CNN

Funny how promises disappear when you actually have to live up to them. Wonder how they'll blame this on Bush. The promises were made knowing what they were up against but I'm sure the Obama worshipers won't see it that way.

I have a serious question. How much does it cost the government in wages, benefits and administrative costs minus what it recoups in taxes (income, SS, sales tax revenue, etc) to pay for the average employee the President – Elect is proposing? Bear in mind, if these are jobs on the "lower end" of the wage scale, the Federal Income Tax liability will be zero, plus some will be eligible for tax credits that add to the cost.
I'm thinking very few employees included in the government created jobs would be cost effective for taxpayers, but I could be very wrong.
Just wondering -

Customers create jobs. People buy things and then other people need to make those things.

Funding a new bridge, or a light rail, or a wind-energy farm, or a new sewage plant don't do much to stimulate the economy. We'll just end up with faster ways to get to all of the closed malls and have electricity surpluses for all of the closed factories.

Government stimulating jobs is a joke.

Government can't create jobs other than more government jobs.

How about cutting our taxes and making it possible for companies to prosper. Let the SBA free up credit for small business. And get the governement out of the nit-picky details of running businesses.

The housing bubble was caused by the government thinking that "everyone should own a home" and they mandated loans to people that couldn't afford them. Other companies came up with creative ways of doing the same thing, all along obscuring the risk and the fact that the people couldn't afford the loans. Then, just like the Maddoff Ponzi scheme, the whole house of cards collapses. The only difference it that we throw Madoff in jail, but re-elect the same stupid officials and Congress who did the same thing.

America, wake up! The problem is that the Democrats and Republicans are meddling with a complex system, trying to control it. It cannot be controlled, just as the weather cannot.

OH NO-–But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate, now we get the tempered remarks?

We can always fall back on Obama's new job program of CHANGING the governments light bulbs to the new energy saving kind–Gee,now that's CHANGE we have been talking about.

How many Americans does it take to change a light bulb ????

If it were not for Government help (WPA) before world war two we all would be speaking German now. A good job creating plan give people pride, if some of these young buck were around in the early forty they would seen those pride young men on make work jobs.

"People who lose homes and jobs don't pay the kinds of taxes that keep our daily lives comfortable."

Well, take it from someone who pays some of the highest state and local taxes in the country. High taxes mean nothing if you don't know how to properly spend the money.

The best part about Bush leaving office (among many very good parts), is that he will only be blamed for all ills of the world for another couple years or so. Sooner or later Dems, Obama and the media will have to find someone else to hold accountable. Who will it be? The Republican minority? The Chinese? The Christian Right? The man on the moon? I don't know who will be held accountable, but I know it won't be Obama or the Democratic congress.

Yep Obama you already dropped the 3000. tax credit plan for buisness's and you haven't even taken office yet. What next after you buffaloed the people into voting for you. Historic moment is right the worse lier that ever took office is what is in store for America.

I think the Republicans labeled Obama the "Savior". Those of us who voted for him call him a "true leader". A true leader will have people behind him, people beside him, and people he trusts ahead of him. I'm not sure we saw that in the "Haliburton Era". If 72% of the population wouldn't follow him that just makes him a figure head....not a leader.

Remember why the Romans placed the plaque on Jesus' cross. He never claimed himself "King". They did it so the belittling would be more painful.

Yes we can children Yes we can. oops I meant until you get me in. now it is- yes we can but only so much and then it will be oops I only meant yes we can get me into the white house that was all. nothing more yes we can get me in the white house. ok you did it now @@@off and leave me alone. Cannot wait.

what is obama talking about?
neither he nor his master AXELROD know anything about finance or economics.

Anonymous – Obama has consistently tempered his remarks on major, complex issues like the war and the economy. He espoused a moderate view during the campaign and expressed the need to act based on the ever changing situation.

I do not believe he has ever lied to the American people. He did not need to as he demonstrated his remarkable capabilities and showed us he has solid moral standards. The vast majority of Americans have a great deal of confidence in Obama, including many that lean Republican. Our high level of confidence in him has gone a long ways, already, to slow down the current economic slide.

I love this guy, not for who he is, but for what he's doing for America.

@Brian From Fort Mill, SC

We don't want to call Obama the names that you and your party have called Bush over the last 8 years. I suppose you are the most qualified one to teach us how to hate, after looking at the last 8 years.

PE Obama has got his hands full with the mess left behind by the Bush administration and he will do his best to get this country back on track ASAP....I hope people are not expecting things to be fixed straight away as that is impossible for anyone to achieve in this climate.
As for those less than intelligent folks on here who are calling PE Obama the "Savior' or the "Messiah", I have one thing to say and I'm using your man Bush's own words..." MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".
Bush has gone and much smarter guy is taking over.

Brian from S.C. you are SO right, O is NOT the savior. Nor is he Moses as I read yesterday. He is, however, the EMPEROR who girded himself with the finest of promises and solutions all made with invisible thread.

Wow Anonymous, did not know that you viewed one man as God. What a pathetic fool you are Anoymous. Now on topic, President Obama, you have very ambitious plans and I like that in you which is why I voted for you but, I will have to side with Chip on this topic. Good pain medicine but it will wear off eventually so I want to hear a 10 and 20 year plan as well as the short term stuff.

