Personally I think we should have a repubs vs democrats paintball match every Friday night after the house and senate close. It could help release some of their frustrations!

LOL, jim

...a "judge schmales" reference ?

@jim - The thought of counting a politician's 'strokes' is disgusting.;-p

" you want the driver ? ....no, he's not my type"

Mark L-464288,

Where does it end then? Dems and Pubs all use the same complaints. Just depends on who's party is in the WH.

I think the underlying message is supposed to be "Let's all try to get along and perhaps we can work things out together" but from the posts here, I don't think anybody is getting that message.

No legs, either!

There is always hope that they will come to terms on some issues, who knows.

First I think that we need a President that is a centrist and not a left or right radical...

Actually, Mark, I think of the President as a centrist, neither too far left or right. I think of myself as one, too. I've been called a teabagger and a bleeding liberal on the very same day in this forum. People are always so quick to label.

I see the Friday night trolls have come out ...

President Obama, John Boehner to face off on the golf course

I actually like the fact that the two of them are playing a round of golf together.

No kidding.....

He's gonna miss the *Official Tax Payer Trip* to So. Africa with Michelle Antoinette, the Royal Grandma, both girls, and cousins......while they tell the African kids to eat veggies!

And the Awesome Safari in Botswana!

H*ll, He's illegally spending $10 million per day in Lybia, whats a few more MILLION to give Michelle Antoinette a break from the boring trip to Ireland, London, and Paris?

Can't recall any other President taking Friends and Family on all of their "Official Trips".......oops..............Freebie!

Guarantee that Martha's Vineyard is booked for the 3rd year in August.

Grid lock in Congress is a good thing, no golf course deals.

Actually, all the U.S. Presidents' families have travelled with them in the past. This is nothing new.

The Bush twins visited Europe during their father's presidency, as did children of the Carters, Fords, Nixons, and Eisenhowers.

There is an interesting website that gives many examples of these travels.

http://www.newsmax.com/DougWead/obama-bush-europe/2009/07/22/id/331777

Also, in reference to Presidential family travel, every one of us would take our school-age children with us while travelling during a school break if we were in the White House. Many Presidents have taken their GROWN children with them.

I'm glad they have priorities proper, fun and games more important than country economy and jobs and debt higher than records. Do we get quantity discounts on their golf games?

wayne, what do you do on your days off? Work?

Wow, the creeps are really out. Racist inuendos, gay slurs. You all just can't stand to see a black man in authority. Sad. You can't argue with hate. Sounds like you'd rather have a man who sends our best young men to war. Says alot about who you all are.

Obama has added a war since he took office - or didn't you notice. We loved Condi Rice who was an actual Black - and a woman to boot, so you can stop your race card nonsense. And no one has ever spread hatred like Obama - hate Wall Street, Banks, Insurance Companies, Fox News, TEA Party, and anything to do withCcapitalism. Meanwhile no complaints about the inept, useless Federal Bureaucracy as he prints money and pours it into that Black Hole of waste and corruption - or the Green corporations and unions that own him and to which he is funneling billuions..

Oh, no, Watermoon, that is grossly exaggerated. The President has never been known for spreading hate although he has certainly been the target of a lot of hatemongering.

On the contrary, the President has spent a great deal of time and effort trying to get both parties - Democrat and Republican - to work together. This golf outing, although it may have been arranged as a show of an attempt at unity, is a prime example of the President's efforts to pursue harmony and compromise between the two parties. I applaud John Boehner as well.

Presidents taking their "children" on trips is quite common.

Taking the Mother-in-law, cousins, and 50 of their closest Friends and renting a whole 500 room Hotel is "NOT" common!

The luxury freebies will hopefully quit in 2012!

And the $10 million per day Lybia Arab/Muslim League demand for help will hopefully quit ASAP? (while they sit back counting their Oil dollars and laughing at us!)

Instead of playing golf, President Bush preferred taking Air Force One to his ranch for the weekends.

Give it a rest. All Presidents deserve some down-time and relaxation. They've got the most stressful job in the world.

Also, snopes.com said that the rumour about the Obamas renting a whole 500 room hotel for their friends and family is just that ... a false rumour.

Some of you making fun of Boehner's shorts? I guess Obama's granny jeans are "in" now?

I understand Obama won the golf match. Figures, he has had a lot more practice.

Hostesly, guys---stop screwing around with the stall game, let the economy heal. GOP members want a pound of flesh out of the domestic budget, but never give a thought to foreign aid or the defense budget. No more wars, no more intervening in conflicts, and no more aid. We borrow the money just to give it away. That's what made us a "chump country." The government is no longer ours. Guys--stop spending money on @!$%# to kill other people?

Article in the AM..said Biden was his playing partner...post the correct news MSNBC please!

You can't make any changes to create jobs when you control only 1/3 of the government.
All you can do is offer solutions which is what the Ryan Plan is. You would think with all the golf he plays, Obama would be better.

Last week the NY Post had a headline the day after President Obama's interview in which he said Wiener shoould resign. It read "Obama Beats Wiener" After todays golf game I can see tomorrows Post headline "Obama Putts with Boehner" What do you wanna bet!!!!

I see this as progress, hell maybe they will be able to work together and get our country moving forward, they should play golf together more often, that's where the real work will be done .... Hell they all should be out there.

I like those beer summits better..not a good golfer.

Please, Patty - enough with the exaggerations and flat-out lies. We get it that you hate the man, OK?

Based upon the comments above, the wrong will never get a clue. Even when opposites try to get along, the wrong remain devisive.

It is just a golf game. Obama needed Boehners help to win, because he couldn't do it on his own. Maybe it is time for them to team up on the major issues such as debt and runaway spending that is sinking the country.

Their Butt buddies all of them, they are playing us the American People

Relax, everyone. People have played golf to network and do business for years. It's common practice. Give it a rest already....some of you sound like absolute lunatics on here.

It must be nice living off the taxpayers and play golf a lot. What business do you really think they were discussing? None! When a person is playing golf, their goal is to win, not chit-chat about business or politics.

Pretty much clueless, huh Kreepy...?

