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Patrick Kane / AP
President Barack Obama speaks at the Rolls-Royce Crosspointe manufacturing facility in Virginia's Prince George County, Friday, March 9, 2012.
This is the economy election, right? Tell that to the world.
President Barack Obama is getting another dose of the reality of his job: the out-of-his-control events that shape whether he will keep it.
He is lobbying Israel not to launch on attack on Iran that could set the Middle East on fire and pull the United States into another war. He is struggling to get world powers to unite on halting a massacre in Syria. He is on the defensive about staying in Afghanistan after a U.S. soldier allegedly went on a killing spree against civilians.
And back home, where the economy is king, everyone is talking about the price of gasoline. Which, as Obama can't say enough, no one can control right now.
A new CBS News/NYT poll has President Obama's approval rating down nine points from February 2012 to 41 percent. What's behind the steep drop?
The Republican presidential candidates don't have to worry as much about all this because they don't have the responsibility of governing — a luxury Obama likes to note, although he enjoyed the same when he was the challenger. The Republicans, though, are being drawn into events beyond their preferred message of the day.
For Obama, whose re-election bid looks rosier with every good month of job creation, the political risk in the least is that he gets knocked off message. That happened Monday when Obama and the White House spent a lot of effort trying to focus on energy, but the dominant news was the horrific rampage in Afghanistan.
The bigger worry for Obama is that all the outside events conspire to sour the public mood, give people more to worry about and create an opening for Republicans to challenge his leadership. Just because presidents may not be able to control problems does not mean they don't get blamed for them.
"There are so many of them now, and dire ones," said Barbara Perry, a scholar of the American presidency at the University of Virginia's Miller Center.
"People may not care much about what Israel is doing, or even what Iran is doing, but given American dependence on Mideast oil, that has a direct impact on the pocketbook. Do these things inevitably have an impact on the campaign? Absolutely, because they will be the questions put to the presidential candidates."
As one example, the price at the pump carries political risk for Obama, who is taking a pounding over the issue in the polls.
The average price for a gallon of gasoline is now about $3.80, the highest ever for this time of year. The White House says anyone suggesting a quick fix is lying to voters. Instead, Obama pushes energy exploration across the board and reminds folks he championed a payroll tax cut that kept money in their pockets.
That doesn't offer as much election-year satisfaction for the typical commuter.
"The reality is that the oil prices and the gas prices that we pay here in the United States are set on the global market," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told reporters Monday. "We don't set them, and we don't control them. This president and this Congress can't control those prices."
Clearly. Obama has gotten used to this dynamic.
Good news has come before on the economy, only to be suffocated by outside events. Just a few months ago, Obama attributed a slowing economy to the Japanese tsunami, the Arab Spring and the European debt crisis (not to mention his ugly showdown with Congress over a near-government default).
Now sizable job growth has taken hold by the month, but that pattern is hardly assured through Election Day. Obama still has a wary eye on Europe's economic stability, a slowdown in China could undermine the United States, and the turmoil surrounding Iran and Israel that could further jolt gas prices and, perhaps, lead to war.
It was a telling sign when Obama held his first news conference of the year last week and got not one question on the economy writ large. The focus was on the threat of a preemptive Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites. Now the attention is back on the Afghanistan war as Obama warns against a hasty retreat.
So it goes for presidents.
The big problems of the day are covered by the media, evaluated by pollsters and viewed within the election context.
Still, the general election campaign is expected to come down to which contender has better answers for people looking for a job, a better career, a way to keep their house, a sense of security.
"The three most important issues of the election are the economy, the economy and the economy," Obama campaign adviser Robert Gibbs said.
Indeed, an Associated Press-GfK poll of issues last month found 91 percent of people said the economy was highly important to them. Obama's team says the choice for voters is about restoring American security for all or going back to a free-for-all approach that led to the crisis. Republicans say he's failed to lead.
The White House isn't out to make this election about foreign policy, but Gibbs said "I don't think it hurts" if the conversation turns that way.
Obama has a story to tell on the killing of Osama bin Laden, the ending of the war in Iraq, the squeezing of Iran through sanctions.
The direction of the war in Afghanistan has been on that list too. But now it's a question, and Obama has to answer.
Afghanistan is raging with anti-Americanism after U.S. troops burned Qurans last month and, over the weekend, a soldier allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians and burned many of the bodies.
Obama was questioned about the horrific incident by television reporters from around the nation. They had been invited to the White House to talk about energy, but they pushed him on when the U.S. will be getting out of Afghanistan too. Obama said the United States must not rush to the exits.
So the timetable remains: the end of 2014, at the latest, for Americans to get out of a combat role in Afghanistan.
And this one: a little under nine months left for any issue in the world to rock Obama's re-election bid.
Leave a Comment:
oh boo-hoo for BO; EVERYTHING seems to be out of his control!
Obama tested by events outside control
Would they have said this about Bush? While I didn't care much for Bush, the double standard is unbelievable. Even Obama blamed Bush for the gas prices back in 2008.
SI
Granted: George Bush was hit with 9/11. But after that, he managed single-handedly to screw the pooch in so many innovative ways: unwarranted, unfunded, (and unrelated) war in Iraq; unfunded prescription drug program; unaffordable tax cuts while continuing to increase spending and support two wars; diminished American prestige and reputation throughout the world..... The list goes on. No, George Bush for teh most part was not a victim of things beyond his control.....
I'm curious to see how they portray the downgrade president when we have to raise the debt ceiling again right around the elections. Those drunken sailors are still out of control, and are going to run out of money sooner than expected. What a suprise!!!
JB: If GWB screwed the pooch, BHO screwed the American people. (with apologies to the movie "Animal House.") "Assume the position...."
@Jersey Bob - You mention many things where Obama has beaten Bush's record in spades. But the things Obama has done that you did not mention are astounding. Your double standard and inability to admit faults of your "leader" is interesting. Whatever Bush did that can be considered not prudent, Obama is tripling down on.
