of the taxes and get little in return.

Sorry, but the American people just don't worship false idols anymore.

The economy was in the toilet, and the flushing sound could be heard from coast to coast, before President Obama walked in the door. Never has a President been faced with an economy in such turmoil, on the brink of another depression starting day one. President Obama and his advisors did what they had to do to bring our economy back from the brink of total devastation. That cost money to fix. If we are going to play the "blame game", place blame where it is deserved, that being on the previous administration's utter failure in leadership.

As the President said last night, politicians need to stop the campaigning for their next term of office, starting the first day on the job. There are difficult decisions to be made, and not everyone is going to like them, but they must be made. Our current difficulties are a function of Republicans/aka The Party of NO, not being willing to come into the discussion of policy and programs with any fresh ideas and lacking a spirit of cooperation. They are less involved in decision making because they chose NOT to be. They figure to let the Democrats make the hard decisions that need to be made and stay away from that, so they can always just point fingers at the Dems and say, "HEY, don't look at me.... wasn't MY idea!!" Nice campaign strategy, isn't it?

As for our President's agenda..... It isn't a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace not to have stars to reach for. NOT failure, but low aim is sin. Our President has big ideas, high hopes for making much over do changes to the way America goes about dong a lot of things, from healthcare not being available to ALL Americans, to unemployment, weak economy, and so on.

While there may be a lot to bitch and moan about, at least give President Obama the credit he is due for working day and night to TRY to make changes, instead of sitting by and doing nothing.... as we experienced during the previous administration.

Thank you, President Obama, for standing up for change, and giving it your best to achieve these lofty goals. May God be with you.

The man is an idiot who CHOSE to ignore jobs in order to force his fascist takeover of health care down our throats. Now, one year later jobs are important? What a joke. He puts us $1.35 trillion in debt this year alone and brags about cutting $25 billion/year in taxes? Thanks a pant load, idiot!

You can't raise taxes 10% then cut them by 5% and call it a tax cut. Americans aren't that stupid.

This just in: they just voted to raise the debt ceiling to $14.29 trillion! So much for cutting spending.

Take a good look at the DOW, down 150+, and thank Obama for kissing your retirement funds good bye.

That is entirely untrue. The global community views us more favorabley than in the past.

Carolyn - You were being sarcastic...right??!!!

No Leah, not at all. We are much more respected for having elected President Obama.

I'm sorry, folks, but I for one find it very disturbing that countries who actively send spies into our country in order to find ways to destroy us (i.e. China), LIKE our new President and applaud his election. This means they smell weakness, and it makes them happy. Obama did not EARN a Nobel Prize. He was given the prize by a clearly liberal group of laureates for what they thought he MIGHT do. He has distanced our allies in favor of embracing our enemies. This does not give me hope, but fear. Stop reading the Democrat propaganda, or at least stop repeating "Party of No" garbage. People say "no" because they don't want to end up living like the good people of the USSR who couldn't even get toilet paper without government permission once they gave up their freedom in exchange for things like "universal healthcare." In our country, you have to earn what you get. Don't expect someone to just give something to you just because they worked hard to get somewhere you're not. (If you don't like this, move to a socialist country.) Our constitution doesn't guarantee you happiness, healthcare, money, or anything of the like. It gives you the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (which normally requires work), and no more. Oh yeah, and you are free to spout off or listen to people who's only qualification to tell you how to live is that liberal arts degree they earned instead of studying something harder & getting a real job like the rest of us.

Creating jobs won't help homeless/jobless families here if US gives 200,000 Haitians work visas, homes, & pub assistance for 18mo in FL!!! Don't get me wrong, I think we should help all we can, but this is not the answer. What will 18 month work visas do when there is not work here! We have 1000's of families living in shelters waiting for help. These refugees will only end up on public assistance. It would be more economically sound to ship temporary housing (FEMA) trailers over there!

I wanted Hillary. I only voted for Obama as the "lesser of the two evils". He sure did turn tail though on the promises.

For what you just stated, people need to open their eyes and ears, and stop letting deceiving messages get in the way. A controlled option would curve the over exaggerated medical charges, the over rated and high insurance premiums, and not to mention instead of individuals just thinking about themselves, they need to think about how if the less advantage is helped, then we are all helped.