Only problem with creating 3.7 million jobs by paving away, is that you have to pay for it, but taxing the hell out of Main street and guess what, the tax increases will result in losing far more than 3.7 million jobs on Main street.

There has never been a government stimulus package that has ever helped more than it has harmed. Just ask Japan if their stimulus debaucle helped or harmed.

January 13th, 2009 12:14 pm ET
I wish we knew how many jobs would be created. This number seems to fluctuate every other day. I guess it is tied to the jobs report. As unemployment goes up, so does Obama's job creation proposal. You cannot develop job numbers without a detailed working plan. It is a guess. Obama is telling us the high end of the estimate at its peak and after being established over several years. I think the US tax payers need to see a detailed copy of this plan.

Also, does anyone ever think who is going to pay for these jobs. It will be the current tax payers. Why should we have to be taxed so someone else can have a job? I work hard for my money. The government should stay out of our paychecks unless they are providing a service to all people such as security.

To all those lazy couch potatos collecting welfare paid for by my money. Jobs exist in this economy. Too bad you think working at McDonalds is demeaning.

He is only an imperfect and sinful human being, like everyone else.

Here we go again. Print more money to create jobs that will be short term at best, then print money to pay the employees that fill those jobs and then we will have devalued the dollar even more. Already he has admitted that the 350B sent to the banks was a bust. Wants the other 350B sent out now again with no audit trail for the money. Jobs keep going to Mexico, India, Pakistan, China, etc and more foreign workers are loaded up and brought in to go with the millions of illegals already here and draining this economy. Just keep heaping fuel on the fire, shortly this nation will fold under.

Free Bubble up and Rainbow Stew,what more do you want? Lowering Taxes provides 3 to 1 return on your money,Spending only provides 1.25 to1 on your money.Raising taxes,cuts jobs. Its Government intervention into the market that screws everything up,just look at what happened to Fannie MAe and Freddie Mac......................... Raise Taxes on the Rich,Ask your self a question when was the last time a poor person gave you a job?

Hey, lets do the correct thing here:
Raise taxes
spend more for the poor
watch the country go into the trash can
what more can you ask for?
All you Bush haters need to take a good look at your self, you get what you wish for.
OB can even figure out what to do.
What a shame

if relatively high taxes and government spending ever worked then europeans should be the richest people in the world, but wait how is it that even in this economy we have lower unemployment and nearly 40% higher pay (keeping in mind all over things being equal)

@Sanity has returned

Apparently not at your house. But that's typical, blame the GOP for everything wrong in this country today. Never mind that Frank and Schumer, two donkeys, were at the top of the list in helping Fannie and Freddie run wild with no oversight;
never mind that it has been the donkeys who incresingly decreased regulation on the industry;
never mind that it was th donkeys that pressured the mortgage industry to approve more money for high risk loans.
And don't even get me started on adjustable ARM's.

The truth of the matter is that POLITICIANS, regardless of party have put this country in the mess it's in. And if folks like you could see through your Party blinders, then people in this country might start working together for the good of the country instead of the good of teir respective parties.

Vote anti-incumbent, in six years time we can clean house in D.C.

Wheeeee 3.5 million government jobs, funded by US!!!
Who said nobody likes big government!
With another 8 years of Obamanomics, we'll all be employees of the government. Maybe you can apply for a job at the Ministry of Truth, or the Ministry of Peace, or the Ministry of Love, and be a good little Winston Smith.
What the democrats should do next, is just print $150 trillion dollars and hand it out, then every adult in America will be a millionaire! Problem solved! Vote democrat.

I've said all along that this country is run just like GM, except GM doesn't have money printing machines. Obama's jobs program is just like the GM jobs bank where laid off union workers sit around doing crossword puzzles and watching movies all day and taking home 95% of their pay.

@ BYB

Do you live in the same fantasy land as Rush, Hannity, etc., where black is white and "lower taxes" = "more revenue"?

Come on. You guys have been trying to cram this garbage down everyone else's throat since 1979, and people KNOW you are wrong. You remind me of the Iraqi general who was claiming an overwhelming victory as the buildings crumbled and American tanks rolled by.

All that "spending" Bush did on education was TOTALLY tied to No Child Left Behind, which almost every educator in the country will tell you is a terrible, awful program; meanwhile TAX REVENUE fell, school funding was cut, and good schools that actually provide WORKING programs close down all over the country.

Listen: it's not working anymore. The garbage, I mean. The lies. It'd done, OK?

He never said he was a saviour (note spelling), but I think he would be flattered if YOU think so.

BYB January 13th, 2009 10:37 am ET

@Sanity has returned,

You answered your own question. Tax-cuts work. Obama realizes that, that's why he's hedging his bets on raising taxes (even on those evil rich people). The problem is that government can't leave well enough alone. Revenues to the Fed go UP when taxes are lower because there's more activity in the market.

Yeah, go ahead and look around your neighborhoods at those schools, Bush spent more on education in the last 8 years than any other president, that should tell you that throwing money at a problem doesn't necessarily 'fix' it.