Left Wing Nut Job

Pretty much clueless, huh Kreepy...?

lol, (trolin-trollin-trollin) your moniker says it all about who you are.

I'd be more satisfied if they took their jobs seriously and did it in the WH taking notes and doing their job. You play games and golf on your own time, not on the taxpayers dime. I'm sure all the people in the world would just love to play while not working and collecting a salary too.

What business do you really think they were discussing? None! When a person is playing golf, their goal is to win, not chit-chat about business or politics.

Kreepy,

You're wrong. I golf with customers, fish with customers, gamble with customers, and, at some point, we always talk business.

If President Obama just wanted to screw off and play golf, I'm sure he could find company he'd enjoy a lot more than Boehner's and Kasich's.

Say, why isn't anyone complaining about Boehner fratinizing with the enemy?

Bosslimo - "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

Amercan Girl - the current score in government is Democrats 2 - Republicans 1. That could be said to be Even until 6 months after the November election. Before it was Democrats 3 - republicans 0.

Policies vary in how quick they can make a difference.

Tax Polices - can take years to have an effect, but I can tell you this from observations

• Bad tax policies effect the economy almost immediately. Tax increases sometimes can bring furture business forward, but mostly general increases cause business to slow investment. Not only does it take longer to accumulate capital, but the taxes cut into the ability to pay for the expansion. The reason corporate profits are up is they are not expanding. They are not spending to expand which is already set into their pricing - the double whammy is that if they don't spend on expansion - the money becomes profit and is taxed.
• Good Tax polices take time to develope the effects. Tax rate cuts means business won't have so much trouble paying for expansion, but also means a shorter time to amass the capital to expand. The reason the delay - most business aren't actually sitting on capital, they have to accumulate capital which takes time.

Obama's tax policies are all short term meaning 1 year or less, which business models need long term or 3 - 5 years of stability to determine if a move is safe to do.

What the Republicans taking over the house did was stop worse policies from being passes such as cap and trade - card check - and others. Because of them getting elected that forced Obama to extend - sort of - the Bush tax cuts.

The way the tax cuts were extended was the Social Security tax was cut 2% and the 15% tax bracket was shrunk along with the 25% braket being increase into where the 15% bracket was. What this did was give more of a tax break to those with less than $18,000 per year of income and less money to those over $18,000 per year. That really doesn't help business much and actually less than if the extention was left as is.

You saw a drop in unemployment for January and February because what businesses had opportuninty to expand and had been holding off over the expiring cuts, expanded because the Bush tax cuts appeared to be extended for 2 years (note - longer term policy). The less trusting waited and never pulled the trigger. They have proven to be business smart.

I think these types of outings are great and I wish our politicians would do more of them. Hopefully these types of activities will help them get beyond the personal attacks and start focusing on solutions for the country (similar to Reagan and Tip O'Neal having beers at night after arguing all day over legislation).

Another reason why they have not got anything done worth a dime in the past 3 years...Although Boehner came on the scene a little later. Obama needs to lead and part of this is knowing something about the people you are supposed to be working with. Obama is not in a position to stay in a small personal circle..This agian shows that before he became President he never managed anything other than his campiagn and most of that was just taking advice..

Zero value. They both suck at leadership

Me neither. Isn't it Friday?

...I'm at work on a slow and beautiful day, but these guys play hookie while the country burns through $10 mil a day and falls apart to make their 'behind closed doors' deals about the 'legality' of our involvement in Libya.

That's nice, Obama has everyone argueing about 'did he or didn't he'...what a jack#ss! Thanks for putting our country 1st. We have no obligation to our allies or NATO to do anything in any foreign country, until our leaders start doing their jobs here and puts our economy in a place that we can afford to employ our military resources.

'No ground troops! ...but Drone's dropping bombs...nah, that's nothing like war.

The golf course here is full today. I don't begrude anybody an afternoon of golf, and I don't see a problem with these two guys playing golf either.

We have a treaty that is part of NATO, so of course we have obligations there.

Advantage Boehner.... he will beat Obama with the mind game and execution! No contest.... any takers? I'm giving 3 to 1 odds....!

Oh, I forgot .... liberals will never bet with 'their' money.... they'd rather spend other peoples money!

Dear dennissyllabaugh

You say:

Obama has committed an illegal and unprovoked act of war against another sovereign nation that was no threat to the USA.

He should be under impeachment right now and if one member of our military is killed, he should be charged with murder like we would any other felon that caused a death in the commission of a felony.

Were you making similar noise after it was determined that Bush/Cheney lied about WMD's???

BenDereDunDat:

Were you making similar noise after it was determined that Bush/Cheney lied about WMD's???

OH!!! Are you insane???? They will say that they "informed" the Congress, but under false pretenses put us in a 4,462 casualties war.

But they DID inform the Congress...

How many AMERICAN casualties in Libya so far??????

Hernan - it was not under false pretenses. The Senate vote was 77-23 with Dirty Harry Reid, Kerry and Hillary voting in the majority. They even gave impassioned speeches on the Senate floor about how we needed to take out Saddam before he gave WMD to terrorists. Did you ever read anything about Saddams trial in Iraq?? Some things went to Syria and Saddam was full of bluster doing everything in the world to think he had massive WMD so that he could be the big dog in the Middle East. Hans Bliz didn't know for sure.

The world is better off without Saddam, Uday & Qusay raping and pillaging the people of Iraq. Go stick your head back in your liberal hole and we will call you on Nov 7 2012 and tell you how bad 0bama got his a$$ kicked in his re-election bid.

So, black-bel3t, you don't think the world would be better off without Muammer Gaddafi?

Being a mother of a service memeber, and a liberal to boot, I am not crazy about any type of conflict, and I always question war. I don't see what is being done in Libya as a war, we are not occupying, and we are involved with other nations in trying to resolve a situation. I do think if it becomes more involved than what we are doing right now, it should be brought before congress. In the mean time, maybe congress should focus on those JOBS, JOBS, JOBS we heard about in the fall!

I am still looking for all you flag waving, car magnet war supporters to come out of the woodwork. When this liberal questioned Iraq, I was called unpatriotic, yellow liberal. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, does that make you a yellow conservative?

