Obama Uses His State Of The Union To Obliterate Everything The GOP Stands For

You would have thought I was watching the superbowl... I was hollerin and applauding every five minutes! (either that or an awesome sermon.... I kept shouting AMEN!!!)

He did show class, and in a classy way slapped those GOPers silly!

Gotta admit... best moment ever.... Obama mentioned the 13 stripes on the flag, and Biden AND Boehner looked a bit confused for a second.... as if to mentally count the flags. Then they relaxed when they figured he was right.

Yep!!

I loved the POTUS line in the beginning... "I will fight obstruction with action..."

WTG Mr. President!

redsfan, I "can't" top your #1 post! Couldn't agree more!

Agreed, redsfan

President Obama knocked it out of the ball park!

Great speech, and President O will take action

...you know how it feels when you're driving... and you have to pee, how uncomfortable that feels and you can't relax and you can't wait to "get there"... yeah, that's how Eric Cantor looked.

Yes, and Mitch Daniels, who gave the GOPTeaBag follow-up speech to the SOTU address, was totally disgusting in the lies he told. The records that he refuted were total lies, ans they had nothing of any real value to counter the truth with.

The GOPTeaBags are so desperate to win, that they are willing to go to the bottom of the barrel and tell the biggest lies possible in order to try to disparage Obama. But, only their base supporters will believe them, and of course, Fox will pick them up and give them extended life. However, even the Republicans who are still able to think rather rationally are turning away from the radical and fanatical extremism of the GOPTeaBags and not buying into the lies, or the party agenda.They have nothing of merit to really run on, so they must lie and misrepresent as much as possible to try and fool the people again. But, most of the people of America are not buying it this time. While they may not be as agreeable with Obama, they are surely not going to let themselves be suckered and burned by the GOPTeaBags again.

Great Speech

Loved it

I have kept saying the best was yet to come and there is more to come, Obama isn't done yet, This is going to get very interesting, He is basically saying to the GOP @!$%# or get of the pot and move out of the way.

What was pathetic was, the GOP having to speak after the President and spin their spin, GOD I just can't stand ANY of the GOP .

OBAMA 2012!!!!!

OBAMA 2012!!!!!

Redsfan; Post #1

^^^ Agree. 100%

Redsfan Yes great post

Once again, President Obama shows class, intelligence and commitment to ALL the American people. I am so proud that he is our President!

and he will be president in 2012!

Obama left them without a platform and without any ideas. All they left is doom and gloom and obstructionism. The two items that will take the Republicans do defeat in 2012.

Predictably, the right are already waving the "socialism" card with regards to Obama's concerns about how so few are doing well in this country while so many are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads...the lack of compassion from some conservatives is very, very sad to me, as an American.

Well now, that wasn't very hard now, was it?

Poor Boehner couldn't sit still.

The President's STOU...Priceless...

The looks on the faces of McConnell, Boehner, Cantor, and McCain...year old dill pickle left in the sun before serving...

The President needs and deserves an engaged and committed Congressional body to work with...

Let's get to work!

Obama 2012!!

We need an America where the top 30 companies don't spend more on lobbying than they do paying federal taxes.

Between 2008 And 2010, 30 Big Corporations Spent More Lobbying Washington Than They Paid In Income Taxes

We the people Corporations of the United States, in order to form own a more perfect Union place to locate our home offices with no actual US workers, hereby purchase these politicians to enact the laws that we write to govern our own conduct with.

Once again, President Obama shows class, intelligence and commitment to ALL the American people. I am so proud that he is our President!

You can say that again!! Brilliant speech from a class act.

i cannot wait to see how the Republicans respond over the next few months because they have been challenged!

Great seed! :o)

But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

Yep the President hit it out of the ballpark last night!

Just for funnsies, check out some of the RWNJ seeds. They are absolutely grasping at straws to criticize the President. I know it's tough to acknowledge--so early in the game--that President Obama will have four more years to improve our nation, but those foolhardy rethuglicons in Mudville are still spinning some tales...

I voted every comment above UP....what a blast he gave it to them good...now thats how we strong arm slugs the Chicago way.

I loved it he told Congress to get off their 8 to 12 % approval rating asses and get something done. But they will send him bills loaded with deregualtion and say it's a jobs bill.

As usual they will demand more cuts to social programs to keep the middle class tax break and hold fast on keeping tax increases for the wealhy...they will do more than piss down our legs and tell us it's raining their aim will be much higher...

And tonight, I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. (Applause.) This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.

President Obama may call bankers “fat cats” and stir the rabble against them with populist rhetoric when it serves his interest, but after the fiscal fiasco, he allowed the culprits to escape virtually scot-free.

Yup he is letting them off the hook alright...NOT

I think you've all been taken in.

You don't know the people commenting in this thread. They're expressing their approval with regard to what the President said last night. There is nothing there that could give a reasonable person any basis on which to justify any categorical disparagement. People know that no candidate is perfect. They choose their selection based on a comprehensive view, not a view colored by a narrowly-drawn, biased interpretation of one issue. The claim that others have been "taken in" is itself far more indicative of that malady - it smacks of the vacuous belief that people who disagree with you are somehow not seeing what you're seeing. Such perspectives are baselessly arrogant and without merit. People have different priorities and morals. People who place compassion, consideration for others, fairness and justice very high will clearly come to different yet still reasonable conclusions as compared to people who place personal financial aggrandizement highest.

That's all you got Oiled? "The banks are bigger"...... Look, I work for one of those "too big to fail" banks. Unless you do as well, you have no idea how much has really changed, and continues to change, about how these guys now have to do business. All eyes are on compliance and risk issues all the time. That used to be a second thought to daily business. Of course they are growing. Wasn't that the whole point of the bailout? Yes, yes it was. Like it or not, we need the banks but we need them to play fair and obviously they can't do that without regulation. BUT (big but here) they are achieving that growth now on a much more level and fair playing field. Oh the industry is still chock full of crooks but the difference now is that people like me (a worker bee) aren't afraid of calling it out and exposing superior's (used loosely) and upper management corruption. We have the backing of our government and I for one am grateful for it. I've spent a good majority of my career watching the bad people get stinking rich while damn near destroying their companies and then walking off with giant packages for a job well done. Let's name just a few - John Thain, Stan O'Neal, Ken Thompson, Ken Lewis. In today's environment, this is not happening and the Obama administration has these guys running scared, looking over their shoulders and for the most part - doing the right thing. This country needs our financial institutions to do well but the President drew a hard line in the sand last night. Did you hear that part? He placed the success of the financial industry squarely where it belongs. In their laps.

Yes, and Mitch Daniels, who gave the GOPTeaBag follow-up speech to the SOTU address, was totally disgusting in the lies he told. The records that he refuted were total lies, ans they had nothing of any real value to counter the truth with.

Does anyone share my thoughts that Daniels wrote his response to the STOU last week, before reading even a first draft. He was so far off base as to be as laughable as Jindal was in Obama's first STOU.

Also, I thought the barely noticeable nod in agreement by McCain when Obama brought up immigration reform and some sort of the Dream Act. Maybe there is a bit of the cranky old free spirit left in McCain.

Does anyone share my thoughts that Daniels wrote his response to the STOU last week, before reading even a first draft. He was so far off base as to be as laughable as Jindal was in Obama's first STOU.