Actually things like placing warships in the Persian gulf boosts speculation of war which boosts the price of gas so to say this is completely out of his control is BS. If we start a war with Iran wouldn't you expect gas to go higher? If we got our navy out of the Persian gulf today wouldn't you expect gas to go lower?
You guys are right, Obama has demonstrated that he can control things, he can control an oncoming depression and turn it around to 24 straight months of private sector job growth, he can begin to help the American people (all of us) fight the losing battle against Insurance companies by increasing funding to SCHIP to help poor children, he can end one war that was an event legitimately out of his control, he can oversee the return of the stock market and RECORD profits for private corporations, those events are well withing his control thanks for reminding us that he is in control of turning a 750000 job loss event into a 250000 job creation event....
Hey WE............and Barry can (and is) controlling the certanity of USA Bankruptcy!
All by himself, how amazing. So glad the republicans are so fiscally conservative and would have never, NEVER passed anything that led to he deficits and debt we face. Thank god we are about to elect Wall street themselves to run the government, can't wait till another MBA is running the joint, it was eutopia of balanced budgets last time...right?
Bottom line: Obama is nowhere near as good as he promised, and yet still light years better than the garbage alternatives running against him. It is sad that we need to choose between ho-hum and ho-rrible to run this country.
Let me see WE..........a choice between a community organizer, business hater, socialist, redistribute the wealth, hate Oil, hate Insurance, hate Banking, hate Business, over-regulating inexpereinced liar.........and a pro-buisiness, pro-freedom, pro-religion, free enterprise Republican (either Romney, Gingrich or Santorum).......I like the latter!
Let me know when he gets blamed for a hurricane.
YA !!!!
This is all George Bush's Fault!!!!
How dare we accuse MSNBC's golden child of being a bad leader!!!
Beyond his control?
Excuse me, Commander in chief, If we weren't in Afghanistan any longer the shooting, and Quran burnings wouldn't have happened.
If our deficits were going down instead of up, we wouldn't be spending forty cents on the dollar in interest, and that money would have funneled into the economy.
The only reason gas prices are escalating is because of our actions with Iran.
Don't get me wrong, Bush is as much at fault. We need an entirely different direction.
Ron Paul
2012
Hey, Punjab, you left out Ron Paul and he's the most pro-buisiness, pro-freedom, pro-religion, free enterprise. Republican hack.
I should stop based on this ignorance, but I won't.
1. Community organizer, now has 4 years of executive experience, running the largest economy in the world and creating jobs, growing GDP, rebounding the stock market and setting up a situation where American businesses are currently hoarding record capital AND PROFITS.
2. Business hater? See 1 where RECORD profits are discussed
3. Socialist? I wish, but he is the furthest thing from it. Please name a company he currently runs?
4. Redistribute wealth? Again, I wish. But secondly, taxes are lower now than 4 years ago and again corporations have made RECORD profit. Funny you support the opposite of Wealth Concentration.
5. Hate oil, insurance, and banks....so do most Americans and we should. Why do you love them?
6. As for republicans being pro-freedom, well good I am glad that they support the freedom of ALL americans to get married, have abortions, and be atheist, and even expect that the insurance they pay for cover birth control...oh wait they don't support any of that do they...real small government of them huh?
The liberal Democrats spent 8 years blaming Bush for anything and everything including the price of gas. But Obama gets a total pass, he is our Teflon president. Nothing is Obama's fault. There is a huge cloud of hypocrisy over the White House, and one of these days all of the Obama supporters are going to have to pull on their big boy pants and admit he and his policies have failed. Because the borrowed buck stops with Obama.
Tsunami's, Arab Spring, earthquakes....Keystone pipeline, Solyndra, Fast and Furious, Iran nukes. It's all out the hands of the WH, according to the WH. Translation: after 3+ years in office they still don't have a clue.
We aren't buying the baloney anymore.
In our shipping lanes, there is a warning out about stacked drilling rigs obstructing ship traffic. The big rigs are on standby off shore waiting for drill permits.. Who controls this.???
Why are these rigs not on site drilling.?? What are the oil field workers doing now that these rigs are stacked and waiting for work permits from this government.??
The debt clock is ticking.
So Punjab,
1) True, Obama was a community organizer. So what. Irrelevant
2) The only wealth distribution Obama has done is lowering taxes for small businesses and the middle class.
3) Hate Oil? Nope. Energy production up, Oil now EXPORTED from the US to world market. But again I have to say we have potential to tap 2% of worlds oil supply with additional drilling and we use 18% of the worlds supply. Do the math. Oil is not going to fill that gap. Thats why the President is right, all of the above: Solar, Wind, Natural Gas, Oil, Geothermal, Biofuels, Hydrogen.
4) Hate banking? Why? Because he is in favor of limiting banks from gambling with mortgage assets again? Maybe your GOP clown posse candidates want your recession back, but not me..or Obama. Maybe banks hate YOU....we bailed them out and here they are gouging us with fees.
5) Hate insurance? Really? The Health Care Reform Act will give the Health Insurance Companies MILLIONS of new customers and allow them to compete on an exchange.
Lane Gypsy,
I own a small business and have not seen tax cuts but I have seen an IRS audit, as they hired those thousands of auditors. They told us they are not going after big business anymore because the attorneys and accountants are too good.
Domestic energy production is up as that is on private land, but Gulf production is way down due to the moratorium.
He loves insurance companies because he gave them 30 million new clients who have to buy insurance so why would they compete and also add the pharmaceuticals where he promised when running to allow drugs from Canada but changed to get their support
Hey corporations are people, my friend. But I guess your business didn't qualify for the tax breaks.
Nope. From Real Clear Politics:
LOL.....
Wow....here we go.....Mr. Obama, the President of the United States, is NOT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for anything...domestic or International...anymore. Everything is beyond his control.
Guess the blame game has gone too far for Mr. Obama and his media supporters, and those tactics have failed and he is now NOT responsible for anything which happened during the past three years, nor the remainder of his term, with his failed On-the-Job-Training.
Shut the door !!
Time for another party at the party house.
But Gulf Production is down since the moratorium which a judge overturned and the Administration refused to follow the judges orders. That is the fact.
