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Then... Obama puts a wage freeze on all staffers earning over $100K. Doesn't make sense.

I wish for the best, hope for the best, and stand 100% behind Obama, yet I remain cautiously optimistic that his intentions are not in converting this country over to Socialism.

(But Socialism might not be avoidable.)

NJ just shut down or announced that Riverfront State RPison along the North side of Camden is closing/relocating for more waterfront development.

This is or has been rumored in the building trade for yrs. N Camden is blighted and probably all bought up by now.

I like what Obama has said and I asked a legal friend his opinion coz he was a former Fed Pros and he kinda wants it both ways. Yes to Habeus Corpus but frightened about what sensitive programs might get outed.

*For Robbie, extention now to the 30th... Is this the twilight zone????

the actual inaugaral celebrations aren't paid for with 100percent tax-payer dollars - but with private donations through the 'Presidential Inaugural Committee' (PIC)

The actual Obama festivities will run about $45 million, which is only a bit higher than the previous Bush inaugural. That excludes the $124 million that federal, state and local governments are paying for security and the official swearing-in ceremony - money the Obama folks had no control over

The total cost of Bush's 2005 inauguration was reportedly around $157 million

furthermore - Unlike previous inaugural committees, the 2009 PIC does not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, labor unions, current federally-registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents and does not accept individual contributions in excess of $50,000.

list of donors to date - http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/donors/

My own suspicion is they feel some campaign promises will not be kept (specifically the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq?).

I would have expected more open cohesion during the first 100 days.

It should be VERY interesting.

Anyway, let's keep the past in the past and give everyone the chance to improve themselves and discuss things openly and adultly. It's well known that I'm no fan of the antics Tck pulled, however, it's over and as long as he's conducting himself decently, than I will also.......

Thanks.

the first one where I corrected a blantant ill-informed falsehood about the cost to the public regarding the inaugaration?

or, the second part where I posted my opinion that I don't think that less than 72 hours into the "first 100 days" is an accurate reflection of total party cohesion?

my posts are "antic-less" truthful and based on fact. if this makes my opinion less warranted than the others above them - delete where you wish

Actually I was glad to see your first post with the explanation of monies spent, because I was unaware of same and I'm sure others weren't either. Good correction of facts, or presentation of facts.

The second post was antagonistic. And I'm not a delete person.....and I'm not foolish enough to believe I can change behaviors.....I'm just asking that when rebutals are made, and warranted, they don't incite worse behavior. You're a skilled enough writer to have made that post say what you wanted without a shot at the person that presented it is all I'm saying I suppose.......

I am surprised that he didn't.

(If there are those who feel that President Obama could not have diverted even $1 million of the funds toward other causes, I respect your opinion.)

The money was well spent! The entire world was watching and cheering for the americans and their new president(me included) a breath of fresh air if you ask me!

Well, it appears the majority of people I talk to are in agreement with you.

Nothing any of us say or write here is going to change anything in the world, so all of our opinions including mine hold the same value (unfortunately that value is 0, lol).

I just find it interesting that so many people choose the expensive 'breath of fresh air' over taking a few million dollars of the party money and spending it on a longer lasting cause.

It's all spent now anyhow though.

And yes Toy.....the whole world was watching, I assume with the same hope and anticipation as most in this country......

It's not a secret that I didn't vote for Obama, but I remain hopeful that he delivers change to this country and if that happens, it of course ripples throughout the world.

We (I) can only hope that military $$$ will be re-directed towards the Health & Human Services sector and taking care of our returning troops.

Some money will go to soldier's treatment but not nearly enough.

My own opinion is that many in the democratic leadership hate the soldiers.

I still like his decisive moves, well thought out in advance and everything he does appears to have a purpose.

Last week: Obama says the first priority is the economy. Ooopsie... I guess he lied, lol.

This week: a crushing blow to the automobile industry which will now have to manufacture automobiles with different emission standards depending on the state in which the automobiles are sold.

(A dunce cap will say, "Um, yeah, but that means Toyota will have to do that too....", but you see - Toyota isn't on it's ass preparing for possible bankruptcy. Toyota & Honda may actually LOVE this new law because it's just another thorn in the U.S. auto industry's already crippled butt.)

Obama, use COMMON SENSE: lower the emission standards for ALL STATES in order to help the U.S. automobile industry get back on it's feet, thus helping the entire U.S. economy get back on it's feet. And THEN slowly raise the emission standards.

???

i do not agree with the money spent on the inaguration, money that could have been better spent elsewhere, but atleast it was tax payer money.and no i didnt watch the inaguration, playin Xbox was more important they day. had ta beat the bad guys.

By Liz Peek

Financial Columnist

Call me crazy, but this doesnt seem like the best time to add to the host of problems already facing the Big Three automakers. President Obamas move to allow individual states to mandate their own emission standards is a little like requiring airlines to communicate with air towers across the country in different languages.

This is not the way, Mr. President, to counter global warming or to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Obama touts the measure as a move towards cleaning up our air and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I think otherwise. There is absolutely no question in my mind that allowing California and other wheezy states to mandate significantly higher emissions standards for the auto industry will drive up the price of new cars. If it were cheap to meet higher targets, Detroit would have already done it. Since people are economic beasts, by and large, they will be even less likely to buy a new car as the price heads higher. Instead, they will tinker with the old clunker that is still in the garage and keep it running as long as possible. Especially in the midst of a recession.

Instead of running GM and Ford out of existence, how about initiating an oil import fee? Last summer, when Americans were paying over $100/barrel equivalent price for gasoline, it would have been relatively easy to embrace such a measure, but the government again whiffed when it came to creating a long-term solution to an ongoing problem. Initiating a fee on all imported oil would put a floor under oil prices, thus encouraging domestic production and also ramping up investment in the windmills and solar panels you love so dearly.

- - - - - - - -

I love the idea of raising the MPG on manufactured vehicles.

But it might be a good idea to manufacture ANY kind of MPG rated vehicles first, lol.

BTW Rob... the paperwork is done... wooohoooo!!!!

Problem is, you can charge whatever the market will bear if there is demand. When the demand drops, cutting the production to raise the price is likely to drop the demand even further, and maybe cause some to seek alternative energy resources. Like we should have done in the 70's.

Fuk opec. *pardon my bad language*

I'm not sold on electric cars, but I'm sure something is coming down the road that will enable us to get away from the ole combustion engines.......

And yes, OPEC can go in the same category as the UN and labor unions.....

I'm not sold on electric cars yet, lots of details to work out and who knows what the final solution or group of solutions will be.

I have to admit, the 10 minute battery and the hot look of that car up there got me fired up. I'm sure the price tag would cool me right back down, though!! *laughing!!*

But something has to happen, pretty soon.

http://cato.org/special/stimulus09/cato_stimulus.pdf

This should keep ya busy Cimm....verifying the credibility of all these.......

WASHINGTON (AP) President Obama is singing the praises of newly passed legislation making it easier for workers to sue for discrimination on the job.

- - - - - - - -

Note to all employers: Thinking about hiring a worker to help the economy? DON'T..!!!

DO NOT hire a worker unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary, and the business simply cannot get by without the extra worker.

Hiring an employee now means the possibility of easier discrimination lawsuits against you.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 30) - President Barack Obama signed a series of executive orders Friday that he said should "level the playing field" for labor unions in their struggles with management.

- - - - - - - -

Unions worked so well for the auto industry, the whole union concept needs to be promoted, lol.

(What stock market?)

Maybe the record number of people on unemployment can form a union for higher unemployment pay?

His answer: "I'm looking ahead...".

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Police arrested a man near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday after he drove up to one of the building's barricades with a rifle in his vehicle and told officers that he had a delivery for President Obama, a Senate spokesman said.

A man drove to the Capitol with a rifle and said he had a delivery for President Obama, police said.

Sgt. Kimberly Schneider identified the man as Alfred Brock, 64, of Winnfield, Louisiana. She said Brock was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition.

Brock drove up to the north barricade at the Capitol late Tuesday afternoon, saying he had a delivery for the president, Schneider said.

After further questioning, he admitted he had a rifle in his truck. He was arrested and taken to police headquarters for processing, she said.

Oscar Goodman spoke after a regular scheduled meeting with tourism officials where he expressed concern that federal lawmakers might be discouraging travel to the city.

"What's a better place, as I say, than for them to come here," Goodman told KLAS-TV. "And to change their mind and to go someplace else and to cancel -- and at the suggestion of the president of the United States -- that's outrageous."

- - - - - - - -

Las Vegas is a great US city for conventions, meetings, and advertising events. Thousands of hotel rooms are low prices.

"Now that Tim Geithner has been confirmed as Treasury Secretary, Tom Daschle has withdrawn as HHS Secretary and Nancy Killefer has withdrawn from some government post I had never even heard of (chief performance officer?), we can infer some new rules in our changed government. 1. It is OK to cheat on taxes, but of course there is a limit. And that limit is more than $34,000 but less than $128,000 in taxes owed if you are a Democrat. (For Republicans, the limit remains the perception of thinking about adding $100 to your charitable deductions without the receipts to back it up.) 2. We now have a new way to get tax cheats to not only pay up, but to apologize for their errors and carelessness: nominate them to Cabinet posts. ... 3. We might have a new method to elicit information and apologies from enemy combatants without resorting to torture, sleep deprivation, stress positions or defiled Korans: nominate them to Cabinet posts. ... 4. When we are desperate enough (as in the current economic crisis, or at any time in the last 80 years), neither competence nor ethics matter in a nominee as much as speed of confirmation. If you either can't do your own taxes correctly, or refuse to do them honestly, you can still be put in charge of tax audits and collection. If we ever have a crime crisis, for example, Charles Manson stands a good shot to head the FBI. 5. Of course one lesson is the obvious one: if you thought 'change' meant getting competent and honest people with no ties to special interests into influential government positions, you can now consider yourself suckered. I put the lesson this way: you vote for a Wizard, but you get a man behind a curtain." --columnist Randall Hoven

'Trying' is bullshit. Producing results is an accomplishment.

Until 'trying' becomes accomplishments expect there to talk, conjecture, suspicion, and evaluation.

