You know President Obama could take the next 5 weeks off and have less vacation than your President Bush in his first 3 years? Spin that

Try - Bush returned to his home for a working vacation. His "vacations" were half Presidential, and half working on the ranch and nearly all those days were days where congress was not in session.

His fake working on the farm were nothing but PHOTO OPPS.

.

db akron, Is congress in session now? I did not hear that President Obama stepped down as President of the United States while on vacation, not sure how any President can have anything other than working vacations.

Do you honestly believe his job did not follow him?

Bush never did any presidential work on his vacations. I defy you to prove otherwise.

tryreality2012.... I don't (and the vast majority in this country) could give a $hit who the President is, if the country is in the shape its in they'd better have their a$$es in the White House WORKING. NOT vacationing, NOT campaigning, NOT fund raising, NOT ANYTHING - other than to be working on getting people back to work and repairing our economy 24/7..... they can do all the golf and F-around on the speaking circuit after they leave the job. so spin that!

btone...

I "defy you" to prove that statement...what were you, a ranch hand at Bush's ranch ???

sd,

President Obama's vacations are greatly exaggerated. Just as statements like "repairing our economy 24/7" are exaggerations. Obviously, no one can do anything 24/7, just like President Obama is not always vacationing, campaigning and fundraising.

Try...

Mr. Obama hasn't had quite enough time for over-vacationing...way too busy campaigning !

Tony,

You're making my point. Alleging that president Bush's vacations were always half working is impossible to know without actually being there.

I can just as easily say that he never worked. Which is what I did.

Happy New Year.

This would possibly worth watching if he actually knew something about the economy. I don't see him (or anyone else in DC for that matter) even trying to doing something about the economy or deficit. All they are doing is throwing out small bones and not bothering to tackle the bigger issues due to them being too afraid to do the right thing because of their political careers.

Are "we" still comparing to Bush??? (facepalm)

The headline is a typo, it should read "lie about the economy"

go-getter...

When is this site not talking about George Bush ? It's like some type of wierd "Where's Waldo" website...when anyone takes a look and sees that things are not going and brings up the current president's name...the bushwhacking begins.

I wonder if Obama has gotten a new "LASER' .... you know, he promised his laser-like vision on jobs in the last election and has failed miserably in bringing down unemployment. Of course, he has succeeded quite well in raising our national debt level rapidly with his failed "Stimulus" and his insatiable desire to grow government.

The reality is that his ego was totally wrapped up in pushing through yet another government entitlement program that our country cannot afford ..... Obamacare. The impending effect of this legislation on businesses has been chilling. Obamacare has already negatively impacted the job market.

Vitually all these posts are by pityful uneducated fools that have allowed themselves to be POLARIZED to this obvious point of self stupidity and dishonor. Obama, clearly and obviosly, is the best thing to hit our white house in decades. The single biggest reason you all dishonor the president is because McConnell tould you it was ok to do it 3 yrs ago. ONLY REASON. Pityful unamerican idiots you all are. You idiots are really sad people every one.

Obama is right back campaigning after his vacation. I think all this comparing vacation time between presidents is nuts. These are just partisan political speeches he is making for politics.

jim...

The wierdest thing about the scope of everything the White House has done, is that the signing of one of the largest government programs in American history almost never gets mentioned by the folks who made it law..and when it does get mentioned, it's in whispers.

Reminds me of the movie "The Candidate"...when after winning the office the new prez says to his campaign staff "What do I do now?".

I think the folks running this country who put this plan into place have been saying the same thing since the day it was signed into law.

Richmond native Melody Barnes is leaving as White House chief domestic policy adviser at a time when President Barack Obama's administration is getting little notice for its work on the home front to fix the struggling economy.

JUMP SHIP WHILE U CAN GIRL!!!!

ECONOMY, This is something he has no idea on! Why would he. Being a democrat and kissing the unions behinds as in the THE STIMULUS PACKAGE. The president has no history of filling out payroll, because thats the governments job, RIGHT. What job did he have? Community organizer, that will get a lot bills paid. How can you expect a man who has NOT WORKED for a living come up with ideas for the private sector? He hates the private sector, because government is the answer to all the countries promblems. If you don't belive me, than why did the STIMULUS PACKAGE not include help for small buisness loans? The major engine for job growth. The main issue is no capital for small buisness DUH! But democrats hate non-unionized employers!

Hi,

Oh yea and BUSH is economy expert, that why it crashed during his watch, hmm. stimulus, well this is what you do to stimulate economy, it wasn't big enough and remember your messiah Bush did stimulus too. Oh you don't criticize him for that do you?

Geo you need to search your facts, not from Fox or your redneck buddies, please.

Makism tsionskiy, If you can read, look when the economy took a dump. Seems to correlate when the dems took over in 06. I form my opinion from being a small business owner who talks with other small buisness owners and understands the problem with the economy is lack of credit lines. Anybody who knows buisness understands that the lack of capital cripples your buisness, everyone except our president who gave all the stimulus money to unions. This is a short term fix as it has shown to be true. Get your head out of your rectum take a deep breath and put blame where it lies, on this president!

Actually, it was the policies of deregulation in the financial and housing markets, the predatory lending policies of the banks and the incompetence of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act that screwed our economy (over 30 years). I would blame it on the conservative policies of BOTH parties, starting with Carter and Reagan, but mostly on the GOP. We ought to revamp our regulatory policies, reinstate Glass-Steagall, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and crack down the predatory lenders and those who caused this economic crash. Then, and only then, can we begin to restructure our economy and our domestic challenges.

Steven,

I was not out after Obama on this one. I'm aware that Congress is out of session. And yes, having been near a national president of a professional organization, There are really no days off. Each day for the president starts with 2 hrs of briefings and ends with more briefings.

If there is any real issue with Obama it would be when they do something extravagant, when more than the normal amount of people are struggling.

btone - you are being to unforgivingly partisan.

http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/02/08/i_dont_mean_to_say_i_told_you_so_but

A week into his vacation, Bush outlined his day's schedule to members of the
press corps, He indicated that he planned to putter around the ranch, clear some
brush, do some bicycle riding, go fishing, catch a nap, meet with Condi Rice,
and work on reading a book before finally hitting the sack for a good night's
sleep around 9:30PM.

