What an Obama Do-Over Would Look Like

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Well, that's what happens when you elect a Jughead Commie Moron.

Baldemar Huerta of IA 12:56AM September 28, 2010

wtf

bando of CO 11:11AM March 12, 2010

I agree whole-heartedly that the actions of congress towards the economic/health/jobless rate have been LESS than stellar and probably knee jerk responses to save their jobs in an election year. I, personally thought (and wrote all my congressmen)why not give every middle class family in the country a couple of million dollars? Mortgages could have gotten paid off, credit card debt could have gotten paid off, outstanding loans could have gotten paid off and, of course, consumer spending could have skyrocketed. Notice I said could have...it would have depended on the American public actually doing those things and congress having the faith in the public to do those things. Then we come to what congress actually did and what has happened since. Getting all those non-producing congressmen/women out of congress sounds like a great idea, and it might be. But consider this....If the company you worked for was insoluble and they brought in a whole new corporate staff, what would happen to your job? Maybe nothing. But most likely they'd do what a lot of businesses have done and cut jobs and scale down. I think that's what would happen if suddenly there were a whole NEW congress. Inexperience and unlimited power? No, thanks. Yes, they need to go, but there has to be a way to eliminate them more studiously. No, I don't have any grand ideas about that...yet...LOL
I understand that the global economy is part of our lifestyle now. There's really no way around it with technology being what it is. But I do think America would be better off focusing on us and getting us back on our feet than subsidizing who knows (actually) how much is being given to other countries that either don't really know how to fix themselves or refuse to. We can't be the greatest country in the world AND be the world's biggest debtor at the same time. I think somewhere along the line, the tea parties are going to become the newest political party. Question is, will the power available to them corrupt them as well?
But back to my original thought....yes, we, the American public, have to let government know without a doubt WE are the USA. At the same time, WE should take care not to have knee jerk responses to events that will take time to decipher and repair.

Barrett Beach of TX 10:18AM March 06, 2010

There is no doubt that poor monetary policy over the past 10 years combined with absurd congressional mandates concerning the home lending industry contributed heavily to the financial shock that caused this prolonged recession, but if all you can come up with is this is "Bush's fault" then you're simply choosing not to mentally explore our condition. The Bush adminstration was a popular failure in part because it presided over a broken system, but mostly because it was distracted with wars that were unnecessary and quite frankly stupid.
While Barack Obama's policy priorities in the first year have been poorly timed and niave (what did we expect?) the real shocker is the simple absolute imcompetence of this Presidency as well as the Congress as a whole. If these fools were going to use Keynesian stimulus theories as the response to the destruction of economic activity that resulted from the financial collapse, are you trying to tell me that the absurdly designed stimulus package is the best they could do??? Clearly, when the American people might have actually needed them most, these idiots couldn't even remotely deliver what we needed.
If they could not even deliver an adequate government response, pulled from their own central economic planning playbook, when we needed it most, in my opinion the only reasonable citizen response is to greatly reduce the influence and resources that the Federal Government employs and move government back to a limited "closer to the people" model.
Why in the world was Tim Geitner and his staff of merry beauracrats deciding in a rapid emotional decision making process whether or not a CDS contracts written by private companies actually involve any issuer default risk? The US government is not authorized, qualifed or capable of making these decisions. The very fact that these people were making these types of calls with taxpayer mon

of 8:55AM March 06, 2010

Obama did not creat this mess and Bush just drove that bus to the edge of the cliff and got off then let the taxpayer try to stop it. American taxpayer you have got to wake up and change Congress by voting out anyone that has been in office more than 6 or 8 years. These people are NOT working for the American taxpayer they are working for themselves. Untill we the American taxpayer says this is enough then this bus is going to keep speeding down the road and over the cliff. Let's get real it does not matter who the President is they are just a figure head. Congress controlls everything and it is not teamwork it is totally individual power which means if I do something for you how is that going to help me. Congress has got to be held accountable for their actions and they should work together as a team for what is good for America and the American taypayer. There is only one way to do this and if your Congressperson is not working as a team mate in Congress then vote them out. We the people have to send that message very clearly and this will not happen over night but we have to start somewhere. If we don't our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to pay a very high price for OUR mess that we left them. We start in 2010 start cleaning house by tossing them out of Congress. Do you see any congressperson drawing unemployment? Have they lost their job? Have they lost their homes? Are they in financial ruin? Are they living their life as normal as ever? Have they changed their habits or tighten their belts? Have they lost their retirement benfits? Do they have great health benefits? Who pays for all of this? Answer "THE AMERICAN TAYPAYER" Who can stop all of this? Answer "THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER" How by voting them out in November 2010! Tough decision are going to have to be made and we the American people are going to suffer but we have got to stop and turn this bus around before we all go off the cliff. My thoughts as a 61 year old man that beleives that "America" is GOD's country and we the American people have got to STOP this bus and NOW!

