Your opinion on the job that President Obama is doing so far (5 Viewers)

[Sarnoff]

Americans elected Obama because he presented himself as a fiscally responsible adult who–in contrast to his predecessor–was interested in looking for workable, pragmatic solutions, not promoting an ideological agenda. But Obama pulled a massive bait-and-switch upon assuming office, using every issue–the financial meltdown, the recession, the deficit, global warming and, of course, rising health care costs–to expand the scope and size of government.

 

[Statorama]

Evidence beginning to trickle in that Bill Ayers ghost wrote "Dreams from my Father" for Obama

Told ya.

 

[cstu]

Evidence beginning to trickle in that Bill Ayers ghost wrote "Dreams from my Father" for Obama

Told ya.

Keep fighting the good fight.

 

[Statorama]

Iran tests short range missles, one day after Obama finger wagging speech

As usual, our enemies sense and act upon the complete weakness and impotency of Obama.

 

[Statorama]

NY Times Article scrubbed

Items in BOLD were parts removed from the original article. Was there ever a time when the NY Times had journalistic integrity? Removing sections of a story because they might be slightly embarrasing to the President and his staff is pretty low.

He put Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to work making calls and sent Michelle Obama to Copenhagen a couple days early to buttonhole committee members. On Air Force One with him Friday, Mr. Obama brought a couple cabinet officers from Illinois, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as Senator **** Durban. Before leaving Washington, Mrs. Obama made clear how seriously the first couple took the matter.

“Take no prisoners,” she vowed.

After his formal presentation to the committee, Mr. Obama shook hands as he left the room, then joined members in a brief mixer, pigeonholing them one on one for the Chicago bid, a little elbow bending familiar to politics the world over.

And the prospect of winning was too irresistible. After all, Mr. Obama has already envisioned the day when he could welcome the world to his hometown, never mind that small matter of reelection. “In 2016, I’ll be wrapping up my second term as president,” he told a rally in Chicago in June 2008. “So I can’t think of a better way than to be marching into Washington Park ... as president of the United States and announcing to the world: Let the Games begin!”

...

As he made his pitch, the Republican National Committee back home sent out an email attacking him under the subject line “Wrong Priorities.” The Republican statement cited a variety of news stories and commentaries to suggest that the president was busy with the Olympics but not tackling unemployment, that the Olympics actually cost the cities that host them and that several advisers and allies would be the ones to benefit.

“They shouldn’t try to make politics of this,” Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff and a Chicagoan himself, told ABC News. “I think they should take some pride in the U.S.’s win, and you know, we’ll make sure they get some good seats once Chicago does host the games.”

 

[the moops]

NY Times Article scrubbed

Items in BOLD were parts removed from the original article. Was there ever a time when the NY Times had journalistic integrity? Removing sections of a story because they might be slightly embarrasing to the President and his staff is pretty low.

He put Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to work making calls and sent Michelle Obama to Copenhagen a couple days early to buttonhole committee members. On Air Force One with him Friday, Mr. Obama brought a couple cabinet officers from Illinois, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as Senator **** Durban. Before leaving Washington, Mrs. Obama made clear how seriously the first couple took the matter.

“Take no prisoners,” she vowed.

After his formal presentation to the committee, Mr. Obama shook hands as he left the room, then joined members in a brief mixer, pigeonholing them one on one for the Chicago bid, a little elbow bending familiar to politics the world over.

And the prospect of winning was too irresistible. After all, Mr. Obama has already envisioned the day when he could welcome the world to his hometown, never mind that small matter of reelection. “In 2016, I’ll be wrapping up my second term as president,” he told a rally in Chicago in June 2008. “So I can’t think of a better way than to be marching into Washington Park ... as president of the United States and announcing to the world: Let the Games begin!”

...

As he made his pitch, the Republican National Committee back home sent out an email attacking him under the subject line “Wrong Priorities.” The Republican statement cited a variety of news stories and commentaries to suggest that the president was busy with the Olympics but not tackling unemployment, that the Olympics actually cost the cities that host them and that several advisers and allies would be the ones to benefit.

“They shouldn’t try to make politics of this,” Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff and a Chicagoan himself, told ABC News. “I think they should take some pride in the U.S.’s win, and you know, we’ll make sure they get some good seats once Chicago does host the games.”

 

[Statorama]

Obama Administration willing to surrender parts of Afghanistan to Taliban

Bowing to the reality that the Taliban is too ingrained in Afghanistan's culture to be entirely defeated, the administration is prepared, as it has been for some time, to accept some Taliban role in parts of Afghanistan, the official said.

Wow.

 

[Statorama]

Reaction to Obama blaming Bush for failed Obama strategies

I want to point out one thing about what Obama had said when he talked about “the long years of drift.” There is something truly disgusting about the way he cannot refrain from attacking Bush when he’s being defensive about himself. I mean, it’s beyond disgraceful here. He won election a year ago. He became the Commander [in] Chief two months later. He announced his own strategy — not the Bush strategy, his strategy — six months ago, and it wasn’t off-handed, it was in a major address, with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense standing with him. And now he’s still talking about “the drift” in the Bush years. What’s happening today is not a result of the drift, so-called, of the Bush years, it’s because of the drift in his years. It’s because of the flaws in his own strategy, which is what he’s actively examining.

 

[Statorama]

Transparency

House health bill ceremony closed to public

Kara Rowland

House Democrats blocked the public from attending the unveiling ceremony of their health-care bill Thursday morning, allowing only pre-approved visitors whose names appeared on lists to enter the event at the West side of the Capitol.

