Sourgrapes. Remember when it was so funny when the monkey pictures were out there. It was just a joke and so funny remember?. I think some don't have anything to complain about so they have to complain about a very obvious joke. I guess they need to worry about something cause they have a couple of jokes running for nominees so I guess they would all be a little grumpy.

Egilman - and where do your get your figures? Every poll I have seen has been the exact opposite. Well, not really - 75% for; 10 percent undecided and 5 percent against. 10% had no opinion.

Sanity, using facts is an unfair advantage over the "I'll repeat or go against anything my political idols tell me too" mentality :o)

Like they say...The first casualty of politics is the truth!

Who care's what FB posters say as it's a social site and not to be taken seriously. I thought it was funny---heck, this country could definitely use a lot more humor rather than all the doom and gloom too many politicians would rather us live under! Geesh.

Having been born where cows walk to the barn twice a day on their own I thought it was funny.

Might want to ask Alexander about that.

Maybe so, but you don't hear his supporters continue whining about it. If you lose, you lose. End of argument.

Alexander was a Central Banker, he got what he deserved. How about those at Goldman Sachs, Freddie, Fannie and the rest of the banking industry getting what THEY deserve, and it's not another bonus? I'm a Democrat and I support putting Banks, Investment Firms AND especially Credit Rating Bureaus (You know the ones who said that toxic crap called derivatives were "Gold Plated" on notice that I will not tolerate you stealing my money by devaluation.

As a Democrat, I ask those Republican Attorney Generals who are holding out on settling with the Banks and the Government, "DON'T DO IT, PLEASE". Prosecute these bastards to the fullest extent of the law AND put back the Glass-Stegall Acts and any other reforms you shelved to allow them to do this.

The French had the best idea for handling the over-priveleged. It's called a guillotine.

Depends where you look. I was totally impressed, as always, with Mr. Obama. I just can't look at that face of Boehner's much longer. Retirement would be good.

The French had the best idea for handling the over-priveleged. It's called a guillotine.

Just remember the democrats in congress, the senate, and the White house ARE the over-privileged. So if you use the French idea, they will get the first taste of it.

I love how therepublicans try to paint the Dems as the elite. What is with the problem with their definitions of words. Any republican anywhere has to know there is trouble in river city so they need to grab on anything they can as tight as they can. The speech had 91% approval so I guess the same 9% who approve of congress voted there. Wouldn't it be something if Obama was relected by 90%. The republicans would swear there was cheating going on. Well they have one front runner who put his money offshore and hasn't worked in forever but gets his money off of investments each day that is more than a worker does in a year and then there is Newt who has been kicked out by his own party plus seems to be the biggest proven hypocrite on the planet. And that isn't the half oalf of it. The ones who worked with him don't want him to be pres. So that leaves noone to get their vote but Obama and I want him to definitely run on his record. He has a great one That talking point doesn't align with truth either. I love it when the talking heads sit there with a guilty smile on their faces cause they know they are had.

They are all elitist. As I tell my social studies students, the Dems and the GOP are all rich, elitist, out of touch people. The only difference is that the Dems throw money at poor people once in a while to assuage their guilt. Doesn't anyone remember John Kerry? Rich, living in a gated, exclusive community, and totally out of touch with the working class. He also was a flaming hypocrite. He flaunted his 3 purple hearts, after he asked all of his colleagues to melt theirs in protest of the Vietnam War. Gee, that sounds awfully like what everyone says the Republicans do!! I'm an immigrant (not from South of the border - we do have TWO borders) and an independent.

Old school tv fan: How many Purple Hearts did you earn? Kerry earned 3, and saved shipmates under his command by pulling them from the river while under fire. I wonder if you have that courage. I wonder if I have that courage. What we know is that Kerry did, and had one of the most dangerous posts possible in Vietnam, commander of a Swift Boat on the Mekong River. So get past your right wing idiocy, and give Kerry some credit. Not too many rich guys served in Vietnam. He could have taken the route of George W, ie: Defending the USA as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, (I don't think Ho Chi Minh was threatening Tulsa). You have a mind, why not use it?

Agreed: Like John Edwards, Jesse Jackson and Joe Biden?

BULL SH*T!!!!

Obama's a TON better than anything the GOTP can come even close to offering.

