I think that once the stimulus is passed, things will change.
America's financial despair will not be as bad this time, next year.
His "leadership" in repairing the economy will bring him political laud.
In order for BHO to not get reelected, he'd have to just make things much worse, screw up royally in Iraq and Afghanistan and have a sex scandal and then maybe the right GOP candidate can come it.
Many folks don't realize just how badly the GOP is perceived right now.
Steele has to lead the GOP in remaking their brand name.
Absent a BHO screwing up, the remaking will take 8 years.
You might be right, you might be right.
Although, knowing human nature, time does seem to change the views. People, somehow, want to blame whomever is in charge.
Rush Limbaugh hasn't told the truth in years and that's why the guy is a laughing stock and complete joke. .
A laughing stock and complete joke? Yeah, that's why the Democrats can't stand him and would love to see him off the air. And why his listenership is practically nonexistent.
Rush definitely exaggerates, exacerbates, and uses hyperbole, but he's right enough to get under the liberals skin.
The Democrats have controlled Congress since 2006 and the Republicans controlled it for twelve years previous to that and it's all Dem's fault? That wreaks of Rush Limbaugh type smack talk that doesn't even make sense.
The Republican party, both President and Congress, plunged this country into record national debt over the last eight years. Now suddenly with the country in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the majority of economists in agreement that a stimulus plan is a MUST, you Repubs have suddenly decided big spending government isn't good?
Where've you been for the last 8 years??
Here are the facts: Political Control
In the last 64 years:
The Dems have held complete power (President, House, & Senate) 11 times, the Rep 2.
The Dem have controled Congress (House and Senate) a total of 22 Times the Reps 6.
Hmmm? I wonder who has caused the most damage?
By the way, when did the housing problems start? Wasn't that under Clinton?
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Psa 119:165 (KJV) 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
"Do not believe everthing you read on the internet" - Abe Lincoln
I work for the government so I'm a bit biased. I thought his answers were rather lengthy and full of general information. I fear the average American has too short of an attention span or knowledge of governmental processes to understand the answers. In my mind's eye I can see millions of Americans just falling into a blank star wondering what he's talking about. I blame our sound-bite culture. These issues are very complex and I think demonstrated a wonderful attempt at being as transparent as possible. He's a politician's politician. He can get lost in the minutia, which most Americans don't understand or care about.
I did think this though... too many of his answers seemed to be tailored like campaign stump answers. It was like he was still in campaign mode on some issues.
Also, working for the government I assure you of this... the past Administration held what we called in the office a "slash and burn" strategy. For example, CDBG funding was cut to the states to facilitate tax cuts that primarily went to corporate interests. That CDBG funding would have been divided up by the states and distributed to the local governments to facilitate the needs of community infrastructure and development. This caused local governments to cut back on community infrastructure and development programs and initiatives. For example Housing staff, like Conservation Specialists (housing inspectors), were cut meaning that housing code enforcement and assistance went down. This has led to the spread of blight in many communities.
That's just CDBG funding in our neck of the woods. This slash and burn policy has put a strangle hold in many local communities. Federal funding for various projects have been slashed drastically, meaning local communities don't have the funding to hire contractors to provide various services or to complete developmental projects ranging from highways to sewers. This means that these local businesses lost valuable government contracts that stimulated business and brought them income, which brought them profit, which... provided jobs...that put food on the average family's table.
It's a massive mess that the average American hasn't a clue about. Working for the government and juggling budget funding has opened my eyes to how crazy the Republicans in Washington have gone within the past 8 years. From my perspective, I pray that Obama's stimulus package gets passed. It will provide funding for essential services and massive projects across the country. Projects improving roads, highways, sewers, community centers, etc. The importance of this? Local government agencies will be given funding for these projects. These monies will in turn be used to higher local private contractors for projects. This will mean contractors will need to higher workers to do the work, thereby creating numerous jobs. For some it will at least stabilize their businesses with solid contracts and income until the economy improves. One Congressman was complaining about the bill's provision of technical infrastructure in several government offices and libraries... well, if you're a computer technician looking for work this is exactly what you need. And it will improve the services in these offices and libraries.