Hell, I think all the GNOP "commentators" wrote their responses last week when they got the email about what to say from party headquarters. I've read a number of these statements this AM and they are all general, whiny comments, lacking in substance.

I'm continually amazed that the "Party of God" is constantly the party demanding that the United States only care for those who "deserve it". Seemingly, the only consistent message in the Bible is providing care and support for the poor and vulnerable. Obama seems to embrace that message, regardless of why. His opposition though absolutely refuse to embrace that message, and yet is constantly lobbing criticism toward the President that it is he who he is "dividing the nation".

The State of the Union was the President essentially rehashing what we all already know, but I doubt it changes the tone in Washington much.

jump.....Obama was preachin' what I have said many times. NOW to see it actually come about!

Obama stands NO chance in November!

Not from you, obviously. But he's sure going to get his chance from the rest of the country!!

I love how you Viners keep patting each other on the back and have your communal orgasm over the Presidents "Great Speech"......

I understand and appreciate your pain and frustration. As part of right that gave us a president who

• couldn't string seven words together into a cogent thought,
• who increased the national debt by lying his way into committing the nation to unjustified war,
• and who took the American economy down the tubes and then handed off the mess,

I too, would be frustrated that a young, vibrant, legally elected African-American has been able to take the reins and start turning the nation around.

Fortunately, I have never been anywhere near the right politically. I am pleased to be part of the movement that gave us President Obama. And I will contine to work so that this presdient has eight years to right all those atrocities perpetrated (in the past and currently in Congress) by the GNOP.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Not from you, obviously. But he's sure going to get his chance from the rest of the country!!

His approval rating is around 44%, not exactly stellar numbers going into an election with a 9% unemployment rate.

Now don't you wish congress had a 44% approval rating and the President was at 9%...

Look for his numbers to soar after last night....if Congress don't get off their duffs they can go lower that's hard to believe....

President Obama again made himself the Adult in the room. His speech was incredible!

The GOP follow up, was horrendous, absolute petulance, like I was watch a teenage delinquent try to blame everyone else for the weed found in his pocket!

BRAVO MR. PRESIDENT!

Predictably, the right are already waving the "socialism" card

All they have is fear tactics, notice the clear difference in the SOTU and the rebuttal. First you have a true leader who points out the problems without placing blame and then gives a clear path to addressing those problems with bi-partisan solutions that have worked well in the past. Then you have the "loyal opposition" answer with more name and blame games and their insistance to return to the policies that enrich themselves at the expense of their country.

The clips I heard on the radio this morning were excellent. Obama is going to decimate the republicans, (actually the rightwing as there really are not any republicans anymore). To hear the republicans and that jerk Gov Daniels complain about debt is just the ultimate heighth of hypocracy.

Rightwingers, we have a few more tricks up our sleaves. We are going to blow all of you out of the water this novemeber...I know you rightwingers are so terrified that minorities, women, union voters, liberals, progressives are all going to come out in record numbers this november. Your days are numbered.

My right index finger is getting numb from voting up all the great comments....

Watch his approval rating skyrocket...yay Mr President you da bomb...!!!

Oiled Pelican Seems to be a pro Gingrich repub. What else would you expect from a Gingrich supporter??

Yeah, that was a great speech last night and the majority of the American people are in favor of what President Obama proposed...

http://www.politicususa.com/en/sotu-obama-poll

I'm trying to feel sympathy for the right-wing. Their grand social rebellion has faded away into a thin fog of self-loathing disgust. Their political party would be pariahs if they had the courage to walk amongst the working class. They've unleashed a near-supernova of contempt against any American who isn't in their cult. And they've been unable to deliver on any of their key politial goals without a near-instant backlash (recall elections, public referendums) swallowing all of their political momentum.

The public is just not buying the right-wing mythology anymore. Neither of the front-running GOP candidates actually has any mainstream appeal, and both are utterly tin-eared when it comes to understanding the public's needs or desires.

And OWS is doing all the things the Democrats won't -- standing up to and talking back to the 1% and their right-wing sycophants.

I predict that at the end of this process, there will be an OWS party, a Democratic Party, and the rag-tag dead-enders of the GOP who will only be able to hold onto a fingernail of power in the South if that. And at the end of another decade, there will be no GOP.

Oblama the Obliterator?

Actually the Republicans are doing a good job on their own. Did you notice that the keynote of the speech was an economy that works for everyone, and all of the Republicans responses bypassed this one concept? For all of their faults, the Democrats are the ones that will try to act on this concept while Republicans use every under handed BS trick in the book to serve the Koch brothers, multi millionaires, billionaires, multi billionaires and huge corporations. And as we close down the Iraq quagmire they are talking about war with Iran.

I sincerely hope Republicans will be facing a huge backlash for their hard right turn in 2010 and pandering to their right wing idiots.

@ Silvaria

Predictably, the right are already waving the "socialism" card with regards to Obama's concerns about how so few are doing well in this country while so many are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads...

Also predictably, the claim itself is, for lack of a better word, absurd:

'Obama is a socialist' claim earns "Pants On Fire"

And it's the insistence on continuing to "debate" against what is verifiable fact that cripples progress in this nation. As a Congress and as a people, we spend so much of our political capital batting down what is obviously hyperbolic bullsh*t that there's not much left to discuss substantive, meaningful issues.

"President Obama shattered everything that the Republican Party claims to stand for tonight. If the GOP is the party of the few, Barack Obama’s State Of The Union was an address to the many."

This is what I'm talking about.... wink ;-)

Michael in S J- you must have been watching NBC's feed, because they definitely caught the slight nod and smile from McCain on the amnesty on immigration and the Dream Act.

What I found most interesting about Daniels' obviously long ago prepared speech his how much he sounded like the SOTU (except, of course, when he was spouting false truths.) For example, Daniels had a whole segment about giving the middle class a ladder to climb up- if that's not what Pres. O was talking about with fairness, then what was it? Daniels talked about needing energy independence, needing to rework the tax code, needing to simplify regulations, and needing to reaffirm and solidify SSI and Medicare. And he started out talking about unity, and ended up with almost the same cheer as Pres. Obama about how Americans can do anything if we set our minds to it and work together. Poor Daniels, Pres Obama prempted the R talking points. The difference being, Pres. Obama may actually have some ideas on how to make those talking points working points.

Michael in S J- you must have been watching NBC's feed, because they definitely caught the slight nod and smile from McCain on the amnesty on immigration and the Dream Act.

MSNBC actually, which obviously shares its feed with its parent!

What I think important with the nod and smile is that it is masked by the appearance of solidarity of the GOP simply for solidarity's sake. I cannot believe that 242 GOP Congressman and 47 GOP Senators are in lock step on EVERY bit of legislation.

Look for his numbers to soar after last night....if Congress don't get off their duffs they can go lower that's hard to believe....

They won't soar, last night was nothing more than another campaign speech. Didn't you watch the graphs on television at the reactions of people during certain comments? He failed miserably with everyone except his own flock of worshippers.

"PUT THIS ON MY DESK AND I'LL SIGN IT NOW"

"PUT THAT ON MY DESK AND I'LL SIGN IT NOW"

Of COURSE he will, he's headed into an election with a miserable approval rating, unemployment at 9% and no jobs in sight, only trillions of dollars in debt. The only thing it would appear he REALLY wants enacted quickly is the one about finding a way to make illegals citizens, that way they can vote for him in November.