If by better you mean a complete idiot,,,,,,,,then Barry is better.

paidmyfee...I think you should ask for a refund! I love the uneducated Repulitards that just can't accept that Obama is smarter than ALL their idiot candidates combined.

aint it grand? three years later and the best you STILL got is:

soshulist

berth certificit

yeah.. keep it coming.

Funny how everyone is swayed by the slick talk of the President, still. No matter how intelligent he may be, it doesn't make him a good leader or a good president. Has everyone forgotten the decline we have seen in the last 3 years? This president spent trillions of dollars as soon as he stepped into office, and what improved? The only thing he has accomplished is spending taxpayers money and passing his 1 trillion dollar healthcare plan. Who is going to pay for that plan? We are, the taxpayers. When he is long gone, we the people will still be paying for his mistakes. If the past 3 years he hasn't shown what he is capable of, then why would you want to give him 4 more years? Those who voted him into office voted for the most inexperienced politician ever. He didn't have any track record of running any type of business. What makes people think he can be in charge of running one of the biggest economies in the world? He doesn't know what he is doing. If people vote him in for four more years, they are as ignorant as they say the gop candidates are. It's a shell game, look over here at my promises, while I spend more money on something else we don't need!

Conshnz: Hey, do you remember what happened before Obama took office? Or do you think that it disappeared on January 21, 2009? You forgot the two wars, the real estate bubble, the beginning of the recession the crowd of imbeciles that inhabited the West Wing (and the oval office) did? Are you naive or gullible enough to think that what took 8 years to obliterate will be solved in 3?

Ron Paul?; who wants to do away with public education and dissolve the military altogether? That Ron Paul? Ron Paul is a racist who blames each racial epitaph he wrote on some invisible staff member. Newt is a racist who calls Pres Obama the "Food Stamp" president when Bush currently holds that distinction, Rick Sanitorum who makes divisive comments about giving money to blacks that belongs to "other people" and Road-kill Romney who is on the side of blacks until he is no longer on the side of blacks until it effects his favorability numbers, THEN; he is fine with blacks until whites don't like him being fine with blacks anymore. OUCHIE! My head hurts! Romney wants to know if unreported migrant workers, the Arab guy who cleans his sewer and his kids $100-million savings account, can be claimed as dependents for the sake of deductions? Where is Elliot Ness when you need'im? He'll find out about them Cayman accounts as well as illegal beverages and cigars!

Sure, I'll vote for Ron Paul...just as soon as he says one singular thing that makes a moniker of sense! You might as well flush your vote down the toilet for what effect it will have if you vote Ron Paul! Oh wait! That was for someone else wasn't it? Just delete what I just said...oops!

True Bush had more people on Food Stamps, but, that was through his entire presidency. Obama is on track to double that.

Maybe, but what I don't care to see is the Re-Clamps trying to put the label on a black man before the statistics are in place to back up the lie that Obama is the Food Stamp president. Furthermore, those among the needy who depend on food stamps to supplement their meager incomes; they think that Hoot Gangrene is a fool. They see food stamps as a needed assistant in their time of hardship. He has for certain lost the minority vote and he can't win President of a Corn Field without their support.

Does minority = food stamps? Your thought not mine.

ernie, of course there are more whites on food stamps than there are black people. However, you are certainly aware that there's always been a perception that it's only minorities that are "on the dole." And, of course, you are aware that's what Newt is counting on.

It is what white republicans hear when they hear the words "food stamps!" They associate black with poverty and then draw a line directly to the fictitious "welfare queen." A person that Ronald Reagan used to fire up his base. He told the lie so often that whites believed there really were blacks living high on the hog by getting free food stamps, driving Cadillac cars and wearing thick, gold chains, what white people call "bling" (Bling is actually the fruit of a criminal enterprise of individuals who deal in heavy drugs. It is impossible to be on welfare and afford true bling. One chain costing $100, 000 is what real "bling" is). Whites also blame Mexicans for taking their money by the same methods. So yes, in the mind of many whites, food stamps = lazy, shiftless, no good, ni**ers and spics living good on their dime.

its amazing the hatred that white america has against anyone non-white....food stamps, welfare smh...the blind leading the blind. President Obama inherited a country falling apart after a war that started from a lie intended to make the rich richer by raping a weaker power, now its all his fault that its not what it was pre Bush. Blame a black man for everything. All i see is a MAN who's doing his best to clean up anothers mess amid the most disrespectful people/elected officials in history..President Obama u get my highest respect! You're the first and its always hard for the first,and there will be more so just kill yourselves already!

