Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/5/09
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President Obama put in a large tax cut right at the get-go. He was bipartisan right from the get-go....and the republicans decided that playing to their base was more important than being bipartisan & helping the country.
Apparently there's NO strategy that will work with Republicans – if the President reaches out to them, he gets rejected and if he gets tough and wants some results now, they don't want that either...
David Gergen, I agree. Obama can't play bipartian one moment and scold Republicans the next. It looks like Mr. Cool is losing his.
You know, I think that if I were a Republican senator with ambition, I would be stepping up making reasonable offers and leading in passing this bill. Many many Americans want this to be finished and to get the U.S. on the right track. Step up!
I did agree w/ the pres. on not to bring the same old ideas that brought us in this mess. He makes a great point...he seems more passionate in this speech though.
Now that is the BEST argument for the stimulus I've heard since the campaign. It is exactly what we all needed to hear... "Republicans....Are you listening?"
Republicans just want Obama to fail. They spent 8 years to distroy the country. Now they are trying to do everything they can to block anything that Obama is trying to do to save the economy. The know if they let Obama succeed, they have no chance to get back to power.
Given the state of the economy and the criticism of corporate retreats, why are the democrats on a retreat, eating a fancy dinner and drinking wine instead of back in Washington working on the economic problems?
Inasmuch as I did not vote for Obama .... I am one of those who needs this job package to pass. I have only 2 unemployment checks left and have sent out over 100 resumes – with NO response.
The Dems Junket??? what's that?
Anderson,
The Congress, incuding, maybe even especially the Republicans, have had the past 3 years to propose and pass a stimulus bill. Can they say: hypocrit? They've made their points, but now it's time to act, which is something they have failed to do, period.
I am 100 percent behind the President, but there are items in the House bill that are very hard to explain as economic stimulus measures.
A dramatic move would be to drop them, pass the remainder, and take up those issues later. Then, if the Republicans don't get on board, the blame for a worsening economy lies squarely (and only) with them.
@Mike, Syracuse...the representatives ARE moving too fast relative to their competence and knowledge of the subject at hand.
When do you think was the last time any Congreee person or Senator had to live paycheck-to-paycheck, if ever? They have no clue what it's like in the trenches with the poor, working class, and middle class.
Regarding the stimulus package and the urge for a quick decision I say haste makes waste. Take an extra moment and do it right the first time.
Focus on new laws that will stimulate the economy, help people in jeapardy of losing their homes, create jobs and help the housing market recover.
Ron
Saint Petersburg FL
Republicans are more concerned about their bruised ego than working honestly towards a stimulus plan. If they would focus on what's right with the bill and productively work on areas that need fixing we wouldn't be in this political sparring mess. Republicans are also forgetting that it was their political, economic policies that got us in this mess; we've done it their way and we're paying the price!
We, the citizens, deserve much more than this.
Obama is bi-partisan as long as you agree with him!
A couple of more days won't hurt anything. I think its more important to get it right. Remember , our kids are going to get the bill and have to pay this off
Wow what happened to listening to all sides
MY goodness...it is time for Our President to flex his muscle. Those darn Republicans and some of the outside Democrats need to get a grip.. Don' t they get it... McCain lost for a reason and now those republicans continues with the good ole man theory. McCain does not know how many homes he has... Those folks has to wake up. Folks are starving and this is a MESS. Either get on board and come up with an idea to pass this or GET THE HELL OUT. WE Need Help out here.... I hope everyone who is not passing this does not get reelected........Broy..
It amazes me how Congress still doesn't get it. The jockeying for power, hedging their bets in case the stimulus bill doesn't work –it's still all about them. They really don't care about their constituents. They care about losing their seats. They need to move NOW and pass this bill and think about someone other than themselves. People's lives are at stake.
If the economy goes from a severe recession to depression and our government had a chance to prevent it, shame on those that worked/voted on party lines and not as servants to the public.
CONGRESS GET IT DONE, NOW.
Obama seems fired up. It seems like the Republicans are still taking their marching orders from Rush Limbaugh, like some kind of Legislative Operation Chaos.. I wonder if he will be calling for the jobs of any other bloviated pundits? Hmm...
But Mr Gergen they were trying to muscle him-I think he had no choice.
Sharon: I am a government employee. They close before they fill the job due to funding problems....
So much for all the big talk about bipartisanship and change. Bush used fear tactics to move on Iraq, and now Obama is using fear to push thru an agenda package – not a simulus package.
It seems that this all started when Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats didn't allow the Republicans to participate in the process of developing the bill. I think the Republicans are still upset at that.
