Strong finish for Obama's first 2 years...

[zipity]

When you look back at the lame - lame duck session of 2006, this lame duck session has accomplished quite a bit. Combined with the accomplishments of the last 2 years - pulling out of an economic nose dive, historic health care legislation, continuing and expanding the middle class tax cuts, extended unemployment benefits, repeal of DADT, protecting the openness of the Internet AND it's looking like ratification of new start treaty. Add to that the political victory of putting the pubs in a position where in 2012 they will have to justify their actions in holding the middle class tax cuts hostage over a $36 billion revenue negative plan to cut taxes for the country's top earners. Republicans need to score some major wins and do so in such a way to gain support from both a democrat senate and president. They also need to invent a candidate who can pull stronger than 17% in the polls. All that along with a 46% approval rating and Obama is looking good heading toward the 2012 campaign.

[reformeddaytrader]

A few months ago, Obama slammed the Bush Tax Cuts as benefits for the wealthy and now says extending the same Bush Tax Cuts will be a win for our economy. Obama also promised to make immigration reform a top priority in his administration but then decided to push it off. Rather funny that Obama now is taking credit for the same Bush policies that he now embraces after trying to blame them for everything that has gone wrong for the past two years in our country...but the one he and Biden failed to agree on is our combat commitment in Afghanistan until 2014 which they will not detail how that goal will be reached. Is the country willing to tolerate the cost of the war in Afghanistan for three more years??

Biden says we will be totally out of Afghanistan by 2014 but Obama will not back up that claim nor will Bob Gates. Does anyone believe our troops will all be home by 2014 from Afghanistan?? I doubt it.

Two years ago Obama said that America would be #1 again in the world community of nations and dictators would learn again to respect our country ....apparently North Korea and Iran didn't get that memo.

[deziloooooo]

As I heard somewhere today, think on public radio, the first two years of a Presidency is a learning time, possible that is what it was, and he was faced with some real doozies..and now has learned to be a president for all the people. See Clinton as a example, and Reagon too. There still will be partison politics , but as he has stood up to his own party, I am sure if needed , and where warrented he will be able to stand up to the opposition and if they , opposition forget who he is, what he is representing, and expect to make a eunich out of him, our system gives great power to a President and I am sure if needed , to govern for the benefit for America , the whole, he will use that power and then in 2012 what happens , happens. To me, he seems to finally be getting a handle on it and yes, while the Pubs aren't happy with what has been accomplished in the lame duck session, the amount put forward in that time, he surly has accomplished a bit and even on the defeat of the Dream BILL, immigrstion , acceptence for, roadmap citizenship for the the young, not sure if he really lost there.

[chiver78]

Dec 21, 2010 23:27:14 GMT -5 @reformeddaytrader said:

A few months ago, Obama slammed the Bush Tax Cuts as benefits for the wealthy and now says extending the same Bush Tax Cuts will be a win for our economy.

he's also said in that there are parts of the bill extending tax cuts that he didn't like, but that is the nature of compromise.

[deziloooooo]

North korea is North korea and it seems , unless something happens as I type, it seems all of a sudden they aren't that interested in confronting the South..and us. The threat to them, the North, that would demand immediate reaction , isn't such a threat after all, and I doubt if those shells went anywhere different then planned on the drills.
Iran is Iran too, and unless some want to really get militarily involved there, with what forces and how we would be able to pay for them, i haven't a clue, I think we have enough on our plate right now, militarily, don't you think?

[reformeddaytrader]

Yea but don't forget the next two years also lead to the Presidential elections in 2012 and you will see more confrontations and not cooperation especially with the Republicans gaining the House and gaining seats in the Senate. But to his credit Obama did have some wins this month and he needed them all after the 02 November elections.

[joynerk]

Yeah, I'm sure the person on the other end of Obama's bb is happy! I'm not saying he hasn't accomplished alot - just don't agree with most of it.

And i still think he's one & done! <fingers crossed>

[ChiTownVenture]

in 2012 and you will see more confrontations and not cooperation especially with the Republicans

It will be interesting because if the Republicans do try and block, and confront everything they will look like they are being obstructive. That can come back to haunt them later.

Look at what happened with START, the media is already saying that the republicans were trying to block it because the Dems pushed through DADT.

[deziloooooo]

Enough Republicans broke from their top two dog's and crossed over, I guess you could say broke from top three dogs, Mccaine might be considered the third, and yes, the top Dog did insinuate it was about giving any Victory to Obama, his prime objective for the next two years so it seems he is going to be pulling a Pelosi..onlyu this times with open eye ducts..what a hell of a way to run a government is my thoughts.

[chiver78]

Dec 22, 2010 15:20:13 GMT -5 ChiTownVenture said:

It will be interesting because if the Republicans do try and block, and confront everything they will look like they are being obstructive.

if? that's how most of them campaigned!

[ChiTownVenture]

Dec 22, 2010 15:35:25 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 22, 2010 15:20:13 GMT -5 ChiTownVenture said:

It will be interesting because if the Republicans do try and block, and confront everything they will look like they are being obstructive.

if? that's how most of them campaigned!