Many, many people (including me) are wondering when Obama is going to follow through with his campaign promises, regardless of how good, bad, or indifferent things were with past presidential administrations.

The smell of a skunk may be more presentable than the smell of shit, but it doesn't really make the skunk smell any better, even if the skunk 'tries as hard as it can'. Past administrations were shit, they were horrible, but that's over, gone, done. Don't present better smelling shit than in the past and expect people to be happy. It's still shit.

I am 100% behind, and 'for', Obama, but I will always question and evaluate his moves and motives.

"I don't recall other pres's doing the same."

"It's not to suggest they were or were not trying..."

Obama is trying, whereas other presidents weren't trying, but that's not to say the other presidents weren't trying.

I understand your point Slinky. It is an 'OH HAPPY DAY' that Obama is trying.

(Much like the rest of the people celebrating... why are they celebrating? Um.. they don't know - but it's a celebration!!!)

Like I said, I never bothered with politics before. Perhaps other presidents too tried to rattle and shake the proverbial cages. Didn't see it cuz i didn't care and paid no attention.

He appears to understand what's going on, unlike one recent president. That's something to celebrate.

But I don't see him making any 'moves' at all. I'm seeing politics as usual.

Too soon too judge anything long term for sure, but from a standpoint of judging right here, right now... no changes are taking place.

Economy sucks and there's a war in Iraq.

When will we see an "immediate end to Bush's illegal war"...?

I'll sing praise from upon high when something happens, as of right now... no singing.

Bottom line, we should be able to have faith in our government. Obama is trying to reestablish that and could if he has some success. But, he's on a slippery slope as he's causing more debt in one shot than ever before in history. It's making Bush's 87 billion in Iraq look like rent money......

Go Obama......Git er Done!!!

Who is the commander-in-chief?

O-B-A-M-A be thy name.

All I have is a little hope... not all that much. Odds are I'll be long gone before we get our standard of living back, IF we get it back.

dont give up hope keerok... not yet.

Because our troops are still dying in Iraq.

And yes, focus on hope, because that's ALL we've got.

The election is OVER, the hoopla multi-million $$ inauguration party is OVER, and suddenly, too suddenly...

REALITY is becoming very apparent - nothing is changing.

And it ain't about me.

(I'm 100% behind Obama, I just wish he would DO SOMETHING he promised to do IMMEDIATELY.)

Congress is the commander-in-chief of the military?

(I am amused at how far some will go to try and prove an unprovable point.)

My point: there are no results being produced by Obama, who PROMISED immediate results.

Please READ THIS: I heard Obama promise IMMEDIATE action.

Not after 24 days, not after 'a while', not after he got some experience.

Not after he gained the approval of congress.

"When I become president we will see an IMMEDIATE end to this illegal war..."

IMMEDIATE to me, means.... immediate. Now. Yesterday. After one (1) day.

Where are the IMMEDIATE actions? Specificly pertaining to the war?????

(Now let's all be good citizens and hail the chosen one! OH HAPPY DAY... Obama is here!)

i know iraq, the economy are all concerns for us all... but your statement:

"My point: there are no ouresults being produced by Obama, who PROMISED immediate results." ---WTF? didnt you say O.B.A.M.A. didnt have superhuman powers? so why the backtrack? dude, you need to take a chill pill.

"narcissistic ass"

"self righteous ass"

"dude, you need to take a chill pill."

Fortunately or unfortunately Tck can keep this game up forever......LOL....he's a pro at leading people to temptation.....LOL

It's not about me.

If you sue a surgeon for malpractice should he suggest YOU do the surgery next time?

No, because it is not about you.

While Keerok may find my comments 'baiting', Star may suggest I don't listen, and Robbi might find the name-calling (that WE ALL wanted so badly to cease) - what about the point I have clearly presented - has there been an immediate end to the illegal war? Keerok? Star? Robbi?.

(MsAries, I ceased with my name calling some time ago, so please refrain from being a narcissistic ****. It soon becomes a game of "he/she called me a worse name". )

Any intelligent comments on why we haven't seen an "immediate end to this illegal war"..?

Laugh now, criticize me, but what would you tell the mothers of the recently dead soldiers who voted for Obama to end the war? Tell the mothers to run for president? Ask them if they could do a better job? Maybe call them names....?

How many more before he brings an end to the war?

Would each mother be a "narcissistic ass" for asking when the 'immediate end to this illegal war' will take place?

Would the mothers be 'baiting' people by asking such a question?

Maybe the mothers don't listen well enough to the deaths and they may need spanked?

C'mon people - get real - is anything happening to save these lives? Hate me, laugh at me... but think of the parents and loved ones, and ask yourself.

- - - - - -

Here is a 'baiting' comment - I wonder if any U.S. personnel were brutally dismembered while there was a multi-million $$ celebration going on the Washington DC...?

Oh Happy Day...?

(It ain't about ME.)

-anyways, i wont answer the "unanswerable" question that YOU KNOW WHY the subject of that question has yet to be fulfilled... . nor will i subject myself to an argument with someone who likes to compare apples with oranges (refering to your behavior of narcissisism, not to the mothers of the soldiers etc...) you like to dish out but then retreat and then try and come back victimized. i will be the first to admit that you might not see yourself behaving this way, but others surely do - btw, thats a behavorial trait of narcisissim.

-you have no ideal how badly i want the soldiers to come home. i have 3 cousins, a nephew, a uncle, my brother, and friends over there as i speak. of course i want them home. i have "hope" that they'll be home soon. but like my big bro who is a high ranking officer recently told my mom, 'do we just leave or try to fix what we came to do? he further explained to her "that iraq was in shambles and if US forces left, things would be worse and then the world will be looking at an even bigger terrorist network brewing which will eventually become strong to commit atrocities...god knows".

-so whether democrat or republican had been elected to office and made a statement that he/she would "immediately bring back the troops", i take a bet that none of them would have the full authority to bring them back immediate or want to leave iraq in a state of chaos like afghanistan. btw, didnt bush have to get approval from congress and the senate in having the troops go to the middle east? also, the president and legislative branch checked with our justice dept and the int'l justice order about whether sending troops over to afghanistan would constitute an illegal war or an act of manifest destiny? what im getting is that there are checks and balances btwn our 3 branches of govt that the presidnt has to confer with.

-(btw, the ugly truth about the matter is that most of the time when candidates make campaign promises they are made on the campaign trail... and sometimes thats where they stay)... we've seen it happen over and over.

-btw, your question about having a multi-million $ inaugaration celebrations etc... --like cristo stated, most if not nearly all of that money came from private sources, not the govt. many of the performers (beyonce, will.i am, jenn hudson, timberlake, stevie wonder, usher, springsteen etc... ASKed to perform for obama which means, they didnt get paid. so really the jolt of the money spent was on security for the president (which oprah has admitted to pay for much of it)... so why are you obsessed with obama having a list party with a-list guests & venues... was it b/c you were not invited? i was there in DC for the week of the inauguration. maybe if you were there and can feel the love, hope that many of us felt on that occassion, you would be less cynical about your suppose continue 'support of ombama'.YES, IT WAS AN OH HAPPY 'DAY'.

-i dont agree with everything obama says, but i have the sense to know that he isnt an x-men and things arent going to happen over night, or in 3 weeks.

-narcissists love to turn everything someone says around to make it 'about me'.

-rhetorical questions are meant to ponder on and not necessrily to be answered... so if you ask a rhetorical question, expect a hypothetical answer.

MsAries, thanks for that reply.

I now better understand your knowledge regarding the new president.

(Polite suggestion - study up on the powers of the U.S. military Commander-in Chief.)

Thanks for engaging in the debate.

For a political debate there is no right or wrong, just different.

use caution that the forum creator may begin to think your posts are uncalled for..... that's exactly what this thread is about, the First 100 days and what we think about it, day by day if that's the case. Hell Robbi was impressed the first day.

Anyway, let's keep the past in the past and give everyone the chance to improve themselves and discuss things openly and adultly. It's well known that Robbi's no fan of the antics Tck pulled, however, it's over and as long as he's conducting himself decently, than Robbi probably will also.......

Thanks.

you have boobs -

never mind.

Democrats hand Obama a victory in his effort to combat economic crisis

A victory if all goes well.......or a career ender if there is a stumble......

Bi-partisanship at it's finest, lol.

GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

And how many times has that taken place? I can't think of once.

In my opinion, it doesn't matter who is President right now, neither side of the Congress and Senate would agree on anything about a stimulus package. And why? I think that one reason is that it's still about special interests on both sides.

I think that another reason is about party pride. And none of that has anything to do with being concerned about the American public.

In skydiving, whether you're jumping with one other person or 400 people, there's two ways you can leave the plane: You can leave the plane as an individual or you an leave the plane as a team.

Our elected officials act more like as individuals with separate interests than as a team taking care of the American people.

White House unveils website to track where the money is being spent

updated 24 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama isn't ruling out a second economic stimulus plan, a top aide said Tuesday, even as Obama flew to Denver to sign into law a $787 billion rescue plan designed to spur consumer spending and create millions of jobs.

With the economy still in a tailspin, Obama chose the Rocky Mountain state to celebrate the biggest victory of his administration, which isn't yet a month old. The legislation is the most sweeping economic overhaul plan put forth in decades.

The setting was the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. It was chosen to underscore the investments the new law will make in "green" energy-related jobs.

Everyone likes the tax cuts, (cough).....taxes will have to rise now to pay for this stimulus.....and how much more are YOU making at your job to be able to pay more in taxes.......??

"Obama is just trying to clean up the mess Bush left us, so you non-believers all shut up."

I personally think that in the eyes of the majority, Obama has 100% untethered 'Carte Blanche' to do whatever he wants.

Any cautionary words by you, me, and/or anyone else will fall on deaf ears.

There is so much retro-sight on blame and fault that few are bothering to look ahead?

"Don't be hatin' on Obama!"

You'll be labeled as a hate monger.

Like you've said in other threads.....doesn't really matter how we got here, here we are.....so what do we do now to fix it......I'm afraid the President has just signed our country over......to China or whoever decides to "lend" us money in the future....good think I like fish and rice.......