Tim Haller of TX 9:56AM March 05, 2010

Obama is an idiot.
Impeach the idiot.

Ken Wilson of NC 5:19PM February 16, 2010

"Reality",
I'm sorry to break it to you but this country has no one driver. We have a bunch of people trying to handle a bunch of very complex problems. If we didn't, GWB would've left an even worse mess for Obama.
Hope may not quench you hunger but despair certainly doesn't either.
Sincerely,
Truth

Opinions really are like buttholes of VA 11:38AM February 12, 2010

Booth V,
I hate to break it to you, but you are not on a chairlift, more like a driver-less bus, heading full speed for a cliff. Meanwhile you and the rest of the passengers believe the bus is being driven by someone who has a clue how to drive, when in fact the person driving can't reach the brake pedal, though he managed to pin the gas pedal to the floor.
Best of luck on your descent!
Sincerely,
Reality

He who eat hope 4 supper go to bed hungry of CA 5:16AM February 12, 2010

Really Rick? These are the things the President should have done?
Should have / Could have / Would have. All the things the impotent say from the sidelines.
Please Rick. With your astute observations on what should have happened perhaps you'll consider throwing your hat in to the ring for some public service. Come on Rick! You can do it!
Of course, then you'd have greater access to all the components of the financial meltdown and your positions might have to change so remember you'll need to remain a little flexible, OK?
And then there's always that 'being held accountable' for your decisions and positions. I know that will be a tough one. I mean, isn't the best part of being a "Monday Morning Quarterback" the notion that you can just sit back, pop off, and then move on?
Here's what I know Rick and most every indicator backs this up. A year ago this country were headed downhill like an out-of-control Olympic skier and this year we're on the chair lift going back up the mountain. (Like the Olympic reference? Timely, huh?)
So maybe next time you lead off an article with a sophomoric "messiah' quote you might take a second to remember exactly what you do for a living. Regurgitate information created by others in such a way as to support your own personal beliefs. You want to make a difference Rick? Get in the game.
Just make sure to stretch first. It gets rough out there Rick. Not a place for the weak and timid.

Booth V of CA 1:00PM February 11, 2010

First - I think President Obama's (or the Democratic) health care bill could still pass with one modification that the majority of American want - medical malpractice caps. It is estimated that almost 40% of wasted medical spending is excess tests/procedures performed by doctors due to fear of malpractice suits. Include medical malpractice caps in the health care reform and I think you have viable bi-party reform that most Americans want.
Second - stop the blame game. There is plenty of blame to go around (banks, mortgage brokers, Wall Street, President Bush, etc.). We need to take responsibility for our actions (houses we couldn't afford, debt, etc.), and not look for the government to fix our problems and/or punish those more fortunate than us (unless they have acted illegally).
Third - we need to pay off our debts when the economy improves. Government spending (for which we all benefit - roads, defense, police, fire, etc.) cannot be maintained on the backs of the "rich". I believe the rich should be taxed more proportionally, and they are. I also back President Obama's decision to let the wealthy tax breaks expire. With that said, I feel it is the duty of every American to do his/her part. Every American should pay some portion of his/her income to the government (say 5%), or else they shouldn't be allowed to vote [it's called being a citizen]. An individual should never have a zero tax rate while gainfully employed (or even worse receive money from the government).
Fourth - We need to curb entitlements. Call me old fashioned - but I believe that saying I want this and I want someone else to pay for it is stealing in the end. I have no problem receiving something if you have paid your dues for it (social security, medicare).

Ralph Price of OK 4:41PM February 08, 2010