Drop your axe and enter the real world.
--------------------------------–

This shows YOUR ignorance. I have a son who is autistic and has developmental issues and your old buddy Bush there, tried to cut funding for Autism to fund this stupid dam war, it took ANOTHER Republican with an actual bit of morality, Bill C. Young of Pinellas County, Florida to fight back and stop old Shrub from gutting a useful program to help children, YOU need to take the axe up and chop yourself in the head with it, arrogant fool.

I know! Get involved in a big war!

It worked for Obama's hero, Franklin Roosevelt–WWII was the greatest stimulus package ever! And it ramped up the percentage of the GDP controlled by the Federal government by a huge factor–just what politicians these days, Dems and Reps alike, like to do.

Yep, the "jobs plan" will only help so much. Like, as is usual with anything done by government, not at all and at enormous cost.

Anonymous, I guess if you consider that a lie, although you were obviously vague about being promised "everything". I didn't vote for Obama because he promised me anything other then to work hard and proceed in an intelligent fashion, something we haven't seen for the past 8 years.

At least Obama didn't LIE & CHEAT to get elected like ole GWB did. Have a nice day.

Why do Obama naysayers keep calling him names like "Messiah and Savior"? Do they know something his supporters don't?

President Obama has adopted some of the wisdom of FDR and is concentrating on the infrastructure problems. Many of our bridges, highways, schools, public buildings, etc, are sadly in need of repair and would keep millions busy for years. At a time when jobs were scarce, FDR developed CCC camps, WPA and other forms of infrastructure work so men could EARN their pay and keep their pride. There was no laying around on welfare. My father, a dentist, died in 1935 and mother was forced to apply for Aid to Dependent Children for myself and 2 brothers. It was rough because monthly calls by welfare workers were strict and anything of value was not in plain sight for fear of being taken off welfare. Such attitudes today do not exist. I can understand President Obama's theory of giving people work that will serve 3 purposes: keep people working, improve our infrastructure, and induce pride in our country. We will ALL have to be willing to accept his future plans for the country, and take pride in the renewal of our country. God Bless Obama and give him the strength to complete his plans, and God Bless the American people in support of his efforts.

I wish we knew how many jobs would be created. This number seems to fluctuate every other day. I guess it is tied to the jobs report. As unemployment goes up, so does Obama's job creation proposal. You cannot develop job numbers without a detailed working plan. It is a guess. Obama is telling us the high end of the estimate at its peak and after being established over several years. I think the US tax payers need to see a detailed copy of this plan.

Also, does anyone ever think who is going to pay for these jobs. It will be the current tax payers. Why should we have to be taxed so someone else can have a job? I work hard for my money. The government should stay out of our paychecks unless they are providing a service to all people such as security.

To all those lazy couch potatos collecting welfare paid for by my money. Jobs exist in this economy. Too bad you think working at McDonald's is demeaning.

mc cain also promised there very same thing..all the gop can offer is finger pointing and denial ................I didn't know Jesus ran for president I would have voted for him

Ha! 7 more days....THIS IS WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR!!!!!!!!

he's going to fix everything!!!!!

we dont have to worry about paying for gas

or our houses.....

and the best part, he's going to send us a check!!!!!!!

i'm pushing for possible third and fourth terms for this guy....

THIS IS IT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

My goodness! he hasnt even been sworn in and you Stupid Republican are all ready trying to put the Junk your Dumb President put on the World! At least he is trying and in the first year he will do more than Bush did in his entire 8 years in Office.

He brags about not having a attack on american soil since 9-11. So he decided to attack on someone else's land, i guess in your eyes that makes it all better. I ll just go rob a bank in Russia, but as long as i dont do it here i will not be punished!! : )

This President is a JOKE!! and just for the record Bush does not represent everyone in Texas America please dont think that.

Thanks,

A Proud Texan

Chip: The short-term job opportunities you mention weren't enough to stop the destruction of millions of acres of farmlands when the housing boom was at its peak. "We're creating jobs! We're putting thousands to work!" Now, in the Central Valley in California, we don't grow much anymore. Just abandoned houses in foreclosure. All those construction workers are out of work now - and could probably use a job building bridges or roads. Everything in life is transient. A few years' work could mean everything to a lot of people.

How about instead of giving the banks and the govenors all the money. You give it to Joe Schmoe.

Let him pay off his debts, by a new car(or RV) put a little money back into the little guys hands.

Just to get on my soap box. Here's another hint. QUIT THE POOR TAX.

You take money only on the first thousands of dollars that people make, put it in the general fund and spend it. That is poor tax. You either keep it separate(and pay back what you stole) or you quit it and start taking the money out the general fund and give us back everything I ever paid into it

Chip: The short-term job opportunities you mention weren't enough to stop the destruction of millions of acres of farmlands when the housing boom was at its peak. "We're creating jobs! We're putting thousands to work!" Now, in the Central Valley in California, we don't grow much anymore. Just abandoned houses in foreclosure. All those construction workers are out of work now - and could probably use a job building bridges or roads. Everything in life is transient. A few years' work could mean everything to a lot of people.