Not a damn thing was wrong during Bill's introduction to the presidency. Bill sure had an easy ride.

LaHood's says current gasoline tax not enough to fund infrastructure

updated 5:50 a.m. MT, Fri., Feb. 20, 2009

WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he wants to consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn an idea that has angered drivers in some states where it has been proposed.

Gasoline taxes that for nearly half a century have paid for the federal share of highway and bridge construction can no longer be counted on to raise enough money to keep the nation's transportation system moving, LaHood said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Watch for the leadership & lawmakers to tell you, "Hey, we have to pay all of these same taxes too, we're not happy about it either".

(And watch how many people fall for that lie, lol. )

- Spent $787 Billion (quite a feat).

- Committed 17,000 U.S. military troops to combat operations in Afghanistan.

(Stay tuned for the remaining 70 days, could be interesting, lol. )

"While most of us were doing the right thing, some others - foolish homeowners, stupid bankers, house flippers, idiot politicians and more - were taking their cues from the movie 'Good Fellas' and robbing us blind."

"Now we are supposed to bail them out."

(Then there's Iraq and Afghanistan at the plate, with Iran and North Korea on deck... lol.)

WTF? Hold on tight! This could be one hell of a ride!

They all hope they can win the lottery too. But hope isn't producing any results.

Bruce Springsteen is still working on a dream, and he's gonna keep dreaming. But Bruce has NO clue of what it is like for a normal working class person. The party on the Lincoln Monument steps is over. The rock stars got into their jets and flew off into foreign sunsets.

Hold onto your cash people.

Once the bailout dollars are completely wasted the government is gonna have to come after your money to pay their salaries.

One thing I like about Obama is that he is telling Americans that it's time "they" (the people) start standing up and taking responsibility for their actions. That's been a long time coming and is necessary. This is a land of opportunity.....not a land of entitlement and people need to learn the difference.

Obama is walking a tight rope....if he succeeds he's a hero and will forever change the outlook on politicians, Washington, Democrats and Republicans, and the governments role in our life......if he fails....those things will be forever changed also......however, never again will people, either Democrat/Republican/Independent, trust the government ever and that will have dire consequences.

One thing I think Obama should do, is refrain from adding into his speeches the references of "inherited" financial crisis. It sounds like and appears to be a jab at the Bush administration which does not put Obama in a good light. The housing problem was caused before Bush and if he keeps poking at it, sooner or later the masses of people are going to realize where it started.....and their Hope for a Democrat might just wane a little.......

"There is far more to fear from this administration than its amateurism in governing. The urgency with which it has rushed through a monumental spending bill, whose actual spending will not be completed even after 2010, ought to set off alarm bells among those who are not in thrall to the euphoria of Obama's presidency. The urgency was real, even if the reason given was phony. President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, let slip a valuable clue when he said that a crisis should not go to waste, that a crisis is an opportunity to do things that you could not do otherwise. Think about the utter cynicism of that. During a crisis, a panicked public will let you get away with things you couldn't get away with otherwise. A corollary of that is that you had better act quickly while the crisis is at hand, without Congressional hearings or public debates about what you are doing. Above all, you must act before the economy begins to recover on its own. The party line is that the market has failed so disastrously that only the government can save us. It is proclaimed in Washington and echoed in the media. The last thing the administration can risk is delay that could allow the market to begin recovering on its own. That would undermine, if not destroy, a golden opportunity to restructure the American economy in ways that would allow politicians to micro-manage other sectors of the economy the way they have micro-managed the housing market into disaster." --Hoover Institution economist Thomas Sowell

Hope is indeed a wonderful entity.

But not when we rush a 787 billion dollar bailout package through without reading it, with the 'hope' that it works.

I 'hope' the value of the money I earned and saved will retain it's spending power.

And I don't like relying on 'hope' for that. I should be able to trust our leadership to what is right for the good of a nation, not 'hope' they will. Obama KNOWS that unions are not good for business and unions DO NOT promote job growth... but union numbers add up to votes for re-election. That's just one small factor in a much bigger picture. I really feel that the lower class are hoping Obama will rescue them, and they are hoping it won't require too much effort on their part.

Best to all.

"... forage your own path..."

Ha, I "foraged" my path already and I am fine.

I am just concerned that my money (and the money of the people who have less) might be worth 50% of its face value if the US keeps printing more.

:-)

See this is the difference between you and me, you see the dollar bill as half empty, I see it as half full.....lol

Good to see you Tck, keep these bastards in line.

The government has unlimited countless billions and trillion of dollars to spend so we'll all be fine.

The dollar is indeed half full. And as long as we've got ours we shouldn't be concerned.

When was the last time the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped below 7,000?

(Answer: this morning. Prior to that it was back in 1997.)

- Pull the troops out of Iraq, we have our own problems now, we can't afford to be there.

- Bring (dumbkunt) Hillary Clinton back to the USA so she can't threaten foreign countries.

- Do everything possible to encourage businesses to do business in the USA.

Someone in the leadership administration had better put on their priority cap, lol.

As the Dow keeps dropping, the President is running out of people to blame.\

As 2009 opened, three weeks before Barack Obama took office, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 9034 on January 2, its highest level since the autumn panic. Yesterday the Dow fell another 4.24% to 6763, for an overall decline of 25% in two months and to its lowest level since 1997. The dismaying message here is that President Obama's policies have become part of the economy's problem.

Americans have welcomed the Obama era in the same spirit of hope the President campaigned on. But after five weeks in office, it's become clear that Mr. Obama's policies are slowing, if not stopping, what would otherwise be the normal process of economic recovery. From punishing business to squandering scarce national public resources, Team Obama is creating more uncertainty and less confidence -- and thus a longer period of recession or subpar growth.

The Democrats who now run Washington don't want to hear this, because they benefit from blaming all bad economic news on President Bush. And Mr. Obama has inherited an unusual recession deepened by credit problems, both of which will take time to climb out of. But it's also true that the economy has fallen far enough, and long enough, that much of the excess that led to recession is being worked off. Already 15 months old, the current recession will soon match the average length -- and average job loss -- of the last three postwar downturns. What goes down will come up -- unless destructive policies interfere with the sources of potential recovery.

- - - - - - - - - -

It's all Bush's fault!

(Even a retard can figure that out. But what do the CURRENT leaders do to fix it? )

"One thing I think Obama should do, is refrain from adding into his speeches the references of "inherited" financial crisis. It sounds like and appears to be a jab at the Bush administration which does not put Obama in a good light. The housing problem was caused before Bush and if he keeps poking at it, sooner or later the masses of people are going to realize where it started.....and their Hope for a Democrat might just wane a little......."

And sure as hell, the Republicans finally got tired of hearing it as did I.....

Do we need this battle? No....but it was forthcoming as long as "The Chosen One" and his hand picked crew kept talking about the "inherited" economy. You can't ask for bipartisanship and kept jabbing the other half......

Both parties deny it's their economy

The blame war between Republicans and Democrats erupts

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29529658

Norman Mattoon Thomas ( November 20 , 1884 December 19 , 1968) was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America .

The Socialist Party candidate for President of the US , Norman Thomas , said this in a 1944 speech:

" The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism," they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party . The Democrat Party has adopted our platform."

Obama didn't 'inherit' problems...

Obama begged, pleaded, asked, cajoled, stumped, and did EVERYTHING HE POSSIBLY COULD, to be voted the man to take care of the problems.

And he got his wish - he was elected president.

If Obama cannot solve the problems my suggestion would be that he blame the problems on others. That's the typical chickenshit answer most people have for their failures to succeed.

And you are 100%$ correct Robbi, it's time to focus on solutions instead of blame.

I get the feeling "the chosen one" is really getting an education. Like, you can't harness the American economy....wall street is more powerful than the government. If they say don't recover.....than throw all the money you want......it's not gonna happen. It's people, not money that has to move in this economy and if the people don't make a move......it's still doomed......

So "O" gave millions "hope", but he didn't sell himself to wall street and that's where it counted....

On other items.....Michelle got a hairdresser and is looking fabulous, the family dog will arrive in April, the European vacation has been planned and "O" got to see a pro basketball game.

Did I miss anything???

Obama needs to ask himself: what will encourage businesses to hire people?

Is Opportunities Inc. a national thing? What they do here is go winterize homes that qualify for assistance. New windows/doors/insulation etc. etc.

1. The American people elect a black president with a total of 142 days experience as a US Senator from the most politically corrupt state in America whose governor is ousted from office. The President's first official act is to order the close of Gitmo and make sure terrorists civil rights are not violated.

(He screwed up!!)

2. The U.S. Congress rushes to confirm a black Attorney General, Eric Holder, whose law firm we later find out represents seventeen Gitmo Terrorists.

(An honest mistake!)

3. The CIA Boss appointee, Leon Panetta has absolutely no experience, has a daughter Linda we find out, who is a true radical anti-American activist and a supporter of all the Anti-American regimes in the western hemisphere.

(There were socio-economic factors involved!)

4. We got the most corrupt female in America as Secretary of State; bought and paid for.

(You can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still have cankles!)

5. We got a Tax Cheat for Treasury Secretary who files his own taxes.

(He misspoke!)

6. A Commerce Secretary nominee who withdrew due to corruption charges..

(Another honest mistake???)

7. A Tax cheat nominee for Chief Performance Officer who withdrew under charges.

(Hmmm... another screw-up?)

8. A Labor Sec'y nominee who withdrew under charges of unethical conduct.

(Ok, maybe this person was just plain stupid)

9. A Sec'y HHS nominee who withdrew under charges of cheating on his taxes.

(I'm running out of excuses for these idiots!!)

10. Multiple appointments of former lobbyists after an absolute campaign statement that no lobbyists would be appointed.

(No lying hypocrisy here! Cause theyre democrats! They can do no wrong! Only Republicans are corrupt! Dont you read the papers? Or listen to, or watch the news? Or, take your political instructions from some Hollywood airheaded Bimbo?)

And that's just the first three weeks. . . but who's counting?