The audience at the crowded press conference included Hill staffers, union workers, health care providers and students, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who thanked them for attending.

Mrs. Pelosi and other Democratic leaders announced the chamber's long-awaited version of a health care overhaul, which would expand insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans, costing less than $900 billion over 10 years.

The West side of the Capitol - the area where President Barack Obama was inaugurated - is traditionally open to the public. But the entrances were blocked off Thursday morning by metal fences, with Capitol police officers standing next to staff members holding clipboards with lists of approved attendees.

Reporters with press badges were able to get in.

Democrats repeatedly touted the openness of the development of their health care bill, which House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called "the most deliberative, transparent and open process" he had seen in his career on Capitol Hill.

A video posted on YouTube by Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office depicted a Republican staffer attempting to attend the press conference and being turned away by a police officer.

 

[Statorama]

Stimulus lies being exposed

Stimulus jobs overstated by thousands

WASHINGTON (AP) - An early progress report on President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan overstates by thousands the number of jobs created or saved through the stimulus program, a mistake that White House officials promise will be corrected in future reports.

The government's first accounting of jobs tied to the $787 billion stimulus program claimed more than 30,000 positions paid for with recovery money. But that figure is overstated by least 5,000 jobs, according to an Associated Press review of a sample of stimulus contracts.

The AP review found some counts were more than 10 times as high as the actual number of jobs; some jobs credited to the stimulus program were counted two and sometimes more than four times; and other jobs were credited to stimulus spending when none was produced.

 

[Statorama]

Obama using a dead serviceman for a photo op is a new low.

17 of the 18 families turned down Obama's request, but as soon as one said it was ok Obama loaded up the copter with journalists and photographers. All in the name of making Obama look more focused on the war. Everything is a photo Op for king barry.

If this scumbag really wanted to do something genuine, he would have met with these families in private (and not just to try and goad them into the photo op).

Using a casket as a prop? He really is a despicable human being.

Can anyone out there truly defend this action?

edit:

From the NYT story

The family of an Army sergeant, Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind., agreed to have the transfer of his remains photographed. The other families chose not to

 

[Statorama]

Hey, remember when Barack said...

“And if Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with that kind of pork, I will veto it.”

Well, he just signed H.R. 3326: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010Which added 1,720 pork projects totaling $4.2 Billion including:

∙$5 million for a visitors center in San Francisco

∙$23 million for indigent health care in Hawaii

∙$18 million for the Edward Kennedy Policy Institute in Massachusetts

∙$1.6 million to computerize hospital records in Oakland

∙$47 million for anti-drug training centers around the country

∙$20 million for the World War II Museum in Louisiana

∙$3.9 million grant to develop an energy-efficient solar film for buildings

∙$800,000 for minority prostate cancer research

∙$3.6 million for marijuana eradication in Kentucky

∙$2.4 million for handicap access and a sprinkler system at a community club in New York

 

[Statorama]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

 

[Spiderman]

It should be noted that the city of New York is stating that it will cost $216 million PER YEAR for security in the trial of KSM. The trial is expected to last longer than one year, so you're talking about a pricetag of $300-400 million (over 1/3 of a billion) to try a man who isn't even a US citizen.

Astounding decision by the President of the United States

 

[Kimber]

It should be noted that the city of New York is stating that it will cost $216 million PER YEAR for security in the trial of KSM. The trial is expected to last longer than one year, so you're talking about a pricetag of $300-400 million (over 1/3 of a billion) to try a man who isn't even a US citizen. Astounding decision by the President of the United States

And one who proudly admits he did it. Where is Jack Ruby when you need him.

 

[Statorama]

Hope and Change: Obama asks for record amount to fund wars

Bush's third term continues.

Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on top of a record $708 billion for the Defense Department next year, The Associated Press has learned - a request that could be an especially hard sell to some of the administration's Democratic allies.

The extra $33 billion in 2010 would mostly go toward the expansion of the war in Afghanistan. Obama ordered an extra 30,000 troops for that war as part of an overhaul of the war strategy late last year.

Military officials have suggested that the 2011 request would top $700 billion for the first time, but the precise figure has not been made public.

The administration also plans to tell Congress next month that its central military objectives for the next four years will include winning the current wars while preventing new ones and that its core missions will include both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.

The administration's Quadrennial Defense Review, the main articulation of U.S. military doctrine, is due to Congress on Feb. 1. Top military commanders were briefed on the document at the Pentagon on Monday and Tuesday. They also received a preview of the administration's budget plans through 2015.

The four-year review outlines six key mission areas and spells out capabilities and goals the Pentagon wants to develop. The pilotless drones used for surveillance and attack missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan are a priority, with the goals of speeding up the purchase of new Reaper drones and expanding Predator and Reaper drone flights through 2013.

U.S. officials outlined the coming requests on condition of anonymity because the budget request will not be sent to Congress until later this month.

Obama's request for more war spending is likely to receive support on Capitol Hill, where Republicans will join moderate Democrats to pass the bill.

But the budget debate is also likely to expose a widening rift between Obama's administration and Democratic leaders, who have watched public opinion turn against the military campaign.

"The president's going to have to make his case," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters last month at her year-end briefing.

The 2010 budget contains about $128 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That figure would rise to $159 billion next year under the proposals prepared for Congress.