Of COURSE he will, he's headed into an election with a miserable approval rating, unemployment at 9% and no jobs in sight, only trillions of dollars in debt. The only thing it would appear he REALLY wants enacted quickly is the one about finding a way to make illegals citizens, that way they can vote for him in November.

Versus the tired old GOP positions of cut taxes for the rich and toss grandma and grandpa and the disabled out on the curb. Regardless of how he is polling, he is still towering above any of the corporate prostitutes on the right and their tired old failed ideas.

Regardless of how he is polling, he is still towering above any of the corporate prostitutes on the right and their tired old failed ideas.

Oh please spare us the unadulterated worship. Do you think his poll numbers all come from Republicans? Did you NOT watch the SOTU last night? Did you NOT see his approval hit the toilet more times than it should have for an incumbent president in an election year. And the little lines on the graph showed he blew it with independents as well as undecided voters.

He's not as untouchable as you want him to be.

Didn't you watch the graphs on television at the reactions of people during certain comments? He failed miserably with everyone except his own flock of worshippers.

I was working and had to catch it on the radio. So which station should I google to find those cool graphs you are talking about, and what was the sample size of the audience participating?

Again, talk all the smack you want, your guys have nothing at all to provide but negativity. Obama doesn't have to be a smash hit with everybody, he just has to be better than your sad batch of clowns to win.

drummerboy2011

You can scream and shout, stamp your feet and hold your breath, it ain't gonna change the facts.

President Obama’s State of the Union address was very moderate and uncontroversial. It turns out that it was also very popular. According to a CBS News poll of people who watched the address, 91% approved of the President’s remarks.

According to the poll, 91% of those surveyed approved of Obama’s remarks, and only 9% disapproved. In 2010, in the same poll, 83% of those surveyed approved, and 17% disapproved. Obama’s got better marks on his plans for the economy in 2011 than he did in 2010.

Source

SuperSaiyan posted the link in 1.38. Try to keep up!

And since we are talking numbers, here's the latest favorable/unfavorable numbers for the presidential candidates.

Obama: 53% Favorable, 43% Unfavorable

Romney: 31% Favorable, 49% Unfavorable

Gingrich: 29% Favorable, 51% Unfavorable

Have a great day!

I can hear the dice being thrown... what manner of evasion will the Republicans use to dodge that reality?

Well, the Great Divider was campaigning again last night - seems he forgot to talk about the State of the Union. Fairness? Fairness is used by soccer Moms to build up the self-estime of little kids who they feel should be made to feel good about being on the field, not winning and losing. Winning and losing comes later in life in the real world.

Not everyone can be a Steve Jobs or a Buffet. I was laughing so hard during this recycled speech that I almost chocked over my popcorn intake. Thank goodness I'm not snacking as I read the choice comments of the 'sheep' on the site. Obama didn't score a big one with this speech, only again showed his contempt for people who are earners.

So, if the top earners will be taxed at the 30% rate, which is another broken promise by the Great Divider - won't happen, then will the middle and lower wage earners also be asked to contribute to the tax base. If ALL Americans pay a tax, then I'm for that.

So tell me liberal element of this site, how will big government help bring about the economy when it is the private sector that builds the economy? Government seems to be an obstructionist to me.

Big gov, as in the European Community, leads to failures as we have all seen. Those nations are moving away from what this Great DIvider has for a vision. Wouldn't you all agree?

One thing Obama could have addressed more precisely, Which would have been the cherry on top of his obliteration of the GOP. I'm hoping he's saving it for the home stretch.... Corporations Are not People!!! Swack...going, going, gone...GOP's out of here!...

ZeroX .. Do you call yourself that because you copy everything Newt says?

ZeroX

Obama is the most divisive President I know of terrible & pathetic excuse for an American President

NO the pathetic President would be GW

He has been the most inclusive, but ya cant really work with people whose whole strategy is absolute obstructionism, now can you? and he will keep working to unite , but that doesn't mean he will rip your strategy to shreds on the stump...and rightly so.

Oh please spare us the unadulterated worship. Do you think his poll numbers all come from Republicans? Did you NOT watch the SOTU last night? Did you NOT see his approval hit the toilet more times than it should have for an incumbent president in an election year. And the little lines on the graph showed he blew it with independents as well as undecided voters.

Me thinks someone needs to turn Hannity off if they are interested in the truth.

and now, it typical fashion, is trying to blame somebody, anybody, for his failure to unite, failure to lead and a TOTAL failure to even consider compromise.

You're talking about Republicans, right? You know, those politicians who said that making Obama a one-term President was more important than the economic health of the nation?

Yeah, I thought you were. 8)

The House is like my first husband. I wanted a strong marriage - he didn't contribute any effort. It takes 2 sides working together to make something work. I could divorce my husband. Obama is stuck with these idiots whose only goal and wish is to make him fail. How they think this makes their chances better, I haven't an inkling. Let's give Obama a better "2nd Marriage" bunch to work WITH him for us.

ZeroX

Obama is the most divisive figure in the Whitehouse this century. No other leader has done more to try and turn Americans against other Americans. So much for the promise of a new tone. Yes the tone is new, it is the most vile political rhetoric.

Obama has made everything worse in Washington and now, it typical fashion, is trying to blame somebody, anybody, for his failure to unite, failure to lead and a TOTAL failure to even consider compromise. This is without the most colossal container ship of propaganda that I have ever seen. Nothing comes even close to this steaming pile of nonsense.

WHO is turning WHO against Who?

By :Putnam1

Today's Republican party has careened into some scary and radical terrain. For the past few months, I have compiled a list of positions from Republican politicians and right-wing leaders. The following positions come straight from their speeches and documents, not third-hand sources. Anyone considering voting for ANY Republican candidate in November needs to understand that, by voting for a Republican, they are voting for this agenda:

1. Eliminate Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
2. Block all Democratic-sponsored legislation that might help the country recover from this Republican-created economic crisis
3. Block as many Obama appointments to federal judge and agency positions as possible
4. Reduce taxes on the rich and corporations
5. Shrink federal programs that help the poor
6. Cut off federal medical assistance for people without insurance
7. Eliminate programs that provide international aid and assistance
8. Eliminate all environmental, labor, financial and health regulations, fines and penalties
9. Eliminate programs that fund alternative energy or conservation projects
10. Open up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration and drilling
11. Allow unlimited oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and hydrofracking in the US
12. Abolish the EPA, OSHA, SEC, and BATF
13. Abolish the Department of Education
14. Abolish to Department of Commerce
15. Abolish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and block the appointment of a Commissioner
16. Make all abortions illegal
17. Eliminate government support for Planned Parenthood and other women's rights groups
18. Ban the birth control pill (currently “use” is defined as abortion in some states)
19. Weaken child labor laws, allowing children as young as 9 to work longer hours
20. Weaken rape and sexual harassment laws
21. Destroy public labor unions
22. Eliminate all organized labor
23. Allow increased anonymous corporate and individual campaign donations while tightening rules against organized labor making campaign contributions
24. Mandate that all states allow people to carry concealed guns
25. Force minorities to carry identification papers and to produce them to the police
26. Shape the electoral system to ensure election of republicans (bills currently enacted in 14 states)
27. Destroy PBS and National Public Radio
28. Eliminate all public funding for the arts
29. Reduce spending on infrastructure
30. Ban all state same-sex marriage laws
31. Reinstate the "Don't Ask / Don't Tell" law
32. America ruled by a white Christian fundamentalist theocracy
33. Require that Presidential contenders be “Christian”
34. Ban all Muslims from entering the US or becoming citizens
35. Ban all mosques and any religions other than Christian churches
36. Repeal 2009 Dodd-Frank Banking Regulations
37. Repeal 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Rules governing corporate accountability
38. Withdraw from the UN and force the organization out of the USA

Zerox

What has Barack Obama accomplished In the last two years

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_has_Barack_Obama_accomplished

Below is a list of 111 Accomplishments of President Barack Obama as posted via Status Updates on the "Accomplishments of President Barack Obama" Facebook Page. To be alerted of further accomplishments, please become a fan (http://www.facebook.com/obamaaccomplishments). Please also copy, paste and email! THANKS.