But the world is not better off without Saddham Hussein??

Obama and the Dems in Congress are doing everything they canb to stop jobs. Their socialist agenda is much more important to them than the welfare of Americans. Every act they do hurts incentive for job creation - except in the expansion of the federal bureaucracy of course.

It is hard to decide... is Obama worse at golf than as he is as POTUS? No way, he practices golf a lot more than the other thing!

You go, telco girl!

Well said!

Hello you bunch of online DORKS..they didn't play golf until today Saturday!!!

If you can't comment on this correct..don't comment on anything!

This is for those who posted yesterday.

Obama is president now..not Bush....He is Gonna find it hard to run against Bush/Cheney this time around..:))))))))

its msnbcs job to show unflattering pictures of its political opponents, the republicans.

...did you see the next picture of the president ? perfect form, perfect picture.....not like the speakers picture...bad angle, hunched over....i am surprised the msnbc editor did not have a picture of boehner smoking and lining up for a shot.

I've seen unflattering pictures of others also. MSNBC posted awkward pictures of Hillary Clinton during the 2000 campaign. At least Boehner wasn't crying this time. Tune in to Fox, I'm sure they have every possible unflattering angle of the president.

Typo : I meant 2008 campaign.

Holy crap Keck, it's just a photo of their golf swing. Don't let politics go you so tied up that you start getting petty.

lol

American Girl-724855

Holy crap Keck, it's just a photo of their golf swing. Don't let politics go you so tied up that you start getting petty.

Oops! Too late.

Agreement, "behind the scenes" deals? You do realize Obama was caught making "behind-closed-doors" deals that were so bad, he reversed them once they went public.

Obama is king of my way or the highway! And he has not been listening to his advisers on many subjects...and it shows.

The problem we are facing is that Obama has pushed the White House so far to the left that he has alienated a huge conservative base - that's why you see so much animosityon all these news vines. We need a balance and it is not going to happen with the policies that Obama is pushing - only going to divide the country farther and make folks like Palin and Bachmann shine. Basically moderates are a dieing breed.

It is the 73d round of golf in less than 3 years for Obama. 12 straight weekends on the golf course for that incompetent. The country has to correct that horrid mistake it made in 2008. How many more years if 1.4 trillion deficits can we stand? Don't liberals have kids and grandkids? Can they be that selfish that they don't care even about their own families instead of just the giant "ME." Take from ohters and even print worthless money to give to ME and my causes - their only mantra other than the "end justifies the means."

In agreement "It was either the golf course or a tanning salon for Boehner. Can't he make deals where it's on record and not behind the scenes? And I could have gone my entire life without seeing Boehner in shorts."

So who's more 'tan', Boehner or Obama?

Do you prefer the 'behind the scenes' deals made by Pelosi and Reid, especially on HCR?

Boehner doesn't look any worse than Obama in shorts.

I wonder if Boehner will cry if he loses.

Big Paul are you a nut job? For the past 30 years the animosity has been a plaque on the US. From the Republicans picture of Carter being not as tough as Ronny to the censure of Clinton for a BJ. Buddy you better wise up, the animosity for the rich against the poor is getting deeper by the year. Pretty soon you and I will be done and over and that very Rich 1% of the population will spit on your grave and mine and seek another country too plunder. Do you think that Rupert Murdock, who is from Australia and became a citizen of the US too close his business deal on FOX, really cares about being here? He just wants to inflame you and convince you that if he shares his immense wealth that you will be hurt beyond all comprehension. What kind of sanity do you see in that kind of thinking? Unless you are in the top 1% and I would be willing too bet your not!

Heard a gentleman from the USGA today on the radio say that Obama was one the top 5 most frequent golfers as President. The announcer asked if he played more than Bush. The USGA official said after the start of the Gulf War in 2003, Bush stopped playing golf.

Watermoon, you better get an education in economics or visit the GAO's website and see where the wealth in this country lays. 40% of US wealth is owned by 1% of the population and the divide between Rich and Poor has increased by 50% in the last 20 years alone. Please don't set that argument up that they deserve it, there is no way possible that ,eg. Johnson and Johnson,'s Brothers, Sisters and Children earned it. since when is power and influence an earmarker of success? I don't know your age or demographic, But the America you seek is long gone, The Super Rich took it from you and hung it in their trophy case. Do yourself a very big favor. Turn off FOX ( Rupert Murdock) and quit listening too Rush the Lush and insanity Hannity. Both are in that top percentile that are trying too convince you that if they give up a dime you will be incomprehensibly destroyed. Do some homework for Christ sake!I have a job so there is no ME in that equation and I bet my families income is a bunch more than yours, but he!! yeah I'm worrying that my kids won't get good jobs at a decent wage, But I'm sure that India really appreciates our stateside companies sending them all those great middle class jobs and China really appreciates that "Favored Nation" trading alliance.

Watermoon, I'm sure those top 1%'s really appreciate your support! Their picking your pocket not a senior citizen or a WIC recipient!!

Ray W who cares about golf? Do you begrudge him the time away from the office? If so then you need another quick history lesson. Look at how many days old G.W. spent at his ranch or Camp David while in office and then compare this presidents daily appearance in the oval office to his. I will let you Google it and be astonished all by yourself. This president spends most of his private time with his family at home in the Whitehouse, all the while doing the peoples business. He is considered to be one of the hardest working Presidents of all time as far as man hours applied to the seat is concerned. I'll give you time too look that up as well, But I'm sure you'll depend on that TV host remark as gospel, he is probably a presidential history buff as well as a golf commentator, huh? Ray it's like the Bible, you can always find one verse to bury you and another to resurrect. One off hand comment by one idiot can be the spark that ignites a riot or a fire. Find out the history of those WMD's that were supposed to be stockpiled in Iraq. Are you really the type that just wants to be the spark, or the knowledgeable type who is balanced in his views?

I would love to go down to DC and play a little full contact hoops with the POTUS and I am a white guy who can't jump. (pun intended) I will bring 4 of my golfing buddies and we will kick 0bama's backside in both golf and hoops - just don't schedule any photo ops for 0bama's team for about a week. We play rough on the court.

