Comments on: As funny as the times allow

By: Rana Peake

Rana Peake — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:43:54 +0000

I'm sure the jobless Americans who were up late last night truly appreciate the President's sense of humor and his knack for finding time to do things outside of work - the 'people's work', that is. Honestly, I understand that everyone needs to take a break and relax. But does the President really need to advertise his ability to kick back and have a good laugh on a late night comedy show? I mean, we're in the midst of a crisis, right?

Not funny.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:09:51 +0000

There is nothing wrong with laughter. We have elected a President that is able to connect with the people – at least the younger generation. And, his work in the white house has shown that he is capable to handle the tough decisions and STILL manage to spend time with family and other activities.

So, if it’s Jay Leno, filling out brackets at the NCAA Tournament, playing basketball, bowling and cleaning up the mess Republicans left in the white house….bring it on Mr. President.

By: James in California

James in California — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:29:43 +0000

I think what the real problem is that with President Obama going on the Tonight Show is that the Right does not get a rebuttal his remarks. They do not want the fair use doctrine to be revisited so that both sides can be presented fairly. So they are now going to end up moaning and groaning that the liberal left media is not allowing them their equal time on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show.

They are just mad that President Obama out smarted them and is ahead of the game they keep playing against him. President Obama just happens to be a president for all the people, not just some of the people as some past presidents have been.

President Obama is willing to listen so you can’t ask more than that, than to have a president that is willing to listen, instead of ‘it is my way or the highway” from the past arrogance from the Right.

Tomorrow they will have a field day on talk radio, so stay tuned.

By: Randy Black Cloud, Atigun Pass, AK

Randy Black Cloud, Atigun Pass, AK — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:58:16 +0000

Congress forgot to tax (at 90%) the $ 4 billion in TARP money they received from banks and other firms lobbying congress for bonus loopholes. Until corporate lobbying is eliminated, the interests of the American people are not represented.

By: mjr

mjr — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:55:45 +0000

This is infuriating. I do not understand how during this current global economic crisis the POTUS has time to jet off to schmooze with Jay Leno. Stop campaigning for your persona Barack, it’s now time for you to work – and work hard.

By: TinaTinaTina

TinaTinaTina — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:47:42 +0000

I really do not care if Obama is funny tonight or not. I do care that the people who got bailouts owe taxes. I do care that Fannie and Freddie are planning on giving out retention bonuses and no one is talking about that. The amount giving out is twice as much as it was last year. 1 million each to 4 executives. where is all this money coming from? I cant pay for this. I do care that amex is stringing people up with 29.9% interest rates and reducing peoples credit...I do care that no one has a plan to stop the credit card companies. Whether Obama is funny or not is not an issue with me.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:47:03 +0000

What is he doing on a talkshow? Last time I checked, I dont really care about the mental health of the president. To get worn down is in the job description. Laughing is good but Americans are not all that happy right now. He is one of the most important men in the world and i dont care about his personal life because he is not a man as president but an icon that doesnt have time for this bs. Use this time to get more sleep so he can focas on tomarrows task. WTF are we paying his 400,000 a year for. I say kiss my ass Mr . President, or was that actor, whats your job description again.

By: Twobears

Twobears — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:37:45 +0000

I believe that the Country needs to take a deep breath, drop the inept attempts to second guess our new President and give him the space he needs to operate, there will be plenty of time to attack him and his cabinet if he screws things up. But what if he succeeds ???

By: Jerry Pecks

Jerry Pecks — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:35:36 +0000

Obama is awesome in every way. The Republicans created this terrible mess, and Obama and his administration are busting their a$$es to try and fix it. Those of you who have nothing better to do then sit around and trash talk the President need to reevaluate your allegiance to the United States.

By: James in California

James in California — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:34:30 +0000

What better way to show the human side of a president? He is not the “chosen one”, “messiah” or a “Rock Star” as the right would have you believe. He is the first African American President and now the first setting president to go on Jay Leno making history.

The problem with the right is they feel left out because Republican Presidents have been too busy taking care of those in the upper 1% getting them tax cuts to have time to care about the rest of us little people. President Obama is a down to earth president that at least shows he is human like the rest of us; he just has a different job to do.

It seems to me those on the Right did not complain when Bush took his long working vacations in Crawford and where ever else wanted to fly off too to use his mega phone.
But let a democrat president do it and you would think they committed a crime by not sitting in the Oval Office 24/7 instead of getting out and listening to what Americans have to say across this great land of our.

How many town meetings did Bush do after he was selected? President Obama is chewing gum and walking at the same time by having town meetings in California and appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The problem with those on the Right is they Obama envy because the only leader they have is talk radio host, Rush. Their Rush to failure leader of the GOP because they have no solutions only more of the same, we can’t do that, instead of yes we can do that mentality and that is the difference between sore losers and winners.

By: tbrander

tbrander — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:23:08 +0000

Can one of you big media types take a look at the legal expenses surrounding AIG and the PR dollars being spent by AIG both direct and through the legal group??? It is outrageous!! I don't want them spending my $$ on their PR>>>

By: Annie Kate

Annie Kate — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:21:26 +0000

Obama on Leno – I've never seen a sitting President appear on this sort of forum during their time in office. Obama must feel like he needs to talk to the American people in a less formal situation than giving a speech or a press conference. I'm curious as to what he will have to say so I guess I will watch Leno tonight. Obama is a game changer – and this is part of the game.....lets see how it works out before we condemn it.

