Your opinion on the job that President Obama is doing so far (1 Viewer)

[DrJ]

There is something that pains me to see people "strongly disapproving" of Obama and yet somehow we voted Bush into office twice. In a lot of ways I guess it's to be expected given the monumental expectations for Obama, but when you look at the state of the things when he took over, I mean, come on. Did we really just expect that little from Bush?I have friends here in NYC (many in the financial industry) 1) complaining about bailouts (many of which saved their jobs), 2) complaining about "all the new taxes", and 3) complaining about the state of the economy. Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead? And what about his administration so far is it that you disapprove of most?(For the record, I voted mildly approve, as I think there are certain situations he could have handled better)

It's like dating a girl that just got out of a long term, unhealthy relationship. Whenever you do something wrong (that she doesn't like), you remind her of the way things were in the past relationship.Sad, really.

More like you dump a whore that is cheating on you and has herpes, and talk about how great your new cheating whore is because she doesn't have herpes. And every time one of your buddies reminds you that she's still a cheating whore, you use the cheating whore with herpes as a basis for comparison to explain how terrific she really is.If Obama was so terrific, his supporters wouldn't need to keep bringing up the cheating whore with herpes. He'd prove to be terrific on his own merits.

Uh, ok, so you don't like politicians then? In any case, I think you're mixing up analogies. Who mentioned herpes? Is that new Godwin's Law?And please note, I didn't say he was "so terrific", that he was doing a perfect job, or even that I believe in many of the things he's done so far. I just find it curious that so many are willing to put the blame entirely on the new administration when clearly the problems go back well more than 2 months. Especially with expectations going in, he was kind of effed either way... dealt a ####ty hand, and anything he does is going to piss someone off.And so back to my serious question - for those who "seriously disapprove" of Obama, did you approve of the job that Bush did?

Because my biggest issues with him isn't his policies. McCain was going to blow a bunch of money too, so it's not like you're getting anything different there. My problem has been with character issues. At least in Obama you were supposed to get a guy that whether you agreed with his policies you would at least have to admire his character. And he's hired a bunch of tax dodgers. For all of the change he was supposed to bring, he brought in lifetime politicians into most of his cabinet. I understand his desire to balance his inexperience some, but how about some fresh perspective somewhere in there, anywhere. He's pointed the finger at other people for things he was very much partly responsible for like Tarp I, which he flew back and made a big political show of mid campaign. And voted for it mind you. It passed by a pretty narrow margin and needed several attempts and a bunch of additional pork to pass, so him coming out in opposition of it certainly could have helped shift public sentiment with the pull he already had at that point. But no, he was in favor of it and now wants to pass the buck for it. He's passed bills that contained gobs of earmarks in them and pointed the finger at the last administration, despite the fact that he was the one that signed it and he was in congress last year when the bill was being discussed and should have been well aware of the wasteful spending in it well before he got to the office (assuming he read it). There is no evidence of the character that so many of you, and he himself, told us that we should be expecting. When many were concerned about his experience that's all we heard about - he was clearly hired for his supposed character more than anything. And no - I don't approve of the job Bush did either. But at least he didn't sit up there and try and act like he was some different breed of politician here to get rid of corruption either, so I don't hold him quite as accountable for his character issues as I do Obama. Obama even had the balls to call his budget "an honest assessment of where we are", a clear shot at Bush's administration. That's fine and all, Bush deserves those shots, assuming it is actually honest and accurate. I'll withhold complete judgement until we see the final numbers, but I think we're all pretty sure that the defecit is going to larger than he's said. And it would be very in line with what the rest of what he's done here. Call out other people for their character issues and flaws, suggest you're something far better, and then try and point the finger when you don't deliver or popular opinon on the matter has changed. That's not a new breed of politician, that's just a politician.And on top of it all, he has the balls to get up on Leno and say that finger pointing and a lack of accountability is one of the biggest problems in Washington at this point. How about he starts with himself.

 

[Fennis]

Can I get a list of what he's actually done so far?

Leno and he got a nice NCAA bracket

A serious list.