I only post this because he stayed on the same work day as in Washington DC, the events were just different. Every day includes a 1 hour National Security Briefing, and a 1 Hour Domestic briefing delivered each day.

http://beuler.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/bush-and-obamas-work-hours-preferences/

http://startthinkingright.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/lets-contrast-obamas-work-schedule-with-his-economic-teams/

http://www.infowars.com/articles/nwo/bush_meet_with_canada_mexico_leaders.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/texas-secretary-of-state.htm

http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=67093&rtn=/index.html&showsubj=1&mcat=45

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/President_Bush_and_Saudi_Arabia's_Prince_Abdullah_meet_in_Crawford_ranch

http://www.williambowles.info/911/tenet_lied.html

http://www.snopes.com/katrina/politics/blanco.asp

How about obama?

http://gregcontreras.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-may-obama-worked-about-four-hours.html

That is from just a few pages of hundreds of links that showed Bush did more than just lay back clear a littl brush while at the Ranch. If you want the whole story go to the Federal Register where what he did is published instead of a political hit people!

Give the Bush on vacation crap a rest Okay? The whole bush didn't work line is nothing more than a Cheap Political Trick - GET IT?

You don't have a clue what it takes to be POTUS, And as I have been following through the Obama links you just might be wise to clam up!

Let me guess Charles, you voted for Bush not only once but TWICE? Bark up your own tree pal.

Get over Bush!!! Start worrying abount what this idiot Obama is doing to our country. He as been twice as bad a Bush ever could have Dreamed of being.

Realhope, in what way is he twice as bad as Bush? We are no longer loosing jobs at 700,000 plus a month...the stock market is not in the 7000's...and Obama's foreign policy far exceeds Bush...you say get over Bush because you know the truth about him, and if someone is going to complain about the vacation days this president took its only fair to point out that the previous president took 3 times as many vacations in comparison to obama at this point in his presidency

Get over Bush!!!

We'd love to. Unfortunately, his economic depression is still effecting the nation. Hopefully, we can forget him once President Obama gets us out Bush's mess.

Obama has made things worse. Its a stupid fantisy to say that things are better today. Obamas anti american big Govements attitude has done nothing but slow down the recovery. His preaching of hate and class warfare have just devided the country. He blames bush for his mistakes, well this is clearly obamas horrible economy. He admitted to it himself. Look Im not a Bush fan, but Obama without is Telepromper is 10 time more the idiot!!

Realhope,

All the inflammatory rhetoric is pointless. Try using facts and information.

I can't believe you actually threw out a "teleprompter" line. Hilarious.

btone...

Have you checked the Associated Press' poll released this week...a group of American economists was polled about Mr. Obama's economic performance in office...results were not indicative of anything that could be considered Mr. Obama's getting us out of any mess at all.

And hey...the Associated Press is not controlled by George Bush, Fox News, or anyone else you might find objectionable.

Tony,

That's true. He hasn't gotten us into or out of this mess. But I have faith that he will in the next four years.

Obama's foreign policy is good?

He has his head stuck so far up the UN's ass, and he does nothing but apologize to other countries for us. He's just as bad as Clinton was in making the rest of the world laugh at us.

ehh Alex, Maybe thats what fox news tells you, actually I know thats what fox news tells you, but the truth is aside from Pakistan and Iran the us is good standing with a lot of countries that saw us as a joke due to Bush trying to take over the world one war at a time.( Yes that was an exaggeration, I am not going to substantiate my claim it was made to illustrate a point.)

b-tone...

Not sure this country can take another four years of the absence of leadership. Mr. Obama seems to be more of a press agent than a leader.

Even his formerly grandiose speeches only induce boredom via repetition of the same old, same old.

Charles - Give me a break. Socialist....tell me exactly the socialist programs we've implemented since he's taken office. Even Obamacare doesn't go into effect until 2014. So what we have is the same programs since the beginning of the millenum.. If you don't like the socialist agenda why weren't you complaining when Reagan, Nixon, Ford, both Bushes were in office.. Nothing has changed, nothing...

Technically, our nation took a beating from 8 years of failed "voodoo economics" and increased spending. Obama ain't perfect, not by a long shot. He wasn't (in my opinion) very firm on the Iranian drone thing. He hasn't been one to condemn China for its trade cheats (although with them being one of our top business "partners" who could...). And he wasn't very forceful for keeping our troops in Iraq (then again, the Iraqis wouldn't let them stay with immunity). But he DID help the economy with his stimulus: check the past 22 months of job creation. He DID instill hope in America that our best days were NOT behind us (and I still think so, with all the troubles that we face). He added a fresh sense of rationality to the White House. He killed bin Laden and took out Gaddafi and dozens of al-Qaeda terrorist leaders. He tried talking to other nations instead of bursting through the door with loaded pistols in each hand. He's kept the majority of his campaign promises. He tried to negotiate a compromise during the debt deal and showed political maturity in a place devoid of any sense of agreement (a.k.a. Congress). I don't care what you say about this guy; he's helped this country thru tough times. They say that it takes a crisis to show real leadership; and I think Obama has done that. People have been railing against taxpayer-funded vacations for centuries. Incumbent politicians have been campaigning for decades. And many of those so-called campaign speeches were for promoting the Jobs Act, which could have helped our infrastructure, put 2 million people to work, and help the economy, all while being paid for by a small surtax on millionaires, who are able to exploit numerous loopholes in our byzantine tax code. Say what you may, but me and millions of other smart Americans will give this guy another chance. I only wish I could have voted in 2008 and in 2012, but I will make my support count and I will help this great nation recover. But if you want four years of trickle-down economics (which only works up to a point), bloated defense budgets, radical right-wing Tea Baggers, and uncompromising idiots, than by all means vote for Romney or Gingrich or Ron Paul or all the rest of those conservative-kissing jackasses you call candidates.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

HOPE AND CHANGE 2012

GOP/TEA PARTY EXTINCT 2012

AMERICA 2012

Straight Dem Ticket 2012... I not only will vote for Obama but I will give him the House and Congress he needs to get us out of this mess. Republican moving Independent and voting Obama.

Because we have seen how great it is to have one party rule, insight? Every time that it happens people cannot vote the ruling party out fast enough. Neither party has our best interest at heart. They only worry about keeping their power.

