Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/25/09
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@CaseyJ: Good question about waiting until next year. I agree with you – is it necessary to pile on everything into the first half of the first term? I don't think so. We survived 8 years of Bush with no movement on a range of important issues. We can wait a little bit to let the economyh heat up, and the (R)s to cool down.
Anderson,
I think President Obama is on the mark. It was not to long ago when the auto industry was negotiating with the UAW in order to drop health care benefits for retirees because they were just to expensive.
We sent them to Washington, both no matter their party. As they say, When you send someone on a "fool's errand", why not send a fool.
I feel strongly that President Obama knows what he's doing regarding healthcare.
Let's put this deficit in perspective, The last full year under Bush had a $400 billion deficit. The first year under Obama is $1.3 trillion. That's 3X as much. If he 'cuts' it to $500 million in 4 years, his best year will be worse than Bush's worst year.
The Wealthy may attempt to use the argument about redistributing wealth, however, thats what the GOP has been doing for them and their huge monetary and influential support for decades.
Everytime they hand over more tax cuts to the rich (who dont ever need them, or use them to our benefit), they are:
A) Practicing class warfare against the poor and middle class who pay the ever rising cost of living that has long cut into the median household income in America.
B) Largest shift/Redistribution of wealth to the Top 5% of incomes in the History of America from 2001 to 2009.
C) practicing immoral and unethical behavior. You cannot justify giving people who know how best to make themselves money, more money from the government to spur growth, when everyone knows GDP is consumer driven 75% under normal conditions.
I was not able to listen to his speech until after work, however I am hoping he can make change. The changes will not come easy and all Americans will need to make sacrifices. However, I do think that some fools on Wall Street need to be taken to the woodshed.
Well i don't think it is right or fair! Not the for those who worked for their money! Why should the wealthy have to support the poor? Were we not doing that anyway?
Welfare, Food stamps, hand outs!
Where does the insanity stop? The day the working class decide we have had enough and stop working because it is far better to sit on your rear and pop out kids and not be married right?
There aren't enough rich people to pay for all of these programs and now Obama is trying to nickle and dime the seniors? Who's next?
As I learn more I have less of a problem with earmarks. Most of what I'm aware of are "projects" that benefit local communities in a positive way and adding to trickle down economics.
I "love" the representative from Texas talking about small business...give me a break. Like any of these law makers have a clue about running a business or what small businesses are going through.
Great news that the Governement spent 410 Billion on a credit card my kids have to pay back? Wow
People need to get a job. The governemnt needs to not take payroll taxes for 3 months from the employed. Big businesses need to pay the bill. Ones like Exxon who recorded record profits for how long? Maybe they should buy shares in GM to bail them out.
We're out of money to spend on things? 2/3 is mandatory for the everyday needs of the annual budget.... with Discretionary spending available....? Ali they're still spending... or just beginning to spend.... Sacrifices by some while the spending just expands. Wow.
Well The President said he was going to work to fix Health Care and it appears he's trying to do it. I know it is going to hit a lot of the more wealthy in the pocket book but I guess the whole thing boils down to the fact that there was always a reason not to do it and sol he is taking the attitude that we got to do it so bite the bullet and do it.
How long will the people who make more than 170K be taxed for medicine? All will not benefit with this...
And I suppose you believe in jobs with no benefits and no pensions too, so long as those with, hold down those without and keep their wages low with no healthcare or pensions, than those with, who keep making more poor people wont be able to keep control of the government to keep things skewed... I paid too much ss tax and gas tax so your tax rates could be kept low and that wasnt enough, you had to borrow 5 trillion more in the last 8 years to keep em even lower. Payback is a butch
Evening All – sorry I missed the live speech and the live blog last night – (..funny how life gets in the way of our media consumption time ) – but have caught up with events and I'm again impressed by the tone of President Obama's speech as well as the message.
Actually if you changed the law regarding Social Security and Medicare, it wouldn't be 'mandatory'. People live much longer now, and the retirement age could go up.
If employers have to pay more and more for health care, they aren't spending that money on employees. Then there is the huge public cost of illness, generally. You and I pay for all those people who ae not insured in higher health cafre premiums for ourselves. It's a back door tax.
I hope that the President is able to do something about healthcare. I have it now because of my mom's job, but before she got this job about no one in my immediate family had health insurance.
Glad we have a president that is looing at the long term - rather than the short term fixes, that typically end up costing more in the long run.
That is good plan for to listen, I like Pres. Obama idea to help people for healthcare!
