Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/25/09
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8 to 9 thousand jobs.... it is good...
@Megan..Right!!..Not yet 😛
@Erica..Tomorrow will feels like Friday, I'm afraid.
Do we need more jet now? I can't weight between building more jobs and building more jet. Is it worth it?
I thought Malia had allergy of dog, Are they adopted dog yet or not?
Sharon so was I taught to take care of my self, but i was taught morals too which include NOT taking things from other people or putting them down for my advantage, thats just plain wrong.
Deductions arent going away, but if u make 500K and are sporting a 1.5 million buck house, you wont be able to deduct all the interest, the purpose of the deduction is to encourage home ownership NOT mansion ownership..
All this talk about giving to the poor being bad, JESUS is the one crying when jindal talks about not increasing unemployment insurance or subsidizing cobra. He also hated selfserving greed. Reread your bible
Tracy – Unfortunately, whether it's a pleasant thought or not, you need to give money to the banks. The thing that has, according to most economists, the biggest and best effect for the entire economy, is making sure that the banks are solvent. This effects the economy more than any tax cuts or stimulus packages. The banks cannot be allowed to fail or that means real trouble.
Ashley – Hamlin, NY February 25th, 2009 10:10 pm ET
Oh, Mike (syracuse) can you ever say anything positive? I need Xanax just listening to you. How would YOU solve the crisis?
1. Let poorly run businesses fail. The economy will be better in the long run(the GAO and many economists agree) That goes for banks too.
2. Pay points to allow mortgages to be refinanced at 4% at the original mortgage amount. Banks would have performing loans. Homeowners will need to stay in their homes until they aren't underwater and can sell for more than they owe.
3. Use tax credits to make alternative energy cheaper than oil.
4. Build a high speed rail (similar to Japan, France) in the East and West Coast corridors.
I do have an issue with the way Obama is planning on funding the overhaul of the healthcare industry. He is planning on taxing the "rich"..those making over $250,000 and cutting the amount of deductions they are entitled to. Supposedly this will contribute over 400$ Billion over 10 years. My issue is that many physicians that make that kind of money make a HUGE sacrifice in their personal lives to work hard. Many have lots of school loans and page huge malpractice bills and can be sued at any time. It seems unfair that many of those physicians will be penalized more for being "successful" and realizing the American dream, while taking cuts in reimbursement and having to essential fund the overhaul with their own hard earned money. Where is the responsibility of all those that cause harm to themselves? Drunk trauma patients? Smokers, alcoholics, drug abusers?
Its not like our elderly in this country don't have it bad now. Most of them can not even pay for the drugs they are to take . It is a choose between eating or the medicine or maybe keeping on the electric. How many years have we heard about the elderly freezing because they could not pay the electric or gas bill? Stay away from the elderly!
@Allen...after living through this mess, the "young" will have a completely different approach to credit, investing, and money in general. They willbe much more responsible and highly suspect of all those financial institutions, foreign debt, real estate transactions, and businesses directly related to this mess.
I trust gov't to do a terrific job in fixing healthcare. They care about us and the needs of average Americans and have done a fine job in improving our lives through wonderfully financed programs like welfare, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid. Gov't should take over the banks, auto, aviation, and oil industries for the good of the country and the global community and switch us to solar powered cars and bicycles. Keep up the great work, guys!
@ Mike: How old do you want me to be when I retire? Maximum SS is about $2,800 today. That will be about 5 bags of groceries in 20 years.
Good Evening Anderson Cooper:
I am really irritated about the 8000+ pork projects for 2010. Since the government is already giving each state money to assist governors in helping citizens, creating jobs, etc., I think the President should tell Congress "We have given your state its bail out." Go back to home to your constituents and elected state officials and help them spend the money as effectively as possible. NO PORK...NO BULL!!!!!
Thank you for the opportunity to vent.
Celeste
Anderson, you were completely justified in saying that it was pathetic for Congressmen to wait 12.5 hours to position themselves for camera time. I'd like to know how much of our tax payer dollars were paid in salary for that 12.5 hours of posturing.
Erica – thanks for telling us that the Stevie Wonder concert will be aired on pbs tom. I will tivo while I am being tortured at college with a hazmat test that is way over my head. it will be something fun to come home to aside from watching 360, blogging w my homies and watchin your webcasts of course
"Who in their right mind wants to get on board a sinking ship?"
Clearly we have changed captains on the Titanic, a smart person would see it's time to head for a lifeboat.
The webcan, today, is perfect!
Thanks!
I was never Pro Obama I was never pro anyone actually! Still waiting for a miracle!
@Michelle – in case you have not noticed the previous administration already did one heck of a job of running the government into the ground. President Obama is just trying to clean up the mess!
yes it is a shame that some of the people of congress have nothing better to do, then To sit on there for half a day....What a waste!!!
I think someone should ask Engel's constituents what they think about him wasting their time.
I would rather President Obama take his time in selecting people for the job postings than have the wrong people in there in the first place.
I am happy that Mr. Bush is moving on with his life now if we can only keep Mr. Cheney doing the same on a permanent basis it would be well for the country as a whole.
