CNN

[...] first permanent presidential campaign. He decided to take the campaign out for a spin yesterday by emailing supporters and calling for “house parties” to support the “stimulus plan” making its way through [...]

Yes tax cuts during the Bush administrastion got us to a 14,000 DJIA and unemployment at historic lows. Home loans being made to individuals unable to replay were due to our friends at Freddie and Fannie.

I have been out of work for over 5 years, how can I apply for one of these jobs that Mr Obama is offering.
Is their a local employment office in Chicago that I can apply to.
Thank you

Dan, I guess you missed the part about the money for Planned Parenthood and SOME of the PAC's (not all just some like, I don't know ACORN).

Can someone explain to me why a Democrat "tax credit" is good (or even different from a "tax cut") and a Republican "tax cut" of the same amount (or less) is bad?

lonnie

well said

Here's an idea. Instead of emailing everyone, why don't you come up with a bill WITH NO PORK? That was YOUR PROMISE when you were campaigning. Oh wait. You are a politician. What ever was I thinking? That you might actually meant what you said? What an idiot I was! My father was right when he said "Never support a politician – they are all liars, cheats and thieves". He certainly was correct on that one. I always said that I would know that I had failed as a parent if any of my children ever went into politics.

You guys are late! I received emails two weeks ago.

Every Govenor is receiving calls and emails about this bill.

Those who block it will answer for it in 2010 and 2012.

Recovey.gov is not the only means of accountability.

I support the President.
I just want the pork taken out.
I would like to see direct spending that will help the people get this country back on the right track.
Now, that don't mean I support what the Republican are trying to do because the tax cut economics they are touting haven't worked in the past and probably will not work now.

If I ever got an email from someone saying they wanted to use my tax dollars to pay for their pork, I would instantly put that person in my auto-junk filter.

wake up america, republicans and democrats are both crooks spinning you. . . as long as they keep 90% of america drunk and stoned they're ahead of the game.

I got the e mail too and I am a supporter of President Obama HOWEVER, I DON'T SUPPORT THIS PIG PORK no matter how it's primped up... To ask the American people to support anything but a bill that has infrastructure rebuilding as it's major plan is nothing but a big slap in the face for the people who elected him on that promise. IF he wants our support HE can tell the Senate to get busy and fix the pig slop that the house turned out. How dare he ask anything else... IF the proper ingreadents are put into this bill I'm sure there will be few votes against it... JOBS MR PRESIDENT.... GOOD PAYING JOBS IS ALL WE ASK... NO BIRTH CONTROL.... NO QUIT SMOKING AIDES, JUST GOOD JOBS. REBUILDING OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR (MR PRESIDENT) LIST OF THINGS TO DO.

I keep waiting for someone to point out one bit of pork in the bill. I haven't seen it yet. I have read the bill. Have you? There is very little pork there. Health insurance for people who lost their jobs and their health insurance along with it is pork? Really? Cutting taxes on poor people is pork but cutting taxes on wall street is stimulus? Really?

I received the email and I will act upon it. While George Bush spent wastefully in Iraq and allowed his high rolling friends billions; there was hardly a peep out of you Hippocrates.

This guy took office less than three weeks and you are all ready to hang him.

Bush waste more than a trillion bucks in Iraq, plus the added funds needed to support out troops and the families of all the fallen an maimed.

A total of the Bush waste is beyond our comprehension and will cost several trillions.

Do you guys want something to complain about? Go complain to Bush and Cheney!

Arlene,
Do you really blame the economy on one person ? There are more rattlers in Congress and the Senate who are all part and parcel of this mess. And they are still just waiting to strike at the weary citizen who walks by too close

How many rich people are signing paychecks. Not many these days. If poor people can't buy things, rich people aren't going to hire anyone. Money should be going to people making less than $150,000 a year, period. No business or individual making more than $150,000 a year in profits or take home pay should be getting a tax break.

You know what I am really tired of reading the threatening comments by "AWARE". what are you trying to say that our POTUS is black and we should be afraid of him?? You are the reason people hate our country and Obama is trying to change that.

To aware and fellow comrades: Shut the hell uupppp!