Do none of you realize the extreme circumstances our country is in, on so many levels? We can't think of the short sighted cost of doing SOMETHING but the long,long term COST of doing nothing or not enough. He inherited this HUGE problem, 2 wars (at least), enormous national debt,he did not create it...GIVE HIM a chance and do not hinder him with petty issues, get over it. Our lives in the foreseeable future is not going to be business as usual, we need a BOLD PLAN or we are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Chip, that is the idea. Create jobs for the short term (band-aid) until the economy can recover, and create jobs of its own. The whole point of a band-aid is to protect the wound underneath it until it heals.

Yay! Big Digs for everyone! I can't wait for a big dig near me!

I'm honestly surprised at the number of experts out there who criticize any economic plan that PE Obama comes up with. Where were they when Pres. Bush and the Republican-led Congress set-up the sequence of events which got us to where we are today?

I watched part of the IOUSA show Sunday night and one of the commentators made a comment that made perfect sense. You can't call if a tax break if it causes the national deficit to go up and defers the tax burden to future generations.

As individuals and as a Nation, we need to bite the bullet now and get our spending under control. We need a more balanced budget and we can't lay most of the burden for paying for things on the 5% of the households who make more than $200,000 per year.

We need to rethink what it means to be successful.

how can this be??? he is..after all...The Messiah

Sanity has returned@Glad you brought up education. Half of the local property tax, half of the state tax and an unknown percentage of the Federal tax goes to "education," From the thugs I see on the street (all Obama voters) it must be some sort of a waste and probably goes to the teachers unions, which have wrecked our education system.

Every little bit helps

Some people dont worry about their kids or grandkids,nuclear waste,trash dumps overfilling, or anything else because they believe in the "great pie in the sky theory",that says that they will be saved from all the evil people on Earth and given a new Earth.

Every little bit helps….Nobody is looking for a miracle. Just looking for work done in Washington. Bush and Cheyney have been asleep at the wheel. Time to wake up

Anonymous, you and all the others who think with your behind and not your head where your brains should be, ned to just keep quite until the New Prez get in office. WE so need this Man in office to move this country forward. Stupid is as stupid do, all you people who don't want this Prez. Obama to make this country better should move out of it and see how much we cry when you leave (LOL) See YAA.
GO, GO, GO, Prez Obama we are behind you all the way, we will have new JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, NEW HOMES, NEW SCHOOLS, NEW ROADS, NEW BRIDGES, NEW ATTITUDES, NEW FACES, IN NEW PLACES. COME 2009 JAN, 20TH. So get over it all you NAYSAYERS, we're on the move to bigger and better things, just watch we will not let you'll stop us. NO MORE REpubs running thing again ever.
May God Bless and keep PREZ. OBAMA and his new Admin. watch them work .
OBAMA/BIDEN 2009-2016 and beyound.

BYB are you suggesting like the tried and failed republican philosophy that the free market can still solve this economic crisis if we just let it run it course? This is insane this is why we in this mess. Bush would not admit that the economy was in a recession ( i remember many a press conferences with words "the fundamentals of the economy is strong") until the whole bottom fell out and he came groveling for our money to fix it. This nonsense about if the free market is left alone the economy will recover in the long run...might I remind you that people do not eat in the long run THEY EAT EVERY DAY!

@ BYB-

Well put. Couldn't have articulated that any better myself. The problem is, many people are so misinformed, they just repeat crap they have heard and don't really know how the whole puzzle fits together.

If you want to stay poor, vote democrat.

@ BYB

Those "evil rich people" are why we're in this mess. You think for one second that some of this disaster wasn't fabricated by them to force Obama and the Dem-controlled legislature to forgoe taxing them? What precisely do you think has really happened to all that bailout money? You think they haven't lined their pockets with it just in case the tax axe falls and their obscene compensation packages become illegal?

No Child Left Behind was and is a complete disaster. It's just a ploy to dumb down our youth so they could get them voting Republican.

Anonymous wrote, "But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate, now we get the tempered remarks. Funny how ALL politicians (even the Savior) LIE to get elected."

You have a point, sort of. Any highly knowledgeable candidate who tells the truth will probably lose the election. Jimmy Carter warned us about oil dependency, pollution, low-mileage cars, problems in the Middle East, etc. He was not the most skillful president, perhaps, but his heart was in the right place. His two greatest flaws were his tendency to tell the truth and his inablity to convince the voters that they (we) had their heads in the sand.

Because of his truthfulness, we elected Ronald Reagan – a non-president who sat in the office and wrote cute letters to little girls while his advisors ran the country for the benefit of the very wealthy. He tripled the national debt (a Conservative habit), he remembered fighting in France (he got confused, he made a movie about it), and he accomplished nothing.

As for Obama, remember that his proposals were made before our corporate leaders led us off the economic cliffs into the current mess. It is more important for him to clean up the disastrous messes created by Conservative administrations. That's not what he wants. It's not what I want. But it's what we have to do.

We have to end this cycle of Conservative Administrations damaging the country so that Liberal Administrations can fix them.

To Anonymous,

We know why your out look is so sorry. You look for a man to be your savior. You sound sarcastic like the other right wing loosers. Help bring ther country closer. Be willing to sacrifice for your country. Why are you not over in Afghan, or Iraq? All talk no action.

The key here is that giving tax cuts to companies who outsource jobs to foreign nations does NOTHING to help the US economy. Any tax cuts must be given to companies who hire American workers only. I cannot comprehend why any tax cuts ever went to outsourcing companies yet they did most definitely. Along with the tax cuts, no goods can be imported from nations who havve unfair labor laws or we are only creting slave labor conditions worldwide.