Since coming into office on January 21, 2009, President Barack Obama has:

1. Signed an Executive Order on government contracting to fight waste and abuse.

2. Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers.

3. Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues.

4. Announced a plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq.

5. Provided funding to families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB.

6. Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB.

7. Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09).

8. Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology.

9. Announced the "Making Home Affordable" home refinancing plan.

10. Launched a $15 billion plan to boost lending to small businesses.

11. Invested heavily in education both as a way to provide jobs now and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity.

12. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans.

13. Signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Office of Urban Affairs.

14. Limited lobbyist's access to the White House.

15. Issued an Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.

16. Answered questions at the first online town hall from the White House that were submitted and voted on transparently by the public at WhiteHouse.gov.

17. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.

18. Launched Business.gov - enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business.

19. Appointed the first ever Federal Chief Information Officer to provide management and oversight over federal IT spending.

20. Signed the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, which provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured.

21. Issued an Executive Order repealing the Bush-Era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

22. Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis.

23. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care.

24. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date.

25. Committed to phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdates weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan.

26. Provided federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research.

27. Provided new federal funding for science and research labs.

28. Played a lead role in G-20 Summit that produced a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.

29. Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system.

30. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay and a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture.

31. Appointed Special Envoys for Climate Change, Southwest Asia, the Middle
East, Sudan, and a Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

32. Empowered states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards.

33. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect.

34. Increased minority access to capital.

35. Developed a comprehensive new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan that will help defeat Al Qaeda and authorized the deployment of more than 21,000 troops to Afghanistan.

36. Signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act which gives the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud, from lending to the financial system, and creates a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial practices that brought us to this point.

37. Signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act.

38. Increased, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 for cars and trucks so they will get better mileage.

39. Issued a Presidential Memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances.

40. Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean's vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

41. Announced a new U.S.-Mexico border initiative.

42. Concluded cyberspace policy review.

43. Announced a strategy to address the international nuclear threat.

44. Established a new "U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue".

45. Announced new policy steps towards Cuba.

46. Provided funding for advanced manufacturing technologies.

47. Issued a Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act instructing the Attorney General to issue new guidelines to the government implementing those same principles of openness and transparency in the processing of FOIA requests.

48. Funded the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015.

49. The Executive Order on Presidential Records brings those principles to presidential records by giving the American people greater access to these historic documents, severely curtailing the ability to use executive privilege to shield those documents.

50. Signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a hallmark piece of legislation.

51. Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act to protect Americans from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.

52. Signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to provide a coordinated Federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and
families.

53. Launched a U.S. financial and banking rescue plan.

54. Ordered secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.

55. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards.

56. Launched U.S. Auto industry rescue plan.

57. Provided better body armor to our troops.

58. Authorized cutting the missile defense program by $1.4 billion in 2010.

59. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols.

60. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic.

61. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, and addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference.

62. Supported the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.

63. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office.

64. Managed several natural disasters successfully, including severe winter ice storms and flooding in several states.

65. Provided new car tax credit.

66. Provided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles.

67. Purchased fuel efficient American-made fleet of vehicles for the federal government.

68. Endorsed Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax havens.

69. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. She's confirmed and becomes the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

70. Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush's presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. Today, the Dow closed at 10,309.24 (February 2010).

71. Earned an unprecedented success rate of 96.7% on winning congressional votes on issues where he took a position. He did even better than legendary arm-twister Lyndon Johnson who had a 93% success rate in 1965.

72. Provided affordable, high-quality child care to working families.

73. Restored America's reputation as a global leader that will do the "right thing" in world affairs.

74. Issued an executive order to create the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

75. Increased funding for student loans and pell grants for 2010 students.

76. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals.

77. Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America's working families.

78. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.

79. Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act that made it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

80. Appointed the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.

81. Signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizing advance appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority thus enabling better medical care for veterans. Endorsed by the American Legion, American Veterans, Blinded Veter...ans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans of America.

82. Held impromptu press conference to urge Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross and other corporate health insurance companies that raise premiums in high amounts without explanation. Rep. Henry Waxman launches probe. In this case, Anthem Blue Cross wanted to raise premiums 39%. They have now put the increase on hold for two months (as of February 2010). Legislation preventing such increases pending.

83. Designated $1.5 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in the states hardest hit by the housing crisis: California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. The MBA forecasts that foreclosures will peak in the last quarter of 2010.

84. Protected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost.

85. Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the nation's unemployed from 9 months to 15 months. Workers laid off between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2010 qualify.

86. Extended unemployment benefits for 2,000,000 unemployed Americans by 20 weeks. At the time the bill was signed 7,000 unemployed Americans were losing their unemployment benefits each day.

87. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education which was significantly increased during the Bush Administration to $176 million annually.

88. Rescinded the Global Gag Rule.

89. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history including more women appointees than any other incoming president.

90. Committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq through the Defense Authorization Act. For your reference.

91. Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market.

92. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs the largest spending increase in 30 years to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.

93. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act.

94. Empowered states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves. Fourteen states have allowed some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

95. Enhanced earth mapping.

96. Increased funding for national parks and forests in 2010, and plans to do it again for FY 2011.

97. Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan.

98. Allocated special funding to the Labor Department to provide green job training to veterans.

99. Allocated funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police or firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.

100. Created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5% [as of December 31, 2009] through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

101. Signed on to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

102. Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti.

103. Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The Act extends the Ryan White programs through 2013.

104. Ordered a review by the Sentencing Commission of mandatory minimum sentences.

105. Signed the Travel Promotion Act of 2010 to increase travel to the United States.

106. Expanded the Rural Energy for America Program and USDA energy grants to empower farmers that want to use renewable energy.

107. Increased funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

108. Launched and extended the "Cash for Clunkers" program.

109. Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits.

110. Revitalized and empowered the EPA, OSHA and the SEC to protect workers and consumers by regulating business practices.

111. Signed the HIRE Act.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_has_Barack_Obama_accomplished#ixzz1j0iNQ2yD

YOUR spin doesn't work here!

YOUR spin doesn't work here!

Please do not believe for a minute that yours works any better.

thinknaboutit,

I caught the graphics on CNN after the speech was over and the panel was analyzing. Might try the CNN website perhaps.

tracytruth,

Perhaps it's you who needs to try and keep up. To begin with, I'm not here being snippy and condescending, I'm here discussing, perhaps you should do the same.