Republicans aren't capable of bipartisanship. They are determined to undermine everything President Obama does because they hate that he won, and they hate the way he won (365 Electoral) vote. Get a life please. You'll have your turn again in 2016.

Look deep into this bill. Big O's message of wasteful pork will not be fulfilled here.

I am really glad I received this email because forget the house reps and senators they don't know what we want.

@ Bill in California, who said "Whether it"s the lemmings following eachother over the cliffs into the sea or the lockstep of brainwashed followers of a dictator the result is always the same."

No kidding...look at what those lemming GOPers did to us over the last 8 years and where we are now as a direct result of their warmongering and errant mismanagement of the country.

Again, no mention of the 11 House democrats who voted against the stimulus.

How about the Democrats that voted against it, shouldnt they have to retire as well. Where are the demands for them roll over and kiss the Presidents feet.

For the people who are griping about pork, and using it as a catch phrase to whine about Obama along partisan lines –

Please for the sake of the rest of us:
GIVE ME YOUR DEFINITION OF "PORK SPENDING"

I bet not a single one of you can, and that you are just parroting what you hear on morning radio to try and sound smarter and more plugged in than we all know you really are.

Farrell, Houston, Tx February 2nd, 2009 12:21 pm ET

JOHN MCCAIN VOTED 90% OF THE TIME WITH GWB AND VOTES NO ON THE STIMULOUS PACKAGE. THIS OLD MAN NEEDS TO PUT OUT TO PASTURE, HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ECONOMICS
___________________________________________________
Oh and let me guess Frank and Dodd are experts. Most members of congress dont know anything about the economy. If you think its just McCain you are an idiot.

fed up working stiff February 2nd, 2009 12:12 pm ET

It's time people like McCain retired. And by the way senator how about forgoing your public funded pension and live of your millions of personal wealth. Now that would be truly patriotic.
______________________________________________________
How about his military retirement, should he give that up too? How about Kennedy? You think he should retire and give up all his benefits? How about the other ancient members of congress? Or just McCain since you dont like him.

Hey annoyed in GA - we got to this point because of all the spending Bush/Cheney and the republicans did in the last 8 years. And we were in a recessin when Clinton took office but he managed to turn it around and balance the budget but it wasn't anywhere near the national debt that the Bush administration left us with. Now McCain is saying he will vote against it (SURPRISE, SURPRISE). This from a man who admitted he did know enough about the economy and that our economy was strong in the same day he had to admit the economy was in the tank. Yeah, the republicans sure have the answer - more tax cuts for the rich.

I GOT THE EMAIL AND I DON'T HAVE TO ACT ON IT BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE STATE OF NY AND MY SENATORS ARE DEMOCRATS AND THEY KNOW HOW VITAL IT IS FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THIS PACKAGE BECAUSE NY DEPENDS ON THAT MONEY TO SURVIVE AS A STATE. REPUBLICANS MAKE ME SICK AND THEY ARE SO HYPOCRITES. I AM WAITING FOR MY TAX CUT THAT THE WEALTHIEST GOT DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION NOW IT IS MY TURN. I HAVE SUFFERED TOO LONG UNDER THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION WAY TOO MUCH. GIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA A BREAK.

i will do all i can, but, republicans in congress will just block anything we try to do to fix the mess they caused.

Some of you are claiming that tax cuts don't help. Is your alternative that we should actually increase taxes? I just want to make sure that I understand your position.

Everyone keeps criticizing this bill. What the rethuglicans are looking for didn't work for the past 8 years. Why would you nimrods think it will work now? I just hope they don't wait until it's too late....All the republicans should have left along with Bush.....

@Alabama hillbilly,go back to the still and see whats cookin.Im rebuilding computors for the poor so we can keep them informed and never have a republican in office again.

Tax cuts = Less revenue to the gov't, more money in rich pockets, nothing "trickling down" (because trickle down economics is a bed-time story told to placate morons). Tax cuts are handouts to the wealthy without any oversight as to how that money that would otherwise go thte gov't gets spent.