By: john

john — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:09:58 +0000

More importantly. What does Letterman have to say?

By: lidia crisan

lidia crisan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:05:49 +0000

No it is not fanny credit cards cat our credit line with no reason we have 730 score , never been late with payments in 18 years and nobody cares about as we working hard to survive and the taxes in illinois will be increae by new gov. Pet Quin and we strogal to pay the bills.

By: john

john — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:05:41 +0000

America is the strangest country ever invented.
Giving up British values was the worst mistake ever.
(1) Good for Obama to take time to "connect" via Leno (who watches that anyway?)
(2) Deal with the gun crisis before more hundreds of your children are murdered for no reason. No one other than the Police and the Army should ever have a gun. Anyone who thinks otherwise is mentally ill
(3) The President has little, to no power, to "deal" with the economy. The states and the Senate do. Obama (Mr or President? I am confused by US TV) can lead by example and tinker. So far he is AMAZINGLY effective. Americans OWE $4000 to each and every Chinese person. You are bankrupt. You spend more than you earn. Have done for years. Your country is owned by China and Arabia.
(4) Peace is the only way forward. And ALL countries are artificial constructs

Good luck. Be fair. Care for theose who need caring. And stop explioting each other.

By: Maureen Wiggins

Maureen Wiggins — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:04:21 +0000

I think President Obama will handle being on Jay Leno very well. He will inject humor and also have an opportunity to reach many Americans and help them to see his vision and hopes.

AIG and wages and bonus's exposure.....it is overdue and time for all of these firms and CEO's (and Politicians) to own up to their salaries etc.

Obama is up against it....but he will handle it!....Just need to give him and his staff some time.

Maureen Wiggins, Marina del Rey, CA

By: family first

family first — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:03:39 +0000

I enjoy the President's sense of humor. My friends who have the best senses of humor are soldiers and firemen...people with serious jobs who are well balanced and mentally healthy enough to still laugh and have fun. Being a smart, optimistic man with a plan who knows how huge the mess we need to clean up is and still able to laugh is great.
Oh wait, we did used to have hilarious guys like Cheney who cracked us all up.

By: abdikadar

abdikadar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:47:03 +0000

dont u guys forget he is still first 100days.this guys is doing the right thing,but is idiot conservative are out touch... help our president your president get thing done....not no,no,no

By: Dlila

Dlila — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:45:41 +0000

You know this whole election and presidency kept reminding me of something and it finally hit me yesterday. It is like a bad prequel to the movie Idiocracy. You know where the President is a wrestler and the election has become a popularity contest and no one in authority knows what they are doing anymore? We elected a pop star because he talked pretty and Hollywood was ga-ga over him. Sounds like a movie to me. Too bad we are living through this one.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:45:14 +0000

I cannot believe some of the comments in this section. Most of you are idiots. I would like to state that I believe that our President has the best interest of this country at heart. However, it does not matter whether He can handle going on Leno while taking care of the economy, our 6 year war, a massive debt that we owe to countries that also supply pratically everything Americans purchase, or the AIG bonuses. It does not look good. it does not look good to Americans or to the world. For those that think this massive bailout/stimulous bill is the reason the market was up four days last week , well you are idiots. His "plan" has barely been put in to place, and so far, it is not working. Yes, He inherited a bad economy and a war that most of you hate. (By the way, ask an Iraqi woman who can speak freely in her country and dress as she pleases whether she appreciates the USA or the merchants who can sell goods again, or the children who can go to school for the first time) Anyway, adding trillions to our defecit by granting a wish list to every senator in Congress is not best practice either. Keep in mind that while giving people an extra $13 a paycheck seems great, but the taxes that will be imposed on to businesses and then passed back on to you will take that away quickly. Here is an idea, allow businesses tax breaks who can use that money to put it back in to the business which will eventually create more jobs. They will receive a tax break if they can prove they reinvested this money into R&D or other programs besides salaries. Over 90% of this country is still employed. Thus, if you would act like it and spend, but spend carefully, our economy would revive itself, without causing our children to pay off trillions more in debt.

For those wanting Government provided healthcare, look at Canada and the taxes they pay. Our health care costs more because it is the best in the world. If the government owns that too, Doctors will not make money and the best and the brightest will choose other professions. You, then will be stuck with garbage.

Think before you speak and before you Vote and remember the old saying "If it seems to good to be true, it probably is." Choices have consequences. Take a look at history and other countries that allow the government to control business, healthcare, etc.

Here are solutions to helping our country save millions but will never happen:
1. Give those who accept welfare drug tests. I have to take a drug test to get my job, why don't those who stay home all days, smoking weed and having babies have to take one? We would easily save more then the test costs
2. Ask Congress why they need the money that THEY spend. I am not referring to pet projects. I am referring to their perks of the job. We could save millions by demanding a closer eye on the postage, transportation, and other executive "liberties" our electives choose to use each year.
3 Stop supporting illegal immigrants with the same luxuries we give to American citizens who pay taxes. The state of Texas spent over $750 Million last year on illegal immigrant healthcare. That is pathetic and it costs each of you money and security.

Remember how this country came to be great. It is because of the People, not the government. Capitalism makes the economy thrive, not the government. And for those who think America should mind its own business and not get involved in other countries' affairs, ask the millions of people whose lives have been saved by an American soldier if they feel the same.

I am done with my rant. Hopefully, at least one of you thought this made sense.