The Pentagon projects that war funding would drop sharply in 2012, to $50 billion, and remain there through 2015. That is a calculation that the United States will save money from the withdrawal of forces in Iraq, as well as a prediction that the Afghanistan war will begin to wind down in the middle of 2011.

Obama has promised that U.S. forces will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in July 2011, but his defense advisers have set no time limit for the war.

The Pentagon projects that overall defense spending would be $616 billion in 2012; $632 billion in 2013; $648 billion in 2014; and $666 billion in 2015. Congress sets little store by such predictions, which typically have fallen short of actual requests and spending.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to testify to Congress about the budget and the policy review in February.

The four-year policy statement is a more important statement of administration goals. For the current wars, the policy statement focuses on efforts to refocus money and talent on beefing up special operations forces, countering weapons of mass destruction and terrorism threats, and maintaining cyber security.

For example, the Pentagon would like to expand special operations aviation by expanding the gunship fleet from 25 to 33.

 

[perry147]

Hope and Change: Obama asks for record amount to fund wars

Bush's third term continues.

Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on top of a record $708 billion for the Defense Department next year, The Associated Press has learned - a request that could be an especially hard sell to some of the administration's Democratic allies.

The extra $33 billion in 2010 would mostly go toward the expansion of the war in Afghanistan. Obama ordered an extra 30,000 troops for that war as part of an overhaul of the war strategy late last year.

Military officials have suggested that the 2011 request would top $700 billion for the first time, but the precise figure has not been made public.

The administration also plans to tell Congress next month that its central military objectives for the next four years will include winning the current wars while preventing new ones and that its core missions will include both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.

The administration's Quadrennial Defense Review, the main articulation of U.S. military doctrine, is due to Congress on Feb. 1. Top military commanders were briefed on the document at the Pentagon on Monday and Tuesday. They also received a preview of the administration's budget plans through 2015.

The four-year review outlines six key mission areas and spells out capabilities and goals the Pentagon wants to develop. The pilotless drones used for surveillance and attack missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan are a priority, with the goals of speeding up the purchase of new Reaper drones and expanding Predator and Reaper drone flights through 2013.

U.S. officials outlined the coming requests on condition of anonymity because the budget request will not be sent to Congress until later this month.

Obama's request for more war spending is likely to receive support on Capitol Hill, where Republicans will join moderate Democrats to pass the bill.

But the budget debate is also likely to expose a widening rift between Obama's administration and Democratic leaders, who have watched public opinion turn against the military campaign.

"The president's going to have to make his case," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters last month at her year-end briefing.

The 2010 budget contains about $128 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That figure would rise to $159 billion next year under the proposals prepared for Congress.

The Pentagon projects that war funding would drop sharply in 2012, to $50 billion, and remain there through 2015. That is a calculation that the United States will save money from the withdrawal of forces in Iraq, as well as a prediction that the Afghanistan war will begin to wind down in the middle of 2011.

Obama has promised that U.S. forces will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in July 2011, but his defense advisers have set no time limit for the war.

The Pentagon projects that overall defense spending would be $616 billion in 2012; $632 billion in 2013; $648 billion in 2014; and $666 billion in 2015. Congress sets little store by such predictions, which typically have fallen short of actual requests and spending.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to testify to Congress about the budget and the policy review in February.

The four-year policy statement is a more important statement of administration goals. For the current wars, the policy statement focuses on efforts to refocus money and talent on beefing up special operations forces, countering weapons of mass destruction and terrorism threats, and maintaining cyber security.

For example, the Pentagon would like to expand special operations aviation by expanding the gunship fleet from 25 to 33.

And if he didn't you would call him a traitor who wants to kill US troops and should be impeached.**Only a little hyperbole.

 

[Gigantomachia]

Hope and Change: Obama asks for record amount to fund wars

Bush's third term continues.

Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on top of a record $708 billion for the Defense Department next year, The Associated Press has learned - a request that could be an especially hard sell to some of the administration's Democratic allies.

The extra $33 billion in 2010 would mostly go toward the expansion of the war in Afghanistan. Obama ordered an extra 30,000 troops for that war as part of an overhaul of the war strategy late last year.

Military officials have suggested that the 2011 request would top $700 billion for the first time, but the precise figure has not been made public.

The administration also plans to tell Congress next month that its central military objectives for the next four years will include winning the current wars while preventing new ones and that its core missions will include both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.

The administration's Quadrennial Defense Review, the main articulation of U.S. military doctrine, is due to Congress on Feb. 1. Top military commanders were briefed on the document at the Pentagon on Monday and Tuesday. They also received a preview of the administration's budget plans through 2015.

The four-year review outlines six key mission areas and spells out capabilities and goals the Pentagon wants to develop. The pilotless drones used for surveillance and attack missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan are a priority, with the goals of speeding up the purchase of new Reaper drones and expanding Predator and Reaper drone flights through 2013.

U.S. officials outlined the coming requests on condition of anonymity because the budget request will not be sent to Congress until later this month.

Obama's request for more war spending is likely to receive support on Capitol Hill, where Republicans will join moderate Democrats to pass the bill.

But the budget debate is also likely to expose a widening rift between Obama's administration and Democratic leaders, who have watched public opinion turn against the military campaign.

"The president's going to have to make his case," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters last month at her year-end briefing.

The 2010 budget contains about $128 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That figure would rise to $159 billion next year under the proposals prepared for Congress.

The Pentagon projects that war funding would drop sharply in 2012, to $50 billion, and remain there through 2015. That is a calculation that the United States will save money from the withdrawal of forces in Iraq, as well as a prediction that the Afghanistan war will begin to wind down in the middle of 2011.