11. Now, six weeks in to this Presidents administration he has proposed spending more money than has been spent since the founding of this nation. (The congress passes the $800,000,000,000 (that's $800 billion) pork loaded spending bill where the government gives you a smidgen of your tax dollars ($13 per week) making you feel so good about yourself [stimulated] that you want to run out to Wal-Mart and buy a new Chinese-made HDTV and go home and watch Telemundo!)

12. The Dow drops below 6000 first time since 1997 under our last Democrat administration.

(We did see a 12,000 plus Dow a matter of months ago which has dropped steadily since this President wrapped up the nomination)

America is being run by the modern-day Three Stooges Barrack, Nancy , and Harry and they are still trying to define stimulus..."it's spending"... Yee-haw!!! Only in America , what a country...

We are lost... Here's the good news though... Obama took Air Force One to Denver to sign the stimulus package, wasting as much as 10,000 gallons of fuel.. Don't you just love this guy?

I'll keep my God, my freedom, my guns and my money, thank you. Oh, and uh, you can keep the change!

"You are the last nation that has the right to speak about civilians and killing civilians," the five said in a response this month to the U.S. government's war crimes charges.

"You are professional criminals, with all the meaning the words carry," the response said. "Therefore, we will treat you the same. We will attack you, just like you have attacked us, and whomever initiated the attacks is the guilty party."

The six-page response from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who plotted the attacks, and four others castigates the actions of the United States and its allies in the Middle East and calls the United States "the terrorist country number one in the world."

The military commission set up to hear the men's cases at the Guantanamo Bay inmate facility received the signed document Thursday, and a military judge ordered its release on Monday.

The five are members of the al Qaeda terror network. Mohammed, who has taken credit for planning the attack, and the four other prisoners call themselves members of the 9/11 Shura Council.

"With regards to these nine accusations that you are putting us on trial for; to us, they are not accusations. To us they are badges of honor, which we carry with pride. Many thanks to God, for his kind gesture, and choosing us to perform the act of Jihad for his cause and to defend Islam and Muslims," the response stated.

- - - - - - - - -

Obama wants the Guantanamo prison closed because the conditions might be 'too harsh' for these prisoners.

Yeah, right.

I don't see anyone bashing you for a "less government" stance.

So what is your view on socialized medicine.........

I think there were a lot of people, not overly bright thinkers, who thought things under the prior administration were bad, and they (not too wisely) blamed everything that was bad on one guy, George Bush. They became convinced, from talking with one another, that if George Bush were to not be the president anymore, the 'bad' stuff would go away.

So, even further, without a great deal of forethought, these same people wanted things to 'change' so badly that they came to worship the idea of 'change', and they based a presidential platform campaign on 'hope' and 'change' - both of which are undefinable. Hope for what? Anything other than what we have now. Change what? Anything other than what we have now.

Grossly in error, these people didn't realize that 'change' could mean a different direction than that which upon they were basing the 'hope'.

Now here's where I'll give the devil his due... the other team (republicans for the most part) didn't have a viable candidate to run against the 'hope' and 'change' campaign, so they didn't put up too much (any?) of a defense.

Fast forward to present day... we have seen a great deal of 'change', the change is not in the direction that the 'hope' was intended. And Robbi is 100% correct - Obama is being schooled in the basic fundamentals of politics at the Washington level. His followers are being schooled in the realization that when you want change it will happen, but maybe not as you want change to happen.

Whoa... things changed... but not for the better, lol.

Could anyone do a better job? Probably not, at least not anyone that was willing to toss their hat in the ring (and we can't force a 'selectee' to be president). Is it all Obama's fault? Nope... just like it wasn't all Bush's fault either. It DEFINITELY is not any one person's fault (that's just retarded), and it MIGHT not be any group of people's fault either. But determining fault only gives those who can't solve problems something to do anyhow- fault doesn't matter.

The lower and lower middle class worshipped Obama and his 'hope' campaign to the point where they whipped themselves into a frenzy.

The upper middle class and upper class couldn't do anything about it, and didn't even try.

Now... Obama is the president, we're gonna live with it, and I 'hope' to hell he becomes an expert at his job, sooner rather than later. I DO NOT want Obama to fail.

Just my observations.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/11/obama-geithner-receive-failing-grades-latest-survey/

I hoped, and still hope, that Obama will not suck like Bush did. I don't think he can, actually, since Bush was such a bad president. My opinion, of course.

I don't know if he can fix things, but at least he's not on vacation.

"Now... Obama is the president, we're gonna live with it, and I 'hope' to hell he becomes an expert at his job, sooner rather than later. I DO NOT want Obama to fail.

Just my observations."

Read it again, and please let me know. I don't see where I said anything that you didn't say. I hope very much that Obama won't suck and I hope he becomes an expert soon. You basically re-stated and agreed with what I said.

(Obama won't be going 'on vacation' until the end of the month when he and his wife go to Europe. No, I don't agree with the European trip when we have such huge problems here, but that's not my call.)

Interestingly - I see where you say you hope Obama will not 'suck' like Bush did, since Bush was such a 'bad' president.

Now that some days have passed with Obama as president, what conditions under the current administration do not 'suck', and right now what makes Obama a better president than 'bad' Bush was?

Hope? I 'hope' our nation can go back to the conditions we were a year ago under Bush! For all of the good 'hope' does (not much) .

Has some monumental event (aside from the one in front of the Lincoln Memorial ) taken place to raise Obama up on a pedestal?

The war in Iraq is going strong, more troops committed to A'stan, more people without jobs... etc., personally I think the country is in far worse shape (FAR WORSE) than we were a year ago.

ANYONE would have to come up with extremely creative (false) argument to logically explain how our nation is better today than it was one year ago, no matter who is/was president.

Obama is our president, I desperately WANT him to succeed and I HOPE he does, but I will continue to question his decisions, as I do with ALL politicians.

I'm debating, not baiting, though you may see it differently.

I think there were a lot of people, not overly bright thinkers, who thought things under the prior administration were bad, and they (not too wisely) blamed everything that was bad on one guy, George Bush. They became convinced, from talking with one another, that if George Bush were to not be the president anymore, the 'bad' stuff would go away. "

You said it was bashing material, and it is. And it's continuing in another thread... business as usual, at least it sure looks like that to me.

But ok, I'll bite just a little.

Why I call Bush a bad pres, even though I think he's probably quite a decent guy, is he couldn't make a right move. In times of crisis, and he presided over a few, he screwed up every move in every arena. As he did as a business person. he wrecked every company he had. As a person he's ok. As a president, he wasn't up to it in any way. That's how I see his presidency.

Obama: I don't think throwing money at the current financial crisis is going to work so well for him, but then he inherited the conditions he must work with, whether he sought the job out or not. I "hope" he's up to it.

I like pretty much every other move he's making. His bad picks are being caught up front instead of years down the road after they've created a disaster *think "Brownie"*, I like that he's removed the stem cell restrictions.

If you want to do a real debate, then make it real, don't take it down the usual road.

Intelligent people see debate.

We each have to decide in which category we want to be. I debate.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

I could care less about Bush, the previous administration, and the 'way things were'.

I feel it has zero (0) relevance. Less than zero actually, it is counter-productive.

(It is retarded in my opinion.)

Obama 'inherited' the conditions, so the conditions are acceptable? Not in my eyes. No way.

I desperately want Obama to succeed but I have NOT seen any success yet. Sure he's trying, but others have 'tried' before him. Any references to Bush and/or past history as a reason or excuse for what we have today are largely (completely?) just excuses for no progress. No bearing on anything. Bush and Hitler are both history. We need to attract business to COME back and stay back, we need jobs, we need to see peoples 401K's go back up so they can retire. The longer anyone focuses on the past, the longer these problems exist.

(Tell jobless people, people who cannot retire, and those losing everything due to health costs all about Bush - let me know how much better they feel.)

MOVE FORWARD, DON'T LOOK BACKWARDS...!

I'm not in love with ANY politicians - NONE of them. I want them to work and create progress.

A month later the doctor says, "Hey man, don't expect me to make any progress on those problems you already had when you came to see me... I 'inherited' those problems, not my fault."

?

There are many lessons we need to learn from the Bush years.

So, while moving forward is essential, not learning our history, especially from this unique band of players, would seem to be unproductive. Consider what happened to the Justice Department. Want that again?

I realize this can be politicized, which is also foolish and unproductive to anything that concerns "we the people", but it still must be done and not swept under the rug.

I'm glad we can discuss this in a reasonable and polite manner.

I'm starting to think that we need to find our own solutions and not count on Obama fixing much...

to sustain the past consumer economy we need consumers, who need jobs to make the money spent to sustain said economy... and the jobs are gone until we resurrect manufacturing, which does not seem to be in the works. That leaves pulling rabbits out of hats, we're so damaged.

And right now we need a lot of jobs.

I guess that's where I put some "hope" on the line, I don't trust in fate but on the big problems I can only hope the powers that be can pull their heads out of the clouds and make constructive change. I don't count on it, though. I'm stocking up and battening down... this is creepy to watch and to experience.

"I'm stocking up and battening down... this is creepy to watch and to experience."

Exactly. I am too, and I am taking my business into a 'defensive' mode as well. Other business owners I talk to are doing the same. It won't spur growth. Obama needs to do something to spur growth.

He is trying, hope for the best. In the meantime though, until it happens, I'm questioning his decisions & moves.

(I don't know why it is of any importance at all actually, but I want to be agreeable. )

I was discussing the economy with someone this morning and they immediately began talking about George Bush. I just began nodding and agreeing with everything they said because I was sure the conversation wouldn't be going anywhere but backwards in time. And I was correct. The dude bitched, pissed, and moaned about Bush and yester-year, completely avoiding any kind of thought about current issues.

US warships head for South China Sea after standoff

Tim Reid in Washington

A potential conflict was brewing last night in the South China Sea after President Obama dispatched heavily armed American destroyers to the scene of a naval standoff between the US and China at the weekend.

Mr Obamas decision to send an armed escort for US surveillance ships in the area follows the aggressive and co-ordinated manoeuvres of five Chinese boats on Sunday. They harassed and nearly collided with an unarmed American vessel.