I did not qualify because of the rules, such as on the health plan if I pay an average salary of over $50K and I have over 10 employees I do not qualify so I guess I should pay people less.
If there is the slightest uptick in the economy or with a jobs report, liberals are wetting themselves as they hurry to give Obama credit. If weak foreign policies lead to world instability or adverse energy policies lead to high gasoline prices, however , then the liberal media is lined up tp make excuses for him !
For everything else there is Mastercard because Obama has repeatedly failed to present Congress with any semblance of a reasonable budget proposal. Tax and spend, redistribute the wealth .... these and growing government at every opportunity are the hallmarks of Obama's "reign".
The truth is when You are the President you are responsible wether it is your fault or not. The sign should say the buck stops here, not pass the buck!
Another pro-Obama puff piece brought to you by MSNBC. Interesting how Obama, Pelosi et al. blamed Bush for high gas prices, seems it was in the President's power to 'do something' about said prices. Now that Obama is in office, why, the President doesn't have the ability to alter prices. Little bit of double standard here.
Also, it is the JOB, THE RESPONSIBILITY of the POTUS to deal with events happening in the real world. Because Obama is confronted with reality, somehow he isn't expected to handle things intelligently. No mention of how his actions and policies have created many of those problems. Arab Spring? Fast and Furious? Solyndra (and many other failed 'green' companies that he's STILL giving millions to) Libya isn't exactly a success, now the warlords are fighting over turf. Sorry. Can't make excuses for the man, a real president would step up to the plate, admit that the buck stops with him, grow a pair and not always look to make excuses or pass the buck.
fox news o'brien told his audience back in 2008 when the gasoline price was at its peak that president gwbush cannot be blamed. he pointed out that a president does not have control over gasoline prices and a lot of other things, and that it's the global market that controls the gasoline prices. True! but he didn't mention wall st controls the global market to a certain extent. well, the point is, just 3 years ago that republicans all believe that the president has no control over a lot of things and definitely is not to be blamed for gasoline price. So why do they think obama is to be blamed? double standards? not quite. the far right nuts have proven time and again that they have not just double standards, but multiple flip-flopping standards in all directions like a struggling fish out of water. too bad the only thing they never struggle for is the truth!
I did a comparison between this story and the same article Associated Press article wrote during President Bush's presidency. The contrasts are startling. One exists and the other doesn't. Go figure.
Poor, poor man ! Things just seem to happen to him...unlike all the past presidents, who all had it so easy. Take the oft disparaged George Bush...outside of '911' and Hurricane Katrina, his two terms were a walk down Softee Lane. Some of those other guys??? What...World Wars are supposed to be a big deal ?
More 'woe is me' from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...unless of course, something beyond the president's control happens that's a 'positive'...and then it's "look at me and the good thing I accomplished"...I told you things would improve.
We are the corporations,
So all the rich people stole their money? And your proposal is to STEAL it all back from them and give it to the poor? You truly are delusional and a threat to any modern civilization.
Events beyond Obama's control, to some degree I agree with that, however that NEVER appliedwhen Bush was president. The media and especially democrats blamed Bush for everything! Hypocrites.
Why is everybody pickin on the POTUS!
Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., R-N.C., has introduced a resolution declaring that should the president use offensive military force without authorization of an act of Congress, "it is the sense of Congress" that such an act would be "an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor."
Specifically, Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution reserves for Congress alone the power to declare war, a restriction that has been sorely tested in recent years, including Obama's authorization of military force in Libya.
In an exclusive WND column, former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo claims that Jones introduced his House Concurrent Resolution 107 in response to startling recent comments from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
"This week it was Secretary of Defense Panetta's declaration before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he and President Obama look not to the Congress for authorization to bomb Syria but to NATO and the United Nations," Tancredo writes. "This led to Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., introducing an official resolution calling for impeachment should Obama take offensive action based on Panetta's policy statement, because it would violate the Constitution."
jerry l-1335133,
I am sure that you get up at 5 am everyday and put in at least 12 hour days, six days a week. Sorry my friend, but you are now the enemy. Hard work used to be rewarded but now it is looked upon as greed and independence. You must forgo self determination and beg for the crumbs that the government deems necessary, fair, environment friendly, and most importantly controlled by them. The liberals are sooo much smarter than you and they do nothing but say "your stupid".
It is all Bush's fault anyway....
And now we see why the teabaggers have resorted to attacking womens' rights. They have no arguments left that the President's record can't shoot down.
Duane -552524
You comment about the "Buck stops here" is incredibly ironic as it was a plaque on the desk of Harry S Truman, and is a wall plaque in his presidential library. Been a long, long time since those in office took credit for their mistakes as well as their successes, or more importantly, gave credit to all those who had a hand in making those successes possible.
Toasty McGrath
In Texas it is Obama and the Fed that has stopped funding of women;s health yet the state says it intends to continue offering those services. So please explain to me Toasty how it is the conservaives. Don't me that Obama is now considered a conservative.
Women's rights are the new 'catch phrase' for forcing someone to give up their rights and beliefs and principles. As to the President's record...hmmm. Record on what, exactly. See, the President will claim any positive as his and his alone, regardless of facts and place blame on anything that isn't exactly going in his favor as either 'beyond his control' or blame Bush for the problem. Perfect example is the double standard where Bush, as president, was responsible for high gas prices, but Obama, as president. well, he isn't. Guess Bush was supposed to be superman and Obama, well, Obama isn't. Bit of a double standard here. Will the next president get to blame Obama for all the ills of the world? Has Obama successfully passed the buck enough? Is passing the buck, not taking responsiblity. the hallmark of the Obama presidency?
Guess Solyndra escaped your notice? That was but one of many, tiny little example of "Obama's record' that fell flat.
Sue-3329001
Good to see some one else who found that Ironic. President Obama sertainly does not believe it
Whyt do you libs insist on crediting Obama with the end of the war in Iraq? HE DID NOT END IT! The timeline for the drawdown and subsequent end of the war was established and signed by Bush. All Obama did was keep his filthy hands off the agreement (one of the few things I will give him credit for)!!!!!!!!!!! Learn the facts. Obama is a failure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@jerry stop hiring illegals.... Mr "I own a small business and have not seen tax cuts but I have seen an IRS audit, as they hired those thousands of auditors.".....