Here, from the Washing Post:

Gallup: Obama’s third-year approval ratings among lowest

President Obama averaged a 44.4 percent approval rating during his third year in office, Gallup reports. That’s among the lowest of any president since Eisenhower — but not by much. Ronald Reagan averaged a 44.9 percent approval rating during his third year in office.

But Gallup’s comparisons mostly shows how little they can really tell you. Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan had two of the lowest readings, but two of the strongest reelection bids. George H. W. Bush had one of the best third-year approval ratings — 69 percent — but he lost his reelection campaign. His son, George W. Bush, posted a strong 59 percent approval rating in his second year, but was reelected by one of the slimmest margins of any two-term president in the 20th century.

Note, too, that the strongest orators posted some of the lowest third-year ratings. Clinton, Reagan and Obama all gave good speeches. But speeches don’t get you very far.

SOURCE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/gallup-obamas-third-year-approval-ratings-among-lowest/2011/08/25/gIQAF7A0KQ_blog.html

Jack TX

YOUR spin doesn't work here!

Please do not believe for a minute that yours works any better.

I don't spin I don't watch fox

You noticed I have a link where you viners NEVER back it up with FACT, not that right wing BS that used

No other leader has done more to try and turn Americans against other Americans.

That's because the racists hate him...and say things like/similar the above.

That's because the racists hate him...and say things like/similar the above.

Oh for the love of God, spare us the @!$%#ing race baiting already, it's old, it's completely untrue and it's pretty disgusting.

Has it ever occurred to you that some people simply don't like the guy because of his agenda, his lies, his elitist attitude, @!$%# like that?!?

If that's the best you've got, to accuse someone of being a racist for telling the @!$%#ing truth then you've already lost this one BIG TIME.

Get over the race @!$%#, this has to do nothing to do with Obama being black and everything to do with Obama being a @!$%#TY PRESIDENT.

Good grief.

He isn't a @!$%#ty President. He's actually done quite well considering the state of the economy when he took office and the lack of particpation from Congress. Everyone has an opinion, and yours is no more or less valid than anyone else.

As is yours. Don't blame this all on congress either or the republicans or Bush. Obama simply hasn't gotten the job done, period. 3 years in with a 44% approval rating and unemployment at 9% doesn't speak to highly of his presidency.

Congress holds the purse strings, what whoever is in Charge of the money, how to spend how to collect isn't 100% responsible. It's in the Constitution and Congress swings that authority heavy.

Well with the big bribes and mountains of lobbying. It hard to do much at all.

I just hope Obama can fight off the crooks all around him. He has Tim and Bernanke and Eric and other regulatory Agency heads all crooked.

Its amazing he has come up with anything decent at all.

Oh for the love of God, spare us the @!$%#ing race baiting already,

Yeah....good @!$%#ing grief...it's like a god damned cli@!$%#ingche about now....why do you suppose THAT IS????

Because it's true...period.

Has it ever occurred to you that some people simply don't like the guy because of his agenda,

Has it not occurred to you that ...oh never the @!$%# mind...it's not rocket science here....plenty hate this man for one reason only....and the badge of that @!$%# shines way too bright...

If that's the best you've got, to accuse someone of being a racist

I didn't accuse anyone of @!$%#. I typed what is clear and obvious at times.

See you in November...

Get over the race @!$%#

No...it's not my issue...me thinks you doth protest too much...the drum beats pretty loud.

Peace.

The good news would be that the Obama bashers are going to get another 4 years to trash him....for WHATEVER unfounded reasons or not....like I said...some have made some valid points...others just drum @!$%# comments.

:)

Drummerboy, here's a little information for you on the jobs front from last nights speech.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/25/barack-obama/have-private-sector-jobs-grown-22-months-best-annu/

This is in reference to your post 1.69

his elitist attitude

His detractors often criticize Obama's elitist attitude. I'd really like to hear what specific behaviors are indicative of an elitist attitude. Personally, I don't see it and I'm wondering how a kid from an often single-parent household, sometimes living with his grandparents, would grow with a sense of elitism.

Of course if one is put off because this president is a fine orator and a Constitutional scholar, knows domestic and world affairs, and can correctly pronounce a common word like "nuclear" (all traits absent in our last president who grew up in the lap of luxuryaisle all that exceptional achievement is seen in an African-American, well I guess that could seem elitist to some folks, but the term you're really looking for is uppity.

Maybe some folks don't like the fact that this man has far surpassed what many expected given his circumstances AND race. I I just see that as a pretty amazing sense of accomplishment.

Can someone explain why Republicans are such stupid-dumbass-mother@!$%#ers? I swear.

Great Speech Mr. President!

Obama/Biden 2012

Obama is the most divisive President I know of terrible & pathetic excuse for an American President.

You must have slept through the Bush administration. Bush was the most divisive President I know of and a pathetic excuse for an American President. Obama is no Bill Clinton, but he's a decent President, far better than any of these Republican candidates would be.

He has been the most inclusive, but ya cant really work with people whose whole strategy is absolute obstructionism, now can you?

This is a good point: Republicans have become so offensively extreme in their greed and self-righteousness that they cannot help but see everyone else as evil. The divisiveness in this nation rests squarely in the egocentric perspectives embodied by the Christian Taliban and the Romneys of the world looking to return us to a master/slave economy.

drummerboy

Oh for the love of God, spare us the @!$%#ing race baiting already, it's old, it's completely untrue and it's pretty disgusting.

Has it ever occurred to you that some people simply don't like the guy because of his agenda, his lies, his elitist attitude, @!$%# like that?!?

If that's the best you've got, to accuse someone of being a racist for telling the @!$%#ing truth then you've already lost this one BIG TIME.

Get over the race @!$%#, this has to do nothing to do with Obama being black and everything to do with Obama being a @!$%#TY PRESIDENT.

WOW, apparently a nerve was hit with the language you are using.

Maggie is correct , you are wrong.

Is there a rule here that profanity is prohibited? Please quote that rule for me thanks.

As for Maggie, she's just throwing a hissy fit over the fact that some people actually don't like Obama because he's a @!$%#ty assed president and not because he's black.

That race card where Obama is concerned has been so overplayed it's pathetic. The guy is ion an election year with unemployment at 9% and a 44% approval rating give or take.

Does that not tell you anything?

Now show me the Newsvine rule which prohibits profanity please.

Keep spinning drummerboy, by the time Obama gets inaugurated again you will be halfway to your republican jobs stronghold, China.

"ouch"

Back to that idea that we should be able to discuss topics without making it personal.

You must have slept through the Bush administration. Bush was the most divisive President I know of and a pathetic excuse for an American President.

Bush was a poor president. But for divisiveness, at least in the last 100 years, nobody holds a candle to LBJ.

There is more good information on this blog than there was in his speech. I thought it was to be a "State of the Union" speech. Wrong. It was political. I think I will run for the office. I enjoy vacations and limousines and can only dream of Air Force One.

In reality, I wish the election was aleady behind us.

Yes, go ahead , run for office. Good luck!!!

Thank you, Alex. Can you carry California for me?

Don't blame this all on congress either or the republicans or Bush.

Never mind the fact that The American people still blames Bush for the economy as well as holding Congressional republicans responsible for the gridlock in Congress, drummerboy2011...

Again, Lets look at what Obama said, I quote.

if you're a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can't afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices — those days are over.

Then more on this.