Promises Kept: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/promise-kept/In the works: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/in-the-works/

compromise: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...ngs/compromise/

ormises broken: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...promise-broken/

 

[DrJ]

Can I get a list of what he's actually done so far?

Leno and he got a nice NCAA bracket

A serious list.

Promises Kept: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/promise-kept/In the works: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/in-the-works/

compromise: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...ngs/compromise/

ormises broken: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...promise-broken/

Delivering the honesty, intergrity, and professionalism to Washington that has been missing for some time was one of his promises too. That belongs on the promises broken list.

 

[Fennis]

Can I get a list of what he's actually done so far?

Leno and he got a nice NCAA bracket

A serious list.

Promises Kept: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/promise-kept/In the works: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...s/in-the-works/

compromise: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...ngs/compromise/

ormises broken: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promis...promise-broken/

Delivering the honesty, intergrity, and professionalism to Washington that has been missing for some time was one of his promises too. That belongs on the promises broken list.

It appears they are tracking 500 promises (http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/subjects/) he made during the campaign. From what I have seen the promises tracked are more objective than something more vague like delivering honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I voted for him and I mildly disapprove. I feel like his policy is irresponsible and drives us further from the principles of personal responsibility and ambition that built this great nation. That said, I hope he knows something I don't and at least he's guided us closer to principle itself.

Hold on. You actually thought that he would advocate personal responsibility and ambition? x eleventy bajillion

 

[Chadstroma]

Mildly Disapprove.

My criticism is well documented in these parts- mainly concerning fiscal policy. However, I like the direction he is going with education and I like how he has handled Afghanistan and Iraq (so far).

The out of control spending and direction concerning fiscal policy is really a drag on his adminstration early on and likely will be moving forward as he continues to push the redoubling, reinforcing and expanding of the welfare state. I really wish that he would take cues from Clinton and move forward akin to him than trying to create a New New Deal that is going to cause some massive economic issues in the long term.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I think The Economist article linked to in another thread is quite good.

 

[jamny]

I chose mildly disapprove but wish there was just a "disapprove" option.

 

[wadegarrett]

Didn't vote for him and I voted 'Neutral.'It's only been 2 f'in months!

Do you have an opinion on his first 2 months? Or time will tell?

latter

Didn't vote for him and I voted 'Neutral.'It's only been 2 f'in months!

Did you miss the "so far" part of the question?

no...did you miss the 'Neutral' part of my answer?

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

He is doing exactly what I thought he would do and most of it I strongly disagree with.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Didn't vote for him and I voted 'Neutral.'It's only been 2 f'in months!

Do you have an opinion on his first 2 months? Or time will tell?

latter

Didn't vote for him and I voted 'Neutral.'It's only been 2 f'in months!

Did you miss the "so far" part of the question?

no...did you miss the 'Neutral' part of my answer?

 

[Rayderr]

Liked a lot of the stuff Obama has done so far. Lifting the gay ban for the military (not sure why it's gotta take 2 years) lifting ban on embryonic stem cell research. But the reckless spending is a killer.

 

[Balance]

National Pain Care Policy Act passed...

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

can we get away from the partisan bickering for a second and just stick to the question at hand. We don't have to get into the petty stuff.

After you!

here's my take. I didn't vote for him. But after he was elected I was hoping he'd show some promise of actually performing in a way that lived up remotely to the hype surroounding his "historic" election and a new "post partisan" way of getting things done. But in actuality the very first thing he accomplished in office was to target the opposition and ram through a completely partisan massive spending package. The famous quote "I won" as he told the Republican caucus they could get on board or sit it out. That's fine, after all he did win, but if you're going to say one thing and do another, don't complain if it blows up in your face. I've seen a lot of that from the Obama team, a lot of announcing one thing to the media, while doing another thing in reality. IN this regard, he's no different than any other politician, he's calculating and scheming and playing the game. So one of the ideas of his election is completely meaningless at this point.

The bill that was watered down with almost half of it being a pointless, token "tax relief" to appease conservatives? That has been Obama's main problem for me - he is trying to hard to make everyone happy and in the end making no one happy.

