Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 1/23/09
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Financial expert Suze Orman will be joining Anderson and Erica tonight to answer your questions. Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
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@Ebony. I'm not particularly concerned with the 'rights' of terrorists. They are not POW's and have no standing for Geneva Convention coverage. Obama has ducked reporters questions as to what he will do with them. We have a right to know what the plan is.
I have to agree with Michelle Obama. Puting out dolls with the likeliness of the kids and naming them the same is a bit much
David Gergen, I feel Barack Obama's first week as President have gone very well. My sense is that congress is looking to cooperate with him to work on the stimulus infrastructure package and pass it into law.
Joe Johns has a good point about the President having to be tough with Senate Republicans. Interesting insight. "Halloween Coalition" cracked me up.
John Ridley is right too about Obama being Presidential, I suppose that's obvious, but I was struck by how a president has to handle all sorts of complexities that at first blush might not seem significant but have to be handled sensibly.
I don't understand why we keep handing over hundreds of billions of dollars to these Wall St. people. What are they doing with it. What are our Congress people doing? They have to be in on the scam somehow. Money cannot just dissappear. It has to show up somewhere in somebodys pocket! Maybe Suzie can tell us where the money has disappeared to? What about it Suzie?
Good Evening Anderson....you deserve a long siesta after the excellent coverage this week. And that comment about Blagojevich and how we can't quit him...that's funny 🙂
Lauren - re: Gov. Blago and his lawyers. His lawyers have decided not to represent him during his Senate trial. What does that tell us?
The mall does need to be re-sodded. It is a shame that it is in such bad shape. The mall should be something that Americans can be proud of.
If only those dolls had been sold BEFORE the holidays...that's one way to solve the consumer spending slump.
Suze: I have an IRRA account with Merrill Lynch and it has performed quite well during this market downturn. However, with all of the recent announcements, should I be concerned and shift my investment elsewhere?
Mr. Gergen,
The president took some direct shots at the outgoing president in his speech Tuesday. Although I don't doubt the president was truthful in his assessment, I also wonder if the tone was meant to encourage some confidence with a direct break from the last administration and boost some much needed confidence that would hopefully spill over to the economy. Thoughts?
It's been a VERY LONG week!
So here are a couple of light-hearted questions:
1. What do you think the Obama's are doing right now?
2. Who do you think would answer the phone at the White House right now?
David Gergen, I think President Obama will have his honeymoon end a little sooner than was previously thought. I think both parties are just too addicted to fighting each other. Hope I'm wrong.
Regarding the governor of the great state of Illinois let me quote Mayor Daley..."Blago is cukoo" I think that sums it up.
Sasha and Malia dolls? My goodness some people have no shame when it comes to money. Those poor girls have no idea how public they are going to be forever.
Suze, with the market's instability what would pre tax exempt economic bonds with very attractive rate of interest made available through our work do to help stimulate the economy? Maybe something like the war bonds did to finance the world war II
..."I have about 20K in credit card debt –
@Suzanne, I know an attorney in Michigan who handles debt settlement in a very efficient, respectable manner (unlike some of these consolidation or BIG settlement companies). Just my suggestion...don't let the banks put their hands in both pockets at the same time (the bailout being the first hand).
It isn't surprising that after we torture people that they then join anti-american groups. Especially when they weren't guilty to begin with.
Hello Anderson and David,
I also believe President Obama is off on a great start he has already opened the door to stemcell research, which is huge for Americans who cannot walk. He is giving Americans hope again which is something we as Americans have lacked for the past eight years. In Obama I seen hope from day one and that is why I voted for him to become the President of the United States of America.
Given that so Gitmo prisoners released by Bush administrator have returned back to terrorism, the Gitmo has not worked.
My husband lost his job last September. He's a construction executive so the prospects are poor. We were in the middle of a large renovation of a home, 1300 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. which is our main cost. We were also planning on it being a fairly substantial investment we could sell w;hen we got too old to take care of it. We are living in Minnesota without a central heating system or a driveway. We have $9,000 cash left and a couple hundred thousand in 401K. We're ok until May or so. What do we do then? If my husband still doesn't have a job do we let our house go? Use our 401K to finish it and sell it? Right now, if we invested 40,000 I believe we could still realize a small profit. What if we put in this money in the house and housing market continues to deteriorate? we're in our mid-50's. I'm not poor and h;ave not made bad decisions before this. I feel stupid even though I know we had a solid plan and were preparing for retirement.
What these financial companies are doing with our money makes me sick... but I have to say that I think Bank of America definitely took one for the team... they may have gotten federal help... but they've still lost on the deal and of Merrill went under... things would be much worse than they are now...
Happy Friday, everyone. What a week! Eventful, historic and looooong...
So far, I like everything Obama has done except caving in to add Republican tax cuts to the stimulus package... I just wish the media would focus on the real news rather than the silly stuff of "do-overs" and "string-syncing".
Honestly, I was offended by the focus on that bit of using the recording rather than the live performance by such living treasures as YoYo Ma and Perlman... comparing them to the likes of Ashley Simpson is/was rude.
And I thought Aretha was *awesome*!!
Congress had better remember we did elect him to do a good job with change and we will be watching them to make sure the efforts of the President Obama are not being hampered by petty issues.
Hi Suze,
In this economy, should I pay off my private student loan or building emergency fund?
Thank you,
@Karen C, you took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, really... Transparency doesn't mean Reality TV. I think the media is just nitpicking, our dear, Anderson included. This this is the government, not Hollywood we're talking about. The people do have to work, and it's very important work, I might add.