Idiot.

You want to put up 5 guys against one for some "kick"ing? How very sporting. (rolls eyes)

How about even it out with a few of the younger top Secret Service guys? No guns or anything, just a friendly little game.

Cassandra, Black Diaper, Um, I mean Belt3, will need all 5 of his buddies just too carry his scrawny butt home after the POTUS has his way with him.

But it does remind us of those kinder gentler days when a group of white guys regularly beat up or hung a black man. Bet you can't wait for those Republicans to take our country back, back too the 50"s and 60"s where if your a white male life was pretty good, but if your were a person of color or a woman not so much. Take a look at the Dakotas, they have already taken a womans right to chose, and now want her to set in front of an inquisition to justify her decision too have an abortion. Man I just can't wait, cause I'm a white male, Cassandra Good for me bad for you! Remember what Ralph used to say to Alice "Alice, one of these days right too the MOON!". My wife has been speaking her mind lately, so the sooner we take back America the better!

I have seen the President play hoops and he is nothing to brag about. If you are a Democrat and want to brag, bring up Bill Bradley.

Ray W, I don't think old blackbelt3 was really inferencing a game of hoops, I think you missed the underlying current of his position.

what are you trying to say there jeffy??

Ever since this guy living in the WH called all republicans "the enemy" I have worried about my future in the USA. I wonder what he has in store for the ones in the USA that he calls the "enemy " aka republicans. I guess he'd probably go through NATO to do it? He called every republican in this country "the enemy" and that will never ever be forgotten! If he wins the 2012 election, I guess I'll just get on as many government hand outs like many of his supporters are on already and get some of my republican/enemy tax contributions back before it's too late. Doing that maybe I'll blend in and he won't think I'm an enemy.

PS: His golf swing is horrible. Looks like someone swinging a bat to break a window. Stick with hoops BO. You're good at jumping through hoops for Soros.

Lucy ~

You don't have to be good at sport to enjoy them and have some fun, lighten up. Since you hate were taxes go, get of the roads and stop enjoying driving on those tax paid roads.
By the way many many rich people are democrat, and many of them asked to be taxed more... many people that vote repub are on food stamps too, it works both ways.

Well Lucy, nice to meet you too, you wouldn't mind citing your reference on the "Enemy quotation" would you? I can't seem to draw inference on it in any speech or campaign rally. By the way I served 8 years in the military, have never taken a dime from the government,completed a $hit load of college and obtained a PhD in Economics from Georgetown (which I paid for myself). Have a very lucrative job and enjoy doing combat in economics with arm chair conservatives that are told what their positions are from radio talk show host and some very biased media outlets. What do you say Lucy, you want to duel me on the economy? I guess you would consider me one of your enemies, however, because I'm a Democrat. Guess I don't fit your concept of a liberal and can insure you that my wife and I pay a heck of a lot more in taxes than you do. You up for it? Tell me what you think is driving the economy into the dirt right now and please don't do it with talk speak, do it with facts and figures. I suggest you take a peek at the GAO for some R&D before we begin. just look at the distribution of wealth in the US in the last 20 years. Thats all you need to form your logic train of why you think Democrats are to blame for the countries Ill's. But be careful! you might change your position if you look hard enough and are educated enough to digest what it outlines. I'll understand if you don't get back to me.

You would miss the point. I guess because you were not one of the 1000's that your boy in the WH called Enemy! Pawn.

Lucy a very intelligent reply, but it still lacks any true information. Am I a pawn because of my eduction or because I'm a democrat? Surly you won't just take the easy way out with the jab of a sharp stick will you? If what you say is true then please share your reference material, I'm sure the rest of us would love to see the speech transcript so we can all determine if we need to make an educated analysis of the context it was used in. Did he say you were the enemy because you were a Republican, or did he say we have too stop the enemies that are trying to tear the country apart? We need to see the reference material, or we can just cast you aside as another ill informed voter who sits in the arm chair and only absorbs what they want to and not the reality of the world around them? I can say with absolute confidence that you have no idea where that "Enemy" statement came from or even who told you who said it. Again, you call me a pawn? I think maybe you battle the demons within yourself, it really does suck when you just don't know anything about the economy or what drives it. I can see why your afraid.

Jeffy, hello to you too. Why would I not get back to you? I never referred to you as an enemy either. Your commander in chief referred to others as the enemy so don't pull your twists on me. Another who would miss the point. And, with the education you say you have I would think you would be a bit more open minded. And I would hope you are educated enough to know Soros is not for the good of this country. Well, I guess it all depends on who educated you. I guess you don't mind your CIC calling fellow Americans the "enemy". I guess you defended only half your country then? And as far as the economy and your challenge, I'm not going to pretend I know how this whole government greed and money flow works like many of these people will. But common sense does tell me that you really shouldn't spend what you don't have. So you got the wrong one for that debate. One question though, weren't many many many that created this economy disaster highly educated like yourself? It's funny how the Dems can sling the mud and stereotype,(go back and read your post 4.4) but don't dare give them a dose. Doesn't feel too good does it? And look how upset you got and accused me of calling you enemy and I never said that to begin with the CIC called Republicans the enemy. Don't lib twist please.

And, as far as citing reference, you seem educated enough to look it up, but here ya go. I guess you've conveniently forgotten that he also told the Republicans they have to ride in the back as well. Again, refer to your own post 4.4 before the ride in the back reference is viewed. If you have the nerve, review these references you requested.

I'll close this by saying , good luck fixing the economy that many (not all) of the highly educated ruined with greed to begin with.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/25/obama-tells-republicans-sit/

http://cofcc.org/2010/10/obama-calls-white-republicans-our-enemies/

http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2010/10/obama-calls-republicans-enemies.html

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=obama+calls+republicans+enemies&qpvt=obama+calls+republicans+enemies&FORM=VDRE#

We are all pawns Jeffry and actually that reply was to Risha

You can twist BO's "enemy comment all you want. It won't change a thing. Even though you can't bring yourself to admit it, this potus did call the Republicans the "enemy". If the Dems were called enemy by a Republican POTUS all hell would break loose. Heck, we can't even say we don't like BO without being called racists!! So save your twists for your drinks.

