Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/6/09
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This group sounds like the 42% of Americans that agree with the stimulus package. Wow! What happen to working your way thru school. I did and never borrowed any money. Three jobs and long nites. We do not need the government to bail us out. The jobs I had were minimum wage jobs. But I did what my forefathers did-do not depend on the government-government will fail you.
Hey Erica,
Regarding the Webcam....Couldn't see the guy you were talking to..no lights. FYI
As the richest of the rich get their bailouts, everyone talks about the struggling middle class and the "upper middle class", but why is the working class never mentioned? Those of us that make 20,000 a year to 45000 a year tops? This day in age, not all of us have cars.
Wow... all this fighting because of 100 billion when during the past 8 years the republicans took a one trillion surplus and created nearly a two trillion debt.
This stimulus bill should protect bank's deposits, release credit and provide jobs like lots of projects for construction and infrastructure, like Roosevelt did for the depression. Everything else we can worry about later. It is disappointing that Democrats used this crisis for their "earmarks" and Republicans used it for partisan blackmail.
It makes them all look greedy and not caring about the American people's pain.
A briliant idea i have thought of was to reiterate what Jon Stewart said on his show, yes Jon Stewart. We have lived in a society where trickle down economics haven't done so well. You go back to the medievil ages and they had tons of reforms in government! We should go the opposite way and have trickle up economics..
This entire country is going down. Scary! Pass the stimulus so people don't end out in the streets.
Happy Friday, all.
A spoonful of bipartisanship is good enough right now–we need this thing passed. But why is it that the President and the Democrats are the only ones being accused of partisan politics here? The Republicans are digging in their heels and no matter how much compromise there is, the vast majority won't vote for the bill–so when the numbers lean heavily toward the blue, the Democrats will take the brunt of the criticism for refusing to be bipartisan–when the Republicans are being just as stubborn if not more. "We won't vote for this if you don't give us exactly what we want" is not bipartisanship.
By the way, Anderson–I heard through the grapevine that Kathy Griffin is coming back for NYE 2010–that is awesome news. I'm thrilled and will definitely be watching you guys next year. 🙂
Listening to the Senators debate is like watching kids fighting over a toy, can we send that lovely Mr. Ackerman fella we saw blasting the SEC to get this package rolling? I'm so sick of this mess!
So I am not overly thrilled with the money being pulled from the education section. Especially because I happen to be a public-college attending part-time job student who can barely afford to keep going despite a high GPA.
Hill...what will we do without you next week?
i don't need stimulus ,i need a 30 year fixed loan and a honest lender.
Will someone please tell John McCain and his GOPalin buddies that tax cuts don't help people who don't have jobs and businesses that are going bankrupt.
I guess he still thinks the fundamentals of the economy are strong.
Well, Country first to him mean the Country Club Set first
It is their policies that created the problems and they think more of the same is the right answer.
Responsible Republican governors support the stimulus but that doesn't matter to McCain and the GOPalins in the Congress
What is wrong with the U.S. government is our own fault. We keep on and on giving out and we don't have to much to back our own up with. It will hurt us in the long run. Why can't people see this?
Thought 'economic' of the moment:
'If you're feeling alone, abandoned, thinking that nobody calls you ... late a payment. "
Erica, our representatives are not doing us any favors. They should be working 24/7 (just like some of US do in our day-to-day jobs). There's no excuse to not arrive at a solution, soon (or even already).
Anderson – the bill is closer to 826 Mil – I heard earlier. So... not important but just a slightly different number.
Thanks David in Indiana agree with me!!!! I hope so.... I wish they would pass this weekend...... *finger crossed*
First time blogger here:
1. What are the programs being cut in Education as Pork???
2. Regarding the bailout for banks....why not set a limit on how long the banks can keep the funds in their hands. Give them 6 months to get the loans made or the money is returned to the government!
3. As an American taxpayer / citizen I am getting more and more upset with government officials that seem to think they have all the time in the world to sit around and 'discuss' the economy recovery while people are losing their homes, jobs, etc. If they can't do the job they were sent there to do, throw the bums out!! I live in California and being hit with a double whammy!
I would like to here what the angry old mans plan is, John Mccain. I looked at this bill I can see that much pork, if anything its not big enough.
Oh yeah...one more thing...Republicans keep talking about how this spending is going be on the backs of our children, but yet, they cut education funding for our youth. Are you serious?
I wish this were an episode of Punk'd I t would be a bad joke but paging Ashton Kutcher a little humour please there's so much gloom.
They need to work hard they want to take a vacation recess soon.
I wonder, if they dont pass this, will they still go on recess? Or will Obama make the stay?
I just do not think this will go through. There is too much push back by the republicans that believe ONLY in tax cuts. They do not want any spending because of the debt they created.
Have they added tax cuts for utility or state incentives for solar systems. You currently have to declare these incentives as taxable income even though they come from state tax revenue or utility surcharges.
why not use script: provide to everyone vouchers good for purchases of durables and non-durables; no cash or credit back. this way, a true stimulus to the economy. this can be in addition to tax credits, that are earmarked for specific sections (autos purchaes, a la Sen Harkin), making homes and business more energy efficient, etc. less pet projects to argue over; and fast input of dollars into the mainstream economy
Anderson,
What is the problem with America spending money on things that are tangible? America is in trouble, both financially and physically... Here is an idea, lets boost one by helping the other. I mean truely, what kind of America do we have to look forward to if we dont have any jobs and have a crumbling national infrastructure.
~Nathan M.