- - - - - - - - - - -

We'll show them by arriving several days later with reinforcements.

(The USA needs more aggressive war-like actions in yet another part of the world. Right.)

From hero to goat?

Is it 2012 yet?

(LOL)

1. So how's that "hope" and "change" working out for you?

2. Because everyone deserves some of what you've worked hard for.....

3. Keep the Change, I'll keep my Freedom, my Guns and my Money

4. Danger...You are entering a "No Obama" zone. Mention his name and I'll drop you where you stand!

5. Don't spread my wealth, spread my work ethic!

6. Annoy a Liberal, use facts and logic

7. I will give your president the same respect you gave mine

8. Warning! I'm a bitter Christain clinging to my gun

9. How will Democrats stand up to terrorists when they can't even face Fox News

10. Barack Obama......is loud and makes you feel good, but, it's only hot air.....Much like a Fart!

11. Lookout Taxpayers......Obama thinks you're rich

12. You think healthcare is expensive now? Just wait til it's Free!!

13. "The problem with socialism is that you eventrually run out of other people's money" Margaret Thatcher

YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!

So Belgium offered the use of 35 soldiers and Spain offered 12 soldiers.

(The European leaders are saying to themselves, "Hey... if this American dumb ass wants to risk the lives of thousands of his own citizens in A'Stan... we'll let him. But send our own soldiers into A'Stan? That's not too smart, lol." )

Obama is becoming the world laughingstock, and most rightly so.

We have an economic crisis here in the USA and Barack is offering to help 'protect Europe'.

Hope and change! Yes we can! Get a life.

Barack Obama will restore our sacred trust with our nation's veterans:

Obama and Biden are committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve.

Help returning service members:

Obama and Biden will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA's broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans.

Improve mental health treatment:

Obama and Biden will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries.

The Problem

Wounded Troops Suffer: The Walter Reed scandal showed that we don't always provide returning service members with the care they deserve.

Veterans Budget Shortfalls: In 2005, a multi-billion dollar VA funding shortfall required Congress to step in and bail out the system.

Benefits Bureaucracy is Broken: There are currently more than 400,000 claims pending with the Veterans Benefits Administration. VA error rates have grown to more than 100,000 cases a year.

There is Shortage of Care for PTSD: Veterans are coming home with record levels of combat stress, but we are not adequately providing for them.

Improved Mental Health Treatment

Obama and Biden will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries.

Improve Mental Health Treatment: Obama and Biden will improve mental health care at every stage of military service. They will recruit more health professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer.

Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury: Obama and Biden will establish standards of care for Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature injury of the Iraq war.

Expand Vet Centers: Obama and Biden will expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.

I ask, how can these people returning from the Iraq war NOT have psych problems?

They will all need some help.

In Honor of the 44th President of the United States ,

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream has issued a new flavor, " Barocky Road ."

Barocky Road is a blend of half Vanilla, half Chocolate, and surrounded by Nuts and Flakes.

The Vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied as an ingredient.

The Nuts and Flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow.

The cost is $100.00 per scoop.

When purchased, it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but then the Ice Cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you.

Thus you are left with an empty wallet, no change, holding an empty cone, with no hope of getting any Ice Cream.

Don't you feel stimulated?

They will all need some help."

Lets see now... 6 years ago, you created one of your first forums in here titled "Let the Ass Kicking Begin!" where you were jumping up and down with joy at the thought of sending these same "people" into a bogus war.

You were one of the big chest thumpers in here and so full of hubris with your pronouncements that "America is the strongest country and can do what it wants".

Interestingly enough, Obama assigned former General Shinseki to fix the problems with the VA. Problems that the Bush admin. ignored (the administration that you're so proud defend).

It's interesting because, Shinseki was one of the many people in the military who knew what it meant to invade Iraq and knew that Cheney, Rumsfeld et.al, didn't know what they were doing in terms of planning and publicly clashed with them.

The very reasons why Shenseki said that we needed 500,000 troops to invade played are the very reasons why so many of our military "people" are maimed and ruined or dead.

But of course you didn't pay attention to what an experienced general had to say did, you tick? No, you were in 7th heaven thinking about how tough America would look.

2006 the head of CENTCOM testified before Congress that Shinseki was right about the troops needed to invade Iraq.

There might be almost 6 thousand American soldiers that died there, and many who have returned physically whole but mentally destroyed.

I want to know how the men and women who are lost all of their limbs, burned beyond recognition but lived, those who lost their eyesight and facial features are going to find mental and emotional relief? Injuries that not long ago would have been fatal.

(There are so many of these people and it is so bad, that in 2008 the Pentagon funded 250 million in research to find a way to regenerate lost limbs, noses, eyes, skin and ears. Their actually looking to stem cell research as a way to achieve this.)

You didn't seem to give a damn about that happening 6 years ago and now you do? Gee, does this mean that now you're going break away from your 18 hour day on this site, to volunteer some time at the VA and help these men and women out?

I believe that of all the people who could be put in a position to direct the VA., Shinseki is the man to do it. He's from a military background and as he demonstrated with his

It showed a lot of wisdom on Obama's part to pick him.

Considering how deep and huge the problems that confront him as the leader of our country, Obama is doing very good for his first 100 days. Not even Franklin Roosevelt had such a huge task in front of him.

What does what someone thought about the war 6 YEARS AGO have to do with the war now, lol?

I think the war is a bad idea TODAY. I'd like to see the war ended TODAY regardless of who started the war, regardless of who was for the war, and regardless of why the war was started. Let that all reside in the past for historians to debate.

I'll respect your opinion that since some people wanted the war 6 years ago, soldiers should continue to die today, but I don't agree with your opinion.

Cimmaron - I think you are very intelligent and remarkably good at debate. I'm glad you are here.

I also thank you for your hilarious jokes and comments all over these forums. Do you blog?

A funny Obama motto: "A penny saved is a penny taxed."

Another funny Obama motto: "If at first you don't succeed, change the rules."

When Obama and tax collectors meet, they wink at each other.

Under an Obama presidency the IRS will be more diligent about detecting red flags, like leftover money in your bank account after you pay your taxes.

Obama says we should be proud to pay more taxes, but the funny thing is that most of us could be just as proud for half the money.

Have you ever noticed how Obama thinks nothing is impossible as long as somebody else has to pay for it?

There's nothing wrong with the people who voted for Obama that becoming taxpayers won't cure.

Once Obama is president if you get up early, work late and get a second job, you will still be able to get ahead - if you hit the lottery.

Blessed are they who find Obama funny, for they shall never cease to be entertained.

When Obama is sworn in as President, the only real "gun nuts" will be the people who don't have any.

it's a funny thing about socialists; give one an inch and the next thing you know he'll be president.

Obama said "NO" to drugs, but they must not have heard him.

Even though Obama doesn't have any experience, we'll get plenty.

Obama's cabinet is shaping up to be a funny sort of life form; lots of legs but no brains.

Critics are telling lies about Obama... and most of them are true. (Tip o'the hat to Winston Churchill.)

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average Obama voter. (Another tip o'the hat to Winston Churchill.)

The Obama administration respects our property; they merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it. (Tip o'the hat to G. K. Chesterton.)

Jokes Courtesy of http://barackobamajokes.googlepages.com/obama_funny

LOL

* We are still in a recession

* We are still in Iraq

* We are still in Afghanistan

* North Korea is totally ignoring our demands to halt nuclear activity

* Iran just sentenced an American journalist to 8 years in prison for an espionage conviction

* We now have pirates targeting US shipping vessels

WTF?!?!?!?!? We should have been out of this recession by now! Our troops should be home from Iraq and Afghanistan by now! We should have already talked N. Korea out of their nuke programs! We should have done something about Iran! Everybody is supposed to love Obama, so we shouldnt have pirates targeting our ships!

Please folks, with that much on the president's plate, thats gonna take some serious time to get through. He got the stimulus package through whether we like it or not. As of right now, the stock market appears to be on the upswing, but remember that the job market lags by about 6 months, so give it time. We need to finish up in Iraq and may have to address the problem of Somalia. I know, while their not having a government may not be our problem, the fact that their lawlessness is threatening the safety and security of Americans IS our problem, and setting up a strong Somali government may be the only way to solve it. As for N. Korea? That's not gonna happen overnight either. Pres. Obama is opening up communication with Raul Castro and Hugo Chavez. Things that other presidents over the years would hear nothing of (and it hasn't gotten us anywhere either). Its gonna take more than 100 days to get some real accomplishments here.

Now there is some things that the prez should NOT do. He should not be anxious to raise taxes as soon as we recover from this economic mess. He should not apply high fuel taxes, instead, he should promote energy conservation by providing tax breaks to those who make their homes and businesses energy efficient. How about allowing partial reimbursement toward purchases of solar panels and alternative fuel vehicles -- to both homes and businesses? That kind of stimulus could work. Besides, we need to get off the roller coaster ride and quit being at the mercy of OPEC's pricing whims. After all, it was high oil prices that kept Bush's stimulus package from reaching its full potential. Now I'm not saying it would have been a cure-all, but couldnt it have stood a better chance had gas prices remained reasonable?

gtr - as much as I'd like to excuse Obama for having so much on his plate... there is no excuse.

He lied to the nation. Another politician telling lies, business as usual, ho hum.

I really, truly thought we would be seeing a pullout of troops from Iraq by now.

Life goes on.

Up until the Jan. 23 of this year, your expressed attitude about your coveted war in Iraq was just the opposite. Considering that, I cannot help but find your comment to be nothing but smoke and mirrors on your part in an attempt to shift blame onto Obama.

As many of us saw, at the outset of his campaign for the presidency, you wrote derisive comments in here based upon his race and religion. Your comments in here are just more of the same.

But lets look at this again: " did you ever change your mind about anything once you saw things weren't going well?"

Based upon your refusal to look at the history of Iraq and it's people and Bush's own state department being against the invasion (both which you called "Cimmy Facts" ) or your obvious lack of desire to do research on anything, I would hate to see anyone follow the beliefs of people like you on Global Warming, only to have you say the same thing about that if you're proved wrong and esp., once it's too late.