Where did you go Lucy, surly being the sharpest tool in the shed, you have scanned the GAO's figures and drawn a conclusion, if you need any help just ask and I will gladly explain them in layman terms so that you can digest them easily. I am really hankering for a good debate on the economic Ill's of the country and believe it or not I actually have some very useful ideas on how to speed up the recovery and put American workers back too work, but it is an all in plan that America needs to right this sinking ship and put it back on a healthy course and speed. What most people don't realize is that the economic bubble that just went pop was about 6.5 years in the making and was allowed to happen under a Republican administration while he was distracted by a very afraid America. I think we all pretty much contributed to it, by not stopping and analyzing our purchases or paying attention to wall streets sky rocketing rally post 9/11. It was deregulation that allowed the bubble to occur and in the process made a very few an immense amount of money. The Ghost in the house came in the form of something referred to as a derivative. It was a nasty little term that allowed monster "To big to fail" banks, to catalog debt as an asset. Think what would happen to you if you were able to apply for a mortgage and use your credit card debt as an asset allocation. See how quickly the house of cards would crash around you when the mortgage came due? Now Lucy I just gave you a hint at the problem, can you pick it out of what i wrote and Identify it has the purveyor of instability? Give it a try, it's only one word. when you find it I will clue you in on the rest of the problem and how the Bush years took the biggest Surplus ever given a new president and drove it into an 12.5 trillon dollar deficit. Give it a try Lucy it's really not that hard. Aren't you the least bit interested?

Also, since you and Risha both admit that there are many rich Democrats, maybe you should tell the rest of your lib supportes to stop assuming that the the Republicans are the only wealthy people in the country. Maybe it would stop some of their envy of the wealthy.

Deregulation started before Bush. Clinton was involved. Both Dems and Repubs were involved in that and you should know that. And congress approved it. And then approving all the mortgages to people who could not afford them crushed us. Thanks for the education. You can call it debate if you want but...

Also, if you have a plan that you think would work, why don't you run for potus or give your plan to someone in DC.? Sounds like you have the ability to.

Ok, your serve.

Lucy read your links again, Obama never said republicans are enemies or the white republicans are enemies. As you can clearly see that the inference was that of a very right wing publication that said that what Obama meant when he made a speech to Latinos and that manipulation is exactly what that one percent I keep hinting about wants you to believe, You also said I got upset about what you said, please tell me where? I was very non defensive, because I don't need to be. As far as my post 4.4, that comment was patronizing and thick with sarcasm, surly you didn't take my comment about hitting my wife as serious did you?

Lucy those half truths you are hearing are all well and good, the Democrats have them as well. Try to balance the information however, mix up your input of information from time to time, try to stay balanced and have less of a sharp tongue and you will get more agreement and feedback from those that surround you. I don't claim to know anything about Medicine, Astrophysics, Quantum Mechanics, etc... But I for sure know what has happened in America over the last 30 years and it has kept you and me at odds for a very long time. Have you ever heard the term divide and conquer? I will bet you a sawbuck that the 1% I told you about tries as hard as they can to keep us in a state of flux and confusion. But really, take a trip to the GAO and look at the figures Lucy the great divide grows bigger every year and when the super rich defeat us all then they will move on to China and India. They are setting up that scenario as we speak. Lucy when 4% of Americans control 51% of the wealth do you not think that power is more interested in keeping the status quo. in 1960 the highest tax bracket was 70% it is now 28%(Bush/Obama) tax cuts. actual rich tax should be 34% and should have been reinstated in January this year, but Obama (which I disagreed with I might add) in an attempt to stimulate the economy compromised with Congress that he would sign for the Rich if they would also include the cuts for the Middle Class. The key to the American economy Lucy is the middle class, No Middle class equals depression/recession. There is plan and simply not enough revenue coming into the coffers to support wars, the poor, WIC, education, Medicare, Medicaid and SS, etc......I hope that helps you illuminate the light bulb a bit.

Lucy unless you earn over 250K a year, being a Republican from a financial point of view is monetary suicide. Here is the dilemma however, we have a whole host of other quantifiers that play into this, and many are very emotional. If Your Gay, Christian,Muslim, Jew, Poor, Rich, Black, Hispanic, a Woman, an Immigrant, and have a stand on abortion, again etc....

Thats were they get us Lucy because if it was just about the money then why in the heck would a working middle class family EVER be Republicans. Surly you don't think sacrificing Womens health and WIC will do anything to slightly effect the deficit do you? seriously?

Lucy, your absolutely right, I'm proud of you (Most people pick derivative, actually you are the 1st one thats got it right in some time), deregulation has been a stimulus used for decades to bolster or create jobs, but it is a very slippery slope, just take a peek back at what happened in the Gulf last year. that was a deregulation issue and a gross misuse of platform authority. Every time we deregulate we risk the environment, Monetary infrastructure and banking, your health and mine, but most importantly our children's futures. Japan deregulated their nuclear power program in hast to build new reactors at breakneck speed. They Built one of their most powerful right on a fault line for Christ sake. Been nice talking to you Lucy, but I have to hit the sack, I'm old and it's 12:30 here on the east coast. You have my blessing to still be a Republican if you wish...lol. But I do hope you can at least ponder what I tried to explain in my cliff notes version. You have a great Sunday. Peace Out!

Thanks for the stump on the POTUS issue, but I really don't know why anyone would ever want that job, I have seen a lot of presidents go in with dark hair and out with white. many sleepless nights and a nations well being on your shoulders. Trying to satisfy everybody all the time or at least try to some of the time all the while bring criticized from every nook and cranny from the 4 corners of the earth. No I have trouble pleasing my wife on a daily basis,half the time I'm wrong, at least she says I am.

I have worked for 2 administrations in a very weak capacity (Contract work). I actually do a lot of economic studies for Risk/Reward investments abroad. It is voodoo economics for sure, with massive calculations that try to predict long term strategies in emerging markets. I just did one for solar cells and the next generation of multi layer Photo cells. BORING!!! But it keeps the lights on...Gotta Go Bye Lucy.