If nothing gets done then it will come back to bite them. If a few fight everything they will look like they haven't done anything. I think people want to see some positive progress.

[chiver78]

personally, I hope it does bite some of them. they campaigned using the most divisive methods I've ever seen. it's no wonder we have such a hard time getting things accomplished, neither side wants to work with the other for fear of looking weak that they gave in.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Which is unfortunate since both sides have some decent ideas, but neither wants to admit it.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Republicans winning was the best option for Obama to actually accomplish something other than far left policies.

[reformeddaytrader]

I think each of the wins by Obama does indeed represent a different approach to deal making but none offers a clear vision for the next two years with a divisive government in Washington DC.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Dec 22, 2010 19:44:30 GMT -5 @reformeddaytrader said:

I think each of the wins by Obama does indeed represent a different approach to deal making but none offers a clear vision for the next two years with a divisive government in Washington DC.

Maybe, but having one party control everything doesn't seem to work.

[Deleted]

Everybody has their own views. President Obama has done nothing that I like unless he was forced to. I think his stimulus package was (crazy) to fast, to much & to diluted in aim. That alone would stop me from voting for any Democrat that had anything to do with it.

[vl]

Not as strong as I'd like. WE KNOW how all of this happened and there isn't a good feeling that bankers will burn for tripping the economy to capture the loot generated by first generation boomers retiring. WE KNOW this is a money grab. The problem that says- this isn't good enough is- the lack of job transition. There won't be a recovery in any form without significant revenue (tax) generation. Otherwise, it's just smoke.

[deziloooooo]

There is always problems in all administrations, I feel he had a lot on his plate that was above and beyond. The DADT seemed to save the financials, whether we like that entity or not. With out it in a country like ours especially, though important everywhere, we could have slipped into a disaster that might take years to recover from. The same with the stimulus. That it didn't seem to do what it was hoped , possible we wearn't as aware as to how bad the problem really was.Something like the surgeon who goes in to explore, some times so bad better to just close up.
Here the experts , from both sides said we were close to terminal, so he proposed and passed ..there was silly waste but did anyone really think that in bills of this size there wouldn't and as the man said as he found out, there really isn't that many shovel ready projects waiting out here. Mistakes were made , but a lot of jobs were saved, I know definitly in my state , in education and law enforcement, over 100, 000. Thats a lot of people not collecting and their services were so needed. Then there is the drain, two wars, one almost over, but with 50,000 troops at $250,000 per, that still is a lot of $ per, and no taxes to pay for that not counting cost and committment to Afganistan.
Now they, he , is saying the new norm is hi unemployment. What it will be. Don't like to hear that, but he's correct, so shoot the messenger.
We need to keep and grow jobs , research and developement for the 21 st century, and only the federal can do that on the scale needed. The private will give lipservice but the largest companies are international today and China, India, Korea and others are spening the money for th next generation of jobs, we are not. To do so, need tax dollers for that, which means raising taxes. Fat chance that will happen so the future looks dim. Instead of the leader of , we will become the followers of... unless major changes happen, I don't see major changes happening.

[deziloooooo]

lol, Billy Jean..more smites then I and I saw another Canadian who beat me out..That one claims lots of wealth so might be jealousy, on the cyber world ?? .makes me feel better..What have YOU boys been saying to P people off so much...LOL

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Dec 22, 2010 23:33:26 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

lol, Billy Jean..more smites then I and I saw another Canadian who beat me out..That one claims lots of wealth so might be jealousy, on the cyber world ?? .makes me feel better..What have YOU boys been saying to P people off so much...LOL

Just have to click on the poster's name and you can see some of the old post. Of course he/she keeps changing the nic.

[floridayankee]

Dec 22, 2010 16:03:13 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

personally, I hope it does bite some of them. they campaigned using the most divisive methods I've ever seen. it's no wonder we have such a hard time getting things accomplished, neither side wants to work with the other for fear of looking weak that they gave in.

We want progress that requires our elected officials to make compromises which will be used against them in the next election. Great system, eh?

[vl]

It's amazing how often people summarize and don't get it. We bailed the financials but we failed the foundation of credit. The massive valuation tumult and scuttling of records will be our downfall, NOT whether there's a Chase and Goldman Sachs. Those can be replaced, but the underpinning... not so easily and certainly NOT be any automated generation. There is too much missing from the integrity to sift through like inventory.
I would estimate right now that more than 70% of our liquidity is stuck in the markets with clearly obvious potential for complete loss. That used to be the 70% flowing through what was once our economy. SOMEBODY has to go down and We the People are tapped out so... who gets it? Banks? Retirees? Municipalities? LISTEN to Obama... he is saying it like it is, it isn't possible to reduce any more government spending without damaging a critical aspect of national existence. Imagine if social security or medicare go away.
Now... step back and imagine if Goldman Sachs and Chase go away. All that means is that a large amount of stagnant cash must seek other means of growth-- like investment into local business revival, private credit funding and reconstitution of real property. Get it?