The Republicans had enough toime ( 8 years ) to get things right and they screwed up. Now they want to play obstruction. Please give President Obama the chance to fix things with ideas that will work. Enough of these Republicans that never want to compromise.
Yes, we must support our President and his efforts to turn the economy around. I hope to see the two parties working together to come to an agreement or we are all in trouble.
Doesn't anybody get it. The Republicans arn't holding things up because of partisanship. It's because the Democrats who now have a majority, see a way to finance every Liberal cause they haven't been able to fund on it's own merits since the Republicans were in there. Just lump them into the stimulus and it will get lost just like the first Tarp funds that nobody can tell us where they went.
Blair Edwards
I feel sorry for Michael Phelps. He gave his childhood, teenage years for his country and his friend (who is still nameless) stabbed him in the back.
Don't apologize Michael, be yourself.
David Gergen you are AWESOME!
This is absolutely the right move for Barack. While the president tried to be bipartisan with this bill in the beginning Republicans launched a huge campaign to belittle the idea of the bill all together. It is time for the president to stand up and say, "Hey, I tried to be as bipartisan as I could, but you all (Republicans) are fighting me on this too much and the American people cannot wait anymore for this bill."
Excellent point Bea!!
the repubs got in this mess for 8 years ! did we forget !! get behind the president to help this country!!
If the Congress truly believes that the stimulus is too large, why don't they just adjust down the entire package by a certain amount – say 20%. Then just pass it. By everyone hunting and pecking at each feature to get the perfect sound bite or gotcha line item – we seem to be loosing focus and prepping for running the 2010 elections early.
It is time for Congress to act. They have had 8 years of doing nothing. Now let,s give some fresh new ideas a chance. Obama's team has some great ideas. If the Republicans have better ideas, let's here them and move forward.
Stop flexing your muscles and use your head for the common good of all.
I have to agree with Mindy to an extent. Bipartisanship is a nice idea, but idealistic thinking does not change the fact that Republicans seem to have absolutely no interest in compromising. I think Obama is finally feeling the brunt of their stubbornness.
You know what they say "if the opposite of pro is con, then the opposite of progress is...."
I think Pres. Obama is trying to hold Congress accountable for their past actions – and Congress isn't used to it. They don't know what to do with their new power.
I wouldn't mind moving forward with this "new" stimulus pkg, but first I want a detail of what happened to the first 350Billion that was handed out without anyone asking for accountability. Having no accountability is how we got here in the first place!
I can see our country going towards Hudson river now good pilot and prompt action is required to save ....act fast our leaders. Have faith on this president.....Amin
It is about time President Obama started using the power of the office he was elected to by the people. They are behind him.
Why don't we take the 300 billion that our own oil companies gouged from us in the past three years and use that as part of the stimulus package. why don't we use the 2 billion dollars that the united auto workers have in a trust fund to use for the unemployed auto workers.
People are losing their jobs! Its not about Democrats and Republicans, it is about the American people and the state of our economy. We need change to happen now!
maybe if the republicans were not so afraid of rush limbaugh and ann coulter, they would get to doing the work of the people. let's get this stimulus plan passed and allow the country to move forward.
President Obama was elected to give us back Science, Art, Freedom, Intellect, and the Hope of this Nation. The Republican end game is embodied in one word, "NO." Their legacy will be a disaster. They have no spine. President Obama is right to call their bluff, they are playing to the bleachers, the racists, that religious zealots, the John McCain argument that Roosevelt couldn't make the Real Deal work is BS. FDR gave in to the Treasury and fiscal conservatives when keynesian economic theory had not yet been proven. They proved it the hard way then. They cut spending and brought back the Depression. It took WWII to get out of it. Let's not rely on WWIII to rescue us this time. The cost would be too high.
It seems to me that the senators don't get it. We need the stimulus passed. Tax cuts don't work. Please get some real economists to explain why. Govt spending is always the last resort and now we are at the last resort stage!
The Federal government would serve the public interest in a very
big way by nationalizing all finance capital as soon as possible.
R.P.
Excellent move by our President by going aggressive against the GOP naysayers...America needs a lift and Obama's determined to get it done!!! Bravo Mr. President...the real leadership you are showing us is indeed Change we can all believe in!
It is about time President Obama started using the power of the office he was elected to by the people. They are behind him.
I feel very strongly that President Obama has consulted and considered and done a thorough job ascertaining what will help America, short and long term. It is abundantly evident that the past 8 years of Republican-based tactics have brought nothing but decline. Let's try Obama's way. I not only think it will help now, but that it will transform many stagnant and malignant issues of the past into fresh new ways and means which will work for America and the world for the future. We have to give this a chance and give him our support now.