As for him being a performer, someone that leads effectively and sets a good tone for the nation, so far I've seen a lot of amateurism and fingerpointing, a lot of telling us how dire the economy is then coming out after the stimulus bill passed and saying "maybe its not that bad". It seems like he's more concerned about passing his agenda through scare tactics and fearmongering than actually doing whats best for the country. For that I see him as no different than **** Cheney talking about nukes over Washington DC. So far i"d give his administration an F.

If he stopped trying to avoid labels like "liberal" and "socialist" or even "communist" and just started seizing these failed businesses by buying them outright instead of bailing them out; if he stopped trying to one up W in the futile effort of controlling Afghanistan; if he stopped letting Republicans pack bills with pork; etc., etc. he would being doing a much better job.I'm fearful of the deficit levels of the next budget becoming the norm and not the exception. I'm concerned that we haven't learned the lesson of the Soviet Union with what can and cannot be accomplished in Afghanistan. I'm concerned that the administration doesn't seem willing to go "all in" with the kinds of changes that this nation really needs to rid of itself of the "fend for yourself" mentality of modern conservatism that has been destroying this nation and the "we'll take care of everything" liberal notions of the "Great Society". I don't want Obama to be a 70's style "tax and spend" democrat, nor a 90's style "new democrat". I just want good, solid, honest, pragmatic leadership. While I think most real answers to our problems are in the center and not on the left or right, I don't want "lead from the center" to mean pandering to both sides. It is time to do what is right for the country without regard of who might get pissed off and not vote for you in four years.

So far things have been so fast and so furious that it is hard to impossible to keep up with what I agree with and I don't. Based on the constant whining of those that are 0 for history I cannot help but approve on some level, but it is way too early to really digest let alone have a clue as to whether Obama is leading us off in the right direction or not. So I find hard to believe that anyone that is rating the first two months "strongly" anything is being all that honest in the evaluation. I do understand strongly [not] approving the direction that he seems to be taking the nation, but I don't think that is really the question.

 

[Mr.Pack]

Can I get a list of what he's actually done so far?

Leno and he got a nice NCAA bracket

A serious list.

Those 2 things above and flung our country in communism, Comrade KRS.Obama has been a total ###### for the country so far, and they can no longer blame a thing on Bush. So glad I am in Utah right now, where conservatism reigns supreme.

Perhaps ironically, many economists agree that nationalization of (some of) the banks would have been the best answer in the short term - and provide the best possible returns for the taxpayers - but that was a political pill no one wanted to swallow. I still fail to see how anyone can "no longer blame a thing on Bush". The situation we're in wasn't manufactured overnight and is the result of a lot of things - not the least of which is poor regulatory oversight, unchecked greed, lack of accountability. These stem back into the Bush and even Clinton administrations.

I do find it funny listening to the capitalists on Wall St begging for the bailouts - the same ones who I hear complain about taxes etc. Real capitalism means you let the weak companies fail - but they change their tune when it's their survival.

Nationalization of banks, nationalization of the auto companies now, what's next? Oh healthcare will be next, and on and on......Where does it stop?

 

[Mr.Pack]

So I'm supposed to believe that ALL of the conservatives strongly disapprove, AND that the people whose taxes he's raising think that he shouldn't raise THEIR taxes? This poll proves everything we never knew!

You should probably stick to the poker discussions. You are money there, politically not so much.

 

[Reaper]

So I'm supposed to believe that ALL of the conservatives strongly disapprove, AND that the people whose taxes he's raising think that he shouldn't raise THEIR taxes? This poll proves everything we never knew!

1st I'm hearing of this... How many FBG's are really in the tax bracket getting raised?

From what I'm reading, people are questioning SPENDING, not taxes... I think a lot of people can't really grasp what a Trillion dollars is.. I keep thinking of Dr. Evil "One MILLION dollars" when reading posts here as if the numbers are close - A million, a billion eh, a trillion, whatever it takes.

.. And most of this talk is by people who criticized Bush's spending.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I voted "No opinion" but I could have been talked into "mildly disapprove." I can't vote "strongly disapprove" because Obama doesn't seem to be doing the 180 on the WOT that I was mildly worried about, so he gets points for that.