It is hard to sell the idea of a tax cut to someone standing in the unemployment line. The United States cannot take another GOP "good idea" because it is going to kill us. Want to be smart? Start putting Americans to work on American projects. Once average Americans have some jingle in their pockets, you'll see growth and job creation.

It will take time to fix this big mess. At least Obama/Biden is doing something rather than to do nothing and watch the country fall apart. I plan on celebrating next Tuesday.

I don't get it....it was 4.1 million jopbs two days ago....does this guy have any idea what he is doing or does he just throw these magic numbers around?

What – the Mr. Fix it all is now saying he cannot turn things around that much and its still going to cost the taxpayer anyway? I expect much much more from Mr. Obama. His campaign was all about nothing and that is what he will do.

And he has finally figured this out? Why didn't he realize it before he PROMISED it. Suckers, all. He is rotten to the core and we are just finding it out. Don't blame me–I voted for the other guy!

He today pulled the job credit part of this.

@ Sanity has returned

You are right only one side of the gov't is to blame. Nothing is ever the fault of the dem party.

anonymous,
PE Obama has not yet taken office. since the election, an additional 1 million people have lost their jobs. all under guess who's watch?
the economy has tanked so far under the bush economic policy, the fix will not be overnight.
I think as much hope Obama generated during the campaign, the continuing economic decline has tempered his ability to do more when he takes office. He is being honest, something the last 8 years have not seen from the sitting president.

Obama is the only president in our lifetime that comes into office with a plan to increase deficit spending instead of a plan to balance the budget..

Give a good speech,,,, back track on everything said. Give another speech,,, back track again.

Hillary was right, all he had was his speech from 2004 and all you sheeple jumped on his band wagon. Can't believe we have 64 million idiots in this country and I think these are different idiots than the ones that re-elected King George.
The US must be a country with the most idiots.

Anonymous wrote:

January 13th, 2009 10:13 am ET

"But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate, now we get the tempered remarks. Funny how ALL politicians (even the Savior) LIE to get elected."

Hey anonymous person – you know what is REALLY funny? The only people who are calling Obama the 'SAVIOR' are the people who are strongly against him. I know you're trying to be witty and cute, but what are you going to do if he really DOES save us? You can't take your words back and you will look very very stupid and childish in such an important time.

I'm so sick of Republicans and their loser ways.....

Is just me or has Obama become the most scrutinized, criticized U.S. President Elect of ALL TIME?? I don't remember nearly as much criticism being applied to Bush and Clinton before inauguration day.

hey, Anonymous. Could it maybe be that things have changed since the campaign? The economy has sunk deeper into the crapper, faster than anyone expected. Circumstances are much worse now than when Obama made his campaign promises. When circumstances change, the plan has to change, too. I still have no doubt that the man (not savior) I voted for is the best man to pull us out of this mess.

How far we have fallen in 8 years....mind boggle. However, now the hard work begins...clean up the mess.

First I believe accountability is in order. The banks and traders who literally have committed financial terrorism upon the US and now the world need to go to jail, not receive bonuses from our tax dollars. We cannot have the same greedy stupid people running the bank who got us into this financial crisis. they need to be in jail, not in the bank or brokerage

Second, I remember was is in the 60's or 50's – Buy American slogan? It will be hard, and in many instances more expensive, but it must be done. Insist. If it is not literally made in the USA. Don't buy it. The companies that make items from clothing, cars, toys, furniture, pots and pans need to know - enough! No longer will we tolerate. My mission this Xmas was to do this. Many things were put back on the shelf, but in the end I achieved my goal. What good is would a stimulis check be if we continue spending it on imported junk?

Buy Made in the USA must be OUR MISSION. It will help us, our country and our workers, our future.

I really do not see how we can blame the economy on either party. I mean, think about this, maybe the companies that are going bankrupt do not handle the money like they should. Maybe they have a good idea for a company but are in the wrong place for the business to do good. There are all sorts of reasons why businesses are not doing good and not the presidents fault but yet when the businesses start doing bad, failing, they want the government to bail them out. Tell me what is really wrong with the nation and I could give you a lot of reasonwhy it went wrong but the first thing we need to admit is that somehow we, as a nation, have done wrong. Not one person in particular but all of us. But no one wants to take blame for any wrong doing. Look around you and see what it is that you can fix, maybe then, just maybe things will start to look up for the economy.

I know some of you will come back and say you have done nothing wrong and you are probably the first ones that need fixing.

From campaign that promises that the economy , the war in Iraq, Gitmo cleaned out and every other problem would be fixed within a year by electing the Obamessiah, we're being told now that it might take many, many years..............................

Something tells me, we got sold a bill of goods by an Chicago politician and we deserve everything we get. All lies! Every single one.

There were 1.2 million job lost in 2008, how does that correlate with the 3.7 million jobs that Obama is going to create? Nevertheless 3.7 million new jobs would certainly be achievable if he was to force companies to bring back all the jobs outsourced outside of the U.S.

