Live Blog: President Obama's Speech 3/24
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/02/liveblogfinal.copy.jpg] Here's your chance to weigh in President Obama's speech. What would you ask our panel?? We want to know. Please tell us in the comment section below. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment posted if you follow the rules: 1) Please keep it short 2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (no need to yell) 3) Use your real name 4) No links 5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated, PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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I like this guy...he is smart, and seems very calculated...I sure hope he knows what he is doing, and will not let his ego get in his way when mistakes are recognized in his plan and does nothing to correct or change course due to an inflated ego...
@Jack – Definitely a bit on the sluggish side. But given the subject matter, is anyone really expecting President Obama to say something new or exciting?
And of course my television will remained tuned to CNN. 😉
well, Michelle, I don't believe it is generational...this is not about multi-tasking. we all have to take on several things at once these days. but the range of issues he is trying to engage, while laudable, is also dangerous in washington...simply because, as i've written before, as much as the american public may want 'change,' d.c. usually does not and will fight it vigorously...jimmy carter found that out and it was one of the things that cost him his presidency
Hi Mr. Gray glad you are on this blog.
Miranda
Are the questions scripted today?
@ Tom - I'm rather tired of the "too much at one time" comments we all keep hearing. Don't people realize how these items are interconnected - the so called "big picture" - and that rather putting a band aide on a given problem and hoping the wound doesn't reopen, the president is performing surgery to ensure our overall health for the future? Would like to see President Obama (as he seems to be the administration's best salesman) explain this in further detail - especially to congress and all the "nay sayers."
I feel the same way Jack. I getting a different Ora from him tonight. He is in serious mode.
Hey Jack! It's difficult to watch, listen and think of intelligent things to say. Be nice! LOL.
Tom, That is frightening! How can we get the truth if our leaders are not allowed to be challenged with opposing views and honest questions? If the message is so good they should not be afraid of any question no matter who asks it.
We need to get behind this President and allow him to find a way out of this situation. Gridlock at this moment in time will only prolong the recession.
@jasmine – i wish he would do more informally ... and in a way the leno appearance was to that end .... but this is a "trust your president" night ... and looking big is as important as what he says (in some ways.)
@jo ann – thank you for noticing! dana is the hardest working reporter i know and she is fair but dogged and loves what she does. i will pass on your kind words.
whatever you think of the President he is an excellent communicator.
Jake Tapper's question here is a big one - demcorats beginning to challenge the president's budget math.
Mr. Velshi
If you could single out one thing that would derail or collapse President Obama's financial rescue plan what would it be and why?
Thanks.
Miranda
Doesn't that reporter read the paper and see what most Americans are going through
The problem with Treasury Department staffing – while the administration won't cop to it – is that the restrictions this new administration has imposed in the noble effort to avoid conflict of interest is keeping some of the key people from taking senior jobs. Fact is, this is largely a banking and credit mess, and the people who know most about banking and credit tend to be veterans of the banking industry. And this administration has targetted banks as public enemy number one. No banker worth her salt needs to take a pay cut to join an administration that APPEARS to hate Wall Street and bankers, and face having to sell their already beaten-down stock, AND deal with the future employment restrictions that taking such a job will entail.
When the President should have set the right tone he has chosen not to and went along with the angry mob. The Obama administration has fueled class warfare. Now, I'm shocked he says not to demonize the wealthy. Perhaps now we will see him lead by example. I can only hope Congress follows his lead.
Adrienne Ford Phoenix,AZ
Yesterday The U.S. government acknowledged the obvious: "The financial system is locking the economic recovery"
I think that any company, be it auto, insurance, banks, etc. which asks for a bailout, using tax payers money to save their company from going under and hurting the overall economy, should have all kinds of strings attached to their bailout, so we don't have an AIG repeat.
And as for Americans not making sacrifices, what the heck kind of out-of-touch question is that?
I think that the government is getting too involved in business and it sounds like pretty soon we won't be a Repulic, we'll be The Socialist States of America.