Well, was anybody expecting that after holding someone prisoner for an undefined time and strip them of all rights, that they will love America once they're released? C'mon!
I would rather see 3 trillion spent rebuilding our economy than one more dollar spent killing people on the other side of the world who have done nothing to us and don't deserve our invasion of their country and killing of their citizens.
Laughed out loud and your "can't quit him" comment about Blagojevich
The more I learn about Gillibrand, the more I like her. If she's anti-immigration reform that's great. Immigration reform is just code for amnesty and open borders. Finish the fence, build a moat, piu in a mine field, and make every business use E-verify for all employees. Problem solved.
Why is resodding the mall in the stimulus package? Aren't there already people whose job it is to take care of the mall and the surrouding landscape? Aren't they already employed? How would that give unemployed people jobs?
these problems were faceing seem so petty – i mean really – this is still america – work hard watch your budget and get some rest – get up and do it again tomorrow – the real issue is when do we fijght for the human race and not the race as to who has the most?
When closing Gitmo they have to be released as individuals on a triage system so the threats are taken to court and those suspected without proof should be looked at where they fit into the system.
before you make fun of the sod on the mall... take a walk down there and see what a disgrace it is... if not funded in the "stimulus" then maybe we need to push for "service" to make this wonderful place beautiful again it is a fraction of what sports stadiums waste on sod... maybe we can get some of these overpaid sports "celebs" to pitch in some cash and make a positive statement...
Closing Gitmo is a bad idea. We need to do what ever it takes to keep our home land safe.
Who shot the rockets into Pakistan?
David Gergan- I live in CA and wanted to know if the unemployment numbers include those of us that benefits have run out. With Arnold in charge here it is rumored we will not get state refunds this year but rather an IOU.... Is this legal?
I understand the need to follow-through on campaign promises (follwing through is rather novel actually, isn't it?), but I agree that there needs to be a plan in place and it should have been in place before the executive order was signed.
Well its nice (?) to see that everyone is realizing that the 10% unemployment is a terrible benchmark to reach or in some cases as pointed out, has already been exceeded. Based on what i know of the first depression and 1907 copper crisis and subsequent credit freeze, 1/3 unemployment and horrific devaluation of real estate IS the inflection point, naturally. Does anyone else find it ironic that 2930 days late (8years) and $5,000,000,000,00 short, the republicans have discovered financial responsibility?
If you have a republican standing in the way of economic intervention write or call, come up with a plan or modifications to the current, I really dont want to see food riots in this country. And with the concern that weve all lost half our 401s/iras Imagine what would happen if your house lost HALF its value, 20% is bad enough. This is a really bad fire and we havent even begun to get burned yet unless we stop it.
Hi Anderson and David,
It has been an incredible week. I hope the same grilling happens for the exec. at Meryl Lynch, as the microscope on President Obama;s first week. I wonder if the President has even had four hours sleep yet. He can't be accused of being a couch potato.
By the way, I think it is time to send the exec with the 35000 commode to the outhouse, and while we are at it, I hope there will be serious consequences and or prosecution for these guys.
David is right on those symbolic mistakes on what execs do prior to asking for a rescue. Regardless of when the office makeover happened, it is just appalling to see a CEO do that as others struggle to buy even a far less lavish version of one of those items.
OK, I have to throw this out there. Anyone ever think following released detainees might actually lead to more "uncovering of cells" than torturing them?
I agree with Mr Gergen. Why do we have "bridges to nowhere" in the stimulus package. I have heard that only 11 of the more than 100 bills in the stimulus package pertain to job and economic stimulus. Is this true, why? John
David,
Obama was up to a good start until some details of the proposed recovery package emerged. Only 18% of the close to $ 1 trillion will go to infrastructure, with tax cuts raking more than a third.
I thought Obama said infrastructure projects are the fastest way to create jobs? Obama and the Dems have started buckling to GOP intimidation with tax cut rhetoric.
I plan to retire in 6 years. My plan has stocks,bonds and short term.Do I have to do something now?Thank you.
Mr. Bush had no business spending American taxpayer money to go to an unjust and unnecessary war. He lied and it's going to come back to bite him.
Mr. Gergen
This really doesn't have anything to do with President Obama's first week, but I was wondering if you know what plans he has for making higher education more affordable? easy student loans? more grant money? I have 2 son's at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and the cost is out there, I am so concerned about their financial future carrying that debt at the start of their lives.
Thank you
Dolores Smith
The billion dollar question is, is there any honest, hardworking, CEO in corporate America who is truly concerned for his company. ?
Other than raking in bonuses and sinking the company, these men in Manhattan are truly corporate criminals, who are raping stockholders,
their company and the American people.
This excess and greed must be stopped. The end to corporate and white collar greed needs to be stopped now.
David G. -I agree with you that President Obama is off to a smooth start. With all of the major issues in front of us I often wonder if he doesn't ask himself "What was I thinking". With that said I feel that if President Obama keeps speaking to us the American people, keep us posted, and lead in a forward fashion half the battle is over. Yes it will be tough for all of us, the economic situation is most distressing and I am hopeful that after today's meeting with both Rep and Dem the President is opening doors which have been closed for sooooo long, just maybe this will push our representatives to get busy as well and quit with the strict party path. It just isn't what we want to hear!
HI Sue-
I work for Bank of America as well. What a mess! Huh?