We'll also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people's investments. Some financial firms violate major anti-fraud laws because there's no real penalty for being a repeat offender. That's bad for consumers, and it's bad for the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the right thing. So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count.

And tonight, I'm asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. (Applause.) This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.

IF he follows through we get some of these executive criminal scum. These literally murdered and stole food out of childrens mouths. Finally some action.

Go Obama.

Romney fares best against the president, trailing Obama by six points among registered voters, 49 percent to 43 percent. That’s a four-point improvement for the president from a month ago.

Obama, however, beats Gingrich by a whopping 18 points, 55-37 percent, expanding the president’s 11-point lead a month ago.

Santorum also loses to Obama, but by a narrower margin, 53-38 percent, than Gingrich.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10245644-nbcwsj-poll-gingrich-leads-romney-but-badly-trails-obama

Yeah, somehow I don't think the party of no is going to pull this off.

ha ha ha ha. GOP/TP crazies are so crazy.

The fight is on. I don't know but you can help. Please do. If you have spare second call you AG.

Email them. It does not matter. Do not let them settle out of court again.

http://www.ourfuture.org/features/no-sweetheart-deal-big-banks

Obama don't do it.

Citizen's United is now law and President Obama has to uphold the law, but he doesn't have to support it. It wasn't addressed because it is up to congress to draw up an amendment to repeal it. However, it was there in SOTU. He was reaming congress for their decisions or no decisions now but, he did mention his reaming of the Supreme Court 2 years ago. I would think that the majority of the audience knew he as referring to Citizen's United.

When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes

Very good. He's not hiding. He and others are asking to be treated the same as the majority of people who work just as hard (or harder) than those who have the wealth.

#2 redsfan

This section blew my socks off!!! Fabuloso!! Great! Fantastic! I know the Koch brothers fainted dead away.

Pres. Obama knocked it out of the park, while the sour pusses sat on their hands and looked grim. Daniel's answer? Pure negativity, as usual. I'll take Pres. Obama's positive views and plans for a more fair America over the failed polices of the Tpubs. Now we must get to work and get Pres. Obama some help in the do nothing Congress, elect people with vision and who truly want America to work for all not just the 1%, like the Romney and Newt. Obaba/Biden 2012 and some really great new law makers.

Obama can be a fine orator, michelle. I do not take that away from him. He can raise hope, which he did three years ago. Just remember he's campaigning. Maybe also look at 18.20 above. Follow that link to a wonderful article by Bill Moyers. Yup, Bill Moyers, our respected Elder among liberals and progressives.

Oiled Pelican, I know Obama is campaigning, and I've been disappointed many times since his election, but all you have to do is look at the alternatives, and we must not allow them back in power. Thanks for the tip, I love Moyers.

know the Koch brothers fainted dead away

Lots of rightwing immoral goons are going to die. There is a God and he is watching everything the rightwing says and does in his name. Remember this evangelical white racist rightwingers, you might go around saying you are "Christ-ian", but Christ himself warned that "many will use his name" but he will say "I never knew you".. Christ himself said that just for this bunch of bozos running around America calling it a "Christain nation" and "under God", and God is going to say, "Who are You?, I don't know you"....take that rightwing liars.

At this point, I'm ready to double the tax rates on the top 1%, just so we can show how ineffective it is. I mean, seriously - what's 70% on every dollar above $380k? Sure it will only amount to about an extra 5 billion dollars in revenue - but - @!$%# it, at least it's "fair" right?

Sure it will only amount to about an extra 5 billion dollars in revenue

ONLY $5 billion, of course! Positively useless, isn't it? Wouldn't do anything for the country, would it? :o(

With news this morning of the Navy SEAL team rescue on hostages in Somalia, now we know why he led with thanking our military and giving them that just and overly deserved praise. I would not want to play poker with POTUS.

Follow that link to a wonderful article by Bill Moyers. Yup, Bill Moyers, our respected Elder among liberals and progressives.

You seem to have a vested interest in poisoning the well here. You refuse to address any of the points Obama raised, you utterly ignore his real record on these issues, and you are cherry-picking for negative things to say.

Bill Moyers is just one guy. He's certainly not the voice of the OWS movement, and he's certainly not going to decide my vote based on a very vague insinuation that Obama has somehow given the banks a free ride. The NUMEROUS attempts to derail his Consumer Protection Bureau might be one reason the banks aren't getting the rein-in that they so desperately need. But, no, don't look at that! Instead look over here where this guy is some liberal criticizing Obama. Yeah! A liberal! Criticizing Obama.

What is funny about this pathetic line of argument is that I don't think GOPers understand that liberals can handle self-criticism. It's OK that Obama isn't the perfect Liberal, and I have no issue with attacks. I am sure the Moyers piece is far more nuanced than you present it to be, and I'm sure you cherry-picked the most negative things you could from it.

Your agenda is not to provoke honest discussion, but to rack up another lame-ass GOP talking point. If you were intersted in honest discussion, you would present the entire picture, instead of the tiny slice that advances your agenda.

If Corporations And The Rich Paid Taxes At The Same Level As The 1960s, The Debt Would Disappear
This article is based on research numbers.

How Our Largest Corporations Made $170 Billion During the Great Recession And Paid No Taxes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/06/01/how-our-largest-corporations-made-170-billion-during-great-recession-and-paid-no-taxes/

An article based on this study of 12 or our largest corporations:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/56809745/12-Corporations-Pay-Effective-Tax-Rate-of-Negative-1-5-on-171-Billion-in-Profits

ONLY $5 billion, of course! Positively useless, isn't it? Wouldn't do anything for the country, would it? :o(

No, it wouldn't. We burn through that in about 4 hours....which is the real problem. The idea we can "tax the rich and corporations" and get our financial house in order is pure fantasy.

The idea that we can't is the REAL fantasy. If we increase revenue, and make smart cuts (not throw the baby out with the bathwater) we can absolutely turn this around.

How about putting people back to work so they can pay taxes, too? I know, another radical left wing idea. How about fixing our infrastructure that is falling apart all around us? So we can compete in the world markets. How about educating our young people so they can go out and get jobs and pay taxes, too? I know, I know, that left wing liberal craziness again. sarc.

The idea we can "tax the rich and corporations" and get our financial house in order is pure fantasy.

True, as Obama made clear in his SOTU last night. But you also can't clean up the debt by simply not spending either.

Last year Obama offered a 3 to 1 (spending/tax increase) solution and the GOP ignored him. In one of the early GOP "debates" the question was posed: "would any of you accept a tax increase of $1 for every $10 in budget cuts?"

AND NO "DEBATER" ANSWERED YES!

If we increase revenue, and make smart cuts (not throw the baby out with the bathwater) we can absolutely turn this around.

OK, so we're in agreement. Revenue AND cuts are needed. I realize I didn't state that earlier, sorry. However we're going to have to understand that revenue is going to have to come from across the board, and cuts will need to be made across the board. We may have to live without 13 carrier groups. We may have to scale back the EIC. We may have to raise the Medicare age.

However it's done, be sure it will contain a lot of very unpopular decisions that no current political figure has shown the necessary fortitude to execute.

How about putting people back to work so they can pay taxes, too? I know, another radical left wing idea. How about fixing our infrastructure that is falling apart all around us? So we can compete in the world markets. How about educating our young people so they can go out and get jobs and pay taxes, too? I know, I know, that left wing liberal craziness again. sarc.