I have never hired an illegal and resent your comments about it. Given that I live in Miami that is an accomplishment. I do however have one of the most diversified offices you have ever seen and before you call me a racist my wife is Latin who got her citizenship the legal way.
By the way they did a one year audit and found nothing so they did a second year and found nothing That puts me above the Secretary of the Treasury.
'Toasty' is 'teabagaphobic'. Or an actual 'teabagger' diverting attention away from himself.
Well ! It looks like FuqUI'mAwesome has been shut down, shutout and shutup !
When reality bites a liberal in the butt ..... they turn tail and run !! Congrats jerryl, our last audit came out clean as well !!!
Can we take a minute to talk about things under his control that can/should tank his presidency (yes, I'm not for him). These are:
1. Obamacare- The CBO just released a "revised" analysis of Obamacare and are now indicating that it will cost almost DOUBLE previously anticipated. Remember that "it'll cost about $900 billion over ten years" item, well it's now anticipated to cost $1.76 TRILLION over ten years". That's a bit different, isn't it?!?!
2. Stimulus spending and "green economic" programs(AKA cronie capitalism)- The President has used the oval office to approve billions in stimulus spending to solar companies, green technology companies, etc., many of whom have gone belly up shortly after receiving taxpayer money. Most of those receiving companies just happened to be owned by Mr. Obama's donors. Today's transportation bill (shot down by congress) had most of the new incentives going to companies owned by T. Boone Pickins, George Soros, and Kevin Douglas- all big Obama donors.
3. Positions within the President's administration- (From the Washington Post)- Over half of the President's 47top bundling donors got cabinet level, adviser positions within the President's administration, 9 got committee positions, and 24 others got Ambassadorships.
4. Donor Perks- Read up, it literally is that those giving bundled donations to the President's campaign were receiving upto 1,000% returns on those investments.
These are some of the reasons why he shouldn't be re-elected. We can't afford him (financially or ethically)
Obama passed more Republican policy than Bush ever did. Bush passed more Democrat legislation than Obama ever did. You do the math.
MGrinder,
Yeah, none of it makes sense. Look at Nixon, he gave the liberals everything and was still hated. When Bush was in power I was emailing my Congressmen telling them to stop the excessive spending. Now that deficit spending is just getting worse. That is why I am in independent Conservative. The two party system has reached a failing point.
Hehe, "teabagophobic..."
I'm teabagophobic, too, Toasty.
Although I do like tea and baguettes....
When G. Bush was president everyone blamed him for things that were out of his control too! In fact the Dems still blame him.
Well yeah we still blame him, every time a teabagger gripes about the debt we have to remind them that TWO unfunded wars and an unpaid for Big pharma giveaway are the real drivers of the debt.
Now be honest with yourself, who is responsible for the Two wars and passing/signing the Prescription drug giveaway?
a. Barrack Obama
b. Karl Marx
c. Joseph Stalin
d. George Bush
Anyway, there is plenty to blame Obama for, too small a stimulus, too many tax cuts, too moderate a healthcare plan based on republican ideals, to aggressive militarily, etc... but don't be naive and think Bush is not 90% responsible for the debt, the economy, the international crap...come on.
So, an unfunded stimulus, two more unfunded "jobs" bills, an unfunded omnibus bill and healthcare bill are all ok but not the wars? The wars, combined, are only at $3 Trillion. That leaves $13 Trillion to go.
Wrong again WE...........the responsible parties for the national debt are Woodrow Wilson, Theo Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Barry O. The great (give away) society!
Wrong again Punjab, et. al. - 32 years of deregulation of the Conservative Republican Finance Industry (most of their CEO's are and supported by the Repub Party) with their fantasy finance schemes and moving their manufacturing overseas is what did us in.
See your naivete is showing...Reagan DOUBLED his debt and so did Bush, yet you aren't even intellectually honest enough to admit that.
Essentially, yes. Wars of choice should be paid for, if the wars were actually needed, say WWII, then deficit spending is acceptable and all Americans make sacrifices. But when we choose to go to war AND cut taxes then the resulting debt is very unacceptable.
Now for the jobs bills, we were at a time of great financial crisis (or do you block that out too) and deficit spending at times of crisis is necessary. If we hadn't chosen to doubled the debt BY CHOICE the previous 8 years then a stimulus bill to float the economy would be acceptable.
Healthcare? So sorry we expect everyone to have insurance and LOWER the debt over the next 10-15 years, i know thinking about 10 years from now is hard for you people.
Hey WE........speaking of being "intellectually honest".........I guess you can justify in your "intellectual mind" that spending $ 1.4 Trillion more than we take in this year is...........Acceptable?
eh, he will be fine.. no matter how republicans spin, he still looks better than the whole republican field to the regular voter. funny, the conservative talkers make him sound bad, and the sheep blat the rhetoric, but the people know the deal..
power to the people
OMG,
Yes there are acceptable deficits, actual crisis', not tax cuts, not wars of choice, not big pharma giveaways.
But deficits for wars of defense...yes, deficit spending to float an economy that just leveraged itself 100x more than its real value due to deregulation, yes build some highways when corporations just fired 3 million workers in 4 months.
But we agree, we can no longer afford to carry the deficts we are, return the Tax rates to pre-temporary tax cut levels and start paying for the things we want, like healthy children and comfortable old people.
Hey WE.............acceptable deficits?.................you mean Greece style!
We the Corporations,
The Medicare Part D program passed in the Senate 54 to 44 with 11 democrats voting in favor. That makes the dems as much to blame.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459#top
No wonder you guys don't "believe" in science, you don't even understand math
54-11 = 43
43 = 11???? Nice try though...if I were dumb enough to be republican I would make stuff up too
Yeah cause we are a week old world economy like Greece. I think America is better than that, sorry you don't.
In fact, the Dems tried to run against Bush in 2010, getting clobbered in the process. They will never learn.