Spending = Also depleats the government's coffers, but it allows the gov't, which should be accountable to the people (unlike rich bailout wasting executives), to control how that money is spent if it is done properly. Nothing is scaring the GOP more than the likelihood that Obama will actually manage and oversee spending in a responsible manner, unlike Bush did for 8 years. Nothing coul dmake them look worse, so they want to block it.

You Obama supporters are cult like idiots. I hope not one republican votes for it the way it is and our demorcratic lawmakers start to wake up. All we need in this Country is Capitalsim – not a government take over that will put us deeper in the hole than we already are. I don't care how many e-mail you get in your favor President Obama – this bill stinks and if it goes through the way it is – it will be over for all of us – yes that includes you people that cannot seem to understand what is happening here. You will go down with the rest of us.

Thanks David,

You are right. People need to read the bill before commenting on it. Thank you for posting were you can read the bill. I will definitely educate myself on this pressing issue.

A concerned American

IF WE WANTED TO HOLD ON TO THE BUSH ECONOMICS

WE WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR MCSAME. WE VOTED FOR

CHANGE & THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD HAVE SOME SENSE

& SUPPORT THE OBAMA STIMULUS PACKAGE. IF NOT WE THE

SAME CITIZENS THAT PUT OBAMA IN OFFICE WILL DO OUR

BEST TO GET AS MANY REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE AS WE

CAN. YOUR CALL.

The President in good faith is asking for suggestions and constructive criticisms; not venom-spewing remarks, put-downs, ugly sniping and griping. Please everybody, we need to put our heads together and be supportive for the good of our children and grandchildren. We need to trust the President to work for us; but we must work with him too.

@ Liz

If you think those tax-cuts will "trickle down" in the form of jobs instead of being interpreted as a larger profit margin and therefore pocketed by rich business owners, then I've got a bridge to sell you. We've already seen how deeply they all care about the average American in how they spent the bailout money they received. It's time for the gov't to start making some choices on what happens to our tax money and stop giving them more money to horde and spend on themselves.

I heard McCain was voting against it because he thought it was all about Viagra...someone should probably let him know that's not what is meant by referring to it as a "stimulus" bill.

If you are a real Republican or Democrat who voted no on the bill, get your pen and paper and cross out the items you disagree with and put in a new line item. This simple people not negotiable. You sit down with pen and paper to negotate and when you reach a concensus you vote. Think of this bill as a trial by jury where you are lock in a room together to come up with a decision and make it work. Stop talking about what is pork and what want work. Do the d thing and it will work. The President is waiting on a d bill people. Get off the tussss and sit at the table and talk.

More propaganda from the republican party to cover up the fact they are for the super rich only. These people are liars and cheats and me being a hardworking minority means I am their mortal enemy. This is their mindset and they are afraid if Obama is successful their days in the minority status are going to be long. So many republicans just don't get the fact that their party is despised by the majority of minorities in this country. And like it or not we have become a big factor in elections. As a Mexican American with a huge family I do not know even one family member that supports these hateful people. Obama is a good guy that will help this country. Something that republicans could care less about.

THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO FURTHER DAMAGE OUR CHANCE

TO RECOVER FROM THE YEARS & YEARS OF GREED & FRAUD.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO GIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA THE CHANCE

TO GET US OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMICS FOR THE

GREEDY THIEVES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

THE REPUBLICANS CAN'T STAND FOR A SINGLE AMERICAN

AMERICAN $ TO BE SPENT ON A SINGLE AMERICAN OR AMERICA.

WE NEED TO VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE.

I applied for a job with the Obama administration but was denied when it was discovered I had paid my taxes.

Arlene February 2nd, 2009 12:56 pm ET

Under the Bush administration the republicans lowered taxes. If lowering taxes is the means of stimulating the economy, why are we in the position we are today? We lived under their ideology for eight years, it didn't work. Wake up!!!!!,
=======================================================
His tax cuts got us out of the recession that fallowed 9/11. They did work. Look it up and you will see that the bush tax cuts were a success. We are in the position we are today because of many reasons, some are the fault of the republicans, some are the fault of the democrats. For example : In the Clinton days he and many other dems pushed for more affordable housing and forced banks to lower the standards they used for loan applications the result is the housing crises. Bush signed for so much wasted money it makes me sick. but to stay on the housing market he fail to stop the inflation bubble that has now popped and left many people with mortgages that are greater than the value of the home.