Hey, Sanity Has Returned, for the last two years the Democrats have controlled the congress. If I'm not mistaken that includes the year 2008. I don't believe, as you do, that it was all the Republicans fault. Maybe it was the Republicans fault for DOING, but it was definitely the Democrats fault for sitting back and DOING NOTHING!!. They are both to blame and NONE of them should still have a job, including Obama who was a member of the DO NOTHING side. I'm a registered Democrat, but generally vote for the person and not the party. Sometimes, as in the case of the election in November, I voted for nobody, because nobody of any substance was running.

Not to mention the fact that the roads and bridges portion of the plan has decades long lasting effects.

We can blame Republicans or Democrats alike for the shape this country is in. They were all in agreement on unfair trade agreements that have brought this country down.
Why is it that we must work for less in this country to compete? Why is it that the foreign competition in this country such as Honda, Toyota and Nisan not allow unions? Its because they have made deals with our Southern Sentors to keep them out. They want an unfair advantage over the domestic auto industry. I have never heard anyone suggest that we bring the wages of foreign compeditors up to meet the wages of the domestics. How about the people that work in the fast food industry and retail stores? Would it not be a good stimulus package to bring their wages up to lets say 15 dollars an hour?
The point is, if your going to be giving away BILLIONS of dollars that belong to the average tax payer, why not give it to them?

The Messiah has admitted that he will have to scale way back on his campaign promises. Wow, what a surprise. You mean to tell me that most of what Obama said he was going to do were typical empty words? I thought the Liberal Left told us this guy was different. He has already changed his mind on Iraq, Afghanistan and the Bush tax cuts. You good little Liberals were duped

Anonymous, you start every day off so negative I am surprised you make to lunch time without all your hate and bitterness crushing you.
There were a lot of things said in the campaign by both sides months ago when things were very different.
It is nice to see Chip back on the blogs to give a brighter side to your vile!

Hey Stein, I have to say you're wrong. Doing this is not better than nothing. Spending $1 trillion to make people feel better is no better than me going drinking when I'm depressed. It makes me feel better temporarily, but when I wake up the next day, I'll just be depressed again.

P.S. I graduated high school with your son =D

small world, eh?

What do you expect him to do exactly? Nothing? He's TRYING to help. Which is more than many are trying to do.

And people, I'm so sick of the Obama bashing. He'll be President in one week. Deal with it. Think of it this way, anyone is infinately better than Bush.

Sanity has returned January 13th, 2009 10:22 am ET – Hey, it's those working people who are benefitted by the tax cuts. You and your ilk sit there and blame the Republicans, saying they're greedy. Well, those 'evil rich' pay most of the taxes! Those 'evil rich' are the ones who employ everyone (last time I checked there weren't too many poor people hiring). The roads and everything you complain about, well, let's look at the DEMOCRAT governor of Louisiana, who squandered away money instead of fixing the levees, or the DEMOCRAT governor of Illinois, who only dished out stuff based upon who gave him money. Heck, look at the city of Chicago. Take a look at how the DEMOCRATS hooted and hollered when the Republicans wanted more oversight of Fannie and Freddie. Now we are in a recession (which would've been avoided if the DEMOCRATS actually did something instead of handing out money to everyone, let F & F run free, and cry about Bush), and you want to tax the very same people who create the jobs that would lead us out of the recession?

It is this socialist, idiotic attitude that will truly show just how uneffective and out of it the Dems really are. Then in 2010, the people will put the right people in to get the job done. But don't worry, Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Shumer, and Obama will all have made sure that they're set for life. Because when all's said and done, they only care about themselves.

As the history channel, mayans, nostradamus, and any other predictor points out, we only have to wait until 2012.

when Obama says he will "Create or "SAVE" at least 3 million Jobs, should make people THINK for a minute..... If he is going to create those Jobs, it would be Great....But, have you noticed ? He is saying the word "save" .....So, this may mean, their will be unemployment of unprecedented numbers in the future, and he will "try" to "save" Jobs, because when you're too busy saving Jobs, you don't have time to "Create" them...

Anonymous January 13th, 2009 10:13 am ET
But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate... ALL politicians (even the Savior) LIE to get elected.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you have a job? If so, why are you whining like your mother did when she realized that her child just wasn't very bright?

Do you not have a job? If so, why aren't you out looking for one instead of spewing unintelligent bitter rants on your mother's computer?

Nothing that President-Elect Obama does will ever be ‘good enough’ for you. After all, as a ‘Country First’ Patriot, you enjoy an elevated social status by virtue of your beliefs.

The great Obama just keeps lowering the bar. For all the pomp and circumstance this guy has been the most uninspiring president-elect I've ever seen.

Dear Sanity has Returned:

I am glad to see your commitment to buy only American products no matter the quality or price differential. How patriotic.

It will create meaningless jobs on a short term basis that will lead to long term inflation, spiraling budget deficits and do nothing but harm to the economy.

Well at least President Elect wants to INVEST MONEY IN OUR COUNTRY FOR OUR AND OUR CHILDRENS FUTURE, Bushie wanted to Invest money into IRAQ BILLONS AND BILLONS Stop the hating on Barack at least he cares about AMERICA AND ITS FUTURE!!!!