Actually, our nation has seen how great it is to have a DIVIDED Congress. Both parties stink, but at least the Democrats have been willing to compromise to get things done, at least sometimes.

Can you say TARP? Can you say every American a homeowner? Can you say "I will not be out-Jesused in an election again? Can you say "I was misunderestimated?" Can you say "We will get even cause he tried to kill my daddy" If you can....you will probably know one of these statements was as many as 40 years ago....How do you like the possibility of another professional coming from the caucas vote in Iowa? It could happen....the proof is right here...

Positive numbers that reflect a economy that is STILL Falling behind. The other thing you don't understand is that economies drop on bad events and then return reasonalbly quick if you don't over react and intervene to much. Apparently, you haven't noticed that it's not so much that there are many more jobs, but rather just less filling for unemployment, because the rest no longer qualify.

Are you an economist? because they stories have been that economists are stating the economy is picking up? I mean you guys expected the president to have a magic button that would completely make everything better. with 21 straight months of private sector job growth that says something about the economy, and record profits for corporations. Seems to me that the reason there is no hiring is companies have realized they can do the same with less and be able to bring in more money to stuff in their ceos pockets

Well put, Mannie.

Mannie...

All over the news 2 days ago...an AP poll of leading American economists gave the president what the Associated Press calls "mediocre marks for his handling of the economy". You can Google it up and read it for yourself.

Maybe 'DB' isn't an 'economist'...but the economists in the AP poll surely are. Do they qualify ?

Of course, part of small businesses not hiring wouldn't be because of all of the extra regulations would it? It wouldn't be that because of Obama and the Fed, that the market flucuates so much that no one really wants to sink money into hiring?

Maybe you should read more about what's happening in the real world instead of what economists are saying. Get off the MSM and stop being a drone.

yes they do qualify, but truth is "mediocre marks" is not a total failure like some claim. If we are going to be fair and truthful then lets REALLY be fair and truthful, right?

I would think the group of American economists would be considered by most to be 'REALLY fair and truthful'.

And sorry, but being judged as "not a total failure" is surely no reason to be re-hired. That's truthful in a nutshell !

Alex M. You're just flat out wrong. Read. The economy is picking up, small business is hiring more and banks are lending more. Just as economists predicted following an influx of cash from the Fed. What you saying was true six months ago, but not now. Hear this on Fox?

Fox. Bush. Tea Party.

Everyone else in the country is always wrong because of those three amigos.

Yeah...mediocre is just what I'd want to see when wanting to hire someone for a job..or on my own review. Amazing that mediocre passes as acceptable in the liberal world....and we wonder why we are in such a mess.....

The numbers just came out today. Jobless claims way up again!

It's been three years now and we have been suffering and suffering some more. And you want to reelect this guy? Why? What has he done to help us? I have never seen a bigger lie in my life than when he went on TV and said there will be free health care for all and "It isn't going to cost the taxpayer anything".

And you liberals bought it hook line and sinker just because you think government should d o everything for everbody. You don't have brains.

Abe Lincoln said it best...(don't know the exact words)....."Government cannot and should not do for a man what a man can and should do for himself".

You know congress creats job bills right? POTUS just signs them, RIGHT?

21 straight months of Job growth in the private sector? check...stock market going from 7000-12000+? check...Giving health care to millions of americans? Check...Helping troops returning to the US with job hiring incentives? Check...Fighting to bring a sense of equality for the middle class(people who aren't lazy or looking for a hand out btw)? check...Less jobs being lost every month? Check...Coming up with a jobs initiative to get millions of people back to work(and all we heard was no by the same people complaining about the president doing nothing to bring jobs back)...Corporations bringing in record profits, but Obama is anti-business right? ...I see people constantly saying tell me what this president has accomplished, well there you go, there are some things, You can look it up on google btw

POTUS is supposed to guide and manage congress. He is the leader. Instead he is a smart ass to them. I don't think Mother Terasa hereself (if she were alive today) could work with this horrible president.

Realhope, the POTUS has tried to guide and manage congress, but congress has literally said no to EVERYTHING he has come up with, they haven't tried to come up with an idea that incorporates his ideas at all, they want what they want and nothing else. You can lead a horse to the water but cannot force it drink

His first month: Lily Ledbetter fair pay act for women, Matthew Shepard hate crimes prevention act, tobacco regulation, credit card reform, Student loan reform, wall street reform, the new G.I. Bill, food safety Modernization act and later: don't ask don't tell, saved G.M. and Chrysler. If you don't believe it folks, GOOGLE IT

Realhope;

Where is it written that the executive branch's duty is to 'guide & manage' the Congress? I seem to have missed that.

The party of NO HOPE has built mile high brick walls in front of President Obama since the first week of his presidency and yet he still has many accomplishments that tend to make you haters' heads explode..for a partial list, see post 4.5 above by tryreality2012. ^5,Try

As regards horrible presidents..... Barack Obama has accomplished many tasks that Dubya did not even have time for because he was on vacation.

FOX Lies.

Realhope: The GOP/Tea Party signed the "Grover Norquist Pledge" to refuse to raise taxes on ANYONE. They also said loud and clear they want the POTUS to be a "one term President". Who is disrespecting who? WAKE UP

Realhope,

Tryreality and Mannie have given actual facts. Actual things that have happened. And you out throw some nebulous BS and silly Mother Teresa comments. If you're going to hate the president, at least try to figure out why.

And please do it without falling back on "teleprompter", "birth certificate", "socialist", "sheeple" or "kool-aid".

I give UP, If you libs on here had your way we would be a communist country. Its sick the way you defend this idiot president. The lazy Dems on wallsteet and the ones that post on here, will wake ups someday, when its too late. You can tax the rich untill all the moneys gone. You can run all the companies out of the country and let the goverment run everything. Then when there is no mony or jobs left to support your lazy liberal asses, maybe you will wake up. It just sad!!!

Sorry but I'm the furthest thing from lazy, and Communism is a terrible idea so why would I want that. Oh and I don't want government to run everything, or the rich to be taxed til all the money is gone. What I want is the people that can afford to help out in the time of need to help, I want corporations to stop screwing hard working people out of the money they deserve. I'm sorry but if a company can afford to give their ceo a 400,000 bonus and then turn around and tell their workers we can cutting hours, or you need to take a pay cut, or that they aren't going to receive a christmas bonus that is just wrong

Realhope,

Again, you are spouting rhetoric. There are no facts.

