CNN

I think people are being misinformed. Europe IS NOT doing the same thing. In France and Germany people are being given money to buy new cars, but only if they buy new cars. France is cutting employment related taxes for small companies (less than 10 people) for the entire year! Both Germany and France are cutting taxes by LOWERING RATES and not by giving one off checks to contributors. France is arranging financial backing for planes sold by Airbus, being the bank of last resort to PRIVATE buyers. Of course they are also investing in infrastructure such as railroads and energy but unlike the US, the companies are owned by the state so it works well for the government to invest in them as it directly generates employment. In the US we need to find a way for the private sector to keep their employees and invest in R&D (NASA is calling... Los Alamos is calling... Lawrence Livermore is calling...). This is what the GOP is trying to accomplish. But president Obama, in bipartisanship fashion said "I won"...

Obama's obviously not stupid. Both side are going to have good input (and bad.) Let's take some of the other and say how good we are.

Virginia Republican.

We are in a time of crisis unseen since the fall of 1929. If we hit above 10.2% unemployment, the great depression will pale in comparison to our next couple of decades.

During such times of crisis, we need to overcome partisanship and discern middle ground and build agreements upon which all of America can live with and use as the basis to building future prosperity.

That is what was demanded of democrats during the events of 9/11, and the Democrats agreed, for the most part. Speaking as a Republican, I know it is time for us to work with, not against, the majority, in order to preserve a sustainable future for the whole of our country.

If we continue to consider the needs of our party to be superior to the welfare of the nation, then we have no right to be in the political process and our nation will only suffer for our efforts. Our only possible future is a post partisan one grounded in reality and made with hard compromises and tough, often painful, decisions for all parties involved. It will be a long time before "business as usual" is usual again.

It ahsn't even been a week and now the President is caving to Republican leaders on something as commonsense as contraception. Removing contraceptive, breast and cervical cancer screening for low income working women who have no health insurance deprives them of the most basic of helath care they need. Access to contracpetion is a good investment for women as it prevents unintended pregnancy, keeps women on the job, and provdes breast and cervical cancer screening. The Congressional Budget Office has scored savings in excess of 400 million over 10 years. Now that makes "Cents".

He may listen because he wants to put forth a good face this early in the game but he'll do what he wants to and to hell with the republicians.
This idiot is going to get us all killed.

@Nothing ever Changes:

I agree that we hope they don't get past second base-how about first base. Let's hope the date ends early and they never go out again!

Bipartisanship will be impossible because Obama, et al stands for exactly opposite of what the Republicans stand for and I hope the Repubs don't give in. We can't afford to have anyone being wishy-washy anymore.

yasmine January 26th, 2009 8:46 pm ET
when your home is in completely eroded and disrepair..
---------
Then YOU, yasmine, fix it - NOT the rest of the American peope. Surprise, surprise!

some of these comments
simply validates the ignorance
of the ticker content.
BO is simply 'playing the' GOP and personifying what will later be blamed for the collapse of his programs.

You know how politics works? You listen to your opponents. You give them a chance to speak out. You respect their opinion. Then you do what is right for the country and convince a couple of that side to join you because it is what is best for their constituents. We do need some tax cuts. Nothing wrong there. Just cut them for the right people and not the rich babies who got us in this mess.

Was there kissing involved?

Remember BB, no tongue on the first date !

Yasmine ~ perfect analogy!

Shows he a true leader and willing to swim with scum to get the job done. Thanks Mr. President for effort.

I just read that McCain does not agree with Obama... and he is making it known... all I can say, is PLEASE Sen. McCain... just go away! You lost.... get out of the way and let the Winner do his changes.... you voted with the Bush Administration over 90% of the time... that means you are part of the PROBLEM... and therefore, cannot possibly have anything of note to say... sorry... if the truth hurts let it hurt!

Please, Mr. President, forget these bozos... you do NOT need them... and it would only be aiding and abetting the enemy to worry anymore about what they think or want. You can only do so much with these lump heads who still think they are in the lead! They're NOT and the only way to get that through to them is to ignore them and do your thing... you don't NEED them!

I have no patience with this Christian turn the other cheek business.. that is how you get your whole head chopped off! I have to bless them on their path and get back on mine, but I do not have to buddy up with them.... only watch my back so they don't stick it to me again! Now that is logic!

Borger: YOU have NO qualifications to talk about ANYTHING substantial. YOU were/are the WORST commentator in a free society!

Whatever happened to the hope in this country? Maybe if all the negative thinkers out there had some and a little faith, things just might get better.