I'm not hearing anything new with this press confrence, Obama is charming and sensible sounding, but his plan is not helping.
hey all..up here in the AC360 newsroom working on our coverage of the president's news conference. is it just me or is this a little sluggish? not that you shouldn't keep your television on CNN... 🙂
the question about asking Americans to sacriface is one of the dumbist that could have been asked
Chuck Todd's question: "Why haven't you asked for sacrifice from the public?"
Better question: Why haven't you asked for sacrifice from the GOVERNMENT?
WHAT? "ask" the public to make sacrifices?? We are! Alot of my friends and relatives have done enough...time and money do not let us "sacrifice" alot
Zach, I agree. He doesn't seem to have that confidence in his voice that he normally has.
Hi Ali and John King...glad you guys are here. Hey...if the Treasury Dept. is short staffed, they should give me a call...I'm a former employee and would be glad to go back lol.
Obama needs to look at the economic crisis as a essay. You got to sit down, spend some time looking at the problem, figure out what needs to be done and then attack it. Keep it simple, go high on the insight, and stay on track.
Our country needs innovation.
This was a weak speech. He's got to stop spending all this money and get to making serious cuts in ineffective programs. That will free up money to be used elsewhere. What ever happened to the scalpel he spoke of last summer?
The AIG thing, its over. Let it go and go on knowing that you need to think through it before giving out money.
While we sacrifice to survive, he's asking for another billion dollar check. STOP IT!
Mr. Foreman maybe it is a generational thing.
Multi-tasking is a most.
@ Tom – I have been concerned about that very thing. There are so many important issues, and understandably he wants to hit them all, but stuff will get lost in translation. I totally agree with you.
It is refreshing to listen to competent, intellectual president. It is educational ....
@ Ali - glad to see you joing in tonight. Is it true that they added two people to the Treasury Dept. today? I think I heard/read that somewhere.
The Geithner plan was a financial engineering to escape of the solution of temporary nationalization of the financial system.
Not one of his better performances tonight....just like the economy...confidence is sinking.
Hello.
My question would be did President Obama know about the last minute writing in that allowed AIG to pay the bonuses in the first place?
Anderson what would your question be of President Obama if you could ask one?
Miranda
It is clear the banking/financial system needs
an overhaul.
Tom, I also like that CNN puts the question on the screen cuz sometimes I get lost in the answer and I forget the question..Kudos, CNN.. I like that feature
If that is true, why did he vote for the first TARP money without any conditions attached?
I find the question about supporting the treasury department redundant. Any smart American who listened to their American History class knows that the markets are based on fear.
President Obama is answering the first question in a surprisingly candid manner. Nice to see.
Ali raises an important point: probably the single biggest worry I hear from experienced political hands, in favor or opposed to the President's policies, is that he is simply taking on so much at once that he will untimately be buried in the details...especially by power players in the economy and politics who stand to lose if his plans succeed. good on ya, ali.
Never makes me feel good when the presidents speech is interrupted by teleprompter issues....does he know what hes talking about.
I will be watching and following this blog. Can't wait what he has to say tonight.
@Tom..I noticed that about this POTUS is that he calls out and has a list of reporters that are gonna be called..I hope it continues
how do you get on the "list" of questioners?
I cant count how many times I have received pre approved credit cards in my mail..and I have bad credit...I feel the credit card companies that send out these pre approved credit cards to people THEY KNOW cant afford them is wreckless and plain greedy and it contibuted to all of this. Credit card companies should be penalized in some way for these practices.
Like the fact that he's reiterating we all need to work together. Hope congress is listening!
@ John King
Thanks for the info ... very interesting!
@ Ali, if the Treasury Dept is understaffed, I am sure there are plenty of qualified people who are needing good jobs.
@ John King – thank you for that awesome info on the East Room. Very interesting.
I hope there aren't any strange questions going to be asked, like the A-Rod one....
Do you think he will address boarder patrol?
John...the East Room press conferences, especially the walk down hall, are my favorite addresses that the President can give...I love the beauty of it and the history of it all!