In sincerity, you probably should give up because you're not saying anything. You can't convince people by throwing out stuff like "lazy dems on wallstreet", "communist" and "idiot president". You're just parroting. There is no substance to your posts.

btone

1. Fast and Furious

2. Solyndria

3. Number of regulations against business signed

4. Lawsuits against states (and allowing foreign government to be involved in sovereign matters)

5. Dealings with the UN that go against our constitution

6. Continually bringing up class warfare to seperate the citizens of this country

7. Inequal treatment of states implementing immigration laws (if trying to force illegal immigrants out of your state is bad, then why isn't giving them more rights bad?)

8. Libya (and no, I didn't support Bush and Iraq either)

9. Continuing to go behind and around Congress to get done what he wants regardless of Congress and the Constitution.

There's a few factual reasons you can google.

Alex,

Those are legitimate pionts we could discuss.

If I could have just gotten to you before your rhetoric laden "head up the UN's ass" and "apologize to other countries" nonsense in post 31.9.

btone...

One could say the nonsense you quote from the right side of things is truly and constantly more than matched by the nonsense from the left...ie: teabaggers, Fox News, Rush Limberger, Bush, repugs and so on and so on and so on.

Somewhere in the middle dwells reality.

btone,

Regardless of the party affiliation, we all have personal ideas about our current politicians. While I can be very vocal about my personal dislikes of our current president and congress, I realize that those are my personal opinions. Also a few in my list are my personal opinions. But, some are also facts, and regardless of what party the president belongs to, they will also make factual mistakes. I voted for Bush the first time, didn't the second time because of his mistakes. I voted for Obama the first time, and won't the second time because of his mistakes. Of course, that leaves me like many many other Americans wondering who I will vote for because it isn't like the Republicans have any better options at the moment (yes I'm an independent).

But then again, it's the quandry of do you vote for a president that you know from his presidental history, will go against what you believe? Or do you vote for someone new hoping they will do different... After all... isn't that why many of us voted for Obama in the first place? He's now burned that bridge, just like Bush did.

Alex...

He ran. You hoped. It's not working. The page needs to be turned.

The next comment you'll see here is someone telling you that you're a teabagger or that you only listen to 'Faux News'.

You seem pretty open minded to me !

If you can be swayed so easily by this one issue to ignore all the glaringly disasterous problems in the vast multitude of the others, it's small wonder that American politics are in this disfunctional state! WOW!!

STEM is all well and fine, except that there are existing people that can do those now jobs that were laid off. They just cost more because they have experience. STEM means a future workforce. If we don't start getting out of way of business to let the economy grow there won't be enough jobs to give these newly debt enslaved educated people.

When I went to school years ago, I worked at McDonalds with a intelligent fellow who held a masters degree in History. He was working at McDonalds to make ends meet because he could not get a job related to his field. If you get the foot of the Democrats and Obama off the throats of business, we might have more jobs for these educated people to get when they get done with school.

Yeah Ted,

here's another great example of one issue voting.

In November Ohio passed issue 2 which overturned Senate Bill 5 - which was similar to Michigan's union barganing limiting law. The union promoted yes as saving police, fire and teachers jobs from being eliminated from budgets. We'll barganing occaisionally saves a union job or two here and their, but what they didn't tell the public was that the local governments and schools were facing massive deficits.

Those deficits were from a small decline in students, population, AND massive increases in health care costs and pensions that far exceed those jobs in the area. Here in Akron, the deficit is so bad in the school district that they will have a shortfall of $15 Million even if they lay a lot of teachers AND get the next levy passed in March.

Other surrounding communties announced after the overturn the layoffs of nearly 200 police, fire and Teachers. Some communities this will wipe out what police force or fire departments they did have.

Big picture folks, not the little petty crap that is running us into bankruptcy on the national, state, and local levels at the same time.

@tedcrawford

Respectfully, I am a Republican who is not a member of the "...Obama Is A Kenyan Marxist Anti-Christ Muslim..." crowd.

I am not sure that you understand what STEM really means. If America wishes to retain its standard of living, we must place a far greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This area is vast and encompasses more (and better) teachers to incubators such as Cornell's Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island in New York, UTD in Dallas, RTP, and numerous others.

I often disagree with President Obama but NOT here - he is right and the Republicans are wrong! This is coming from a conservative Republcan and business owner. The Administration initiatives to return a strong manufacturing base to America is sorely needed. You have heard the President say many times that "...America needs to make things..." - this is what he means. He gets it - my fellow Republicans do not!

I put my money where my mouth is - we now have paid engineering internships and we will increase the number of these. We intend to reach into the middle schools to begin training in the future. This is not some liberal do-gooder program - we do it because it is good solid business. We are already seeing a return in our business since 2010. We have promised jobs to about 50 interns upon completion of their degrees - we know they are qualified because they have been working for us already.

I do not agree with President Obama on many things but I think he understands what it takes to make America competitive again - and we do not need more finance types. We have far too many already - these people need to go into chemistry, for example, to make the next generation of plastics and photovoltaics.

I hope that you can understand that STEM is not a "single issue" but to some degree is about what kind of country America will be in just a few years.

I find it a little weird to see so many Republicans with Obama, even after seeing his liberal positions. Could it be that this president IS trying to reach across both aisles? Bertrand, I thank you for your input. You and me may disagree on a lot, you being conservative and me being liberal, but at least people like you and me can come together and share some commonalities. I agree, I don't agree with EVERYTHING Obama does, but I still feel like this guy is the real deal. He is so charismatic, so bright and hopeful, he reminds me of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was bright, charismatic, and was a breath of fresh air for a country searching for a way to confront Communism. He inspired Americans to serve their country via the Peace Corps, and was an inspiration to all Americans, including me. Obama isn't close to Kennedy, but both have a sense of hope and leadership that inspired a whole nation to push forward in the face of overwhelming odds, Obama with the Great Recession and Kennedy with the growing Soviet expansion in the space race and in Cuba. All I hope is that Obama will give this nation what it needs; some economic help. Then maybe people in my generation can come and right the wrongs that has been done to this fair nation. But this is just a dream, for now. Right now we need to face reality, that our nation is in need of help. We need to put aside our ideological differences and unite to restore our nation's greatness. Remember: united we stand, divided we fall...