"Obama lied"

Some here find that comment coming from you, an admitted liar in these forums to be very amusing.. I am one of those people.

If you did a little research, you might find that much to the chagrin of people like Newt Gingrich, there wasn't a spending bill that George Bush didn't like and didn't sign. Bush spent more of the tax payer's money than any president in recent history. More than Reagan's military spending on Star Wars etc.

For those of us who have watched you in here for a number of years, couldn't be blamed if they think that this little game of yours is because your choice for a "strong conservative president" ended up being a failure and now we have a strong liberal President in place. One who knows what moral decency is (two words, the meaning of which, have always escaped you in here) and is forging ties with our allies again.

Just by virtue of the morals that Obama stands for, in his first 100 days, America not only looks better to the rest of the world, but we're stronger because of it.

And I didn't even vote for the man.

As a side note:

For some reason, presidents are judged on their first 100 days. But when you look up achievements of all of our presidents, most of their accomplishments during that time appear to have been relatively minor or few compared to the length of their presidency.

I'm always glad to see people express their opinions freely & openly.

I also think this one single act will put most of the democrats out of office during the next election.

Time will tell, but this huge financial "Obamacide" waste of taxpayers dollars is monumental.

(Combined with Obama's pre-election bullshit & lies about ending the war it has been quite a 100 days!)

His ratings are seriously down from 100 days ago.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/21/senate-husbands-firm-cashes-in-on-crisis/

Oh really?

Based upon your record with Iraq, I didn't know that you suddenly developed the foresight to be able to see that this money has already been wasted. Or perhaps you hold an advanced degree in economics that you haven't been telling us about? Or any kind of degree at all that would allow you to understand the working's of the global banking/financial system that America is inexorably tied to.

Forgive me, but for someone who lives on Mingles 18 hours a day, I seriously doubt that you have even the most rudimentary understanding of this sort of economic machinery, much less any real in depth knowledge of how this system works in order for you to make that sort of pronouncement.

I have a lot of respect for Bush's Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson and his philosophy. But even he found that this economic system (that he worked in on Wall Street) is so convoluted that he was totally caught by surprise when he let his old adversary Goldman Sachs fail. You remember that don't you, TCK?

The stock market fell 500 points between the time he made his announcement that the Fed's were not going to bail out Goldman Sachs and the time he left the podium (less than 10 minutes later.. or maybe it was closer to 5 minutes later).

He, along with Ben Bernanke were the first to ask for money for a bail out.

Bernanke is still in place and based upon his background, I think that he knows just a tad bit more than you and I do about this and how this money should be used.

I like a lot of people here and have a lot of respect for the opinions of others, but there is no one here, on this web site who knows enough to make any sort of accurate pronouncement either way about this bail out.

But, perhaps you think that you're different?

You're just using this forum to create a negative drum beat about Obama.

First it was about the money spent on his inauguration (following your usual pattern of not researching anything about the subject), then it's the war that you so dearly wanted and still believe in. And now it's the bail out.

Do you know what Bush said when asked about what was going on when the economy started to melt down? He said "I don't know, I'm not an economist".

At least Obama is being proactive as a president on the problem. A problem that he inherited..

Now if someone wants to talk about Obama's saying that there are "no earmarks in this", I think that could be a very interesting discussion.

Because our illustrious and caring Representatives on both sides of the aisle put in a lot of those into the bail out packages.

We can post it right next to your comment about how Obama will be remembered.

That way we can see if you're going to maintain your streak.. Factor in the Iraq war and your 0 for 2 so far.

Hopefully you won't be 0 for 3 on climate change. Because then it really won't matter if you go 0 for 4 for Obama. We'll all be screwed by the forces of Nature.

I like reading and thinking about your opinions on the topic.

I'm not totally convinced that a lot of people in the democratic administration (including Obama) feel like they deserve to "get theirs" after so many years of republican rule.

Time will tell what their legacy shall be.

Meanwhile myself and many others aren't too impressed with the 'change' that has come about in the first 100 days. Mostly big $$ completely wasted, no change in the Iraq war at all, and even more troops committed to Afghanistan.

"Yes we can!"

LOL, and so they did. Whatever they wanted to do, lol.

"Bush will be remembered as strong president with good leadership".

I too said that statement or something close to it. And I still believe it. History hasn't been written yet. Of course the 8 years of Bush could be obscured by Obama's 4 years and we'll never hear much about him. Now......the Bush administration from VP down.......now that'll be interesting reading when the history books come out.......

I guess the basic premise regarding the first 100 days is that people approve of a lot of what Obama has done, and people also feel there is a lot of room for improvement?

Richard Nixon ended the Vietnam war and created detente with China and the Soviet Union. All three were major events in our countries modern history.. And how is he remembered?

What did Bush do that came even remotely close to those achievements?

HW Bush ejected Saddam from Kuwait and how is he remembered? As someone who was disengaged from "main street" and had no clue what was happening outside of his bubble and let the American economy fall..

You have said, from what you have seen, that George W. Bush was manipulated by Cheney. There is documentation to support your statement. A strong president isn't manipulated by his vice president.

Imagine what people would be saying about Nixon (in addition to what is already said) if Spiro Agnew actually had the impact on our his decisions the way that Cheney did with Bush?

Yet with George W. , the question was often asked as to who was running this country, Cheney or Bush? A strong president wouldn't leave any doubt when it comes to that question.

Since when has a vice president and a secretary of state decided foreign policy for the president?

A strong president does his homework in when it comes to making decisions that have an international impact .

Why do you think that Colin Powell resigned?

If wisdom is a strength, a strong president listens to his generals and his secretary of state when it comes to making military decisions. HW Bush was a strong president when it came to that. That's why he didn't invade Iraq. . But not George W. He didn't listen to what Colin Powell, Richard Armitage, General Tommy Franks, General Shinseki or other people knowledgeable about the region. Even when almost every single general and commander that was involved in the invasion retired within one year (Franks retired in 6 months because of Bush), he still didn't get it.

"The invasion of Iraq was the greatest strategic disaster in United States history, said retired Army Lt. Gen. William Odom, a Vietnam veteran. "The invasion of Iraq alienated America's Middle East allies, making it harder to prosecute a war against terrorists."

George W. squandered our wealth on a war and left us with little money to confront the economic downturn that we are now in.

Amd Bush is viewed as almost single handedly bringing down the Republican party. GOP leader Mitch McConnell described Bush as "A millstone around our neck ".

At the very least, from the moment he was elected, Obama has proved to be an inspiration to our nation.

Obama understands what Richard Nixon did when dealing with China and the (former) Soviet Union. He has the intelligence to understand the importance and meaning of "nuance".

And it appears that he is showing intelligence by listening to his generals about Iraq, instead of forcing an immediate withdrawal of our troops he's keeping them there on the time table that generals on the ground are recommending (and not the cries from a babbling, shirtless liar on an obscure website). Which is something that would lead to a blood bath (and may still, when we do leave) with the Saudi's funding the Sunni's to try and destabilize Iran's influence on the majority Shiites..

And it appears that most people, while pissed about the bailouts, have learned what systemic risk means and it's relationship to those bailouts and are waiting to see if Obama's efforts in trying to turn around an economic crisis,will work. And lets not forget this is a crisis that began with his predecessor.

There are both degreed "economic experts" who agree and those who disagree with Obama's moves. But no one really knows what the solution to the global problem is.. .. Well that is, everyone except one "let the ass kicking begin (in Iraq)" shirtless wonder, who doesn't have any background in economics, but would have people believe otherwise.

No offense Robbi. This is not personal against you or your beliefs, but if everything turned around for the better tomorrow, I think the best that Bush would viewed as, would be similar to being looked at like Hoover..

As far as the current president. He has given Hope....but no change that is obvious. His hands are full and this isn't just something he is going to fix in 100 days....I know that. I do however disagree with what he's attempted to do so far. A spending bill of a trillion that wasn't read by anyone is nothing short of reckless squandering of money. I foresee the government having wayyyyy too much power in the near future (not that it doesn't now) and forcing Americans into a one world government. Again, I'm willing to give Obama a chance......but he really needs to step up to the plate. Sending troops from Iraq to Afghanistan isn't a good idea and I can't believe that military officials advised that.....but, I do have some more reading to do. Alot of promises during the election have been pushed aside by Obama, some that are near and dear to us. The Chosen One is gonna find out that his feet touch the same ground as ours.......right after he gets done touring the world and gets off the swing set........

A "national security bill"(read PATRIOT Act) that wasn't read by anyone is nothing short of reckless destruction of our constitutional rights.

Does one bill or the other somehow make one or the other more valid?

Is a bill back in 2001 supposed to relate somehow to a bill in 2009?

What is the point when people compare what Obama does to what Bush (or some other president) did in yester-year?

(Does someone/anyone really truly feel that the nearly trillion $$ spending bill not read by politicians is/was a good idea? I mean no matter how much you love Obama - was it a good idea? Geeez... even the democrats who passed the bill are forming 'watchdog' groups to oversee spending due to fraud. They even tried to get some of the money back, lol.)

Interesting viewpoint how when one president at some point in history f*cks up it somehow suggests justification a current president's actions.

To each their own opinion though.

And robbi, I believe that Ben Franklin's quote was:

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

and I agree wholeheartedly with it.

and Tck, people are ok with Iraq now, because theres finally an end in sight.

Tell me a politician on either side that kept all of their promises? Esp. the ones who became president.

I know that the conservatives hate the Clintons, but this problem started back with Reagan. And Cheney tried to use Reagan as an example when he famously said that "deficits don't matter, Reagan proved that". And what happened, 3 years after his term, the economy fell apart. And not because of anything that HW Bush did.

The spending bills have been signed, but the money hasn't been spent. A lot of people have tried to make it seem like just the opposite though.

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The federal government has made available more than $75 billion for stimulus projects in the 10 weeks since President Obama signed the $787 billion recovery package into law.

Not all of that money has hit the streets, however. So far, $14.5 billion has been spent, nearly all of it to help states cope with rising Medicaid costs."

"people are ok with Iraq now, because theres finally an end in sight."