@Sanity has returned,

You answered your own question. Tax-cuts work. Obama realizes that, that's why he's hedging his bets on raising taxes (even on those evil rich people). The problem is that government can't leave well enough alone. Revenues to the Fed go UP when taxes are lower because there's more activity in the market.

Yeah, go ahead and look around your neighborhoods at those schools, Bush spent more on education in the last 8 years than any other president, that should tell you that throwing money at a problem doesn't necessarily 'fix' it.

Drop your axe and enter the real world.

If it's not going to help much then what are we spending trillions of dollars on...., Obama's depression era legacy or our grandchildren’s livelihoods!!??

Anonymous January 13th, 2009 10:13 am ET

But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate, now we get the tempered remarks. Funny how ALL politicians (even the Savior) LIE to get elected.
--------------
Is that the best insult you can come up with? When was the last time any of Bush's haters called him "savior"???

You really need to work on your hating skills. I'm disappointed in you.

Sanity has returned January 13th, 2009 10:22 am ET
Wow, it was projected that the non recession economy in 2008 would create 1.8 million jobs, but we lost almost double that. Hmmm..Guess GOP want those tax cuts to be permanent to see if their theory really works?

You do understand don't you that a big part of Obama's plan is tax cuts? Why is it bad under Bush and good under Obama?

@ Anonymous

Stuff it ...

A trillion dollars in deficit spending just doesn't go as far as it use to..

I could create 20 million Jobs in one month by using E-VERIFY and stopping all working visa programs aimed at lowering wages for American workers.Immigrant workers would go home and live like kings in their home countries, if they dont have or cant get jobs.

Wait, what's that cracking sound I hear? Oh, it's another of Obama's campaign promises being broken.

A lot can happen and soon if the greed of CEO and unions and elected officials who are more concern about power/ideologies do not get in the way. A lot of the jobs that will be available will have some union ties which they will insist that everyone join which will increase the cost. Unions have their place but not at the expense of work for people.

Wow, it was projected that the non recession economy in 2008 would create 1.8 million jobs, but we lost almost double that. Hmmm..Guess GOP want those tax cuts to be permanent to see if their theory really works? Take a look around this country at the condition of once great neighborhoods, roads, schools and you will see the devastation the GOP has wrought on us. People who lose homes and jobs don't pay the kinds of taxes that keep our daily lives comfortable. The problem with creating good jobs here in the US where we actually produce something other than worthless credit scams, is the fact that we cannot compete with the next to nothing wages they earn in India and China. How did we get to this place so quickly? I guess we should all go to college so we can sell payless shoes to each other?

I HOPE Obama isn't as much of a fraud as he seems.

And it can't be done overnight.

Rome wasn't built in a day, although it did burn down pretty quickly - but rebuilding the nation's economy after 8 years of mismanagement won't happen as quickly as we want it to. The system just doesn't work that way.

Something they could do right now is stop companies from outsourcing jobs overseas. When I call customer service, I usually end up talking to someone in India, not Indiana.

Stop utility and cable companies from going up on their prices without giving the customers anything. My cable bill keeps going up but they don't give me any new tv stations. They can't justify the increase.

Get gas prices BACK UNDER $1!

I have to say that doing this is better than doing nothing. It is only a matter of time to see what Congress wants to do and gets done.

Unfortunately, many of the proposed jobs (e.g. infrastructure) are short term. Once the project is over, the job evaporates. This could serve well as a band-aid for the next couple of years, but when the medicine wears off, the pain is still there.

He'll need some more forward looking plans if this is going to be fruitful. Hopefully there are some 'cottage industries' that emerge and provide a long term solution.

Have a great day, I know I am!

Chip

But the Savior was promising everything when he was a candidate, now we get the tempered remarks. Funny how ALL politicians (even the Savior) LIE to get elected.

Will he PLEASE put all the AA's to work so we can not spend so much on welfare and foodstamps. I'm ALL for him giving AA's preference in the job area. But then again, he could reinstate the "chain gangs" and half of them would automatically be earning their keep. Save us money on prison funds as well.

Nobama doesn't have a clue, sorry to say.

This jobs plan is a turkey. The government can't create real jobs, only the private sector can.

Obama's jobs plan is arrogant and out of touch with reality. Unless all of these jobs are government jobs how exactly does he propose to force the private sector to 'give' people jobs (you are not given a job, you must earn it)? He has also started skating around his claim of creating jobs and has started saying 'create or save'. The only way he can save jobs is to not cut the overbloated size of government.

Do yourelves a favor and put in a little extra effort and save your own job.

Create or SAVE? Are you kidding me?

Create 3 million is + 3,000,000

Save 3 million is +0

How about just saying, I want to lower expectations because I know I can't do the job?

People of America please give the new President Obama a chance to try to do something. Look what he got to work with, new way of trying to do thing or going back to the old ways or the George Bush and Cheney way

He's good!!! Oh soooo good!!! Congress had better work with him and a lot of the jobs and future can be turned over to the private sector. Go Green!!!! Solar, wind and high efficiency autos!!!!

"Save Jobs"???!!! How does the media get away with saying he is going to "save" or create jobs. The American public needs journalists to do their job and not let them get away with this ridiculous job. Does this mean, Bush "saved" 350 million american lives?? I hope Obama does a great job, but we need honest coverage, not cheerleaders.

Ha.