Obama has promised that U.S. forces will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in July 2011, but his defense advisers have set no time limit for the war.

The Pentagon projects that overall defense spending would be $616 billion in 2012; $632 billion in 2013; $648 billion in 2014; and $666 billion in 2015. Congress sets little store by such predictions, which typically have fallen short of actual requests and spending.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to testify to Congress about the budget and the policy review in February.

The four-year policy statement is a more important statement of administration goals. For the current wars, the policy statement focuses on efforts to refocus money and talent on beefing up special operations forces, countering weapons of mass destruction and terrorism threats, and maintaining cyber security.

For example, the Pentagon would like to expand special operations aviation by expanding the gunship fleet from 25 to 33.

And if he didn't you would call him a traitor who wants to kill US troops and should be impeached.**Only a little hyperbole.

I agree with BOTH of the above posts.Sad days indeed.

 

[Statorama]

And if he didn't you would call him a traitor who wants to kill US troops and should be impeached.**Only a little hyperbole.

I didn't say I disagreed with what he said, just seems different than what he ran on.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

First of all, I voted for Obama. Second, I have voted for more Republicans in my life than Democrats because I vote on the issues and candidates and not just pick a party and agree with everything they say. I consider myself to be a little bit left of the middle. There were a couple of elections that I would have probably voted Democrat, but I thought their candidate sucked. I hate the far right more than anything and the far left isn't much better.

I think Obama had the worst situation of any new President in my lifetime. Save the Carter fiasco. As bad as it was, the Bush disaster was much worse. I really think Obama has tried to do what he thought was right, but in some cases, things were done too fast and there was a lot of carelessness, such as keeping tabs on the money given to banks and the stimulus jobs.

One more thing. I am not as worried about the deficit as some people are. The tax revenues have shrunk across the board. Fewer people working means fewer federal and state taxes being paid. More foreclosures mean much less property tax revenue being received. States are as bad off as the Feds. There is no tax revenue. Eventually, people will be back to work and when revenues rise, deficits go down. Yes, it will take longer than usual, but the recession was a lot worse than anything in my lifetime. I heard the gloom and doom about how my children and grandchildren would be paying for today forever. It didn't happen then and it won't happen now. But there is no question this irresponsible fiscal madness has to stop and the deficit and national debt has to be addressed. I just things are too bad right now to worry about it. It can be fixed, but I think things need to be better first.

I think the health care bill is a complete disaster. I fail to see how this bill lowers costs. It costs too much and provides too little. End of story.

I'm not as negative on the bank or auto bailouts simply because I think this could have turned into a major catastrophe, possibly worse than the Great Depression. I know people are always going to complain about the bailouts, but nobody will ever convince me that we would have made it just fine without them. I think it would have been an unmitigated disaster like we have never seen. The more important thing is to make sure this never happens again.

I am really angry that banks got all that money and still won't loan money, namely to small businesses and homeowners who can make their payments.

The stimulus has helped some in certain areas, but there has been FAR too much of that money wasted. There are literally thousands of infrastructure projects that could be done, but the money has not arrived like they claimed it would. There is too much carelessness with regards to tracking the jobs. The fact that they can't give a clear answer leads to ridiculous speculation. Some of that money should be going for alternative energy. If that has happened, I haven't seen it. The fact is they have been completely reckless with the money and keeping track of it and the jobs it created. There is no question it helped, but it should have done a LOT more considering the amount they had.

I honestly don't think Obama could have done anything to make the economy better by now. Jobs usually lag stock market recovery by anywhere from 6 to 9 months after a recovery. Unlike a lot of people, I think the stimulus and bailout money helped keep this from being a total disaster. There is no way this will ever be proven, so there is no point in debating it. That doesn't mean I agreed with everything related to the stimulus because I don't, especially the amount. They could have spent less and been more efficient and accomplished the same thing.

The lies and broken promises are something nobody likes, but face facts...this happens ALL the time and ALL politicians are guilty of it. Obama just made the dumb mistake of talking about things like transparency and not delivering on it. You can take the list of his lies and it would be no different than the list of lies by Bush, Clinton, Reagan, and the others.

I think Obama has done some good things, but the bottom line is he has done more poor things than good. I would give him a grade slightly below average if not for the health care bill. I think that bill takes him from slightly below average to having a "D" type grade. I'm optimistic and not a gloom and doomer by nature, so I think things can get better and his final grade at the end of his term will largely be determined by the economy and jobs.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

And if he didn't you would call him a traitor who wants to kill US troops and should be impeached.**Only a little hyperbole.

QUOTE (Reg Lllama of Brixton @ Feb 10 2009, 03:18 PM) This is quite possibly one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Please light your keyboard on fire.