I assume that you mean that we will have a large draw down of troops there?

The country of Iraq has one of the oldest known histories. In recent history it was known as TansJordan and then "Iraq" was created by the British. From ancient history to the middle of the last millennium, it was ruled at least 4 separate times by Persia.

Iranians have a long memory and Iran will most certainly try to dominate Iraq again. And if they decided to invade it claiming historical rights (ala Israel and Palestine) who would want to go back there?

Taken in another context I disagree, with that statement . The isn't in sight. People just think that it is...

typo "TansJordan" should have read "Transjordan".

Well.........ya got me there......maybe Washington.......but, holy shit the greenies would have his ass for the "cherrytreegate"!!!

Me Robbi!

That's why you and Rep and everyone else on this site are going to vote for me as supreme leader... . Or I'm going to rob your houses!

Damn It, I told you Bill......you and that **** up Gore.....if everyone isn't on it this boat, it just won't float.......Now look at the mess you put me in!!!!!

LMAOOOO

By Patrick Dorinson

Political Commentator

If my public school education arithmetic is right, now that President Obama has just about reached the 100 day mark, there are stil 1362 days left in his first term.

But before the fawning mainstream media, Chris Matthews and the Democratic Party start a campaign to decide which dead white guy to replace with Obamas visage on our coins and currency; its time for a little Whoa there.

You cant seem to go anywhere today without seeing our presidents picture. From the grocery store checkout line to turning on your television he is everywhere. He not only governs the country he seems to have engulfed it with his image.

We have seen a whirlwind of activity coming from the White House on a daily basis. There have been announcements and pronouncements every day on every subject and even press events to introduce the new family dog. In the difficult months and years to come I suspect that President Obama will come to rely on Bo more and more as his confidante. He will be the only one who will be loyal, listen and not give his opinion.

But never confuse activity with action. And dont tell me taking out three teenage Somali buccaneers is action. Any president would have done the exact same thing and besides Somalia is not about to declare war over this incident.

And while the first 100 days has been mostly about him, his family, his plans and his style of leadership the next 1360 days are significantly more important because they will be about us, the American people.

During the campaign of 2008 Obama presented voters with the conceptual drawings for his new and improved America and a large majority of Americans echoed his call and said, Yes we want this!

Once in office he took those drawings, and gave them to that renowned political architectural firm of Pelosi & Reid to draw up the Democratic blueprints for Americas future. Rube Goldberg would be proud of their efforts.

In the next 1362 days, construction will begin on this Obamatopian vision. But as anyone who has ever built anything of this complexity will tell you, that is when the trouble begins. Unforeseen problems crop up and change orders are issued. To paraphrase Scottish poet Robert Burns, The best laid plans oft go awry.

And just because he won the election convincingly does not mean the voters agreed 100% with his plans. As happens in most elections they voted against the other guy and his party just as much as they voted for Obama and his.

The people will still have a say in the final product of healthcare, energy and education because politicians are slaves to public opinion polls and only care about is their own skins. And if they see strong public resistance to their plans that threaten their re-election they might alter the construction schedule slightly.

The 2008 election, the thrill of his historic Inauguration and the arbitrary media driven milestone of the First 100 Days are over. The time for choosing is here.

But we must make choices about our countrys future not in an atmosphere of panic or fear. We must make them soberly and be aware of the consequences of our choices.

In difficult times, be it war, natural disasters or economic disasters, people tend to retreat to the protective arms of the government and grant it powers to handle the situation that it might not grant in calmer times.

This is what worries me about the next 1360 days.

That the American people who have become accustomed to living for today and not planning for the future will let this government knows best agenda pass and then wake up later and say that is not what they had in mind.

But by then it will be too late. The die will have been cast.

Because what is being proposed by Obama and the Democrats is not just a legislative package of pent up demands from their constituencies. It is a fundamental shift in the social compact between the people and their government that while difficult to achieve will be almost impossible to undo once in place.

As the real heavy lifting begins on the presidents agenda this spring and into the summer and fall there are three things Americans need to remember as they ponder the Obama agenda.

Life is not fair and it is not the responsibility of the government to make it so.

Life has risk. We cant legislate, regulate or litigate our way out of every problem or perceived problem.

The role of government is to guarantee and expand opportunities not guarantee outcomes.

And while there will be many global challenges in the next 1362 days, you and I cant control what happens in other countries. We can control what happens in ours and respond at the ballot box.

Whether it is Bush or Obama neither one was nor is the decider. We the American people are.

The next 1362 days will say much about Barack Obama and his plans for the nation. They will say even more about us and what kind of a country we want to leave to our kids and grandkids.

Which way will we choose?

U.S. soldiers might now die so that a politician can 'look good'. Talking about troop reduction is bullshit in my opinion. I already heard all kinds of bullshit talk about an immediate end to the war during campaign speeches - now the same people say "wait", the end to the Iraq war is being planned. Were they lying then, or are they lying now?

I do NOT feel that the objective of the Iraq war is any longer in the best overall interest of Iraq or the USA... I believe the Iraq war is now 100% about politics.

I believe the politicians will do with Iraq, and U.S. troop lives, whatever is necessary to further serve their own political gains.

YES - I do firmly believe that politicians WILL trade troop lives for political gain.

YES - I believe democrats will justify further troop deaths by saying "Obama inherited the Iraq war - it is all Bush's fault. Bush started the war, blame the deaths on Bush and the republicans."

YES - I believe there are some democrats who might actually WANT further troop deaths just to make Bush and republicans look bad (worse).

Pray for the troops, they're unprotected by government leadership.

I believe the politicians will do with Iraq, and U.S. troop lives, whatever is necessary to further serve their own political gains."

TAP, TAP!!

HELLO!!!

HELLO!!!

ANYBODY HOME YET????

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT POLITICS!

You can actually look this up: The Bush administration had the Pentagon begin the planning on how to remove Saddam, two weeks after Bush was inaugurated!

In the Pentagon, it's called "putting [Insert name here] into play".

Literally, before the smoke cleared from the Pentagon on 9/11, Rumsfeld wrote a note dictating "to find a way to tie Iraq to the attacks". That's documented not only by people working close to him in the Pentagon, but also by a photo of that statement written by him.

"Iraq war is now 100% about politics." Politics is mostly about economics and in this case it was petro-economics, as in Iraqi oil. Even I didn't want to believe that and didn't until two years ago.

Why don't you read up on the relationship of Ahmed Chalabi, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and Donald Rumsfeld. Then read up on the deep, long relationship between Cheney and Rumsfeld.

This corrupt, lying, scumbag, Chalabi and his greedy little chela, Wolfowitz had these other greedy, power hungry numbskulls thinking that when he was in power ruling Iraq, that he would give us all of the oil America would ever need.

Remember "Curveball"?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last year, both Bush and Cheney publicly disagreed with anyone who wanted a draw down of our troops in Iraq.

Yet those who wanted the Iraq war and are now screaming for us to get out, seem to avoid mentioning anything about that.

During his bid to become president, McCain advocated that our troops stay in Iraq. Yet these same people mention nothing about that either.

Their mantra blames the continued death of our soldiers on Obama.

One would think that they voted for Barack because his stance on Iraq was opposite that of McCain's.

Would we be seeing the same thing written about McCain if he had won the presidency?

These same Americans (along with the "doves" ), apparently still haven't bothered to spend anytime reading up on what will take place if we immediately pull troops out, now that we've broken the "crystal" that was Iraq (to quote Colin Powell).

Nor do they remember what happened to Vietnam the moment we pulled out. Another war that we shouldn't have been in. 50,000+ American lives that were lost and for what?

The U.S. made Iraq our liability and now our safety really does depend on making sure that Iraq is stable and safe before we leave.

If we don't put Iraq back into an absolutely stable position, then it really will become a training ground for state sponsored terrorism against the U.S. and any of our allies.

I don't know.. maybe I should be watching Fox News where the "real" information is. You know, the same news channel that said that the "WMD is hidden away in Saddam's command and control bunkers". If only I only I liked watching cartoons...

Seriously, I can't believe how irresponsible many of the Americans who wanted this war are. First they didn't care what it meant to invade Iraq and now they don't care what it means to leave it in a mess.

All these people were in La La land for this war and now that they've woken up to reality, they want us to just get out?

The moment we crossed the Kuwait border, it was too late for that.

Now all of America , must bear the responsibility for that unwise and ugly decision.

And that includes those of us who were completely against it.

My opinion.

That was really funny Robbi!

"Nothing any of us say or write here is going to change anything in the world, so all of our opinions including mine hold the same value (unfortunately that value is 0, lol)"

Ha! Well said, Shop.

Christiane Amanpour CNN:

"Judging by the hysterical reaction in some quarters, to President Obama's handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, or his bow to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, you would think that America's national security rested solely on body language not sound policy.

The presidential handshake between Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez spurred many comments.

But just for the record, let's not forget that President George W. Bush kissed and held hands with the same Abdullah after 9/11, while also looking deep into the soul of Vladimir Putin. And a generation earlier, egged on by British Prime Minister "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher, President "Tear Down That Wall" Ronald Reagan, decided that indeed Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was a man he could do business with: the business of ending the Cold War.

While Obama has not managed in 100 days to defeat Islamic militants, usher in a Middle East peace treaty or disarm North Korea, on these and other issues he has laid down some important groundwork. Most importantly, the global polls following his first overseas trip show he has begun restoring America's name and reputation, key ingredients to successful policy making.

Even before stepping onto foreign soil, Obama began by ordering the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention center closed, thus returning the United States to upholding the very same rule of law it preaches to other nations. He also has stated over and over again that "America does not torture," thus returning the United States to leading on human rights, not cherry-picking them.

To those such as former Vice President Dick Cheney who claims this will make America more vulnerable, even some former Bush administration officials now concede that rigorous but patient above-board interrogation has proven to yield better, more reliable intelligence than a rush to the waterboard.

Obama has kept a campaign pledge and given a fixed date for ending the unpopular U.S. war in Iraq. "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," he announced.