The part of your statement that in fact IS left wing liberal craziness is the implication that any of what you suggest is going to be tolerated by the actual left wing.

Infrastructure investments do a lot to enrich "corporate America". It means more capital equipment expenditure, which means more financing and more profits for the evil "1%" (what an utterly stupid designation) who loan the money.

Educating our kids properly involves setting high standards of achievement which historically discriminate against "sociology-economically disadvantaged" kids. It involves actually refusing to graduate a kid who is not educated, even if he is 20. It involves places like Dallas ISD recognizing that that a person's race has no determination on their qualifications as superintendent, classroom teacher or football coach.

It's not even worth arguing anymore. Hurry up and get enough people elected so that we can raise tax rates to 100% on the top 1%. I'm all for that, at this point. If you think it'll work - try it already!!!

If Corporations And The Rich Paid Taxes At The Same Level As The 1960s, The Debt Would Disappear

Well, yeah. We were trying to get to the Moon then, while fighting the Cold War. The country was scared into paying higher taxes. Do you suggest fundraising through fear-mongering?

Matt in MN
It's not even worth arguing anymore. Hurry up and get enough people elected so that we can raise tax rates to 100% on the top 1%. I'm all for that, at this point. If you think it'll work - try it already!!!

Matt We have had 91% rates before, in which the effective rate was 60% under Eisenhower , now his jobs record wasn't the best of post war presidents , but it was a damn sight better than the last 2 republicans the stock market was booming, AND he was paying down the war debt like better than any pw repub Eisenhower ;-15.4% gdp to gdp change overall -1.9% gdp/debt chg annually

Matt We have had 91% rates before, in which the effective rate was 60% under Eisenhower

Good bring them back.

Make no mention of the fact that when accounting for inflation, only a handful of people actually paid 91%. No I think you should go all in. Make it for the top 5%. Every dollar over 250k should be taxed at 91% or why stop there, let's go 100%. The problem with modern liberalism is they never have the back bone to go all the way. Let's go all the way! You wont hear a fight out of me.

What are you even arguing with? At this point, I'm tired of arguing with the absolute idiocy of your ideology - I'm ready to support your efforts. Either everything is going to fall apart and the populous will string up everyone with your ideology - or it'll work and I'll be content with a functioning economy.

thisbusymonster

Follow that link to a wonderful article by Bill Moyers. Yup, Bill Moyers, our respected Elder among liberals and progressives.

You seem to have a vested interest in poisoning the well here. You refuse to address any of the points Obama raised, you utterly ignore his real record on these issues, and you are cherry-picking for negative things to say.

Come on , We know that Obama is the best candidate compared to others. He has valid points. Obama is no saint. I can understand how worried you are because we have 55 million americans below the poverty line.

I hope your trust in Obama is worth it. Only really in hind sight will we know. Though I can surely tell you Newt and Romney and GOP/TP crazies will deliver new levels of cronyism.

Matt in MN
Matt We have had 91% rates before, in which the effective rate was 60% under Eisenhower

Good bring them back.

'kay

Make no mention of the fact that when accounting for inflation, only a handful of people actually paid 91%.

Ummm, Thats why I added the effective rate was 60%

No I think you should go all in. Make it for the top 5%. Every dollar over 250k should be taxed at 91% or why stop there, let's go 100%. The problem with modern liberalism is they never have the back bone to go all the way. Let's go all the way! You wont hear a fight out of me.

Thats silly, and its not progressive as Adam Smith would have advocated...having income rates minus expenses and deductions above 250K 3.5 or 4% works just fine, Just look at the Clinton years. 100% comrade? thats a lil much, but then it depends on how generous domestic investment deductions and write offs are.

What are you even arguing with? At this point, I'm tired of arguing with the absolute idiocy of your ideology - I'm ready to support your efforts. Either everything is going to fall apart and the populous will string up everyone with your ideology - or it'll work and I'll be content with a functioning economy.

I just commented, I'm not arguing...as I said under those high marginal rates we were doing better, we were paying off our debt, still the worlds creditor, in comes the "fiscal conservatives", Reagan avg deficit and debt 250 billion a year, Bush1 360 billion a year and Bush 2 680 billion a years. Idiocy? Hit the books, jr., and get off the fox then get back to me...

Ummm, Thats why I added the effective rate was 60%

It was also very rare for a dual income household.

having income rates minus expenses and deductions above 250K 3.5 or 4% works just fine, Just look at the Clinton years.

Obviously not. Clinton is tied for the largest expansion of income disparity in recorded history (7.2%).

I just commented, I'm not arguing...as I said under those high marginal rates we were doing better, we were paying off our debt, still the worlds creditor, in comes the "fiscal conservatives", Reagan avg deficit and debt 250 billion a year, Bush1 360 billion a year and Bush 2 680 billion a years.

This is where I have to argue with you. Reagan was not a fiscal conservative. He was a Republican, but, hardly fiscally conservative. Reagan expanded the role of the federal government to unimaginable levels. In fact, I would put Reagan in the same sentence as Roosevelt for expanding the federal government.

Idiocy? Hit the books, jr., and get off the fox then get back to me...

A.) Lay off the personal attacks.

B.) Your ideology is bankrupt. Proof enough is the fact that it sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself that these brain dead theories are actually remedies.

Matt in MN
Ummm, Thats why I added the effective rate was 60%

It was also very rare for a dual income household.

Thats kind of my point...M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L rates vs E-F-F-E-C-I-T-I-V-E rates ,Higher marginal rates induce investment, lower marginal rates induce divestment and speculation. You spend in the real economy to get bring down your marginal rate so your effective rate is around 40-50% of what the marginal rate is, that is the goal, not so much to get much more income from top earners, but the increased economic activity their spending to get to their lowest effective rate....Thats why the period between the 40's to 80's were superior in job creation, Growth and income equity was superior than the last 30 years

having income rates minus expenses and deductions above 250K 3.5 or 4% works just fine, Just look at the Clinton years.

Obviously not. Clinton is tied for the largest expansion of income disparity in recorded history (7.2%).

But 23 million jobs were created under Clinton and his tax rates, vs just 13% of Clintons record under Bush after his tax cuts.And the debt was shrinking at a rapid pace as opposed to the prior 12 years and next 8;

Its true income inequity increased under Clinton...it started under Nixon and has continued, increasing taxes on the next income bracket is not the cause of that.

Annual Change of debt by president overall and annually ,respectively

Reagan ;+19.4% +2.4%

Bush ;+11% +2.7%

Clinton ;-8.8% -1.1%

Bush ;+12.8% +1.6%

I just commented, I'm not arguing...as I said under those high marginal rates we were doing better, we were paying off our debt, still the worlds creditor, in comes the "fiscal conservatives", Reagan avg deficit and debt 250 billion a year, Bush1 360 billion a year and Bush 2 680 billion a years.

This is where I have to argue with you. Reagan was not a fiscal conservative. He was a Republican, but, hardly fiscally conservative. Reagan expanded the role of the federal government to unimaginable levels. In fact, I would put Reagan in the same sentence as Roosevelt for expanding the federal government.