 

[Kimber]

First of all, I voted for Obama. Second, I have voted for more Republicans in my life than Democrats because I vote on the issues and candidates and not just pick a party and agree with everything they say. I consider myself to be a little bit left of the middle. There were a couple of elections that I would have probably voted Democrat, but I thought their candidate sucked. I hate the far right more than anything and the far left isn't much better. I think Obama had the worst situation of any new President in my lifetime. Save the Carter fiasco. As bad as it was, the Bush disaster was much worse. I really think Obama has tried to do what he thought was right, but in some cases, things were done too fast and there was a lot of carelessness, such as keeping tabs on the money given to banks and the stimulus jobs. One more thing. I am not as worried about the deficit as some people are. The tax revenues have shrunk across the board. Fewer people working means fewer federal and state taxes being paid. More foreclosures mean much less property tax revenue being received. States are as bad off as the Feds. There is no tax revenue. Eventually, people will be back to work and when revenues rise, deficits go down. Yes, it will take longer than usual, but the recession was a lot worse than anything in my lifetime. I heard the gloom and doom about how my children and grandchildren would be paying for today forever. It didn't happen then and it won't happen now. But there is no question this irresponsible fiscal madness has to stop and the deficit and national debt has to be addressed. I just things are too bad right now to worry about it. It can be fixed, but I think things need to be better first. I think the health care bill is a complete disaster. I fail to see how this bill lowers costs. It costs too much and provides too little. End of story. I'm not as negative on the bank or auto bailouts simply because I think this could have turned into a major catastrophe, possibly worse than the Great Depression. I know people are always going to complain about the bailouts, but nobody will ever convince me that we would have made it just fine without them. I think it would have been an unmitigated disaster like we have never seen. The more important thing is to make sure this never happens again. I am really angry that banks got all that money and still won't loan money, namely to small businesses and homeowners who can make their payments. The stimulus has helped some in certain areas, but there has been FAR too much of that money wasted. There are literally thousands of infrastructure projects that could be done, but the money has not arrived like they claimed it would. There is too much carelessness with regards to tracking the jobs. The fact that they can't give a clear answer leads to ridiculous speculation. Some of that money should be going for alternative energy. If that has happened, I haven't seen it. The fact is they have been completely reckless with the money and keeping track of it and the jobs it created. There is no question it helped, but it should have done a LOT more considering the amount they had. I honestly don't think Obama could have done anything to make the economy better by now. Jobs usually lag stock market recovery by anywhere from 6 to 9 months after a recovery. Unlike a lot of people, I think the stimulus and bailout money helped keep this from being a total disaster. There is no way this will ever be proven, so there is no point in debating it. That doesn't mean I agreed with everything related to the stimulus because I don't, especially the amount. They could have spent less and been more efficient and accomplished the same thing. The lies and broken promises are something nobody likes, but face facts...this happens ALL the time and ALL politicians are guilty of it. Obama just made the dumb mistake of talking about things like transparency and not delivering on it. You can take the list of his lies and it would be no different than the list of lies by Bush, Clinton, Reagan, and the others. I think Obama has done some good things, but the bottom line is he has done more poor things than good. I would give him a grade slightly below average if not for the health care bill. I think that bill takes him from slightly below average to having a "D" type grade. I'm optimistic and not a gloom and doomer by nature, so I think things can get better and his final grade at the end of his term will largely be determined by the economy and jobs.

A pretty good analysis. I wouldn't label this economy the Bush disaster though. It was more a Housing Bubble that happened on Bush's watch and had little to do with Bush. Kind of like the dot com bubble happened on Clinton's watch, but it had nothing to do with Clinton. The real estate bubble was much bigger and impacted more people. And the bank bailout was a Bush policy and it probably did more to advert the disaster than anything, eventhough Obama gleefully takes credit. Not that Bush did not leave Obama some turds like Iraq/Afganistan and a huge deficit, but there are a lot of people much more responsible for the housing disaster than GW Bush.

 

[bostonfred]

Kind of like the dot com bubble happened on Clinton's watch, but it had nothing to do with Clinton.

Really? Clinton and Gore didn't have anything to do with the growth of sites like Amazon? A huge part of their business model was that there was no tax on internet sales. They wouldn't be anywhere near as big now if there had been different leadership in place.

 

[Kimber]

Kind of like the dot com bubble happened on Clinton's watch, but it had nothing to do with Clinton.

Really? Clinton and Gore didn't have anything to do with the growth of sites like Amazon? A huge part of their business model was that there was no tax on internet sales. They wouldn't be anywhere near as big now if there had been different leadership in place.

You credit Gore for not taxing the internet? Interesting. But I was not talking about the growth of internet sites, but the bubble which crashed the markets.

 

[17seconds]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

 

[perry147]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

Imagine secretly creating a torture procedure.Secretly wiretapping.

Holding people without due process.

Can you imagine the outrage that Fox News would have over that?

 

[Parrothead]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

Imagine secretly creating a torture procedure.Secretly wiretapping.

Holding people without due process.

Can you imagine the outrage that Fox News would have over that?

and imagine if these were still being done

 

[JJP]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

Imagine secretly creating a torture procedure.Secretly wiretapping.

Holding people without due process.

Can you imagine the outrage that Fox News would have over that?

God forbid if terrorist's "rights" were imposed upon.

 

[Chadstroma]

Fox News Poll: Obama Ends First Year With 50 Percent Approval Rating

Thursday, January 14, 2010

By Dana Blanton

AP

At the end of Barack Obama's first year in office, the country is fairly divided on the job he's doing as president, according to a Fox News poll released Thursday.

Fifty percent of Americans approve of his job performance, less than half think he's meeting expectations, and nearly 2 out of 3 Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. today, the poll found.

The president's job rating remains steady, as half of Americans approve of his performance and 42 percent disapprove. In December, 50 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved. Going back to the week after Obama took office last year, 65 percent of Americans approved and 16 percent disapproved.

Approval among Democrats remains almost exactly where it was when Obama took office: 84 percent approve today and 85 percent approved at the end of January 2009.