It goes without saying that I'm unhappy with Obama's economic policies, some of which are downright stupid/evil (reducing the tax exemption on charitable contributions for example). I also don't like how the administration is playing along with Congress' sudden thuggishness toward business, but then again that's really a product of Congress, not Obama. Obama's budget is revolting, but he inherited such a mess that it's hard not to give the guy something of a break and I'm guessing that McCain's economic policies wouldn't be all that different. In fact, I'm pretty confident that McCain would be even more of an ####### when it comes to bashing private firms like AIG and whipping up ugly populism.

Obama loses some points for a some really crappy appointments (Daschle, Geithner, the various lobbyists that he promised not to appoint) and he loses points for television overexposure (the NCAA bracket thing was Chavez-esque). But those things are small potatoes and lots of other administrations have stumbled out of the gate but went on to find their sea legs.

Overall, he hasn't done anything to permanently turn me off in the first two months of his administration. I'm sure he'll figure something out in time, but for now I'm still sort of reserving judgement.

 

[PatsWillWin]

There is something that pains me to see people "strongly disapproving" of Obama and yet somehow we voted Bush into office twice. In a lot of ways I guess it's to be expected given the monumental expectations for Obama, but when you look at the state of the things when he took over, I mean, come on. Did we really just expect that little from Bush?

It seems like you think there's some kind of contradiction here, I'm not seeing it. It's okay to say that Bush's administration, by most measures, was a failure, and still have a negative opinion of the first two months of Obama's administration. Nobody is saying Obama walked into a good situation, but that doesn't mean he's free from criticism or accountability. Also, it's been a pretty drastic 2 months.

I have friends here in NYC (many in the financial industry) 1) complaining about bailouts (many of which saved their jobs), 2) complaining about "all the new taxes", and 3) complaining about the state of the economy.

They sound like hypocrites.

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead? And what about his administration so far is it that you disapprove of most?

I'll go top 3:1. The $780 billion stimulus package that, from what I have seen, is little more than giant pork bill that will ultimately not be effective at stimulating the economy.2. The amatuerish manner in which the Geithner plan was rolled out, and the plan itself, which makes a clear decision to give a huge and unnecessary risk-free deal to hedge fund/private investors while hanging the taxpayers with almost of the backing and all of the risk.3. Contributing to the wave of class-warfare that has developed, the height of which being when he got in front of the cameras to talk about how "outraged" he was about AIG bonuses that his administration either knew about (and is therefore lying about) or was too incompetent to prevent when they doled out the bailout money in the first place. If nothing else, Obama was the symbol of a "historic" election and hope and all that crap, and we have an atmosphere now that is just as divisive as it was 6 months ago, mostly because of Obama & Co. are more concerned with riding the wave of populist outrage than doing or saying the right thing.

 

[jamny]

I voted "No opinion" but I could have been talked into "mildly disapprove." I can't vote "strongly disapprove" because Obama doesn't seem to be doing the 180 on the WOT that I was mildly worried about, so he gets points for that.

Good post, but please use the newly approved term 'Overseas Contingency Operation'

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

I was gonna go with mildly disapprove, but since it makes bostonfred so angry I'm going with strongly disapprove.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

3. Contributing to the wave of class-warfare that has developed, the height of which being when he got in front of the cameras to talk about how "outraged" he was about AIG bonuses that his administration either knew about (and is therefore lying about) or was too incompetent to prevent when they doled out the bailout money in the first place.

It's pretty clear, to me at least, that Obama was just playing to the mob on that one. When this story first broke, Obama's people were saying "Hey, these are signed contracts that predate the bailout; they have to be honored." It was only later, once the various ########s in Congress started raising a fuss, that Obama changed his mind. He's a politician first and foremost, and he could see which way the wind was blowing. Not a profile in courage, but it's a probably the play that most presidents would have made.

 

[PatsWillWin]

3. Contributing to the wave of class-warfare that has developed, the height of which being when he got in front of the cameras to talk about how "outraged" he was about AIG bonuses that his administration either knew about (and is therefore lying about) or was too incompetent to prevent when they doled out the bailout money in the first place.