JC Breeze, Very well said. Thanks for putting the truth into reasonable words.

Ron Paul's got my vote!

Not mine by miles. Wouldn't vote for a redumblican even at gun point.

JC you can imply our racism while showing yours by trying to school everybody. But in my neck of the woods a black in a welfare line would be rarer than a white. People receiving food stamps (do they actually use the stamps in your state) pretty much follow the ethnic breakdown of the area.

This is a spoof....right?

Hooray for President Obama, a man of integrity, a man of intelligence, a man with a vision to unite this country once again to be the greatest country in the world for ALL of it's citizens and residents. I am a former Republican and I can not even tell you how disgusted I am with them all. Negative ads filled with lies, money from the super packs disgusting and dispicable, that Mr. Gingrich is where your words to the moderator fit not how you portrayed them to catipult yourself to the top. Those words sum up the republicans in the House of Rep and most Governers across this land. What happened to my country, what happened to work hard earn a living and improve yourself. I don't want anything that I don't earn, but when I have no money because of what has happened, I would be eternally grateful for the temporary help. Yes, we need reform, but not to the extent of hurting those who really need help and I mean really need the help. NOT the people that know how to work the system. Get behind our President, give him the support and respect he so deserves, lets make him a two term President, yes Mr. O'Connell a two term president with a congress that sees we need to bridge the gap to get this country moving in the right direction. If we have the jobs the deficit will go down. Revamp the tax code that's a start, oh yes, I forgot about the pledge to Norquist......sad very, very sad. OK, I am ready for the attacks fire away.

I agree with JC Breeze. President Obama's State of the Union address was a breath of fresh air. After

listening to the hog wash of the Republican candidates with their outrageous presentations and necessary

defenses of their past conduct, Obama with his excellent command of the language, presentation of topics

about Americans and grasp of what's needed for our future, is the ONLY person to continue to lead us.

JC breeze this is a joke right all white men are created equal... come on buddy the american people voted this man into office so stop with the feel sorry for me crap it is getting freaking old...because he is black he is hated bla bla stop please i just ate breakfast and will vomit.........how sad in this day and age people like you still bring this crap up... because some people disagree with his ideas you say they don't like him because he is black... come on buddy please stop it is very old now look around you....Americans voted him into office....

I think those who hate Pres Obama can find NOTHING good to say about this articulate young, black man. And there in lies the rub, yes? He is black; so nothing that he does is right. How dare he believe in the American dream?

If President Obama walked on water, the Republicans would say, "Look! He can't swim!!"

I believe in hope too...and no one articulates it better than Mr. Obama.

If Republicans take away hope, what will they take away next? Faith? Gingrich has already made a mockery of faith. Charity? Republicans don't believe in charity, unless it is for the rich.

We have nothing left if we don't have hope.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 BRAINS AND BALLOTS

Time to tone it down JC. Your obvious bitterness makes your message easy to dismiss. Why do you think that everyone who is critical of Obama is critical because he is black? The only one making an issue out of race is you. Oh, and do some genuine research about Ron Paul. Your ignorance about him is glaring. If you do, I think you'll find that you are wrong about him.

Nothing about his "color". You people try to make any criticism of Obama into racism. It is All about his socialist,or communistic leaning and his blatent attempts to destroy everything this country stands for.

Re-read JC's message. He is NOT saying what some of you seem to think. Know history, read & know facts, you are being brainwashed by those who can out talk & apparently, out think you. Make more effort to understand what you read. If you can't, don't show your lack of smart by posting.

I thought his speech was brilliant to the point that it brought light to a country now split, divided and dwelling in the darkness of evil and anger. He has a light of optimism that shines in his soul and it is quite contagious for those who look to him for a way back to who and what we once were. This is still a great nation but we have lost a bit of our luster. President Obama is trying to restore that luster! BRAVO! BRAVO! HEAR, HEAR!!!

It is about his color Binaround, Every other false claim is just a smoke screen. You probably don't even know the dictionary definitions for socialism or communism. Hint socialist policies work in Europe, and China despite claims of being a communist state is really a totalitarian state. It is the GOP who is hell bent on destroying Obama even if means destroying the rest of the country in the process.

Rallyforreason, Ron Paul is a constitutional conservative who thinks the last valid amendment was the tenth, that any law out side the constituation is invalid. He is adamantly opposed to the civil rights legislation passed in the 60's and Socail Security. This is enough of a reason for me to never want him in the White House except maybe as a guest.