You are right about that I think we have learned plenty.
We have some better things to run on. Depression averted. 750,000 job loss to a steady 200,000 + gain. Better GDP numbers, Stock Market up, consumer confidence up, middle class taxes lower, small business taxes lower, consumer spending up, Osama Bin Laden dead, other top Al Queada dead, Khadaffi gone, equal pay for women, pre-existing conditions no longer a barrier to getting insurance, oil production up and being exported, trade exports up. And thats just Obama....now for the GOP part of the strategy:
Assault on Women's rights, no economic plans, no job creation solutions (besides corporate tax breaks and other trickle down fantasies), obstructionism, and just downright dark doom and gloom and deep rooted wish to take America back to the 1950's (1850s in some cases) that will contrast well with Obama's positive and forward-looking vision.
And yet you guys keep putting up the guy that didn't win last time for your next candidate. (chuckle) won't you guys ever learn?
We,
By the United States Constitution only Congress can declare war, and both wars were passed by Congress with huge bipartisan support.
What? So Bush didn't declare war or pursue it, ok you can have that revisionist history, republicans still had majorities in both houses, so I will blame the entire republican establishment for our problems instead of just Bush, no problem. So why would we elect more republicans, so they can declare war on Iran by choice?
Talk about revisionist, both parties voted for the wars, and funded the wars including Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Pelosi, and Mr. Reid your leaders. When the Democrats took control in 2006 they also continued to fund the wars.
And who declared war on Libya at a time when they were no threat to U.S. security ..... without congressional approval ? Last time I checked, those Cruise missiles and other "support" cost U.S. taxpayers about $1 billion. It kind of makes the $535 million squandered on Solyndra look like chump change.
They are not my leaders, and that's one reason why. I am a true independent, sorry to burst the bubble, its just that republicans are SOOOOOO bad that I am left defending moderate democrats like Obama.
Genius, congress approved a treaty with NATO, so its approved.
We the corporations?
You have a lot to say about whose fault it is so I expect a long, well thought out response to this post:
This economist presents his views on who caused the sub prime crisis
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/subprime.htm
These folks in England expand their blame a bit:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/26/road-ruin-recession-individuals-economy
This lady had some interesting points on why the derivatives market went unregulated
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/interviews/born.html
This guy presents this author's comments on Bill Clinton'ssurplus
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/24/the-dot-com-bubble-how-to-lose-5-trillion/
These two want Barney Frank and Joseph Stiglitz nailed for "reckless endangerment" and suggest that Dodd/Frank may have left us open to another GSE meltdown
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/07/joseph-stiglitz-barney-frank-r.html
Some good information on Gramm-Ledach-Bliley and some opinions on how it affected the credit crisis and who supported the final version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act
#95 - Fri
All you hypocritical liberals like to blame Bush for not dealing with the policies that other presidents left him yet you blame Bush for Obama not being able to deal with the Policies that other presidents left him. So you all are going to blame republicans no matter what. It would appear that the average American is much smarter than you liberals
@we the confused,
NATO does not govern the United States. Furthermore, only Congress can declare war .... unless, of course, you are Barack Obama who is ABOVE THE LAW .... at least in his mind,
You wanna see the country go straight to hell ?? Vote for one of those a**holes on the other side....
Yes Sir I've been watching it the last 3 years with your a holes in charge.
@Trico77
Hatred is a killer
What about big rog there solutions.
Pretty funny statements considering Obama has done nothing but continue the Bush agenda.
Bush's agenda?
Not quite, continuing some of Bush's policies...yes. You can't start over every time cause you don't like the previous guy. Bush did that in 2001 and look what happened.
We will have no choice after we finally get rid of Obama, he has taken this country to a place, where, it's not certain, we can recover.
Counting the insurance farce, the inept lying quasi socialist in the white house has obligated us for 6 trillion dollars in , just, over three years.
The steady stream of business and the "rich" out of the USA, taking huge amounts of our capital investment money with them, continues to increase daily.
The effects of his EPA policies will force that stream to grow and grow.
Last but, certainly not least, his pillar to post knee jerk reactions, make it close to impossible, for business to come up with a business plan.
His attempts to force business to fund his vote buying social programs and green fantasies, causes them to duck and risk as little as possible.
Finally, the last survey by the Small business association, tells us that 6% to 7% of the businesses, that, can travel, have options on sites outside the USA and will take them if Obama is reelected.
That should , just about be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Funny you seem to support greed over patriotism, and are excusing taking American wealth and hoarding it overseas. hmmm...
Sure they are leaving...not, just their money os and you support that? Why would we care what your opinion is then?
Hey WE.......I travel all over the world on business and I see countries that you aspire America to become. It ain't pretty. I just got back from Venezuela. You need to come on a trip with me to see what you're asking for! You might just come back a Republican!
This is Obama's economic policy in place:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/03/regulation-nation-new-study-finds-obama%E2%80%99s-regs-cost-46-billion
You are right. That's why I'm voting GOP in the fall.
When Bush was in office it was all his fault even now 3 yrs later he gets blamed for a lot.
This is the downgrade presidents economy, and foreign affairs fiasco.
There was a movie made about the assassination of President Bush, but Hank Williams Jr uses a metaphor, everyone flips out... Hypocrisy by the left is not an exception, it is the rule.
"God give me the strength to change the things I can. The courage to
accept the things that I cannot. And the wisdom to know the
difference ..."
One could add to that: "Grant my opponents the grace to temper lies with good sense when entering into intentionally rancorous discourse....."
Or a more honest approach would be to ask that God grant the President "the grace to temper lies with good sense when entering into intentionally rancorous discourse....."
Same thing as with every other President.... NBC, and the media in general, are intent on giving Obama a pass on everything. That's what we get for electing a President with no executive experience who never demonstrated an ability to lead.
He's the one out of controll.
So it was not Obama's fault that he shut down new oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and ordered our planes and ships to attack Libya, an oil producing nation??? Was it Joe Biden acting in Obama's absense while he was playing golf???
Wasn't golfing that day. He was on the campaign trail. Where he's been since he was elected.