Is 5 billion enough?

The way I see it The country has for the last 20 years or so has been ran by the GOP, Even when Clinton was in Office the Gop had the power for 6 Years During the Bush presidency Up until 2 years ago the Dems took over. the way I see it The country has put the Dems back in power so lets try their way one can clearly see the GOP Policies has not worked it has only got us here where we are today and it aint Pretty! now i say to hell with GOP And lets try the Democrats Ideas!

FAIR WARNING TO THOSE THAT DO NOT SUPPORT

OUR PRESIDENT. WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE.

WE HAVE VOTED PRESIDENT OBAMA IN OFFICE TO GET

A JOB DONE FOR US. ANYONE IN HIS WAY, WILL BE

THERE ONLY UNTIL YOUR NEXT ELECTION, GUARANTEED.

@ Arlene .....They CUT taxes on the Businesses.....They CUT Taxes on the Huge Corporations, They CUT Taxes on everyone that was IN Business !! Not the average workers ! (That's why it didn't work, and never will work ! ) They need to CUT Taxes on the regular / average people that is drawing a PAYCHECK, for a change.....

( instead of the way the "Republicans" have done it the last 8 )

The purpose of a "stimulus" bill should be to encourage businesses to grow, expand, reinvest in themselves, HIRE MORE PEOPLE and ultimately get the economy moving again. A rising tide raises all boats.

Giving every Joe Six-Pack a $500 tax "rebate" to spend on Tide soap-powder and pay his electric bill WILL NOT STIMULATE the economy, and it certainly will NOT cause a flurry of hiring activity. We already tried this tax rebate crap last year and it didn't do anything beyond the temporary bump following the issuance of the checks.

The only proven method of growing an economy is through tax cuts (and a flat tax would be like shooting the economy up with adrenaline). Bush did it. Reagan did it. And even your beloved JFK did it. History has proven it works. Also, it would go a long way if the government simply shut its yap and stopped adding instability to the market... this constant "will they interfere" "won't they interfere" is devastating to investor confidence, as investors simply sit on their cash in the turbulent meantime.

Investment creates jobs. (In fact, it's the ONLY way jobs are created.)
Taxes seriously hinder investment.
Therefore, taxes kill job creation.
Period.

If you doubt me, please provide the names of all the dirt poor people who have hired you to work for them... because I've worked for 25 years and I've never once been hired by a poor man.

Is it legal for the President to send messages to his campaign supporters?

I think timing is the one thing so many are objecting to on the stimulus pkg. Contraception, the arts, the National Mall are all worthy projects, now just doesn't seem to be the right time. The only things involved, IMHO, are jobs, aid for workers laid off , and anything that will help the housing situation. The other "pork" projects should wait until our economy is greatly improved.
I trust that Pres. Obama will be willing to negotiate until only the necessary needs are included. Would also like to see the final bill before votes are cast-not after it's too late to make any changes.

Obama supporter.

Sorry Mr. President – But somebody got you off track. The stimulus bill
should be limited strictly to projects to improve employment and the economy. A number of items in this package are excellent, but for a later date and on separate bills. Someone has really helped you to blow your first major legislation as far the the public is concerned. My family has been far you a 100%, but please get back on track. Do your thing and don't start being influenced by outsiders. You have a minimum of 4 years to get many other things done. As far as this stimulus pckg is concerned, stick to only those items which will (1) directly increase employment an (2) tax reduction and only to those families making less than $100,000 per year. Funds generated from these two items will definitely improve the housing market and the economy as a whole. Tax cuts for buisnesses will only increase their profits not employment. Increased employment in businesses will increase only when their business increases and this will happen only if items (1) & (2) above are met. Tax cuts for those making in excess of $100,000 will probably go into savings not into the economy. In fact at this time of our crises, the more money going into savings will result in the economy getting worse. Have a great day – Gus Wiethorn

What goes around comes around. Do unto him what he has done and is doing to the American people. We need to use tactics against him instead of being afraid of him and his.