AMERICA 2012

@Freshieee

I agree with everything that you have said - I will be voting for President Obama in 2012!

He is the ONLY candidate that understands that America needs to develop and master (as in own) new industries and technologies. As unfashionable as that sounds to some today, government does have a real and incredible role in improving our lives and the lives of our children. I know that President Obama gets this - it is in his DNA - he knows that whole industrial sectors must be developed to provide jobs and employment for our children and grandchildren. All I hear from the Republicans is more drivel about regulation. Actually, in most cases, regulation helps to create/enhance the business climate. President Obama has been trying to get America back on track in the short term and he knows (I think he knows it in his heart) that the long term is just as important as today. Both are equally important and I can tell that these thoughts form the basis of his views on American competitiveness.

If I had one quibble to pick with President Obama it would be that he has been too compromising with Republicans from the very beginning of his Administration. He should have made them pay a heavy political price for their obstructionism.

Technically, Obama won't have to make the GOP pay for their obstructionism, because the American people will. Americans may not like an incumbent president presiding over a slow economy, but they will do far more damage to those who keep things getting done (debt deal, payroll tax cuts, etc) than to the president, if that be the case. Thanks to you, Bertrand, I now have more faith that our nation will pull through. After realizing how destructive America can be in foreign policy and how we can't even unite on the most simplest of issues, I began to lose faith in America. I have been a Democrat for the majority of my life, unless you include me arguing with relatives on how Bush was good after watching an episode of Wife Swap (something I now regret), how Iraq and Afghanistan needed to be invaded (fortunately, my father set me straight) , and how I once supported McCain until being persuaded to go back to Obama by my friends. Every now and again things come up that make me and many others think that America is done for; amazed at how we put a man on the moon but can't get our fiscal house in order. But every time, I read articles and comments that continue to push me and many others forward. I hope there are still many people out there like Bertrand who are willing to put aside party lines and work for the common good.

P.S. Hey Bertrand, I've been concocting a plan over the past few months on how to solve our economic and financial problems all in one stroke. Do you mind looking at it???? Please respond if you would like to see it.

@Freshieee

Please post or make available - all wisdom does not reside in Washington or in the halls of academia!

I can only promise that I will look at it as objectively (this means subjectively through the lens of my own biases) as I am able.

Mr. Russell:

I know a lie when i see one. I have been following your posts. You claim you are a republican.

YOU ARE A LIAR!!!

Now that i know that, i can't believe anything you say.

Class warfare is on Beev, this President has fought tooth and nail for the middle class and won't give up till your Corporate Shills are completely eliminated (extinct).GOT IT?

...won't give up till your Corporate Shills are completely eliminated (extinct).GOT IT?
What exactly does that mean? What has he done so far to "eliminate corporate shills"?

soazDan so do you think the president is pro-business or anti-business because it can't be both ways, either he is trying to destory corporations and business as some say or he is for corporations and businesses

Tryreality

You might want to availe yourself of the benifits your moniker implys! Should your Socialist Utopia come into being, just where do you propose that the middleclass look for their substanance?

tedcrawford, do you know what socialism is? and honestly Capitalism in the hands of greedy is almost as bad as communism instead of everyone losing everything tho capitalism just takes everything for the less fortunate in order to fuel the rich... and maybe is we mixed some aspects of socialism with capitalism things would be a little bit more fair, kinda like Germany in its current state, or Canada those economies are doing good.

Small business ted

Mannie, I think he's as anti-business as a president could possibly be.

Try Reality, do you really think the US can compete globally through small businesses alone? I mean that's pretty naive at best.

SoazDan...please elaborate? I like to see examples to back up statements because then i know im talking to someone who isnt a moron

Why is Obama here? Governor Kasich went the opposite direction of Obama and his lackey Gov. Stricktland and golly somehow Ohio went from losing jobs to gaining jobs. I've seen his type before, it's called taking credit for someone else's successful work that you didn't instruct them to do that way or give them the tools to do.

Dan: Raise the import tax and make bullies like walmart pay their fare share. GOT IT

Mannie here's an example: (And I openly admit it's a cut & paste but he does a decent job of explaining it). It just seems to me I hear him say things that just seem to anti-business in general.

1. Obama's Illegal Ban on Offshore Oil Exploration: First of all, I say the ban was illegal for two reasons. First, the initial ban was based on a report in which the Obama administration lied about the recommendations made by scientists. Second, it was and is illegal because a US Court said it was. There are many estimates of the number of jobs lost by Obama's illegal acts, but the 12,000 figure comes from Dr. Joseph Mason of Louisiana State University's report -- The Economic Cost of a Moratorium on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration to the Gulf Region.

2. Obama's EPA Ban on West Virginia Coal Mining: In January of this year Obama attempted a back-door execution of his failed Global Warming tax scheme known as "Cap and Trade" when he had his Environmental Protection Administration rescind a perfectly valid mining permit for Arch Coal's Spruce No.1 mine, effectively shutting down this lawful private sector enterprise in the name of fighting the urban myth known as global warming (see Obama EPA Whackjobs Kill West Virginia Economy).

This act was so anti-American business that even lefty John Rockafeller sent Obama a letter stating:

"I am writing to express my outrage with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to veto a rigorously reviewed and lawfully issued permit at the Spruce Number 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia. This action not only affects this specific permit, but needlessly throws other permits into a sea of uncertainty at a time of great economic distress."

3. Obama Endorses Offshore Windmill Manufacturer: Although it's hard to point to a specific number of jobs that were lost when Obama chose a Spanish "green company" to visit and endorse over it's American competitors, but as a former employee of a multinational corporation, I can tell you that all of this company's engineering, marketing, finance, accounting, and management were not US jobs (see:"Obama's Visit to Spanish Wind Company Irks Some American Businesses") In fact, an Howard Makler, president of a California-base competitor to the foreign company Obama buddied up with said the following:

"There are plenty of businesses that he could visit that are owned by Americans, we are owned in America, we do our business in America. I think that focusing on businesses that are owned in American certainly would go a long way toward demonstrating the president's sensitivity to the needs of American businesses."

Of course since Obama has no clue about how a real private sector company operates, he never considered this.