Obama went on his road show Smoke and Mirrors Tour 2012 in August, right before the stock market tanked in September. The less he says the more money I make.
Wrong! From Real Clear Politics:
39 shallow-water permits for new wells have been issued since June 8, 2010, when new rules and information requirements were put into effect. Shallow water drilling operations were not affected by the deepwater drilling moratorium following the gulf oil spill. And there were lots more shallow-water well permits issued by the Obama administration prior to June 8, 2010. Remember, Bachmann's statement referred to permits issued "under the Obama administration since they came into office."
In addition, there have been six deepwater well permits issued since Oct. 12, 2010, when the gulf moratorium was lifted.
2-Lane Gypsy
Since you reference Real Clear Politics so often, how about including a link next time.
Wow, this is such a puff piece and rationalization that I can't come up with anything as belly laugh inducing as the article. Maybe it was satire and I just missed it. Did a conservative version of Colbert put this out?
LAST I HEARD , '' THIS IS A CHRISTIAN FOUNDED COUNTRY '', JESUS IS THE USA's CO-PILOT ; we can't put all our trust in humanity. becuse we are only as flawless as he helps us to be. and we know , we can't trust in '' M O R O N I '', because , teachings about '' lying angels '' , and joe smith only , '' false bibles '' , even comes against the true republican conservative tea party christians foundational teachings of JESUS CHRIST. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALL ACKNOWLEDGE '' JESUS HAS THE ANSWER '', NOT A FALSE ANGEL , OR IT'S ACCULTIC TEACHINGS !!!!!!!!!!
according to your False Prophet obama we are not a Christian nation so give it up and quit whining.
We all know that everything bad is outside President Obama's control. They're all Bush's fault. President Obama tells us that regularly.
In his own mind, President Obama has only done the good things.
Truly, he is a "legend in his own mind". LOL !
This is nothing more than a right wing mainstream media article filled with negativity. There are many distortions here. We are less dependent on foreign oil than in the past. The economy will continue to grow though there may be some setbacks along the way. Most of the US's allies are for intervention in Syria. It is only Russia and China. China may be able to be persuaded. Assad's father killed many more people during his rein. So stop feeding the public fearful predictions because if a GOP is elected, we will surely go back into a recession and the gap between the 1% and 99% will widen even more. Give the Americans public more credit that they can see the trees through the forest. Many people are very aware of the libertarian agenda that the GOP/Tea Party is pushing within the GOP/Tea Party controlled state legislatures and attempting to push on the federal level. Why are these factors not included in this article. Don't you think the public is capable of understanding the big picture?
Don't you think the public is capable of understanding the big picture? I am not even certain if you should be driving or operating machinery.
I thought yo were being sarcastic in your post until I realized their is no punwchline. BTW, MSNBC, owned and operated by George Soros and is hardly a right-wing media.
The "distortions here," are in your post.
Because then the article would be forced to correctly admit that those "GOP/Tea Party" state legislatures are lowering unemployment and reducing their deficits. Just look at Wisconsin. While the Labor Unions are still erroneously smearing Gov. Walker with hate and lies, he's lowered unemployment below the national average and nearly balanced their budget.
This is a first. Mainstream media is right wing?
Wow! This is truly a revelation!
Media Matters-MSNBC have outdone themselves this time. "Beyond his control?" "So it goes for Presidents..?" I don't recall any such statements from MM-MSNBC during the last administration. I believe the line was "it's Bush's fault" for just about everything--including rising gasoline prices ("Cheney and his cronies" was a favored line for that). Will MM-MSNBC never grow tired of giving journalistic lewinskis for this administration and its tunnelvisioned followers? They must be on the thirtieth set of kneepads by now...
The ultra liberal BSNBC/Obammy spin machine at work again.
Whine, whine, whine..........he is in over his head.......this is what happens when a junior Senator with no experience is elected President.
Please, a Marxist junior senator.
The only thing ole Joe Bite-Me was right about; this President would be tested, and tested, and tested...........
And guess what, he has failed, and failed, and failed and failed...................................
Hows that Hope and Change working for ya!
Terrible.
Poor ..poor ...little obama. Its not your fault. Its those mean, nasty, evil, bad, bad Republicans fault.
Is obama just pathologically incapable of accepting responsibility for anything?
YES.
Barry's biggest problem -- he's a clueless idiot!
The Obama re-election team senses impending doom.
The Obama record is insurmountable. It's killing his chances more and more everyday.
Now when something goes right, even just a tiny bit, the liberal media jumps all over it like bitches in heat.
When things go wrong?? Well, ......Uhh....You can't blame Obama for that....uhh... it's beyond his control,....uhh ....he's just unlucky.......It's Bush's fault...Uhh... your all just racist.
The only ones talking DOOm are you guys. The rest of us see an economy on the mend. You've lost the Women's vote and more Independents every day you guys keep trying to tramp on women's rights. Your candidates have no ideas for lowering gas prices, the middle class or anything else. Their solution is Trickle Down theory. It doesn't work.
Your solution is "trickle up poverty" with the federal government running a nanny state.
joe, you are an annoying idiot
2-Lane Gypsy
Looks like the rest of the country senses impending doom and they are blaming Obama. See this from Real Clear Politics:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html
@OldSchoolLatinTeacher,
If I was MSNBC and knew if a republican was in office the economy would be in the toilet. I would put a positive reporting out everyday of the week.
Because once the repuks have control they will give tax cuts to the millionaires and billionaires which would be SPENDING OUT OF CONTROL as the right wing nut jobs say. They would put the seniors on a voucher system government controlled of course. They would give the banks back the student loan program that would add even more debt to their already high cost of education.
Look if millions of people start to lose there jobs again and the government say NO we can't help you go get an educations which cost more than the average home in the US. What would those millions of people to do? They wont be able to feed their families which is why the black community is ravaged and maybe beyond repair. Not feeding their families make them do stupid things, rob kill, kill each other then maybe spread out because all hope is gone. Yes you can get your guns to shoot them but its not like they can't shoot back. Helping know one but help your self to all the money can never be good for any society. How can it?