Thats my point..But he ran as a fiscal conservative, all the last 3 republicans did, but they did not practice it...if you look at Eisenhower,Nixon and Ford to the left of these 3 , they were more conservative fiscally, didn't borrow above the rate of GDP growth...If you go back further, the 20's conservatives...they paid down the war debt while cutting income taxes...but they also raised revenue by re-implemnting huge tariffs and excise taxes...running up incredible amounts of debt during peacetime would have been an anathema to them...I disagree with them on some issues but not on that...it makes me feel like it is true that a strategy to intentionally blow up deficits so as to cut the social safety net is in effect , as Jude Winnoski had conceived it...here we had an economist complaining that deficits that averaged perhaps 31 billion annually from 1969 to 81 and then in comes Reagan/Bush and that turns into an average 291 billion annually...how could that not be by design?

In 2003, Senator Rick Santorum
(R-Pa.) declared: "I came to the House as a real deficit hawk, but I am no longer a
deficit hawk. I'll tell you why. I had to spend the surpluses. Deficits make it easier to
say no"

That isn't conservatism to me...that is dangrous and puts at risk tht which one seeks to conserve

Idiocy? Hit the books, jr., and get off the fox then get back to me...

A.) Lay off the personal attacks.

"I'm tired of arguing with the absolute idiocy of your ideology"

Lkewise, pal

B.) Your ideology is bankrupt. Proof enough is the fact that it sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself that these brain dead theories are actually remedies.

Nonsense .Republicans never have created the environment for superior private sector Job creation, economic growth, bond yields or returns for the S&P the meat n potatoes of 401ks than Democrats have, boom bust economies , great depressions and recessions , myopic job growth is the republican proven track record...

"I'm tired of arguing with the absolute idiocy of your ideology"

That's an attack on your argument. It's not a personal attack. You should do a better job of differentiating between the two. It might save you a suspension or two. Just because your idea's and your comments thus far, can not be described as anything more than idiotic and moronic - doesn't mean that you are. It simply means that your position is idiotic and moronic.

Telling someone they need "hit the books" is not an attack on their argument - it's an attack on the person. Calling someone "jr" is not attacking their position - it's attacking the person.

And I'm not your "pal".

Nonsense .Republicans never have created the environment for superior private sector Job creation, economic growth, bond yields or returns for the S&P the meat n potatoes of 401ks than Democrats have, boom bust economies , great depressions and recessions , myopic job growth is the republican proven track record...

Are you trying to convince me or yourself at this point?

This is where I have to argue with you. Reagan was not a fiscal conservative. He was a Republican, but, hardly fiscally conservative. Reagan expanded the role of the federal government to unimaginable levels. In fact, I would put Reagan in the same sentence as Roosevelt for expanding the federal government.

Thats the fact. What is worse is the Repubs make up lies and talk and talk and waste time. The kochsuckers would be so proud of the lies.

Republicans never have created the environment for superior private sector Job creation, economic growth, bond yields or returns for the S&P the meat n potatoes of 401ks than Democrats have, boom bust economies , great depressions and recessions , myopic job growth is the republican proven track record...

It is true. Republicans just lie and make up facts. That is another fact.

follow the money

here's another one for you:

"Federal Reserve Seeks To Protect U.S. Bailout Secrets":

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a4PnUdySIink

'funds were spent by the administration of former President George W. Bush with little accountability or transparency.'

Matt in MN
"I'm tired of arguing with the absolute idiocy of your ideology"

That's an attack on your argument. It's not a personal attack. You should do a better job of differentiating between the two. It might save you a suspension or two. Just because your idea's and your comments thus far, can not be described as anything more than idiotic and moronic - doesn't mean that you are. It simply means that your position is idiotic and moronic.

Pal, When you say "YOUR" ideology, you attack me, as your is a possessive adjective, singling me out specificaly, I was attacking your shallow depth of understanding on which you speak in such a bellicose manner. I take it by your further attacks on me specifically, and lack of data to counter my facts you are mad, and want to make me angry... which is akin to getting angry at my egg timer. I don't begrudge my egg timer so I certainly don't intend to get mad at an ideological counterpart on the interwebs.

Telling someone they need "hit the books" is not an attack on their argument - it's an attack on the person. Calling someone "jr" is not attacking their position - it's attacking the person.

Merely means I wish you to learn more before you post, not an attack on your person, nor your intelligence

And I'm not your "pal".

Nonsense .Republicans never have created the environment for superior private sector Job creation, economic growth, bond yields or returns for the S&P the meat n potatoes of 401ks than Democrats have, boom bust economies , great depressions and recessions , myopic job growth is the republican proven track record...

Are you trying to convince me or yourself at this point?

More like speaking over you directing it more at the moderate conservative and independents who still might listen to reason...

Here is the actual GAO record of jobs created beginning with President Herbert Hoover:

Herbert Hoover R1929-1933-6.4 Mil

Franklin Roosevelt D1933-1937+5.5 Mil

Franklin Roosevelt D1937-1941+3.3 Mil

Franklin Roosevelt D1941-1945+7.4 Mil

Roosevelt/Truman D1945-1949+2.8 Mil

Harry Truman D1949-1953 +5.5 Mil

Dwight Eisenhower R1953-1957+2.7 Mil

Dwight Eisenhower R1957-1961+0.8 Mil

Kennedy/Johnson D1961-1965+5.9 Mil

Lyndon Johnson D1965-1969+9.9 Mil

Richard Nixon R1969-1973+6.2 Mil

Nixon/Ford R1973-1977+5.1 Mil

Jimmy Carter D1977-1981+10.3 Mil

Ronald Reagan R1981-1985+5.3 Mil

Ronald Reagan R1985-1989+10.8 Mil

George H. W. Bush R1989-1993+2.6 Mil

Bill Clinton D1993-1997+11.5 Mil

Bill Clinton D 1997-2001+11.2 Mil

George W. Bush R2001-2005+0.01 Mil

George W. Bush R2005-2009+1.1 Mil

Surprise: Dems are better for rallies
Despite 'market friendly' Republican policies, stocks rise more and volatility dips under Democrats.

Democratic Bounce

Since 1929, Republicans and Democrats have each controlled the presidency for nearly 40 years. So which party has been better for American pocketbooks and capitalism as a whole? Well, here's an experiment: imagine that during these years you had to invest exclusively under either Democratic or Republican administrations. How would you have fared?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/14/opinion/20081014_OPCHART.html

Randy McMurphy,

I don't want to get squished in between your giant arguments, but while your last linked article (the NYTimes.com investment growth charts) is interesting, a closer look shows investing under Republicans to be the better deal.

My takeaways from that article are (assuming a president is to be held accountable for the economy under his watch) that 1) the Depression was horrible, 2) Dubya and Nixon were really bad for the economy, 3) Clinton was an awesome president, and 4) Republican presidents are, in general, better for investments (to the tune of about 3%) than Democratic ones.

Not sure this is the conclusion that you or the writer/compiler of that article wants us to reach, but there it is.

Deleted double post

9ThaPyngwyn

I understand where you could see that...but you omitted Hoovers precipitous drop , and that Eisenhower was very progressive , I do like ike.. It doesn't show Reagans Black monday to which the economy didn't recover fully till 93, and ignores that most people in 401Ks and IRAs have diverse portfolios, so bond returns would be as important as stock market returns .

Aside from that the comparison is meant to be studied as if the terms were contiguous uniparty leadership...I would also point out that the worst economic calamities occurred under republican administrations, the great depression, Black monday and S&L debacle, the great recession , so they might have impressive growth numbers, but they also have boom and crushing bust cycles.

Points well taken.