Tryreality #6.10

What you might want to think about is the fact that it's the middleclass who shop at Walmart, not the rich. What you propose would increase the price of everything for the very people you claim to champion! It would have absolutely NO impact on the rich!

DB,

Ohio lost 400,000 jobs when the whole nation was losing millions of jobs.

Ohio is gaining jobs now that the country is gaining jobs. It is the rare state (Texas) that can grow jobs during a nationwide, even a global, recession.

Strickland didn't cost Ohio the jobs. Kasich didn't gain them. I could just as easily say that we've gained jobs since Holgren became GM of the Browns.

Kasich, like Strickland, will be a one termer.

Holmgren

btone,

The jobs in Texas are the reason I don't support Perry. I don't have the link handy because it was a few months ago, but Perry campaigned on smaller government, yet the high majority of the jobs lost in Texas were private, the high majority of the jobs gained in Texas were government.

We don't need more government jobs in this country, we need private businesses to grow. Understandably, giving anyone a job no matter who they work for will give more business to private businesses allowing them to grow. But I'm not sure of the pay off between the increased government cost of more employees, and the cost of investing in a different way in private businesses to increase or allow growth.

One word: Walmart

Since the Bush '43' re-election anyone with good sense has been investing more, if not in China, then The Pacific Rim economies! I thought that Bushes re-election was as bad a decision as the country could stand and that America would wake up and get serious. Given the current occupant of The White House, I was clearly wrong, the 2008 decision was geometrically worse!

The first term of Bush was a mistake and the second was just plain STUPID.

tryreality2012,

I guess Bush and Obama aren't so different after all, are they? :)

(I voted for both on their first terms)

Hey Marshal, How much Chinese junk is laying around YOUR house? Maybe it's partly your fault too?

You need to think more than follow

Mr. Marshall:

When you increase taxes and fees on your own corporations, who do you think ends up paying for them? If you slapped a tax on WalMart today, what do you think would happen to their prices next week? And do you know who shops at Walmart? The middle and lower classes, not the rich!!!!!

Somewhere around thirty jobs bills and at least three budget proposals, passed by the House, lay, untouched on Harry Reids desk!

Poison pills are the reason, These bills had "pork"(abortion issues, planned parenthood issues). The bottom line is the right doesn't want recovery, they want failure. GOT IT !!!

Tryreality

If that were true it would behove Reid to rush them to the floor, exposing them for dishonest panderings and have them soundly voted down!

If, on the other hand, they are instead, affordable, sustainable and efficient methods to address our problems, he wouldn't dare allow them to see the light of day!

The Progressives control the Senate. The Republicans can stop legislation on their own, but they can't pass anything without help from the other party!

Ted Crawford: How naive was that last statement. Honestly, you need an education in Government and not just what Fox News has to say.

Alex, if you plug the deficit numbers onto a graph you will find that, as bad as it was, the Bush deficits averaged just above the annual average, Bush 2.7%, the average 2.6%, from 2001 untill a few months into the term of the 110th. Congress, when they started a dramitic rise, toping out in mid 2008 at above 6%! By the Constitution, specifically Artical 1, Section 7, Clause 1, the responsibility for this is mandated to the Speaker of the House, just who was in that position during the astronomical rise?

actually alex. since 2007 the dems have been in control of congress, both houses. and that is amazingly when the economy started to tank. learn before you spout.

Beev sounds like a lot of those problems are a result of what happened in 2008 not because of Obama. you not meeting the age for hiring is not because of Obama, your neighborhood going to hell is not because of Obama, the value of your home is not because of Obama, your retirement was lost not because of Obama. I mean really just read your comment you can see that you are placing blame on the person who took over after the policies that directly affect your situation had taken effect

Beev,

Try Blaming the Wall Street Banksters who actually caused all the home values to tank while sucking up Trillions in open and hidden bailouts. This all happened before Mr. Obama came to town you blinded, indoctrinated, hating pawn.

FOX Lies.

humansmatter

Where, in your grand scheme, does the fact that Lyndon Johnson removed Social Security from its "lockbox", to finance his "Great Society" debacle fall? What influience did the passage of Jimmy Carters CRA have in the economic failure? I have to admit that Comrade Alinsky would be very proud of you!

hey tedcrawford, thats still not Obamas fault, just saying

That's true Mannie. What I'm reacting to is his disregard for the lessions of those, and even members of his own party! One of those who he claims to look to for guidance, John Keynes, argued against raising taxes into the face of this type of economy! John Kennedy explained it as well as anyone "A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profit and a balanced Federal Budget.....Prosperity is the real way to balance our budget". Obama proposes just the opposite!

Look, taxes shouldn't be raised during a recession. But neither should you cut spending. Usually you should cut taxes and raise spending to right the economy (both checked). And the economy is improving; slowly, but improving. And WE NEED to get a hold on this debt thing. You wouldn't have enough money in the budget to reduce the deficit, so you need revenue increases. You could reform the tax code and repeal the Bush tax cuts except for about 25% of them for the MIDDLE and LOWER CLASSES. At worst, the repealing the Bush tax cuts would save nearly $2.1 trillion every 10 years; at best, it would save $3.7-4 trillion. Match that with some tax increases on the wealthy, reforming the tax code, entitlement reform, cuts to defense and discretionary spending, and you could cut the deficit by at least $8 trillion over 10-12 years. And tax cuts don't always work. They do when rates are substantially high, but with current rates at record lows we ought to look more on the spending then the cutting side. Tax cuts don't always work; you have to match them with spending to get an economic engine revving.

WOW, you really are so confused,I suggest doing some research.

tryreality2012; just living in reality; not just trying reality.

Spoken like a true idealogue. I love it when the close-minded, self proclaimed enlightened ones like you expose your ignorance, complete denial of the facts and abject hypocrisy. Please keep it up. Nothing destroys the liberal agenda more than idiotic posts that even five-year-olds know are phony.

ProudAmericanVetern

I think that H.L. Mencken explained it best, "An idealist is one, on noticing that a Rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup"

ProudAmerican... ". I love it when the close-minded, self proclaimed enlightened ones like you expose your ignorance, complete denial of the facts and abject hypocrisy"...why don't you read some of your conservative buddies' posts and apply that same statement

Mannie

I don't like to attack but that is so often how my posts appears. BTW, I liken anyone who believes MSNBC and their diatribe with the same fools that blindly listen to Limbaugh.