No one is thinking about the less fortunate not having any access to healthcare until their sick child sits next to yours. Just like people have closed their eyes on the past eight years, and ignored the fact that this state was already in place before Obama, and there was no way in hell he can unwind in one year, what it took 8 to accomplish. That expectation is rediculous. All people have been exposed personally, financially, spiritually, and it doesn't choose just a particular party. There was a lot of dems out of work before, but it seem to have only gotten important when it affected some republican, who thought they were set for life. Again, the pain was in effect before Obama.

I feel you! I have completely given up on having any kind of adequate healthcare, unless I ever happen to have enough cash to pay for it all out of pocket. I haven't had any insurance for years and I have many medical issues as well. Even with the new legislation, things don't really change. I will not be denied a policy now, but I still will not be able to afford premiums and have been told that many of my conditions will still not be covered....a lot of good that does! Medical marijuana is the way to go if you have pain and migraines....safer than the pharmaceuticals they want you to pay so much $$ for. All natural and completely safe, and pretty affordable! The pharmaceutical compaties sure can't compete with those statisitics, lol. I hope you feel better, regardless! Maybe someday we will both be stinkin' rich and this stuff won't be a problem for us... I'll keep dreaming, anyway!

Healthcare is not a right. It is a privilege. I'm afraid Nancy F is not getting a job because she can barely write, and our economy has become one driven by knowledge workers. If you can't get a job, take advantage of financial aid programs and go back to school. I'm from a poor family and earned a college degree at a major school by working hard to get scholarships, then filling in the gap with financial aid in the form of student loans that I paid off within a couple of years of graduation. You have to better yourself to earn your way in this country, and the opportunity is absolutely there for those willing to work for it. Today, I fall into Obama's "rich" category - someone who apparently "owes" the rest of you healthcare. But being born in this country doesn't give any of you the right to benefit from the sweat off my back. I give to charity to help those truly in need, those who cannot help themselves. For everyone else, you may have to suffer up front like I did, but in the end, you will appreciate what you've EARNED and be more willing to share ON YOUR OWN TERMS, and will understand why those of us who put in that effort don't feel like we owe you anything. I'm sorry your healthcare is more expensive than you can afford. There are options and help out there for those willing to drop their pride and ask. Those options are called charities, and they are the appropriate source of aid for those in need. Not the government, whose job as outlined in the constitution is to govern and protect. Note nothing the founding fathers wrote about mentions the government's purpose to include providing necessities, or even niceties like "affordable insurance". What is affordable? To someone who has bettered themselves and worked hard the last 20 years like me, that $500 you mention is no problem. To my mother, who refuses to work, it is $5 a month, though she's not even willing to pay that, because, poor her, she shouldn't have to work. I feel for those of you who have a desire to work but can't find work. Again, take this time to better your skills, even if it means hanging out in your local Barnes & Noble all day reading educational fare, or attending classes at your local colleges or libraries. I speak to public groups, giving them chunks of my knowledge and skills for free. There are so many groups like these you can join. So instead of whining about the government not taking good enough care of you, (it's not their responsibility), just go make yourself marketable. No, it probably won't be easy and you'll probably be uncomfortable at some point in the process. Just suck it up and do it.

So as a Massachusetts voter (and I assume you are from MA from your handle), you thought that you were voting in a referendum on Obama and not for a senator, someone who is supposed to represent the values that are important to Massachusetts' residents? I don't understand that. Scott Brown does not represent the Massachusetts I know and live in. I see the election as showing people's frustration with Beacon Hill. I see it as Coakley not having run the campaign as she could and should have. If you live here, you know, Massachusetts politics is never simple and rarely clean (to not even get into the MA glass ceiling). But to take the election and claim that, all of a sudden, Massachusetts represents the nation and some new political wave? Massachusetts, the state that Bush ridiculed in a debate with Kerry - something long the lines of that rich, snobby state full of people vacationing on the Vineyard that has nothing to do with the "real" America? The "elite, liberal East Coast?" The state Obama won by 20% a year ago? Now we're what, Ohio?

Mass wasn't the first election they lost. The reason this was so big is that it was a conservative republican taking the seat of one of the most liberal senators ever in one of the most liberal states in America. Also, the man ran on a totally anti Obama platform and promised to be the 41st vote.