If whites can remember that simple truth, the notion that blacks are apes will never take hold inside your brain no matter who teaches or predicates otherwise.

You know, I actually agreed with most of what you posted, until that line. Do you really think "whites" think of blacks as apes? I'm white, and that thought has never entered my brain. Not once.

Such naiveté! You think me a fool because I see beyond what is spoken? Check your news feeds; they reveal more than just my opinion. Why does the media keep accusing Newt Gangrene of speaking in coded language? Why would they mention something that is not there? Because racism is alive and well in the good ole US of A, that's why! Are you listening? Are you paying attention and taking notes? The subliminal message is, "that ni**er is not one of us!" Why did the crowds in SC cheer and applaud so loudly when Newt called the president, "the food stamp president?" Why did one lady say, "I was so proud of you Mr. Speaker when you put Juan Williams, "in his place." Why did Newt say that he was willing to go to a NAACP function and teach blacks how to get off welfare and be more productive? We don't need a hand out; we need a way out and no white man can teach that! Racism is at the very heart of the matter and yes; I am an admitted racist and damn proud of it, but I don't lie! I don't assign blame where there is none. Are you all trying to convince me that racism no longer exist? Really???

Why has there been so much controversy about Pres Obama's place of birth? A woman at a Rick Sanitorium gathering said that Obama is an avowed Muslim and that he has no right to call himself the President of the United States because he is not the president! None of you read that article? Nothing has changed between the races; we still hate one another. Why did Mitch McConnell make the statement early on in Obama's administration that they would do all in their power to make Obama a one term president? Even BEFORE his tenure began in '09.

And Yes! There are whites who still preach that blacks are apes. I watched as Rachel Maddow tried to discuss that very subject with a white man who is the author of a book about blacks being an inferior people. I have also found a couple of web sites that teach hate, actually several. I don't need anything from white people so there is no "woe is me, or pity me" in my heart or in my nature. I simply see what is there to be seen and you all are wrong! One last thing; remember when the health care bill was passed? Remember the whites assembled outside calling the black representatives "ni**ers and spitting on them? How can you think I am the one off base here? If you need it proved to your eyes I am sure I can find it and post it.

Yes, I hate white people, but not for my sake. I am educated, hard working and I know how to get what I need or want. I hate whites for the sake of those they harmed. For the sake of those they continue to harm everyday. I am the voice of those who need a voice but who cannot express themselves nor can they articulate their disdain. At least I am man enough to be honest about my prejudices. Black people have never vocalized their hate for whites because they were taught to fear white people with supplication and much trembling. What they say about whites and have said for many years; they say only in the back rooms of life where no white person can hear. But it surfaced when Obama ran for president, didn't it? And many whites were discombobulated and whined about it. "Why did every black person vote for Obama? Because for once, for the first time in America's history; we finally had a choice! If you don't like what I say; don't read what I say. Its up to you, but I will not stop until things change or until I die! Deal with the real...right on!

You lost me at the end. You are right, there are still some, even many, bigots left out there. BTW, you should learn the difference between racist and bigots. You say you hate Whites and that's where I went from thinking you were making a point to seeing you as an idiot. I call you that because to paint all Whites with one brush is stupid. It is like saying all muslims or all middle easterners are terrorists. Damn, man! Sure there are bigots in congress and everywhere else in this country, but not every White is a bigot. If it weren't for the support MLK received from so many Whites, I wonder if he would have been as successful. If it weren't for Whites, no law protecting Blacks would exist today. More Whites than not have helped in bringing more equality to Blacks and that's why you enjoy the education you got and the job you got. Damn it, man, you;re wrong in so many levels! You almost had me on your side, but to say you hate Whites (ALL WHITES) makes me sick and think little of you. I hope what I wrote here was an awekening for you.

It is my brush and I will paint what I chose. You see; this is exactly what I mean you ass-hole! You think that something gives you the right to instruct me, or tell me how I should look at the world; how I should see life through your eyes, or that I should use the labels you pick for me to use. Such ARROGANCE! Such inflamed and swollen egos, WOW! Thou FOOL, I am not the one who sleeps! You think you own the whole world, don't you? You think you have the right to command all things. You know nothing about me yet you dare to try to judge me. Go to hell!