Hatred because he is just black can be traced back to slavery days and beyond. The United States Society is changing in a profound way. From a majority white to a majority mixed races. The only way to stop it is by making the current majority reincarnate the astringent power of hate, which looking at fox noises is at a fever pitch. To control all levels of government to enact laws based on race, color and religion. Taking us to a time in American history any rational person would be delighted to forget. Is this a systematic plan? Yes. Can we stop it? I surely hope so.
But what if they accomplished their goals. Republicans in the Oval Office most governors offices around the country including governing bodies senate and house nation wide. They would take us back in time to the very boiling point of hate for race and religion if it dose not align with theirs.
Half the country would be against them and I'm sure if they make strict laws against their own people what would they do to the rest of the world. Yes they would wage war against them all. Were would be be as a country then?
I have no education of course see typos. But currently in college. Thanks for reading. Trying to help myself, family and others.
Wow Solutions.... you sure typed a lot of words to prove to other posters how stupid you are. No wonder you're teaching a "dead language"....
Solutions-------- I see you found your LEFTY MANIFESTO, again.
Where was it, under the sofa?
Solutions, here's your race card back. It doesn't work anymore. People are fed up with the false claims of racism just because they disagree with Obama. People like YOU are the RACISTS when you throw that word around because you don't have anything else to defend the man with. There's REAL racism out there and it needs to be addressed. But, people like YOU set the cause back 150.
If Bush's tax cuts were so bad then why did Obama allow them to be extended? If they were so bad then how did Bush manage to keep unemployment down aroung 5.5% up until the democrats took over congress even though Clinton handed him a recession?
LOL@more mad ass Tubob
@Solution your making too much sense if you would have said It's Obama's fault the tubob would have fell in line...but you mentioned race in a country in which the people of privilege will go to their graves denying that the USA has a "low boiling race issue" matter fact they'll say..."there is no racism...your playing the race card" but to those who do not want ghetto and trailer trash kicking there doors in I know what you are saying....FYI more white people are living in public housing cira 2001
I bet some of these tubobs are in the projects right now.
lol they are finally getting see what it's like to be a second class citizen
Oh poor Obammy. A single tear rolls down my cheek. BTW They WILL be out of your control in NOV.
I think not. Oh, and I'm guessing from your "name" you are about 12 years old.
Obama's the most incompetent president this country's ever had the misfortune of experiencing. His only accomplishments have been to slow illegal immigration from Mexico by killing all the jobs here and making Jimmy Carter look presidential by comparrison. (Oh.... yeah .....he did teach Joe Biden how to tie his own shoes too)
@bob-2579213,
Would MaCain and Palin have done a better job?
A rock, would have done a better job, at least it wouldn't have done any harm
Solutions. whether or not McCain would have been more successful is an irrelevant smoke an mirror trick. Moot point, but nice try. It's Obama's ball. McCain never even got in the game. It's all Obama all the time.
Solutions
Yeah much better she was a governor she governed she didn't register voters from a Chicago bone yard for a living like the Hope Dope did before Soros bought him a senate seat. McCain was a graduate of Annapolis, a war hero and a senator for many years.... Actually had a job!! Yeah I think they would have done better. I think an empty coke bottle would have done better than the imbecile you libs found under a rock somewhere.
so McCain's hypothetical presidency can't be a question? #Tuboblogic...Solutions don't worry you're more in tune with their needs than they are....they want shotguns, church, and a nation of wel-fare babies ran by rich people who can't wait to find a new way to enslave them....you can't change a tubob.....the word change is not in their vocabulary. For G.O.D's sake they fought to keep people in bondage and are still mad that they took a bath on that. that's how this country is set up, designed, and ran...and will be until this country's racial make up mimics Brazil's
actually Mccain helped introduce and pass into law, the law that now authhorizes the imprisonment of U.S. citizens without due process. Innocent people will proably eventuallly suffer over his treasoness attitude
President Obama is still the President this country needs. If you can't tell by the racial hatred your ears and eyes must be closed.
SOLUTIONS------- you leftys really need some new material, the constant harping on race, when you run out of facts is just plain embarrassing.
I am still waiting for a clearly stated alternative position to any Obama initiative. None of the present candidates has a clearly defined alternative to anything the president has done other than cutting taxes for rich folks and deregulating industry so they can make more money at the expense of the environment, or peoples health or safety. What or how exactly do we fix the mess that is health care if we repeal Obamacare? What is the alternative? Go back to the way it was? How about those gas prices? Gingrich demonstrates daily that he has no concept of how the energy industry works. He seems to think if we produce more oil we can sell it domestically for as cheap as we want. That would seem to indicate that Newt wants to nationalize the oil industry. That sounds like socialism? Mitt's economic plan adds billions to the deficit because he cuts taxes so much revenues will shrink regardless of how he savages social programs with cuts. Someone out there in conservative land please, please a cogent explanation? Some real alternative? What do you suppose would have happened to the Auto industry without the bailout? Everyone is aware that regular bankruptcy would not have worked because as a result of the banking crisis there was no capital available other than the gov. to reorganize a traditional bankruptcy restructuring. Thousands of auto workers and related industry employees would still be out of work if we had followed Mitt's plan to let them collapse. And can the republicans come up with some foreign policy plans short of bombing Iran and not apologizing for stupid mistakes? Of all that has occurred lately in Afghanistan, the burning of Korans, the subsequent murder of US soldiers in retaliation, the murderous spree against Afghan civilians this week, and Obamas apology to the Afghan people for the Koran burning, which does no harm, but tries to find a solution? But what do the republican candidates want to talk about? the apology. I suppose they don't want us to apologize for this latest murderous madman as well. What part of this kind of statesmanship don't they get? No, so far I haven't heard one single positive good idea come out of anyone on the conservative side during this entire process. I am still waiting though, not a slam of the president mind you that is easy to do, an alternative idea, a different, intelligent way of solving our issues. The American people are open minded they will listen if there is some substance offered, but to date that has not been the case.
Don't you have some city park to Occupy?