Among independents and Republicans, the president's numbers have declined significantly: 45 percent of independents approve today, down from 64 percent a year ago. And 13 percent of Republicans approve, down from 37 percent (27-28 January 2009).

Overall, Obama's average job rating over his first year is 55 percent approve and 35 percent disapprove.

Forty-two percent of Americans think Obama is meeting (36 percent) or exceeding (6 percent) expectations, down from 66 percent who thought so in March. Fifty percent think the president is falling below expectations — that's more than double the number (23 percent) who felt that way early in his term (3-4 March 2009).

About a third of Americans (35 percent) are satisfied with the way things are going in the country today. And while that's an improvement from a year ago when just 20 percent were happy with how things were going, it's down from 46 percent who were satisfied in April.

Similarly, the 64 percent who say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today is down from 79 percent one year ago — but an increase from 53 percent in April 2009.

Almost half of Americans (45 percent) think the country is better off today than it was a year ago, while a large minority says the country is worse off (39 percent) and 13 percent say there has been no change.

On the individual level, views are split between the 28 percent who say their family is better off today than a year ago and the 33 percent who say they are worse off, while the largest number — 39 percent — say their personal situation is unchanged.

The national telephone poll was conducted for Fox News by Opinion Dynamics Corp. among 900 registered voters from Jan. 12 to Jan. 13. For the total sample, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

No Improvement in Economy Ratings

The economy is far and away the issue the public wants President Obama to focus on this year. Almost half of Americans (48 percent) say the economy should be his priority, followed by 12 percent who say health care, 11 percent terrorism, and 7 percent the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A year ago, just 5 percent of Americans rated the nation's economy positively, and there has been little movement: 8 percent rate the economy as "excellent" or "good" today.

Fully 91 percent of Americans say economic conditions today are "only fair" or "poor," and 82 percent think the country is still in a recession.

The poll finds people are most likely to blame former President Bush (36 percent) and Congress (30 percent) for the current state of the economy. Few — just 6 percent — blame President Obama. Some 20 percent blame a combination.

Slightly more Americans think the Obama administration has made the economy better (40 percent) than made it worse (36 percent). Another 21 percent think the administration has not made a difference.

Giving Grades

In a December interview, President Obama told Oprah Winfrey he would give himself "a solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in office. One in five Americans would agree with that: 20 percent give him a B-plus or higher grade.

Most Americans would be tougher on the president, as 79 percent give him a grade lower than B-plus. Twenty-one percent give him a straight "B" and another 6 percent a B-minus, 25 percent give him a "C" and 16 percent a "D." And a handful — 12 percent — gives the president a failing grade.

Some 11 percent give the president an "A," including 3 percent who give him an A-plus.

 

[Statorama]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

Bush never promised me transparency. He promised to keep me safe. Hats off.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Video montage provides a reminder that this clown promised us the most transparent government ever.

Of all the campaign promises that he made and broke, this is the one that disappoints me the most.

you must have hated Bush. that was the most clandestine administration ever.

Imagine secretly creating a torture procedure.Secretly wiretapping.

Holding people without due process.

Can you imagine the outrage that Fox News would have over that?

God forbid if terrorist's "rights" were imposed upon.

 

[bostonfred]

Fox News Poll: Obama Ends First Year With 50 Percent Approval Rating

In a December interview, President Obama told Oprah Winfrey he would give himself "a solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in office. One in five Americans would agree with that: 20 percent give him a B-plus or higher grade.

Most Americans would be tougher on the president, as 79 percent give him a grade lower than B-plus. Twenty-one percent give him a straight "B" and another 6 percent a B-minus, 25 percent give him a "C" and 16 percent a "D." And a handful — 12 percent — gives the president a failing grade.

Some 11 percent give the president an "A," including 3 percent who give him an A-plus.

In typical FoxNews fashion, they leave out those of us who give him an A++.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

Fox News Poll: Obama Ends First Year With 50 Percent Approval Rating

In a December interview, President Obama told Oprah Winfrey he would give himself "a solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in office. One in five Americans would agree with that: 20 percent give him a B-plus or higher grade.

Most Americans would be tougher on the president, as 79 percent give him a grade lower than B-plus. Twenty-one percent give him a straight "B" and another 6 percent a B-minus, 25 percent give him a "C" and 16 percent a "D." And a handful — 12 percent — gives the president a failing grade.

Some 11 percent give the president an "A," including 3 percent who give him an A-plus.

In typical FoxNews fashion, they leave out those of us who give him an A++.

I guess they weren't polling sheep.

 

[Chadstroma]

Fox News Poll: Obama Ends First Year With 50 Percent Approval Rating

In a December interview, President Obama told Oprah Winfrey he would give himself "a solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in office. One in five Americans would agree with that: 20 percent give him a B-plus or higher grade.

Most Americans would be tougher on the president, as 79 percent give him a grade lower than B-plus. Twenty-one percent give him a straight "B" and another 6 percent a B-minus, 25 percent give him a "C" and 16 percent a "D." And a handful — 12 percent — gives the president a failing grade.

Some 11 percent give the president an "A," including 3 percent who give him an A-plus.

In typical FoxNews fashion, they leave out those of us who give him an A++.

Damn their evil conservative conspiracies!

 

[Statorama]

Obama by the numbers

Some good, some bad.

My own personal note: Great job with the Dow numbers, Barack.

 

[Statorama]

He's done everything wrong

Brilliant article from an Obama supporter.

Obama punted on the economy and reversed the fortunes of the Democrats in 365 days.