Follow that up with exit polls that showed that even the majority of union members voted for him and it sends a message loud and clear.

Again, this is not the first victory, it is merely the latest in a long line, and one of the biggest upsets in history.

Ah yes, Scott Brown...the centerfold from Massachusetts...oops, I meant the SENATOR from Massachusetts...sorry.

I agree. It doesn't matter whether they are Republicans or Democrats. We need to vote out the people in Congress that waste our money. That is the only way we can get accountability.

Without term limits on Congress, you will never see progress. People like Kennedy, Pelosi, et al have long been more interested in doing what they think is necessary to retain their position of power and are not concerned about the needs of their constituents because they know they can point the finger elsewhere and the sheep will still vote for them.

Sorry, the facts don't support your supposition. Unemployment under Bush and republican control was down to 4.6%, despite the Clinton tech bubble, 9/11, Rita, Katrina, and two wars. The dow was also at record highs.

It's only after the socialist democrats took over congress in 2007 that things began to fall apart. Now the dow is dangerously close to 10,000 and unemployment, by Obama's own admission will likely be 10% for all this year and 9.4% for next.

To his credit he is now talking about reinstating many of the Bush tax cuts but it is too little too late since he put us $1.35 trillion further in debt this year alone!

This whole mess started when the democratic congress ignored Bush's requests to reign in the banking industry and Fanny and Freddy in particular. It's all on their watch.

As far as foreign affairs, the world is totally ignoring Obama! China, India, Iran, North Korea, Israel, etc. have all blown him off. Copenhagen was a disaster and when he went through a reception line in Russia, nobody would even shake his hand. No one has any respect for him.

Most countries are very jealous of the US and his world apology tour was a hit since they really want us to grovel a little. Well, Obama did that and for that reason he is popular, to our own detriment.

Becky, stop reading the Democrat propaganda. Clinton invaded Iraq, albeit in the weakest possible way, long before GW Bush was elected. Are you not old enough to remember that, or did you just ignore it because things were good then? Of course, the current party members never mentioned that. Thanks to the tech boom, Americans thought Clinton could do no wrong, but this guy introduced a culture of immorality that has not changed since his days fondling interns in the White House then blatantly lying about it to avoid prosecution. Obama has embraced that culture of lying and pointing the finger to get/keep power, and it is getting us nowhere. 1 year into the job, he has really done nothing but polarize the country, as made obvious by these comment threads. Hope in absence of commen sense or action is not going to help any of us. The only thing that will help our country is for its people to drop their sense of entitlement and start working to take care of themselves, even if that means, OMG, getting an education! (Try studying macro-economics, by the way, so you'll stop believing the lies you hear about how to fix our current problems.)

all politicians are created equal; equally full of it. so quit playing sides and grow up dude. we regular people are all on the same team, or should be. we all want the same things, so there is no need to be inflammatory towards others because of political nonsense. politics divide us, and that is what politicians want. they want this so that they can do whatever they want while we are distracted by the theatrics. think about that when you go down to get your reality check!

Republicans don't need to try to destroy Obama; he's doing a good enough job of it himself. Our country is so far in debt we will be 75years getting out, if at all. Obama has spent far more and incurred far more than all of the previous administrations put together.

Ralph, just because you and your relatives are racist does not mean tea baggers are racist. They ran TV endorsement adds for Scott Brown and it didn't seem to harm him. Sell your lies somewhere else.

The tea baggers are not racist. They simply want government to actually do something rather than take money from the middle class and give it to someone who would rather sit on their duff. That particular occupation is not specific to a race.

I'm a tea bagger and not white. Where does that leave me in Ralph's world? My problem with Obama has nothing to do with his race, but with his lack of qualification to lead our country combined with his arrogance in believing he knows better than I do what is best for my family and how my money should be spent. Sorry, Obama - I qualify for Mensa. What about you?

It's been a year wasted on health care fascism instead of job creation. Instead of helping unemployment he has hurt it with all his tax hike talk and huge deficits. Business is killed by indecision and Obama is the indecision in chief. In case you haven't noticed, every time he opens his mouth the dow drops triple digits.

If he started out on the right track we wouldn't be in this mess. He had total control of the entire government and he squandered all away on some socialist utopian dream. What a waste! Instead of bringing us together, he has polarized us to a level that may not be recoverable.