Obama said he will not sign anything with earmarks but stopped short of doing the same with pork. If he wants to CHANGE the way Washington is run he should tell the house and the senate that he will not sign a bill unless every cent in it goes to growing our economy. If this bill had given less money to special interest groups it would have been signed by now and his plan the start he wanted.

with these "pork" projects you repubs keep whining about... who do u think is going to do the legwork on these? infrastructure spending, std spending... all of which will create more jobs and avenues of success. you honestly think everyone getting a tax break will spend it? H*LL no! they're going to stick it in the bank for another rainy day... we've had a pretty rainy last 8 years!!!

I agree this package needs to be tweaked, but all the people in this thread bad mouthing a party need to tell me how good the last stimulus package was spent.....yea I thought so.

Nothing is perfect and that includes this pacakge but that doesn't mean the whole thing is wrong. Stop thinking down party lines just because you hate one or the other. If you really want to do something useful hold the house party as they are suggesting and push your own ideas on what needs changed. Did you contact your congress person? Either put up or shut up.

Tax cuts under the Bush administration got us into THIS mess ! And you want more ?

This is the biggest catastrophe of any president in the history of the United States. This elected official stands behind Tom Dashel
who can not even remember some of the things on his tax bill. yet he is the most qualified for the job. just shows you what this elected official stands for.

This elected official wants all crooks to be in his appointments to Washington Committees or Positions. You wanted change and now you have it, this elected official is nothing more than a sack full of words. He says what ever the people want to here.

He can,t dig his way out of a paper sack, and he is going to put how many people back to work???????? all thru the stimulus package.
If you believe that I have a brookland bridge in my back yard that I will sell you.

This guuy is nothing more that a figure head who says things that he can not back up or produce.

The only reason this guy was elected to the whitehouse is because the people wanted change and the news media was very slanted thru the presidential run for the whitehouse and the other thing is that he is black.

Once again I am fired up and ready to go.

Annoyed in GA, we got to this point by people placing their confidence in Bush, not once but twice. Second, the national economy does not work like your personal checkbook. It's that misconception of economics that has our country where it is now. We have to spend to generate demand. Also, everyone is not going to like everything in the bill. For Republicans, pork is only slang for educational, healthcare, and energy funding. For those of you praying that this somehow hurts Obama, let me burst your balloon. The Republicans are the ones who have the most to lose politically.

Daschle's nomination should not be removed. Washington is full of dirty people, that's why Obama was the Democrats best bet.

The amount of waste in this bill should be blatantly obvious. The bill will cost $819 billion and only generate 3 million jobs (if we're lucky). That's $275,000 per job. seriously, how many $275,000 jobs do you think we are going to get? The rest is pure pork. Want some real suggestions:
- Money to guarantee and refinance nonperforming mortgages to 40 year fixed rates
- Tax incentives for alternative energy projects (wind, solar, tide) to make R&D and construction equivalent in cost to traditional sources
- tax credits for buying an American car. Extra credits if the car gets 40 MPG.
- tax credits for any job cut overseas and brought back to the US
-

The only reason why republicans hate this bill is all the money in it will be spent here in america and not overseas.

Republican pork= Spending money in Iraq and China

Democratic pork= Spending money in America

CNN should look into how much pork Mitch has brought home!! The Republicans' hypocrisy is unbelievable!!

I'll be there Mr. President. Just give us our marching orders.

Anna, CA

This is exactly the problem. There is not a person on capital hill that does not want the American economy to recover; they just disagree on how to best help it to recover.

I don't know why anyone with a grain of common sense would think that the Republicans should be rubber stamping the stimulus package. It doesn't make them stupid, and it doesn't make them un-American. Some of you people are so drunk on the media that you can't think for yourselves.

How many people have a poor guy signing their paychecks? Go ahead and tax the "filthy rich" and see how many more jobs are lost. Obviously our schools have not done a good job at teaching basic economics to the "lemings" that will follow anyone promising something for nothing.