I know you said you are really hankering for a real debate, but you best save that for someone on your level. Like I told you earlier, I'm not pretending that I have the education you have. At least I admit it. Why would you assume that I am not interested? I've been responding to you. I originally voiced my concern about being called the enemy by the potus. You are the one who got on the economy issue not me. But since you did say the following:

The Ghost in the house came in the form of something referred to as a derivative. It was a nasty little term that allowed monster "To big to fail" banks, to catalog debt as an asset.

I will say, the ones that did this probably had a college degree like you. No? Maybe even more than you? Hmmm, very interesting. I guess they got their degrees in Greed? Was Soros their professor? I wonder.

How in the world can you catalog debt as an asset? It seems like the banks have made out big time. They got the bail out and they got the houses and properties as well. Now they can sell them and make even more money and all while the families have lost everything and not a cent was used to bail out the people. Do you think if they did that, it could have helped? Since Bush and BO bailed out the banks why couldn't the people keep their houses and work out a payment plan to the government? If the consumers were protected, maybe the economy could have been protected a little more? Just asking, not insisting I'm right. What do you think?

Jeffery;

Thank you for the education. Peace to you as well. Hey, and we didn't even have to go golfing jeffery. lol

Good Morning Lucy, don't know if your still following, but you are right about who made out in the deregulation process. By the way I am not a follower of George Soros or the Lehman brothers. They do indeed attempt to be puppet masters and do it quite well, I might add. both parties have high profile and rich supporters who have more than the greater good in mind when they throw fund raising dinners and use industry as a catalyst to sway public opinion in the direction they want it too go. Lucy thats why I study the information streams so closely, like a said too a poster earlier, I can pick from many versus in the bible too bury you and several more to resurrect you. Any statement can be taken out of context and spark a fire of contempt among the masses. Thats what they want Lucy, you and I too squabble over crumbs while the big boys are setting down for a 7 course meal. We walk away from the debate feeling frustrated and empty and they walk away feeling full and satisfied. But Lucy I can guarantee you this, if the middle class is not stabilized then this country will be bankrupt in the next 30 years and our social services will be unrecognizable for the old a weary. I will be fine and very comfortable in my senior years, I hope you have planned for that as well. I don't know your age or if you even work, but if you do then save, save, save and do it with a professional, these issues are not do it yourself projects. Shop around for a good financial planner and make sure you watch the bond market closely, communicate your issues with your planner and do it often, if you have a 401K (If your company has one and you are not participating then your are throwing money away, get in it as fast as you can and maximize your return by putting at least the amount that your company will match) if you are young then moderate to heavy risk investments usually end up with the most growth over a long period of time, but will fluctuate dramatically up and down and if you are close to retirement then a down spike could be catastrophic to your portfolio and leave you with insufficient funding for your golden years. If you are older, in your mid 50"s then move to a less volatile market and usually large/medium cap is your best move, and finally if you are knocking on retirements door then stabilize it all in the bond market. Your return will be minimal, but a stable and reliable source of income.

Now Lucy in closing I will leave you this tidbit, remove your sullying contempt for the president, he does things I want too kick him in the butt for sometimes as well, remove all your personal points of view on abortion, religion, Gay relationships or any other view you have an issue on and look at it from a financial point of view ONLY. That way there is no emotion in your decision process of who too vote for.

I was a very dependable Republican voter for many years because of my Military service, we always thought the Republicans would get us better pay and equipment. I bought into the hype. Lucy I was wrong in almost all of my reasons for being aligned with that party. My wife and I do make a lot of money, but I don't mind paying my fair share to put the country back on track. It is a simple equation and you, like me, bought into the hype that the Republicans were more financially conscious than the Democrats and that is plain and simply a lie of epic proportion. Bill Clinton gave G.W. Bush the largest surplus of money in the history of the US (I have taken into consideration the COLA or inflation for the past 50 years). Lucy the numbers don't lie, G.W. squandered it all and left the country with 2 wars, (that he didn't bother to put on the books) and the lowest popularity rating in history as well. Bush left office with a 22% approval rating and now you want to put another carnival barker/magician in the oval office? Didn't Yosemite Sam hurt you and your family enough? Just look at the numbers Lucy, it's crystal clear and free for you too view.

Have a good one!

Hey Jeffrey:

Happy Fathers day. Thanks for all your advice. You are a true Dem and that is not a bad thing. The freaks that have hijacked both parties are the ones I don't like. I don't like BO, but to be honest, I didn't like GW Bush either. Actually Cheney was even worse IMO. I hope by the grace of God that this country will survive. My husband and I are middle class and in our forties. I know the middle class needs to be kept alive, or we will all be sorry. The rich elite and the poor. I really wonder how much of this economic disaster was planned. Or am I being too cynical? I don't put anything past power freaks.

Take care.

Thanks Lucy and I hope your Husband is enjoying the day as well. I really don't think that Bush intentionally wrecked the economy, but he did allow for a period of deregulation to occur on his watch that resulted in a catastrophe, to much trust in inept individuals . You remember Clinton's battle cry of "it's the economy stupid" that he road into office after beating Bush 1 in a resounding defeat that still rings with pain in the Grand Old Party. Bush 1 was left with the aftermath of Regan and his trickle down theory of economic supply and demand. "if you build it they will come" ideology that is taught in every Accounting Degree program within the states as how not to govern a free market economy. it was a dismal failure, but even Regan realized the economic divide and tried to close the accounting loop holes that mega companies were exploiting. he actually set in motion what Clinton was able to achieve during his presidency, Bush 1 just got caught in the same trap that Obama is in now and I don't envy him one bit. I actually thought ,that from a statesman point of view, he was a very courages man and a patriot that had to make some tough decisions. I think Obama is a patriot as well and being the 1st black president has to work twice as hard to prove his worth. Wouldn't you agree with that Lucy? Like it or not there is a very large crosscut of America that wants him to fail, a very racist group that I hope will eventually die off and be gone, but until that day that we lower the last coffin into the ground we have a problem, a very big one.