However our country is being torn apart by hose who so blindly stand behind an ideology that they refuse to accept the facts.

I also like to inform those who think that because my skin is "white" that I do not necessarily share their social views. However that does not mean I should bend over and kiss the @ss of everyone who is not "white.

The leaders that have inspired me most have been Dr. King, Mark Twain, (not really a leader, but a wise sage), Fredrick Douglass, Ronald Reagen, and most of all Jesus Christ.

Those who exposed the hypocrisy and changed the world through reason not slander and propaganda.

and for that I can give you much deserved respect. It is true I just hate to think that only conservatives have the right idea, or only liberals/progressives have the right idea. Both are flawed in their own right but I do believe that the GOP is moving backwards in their thinking and with the way the world is now thinking backwards is not what we want to do. We to innovate, create and inspire, the is truly the way we will change not only our economy but the global economy for the better. We should be raising the standards that people live by, all people, because when everyone has a chance to succeed they try harder to succeed. You will see crimes decrease, you will see famine decrease, you will see corruption decrease in some rights. Maybe I am too optimistic in my thinking but that I what I would like to see.

So PAV seems to think that my comment is only based on some ideology.

Where can you point out any "progressive" writer who ties economics to entropy? The main point is the asymmetry of the situation, which seems to prove far too subtle for PAV to speak to, but that's not uncommon among his ilk. If I had the unfortunate luck to be associated with a party that habitually got the economics backwards, I would still make the same comment.

Hell I don't even claim that Mr. Obama has done anything like an error free job, but compared to the GOP/Teatards he's smellin like a rose from where I sit even if I pay a bit more tax.

MSNBC may just cover it from the left.....for 7 hours.

As opposed to the lying and hating we will hear from FOX 24/7 all weekend...in between campaigning for the repugnicrites, also 24/7.

FOX Lies.

you bet... keep telling yourself that my deluded friend. You do know of course that MSNBC has the lowest rankings of ANY cable news organization and that NBC News is the lowest ranked network. That i because they target a select market of the radically insane and politically ignorant. Bet you are a charter member.

Radically insane and politically ignorant describes FAUX(LYING) NEWS to a tee

He would have to use someone elses hands, ProudAmericanVeteran. Remember Progressive are only generous with other peoples belongings!

try intelligent comment bro please. You make the argument that people who don't like Obama are ignorant racists ring quite true with your comment

You are sadly misinformed

Mannie: I like your style, keep up the good message, thanks

thanks try, I appreciate it, you keep up the good message too. I just hate to hear people make statements about this president when its clear they have no idea what they are talking about. If you don't like the president and you have logical reasons to dislike him then ok atleast you take an intelligent approach to your argument, but the people that says "hes a socialist", "he has ruined this economy worse than bush", "he is a failure" have nothing to back those claims up and I just have to point out the FACTS for them haha

Taildraggr - Quit with the $4 million vacation BS. He paid for the house rental out of his own money. All the costs (and I'm not sure it's $4 million) paid by the federal government were the costs of a president going anywhere, staff and secret service. The same stuff happened when Reagan visited San Simeon, nd Bush Texas, their staff and secret service go with them. The fact it's Hawaii is irrelavent, he's from there just like Reagan was from California and Bush Texas.

He takes the staff with him, like all presidents, because he's never really is on vacation, he's always briefed about what's going on in the world...just like every other president before him.

The vacation BS is just that BS... you don't like the guy point out what he's done wrong (specific's please) and what his actions should have been. Then you can have an intelligent conversation over policy....

Taildraggr -

The Hawaii Reporter states that the Obamas are not staying at the "Winter White House" (check out video of it here) this year and instead have rented and paid for their own accommodations in the form of a beach front rental on Kailua.

Exactly what has he done to be a disgrace? Specifics, not the pandering BS you guys do all the time.

Did the market crash during his presidency? NO., How's it doing today,

Did the 14 million who are out of work, get that way before, or after his adminstration got up and running and new policies were in place. Well, 9 months after he was in office the job loss turned around (if you thought on Jan 1 it would, you are an idiot, nothing turns around on a dime).

Did he save the largest manufacturing base in America (the auto industry), or did he let it die, like the GOP wanted. You want made in America, I do. Where you like what the govt did or not, they saved the largest manufacturing base in America.,

Did the deficit increase? Yes, but so did the deficit in 1929 to turn around the crash. Had he done nothing, the deficits would have still been there, we were running them before he took office, and the 14 million out of work exasterating it. And if you think laying off another 2-3 govt workers was going to solve the problem you are nuts.. We are losing jobs, and you want to lay off more people. BTW the amount of federal workers under Obama is the lowest in 60 years at 8.4 per 1000 population.

I could go on, but my guess is it's useless.

so Wall street reform thats bad for the economy? Im pretty sure the private has been adding jobs for 21 straight months. Wall street isnt worse off it was at the beginning of his presidency is it? trying to get funding back to education has been bad for the economy? He extended the Bush tax cuts that the republicans wanted so bad, so if you think that was bad for the economy too then you shouldnt want any republicans in office because their policies fall in line with more tax cuts for the rich and corporations. giving families the ability to keep their kids on insurance until 25 was also terrible for the economy hmm? come on bro get your head out of the a**hole that is faux news

Funding education anymore is a waste of money. How much funding does one need to drive public education into the ground? The problem is teachers in unions and politically correct mandates. Get real.

How reckless of a statement is that? Funding education is a waste of money? The reason teachers strike is because they get paid nothing, making 35,000 a year after working for 15 years is not fair by any means, you don't see teacher from typically well off school districts on strike is because they are being paid well enough to be able to provide supplies and such to their students, A lot of teachers have to buy their own supplies with the little bit of money they do have. Funding education will NEVER be a waste because it is a investment in our future. We can not expect to be a nation that is ahead of the world when our workers are as educated as 10th graders.

Paddy needs education BAD

Okey mannie, lets take a serious look at your analysis. "the economy has been adding jobs for 21 straight months" true. The average is about 90,000 per month, the problem? it requires at least 150,000 just to break even. Net job loss to date aproximately 2 Million!"

By "wall Street reform" do you mean Dodd-Frank? If so that sad piece of work, because of the much lauded "Too Big To Fail Fund", will within the next decade eliminate the small independant banks!