That is not an alternative idea, that's a typical conservative reply. You need Rush to come up with some clever comeback that you can parrot for the next couple of weeks. I am still waiting to hear an IDEA. The conservative movement is bankrupt of real solutions.
Solutions it's not racist to demand that the President be somewhat competent, a us citizen and tell the truth.... it's just having common sense..... Something all liberals lack.
Damn it, Solutions, here's your race card b ack again. you keep throwing it around. Sad, that since you can't defend obama, you have to make false claims of racism. YOU are the RACIST for acting in a such a way. You hurt the cause of those who are fighting REAL racism with this crap.
Bob, John and Robert,
Boys, boys....your written words are getting more and more shrill as your panic rises. Really, try and pull yourselves together and come up with a calm, coherent argument as to why anyone with any level of intelligence should consider supporting any of the GOP candidates. And Bob, hate to break it to you, but your squishy little brain has been washed...really....not a US citizen....
The primary process is where candidates make themselves accessible to the voters, where the voters learn about the candidates as individuals, complete with attitudes and opinions. Theoretically, through the process of primary elections, the party gets a feeling for the "pulse of the people", what is most important and resonant with the voting public. The convention is the time for coming together, for supporting one person forward to carry the banner of what the majority of voters throughout the primary process emphasized as important. You aren't hearing specifics in terms of plans, because those plans need to reflect the electorate. What you hearing, is what issues are forefront and important to each candidate, and which areas that they feel they are best suited to address. No one person will be adept at all aspects of government, but I think we can safely prioritize which things are most important to the American voter, and select a candidate to implement that agenda.
hope and change not working for me macain and palin would have done a much better job. come on nov
Jock land HOW????
oats
McCain had and still has a ton more experience in government than Obama. Further; McCain knows how to reach across the aisle and work with members of the opposing party - Obama does not. McCain is a proven leader - Obama is not. Sara Palin is much, much more attractive than Joe Biden and I'm convinced she is just as smart, I know that is not saying much but she is.
Everyone on here is trying to blame Obama for thing he can't and can control. He has not ever in the time he has been in office that he was perfect and that he has done everything right. Yes people has blame for the situation we are in and I do not remember one time Obama blame this on Bush. I know he said we are not going back to the same fail policies. All you repug hear what you want to hear and believe what you want to believe. Most all the repug that write on this site are part of that 1% and you have everything you will need, but we have people that have lost their jobs, homes, and pretty much everything. But you repug want us to loose everything so it will be more for you. If you only get on here to show your hatred toward a person trying to make it better for all American, STAY OFF we do not want to hear it.
Good job ...Obama is still hands above any of the Republicans that are running for the job....they will tell you waht you want to hear....for sure....all garbage.....Mitt and Rick and Newt and ol Ron...pretenders...all of them....
Hey Stubby.... how's the price of a gallon of gas in your neighborhood since the Hope Dope took over in 2009??
hilarious. You obviously never listened to the President when he wasnt the president or bothered to look at his voting record, otherwise you would not be so quick to label all his opponents as pretenders.
and that goes for ex mi soldier as well. what part of Obama's 08 campaign or his short 2 years in the Senate were you watching. The heaps of hatred and condemnation of anything to do with the Bush administration were quite obvious. that is the farce perpetrated by this president, the media and most of his supporters; that the failure to actually follow through or failure to even attempt to follow through on all the high and mighty hope and change ideals that they espoused is either not THEIR fault and/or out of their control. The Emporer has no clothes!
I have not and will probably not ever be part of the 1%....I am not sure that I even crawl above the 50th percentile, but I am continually amazed at how people can talk about how much the Obama administration has helped them, is going to help them, etc. I haven't seen one of his promises kept. I have not benefitted one iota from any of the stimulus programs, and even though my life seems to be on a downhill slide to financial ruin, I don't imagine that I ever will qualify. I can't wait for my government to tell me that my aging and becoming ill is my own fault and that their solution is not to treat me, and give me "end of life counseling" once I retire (provided that I will ever be able to) and no longer produce tax revenues for them to spend, spend, spend on everyone else except me. I have seen many in my community turned away from the 'communal trough of assistance', so I am basing this total disallusionment on the experiences of many rather than just my own. I see my personal liberty being eaten away. I no longer can determine for my own family how to eat. I must be respectful of every single world view and yet cannot demand the same respect for my own. Political correctness dictates that I only have freedom of speech when it furthers the cause of the present administration. I live in a country that tell me that it is wrong to burn the Koran (for those who are not believers of Islam, it is a book-much like other books) For all the athiests, or pseudo athiests, who post in these threads, where is your outrage? Doesn't freedom of speech mean that you have the right to burn books in protest, and are these books not just objects, nice stories, moral fables perhaps???? But you go along with the drinking the Kool-Aid that says we have to be morally outraged by this Koran burning, and yet show no outrage when students in a public high school wish to wear T-shirts reflecting their pride at being Americans, and are suspended, but the illegal alien kids, at the same school can wear Mexican flags to school and celebrate Cinco De Mayo on school grounds. To me, what these threads have proved is that a liberal is lazy. You believe in freedom and equality for everyone and everything, not because of inherent rights of human beings, but because having a common social conscience and moral direction requires you to be accountable for your own actions and words as well as being responsible for what goes on in your community, your state, and your nation. You stand up for rights, because it is too much bother to stand up for things that are morally wrong or truly unfair....And you are very good at rationalizing this laziness, but claiming that those who disagree with your position of Laizze Faire are somehow at fault for their own condition and deserve to suffer. In fact, in your world, everyone deserves to suffer excepting yourself. You will defend rights on paper, in anonymous threads, but not publicly, not so it would inconvenience you. You assume because all is right in your world, that must be true for your neighbors, or the other people responding to these articles. It would be really nice if that were true.
ex-mi-solder you are as stupid as the the idiot in the white house
no but i bet he's as fuc,ked up as you are
Jockland, it is funny how you can call someone stupid, you can not tell your azz from your head. I hope your kids do not be anything like you or any of the other right wing jokers on here.