To say I hate ALL white people is exactly what I meant FOOL! I hate ALL of you because you were born without a soul and you don't even have the sense to know that about yourself. I can prove that point to you using your own bible but because you all are so damn arrogant, I will allow you to find out the hard way. I am NOT your goddamn pet and I am not on this earth solely for your entertainment. Do you HONESTLY think that I care about what you think of ME?

JC, not only did you lose me, I am adding you to my ignore list. Not all white people are evil. Not all black people are evil either. I have zero tolerance for a racist of any color. If I had the same feelings for black people that you have for white, I never would have voted for Obama. I am not willing to carry any collective guilt for what white people did to black people. There were many white, and black, who fought and died to end chattle slavery in this country. Many white people risked their lives on the underground railroad. I know you don't care what I think of you. But be honest with yourself, are you a Christian JC, if you can not forgive others then why should God forgive you.

Here is another humble pie to chew on JC. Moderate Republicans voted for Obama in 2008 and they. I, will vote for for him again. And if you have not figured it out yet, I am a moderate center left, poor white Republican. So much for your idea that all white republicans are bad.

JC, you are part of the group of people you hate! A Racist! You can choose to be bitter about the past, and you can look for examples of whites hating blacks. Yeah, it stills exists, just like you say you hate THE WHITE PEOPLE. Maybe you don't aggressively seek to undermine whites, but you can't expect a solution if you are part of the problem. Do you think your president is a racist? Is THE MAN still holding blacks down? Your president is THE MAN. Open your eyes to the positive! You can find negative if that is all you look for! Hate doesn't solve anything. I am a middle class white person, who was raised in poverty. I am far from wealthy, but consider myself rich in family and friends. My wife is hispanic, I have white friends, black friends, mixed friends. It doesn't matter what they look like on the outside. I value the person they are on the inside. We choose our path, we choose to paint the picture how we want to see it. If I looked at all the problems we have in our society, and focused just on that stuff, I would be a hateful person. I may not agree with the President, but it doesn't matter his skin color. I look at the issues, his beliefs, his policies, and what he has done in the situation he stepped into. He has not been a champion for the black people in my opinion. I think he flops from position to position just like any other politician for the most part, to get support for another 4 years. At least for the most part, we still have freedom. We are not oppressed and strangled like those in some middle eastern countries or China. You make you life what it is. Our President should have taught you that.

Actually JC I see you as a racist. I thought the line was funny. But please do not put the man on a pedestal or call everybody who doen't agree with him a racist. NAACP 68-71.

Cincinnati,

I've scrolled this far down the page and don't need to go much further. Other than your insipid remarks without worth or value that are uniformly against President Obama, do you have anything of value to add? Any insights or actual facts to back up your baseless and juvenile rants? If you don't, no worries. I was just hoping that you might pull something out that doesn't make you look like the Republicant/Fuxs News (rhymes with "sucks") troll that you appear. Remember the saying: Better to keep your mouth shut and appear a fool than .... (if you don't know the end, which it's apparent from your previous statements you don't, try Googling it!)

to that's your right------You opened your mouth and proved that you are indeed an idiot.

Cincinnati, Read the US Constitution, First Amendment. She has the right to say what ever she wants without fear, threats or retribution by people like you. What a country!

SpryLynnx, the first amendment does not insulate the speaker from the consequences of free speech. It never has. If I disagree with a poster here I will say so. And if the poster here holds a radical view, is retelling lies from Fox News I will say so too. If by speaking I incite a mob to the point it commits murder I am culpable for that murder.

First amendment protects the speech of both sides in any "discussion" except for high school graduates in Texas. They get precensored rules from federal judges for their speeches.

Alan, I absolutely agree with you! He and others of his ilk are purposefully using their political positions to undermine our country and then blame Obama for it. I laugh everytime I here Republicans use the "Obama's spending like a...." when its CONGRESS who controls the budget! Congrees and Corporate America has been in bed with the FED too long, and until that illegal relationship's dissolved (See Article 1, Section 8), and the People can once again earn the profits off the borrowing of their money (USD), instead of the TRILLIONS OF DEBT and potential bankruptcy, there can be no fiscal sanity in this country.

Although I didn't agree with everything Obama said, and do have some concerns on his understanding of the US Constitution, whereas Congress alone cannot do anything more than the US Constitution allows them to do by Bill or Act, especially giving a President or themselves more powers WITHOUT a formal amendment with 3/4 of the States and 2/3 of Congress approving it. This extends to ALL Presidents, and Congress, and our ineffective Judiciary where there have been far too many violations and violators...but this would require a very knowledgeable and active citizenry. BIG Sigh.