The liberal fruit cakes are out again tonight!

They tend to forget that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, the architects of the financial system meltdown, are DIMOCRATS. Maybe one of the fruit cakes can actually point to factual evidence of how former President Bush "ruined" the economy.

They can't complain about high gas prices. The Dems are for them. How 'bout that strong and secure Democrat financial flagship, Fannie Mae? The Dims can only hype and type.

There was once a republican idea of tax cuts for the rich...now there's an idea of tax cuts and stimulus package by democrats which offers spending as a solution and actually worked with FDR during the depression.

So, which do we pick...election losers with a loser idea that was losing for the last 4 years, or an idea that history tells us worked before and even though it is a different time it is still more promising than the "other option"?

hmmmm.......tough choice

I think the republicans need to step back, look, listen and understand WHY Obama won the election.

The Republicans still don't get it.

At some point, you have to forget if you're republican or democrat, liberal or convervative, middle of the road, independent, etc. It comes down to doing what's right for this country and the American people. For the last 8 years, we've seen the exact opposite of this.

I've said it before, I'll say it again - grow up, Washington. You're supposed to be adults, not kids on a playground, running around in cliques trying to be the BMOC.

Oh, and by the way, to everyone in Washington - the job you have is a temp job. We, the American People, are your bosses. Remember that.

Obama is trying to lead a bi-partisan effort. H e really wants an end to the polarization that has plagued DC as of late. All that will be "left behind" on this ride will be the far right and the far left. Lead follow or get out of the way.

Obama is the "uniter" that Bush pretended to be.

God speed Mr. President.

I seriously doubt that the republicans will work honestly with Obama. They do not want the democrats to get anything done so they have a chance to win some seats in 2010.
The republicans care nothing about the country, they only want to be in charge and they proved they do not know how to lead the country. They took an economy with a budget surplus and turned it into a 6 trillion dollar debt and a failed financially system.
They are like the muslims they are destroyers instead of builders.

How is President Obama ever going to work with a GOP who, under Bush, ignored the recession for a whole year; under the McCain candidacy proclaimed it as a "mental recession" only; and are now criticizing Obama for "not doing enough?"

What's with the BS with the 300.00 check to seniors and disabled? We got that last year and it wasn't enough to make any difference at all. So now, with inflation and we're all starving, they think 300.00 a year later is some big deal. Way to go Obama, thanks for nothing. If you really want to do something, get the VA off their butts to finsh claims and appeals that have been languishing for YEARS!

when your home is in completely eroded and disrepair.. it takes money to fix it... well the United States is that home.. it needs repair and repairs cost money...

The United States is on the way to becoming a third world country and no amount of money will change that. The Great Depression of the 30's will look like a period of economic growth in comparison. With no major industry left and the government attempting to keep its citizens afloat with handouts what else is left?

The republicans need to shut up.They are the ones have us in this mess.

'partisan polarization'
I've read a lot about the US system lately, I was struck by the waste of time resulting from Presidents pushing through many more law changes in their last few months, only to find as many of these as possible immediately suspended by the incoming leader.
And an average of nine months to appoint (political) Heads of Department with the position vacant for (on average) one third of the Presidential term? .

Mr Shumway,

Under the republicans, Two Trillion dollars of fraudulent real estate instruments were sold world wide. And that's OK with you. Under the republicans, Enron defrauded millions of people. And that's OK with you. Under the republicans, Dick Cheney's old company received billions of dollars of no bid contracts and wasted millions. And that's OK with you. I think you need to think before you make speculative and negative statements in public forums.

Our country has been through a lot of chaos and disaster the past few years and it is gonna take a lot of sacrifice and hard work to get us back to the top. Obama is doing what he had promised us from the beginning and we should give him a chance to prove that we made the right decision in making him the president of the United States. Bush made some very wrong turns during his presidency so that just means Obama is going to learn from our past reckless leader and do the things the right way. He is listening to all sides and and parties included and making choices that will help us out in the long run. The economy is terrible right now. People are losing their jobs, homes, and not being able to support their families. Which means more people filing for unemployment instead of going out there to look for jobs that are not being offered. The United States needs help to get back on top where it once was considered one of the greatest nations. And that is why we voted Obama into presidency to lead is back in the right direction.
Significance: the article deals with the problem Obama is dealing with and how he is handleing it. he is listening to all the options and the republicans and democrats are i need of the same issue.(236)

I remember many first dates that were last dates.