We MUST collapse the banks and crash Wall Street in order to send monies outward to be an asset to America again. NO ONE said retiring meant guaranteed anything and that's exactly what is trying to happen. Sorry, but no you can't let some NYC financier make you oodles while babies in Iowa starve because you're into Big Farm in Mexico, or entire Midwest towns go broke because you're into Chinese manufacturing. All of that "global" crap has to go. I'll consider President Obama as having made progress when something "big" has failed and we let it. Until then, the "big" failure is not supporting We the People ahead of "big" everything else.

BTW... I want LICENSES for ANALYSTS and LIABILITY for MISJUDGMENT. If you will be paid to change the course of Destiny, you need to suffer when you're wrong.

[chiver78]

Dec 23, 2010 8:58:34 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

Dec 22, 2010 16:03:13 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

personally, I hope it does bite some of them. they campaigned using the most divisive methods I've ever seen. it's no wonder we have such a hard time getting things accomplished, neither side wants to work with the other for fear of looking weak that they gave in.

We want progress that requires our elected officials to make compromises which will be used against them in the next election. Great system, eh?

I think if the public would understand that it takes compromising to get things done, it wouldn't be used against them in the next election. the problem is, candidates campaign by saying they will be tough, they won't cave to the opposition, etc. so when they do cross the aisle to accomplish something, those that voted him in will see it as being weak.

[floridayankee]

Dec 23, 2010 9:08:32 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I think if the public would understand that it takes compromising to get things done, it wouldn't be used against them in the next election. the problem is, candidates campaign by saying they will be tough, they won't cave to the opposition, etc. so when they do cross the aisle to accomplish something, those that voted him in will see it as being weak.

On average...the "public" is pretty stupid. They all need to turn off Beck, Hannity, Schultz, Maddow, etc... and educate themselves instead of relying on these extremely biased "news" sources for their information.

[reformeddaytrader]

Obama's first two years are about to finish in a few days and yes he got some Christmas gifts from the Repubs but if anyone thinks this Christmas Spirit of giving will carry over to the new congress next year they are sadly mistaken IMHO


They all need to turn off Beck, Hannity, Schultz, Maddow, etc... and educate themselves instead of relying on these extremely biased "news" sources for their information

Don't you think most if not all viewers of these political wonks can see through all the hype and spin BTW the younger generation (18 -35 yrs) doesn't tune into those beauties but rather get all of their news from Facebook or from texting each other....

[floridayankee]

Dec 23, 2010 9:32:40 GMT -5 @reformeddaytrader said:

Don't you think most if not all viewers of these political wonks can see through all the hype and spin BTW the younger generation (18 -35 yrs) doesn't tune into those beauties but rather get all of their news from Facebook or from texting each other....

If the bias of some posters on the MSN board is used as a gauge...on average, people are too stupid to make up their own minds...so no, not all will see past the hype and spin.

I came home from work some time last year and DS was watching Beck....at 18 years old. I told him to take what he says with a grain of salt because of his bias. Don't believe everything he says and do your own research.

[reformeddaytrader]

[]I suppose the Political Gurus on MSNBC and Fox have their dedicated fans but most of the country has to turned off with them especially after the elections on 02 November.....people are angry and want to see substance and results from our elected officials and that is the way it is in California ..believe me on this..and could care less about Hannity, Shultz, Olbermann and Maddow.....well maybe not Maddow in San Francisco..

[deziloooooo]

Can't believe it but agree with most of post #26...Disagree a bit on "Don't you think most if not all viewers of these political wonks can see through all the hype and spin"..I wish it was true but Ithink to many pick one who supports what they feel is the word and makes them their guru, and if caught out on misinformation, blame the other side on misinterperting.
"We MUST collapse the banks and crash Wall Street in order"..I know that has been your call for a while VL but there I don't want to be around..the fallout, take to much of a persons life time to get back on track..way to drastic.
FL you have a point..by the way..always thought you were of the other Gender, LOL.

[floridayankee]

Dec 23, 2010 11:07:08 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

..by the way..always thought you were of the other Gender, LOL.

No dezi...been this way all my life.

And for the metrosexuals, here's a littl Brad Paisley for you....

When you see a deer you see Bambi
And I see antlers up on the wall
When you see a lake you think picnic
And I see a large mouth up under that log

You're probably thinking that you're going to change me
In some ways well maybe you might
Scrub me down, dress me up but remember no matter what
I'm still a guy

When you see a priceless French painting
I see a drunk, naked girl
You think that riding a wild bull sounds crazy
And I'd like to give it a whirl

Well love makes a man do some things he ain't proud of
And in a weak moment I might
walk your sissy dog, hold your purse at the mall
But remember, I'm still a guy

I'll pour out my heart, Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by

I can hear you now talking to your friends
Saying, "Yeah girls he's come a long way"
From dragging his knuckles and carrying a club
And building a fire in a cave

But when you say a backrub means only a backrub
Then you swat my hand when I try
Well, what can I say at the end of the day
Honey, I'm still a guy

I'll pour out my heart Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by

These days there's dudes getting facials
Manicured, waxed and botoxed
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands
You can't grip a tacklebox ...