But my fear is that most Americans don't understand how this works.
Most of us DO understand how things "work." But I don't care about the paperwork/red tape/details. I care about the bottom line, and what liberties are threatened by that bottom line.
Beyond that, it wasn't a good address, I've heard Bush do better and he's no great spokesman as we all know.
I agree--he's still in campaign/try-to-be-popular mode. He needs to move on.
I'm not sure how working for the government better qualifies you to understand Obama's speech.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Also, working for the government I assure you of this... the past Administration held what we called in the office a "slash and burn" strategy. For example, CDBG funding was cut to the states to facilitate tax cuts that primarily went to corporate interests. That CDBG funding would have been divided up by the states and distributed to the local governments to facilitate the needs of community infrastructure and development. This caused local governments to cut back on community infrastructure and development programs and initiatives. For example Housing staff, like Conservation Specialists (housing inspectors), were cut meaning that housing code enforcement and assistance went down. This has led to the spread of blight in many communities.
That's just CDBG funding in our neck of the woods. This slash and burn policy has put a strangle hold in many local communities. Federal funding for various projects have been slashed drastically, meaning local communities don't have the funding to hire contractors to provide various services or to complete developmental projects ranging from highways to sewers. This means that these local businesses lost valuable government contracts that stimulated business and brought them income, which brought them profit, which... provided jobs...that put food on the average family's table.
It's a massive mess that the average American hasn't a clue about. Working for the government and juggling budget funding has opened my eyes to how crazy the Republicans in Washington have gone within the past 8 years. From my perspective, I pray that Obama's stimulus package gets passed. It will provide funding for essential services and massive projects across the country. Projects improving roads, highways, sewers, community centers, etc. The importance of this? Local government agencies will be given funding for these projects. These monies will in turn be used to higher local private contractors for projects. This will mean contractors will need to higher workers to do the work. For some it will at least stabilize their businesses with solid contracts and income until the economy improves. One Congressman was complaining about the bill's provision of technical infrastructure in several government offices and libraries... well, if you're a computer technician looking for work this is exactly what you need. And it will improve the services in these offices and libraries.
But my fear is that most Americans don't understand how this works.
Why in the world would we actually want to try to stimulate the economy by spending money on "improving roads, highways, sewers, community centers, etc."? I think we should just continue handing out tax breaks to corporate America and Wall Street so they can continue their greed and irresponsibility. It's certainly worked well over the last 8 years.
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In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity. Augustine
Most of us DO understand how things "work." But I don't care about the paperwork/red tape/details. I care about the bottom line, and what liberties are threatened by that bottom line.
You want a sound-bite. Here, support the bill. Bill make jobs. LOL (Sorry sis, I couldn't resist, you're just proving my point. lol)
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Beyond that, it wasn't a good address, I've heard Bush do better and he's no great spokesman as we all know.
Obama’s good with rehearsed and rhetorical speeches. He’s weakness is open forum deliveries. But from my perspective he gave a great attempt at trying to answer very complex questions. Bush had good days and bad days. Some speeches were great while others left me scratching my head wondering if I was going to wakeup, because I had to be having a nightmare. Lol
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I agree--he's still in campaign/try-to-be-popular mode. He needs to move on.
True. But this is typical of politicians. Pre 9/11 Bush was a lot the same way, though being a governor I think he still handled it will all differences aside.
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I'm not sure how working for the government better qualifies you to understand Obama's speech.
Maybe you need to write funding memos, balance accounts, and pursue contractor purchase orders all day. You’ll see first hand why this legislation is so important. Ma’am, your government is on the edge of being broke, corporations are gorged on our tax dollars (which they’ve placed in risky overseas investment schemes), and the average local company is struggling against the current to stay above water. Please note, it's the average local business that is the backbone of the economy.
Why in the world would we actually want to try to stimulate the economy by spending money on "improving roads, highways, sewers, community centers, etc."? I think we should just continue handing out tax breaks to corporate America and Wall Street so they can continue their greed and irresponsibility. It's certainly worked well over the last 8 years.
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