I think that the repubs are severly underestimating Obama. Their whining and political games won't be tollerated. He's a generous man, but if he's pushed, I'm sure they'll feel some sharp elbows. Obama's right, he won, he'll make the final decision.

BTW, after the way the republican administration and republican ideology ran the economy into the ground, why on earth would their opinions have any weight.

It should be that simple. If there were no parties, we would simply be AMERICANS. What a concept huh!!!

Nothing ever Changes
I with you but i don't think they will even get a chance to bat!

i do hope the republican part is taking a close look of what happen to the the last 2 election, racists, immigrant haters and bigots on the right, take another look, the next election is only less than 2 years away, look hard you immigrant haters.

Thats right....Obama won the elestion!

The repub's need to step aside and let Obama get us out of the rut that Bush got us in.

Praise God that we will see a better America than the one that Bush left us in.

And the GOP better recognize that past political machines thought Obama wasn't tough enough or naive.

Does anybody think Obama is seriously considering the Republican opinion on anything? He's going to throw trillions of dollars down the commode in the guise of recovering the economy and will accomplish nothing more than adding to the Bush legacy of what flows downhill.

First date, really, think they will go all the way to home plate, I'd bet they don't get past second base, who's with me?

GOPS are shooting down his plan well, what brillant ideas did they have in the past under "W"? NONE! America plz don't fall for the GOP's lies anymore they destroyed our country.

Really, give me a break. This guy is going around to do photo-ops with Republicans, then tell them he popular and can end their careers..Brilliant!

Well said, Gloria, you are one of the few pundits I listen to!

All I can say is that on November 5th, we, the People spoke LOUD and CLEAR....... so the GOP better work with our president or they will be voted out of office over and over and over.

Everybody no matter if they are Dem or Rep Or Independent, liberal or conservitive must work together as we are all in this together, to help solve the tremendous challenges that must be faced. This won't be easy, but it must be solved.

They must realize they are working for the American prople, who vote!!

Pressident Obama is wise to size up the opposition, if they are serious then they will work wit him to get this done. But if they are trying to pull his string then President Obama need to kick them to the curb, afterall he did win the election. And we the people are waiting for our marching orders to do it for him.

No, it is never that simple. Remember these Republicans have had their way since Bush senior. They still believe that they have sway. As the one Republican said, "I will be Obama's worse nightmare" Please don't think for one moment that they have changed their minds. They tried to impeach Clinton... and yet, they supported Bush in every evil thing he has done! Surely, you do not expect them to turn over a new leaf now. Their agenda is just the same as it always was. We win... and you lose... there is one set of rules for them and another for everyone else... and that definitely means Democrats. Please, Mr. President... do NOT trust these thugs! They made the problem, and they are NOT qualified to fix anything!

We have a new President. His new name is President Barack Obama or President Obama. Please give him the credit and respect that the previous past Presidents have received. Before typing Obama or Barck , please, please insert President before his name its only right. If you had worked hard for a title wouldn't want your title before your name. Lets be considerate. Thanks

BARACK IS BENDING OVER BACKWARDS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BUT THE REPUBLICAN WANT TO DELAY THE STIMULUS PACKAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RICH AND MORE CORPORATE TAX CUTS.

STOP THE REPUBLICANS WHO GOT US INTO THIS MESS!!

...let's be bipartisan...

EXCEPT FOR RUSH LIMBAUGH! NYAH NYAH!!!

You can count on your fingers, and you can count on your toes, but you can never count on the GOP.

Nice try to include them though. Time to move on without them.

Finally there's a leader in the White House. "Obama"

I'm tired of the past back and forth with fixing problems. It's time for real change. I think most politicians are a bunch of whiners who seems to always have a fault with everything. Enough of the Press Conference with complains we need Press Conference with solutions!

Yes We Can!

It's time for Obama to play HARDBALL and I know he can.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HIM!

The more definition this plan gets, the more it looks like a Spending/ Liberal Agenda plan rather than, as Nancy Pelosi calls it, a Stimulus Plan about " jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs ".

Regardless of what the administration does, market forces are always at work and left to their own devices they will be more efficient at fixing these economic problems than a trillion dollar spending plan.
The appropriate government help would be to encourage efficient businesses to create long lasting jobs, the fabric of a strong economy. Poorly run, unnecessary businesses propped up by government aid are not what resilient economies are made of. It's "pay me now or pay me later"; Up and down again will not help the country going forward.

He is being very nice to them.

Was Bush ever this considerate of Democrats in Congress?