I am not the one who brought up the racist rhetoric about Obama being the "food stamp president" and I am not the one who believes that nine year old black kids should act as janitors and clean the toilets at school. I am not the one who volunteered to go to a NAACP gathering and teach blacks how to be more productive, like we need a white man to teach us anything! I, am not the one who demanded to see Pres Obama's birth record and transcripts!

Don't even try to chastise me white man; and don't try to "put me in my place!" You see what you see and I see the truth! You're welcome to comment all you like, you are also welcome to go to hell!

READ ABOVE!

Unfortunately Breeze you like many think the 20th century is ancient history and believe your man is the "only" candidate in history hit with questions about citizenship qualifications for the office. Google Romney and Goldwater in the 1964 and 1968 elections. Both white guys were challenged on their citizenship qualifications. Also the question was started by Hilary Clinton a good democrat. Also no matter what you think about Newt his biggest growing fan base is a direct result of actions taken in the Obama presidency by the Justice department. I don't care if he ran a brothel he speaks for a group that feels it's first amendment rights are under attack.

Michelle Malkin ... another brainless fox noise talking head.

marc-so you are another of the MSNBC, network TV brainwashed , closed minded, hateful Democrats who are so bent on the destruction of this country by the Obama-Pelosi-Reid anti american coalition.

BinAround... Back up a little, take a deep breath and then take a look in a mirror. You're part of the DIVISIVENESS that is going on in the country today. There is no "common ground" with your ilk. Your kind is aligned so far to the right politically that EVERYTHING else is left. NOBODY in their right mind, Democrat, Republican or Independent is trying to destroy this country. Contrary to the belief of yourself and yours, you don't have to be a Republican or Tea party member to love, serve and honor your country. Keep drinking that Limbaugh, Beck, SIFN (Sky Is Falling Network [aka FOX]) concoction and afterwards take your meds and get some rest. Then, wake up and smell the roses. As the old song goes..."the sun will come out tomorrow". Obama 2012!

Your post makes more sense with this rewrite,

BinAround

marc-so you are another of the MSNBC, network TV enlightened , open minded, inclusive Democrats who are opposed to the destruction of this country by the Mcconnell, Boehner, Cantor, Ryan anti american coalition.

Feel free to cut and paste my rewrite.

@Bill, so President Obama is a criminal because some woman wrote a book that says he is?! Can you site a credible source that President Obama has broken the law?!

Excellent comment, chforbessr!

In his second term, the President will not have to be concerned about re-election. He will be able to make real progress when he no longer has to bend over backward compromising with those Congressional Tea Party obstructionists who stubbornly and stupidly oppose him at every turn.

Bill Fitzgerald-2020106

TERRY, newsflash, Read Culture of Corruption, by Michelle Malkin, Obama is a criminal and has no integrity.

Bill, can you say "SWIFTBOAT"??

Talk about a waste of paper...those allegations will be proven untrue. It's also a huge waste of time. Try reality next.

Doby i for one am getting tired of the veteran card that keeps getting played... I also am a vietnam vet 0311 mos (marine corp 6 years) 13 months in country.. when my time comes that i really need the vets admin i'am very glad it is there but intill that time i will work for what i get.. also as a vet you and i joined of our own free will so why do you think people owe you something more then the paycheck we got when we were in???? all of your talking points are just that.. I for one won't say thanks for your service as i served also and was paid twice a month for that job...

It is very discouraging to read the blogs on the President's state of the Union speech and find out that so many people buy into the President's 'class warfare, envy and punish society's productive' speech which is, historically speaking, the way to trick people into giving up their freedoms.

Are our schools so bad that the public no longer values freedom and using one's brain to evaluate what is going on around us? Has it become a 'just be good little people without brains and do everything you're told' society?

Honestly, I feel so disappointed I'd like to blubber.

Virginia, I could easily ask your own questions of you. Please tell me why it's NOT class warfare when the Republicans are out to only elevate the very rich and to weaken the middle class out of existence and to decimate the poor? When Conservatives accuse Obama of "re-distribution of wealth" I have to ask how it's not re-distribution of wealth when policies and legislation is created that disproportionately benefits the wealthy and thus increases their wealth without doing the same to the rest of the population.