Now there is no trust in government at all. This was all on his watch. He's toast.

Getting Healthcare reform passed would CREATE jobs, REDUCE budget deficits and IMPROVE quality of life for the majority of the American people. To me, it seems like this would be beneficial to all but the top 10%. I wonder where all the Lobbyist money comes from? Why are we in the bottom 90% so gullible to think that insurance companies have our best interests in mind?

Folks, have you EVER received care from a government-run clinic? Trust me, it is NOT what you think it is. The fact is it costs a LOT of work and money to become a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse), and the best should get paid well for what they do, just like all of you are willing to drop $9+ for a ticket to see someone who got paid $10M+ to pretend to be someone they're not, or $100+ to watch a top athlete. Sure, it sucks if you can't afford the best, but you're going to get the worst on a government plan, guaranteed. Just ask the 200K+ folks who have been waiting 18 months or more for government care in the UK, or better yet, the loved ones of those who died waiting for approval to receive their treatments. Without the promise of potentially higher income, there is no reason for any individual to invest in improving their skills. This holds true for actors, athletes, us grunts, and certainly for doctors. Don't expect great healthcare to EVER be cheap. Oh yeah, and if you don't believe me, ask the Europeans why they come to the US for medical care when it's free back home. Government-run healthcare is NOT the answer to your problems.

tru dat. there is hope though. slowly more and more states are adopting medical marijuana legislation. it is an amazing thing :) and fantastic for the state economies as well. cannabis and hemp have so much potential. i hope more and more people realize that, and that these plants are no longer demonized the way they have been in this country for the past two hundred years. I leave you with some quotes from our founding fathers:

"We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption."
- John Adams

"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."
- Thomas Jefferson

"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere."
- George Washington

Noted. Who could have created millions of jobs in one year from the state this country was in. Even though there are company's who are doing okay and have room to hire, can't be forced to actually hire. They unfortunately make that decision.

McCain would have cut taxes, (the very taxes that Obama ridiculed him on but is now a great idea?), and would have put incentives in place to hire. He would not have wasted a year on health care or cap and trade. Nor would he have spent a year bashing profits and capitalism as well as threatening successful companies while rewarding failures.

He sure as well wouldn't have had a $1.35 trillion deficit this year alone, nor would he have given GM to the UAW. From these things alone, his unemployment rate would likely be under 7% this year and under 5% next year.

Although we can't truly know what would've been, we can talk about what was. The fact that Obama's stated policy was Robin Hood Economics at it's worse is why unemployment got worse. He planned to tax, both directly and indirectly, the very entities who create jobs: businesses. A successful small business owner, i.e. one smart enough to sustain a business that can hire other people, generally makes more than $250k a year. What do you think those folks were thinking when Obama was promising to tax only them to pay for his massively expensive plans? I can tell you what they were thinking (since I actually bothered to speak to several of them): "@#%&! I better hang onto my reserves so this guy doesn't put me out of business! Guess I better freeze hiring and raises and stop spending!" The Dow continued to plummet because most of us who invest in publicly held companies feared the impact of Obama's tax plans. No investors, no funds to hire more people. You live in a capitalist country, folks. If you're only going to be punished for success by being taxed more than everyone else, you're simply not going to try to succeed until that threat disappears, or you're going to take your toys to another sandbox. (That means move your money overseas for those of you who weren't sure.)

Bush unemployment 4.6% and record DOW

Obama unemployment 10% for years to come and deflated DOW

The economy only trashed after socialists took over congress in 2007.

Check your facts before you spout any more propaganda.

Wow Nancy, I thought you were sarcastic but you are just ignorant.

Sure there's something we can do about it. We can take responsibility for our own existence and stop expecting everyone else to take care of us. We can also make the effort to educate ourselves on the mechanics of our economy and stop getting our knowledge from Democrats.org or whitehouse.gov, or any number of agenda-driven news outlets. Focus on the facts before you vote, people, and take off your blinders. If what a politician says from his pulpit sounds too good to be true, you can bet your sweet butter-cakes it is.

Sorry to tell you this but, believe it or not, the country does better under grid lock. Almost everything government does is destructive in the long run and when congress is hobbled, business can flourish and create jobs.