'I don't understand why some paytaxeers" are against about Obama's insight project ....Where they proud when them money were used for killing children , making rich some managers ...etc
Anderson: I just got through listening to sound bites from John McCain on MSNBC. Did he really say that the bill was too spendingand not enough tax cuts a few minutes after he said that everyone now realizes that tax cuts won't work?
WOW these water landings are starting to become more common...they are giving a run for the actual airports...they might even want to add boats to these airplanes
Good evening Anderson and David:
I appreciate the concern of adding everything but the kitchen sink to the stimulus bill, but again lets not forget, 8 years, 8 years, 8 years of what has gotten us to this place.
Another thing that I don't think is emphasized is how many things we have lost over this time" the economy, health care, education, de=regulation to everything resulting in tainted food etc.
We have to invest in rebuilding this country. Some medical issues like the bird flu could be catastrophic to this country. If you look to history things like the plague etc. was also ignored by the Government until it was too late. I feel some of these issues are not discussed enough. We have lost a great deal over the past 8 yrs, and it is going to take along time to repair.
the president needs to reverse the bush decision to not allow us common folk declare bankruptcy.You have to stop working and make 40 grand a year or less to bk.Let those who want to bk and clean out the bad debt.They buy everything with cash and money goes back into the system.
John McCain made a big mistake . He allied himself
with the wrong group of Repubs.
Funny that the republicans call any spending on green technolgy or investments and education all pork spending.
But they fight to get more tax cuts for the rich and lower the top marginal tax rate from 33 to 25%.
McCain and the rest of these hoodlums don't get it. In 2010 Amercan voters should continue throwing the GOP out.
Joe Johns – AC360 Correspondent. Thanks for the $780 billion stimulus information.
Hey Anderson,
I keep hearing the republicans claiming that the stimulus bill is just more spending and will add to the size of government leading to a huge national debt. Where were they when Bush invaded Iraq. A war of choice which should never had been fought and resulted in over a trillion dollars of spending. I didn't hear them squauking about the cost of the war and it's adding to the deficit. I hope the republicans continue to be their partisan selves. Come the 2010 elections, the republicans will become an endangered species!
Brett
Are the american people going to have any of this bill sent out like Bush did in a package. I am married w/3 kids. We could really use a check like we got last year. I'm lucky when I lost my job last May my wife got a job within 2 weeks. But we could use another check like last summer. Thank you Anderson and all the CNN news crew for keeping the american people informed.
Evening folks.
Anderson, why do you seem to be placing fault with President Obama for the lack of bipartisanship? He tried his best and I can't help but wonder why the media isn't holding the Republican's feet to the fire for not responding in kind. You can't be bipartisan if only one side is trying to do what's right for the country.
Instead of just blogging about the cuts to school construction, people should write to their congress people.
The problem with tax cuts are that when the economy is moving again and it is time to pay the bill, all the Senators and Mouse members who are up for election will not have the spine to raise them again!!
Pertaining to octuplits: How much does the invetrofertilization process cost, in general?
Erica,
They need to do overtime!
That does not make any harm to them and, perhaps, very well for us!
Hi Erica! Happy Friday to you also. Why did this week seem to take forever? Glad I'm not working in Washington right now.
And while the Senate is focusing on their posturing and public primping, more and more people wonder how they are going to keep their children fed, with each passing day.
Thanks for having "Downtown Willie Brown" on the show! Willie Brown is great!
Good evening Anderson, Erica, The crews, and bloggers.
If cutting it down some would pass the stimulus plan faster, and no way else, I think it is what must be done must be done. I just hope that will drop the educational part, though. I just think education is too important to compromise.
Could they stop playing games and focus on how to make the situation better already?
Sorry, I am late, but I was "discussing" the cruelty of aerial hunting on Larry's blog.
I think you could make a case for almost anything that creates jobs, but the question is what types of jobs are they creating? Are they short-term Band-Aid jobs or long term jobs that will substantially change the job market?
I am glad they cut the water park; I don't understand what it was doing in there in the first place!
Anderson, you can't say the President isn't being Bipartisan. He is. The Republicans just want to be the opposition. The democrats have sacrificed so much in this bill. 42% tax cuts. What! The republicans just want to stand in the Presidents way.
Well Erica, here's the good thing. We joke about this in DECA all the time. At least they might be able to dress in Business Casual!
I agree with those who are calling for cutting the tax cuts out of the bill. Tax cuts only benefit the wealthy and I'm really sick and tired of the Repubs beating this same, old, tired drum. Tax cuts don't work. The wealthy only keep the extra money for themselves, it doesn't 'trickle down'.
The package looks comprehensive, but also appears to be spreading the money too thin over too many different ideas. Yes we need money for education, but will that create the jobs we need? I believe the most important part of the package is the money for the new power grid, which is obviously under funded. Take a page from FDR and spend the amount of money needed to achieve a few great ideas that will bring America into the next century and provide the backbone of a new economy.
my concern is that even if we do get money flowing again and people back to work and spensing – that we will be spending our money again on foreign made goods and foreign energy. i know the top economists says this and that – but does anyone really understand this complex thing we call the global economy?
In regards to the tax cuts, what company is going to add employees when no one is purchasing their products? And as for the tax cuts for working people, that also doesn't put people back to work. People need confidence in order to spend money.
I'm not quite understanding the focus on bipartisanship. At this point, we need a bill that works, not one that placates Republicans at the expense of the American people. I do not want to see a perfectly good bill watered down any more than it has been over especially the last week.