Are our schools so bad that people cannot even read to understand what socialism or communism or fascism really are (all things Obama has been incorrectly accused of being) and then just blindly go along with the mis-attribution? Seems to me that the majority of people who are just being good little followers and doing what they are told are the Fox News viewers/Conservatives. Just what freedoms are we being tricked into giving up?

Dr B

Right from the SOTU address...Obama stated that millionaires should pay 30% in taxes. Either he is playing to an assumed ignorance of the people or he is inciting class warfare. Americans who earn a wage of more than a million dollars already have their paychecks deducted by more than 30%. The great lie that Warren Buffet is spreading compares apples to oranges...Warren receives the majority of his money from capital gains earned on investments. Capital gains are taxed at 15% for all Americans. So, if people think it's fair to increase capital gains to 30% in an attempt to make millionaires pay their "fair" share...the rest of us will suffer through significant losses in our 401ks and IRAs which will cause a ripple effect that will increase unemployment. The best way to ensure that "rich" people pay their "fair" share is to close tax loopholes that benefit a select group of people or businesses. Additionally, if you have been fortunate enough to become wealthy...you shouldn't be able to participate in medicare and social security.

I have to agree that President Obama is a gifted orator. However, at the end of the day...what did we get for the five trillion dollars in additional debt over the passed 3 years?

Dave, historically the wealthy have always paid a larger share to level the playing field so the cost of operating our government wasn't done on the backs of those making substantially less---it was once considered a civic responsibility. It hovered around 70% for the longest time, and then the Reagan era reduced it to around 55% and now it's between 15% and 30%.

Take a look at our historical debt levels which was less than a billion until 1982, at which time it shot up at the same time taxes levels of the wealthy dropped significantly. This is not a coincidence, nor is it a coincidence that our debt continues to sharply rise as the tax revenues continue to decrease.

This isn't class warfare or a penalty, it's the cost of living in the country that requires tax revenue in order to pay the cost of operating the government and paying the debts it incurs, like for wars. The problem is the tax code has been used as the personal sand box of the wealthy, which a bulk of our politicians are, as is their largest donors who keep them employed, and under these tax policies, the rest of the nation is now suffering under an enourmous weight of debt due to this inequity.

For some odd reason the People are under some kind of illusion that governments are free---well they're not, they are very very very expensive, whereas if you want to pay less taxes then one must demand or force the government do no more than what it's legally obligated to do under the law (think US Constitution), period!

Let's compare the size of the federal government in 1982 to the present. It is beyond enormous. If a family can't afford a small house, the solution is not to buy a bigger house! Income tax rates are still very high for high income earners (which Buffet's secretary must be). The problem is when the government wants to raise capital gains taxes. The risk to invest money must be worth the potential reward to offset the taxes. Otherwise, the investment opportunities outside of the country are worth the risk because the potential rewards are greater. More countries are becoming more accomodating to foreign investment. I am for the federal government providing only what our founding fathers intended under the US Constitution. The further up the government echelons get, the more inefficient they become. If we only had to provide for the common defense, there would be a whole lot more money to make things go around. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the economy has become much more global since 1982. It doesn't take a mathematician to do some simple figuring to determine that we cannot afford to continue down the road of a Euro style nanny state. We cannot be giving money to foreign countries who hate us. Ask yourself...what did we get as a country in exchange for the nearly 5 trillion dollars in additional debt over the past 3 years?

Thank you, Affinity1...your comments are always well worth reading.

Keep telling it like it is. Maybe it will get through to some of them.

You REALLY need to research your hero Obama to see his shady past, his "connections", his ties to voter fraud, and on and on...he lies and lies and lies. The parallels to the rise of Hitler and Obama are scary.

More unsubstantiated lies Binaround. I have yet to see you post anything noninflamatory.

Apple saves 30% on the overall cost of making the goods. Google a company called FOXCONN and you will know why. Things are looking up around here, places are starting to hire. Problem is, a few of them think its still 1982, and pay accordingly.

Great post. I too have thought that President Obama's success would cause a ripple effect and others would follow in his footsteps. Wouldn't it be a different America, if working americans really ran the government! I'm sure some rich people just threw up at the thought. LOL

what 48% is that?

What 48% doesn't pay sales tax?

What 48% doesn't pay medicare and social security tax?

Ohhhhh, the "poor people are taking all my money" rant. Seriously?

And where are you coming up with 12%??! With that being even lower than the capital gains taxes that hedge fund managers and people like Warren Buffett are paying, how the heck do you think our country could ever bring in enough money to sustain itself?