Miranda
Anderson:
Thanks for sharing your view re: congressmen waiting hours to see the President. I must admit I have been very busy with my increased workload because of the economy and understand that we all, but for a few congressmen, are short on time...Nonetheless I found myself watching Obama's speech while on the treadmill. I did note the oddity of senators with programs in hand, vying for Obama's signature on their copies. I will certainly remember than come election time.
erica,
i have no clue what day it is. lol
Anderson, I have no idea if you're jaded or not, but I agree with your sentiment. Personally, I don't think I could warm a bench for 12.5 hours for anyone.
Excellent response! All us bloggers have your back.
Umm...I think that Senator felt there was a little too much truth in Anderson's comment. It's crazy to wait that long to see anyone! I agree, who has that kinda time?
My daughter and her family live in Canada and they have nothing but praise for their medical coverage....180.00 a month which is tax deductible to cove medical coverage, dental coverage for a family of four. There are no restrictions on what their doctors perscribe, nothing about preconditions and the care my granddaughter received when she needed heart surgery due to a birth defect was amazing. The cost to my daughter....her premium costs.....which never went up either.
Canadians seem to stick together as a country. We however would rather believe in myths and say "it is too much"...what happened to the American spirit. I will gladly pat a cost for my medicine to help provide care for people who do not have the resources I have.
@Ron...one persons earmark is another person's solution to create jobs...it's a perspective issue
It does seem like spending into the stratosphere, but seems like the healthcare fund is a savings account, unusual like David Walker said.
Getting kind of raucous on the 360 set after your reply to Rep. Engle Anderson, as I can telll by your Webcast Erica. It is something to note, but give him pts for being so excited Anderson...
Megan did that 410B bill pass the House tonight? The omnibus budget?
Yes, the dog!
I like this! So much!
"Our government and Our President are running our country into the ground."
I am no Obama fan, but I fail to see how a logical person can blame Obama and Co. who have been in office for 30 days and give a pass to Bush and Co for the outrages of the past eight years.
How does Timothy Geithner have time to get anything done? He seems to be managing every new program and idea the president throws out.
pathetic was not too strong of a word. i'd like to get paid just to sit 12.5 hours and wait.
Greetings to All! Good for you Anderson, for pointing out that time spent waiting for a 'moment' with the President is pathetic! And good for you for your classy statement in regards to the newspaper statement! If I were one of their constituents I wouldn't be happy about it at all!It was a pathetic waste of taxpayer money that pays their salaries.Hey, I would have gladly stood there for hours for free!!
Hill...I actually posted 'Happy Thursday' in my greeting today. Are you reading my mind again?
Awww how cute he called him self a mute as to the dog they are looking for. 🙂
@Christine- Honoring Steve Wonder is never wasteful! He was being honored for the Gershwin Award.
Hello AC, concerning your comment about the NY Representative who waited for 12 and 1/2 hour to shake President Obama's hand...WELL SAID...smack him again. As a concerned individual I sure hope that my Represenative will find a better use of his/her time!
Mike in Syracuse, I think it's common knowledge that President Bush was dishonest about his deficit. He didn't include the very expensive wars in the deficit, and used other tricks to fudge the numbers. President Obama did away with all of that trickery in order to be honest with the american people about the deficit.
oh, that is so cute... a mud... like him... Obama is awesome...
@Erica: Friday can't come soon enough for me! So....I wish it was Thursday! However, since it is Wed (hump day), everything will just go downhill from here! 🙂
I am shocked that President Obama considers $170,000/year wealthy for senior citizens. It sounds like a lot of money, but in places like California and New York and many other places, this is what it takes to live on. Besides that, why would we punish those senior citizens for planning their retirement. I am sickened. President Obama needs to stop driving a wall between the socioeconomic classes. He is dividing our country.
All you young people that think it is great that Obama is giving you everything will wake up some day and realize that you will have to pay for all this free ride. The rich don't pay taxes. They have accountants put there money where it isn't taxable. All senators are millionaires and they don't pay taxes. They pass the laws but exempt themselves. Get out of your fantasy world and grow up. I quit paying taxes, the bills are all yours.
Erica, I thought it was Thursday at work today, too. It was weird, because I don't usually work Thursday nights so I don't know why that happened–perhaps you and I caught the same bug?
If Mr. Geithner doesn't quickly take a Dale Carnegy course, we won't have an economy anymore. Perception counts.
Who in their right mind wants to get on board a sinking ship? Or, worse, join the bailing team and be thrown overboard as it nears the shore? This is a dangerous profession in dangerous times.
Andy, you should have roundhouse snapped after that comment.... Brilliant!
If they eliminated payroll taxes from all American employees as well as the employers portion for 3 months.
The money would be freed up now where it's need, in the peoples and businesses hands.
That would help the economy now.
Michael Feldmen looks terrific.... after all these years.
I'm sure they were doing work while they were sitting there. They do have aids who run around working for them. But yes, getting there 12 hr. early is a bit sad.
Good evening Erica! It did feel like Thursday today! Hopefully I remember that tomorrow is actually Thursday so I don't arrive an hour late to work! 🙂
LOL Erica! I have my day-of -the-week- challenged moments. I know what you feel like.