He’s misjudged the character of the country in his whole approach. There’s the saying, “It’s the economy, stupid.” He didn’t get it. He was determined somehow or other to adopt a whole new agenda. He didn’t address the main issue.

This health-care plan is going to be a fiscal disaster for the country. Most of the country wanted to deal with costs, not expansion of coverage. This is going to raise costs dramatically.

In the campaign, he said he would change politics as usual. He did change them. It’s now worse than it was. I’ve now seen the kind of buying off of politicians that I’ve never seen before. It’s politically corrupt and it’s starting at the top. It’s revolting.

Five states got deals on health care—one of them was Harry Reid’s. It is disgusting, just disgusting. I’ve never seen anything like it. The unions just got them to drop the tax on Cadillac plans in the health-care bill. It was pure union politics. They just went along with it. It’s a bizarre form of political corruption. It’s bribery. I suppose they could say, that’s the system. He was supposed to change it or try to change it.

Even that is not the worst part. He could have said, “I know. I promised these things, but let me try to do them one at a time.” You want to deal with health care? Fine. Issue No. 1 with health care was the cost. You know I think it was 37 percent or 33 who were worried about coverage. Fine, I wrote an editorial to this effect. Focus on cost-containment first. But he’s trying to boil the ocean, trying to do too much. This is not leadership.

Obama’s ability to connect with voters is what launched him. But what has surprised me is how he has failed to connect with the voters since he’s been in office. He’s had so much overexposure. You have to be selective. He was doing five Sunday shows. How many press conferences? And now people stop listening to him. The fact is he had 49.5 million listeners to first speech on the economy. On Medicare, he had 24 million. He’s lost his audience. He has not rallied public opinion. He has plunged in the polls more than any other political figure since we’ve been using polls. He’s done everything wrong. Well, not everything, but the major things.

I don’t consider it a triumph. I consider it a disaster.

One business leader said to me, “In the Clinton administration, the policy people were at the center, and the political people were on the sideline. In the Obama administration, the political people are at the center, and the policy people are on the sidelines.”

I’m very disappointed. We endorsed him. I voted for him. I supported him publicly and privately.

I hope there are changes. I think he’s already laid in huge problems for the country. The fiscal program was a disaster. You have to get the money as quickly as possible into the economy. They didn’t do that. By end of the first year, only one-third of the money was spent. Why is that?

He should have jammed a stimulus plan into Congress and said, “This is it. No changes. Don’t give me that bull####. We have a national emergency.” Instead they turned it over to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi who can run circles around him.

It’s very sad. It’s really sad.

He’s improved America’s image in the world. He absolutely did. But you have to translate that into something. Let me tell you what a major leader said to me recently. “We are convinced,” he said, “that he is not strong enough to confront his enemy. We are concerned,” he said “that he is not strong to support his friends.”

The political leadership of the world is very, very dismayed. He better turn it around. The Democrats are going to get killed in this election. Jesus, looks what’s happening in Massachusetts.

It’s really interesting because he had brilliant, brilliant political instincts during the campaign. I don’t know what has happened to them. His appointments present somebody who has a lot to learn about how government works. He better get some very talented businesspeople who know how to implement things. It’s unbelievable. Everybody says so. You can’t believe how dismayed people are. That’s why he’s plunging in the polls.

I can’t predict things two years from now, but if he continues on the downward spiral he is on, he won’t be reelected. In the meantime, the Democrats have recreated the Republican Party. And when I say Democrats, I mean the Obama administration. In the generic vote, the Democrats were ahead something like 52 to 30. They are now behind the Republicans 48 to 44 in the last poll. Nobody has ever seen anything that dramatic.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

In some ways, Obama reminds me of Mayor Carcetti from The Wire. I think he genuinely intended break away from politics-as-usual when he took office, but . . .

List of former lobbyists in senior Obama administration positions.

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

He's done everything wrong

Brilliant article from an Obama supporter.

Obama punted on the economy and reversed the fortunes of the Democrats in 365 days.

He’s misjudged the character of the country in his whole approach. There’s the saying, “It’s the economy, stupid.” He didn’t get it. He was determined somehow or other to adopt a whole new agenda. He didn’t address the main issue.

This health-care plan is going to be a fiscal disaster for the country. Most of the country wanted to deal with costs, not expansion of coverage. This is going to raise costs dramatically.

In the campaign, he said he would change politics as usual. He did change them. It’s now worse than it was. I’ve now seen the kind of buying off of politicians that I’ve never seen before. It’s politically corrupt and it’s starting at the top. It’s revolting.

Five states got deals on health care—one of them was Harry Reid’s. It is disgusting, just disgusting. I’ve never seen anything like it. The unions just got them to drop the tax on Cadillac plans in the health-care bill. It was pure union politics. They just went along with it. It’s a bizarre form of political corruption. It’s bribery. I suppose they could say, that’s the system. He was supposed to change it or try to change it.

Even that is not the worst part. He could have said, “I know. I promised these things, but let me try to do them one at a time.” You want to deal with health care? Fine. Issue No. 1 with health care was the cost. You know I think it was 37 percent or 33 who were worried about coverage. Fine, I wrote an editorial to this effect. Focus on cost-containment first. But he’s trying to boil the ocean, trying to do too much. This is not leadership.