Lucy you asked if the government could have done anything to help those that lost their homes, they tried. there were multiple attempts at refinancing schemes and reduced payback structuring. trust me those banks don't want those properties you discussed as being a bone for them. They are anchors of tremendous weight and they are being dumped at rock bottom prices. let me give you an example. my wife and I are going to look at retirement homes in Clearwater Florida where 48% of the properties are in some sort of distress. I am looking at townhouses that sold for 399K and up in 2003 and 2004. They are in short sale situations now and are in the price range of 109K to 129K. that is 1/4 to 1/3 of their original selling price. great for me but really bad if you bought it for 399K on a 30 year fixed APR, these folks are so upside down that the owners just walked away, literally handed the bank the keys and packed up the truck before their credit was destroyed so that they could at least rent an apartment. A lot of the banks are letting the previous owners freeload in the dwelling's if they agree to keep up the taxes and pay the utilities. If I agree to buy one, then the occupier has to vacate in 30 days due to a signed agreement that over rides Florida eviction laws. It is a 4 corners contract that basically takes away the occupiers normal path of eviction which could take up to 6 months. it's cheaper than renting an apartment and a occupied property is easier to show and too sale. Think of all the empty homes however that the banks have to pay the taxes on as well as the missing 2/3's initial cash outlay the banks made upon the owners original purchase. Most if not all of these properties were extremely over valued and now there are just not enough people to occupy them with jobs. the whole idea of the American dream was a fallacy coined during the 50's anyhow, The term I created was suburbinization of the nation..lol, really not funny however. The Mega houses built were just not a bad idea, they were not practical for a family of 4.5 people. we just don't need that much space. Lucy you would never guess how modestly I actually live. I would be willing to bet that my home is no bigger or better than yours. I first looked at location, then education and taxes and finally cost per square foot to heat and cool. I know, pretty boring and analytical for the average Joe right? However you have to apply those sciences to your future housing purchases. It is a fundamental matter of life and death in tomorrows economy, trust me on this Lucy LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION, then educational opportunity's for your children. If it looks to good to be true, it probably is. If you can afford to move to your dream home, nows the time to do it, but I would recommend staying put if your kids are at the college age or soon will be and you are right side up in your initial purchase. Most people don't realize how empty a normal size 3 bedroom home will become once the kids leave. However, I don't think you will see this opportunity arise again for another 50 years after the dust settles and as of this morning the new fixed APR with 10% down is 2.99% for 30 years. Be careful to not exceed 43% of your income on the actual mortgage payment and adjust your purchase by property taxes and sewer/water fees. I would recommend what I call a fall back purchase assessment, meaning if one of you lost your job, would you exceed 61% of your remaining income. remember to take into account your reduced tax burden and add that back into your income analysis. That is found money you can use to pay your bills + what you will receive in unemployment compensation. You want to be in a position to last at least 18 months without dipping into your 401K's or your children's college funds and bonds. Never us credit cards as a way to extend your existence. give the keys back and walk away before you put a dime on a charge card for survival. Again this is a rule you should remember for life. credit cards are legal usury and like insurance the biggest rip off in American History. Pay them off and cut them up if you can't trust yourself. If you do charge something make sure you pay it off within the grace period of the 1st cycle. Use them, don't let them use you!

Lucy, I hope you and your family weather this economic storm without a major impact. 1 in 8 Americans as we speak are feeling the hot breath of the Tax and bank man breathing down their necks. this is not good for America and the world that looks up to it. But before we accept our fate remember that like all things this to shall pass. But if Obama doesn't get another 4 years Lucy, I fear it will take another eight to get it right. If you stay with Obama we should heal in 4 to 5. So I will leave you with this, can we afford an additional 3 to 4 years? I certainly don't think so and with the Tea Party in the mix, chaos will surly follow. I don't know how far right you lean, but the Tea Party lot are a dangerous few that are flailing wildly at anything that pops up. It is that old proverbial "cut off your nose to spite your face" mentality that got us where we stand today. but like I said Lucy, don't take my word for it and look at the numbers they are the only truth you will ever need. They don't need validation from a higher power and are not influenced by religion, sexual identity, race or political party. It's all in the numbers. thats why I chose this profession. i don't have to think in what ifs. I only look at results of the numbers and the numbers that made up the results. its that old balance sheet mentality of debits and credits. if it's out of balance it's broke and needs fixing, we have been out of balance for 10 years now ...lol

one more note Lucy, in your last post you stated that the middle class had to be saved or the rich and poor would be sorry. I totally disagree Lucy, it is you and I who will be sorry. the poor are poor already and will really have the least amount of struggle adjusting to the loss of worldly possessions and the Rich will be long gone to another country with all the wealth they stole from you and I. They will set up shop in an emerging market like China or India and start the process all over again. they have done it for the last 100 years and they will continue for as long as you and I let them. From coal miners to child labor they will stop at nothing to hold court over you and keep you in your place and station, begging for those crumbs I told you about.

Lucy It's all in the numbers, go have a look, your GOP is terrified that you will, trust me they avoid the issue every time it comes up. Ask them what happened to all that money they got from Clinton

Thank you Thermen, that was a wonderful, positive post.

Now let's just hope that Boehner doesn't break down in tears.

Boehner won't cry and Obama won't lie, again. Personally, I think dueling pistols or boxing matches would be a better way to work out political differences. Every politician should engage with their counterpart across the aisle. Except for Pelosi and Reid, they should be evenly matched w/each other for the boxing events.

Let 0bama feel good and drive the cart but Boehner will be the one keeping score. If 0bama knows the rules of gold - I am sure he cheats and he obviously sucks at Math - just check out his economic record for confirmation.

I didn't realize that they had a teleprompter on a golf course.

mygirl, what a grownup thing too say! Now hurry back to your math book and finish your homework, you have a multiplication test on Monday...

Wow! 19 holes? Holy crap! It'll take them FOREVER to play all 19!

We may never see those two again.

JIm Clyburn once told me that you can tell a lot about a man through golf: his discipline, temperament, decision-making, risk-aversion, honesty, etc. Of course, there are a lot of jokes you can make about these two and those qualities, but I hope they can get something sensible worked out, because the partisanship of both parties is accomplishing nothing.

.