This is a golden opportunity for Republicans to FINALLY do the patriotic thing and put the country first...instead of just talking about patriotism, while messing up the country.

Suddenly the Republicans are talking about fiscal responsibility...where were they when Bush was ruining the economy with his rash policies??? They had eight years and all they did was bash Clinton, and even Carter. Now they don't want anyone to even mention the mess that they, and Bush, got us into. Give me a break!

If I was a conservative I would not vote for this bill. I would do what I think is right and take the hit in the polls. I would come up with a solution and champion it. If you were elected because you are conservative then you would be letting your people down if you vote for this. How can they fault you for doing what they want you to do. If it works they would understand that you stood by your guns. Tough place to be in, but it is time that folks start doing what they think is right. Obama sure will and so should the GOP. The voters will have the last say.

What a childish comment to make – "I won"! I can truly say nothing Obama does or can do surprises me and people still adore him when he pulls BS like this. He picks two people for offices that should not have been considered and if they had been picked by the Republicans you can be sure we would never have heard the end of it. But of course, it is okay, after all it came from your Messiah. I hope people catch on to him sooner rather than later or we will be in one heck of a mess as evidenced by the above.

This is not the first time that I have heard Mr. Rush Limbaugh say negative things about President Obama and I think it's about time that Mr. Rush Limbaugh you realized you don't speak for the rest of the citizens of this country and you need to understand that when you are a radio talk show host for all these years, no matter which party you belong to, it makes you sound childish and self-centered when you say whatever you say ,and also understand this that you are someone who will never have the ability nor the power to be a leader like President Obama,who thinks beyond his personal interests and puts his country first. Mr. Rush Limbaugh with all due respect this is all I have to say to you-please quit your job as a radio talk show host- you are not doing anything good for this country or for the future generations.Let me simply just say this-you are just a waste of your own time and everyone else's, quit your job and join Micky d's-"I heard their business is booming and they are hiring– for real"!!!!!!!!!!!!!(:

It's entirely too bad that we have Republicans and Democrats. Why can't we just be Americans. The two parties are the Black and White races of government. It's an us against them mentality. If Obama can truly "get past all of the partisanship and work together to get something done", it will be something to behold. It seems to me that no one wants to go against him and stand up for what's right. We do not have to agree with everything he says. We have to respect the position, but it is our civic duty to make sure the interests of all American's are met instead of the chosen few. Hopefully we as American citizen's speak up and have our voices heard.

When are you going to try and understand partisan polarization??

The GOP are nothing but a bunch of "sissies" whining since day one. They've sat back for eight years and did absolutely nothing and NOW they want to be included in the process. What happened? They never wanted to be held accountable for anything while Bush was in office, hell they couldn't even make up their minds whether they are "in or out" when it comes to anything.

What a bunch of confused buffoons in the GOP!!! Boehner is the bigges sissy of them all. He must spend a LOT of time in the "tanning" beds and make up chair.

President Obama just remember the Republican Control Congress and President Bush put this county in the deep hole. Please be careful the Republicans can never look into the camera again and talk about a balance budget without me breaking out in laughter.

My grandmother taught me one thing. The Republicans borror and spend and when the por Dem comes in they have to raise taxes to payoff the Republican debt. Case in point the last eight years what a joke.

Bet I know which Repubs will suck up to Obama.
McCain will be first in line.

The Republicans have made it clear since Reagan that all that matters is that they win at any cost. They have little reagard for non millionaires. This is a all just a big game to them. The sooner Obama understands that to republicans bipartisanship means them getting everything they want to better off we will all be.

Hopefully Obama will learn this quickly and simply ignore the republicans.

?

I DO HOPE GOD TAKE THESE RACISTS ON THE RIGHT SOON.

Some world leaders think Barrack Obama is honest and sincere and want to work with him to change the world. Thats fine. But to tell the world that his adminstration will be strictly on ethics and transparency is unrealistic. Bipartnership and sharing the love only happens in Church. Honesty is hardly found in the State. So far he has failed to live up to his own words.

Putting the needs of the many, before the needs of the one. That is a concept that the GOP has never understood. The republican party is always taunting its Christian ideals, but the fact that Jesus Christ put the needs of the world, before his own needs is a lesson that they have never understood. Oh, and I am not comparing Obama to Jesus, I am simply saying that it is time that a politician puts the needs of the nation, before the needs of their own political party. What hope is there for the republican party when an idiot like Rush says that he is hoping for Obama to fail. Talk about putting your selfish interest before that of the country.