Obama’s ability to connect with voters is what launched him. But what has surprised me is how he has failed to connect with the voters since he’s been in office. He’s had so much overexposure. You have to be selective. He was doing five Sunday shows. How many press conferences? And now people stop listening to him. The fact is he had 49.5 million listeners to first speech on the economy. On Medicare, he had 24 million. He’s lost his audience. He has not rallied public opinion. He has plunged in the polls more than any other political figure since we’ve been using polls. He’s done everything wrong. Well, not everything, but the major things.

I don’t consider it a triumph. I consider it a disaster.

One business leader said to me, “In the Clinton administration, the policy people were at the center, and the political people were on the sideline. In the Obama administration, the political people are at the center, and the policy people are on the sidelines.”

I’m very disappointed. We endorsed him. I voted for him. I supported him publicly and privately.

I hope there are changes. I think he’s already laid in huge problems for the country. The fiscal program was a disaster. You have to get the money as quickly as possible into the economy. They didn’t do that. By end of the first year, only one-third of the money was spent. Why is that?

He should have jammed a stimulus plan into Congress and said, “This is it. No changes. Don’t give me that bull####. We have a national emergency.” Instead they turned it over to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi who can run circles around him.

It’s very sad. It’s really sad.

He’s improved America’s image in the world. He absolutely did. But you have to translate that into something. Let me tell you what a major leader said to me recently. “We are convinced,” he said, “that he is not strong enough to confront his enemy. We are concerned,” he said “that he is not strong to support his friends.”

The political leadership of the world is very, very dismayed. He better turn it around. The Democrats are going to get killed in this election. Jesus, looks what’s happening in Massachusetts.

It’s really interesting because he had brilliant, brilliant political instincts during the campaign. I don’t know what has happened to them. His appointments present somebody who has a lot to learn about how government works. He better get some very talented businesspeople who know how to implement things. It’s unbelievable. Everybody says so. You can’t believe how dismayed people are. That’s why he’s plunging in the polls.

I can’t predict things two years from now, but if he continues on the downward spiral he is on, he won’t be reelected. In the meantime, the Democrats have recreated the Republican Party. And when I say Democrats, I mean the Obama administration. In the generic vote, the Democrats were ahead something like 52 to 30. They are now behind the Republicans 48 to 44 in the last poll. Nobody has ever seen anything that dramatic.

:crickets:

 

[Phurfur]

In some ways, Obama reminds me of Mayor Carcetti from The Wire. I think he genuinely intended break away from politics-as-usual when he took office, but . . .

List of former lobbyists in senior Obama administration positions.

Wrong, the guy is a Chicago politician. Bringing that approach to Washington was how he planned to change things.

 

[Statorama]

Obama administration unveils plan to read contents of all internet communications

The program is designed to look for indicators of cyber attacks by digging into all Internet communications, including the contents of emails, according to the declassified summary.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Obama administration unveils plan to read contents of all internet communications

The program is designed to look for indicators of cyber attacks by digging into all Internet communications, including the contents of emails, according to the declassified summary.

Don't worry. They're REALLY PAYING ATTENTION and they GET IT.

 

[Statorama]

Obama buys healthcare vote with judgeship appointment

"The Chicago Way"

 

[cstu]

Obama buys healthcare vote with judgeship appointment

"The Chicago Way"

You can take the man out of Chicago...

 

[Statorama]

Obama's Education Secretary involved in corruption scandal

 

[Statorama]

Majority disapprove of Obama according to CNN poll

 

[Statorama]

Obama finally inspires bi-partisanship....against him

327 congressional members send a letter to Obama telling him to cut the crap he's doing in regards to Israel.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Obama finally inspires bi-partisanship....against him

327 congressional members send a letter to Obama telling him to cut the crap he's doing in regards to Israel.

I'm so sick of our government having to kiss Israel's butt no matter how badly they behave.

 

[jon_mx]

strongly approve [ 96 ] ** [22.27%]mildly approve [ 87 ] ** [20.19%]mildly disapprove [ 69 ] ** [16.01%]strongly disapprove [ 155 ] ** [35.96%]neutral/no opinion [ 24 ] ** [5.57%]

Your opinion on the job that President Obama is doing so farstrongly approve [ 106 ] [23.30%] mildly approve [ 92 ] [20.22%] mildly disapprove [ 72 ] [15.82%] strongly disapprove [ 161 ] [35.38%] neutral/no opinion [ 24 ] [5.27%] Net increases in the last week:strongly approve 10mildly approve 5mildly disapprove 3strongly disapprove 6neutral/no opinion 0Keep up the good work!

I wish I could, it only lets me vote strongly disapprove once.

I wanted to vote, but it only went up to strongly disapprove...

 

[LHUCKS]

You can add me the strongly disapprove count...had previously voted approved mildly approve.

Looking forward to him losing the next election.

 

[Fennis]

You can add me the strongly disapprove count...had previously voted approved mildly approve.

Looking forward to him losing the next election.

http://www.1800-sports.com/presidential-betting-odds.shtml

Winning Candidate Moneyline

Barack Obama -130

Sarah Palin +1000

Joe Biden +1500

Michael Bloomberg +2000

Mitt Romney +1200

Bobby Jindal +2000

Hillary Clinton +1000

Mike Huckabee +1500

Tim Pawlenty +2000

Charlie Crist +2500

David Petraeus +4000

John McCain +5000

Mark Sanford +4000

Newt Gingrich +4000

Condoleeza Rice +2000

Al Gore +2000

Rudolph Giuliani +3000

Jeb Bush +2000

Ron Paul +5000

Evan Bayh +2000

Bill Frist +2500