It's pretty clear, to me at least, that Obama was just playing to the mob on that one. When this story first broke, Obama's people were saying "Hey, these are signed contracts that predate the bailout; they have to be honored." It was only later, once the various ########s in Congress started raising a fuss, that Obama changed his mind. He's a politician first and foremost, and he could see which way the wind was blowing. Not a profile in courage, but it's a probably the play that most presidents would have made.

I agree, he was definitely playing the mob, but I don't think that gives him a pass. I found his obvious shtick insulting, and incredibly maddening that an actual body of our federal government passed a ridiculous, retro-active tax that everyone knew was completely illegal. No, that wasn't on Obama, and to his credit he himself said that it was obviously unconstitutional, but he is the one who was fanning those flames in the first place.

 

[P Boy]

Wow. Hard to believe that any American other than bonafide Obama lapdogs would vote for anything other than strongly disapprove for a President who has done an end run around Congress and the Constitution to interject the Government directly into private business.

I guess we as a people deserve this if we don't value or protect our Country's founding principles.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead?

be and act like a libertarian

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Just pathetic

Obama could give the wealthy a big tax break, expel all immigrants (legal or illegal), cut off welfare to all citizens, bleach his skin white (ala Michael Jackson) and you would still be calling him a blouse or whatever your dumb one syllable word of the week is.

Can we put this to the test?

 

[RBM]

strongly approve [ 43 ] ** [20.00%]

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead?

be and act like a libertarian

Well we knew that was not going to happen no matter who won.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just pathetic

Obama could give the wealthy a big tax break, expel all immigrants (legal or illegal), cut off welfare to all citizens, bleach his skin white (ala Michael Jackson) and you would still be calling him a blouse or whatever your dumb one syllable word of the week is.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead?

be and act like a libertarian

Well we knew that was not going to happen no matter who won.

 

[djcolts]

Wow. Hard to believe that any American other than bonafide Obama lapdogs would vote for anything other than strongly disapprove for a President who has done an end run around Congress and the Constitution to interject the Government directly into private business.I guess we as a people deserve this if we don't value or protect our Country's founding principles.

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

 

[P Boy]

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

While that may be true, our system of checks & balances is fundamental to our system of government, and extremely critical. Obama is even losing the support of his own party in Congress with his lastest bypass of them in dealing with the automakers.Perhaps you'd prefer a monarchy?

 

[cheese]

I'd like to hear from the strongly approves

Or you could read any other thread in the FFA.

 

[djcolts]

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

While that may be true, our system of checks & balances is fundamental to our system of government, and extremely critical. Obama is even losing the support of his own party in Congress with his lastest bypass of them in dealing with the automakers.Perhaps you'd prefer a monarchy?

No. If Congress was less loony, I'd be more concerned about end-arounds of Congress. But, the passage of the 90% tax in the House is the single most disturbing thing to me this year. I have no faith in Congress at all.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

While that may be true, our system of checks & balances is fundamental to our system of government, and extremely critical. Obama is even losing the support of his own party in Congress with his lastest bypass of them in dealing with the automakers.Perhaps you'd prefer a monarchy?

No. If Congress was less loony, I'd be more concerned about end-arounds of Congress. But, the passage of the 90% tax in the House is the single most disturbing thing to me this year. I have no faith in Congress at all.

Obviously they knew it wouldn't get through Senate, and it was all a circus for the benefit of the mouth-breathers watching the 6 o'clock new, but this pissed me off to no end.

 

[P Boy]

No. If Congress was less loony, I'd be more concerned about end-arounds of Congress. But, the passage of the 90% tax in the House is the single most disturbing thing to me this year. I have no faith in Congress at all.

I wouldn't qualify that as the most disturbing, but it ranks up there. I'd say that a Preident that intentionally bypasses the legislative branch of government and then extorts private businesses goes beyond that. At least Congress stayed within its providence while sculpting its heinous and poorly thought out reaction to the consequences of their incredible stupidity of buying out of AIG with virtually no due diligence.