If my representatives in Maine stonewall Obama in an attempt to get their "cutos" in with regards to padding the pockets of Corporations and
the wealthy in the form of more tax cuts,there will be a hefty price to pay.....like their careers.

They will next election, be welcomed into the "unemployed family."

GOP'S are sore LOOSERS. they have been in power for 8 long long years. and they and their president did the unthinkable. put this country in a MESS. you would think that after what they did to our country, they would try and fix what they broke, but no they want to make President Obama fail by not working with him. shame on you .

I agree both Republicans and Democrats need to work together, but they just can't all say Yes, to please the President.

Yes, he did win. Now listen to ideas on both sides and maybe this stimulus will actually work this time.

First date? huh. I wonder who paid the bill. Oh yeah, we did.

Americans don't want this stimulus if it is going to be another disgraceful piece of crack......

Why are we spending millions on contraceptives.....how does that get us jobs?

Why are we spending millions to upgrade the washington mall......how does that get us jobs?

The stimulus should be about reality and not agenda pushing.

America is in a downward spiral and the disgraceful way the Democrats and Republicans are trying to fill this bailout with pork is SHAMEFUL!

We need to take note of who voted for this bill and what was in the bill.....so that we can make a smart choice in 2010.

Rush the Gush is at it again. The only one who is scared of you is the uninformed! You, Mr. Limbaugh, are an uppity idiot who has probably never worked an honest day in your pathetic life. You are such a failure that I am lmost ashamed to call you out for opening your stupid mouth in the media. If you want to help America, leave now!

Oh boy who is paying for dinner and movie?

the republicants have ideas, they just suck.
america spoke loud and clear.
no more conservitive policies.

The republicans are FINISHED!

The gop are FINISHED!

And that is why he[Obama] was the most liberal Senator.

President Obama should listen to ideas coming from a variety of sectors, and incorporate them as appropriate. He should NOT, in the name of bipartisanship, water down his agenda to accommodate the special interests which fund the neocons.

If Republicans obstruct, they are the ones who are acting in a partisan manner, not the President.

"After all, as he told Republicans last week, he was the one who won the election."

Yeah, but the Dems were at that table too...the subtext was clear: HE is the POTUS and nobody is going to push him around, period.

That's my President! Thank you, sir, for keeping your word. Now, Repubs, get on board and start bailing the sinking ship that you created over the past 8 years.

Shows he a true leader and willing to swim with scum to get the job done.

Republicans need to start looking for areas of cooperation and get the message that the American public has mandated that they want change and action, not the gameplaying and obstructionist tactics of the past.
Investments in infrastructure, which present multi-year solutions to our employment crisises as well as tangible "products" yielded from our investments should be introduced with a balance of direct relief to cities and towns who are being pressed to deal with the many human and education services program deficits that are exacerbated by job loss, foreclosures, etc.
The Republicans' idea of tax cuts for the two lowest income tiers once again illustrates how ridiculously out of touch they are- who's stressed about paying taxes if they have no job or income to begin with and for those low income employed, who's the Republican brain surgeon who thinks a couple hundred dollars spread out over a year is going to make any kind of impact? It sure wont' pay my high rent in San Francisco and for most families isn't even the groceries for a month.
The Republicans had their shot at this- now they are merely obstructionist in a time when the American public wants bold and decisive action. Step aside, dinosaurs, and let a new age begin.

Date rape?

Rush is a joke. He has zero education, but millions of listeners, go figure

Swell. They get lunch and we taxpayers get screwed.

Are you serious Gloria? How many "tax-cut ideas" from R's does Obama have to incorporate to be bipartisan and inclusive? One, Two or maybe Three? You say that "some" have been incorporated. You have made the decision for your readers that "some" is enough without telling them how many or anything of substance about them. Why don't you tell your readers which ideas have been incorporated, and which were left out and then let your readers decide if Obama is being inclusive?

Keep up the good work, Mr. President! we are behind you!

I hope they don't start going steady! I think the GOP really needs to keep seeing other people. Like perhaps their constituents?

Nice to know that a Democrat is willing to listen and work with Republicans (God knows the mess W left us in, we need all the great ideas we can find). The sad thing is that is so unusual, rather than that norm. After 8 years in the hinterlands, it is nice to see Dems choosing to work with Republicans instead of freezing them out as they were frozen out. Good luck President Obama!

Screw the GOP. None of them are gonna vote for the bailout because they're so stubborn. Every other country is doing the same, Germany, the UK. So I think it's time that the US follow the other world leaders for once instead of having us lead the show. And look where that's gotten us?