The insurance debacle is idiotic on its face! How does it bode well for our nation to encourage irresponsibility in our offspring? By 19, I, and many others, were making life and death decisions for ourselves and others. By 22, I had a wife and two children, had I even suggested that my father provide me with insurance he would have, rightfully, kicked my behind!

Socialism is a failed system!

Funding the Department of Education very well may a waste of money. Since it's inception under Jimmy Carter in 79 graduation rates have decreased while spending has done nothing but increase. Zero bang for the buck.

I thought the average was about 120,000 a month? and the truth is would you rather us be loosing jobs or gaining, So regardless if its not 150,000 jobs its jobs nonetheless and as that continues more jobs will be added. Your argument about the insurance doesn't quite make sense because in actuality without the health insurance there is a greater chance for people to go to the emergency room to get treatment and force us tax payers to foot the bill, with them being on their parents insurance its helps prevent that, and gives them time to establish a job in which they can get their own insurance. You know that insurance isn't cheap and that the average college student could never afford to pay for school, food, etc, and insurance on the pay they make while working in school. and the Dodd-Frank reform needs more revisions yes but it is still at least something to help thwart the practices that caused this whole economic crisis in the first place

I have to admit, unions aren't perfect. Sometimes they screw up things big time, but so do corporations. In fact, this whole recession was caused by private banks. I do think education needs more funding. I do think that we need merit-based pay for teachers to make the job more appealing. I do think we need a national program to start increasing the number of engineering and technology degrees. I'm not against the arts, but I think the government should start putting a bigger emphasis on education in areas that will lead the future, like science, technology, and innovation. We need these reforms in order to be great again, and I think that we can do it.

Who are you talking to? Try pressing reply in the box that you're replying to.

How do I sound like I am the one who is racist? please explain, and just so you know I AM AFRICAN AMERICAN and the furthest thing from racist. Secondly, how do I sound like I barely finished kindergarten? thirdly I have an associates degree from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in Aviation Maintenance and a Bachelors from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Engineering so who is the uneducated one now "Sir"

Oh you are black? No wonder you are trying to defend the clown in the white house.

The color of our skin has NOTHING to do with it CLOWN

oh Mannie...you just answered yourself. Ah...Pittsburgh...no wonder you are simple minded. Is there still an airport in Pittburgh??? by golly.

mcpaddywack, the reason I am defending the President is because I realize the things he has done in order to get this country back on the right track. The things he has been doing to help people like me get a chance to be successful. Maybe you don't understand just how hard is being a African American male in america where everyone stereotypes you, and you lose out on opportunities simply because of you your skin color. I have had to work hard, very very hard in order to be in the position I am now. You say liberals are lazy and want handouts, well I have never taken a handout in my life, I have been working since I was old enough to deliver the newspapers(11 years old). I admire the president for taking on such a large task as bringing the economy back from the brink of a depression, and being part black he has seen nothing but people like you expecting him to fail, so much so that you can't even acknowledge the good things he has done. So say its because I am African American that I am defending him but sir you will NEVER understand how hard it is to be us in america.

Don't mind Jack, He's from Indiana

actually Pittsburgh International Airport is still in Pittsburgh. One, how does living in Pittsburgh make me simple minded? Secondly, I spent part of my childhood living in Florida also. I was born in Africa, my father and mother both came here for the opportunity to make a better life for themselves and me and my sisters, my father is one the hardest working men I know and has instilled those values in me. Thirdly, American Airlines, Delta, Continental, United, US Airways, all still fly out of Pittsburgh. I work for Republic Airlines which operates regional flights for US airways, United and Delta.

He doesn't creat jobs Dave, Congress does.

Really? Then why does he claim that his trillion dollar stimulus bill created 6.2 million jobs? Did obama lie to us?

The president lies all the time.

Proud: Congress created it and He signed it, VERY SIMPLE.

well are you African American?

More like KKK affiliated.

Another clueless lemming, what's new

tryreality----No reasonable response for you. The last time I responded to you was about Government raising taxes on products such as gas, cigarettes, ect which affected the middle class and you said the states did that not the Obama administration.. I gave you the proof and suggested you research before you post such nonsense. You did not reply. Again I suggest you try to back up your statements about me being a "clueless Lemming". You have no facts to back that up. Voted for your own post again????

President Obama in ANOTHER LANDSLIDE.

Moving OUR Country forward.

12 Democrat Senators have stated they will not seek re-election. I think your dreams of another super-majority are doomed. The American people saw their folly and are purging out the zealots.

Guess you will have to get off the couch and and support yourself.

Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC Chairwoman, was on Fox News and said that President Obama has led the country to job growth in the last 24 months. Why? Because with his policies he caused the loss of a half million jobs in his first year due in large part to his Health Care Reform and anti business legislation. Unemployment has been higher than the worse month of the Bush administration for each and every month of the Obama administration. If you look at the entire time Pres Obama has been in office, the has been a loss of 1.6 Million jobs. I am sure that Ms Schultz also believes that her Florida Gators (6-6) had a great year because they won their bowl game.

I saw that Bill. She's another big mouth progressive liberal who is a hypocrite! all they do

is LIE about how this socialist utopia works! I can't stand her or him still not sure. She reminds

me of Weiner! i can't wait til some scoop comes out on her! These kind of politicians have no

business in politics in America as they are anti-america! This was not the land of welfare, big

government, lazy give me free i want it now people but that's the change OBOMBO and them

talk about! makes me sick i have been working since i was 14 and i barely get by as i was not

forturnate enough to go to college or have a family who could afford it! but i dont' blame nobody

i never expected anything for free and i don't want it if it means owing the govenment anything

or having to lose my freedom! we are over regulated, told what to buy, eat, drink, drive. how

many green car commericals do i have to forced to watch. People aren't buying this green bs and

see these cars have toxic batteries and problems and too expensive and yet they run on coal gas

and oil!!!! where's the electrcity come from? wind mills solar panels? give me a break if it was gonna

work it would be working it's not its a lie and now america knows it except for the liberals who always

refuse to admit these policies dont work!!!! Obombo and all these liberal need to be boycotted against

like they were in the 30's and 40's! I saw a Bob Hope movie where someone says look a zombie he

don't talk or think he's dead. Hope replies 'sounds like a democrat' ! i couldn't believe it! YEAH!