 

[Balance]

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

While that may be true, our system of checks & balances is fundamental to our system of government, and extremely critical. Obama is even losing the support of his own party in Congress with his lastest bypass of them in dealing with the automakers.Perhaps you'd prefer a monarchy?

No. If Congress was less loony, I'd be more concerned about end-arounds of Congress. But, the passage of the 90% tax in the House is the single most disturbing thing to me this year. I have no faith in Congress at all.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Of all the complaints about Obama (many of them very legitimate) - doing an end run around Congress is your biggest complaint? Really? If a FBG put a poll on the approval of Congress, it would be even worse than Obama's. And, with good reason.

While that may be true, our system of checks & balances is fundamental to our system of government, and extremely critical. Obama is even losing the support of his own party in Congress with his lastest bypass of them in dealing with the automakers.Perhaps you'd prefer a monarchy?

No. If Congress was less loony, I'd be more concerned about end-arounds of Congress. But, the passage of the 90% tax in the House is the single most disturbing thing to me this year. I have no faith in Congress at all.

If you didn't like that one, you probably won't like this one either:http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics...y-42158597.html

Bunch of nutjobs in Washington I swear.

 

[guderian]

What he's done that I dislike

1. Vilified corporate America and Wall Street to enrage the populace and further his political agenda.

2. By a lack of action he's absolved government of any role in creating this mess. In fact, he's doubling down by betting that government will get us out.

3. Forced through a stimulus--most of which won't be spent until after his own projections show positive GDP growth.

4. Fostered a highly partisan environment in Washington. Apparently he defines "bipartisan" as "I'm happy for you to endorse my agenda."

5. Governed solely for those who elected him rather than for all Americans.

6. Exacerbated the economic downturn through harsh rhetoric such as "depression" and "economic catastrophe" merely to push through his agenda.

7. Embarked upon a "spend and spend" economic plan that will double our national debt and match Bush's debt by his 21st month in office.

8. Politics as usual--there is no change.

9. Moving the country to the point where over half of voters don't pay any federal income tax.

 

[TheFanatic]

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who disapprove, what would you have had him do instead? And what about his administration so far is it that you disapprove of most?

Show that he recognizes that even though certain elements of the private sector are to blame for our current state, that not ALL is to blame and that they still hold the key to our recovery.As a corollary, recognize that certain elements of government ARE to blame for our current state and that government isn't the ONLY answer to our problems.I think Geithner has been a disaster and the more that he hints of government intruding into the private sector the worse things will continue to get.

With clear definitions like this, how could one not disapprove of his young administration....

 

[tommyboy]

i'm still so mad about that House vote on the punitive retroactive tax that I hope all 370 of the "yay" voters get removed from office.

 

[CBusAlex]

Approve:

Torture,

Stem cells

Iraq

Afghanistan

Guantanamo

Disapprove:

Defecit

False sense of urgency re: stimulus package

Auto industry bailouts

AIG bonus outrage

Continued DOJ medical marijuana raids

Overall, I give him a C-, slightly disapprove.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I'll wait until his NCAA brackets are finished before I give him his grade.

 

[higgins]

I voted for him and I mildly disapprove. I feel like his policy is irresponsible and drives us further from the principles of personal responsibility and ambition that built this great nation. That said, I hope he knows something I don't and at least he's guided us closer to principle itself.

Hold on. You actually thought that he would advocate personal responsibility and ambition? x eleventy bajillion

 

[HERBERT THE HIPPO]

Geithner reminds me of a cartoon mad scientist with test tubes all around, he keeps pouring some kind of crap from one tube into another trying to come up with a formula that will make people invisible. In the meantime his cat drinks some and grows another head, his dog drinks some and turns into a pink otter...... then he decides to start over so he throws the concoction out the window and giant teddy bears appear out of nowhere and start doing the hula.......

 

[Schlzm]

Geithner reminds me of a cartoon mad scientist with test tubes all around, he keeps pouring some kind of crap from one tube into another trying to come up with a formula that will make people invisible. In the meantime his cat drinks some and grows another head, his dog drinks some and turns into a pink otter...... then he decides to start over so he throws the concoction out the window and giant teddy bears appear out of nowhere and start doing the hula.......