Yet the perils are clear. Hundreds of Iraqi civilians have been killed in Baghdad and other cities in a surge of sectarian violence since January. The Obama administration and U.S. military leaders are playing it down, blaming the suicide bombings on a few militant cells. That brings back memories of Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld blaming a "handful of dead-enders" as the original insurgency was getting into full swing. Much work still needs to be done to stabilize Iraq militarily and politically.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, released Monday, also indicates that 63 percent of Americans approve of how Obama is handling his duties as president. One in three questioned in the poll disapprove.

http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2009/04/29/2748978-the-president-has-completed-100-days-in-office-based-on-his-performance-so-far-what-grade-would-you-give-him?

Love Obama, hate Obama, or feel indifferently about Obama, he's got 3.75 more years.

We've never been more politicized as a nation.

My own thoughts are that what benefits a particular political party will take priority over what benefits the overall USA.

Very interesting to watch this emerge.

Keep em in Cuba.......not Montana........

celebrate Mark........Kyle is enough to make a guy drink!!! LOL

Whether he's right or wrong (and it's way too soon to tell), like one has to respect him for that.

Very acute & astute observations, as usual.

I believe Obama & Hillary were willing & ready to tell any lies necessary to get elected.

Once elected, Obama has acknowledged the necessity of "Bush's illegal war", and now more recently, Obama has acknowledged the necessity of keeping the war-related photos private - something Obama strongly criticized Bush for doing, lol.

Some citizens are privately wondering if maybe they were having an "Oh much happier day" a year ago when the demonized evil "source of all problems" Bush was president, lol. Privately wondering... "Wait a sec... we were told that once Bush was out of office things were going to get better... we had a dream...".

Keep dreaming! The Messiah Obama is proving he lied outright.

(I agree with Obama's decision to keep the photos private, at least until the war is over - that's just common sense, no matter what some Harvard grad tries to tell you before he is put in charge, lol ))

The first casualty of any political war is the truth.

I think Obama is doing well, changing the decisions he must.

Dudes, not a thing he's done so far puts him in the running with Bush.

Bush and crew are amazingly unforgettable, standing out like pillars of incredibly dark stupidity. Incredible...

Have you heard Cheney lately?

I didn't bring Bush up, but since the opportunity was presented I think you have to live with it.

I stand by:

"I think Obama is doing well, changing the decisions he must."

and think you guys are being pretty ungracious in your judgements.

"The Messiah Obama" ? Please.

I see & hear soooooo many people in real life rejoicing and praising the sense, notion, and hope, for the change that is somehow going to be bestowed upon our nation because Obama is now president. I truly see & hear people envisioning Obama as 'the Messiah', as though his mere presence in Washington is going to initiate goodness, wellness, and prosperity for all.

Meanwhile, all these people are really doing is relying on hope and prayer that good changes will come to our nation.

I don't like hope & prayer in that regard - I DEMAND action from our paid political leadership. I DEMAND to see results or I will let my dissatisfaction become known, as I do here. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH OUR NATION'S LEADERSHIP, I WANT MORE.

Others can 'hope', others can 'believe', others can do as they please.

I am VERY ungracious in my judgements of our leaders, VERY ungracious. I am NOT pleased with their 'progress'. I think Obama is fooling people, I think if he were as intent on ending the Iraq war as he said he WAS (lol), the war would be closer to OVER.

I think Obama is a lying bullshit artist of a politician, like 99% of the rest of the politicians, and I'm not applauding his actions, or their actions, until I see some results.

Show me the money in business success - show me the results in political success.

But I am not meaning disrespect to anyone here. To each their own, to me my own, I respect the opinions of others.

Mingles is a GREAT place to vent.

"I truly see & hear people envisioning Obama as 'the Messiah', as though his mere presence in Washington is going to initiate goodness, wellness, and prosperity for all."

Truly? I read similar stuff all over the net, and yet have not once heard anyone call Obama a messiah, or anything similar, in RL. Only online, by his detractors...

What????

Was that your tongue in cheek put down for the day??

I appreciate that after 8 years of posting on this site, that you have now taken to cut and pasting article from the news for us to read. I assume that you're doing this, because from a subjective level, you think everyone on this site lives the same life as you (as in we don't apprise ourselves of the news unless we read it here).

Perhaps during one of your hunt and seeks for a cut and paste to "enlighten" us, you'll find the answer to your question?

"I mean no disrespect to anyone here with my comments about Obama."

Oh, did I cut and paste "Obama"? I meant "you".

I'm the worst kind of political 'dissenter' because I'm neither republican or democrat - I hold them both responsible for guiding our nation.

I think Obama is taking the nation down a financially destructive path, and he is escalating war efforts.

I'll continue to be one of Obama's detractors until I see positive results, I feel that way about every politician working for our tax dollars.

It is everyone's right to do so as a citizen.

I don't believe anyone will be listing Obama's "accomplishments" anytime soon, lol.

I think he's doing well repairing the credibility we lost in foreign policy, I don't think he's making a fool of himself with our allies.

I don't know if what he's doing financially is going to work or not, I have doubts and think we'd have been better served spending the $$$ more towards the bottom, instead of blank-check bank bailouts...

I like some of the people he's putting in place and don't think it's been partisan rubber stamping to get die-hard conservatives into place as with the last admin.

The picture scandal... I bet they are sooo bad he changed his mind. I'll wait to find out on that.

GItmo is going to do modified tribunals for the baddies left *about 20?* and the rest will be either in the US or somewhere that has agreed to hold them, until the prison is closed down in 2010. Some may be held as prisoners of war indefinitely. This is just my opinion, but I DO have faith that Obama and crew can deal with this in a just fashion. That's been missing, we've behaved like our worst enemies used to, and I will resent Bush and crew doing that to us for an awful long time. It's probably a good thing that Cheney keeps running around reminding everybody of that...

Anyways, I'm watching, also, no blank check here.

Kee......I think he's been selling us out overseas. In fact I was appalled at the bow incident (whether it happened or not should not even be in question). And again when in Turkey he said "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

That is selling this country out to foreign countries. Check out the following....

> > Do you know the Preamble for your state?

> > Be sure to read the message at the bottom!

Alabama 1901, Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking

the favor and guidance of

Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

> >

Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to

those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

> >

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to

Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

> >

> > Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful

> > to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

> >

> > California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California ,

> > grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

> >

> > Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence

> > for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

> >

> > Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with

> > gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

> >

> > Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the

> > rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of

> > their consciences.

> >

> > Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to

> > Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

> >

> > Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection

> > and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

> >

> > Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine

> > Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.

> >

> > Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State o f Idaho , grateful to

> > Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

> >

> > Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to

> > Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath

> > so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our

> > endeavors.

> >

> > Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to

> > Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of

> > government.

> >

> > Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the

> > Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence

> > on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.

> >

> > Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God

> > for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

> >

> > Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to

> > Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..

> >

> > Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful

> > to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

> >

> > Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful

> > hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us

> > an opportunity ... And imploring His aid and direction.

> >

> > Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful

> > to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

> >

> > Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We..the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging

> > with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe

> > In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His

> > direction

> >

> > Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan ,

> > grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this

> > Constitution.

> >

> > Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful

> > to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its

> > blessings:

> >

> > Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention

> > assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

> >

> > Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence

> > for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .

> > Establish this Constitution...

> >

> > Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God

> > for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..

> >

> > Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our

> > freedom . Establish this Constitution.

> >

> > Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to

> > Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

> >

> > New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural

> > and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own

> > conscience.

> >

> > New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey,

> > grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so

> > long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our

> > endeavors.

> >

> > New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty

> > God for the blessings of liberty..

> >

> > New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful

> > to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

> >

> > North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina,

> > grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil,

> > political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon

> > Him for the continuance of those...

> >

> > North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to

> > Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

> >

> > Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to

> > Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our

> > common.

> >

> > Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God,=2 0in order

> > to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this

> >

> > Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in

> > the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of

> > their consciences

> >

> > Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to

> > Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly

> > invoking His guidance....

> >

> > Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island

> > grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath

> > so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

> >

> > South Carolina , 1778, Pre

The words he spoke have been spoken before. We are supposed to be an inclusive nation, where anyone can worship as they please, with no national religion. It scares me when religion gets into politics.

Health care, runaway deficit spending *nationally and personally* environmental issues...dumping truly stupid partisan regulatory stuff, and putting some muscle back into regulations where it's needed.. He's tackling multiple issues and doing fine so far, except per far edge thinking individuals. No slur on any political leaning... I see anything and everything being spun as bad. When I look at the issues, I just don't see the bad stuff.

There, now y'all can really get me if he tanks.

Let's hope he doesn't.

These are exciting times, maybe even scary times to some of the unemployed. I have a major concern about the financial mis-management (in my opinion) where Obama decided without much input from others to commit $787 billion as a 'stimulus' and we're now seeing where a great deal of that money was wasted. I think more careful consideration and more input from others, democrats too, would have been wise. I have a feeling we're in for some unprecedented financial troubles.

(Also - it would be good to see Cimm offer some material on the topic (instead of making ME the topic, lol). Cimm has produced some good debate points in the past.)

But, we ARE a Christian nation.....have been since the beginning. We welcome all (legally) and that is part of the Christian walk. And as Shop said....it what made us the greatest nation in the world. We've gotten away from it for many reasons, complacency being one.....and look at the mess we've gotten into........

I agree that wasn't handled at all correctly.

I'm not going to get into a religious arguement in a 100-day thread. We've all read what the founding fathers had to say, right?

Yet...... both robbi and shop use the listed preambles as their basis for calling the United States of America a "christian nation"

I'm sure both robbi and shop recognize the significant difference between God and His son Jesus Christ; that "christianity" comes from Christ; and the difference between the two

A christian nation?

Y'all can try to argue that one if you want - but you should find better references than the state preambles

the only thing we know is that people "of the law" argued for hours, days, weeks, months - and even years to make sure that the words they used were exactly what they intended....

and we have learned that what they indeed have intended most was to leave the words as vague as they were written - they weren't fools, but rather learn'ed men and women who (once again) argued the exact words and wording for hours, days, weeks, months, and years

people can argue over what it is BELIEVED the "writers" meant - but people can't argue over the specific words...

...it would be a fruitless arguement