73 rounds of golf in just 2 1/2 years - including each of the past 12 weekends. Probably better he is there than in the Oval Office since it is difficult to know one positive thing he has done there to date, but even the United States needs a president who is a leader And we do not have one now.

Watermoon, you are really an irritating little trollop aren't you? You obviously have an opinion, an uneducated one, but never the less an opinion. I fought so you could have the right too say the things you do. In your case I wish I would have ducked out of the service and fed you to the lions. It is your obvious ignorance that I find so abrasive, you have an opinion as long as someone else tells you what it is, never lifting a finger to pick a side based on logic and history. I am absolutely positive that you are not in the 1% of the populace that controls the majority of the countries wealth. That is a for sure certain thing that i would bet my very life on. I bet you picked a side because of mommy and daddy, but certainly not from knowledge or perspective. Most finger tip conservatives are just like you, you tune into Rush the Lush or Rupert Murdock's FOX channel to tell you what to think and form your opinions on half truths and misleading double speak, If they don't like what the caller has to say they just hang up and call the person stupid ,an ultra liberal or freeloader. Well Miss, I am very educated, don't take anything from the government, spent 8 years in service to the nation, went in harms way so you could flap your gums and obtained a PhD in Economics from Georgetown, and oh Yeah, I'm a Democrat and Obama is my President and yours!

I disagree with pretty much everything that happens in theater politics but you don't get as far as they have gotten in life by being insane. Criminal, perhaps but definitely not insane. I would also go so far as to call them shrewd and borderline brilliant. Don't let Obama's aloofness and Boehner's tears fool you. These guys are Academy Award level actors.

Then he and Obama can play golf every day.

Obama doesn't have an advantage on the greens but if he takes them to that gay bath house in Chicago where he hung out for years, he will have a big advantage..!!!!!!!!

Given the inclinations of liberal haters, they'll be posting stupid comments on MSNBC slandering Republicans.

jack be nimble, jack be quick, jack trips over his on d...

Ru-780672 ~

What did that even mean? Was your post suppose to have some educational value?

Risha, if you can't read english, I'd suggest getting an education for yourself.

Sounds delicious!

I hear you. The funny thing is, if you'd read what the conservatives say about Obama, you'd think liberals actually had the president they wanted, not the centrist president who pisses everyone off.

Centrist is correct. Hearing the fruitcups rage on about "socialism" would be hilarious if it weren't so bloody stupid. Socialist, my arse.

No sadly he is more like a Republican these days than the Progressive Democrat that I thought I voted for. I hope he realizes that IF HE FOLDS ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, or MEDICAID in any way .... he will LOSE THE 2012 ELECTION. We voted for a Democrat... NOT A CRAZY RIGHT WING GOP/TP. Wake up Mr. President... do not balance the budget off of the back of the Middle Class and the Poor. They cannot take ANY MORE!!!!

dennis - usually, stupid people try to hide their stupidity. However, once in a while, you get one who shouts it from the rooftops.

You hang in there, cupcake! ;-)

Pippo....

You are an idiot with your ranting and not providing any examples. But you are a typical liberal!

James - Pippo gave plenty of examples, whether you agree or not is another matter - do you want/need pictures too?

Why would you call the guy out for being a sissy who tries to act tough but can't even get his own caucus in order.

oh, well, he did manage to screw America into giving the rich some of the tax breaks they needed.

By the way, now that the rich are paying less taxes, how come the economy isn't better? I thought the rich are supposed to be spending that money on the little guy, but I see no surge in the numbers.

Oh come on D ! You know Republican Trickle Down Economics never "trickled down" even though Republicans have been using that tired old "economic policy" for over 30 years now, and they plan to use it again if they ever get back in the White House.

The "Republican Plan" is to take this FROM "a Nation for the People and by the People" to a Nation for Corporations and by Corporations.

@American Girl - If I remember correctly, Reagan pulled this country back from an economic catastrophe with the theory of supply side economics, which I think has been bastardized by calling it the trickle down economic theory. Problem is, it seems to work. Kensyian Economics, the theory that the government can create jobs has proven itself to be incorrect and never has worked every time it's been tried, much to liberals chagrin. Why it continues to be tried is incomprehensible. The private sector (corporations) are the only entities that can make plentiful, sustainable jobs. To you it must suck, but it's a fact.

While Obama is personally distasteful to me, he is the POTUS and therefore must be respected however undeserving he may be. Obama is WAY over his head and I'd bet a dollar to a donut that he wakes up occasionally and wished to God that he'd never been elected. In his heart of hearts he's got to know he's failed - got to. So, in keeping with the thread IMO he's less damaging on the golf course or the basktball court and I'm relieved whenever he's there, on vacation, or otherwise distracted.

denniss - you'll be the first to whine when your disability (mental) check doesn't get sent to you for that month.

yes anything obama does is waste of tax payer money. even going to visit a state with airforce one is waste of taxpayer job. however when a republican president does it, it is not waste.

all this right winger would find any reason to bash the president. how about you come up with something useful.

Do you work 7 days a week?

Your fine prez/dictator has played golf 74 times in two and a half years in office. President Bush did not play that much in 8 years.....Typical Democrat, do as I say and not as I do.....

President Bush preferred to take Air Force One to his ranch on his days off.

We have only had two balanced budgets since WWII. Don't count one one anytime soon.

That makes for a lot of mulligans

Republican Party Club...At least with them, our country has a chance to get our financial house in order. The Democrats have spent away our democracy and what is left of it is just a shell....how sad, our country demolished by the communists/democrats without a shot being fired.....

Wasn't that similar to what the "stimulus" was for?

Except for there, they conveniently forgot the shoppers and merchants and made deposits directly into the coffers of the rich.

Who's pissing on the golf game? We are pissing on the ridiculous concept that there is great value in it.

Unless you're rich or otherwise financially well off, I think just about everyone in the US is suffering a sad life right about now. And the fools we've elected to make stuff happen aren't getting focused.

Wait a minute here, the president is focused like a laser on that golf ball. Clearly he has the best interests of America at heart......

Of course it's on our dime. You don't think any one of them is paying their own green fees, do you? To hell with all of them.

It was read and agreed too.

Proof that there is no explaining fools....