3.7 million jobs? Id love to see it, but how many of these jobs are going to be in the PRIVATE sector?

I'm sure some will be private sector jobs, but i'm also willing to bet that many will be GOVERNMENT jobs... the last thing we need is a bigger government with more employees. Plus, once a government job is created, its nearly impossible to eliminate that position.

Yeah, we need more jobs. Thanks Captain Obvious. Where are these jobs going to come from, and who the heck is going to pay them? Government? That means tax dollars. Ugh. These fools make me sick.

Socialism, YES HE CAN!

President-Elect said he will spend 1 trillion of dollars to "Create" or "Save" between 2.5 millions to 4 millions of jobs in two years. We wish him a success. However, the question is he is not quite sure whether these jobs are actually created, saved, or bought by spending 1 trillion of dollars.

My children and grandchildren should not be expected to pay for our current economic mess. It is wrong, wrong, wrong.

good luck with your plan, we have to start somewhere.

If some of these so called experts were so smart they'd be running things. But, they're not in charge of anything besides their own egos.

It was 2.5 million jobs, then 3 million jobs, now its 3.7 million jobs. Makes one wonder if anyone knows what the heck they are talking about. Or are they still trying to figure out how to attempt to fill their grandiose and unrealistic campaign promises?????????

How many million is it up to today?

Every little bit helps....Nobody is looking for a miracle. Just looking for work done in Washington. Bush and Cheyney have been asleep at the wheel. Time to wake up

"When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change."

I think the US elected Obama because enough folks see in him an ability to work with us in changing our perspective–on many levels.

We are all a part of each others destiny if but for one lifetime and hopefully, the paradigm of competition will eventually be replaced with cooperation.

IT ALL SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER AND THE PODIUM,HOWEVER THE SITUATION WE ARE IN CAME ABOUT BECAUSE WE LISTENED TO THE QUOTE EXPERTS, CERTIFIED AND EXPERIENCED. I WOULD LIKE THE OBAMA ADMIN. TO NOT GO FOR A GIANT LEAP OF FAITH TO BEGIN WITH ON THE DEBT MONEY HE IS GOING TO BORROW FOR A STIMULIS PACKAGE. RATHER PUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FIRST WITH AUDITORS TO INSURE THE MONEY IS PUT WHERE IT IS INTENDED AND NOT STICK TO CRONIES OF ANY PARTY LIKE IT ALWAYS DOES AS PAYBACKS FOR SUPPORT. I DO NOT TRUST ANY POLITICIAN ANYMORE WHETHER THEY ARE DEM'S REPUB'S OR INDEPENDENTS. LETS GET THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND DO IT IN PHASES. PERHAPS WE DON'T NEED TO BORROW SO MUCH IN THE LONG RUN.

I feel the need to speak up for my Grandchildren and their Children!

This plan is not a good one!

We can not burden future generations which this outrages bill!

The economy will come back on it's own without an artificial stimulus!

Don't buy this Temporary Fix that we and our future can not afford!

I fully trust Obama – he has a good plan, the republicans have no plan at all.
The republicans need to sit down and shut up and start being of use...so far they're nothing but whiners and naysayers and are dragging our country down.
Give Obama a chance!

I pray he has some good advisors. He is going to need them. But I hope he also listens to that still small voice in his heart for the best advice.

How are the unions handling the billions Bush gave them to not work?

Thank you Mr. President for at least showing concern for the average person. I have not witnessed a president do that in a long time. Thanks for keeping the dream alive!

A run starts with a crawl.

Obama is only human, and this country is in one heck of a mess on several different levels. I trust that he'll do everything in his power to turn this economy and this country around and heading in the right direction.

At least PE Obama is willing to try, the current administration has done everything to ignore and aggravate the problem. A $700 billion bailout of banks and institutions that willfully participated in the downfall of our economy? No, I'd rather have someone give a REAL try than lip service to "trickle down" economics. And Bernanke is asking for more money for more banks.

Ummm.... this is not making me feel too good. I think we chose the wrong guy.

I thought Barack the Savior could fix everything? What happened?

Well yesterday he proposed creating 250,000 jobs to make healthcare files all electronic, did he not? He has also proposed creating jobs through infrastructure projects. This sounds like the new deal all over again, but the new deal didn't get us out of the depression. It created temporary work for people, but what happens when healthcare is all electronic? Most of those 250,000 jobs are gone. What happens when the new infrastructure is built? Well congress better think of other stuff that needs to be built or those jobs will be lost.

Our entering World War II got us out of the depression as it created long lasting permenant jobs in the military, and also employed a lot more people on the home front in the factory. A total war effort would get us out of this recession, so when Obama realizes that, I wonder who he'll pick... Hopefully Iran.

When he's done with that I hope he sends all the gitmo prisoners to Turkey. The Turks know how to handle terrorists. =D

Israel is a nation of racists. What would we say and do if suddenly Congress said no black people or no asian people or no latino people could run for office in the House or Senate? Yeah. Thought so. The pretense is all gone...it's just about them hating Arabs.

At least he is trying to save jobs. More than I can say about the last President.

Obama isn't God or a higher being. He is a man trying to do his best to improve this country. I hope everyone can give him the support he needs. It's to all of our benefit.