This government has been owned by one party for a year now and since it's a socialist party, it hasn't been friendly to capitalism and business. With the Brown win that will come to an end. Unfortunately the socialists still hold a commanding majority in both houses so only a republican victory in 2010 will bring this country back from the brink.

Republicans have always been pro capitalist, and that's why business will thrive, and unemployment fall, only when they gain more power. Socialist democrats, on the other hand, abhor profit, abhor capitalism, and abhor free markets. All are detrimental to job growth.

Capitalism creates prosperity, socialism destroys it. It is the current socialist regime that is destroying our country, not the capitalists.

We have been a capitalist nation since our founding so the fact that we have become so great is due to capitalism. We have been headed down hill as more and more socialism has crept into our society. That is the evil; the promise of something for nothing, the rewarding of failure and the punishment of success.

Not keeping up with your checkbook is not OCD it's Lazy, and yes banks prey on you. Here's a tip, budget yourself and take that money from an ATM every payday for the week, it's much easier to keep track of when you watch it leave your hand. Stop using your card if you can't handle it!

That is a good idea Scott1574, however, it is getting harder and harder to budget when jobs are being lost by the dozens and finding a new job is like hitting the lottery today. I have been looking for three years to convert my 4 part-time jobs into one full-time job to get out of the poverty level. Still has not happened yet. I have gone into offices to apply and have seen people who do not have a clue working there, I am finding out now that you have to know the "right" people to get a job anywhere, which I do not. I would think that a good start of a solution to the economy is to get as many people as you can working in the US and working in good jobs where they actually have money to put back into the economy. Lets face it, the wealthy are not putting money into our economy, they are traveling out of the country and purchasing and spending money in other places. But money is what is ruling the White House, it is beyond Republican and Democrat. I would like to see a group of these politicians stand up against the wealthy and remember why they are in office in the beginning, for ALL the people!

It is true, when the money is tight, one needs reliable accurate information about your bank account. And they do not give it. The balance one has in the Internet may not be reflected in the actual account....and....

Those handling fees are horrible! Bank will take 50 to 100 dollars "handling fee" for one small overdraw even in this economy. This is more than what they will ever pay you on interest for saving with them in what? 10 years?, 20?.

it used to be only 5 to10 bucks handling fee! What happened

Now, you have to watch not only you credit card, but your own bank account hidden fees. Great! It is costly!

It's very simple. Take responsibility for yourself. Know what you have in the bank and don't spend above that. If you use credit cards, pay them off when the bill comes. If you do the above the banks won't make a dime off of you.

Banks provide a service and they must make money. When you bounce a check, it costs them. You can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Act responsibly! There are good banks and there are bad banks. If you do business with a bad bank you are part of the problem.

If your credit history is terrible, expect to be screwed, you likely deserve it for past poor behaviour. Get your credit fixed then go to the best bank you can find.

Finally, vow to become a good financial citizen by never buying what you can't afford, saving for a rainy day, saving for retirement, and never missing a payment! Better yet, listen to Dave Ramsey on Fox Business and become debt free! That is real freedom!

Well I'm a conservative and I say that solar panels can meet our energy demand if we would just have a low interest loan program to cover up front costs. They take up a lot of space but if they were on every rooftop and were owned by the people instead of the utilities, they would be cheaper than utility rates. Battery power, or "grid batteries" could handle the night time issues, (many people have lived "off grid" with solar panels for decades).

I used to love nuclear until three mile island. Even though France claims an exemplary safety record, even they had an incident that leaked radioactive water into the aquifer that caused all people in the area on trucked in water forever.

The risks just aren't worth the reward when solar panels are a viable alternative. The reason this isn't being pushed, I believe, is that if you own your own power generation, none of the big names like GE, Halliburton, etc. can make any money off you. The nice thing about solar power is, once you've paid for it, it's free! If you let utilities own the generation plant, you will forever pay.

I AGREE with Valhalla Phil, what a surprise. For what possible reason could we prefer potentially cancer-causing energy sources over passive energy sources that an individual can own? Solar technology is ready to give us the majority of our electricity needs. I think low-interest Govt loans would be a great start.

Nuclear power is the best bet we have for solving our energy needs. TMI wasn't a disaster. Chernobyl was, but no one was killed at TMI, and the country around TMI is perfectly habitable. Why do you say you loved it until TMI happened, and where did you get that claim about having to "truck in water?" That's not true.