Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/5/09
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I don't believe they have enough money to stop this economical downward SPIRAL.... Every big company has many littler companies that have sub contractor's that that have sub contractors don't collect uneployment so those numbers aren't figuring as job loses which is also adding to the unsure amount that is really unemployed.
The problem is people are so fed up which i don't blame them thier foreclosed home job loss that whs interhited by Bush's 8yr run that is not easy to clean up with one sheet of toilet paper.
Erica, that's because you guys have standards and don't just parade a freak show of fringe lickspittles and yes men onto your stage who fulminate over immigration.
Way to go! Great Job President Obama! This is exactly what you have to do. Keep it in the face of the American people. Call out the Republican party and your critics. We your voters are behind you 200%
If I were Michael Phelps, I wouldn't even want to compete in 2012. He's already set the bar so incredibly high, and trying to out-due that record will only take the fun out of the sport he loves.
Can't wait see Obama arrive at air base!!!! 🙂 cool!! 😀
This blog is great, but we the people need to contact all of our state reps, senators, governors, whoever and let them now we need results NOW! For it is our money!
@ Gergen: Just wanting to follow up on something I blogged about last night, Obama said he was ready to lead from DAY ONE. Why do you think Obama and his Administration did not have all of the details worked out PRIOR to him coming into office so he could sign TARP 2 a week ago? Why all the drama with the House and Senate if he was truly ready?
Hey Ann....the Republicans just went on their boondoggle last week. Were you interested in knowing how much that cost. Difference is the Republicans invite lobbyists to their retreat. The Democrats don't.
Can someone explain to me what exactly the republicans do not like a about this bill. I want to hear specifics.... what is so bad in this bill?
I'm so glad Obama reclaimed his voice tonight in that fiery speech..thanks for playing it for us. And, we need to give the guy a break with only 2 weeks on the job and so much judgment swirling around him from all sides including the media. Happy for Change – Quick to Judge.
Every Senator should be behind this package right now. This is our chance to come together as one and embrace our great leader.
Get it done!
You can't blame Obama for acting like he is on a campaign trail, that's what politics is, you need to gain the majority support in order to get things done, its all about polls and focus groups, taking that into account we, the people, can actually make a difference as long as we speak up
The republicans is sore loosers, They are playing with people lives;they are trying to led,this: they can,t do they lost the race.
Do the Republicans have a clue about what's going on in this country? They've been asked time and again for their ideas, but instead of submitting ideas or being constructive, they just engage in sniping. Either come up with a better plan or get on board. Or, better yet, many of them need to find a new career. Particularly John McCain, the most out of touch anchor in the Senate.
This is a lot of money. Congress and the president need to slow down. In times of crisis, panic is often exploited to justify spending money or launching invasions.
We must move forward and get behind our president. The world is looking at us.
Hey all. Just got out of class, and I see that I missed a lot while I was gone.
Nothing more costly can occur than to allow the wake of Bush's failed policies to continue to wash over this nation. Please support our new President and let him get to work.
Republicans did not fail, or have you Democrats forgotten that you have controlled BOTH houses for over two years now. It is the Reid/Pelosi leadership that has failed this country!!!
The Republicans bailed out the banks and we see what happened to the money. Obama wants to bail out the rest of America and we see who's standing in the way. Draw your own conclusions.
I'm glad Anderson asked that question - It's really becoming difficult to keep track of all the various spending activities. In the spirit of transparency, why doesn't Congress start putting a few Powerpoints out with high level details on the bills, etc.?
It's the mortgage crisis!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Republicans and Democracts instead of working together are attempting to hold our American elected Prersident and the American people hostage. Remember he is the American not democrat president.. He needs to slow down and review the package himself.
The President is trying to invoke fear to advance his partisan interests to the detriment of our country. That is not leadership! Borrowing a trillion dollars to spend a bunch of liberal government spending is not stimulus! The bill spends more in the 4th year than it does in the first one! This bill does nothing to address the banking problem or the housing problem. It is just partisan pork!
If Bush hadn't waited 16 months to act maybe Obama wouldn't have to ask for this so quickly now. Blame Bush and the GOP, not Obama and the Dems.
@Megan Dresslar – Shoreline, WA
"I don’t understand this why senators have cancelled tonight the meeting???"
Megan, maybe it's a good thing. I'm sure they need the rest. They're all probably suffering from brain-freeze. I hope they rest up and come back refreshed.
Nick, we can't stimulate an economy without spending. The economy is driven by consumer spending. So we will have to spend money in order to get this economy going again.