Hello, everyone! Hi Anderson- another busy night. Lots of things to pay attention to-especially the healthcare issues
President Obama was very vibrant and applauded, in the speech that made in Congress yesterday. Now the President needs to show how to make changes and, mainly, do them.
What about all those people who actually worked to get where they are in life? What about all those who WORKED for all that money they have?
Just not fair I know! According to the Democrats it is just not fair for those who do the right thing and work for it and just not fair for the ones who don't bother! We should all take care of the people who just refuse to work for a living right?
@Lindsay......I agree. $410 billion just to get by? Hogwash and ludicrous.
Good Evening, bloggers and AC 360 team! A lot has been announced...can't wait to find what it all will mean
Glad to hear the President is working on health care - I had an illness 5 years ago that if not for the wonderful health care through my employer would have cost me my home (paid for) and left me hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. I feel health care is a basic human right -
Here we go...
Good Wednesday Cooper, Hill. Gergen, Velshi, correspondents, contributers, panel, staff, crew, and team!
Also hello to all new bloggers and veterans: Rikki, EJ, Chris, Brandi, Megan, Vanessa, Glen, and all those others I am forgetting. It's Wednesday – what can you expect?
Anderson can call me a wonk. I'd proudly wear the title.
Wow, Obama is just shoveling borrowed money out the door. The GAO says the deficit is worse than the recession.
Good Night..Blog Friends,Mr.Cooper,Mrs.Hill. Congratulations for Mr.Obama for the great speech last night. I hope all the things he plans for USA..get to be real and very quick and very fast. Brazilian Saudations.
To get a good health care system in place, my family would be willing to pay more
If the government needs 410 billion dollars just to keep it going for the next 7 months then it might be time to wonder if the government is too big, doing too much, while accomplishing too little.
Good evening bloggers! Why can't these changes be implemented right away (or at least next year)? Why do we have to wait until 2011? Too bad for the "wealthy." It's time to pay up.
Spreading the Wealth, well what is new? Democrats!
anderson, how do you feel about the limits on higher income tax brackets, since we all know you earn way more than $250 Gs. lol
Good evening, Anderson, Erica, David G, Megan, David from IN, Megan, EJ, Ashley, Brandi, Esma, Rikki, Bea, Pati Mc, Ashley, Glenn, Vanessa, and all the rest of the faithful bloggers!
Lot of interesting stuff to cover tonight.
Hi everybody. It's great to hear the president tackling healthcare.
630 billion dollar into the spiraling health care reform..... 8 billion to be raised by tax increase to the elderly who have money... over the next decade,,,, will they be around then?
Hi Anderson, CNN team and fellow bloggers, last night was a huge hit here on the blog. Although, I was kicked off repeatedly.
Hey, everyone! All at AC360 and The Vanessas, Brandi, Megan, Chris, Ashley, Rikki, EJ, Isabel, Glen, and the rest of the bloggers!
More big numbers? Great.
good evening everyone..anderson..my smartee bloggers, ac360 crew 🙂
are we gonna be able to view the details of the plan online?
Promises of the President, stress test in banks, stock exchanges in fall, drop in sales of used homes, Whew!
Isabel,
I agree with you too!!!
People need to sit and think.
Does the government need to take our tax dollars and then give them back?
Or should they take the tax dollars from those who make more to give to someone who doesn't make any?
Shouldn't everyone pay the same rate no matter what they make or do?
There is no incentive to do better or work harder.
How many would sit in their free house and eat what's given to them if they didn't have to get up and go to work?
goodevening all! sounds like a great program tonite.
Good evening all!
Good Evening Anderson, Erica and Fellow Bloggers -
Enjoyed last night's show - looking forward to tonight's show.
Question on the budget bill they are working on to keep the govt. afloat through Sept. - does that include the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars or is it just congress not listening to President Obama's directives last night?
Hellooo Anderson, Erica, David G, David IN, Brandi, Casey, Esma, Rikki, Ashley, Chris S, Isabel, VanessaTX, Glen, Michelle D, EJ, Pati and best bloggers!!!!!
Wow!!! there is breaking news for us, Pres. Obama will do it best he can tomorrow, I can't wait to hear from him. 😀
The house has passed a $410 billion bill already today! that is great news!
Good evening Anderson, Erica, Randi and all Bloggers. So what are we instore for tonight?
Hi, Anderson,
Nice to meet you.
Hi, AC360 team and bloggers!
Hello, bloggers!
Hello, Megan, EJ, Mave, Brand, Ashley!, ChrisSosa, Esma, Rikki
Evening for everyone!
The day is great!
Promises of the President, stress test in banks, stock exchanges in fall, drop in sales of used homes, Whew!