 

[TheFanatic]

Approve:

Torture,

Stem cells

Iraq

Afghanistan

Guantanamo

Disapprove:

Defecit

False sense of urgency re: stimulus package

Auto industry bailouts

AIG bonus outrage

Continued DOJ medical marijuana raids

Overall, I give him a C-, slightly disapprove.

Now that the stock market has rebounded somewhat I guess nobody remembers the urgency that was indeed not false. But hey, hindsight is great aint it?Otherwise I pretty much agree with the top list. As for the bottom. Agreed on the Bonus outrage is ridiculous. Same with DOJ medical marijuana. I don't do it but don't see the difference between the stuff and booze and there is a definite medical benefit.

The deficit? That's a tough one. Some sort of stimulus package was needed. Did it need to be this big? Probably not. No matter what the deficit was going to grow. Not happy with how much but that is a matter of debate. The growth was a given, just not the degree.

Auto Industry Bailouts. I think they were necessary. A big part of this economic mess is psychological. The media is all over it and doom and gloom is all over the place. Guys like me with a big phat tax return are sitting on it. People are afraid to spend. If one or more of the big three folded the doom and gloom factor from the media would be even higher. I see the auto bail out as a stimulus package for morale. And besides, it was just a small fraction of the overall bailout.

One thing I would've liked to have seen. The government is asking for accountability from the automakers. Demanding more out of them to earn the package. But the banking industry didn't see that much oversight. I'm not saying they need to run the automakers and didn't like the government asking for Wagoner to resign, but I like them making the the industry work harder to get the money. For too long that industry has sat around letting the Japanese kick our asses and been completely reactionary in their business practices....

 

[jonessed]

Approve:

Torture,

Stem cells

Iraq

Afghanistan

Guantanamo

Disapprove:

Defecit

False sense of urgency re: stimulus package

Auto industry bailouts

AIG bonus outrage

Continued DOJ medical marijuana raids

Overall, I give him a C-, slightly disapprove.

Now that the stock market has rebounded somewhat I guess nobody remembers the urgency that was indeed not false. But hey, hindsight is great aint it?Otherwise I pretty much agree with the top list. As for the bottom. Agreed on the Bonus outrage is ridiculous. Same with DOJ medical marijuana. I don't do it but don't see the difference between the stuff and booze and there is a definite medical benefit.

The deficit? That's a tough one. Some sort of stimulus package was needed. Did it need to be this big? Probably not. No matter what the deficit was going to grow. Not happy with how much but that is a matter of debate. The growth was a given, just not the degree.

Auto Industry Bailouts. I think they were necessary. A big part of this economic mess is psychological. The media is all over it and doom and gloom is all over the place. Guys like me with a big phat tax return are sitting on it. People are afraid to spend. If one or more of the big three folded the doom and gloom factor from the media would be even higher. I see the auto bail out as a stimulus package for morale. And besides, it was just a small fraction of the overall bailout.

One thing I would've liked to have seen. The government is asking for accountability from the automakers. Demanding more out of them to earn the package. But the banking industry didn't see that much oversight. I'm not saying they need to run the automakers and didn't like the government asking for Wagoner to resign, but I like them making the the industry work harder to get the money. For too long that industry has sat around letting the Japanese kick our asses and been completely reactionary in their business practices....

The stimulus stimulated the stock market last week? You really think that?

 

[thatguythere]

Going off of THIS I approve of the former more than the later.

To be clear, Bush sucked as a fiscal conservative. So I didn't approve of the fiscal numbers he produced. But to blame Bush for the numbers Obama is producing is bullcrap. How in the world does the fed have the money for a $700 billion down payment on a government health care plan? The government just spent $1.5 trillion on bailouts (both Bush and Obama... note it wasn't just Bush). Now is not the time for $700 billion projects. The guy operates like it's impossible for the country to go bankrupt. We're not!

Did anyone even look at this? How could anyone approve of this in the slightest?

 

[Statorama]

And on top of it all, he has the balls to get up on Leno and say that finger pointing and a lack of accountability is one of the biggest problems in Washington at this point. How about he starts with himself.

Bravo.