Erica...you are right! No matter is on the panel on a given night, they never disappoint!
Today I saw some of the content of the stimulus package and I was appalled by some of it. Millions of dollars going to ridiculous things. What is a matter with our government!!!!! Just like the bailouts many things in the stimulus package with do nothing but waist more of the money we the tax payers do not have. I thought these were supposed to be responsible adults running this country. NOT!!!!!
The problem is not Obama get a consensus across the party divisions in these dark times. But achieving some kind of bipartisan consensus is for discussions and concessions on both sides. Obama knows this, so that was courting Republicans to Congress.
These Republicans don't get it yet. We the people voted for President Obama because we have faith in him to change things, for the good. Give him a chance...!!!!
I know it's popular Democratic fantasy to say that the economy has been hammered the last 8 years, but reality is that it grew up until about a year and a half ago.
Hi, Erica!
Good to see you!
I didn't see that speech at the dem retreat. Maybe a little heavy, but he needs to get on offense. I do hope for bipartisanship. We can get there. "Rousing," "fires up House Dems," maybe that was more the point.
Hope Senate can "hit the sweet spot" as Dana Bash quoted one senator saying about stimulus bill compromise
Obama still sounds like he is on the campaign trail.. he is smart enough to know this economic meltdown did not just start in the last 8 years, certainly the last 8 years did not help, but he should quit his Bush obsession.
Forget the bipartisanship, President Obama, outside of the passion, which is Great to see, simply said lets get it done and now. Look, the people are truly hurting.
I think we need stimulus, not same government spending that we cannot pay off for decades. Democrats saying the sky is falling does not work for me at all. It won't hurt Congress to take a week or two to get the stimulus right instead of pushing through pork bill. My wife and I both lost our jobs last June but still believe a week or two wouldn't hurt.
Once again – impressed! Go President Obama. If we don't get this bill through soon, we aren't going to have anything so save. Time to step up to the plate and stop playing games. Sometimes standing in one spot for very long doesn't work and you have to move! I have all the faith in the world in President Obama! We have had so much game playing for so long – time to stop now!
The dems should not compromise on more tax cuts. Business will not invest new capital until the cash register starts ringing. Tax incentives will not be enough. My disappointment is that there is not more spending on more infrastructure investment, e.g. mass transit, more rail improvements, etc.
Refresh my memory–aren't these the same people that couldn't vote fast enough last fall for Bush's stimulus plan? The one that had no rules attached?
Congressional Republicans have shown they have absolutely NO interest in bipartisan cooperation - as opposed to GOP govs who have shown it is possible. In two years, we will be in every GOP congressional district, knocking on the doors of every unemployed voter, letting them know who FAILED to help them.
Why does the republican party feel like this is all about them,
really we don't need them . President Barack Obama just want to move forward with everyone united as one. This is the 'united' States of America right?
I voted for Obama and am disappointed in the tone he used today. He's taking a page right out of Bush's playbook. Republicans have legitimate concerns about one of the largest bills ever proposed in our history. I'd glad the Republicans are being critical about different parts of the package. That's what legislating is all about. It's not pretty but its democracy.
change, change, change.....its the same old thing.
wait, i will follow my leaders and not pay taxes.
now that is change!
Let,s get this done! The country has spoken. Why should we listen to the very people who created this problem? Americans need help, not political standing. Support Americans! Support President Obama!
I am one of the many who are in jeopardy of losing my home to forclosure and there are rumors of layoffs at my job. if this happens i don't know what me and my family will do, I wonder if this were happening to the Senators who have the power to vote on this Stimulus Bill would they be more likely to stay at the table until a bill is passed. I am very disappointed in the today, like President Obama stated "this is not a game" thousands of americans are losing their jobs with each passing day, something has to give.
Good Evening. I think that President Obama's speech tonight, in addition to shoring up democratic support, was a note to Republicans who are finding any wedge to tear the bill apart for partisan reasons. They do not want it to work. I think the American people are too smart to fall for the Republicans tactics.
I am glad to see Obama speaking out passionately. He's tried to work with the Republicans and all they've done is bite him in return. The Republicans don't know how to compromise. All they know is how to carp, criticize, condemn. They're the ones who put us in this mess to begin with. They have no standing to criticize so far as I am concerned.
Time to get with it and pass the simulus legislation !
Pres Obama hit the hold button on change?? I think the Repubs pressed it for him!
Has common sense gone totally out the window? Aren't these people supposed to be fighting for the people of the United States and not their personal agendas? Take care of the job at hand and worry about the other stuff later. Get the money to the people and small businesses where it belongs and get it there soon.