Under the Bush administration the republicans lowered taxes. If lowering taxes is the means of stimulating the economy, why are we in the position we are today? We lived under their ideology for eight years, it didn't work. Wake up!!!!!,

Please take the time to go and read the bill yourself before making comments about it being full of pork. There are a few things that can be taken out but overall there are lots of good things in there. If the Republicans want to sit down with Democrats and go over item by item, I'm fine with that. It's a good thing to do. Blindly obstructing along party lines needs to stop. More tax cuts for the wealthy haven't worked for the past eight years and will not work now. They need to stop that nonsense.
If you haven't already, READ THE BILL
thomas.loc.gov
Search for H.R.1 by bill number. The text is all there.

This bill is dreadful, and most people realize it. But the approach that its supporters use is: "Yes, it's flawed, but we have to do something, and now!" What a great endorsement for a proposal that will saddle our kids and grandkids with enormous debt for decades to come!

Politicing as usual,Just ask the people who gave you money to push your bill. it is bad and just needs to be trashed or at least highly picked over. It doesn't help the issue the way it is. Pelosi and Ried just need to go.

The most annoying part of anything here is the "bank bailout" money was approved without guidelines, questions etc. Now we have a structured stimulus bill that designates where money goes, creates jobs etc. and the GOP is stalling because there aren't enough TAX CUTS in it. What the hell? Tax cuts are not what we need right now. We need jobs.

It is definitely no true birpartisnship, nor democracy, are we American people losing our freedom?

I love pork,especially when rich republicans have to pay for it.squeal squeal,oink.I love the sound of pigs in the morning.

Don't you think that it would be a bad idea right now for us to have more unwed teenage mothers? Not all of them are going to be like Bristol Palin and get $300,000 for pictures of their babies. The money in the stimulus is not pork. People are suffering out here, and unemployment benefits have to be extended, they have to eat, and health care needs to be available for those who through no fault of their own are unemployed. Some of you are so heartless.

To Houston, TX February 2nd, 2009 12:06 pm ET

The question that must be answered is, how do we get republicans to reconsider their economic policies? Another one would be, do you think they can acknowledge that tax cuts don't stimulate the economy as much as government spending?

-–

It is a proven FACT that the ONLY thing that will stimulate the economy is a tax cut .

PORK spending has also proben that it will NEVER work.

Just look at history and you will find your answers.

Sue (& others like you)

The Republicans aren't supporting the bill because it doesn't make sense! The Democrats are feeling forced to support it. Read some of the comments here by a few members of the Democratic Party...they agree. Your other comments are very good, Sue...but don't blame the Republicans because they are not supporting a pork-filled proposal. Clean up your own house, first.

Obama , if you continue to say one thing and do another even your most ardent fans will drop you!

I'm still irked by the men President Obama has nominated for appointment who have failed to report their entire income for years. It's right up there with the feeble excuses for the bailout money used for lucrative bonus packages and lavish remodeling projects. Opps, my mistake, never intended to get caught but I'm now a good responsible citizen falls on deaf ears. I expected full vetting of these con men.

No income, low income amd middle income people will move the country to better days with this bill. People in this category will spend the money fast. They will buy gas, food, coats, home oil and wood today. Taxs breaks are small amounts on a monthly bases and one check annually. We don't spend because of taxs breaks, we save or we buy one big item once.
Give 80 million to people that will SPEND IT NOW!
Or give 100 Billion to people/companys who will SAVE IT FOR LATER!
TAX BREAKS ARE FOR SAVING-BUT THIS WILL NOT HELP TODAY!

The house bill is ridiculous! Reform it with bipartisan input or lose!

By now even your agitated fans are questioning it!

Please vote against it until it contains measures for the economy only. We the people are tired of the games you people play. One day this type of foolishness is going to cause a wide scale revolt. Count on it.

I would say the Obama supporters who want this so called stimulus package would not know pork if it hit them in the face and the only change they wanted was to waste spending on the liberal propoganda. to Congress and the President, get real on a stimulus package and do not put our children and grandchildren's future of having to pay off our debt because all those alive and wanting to spend over 1 trillion dollars with interest are nothing but selfish. What an example we have set for future generations!

Obama has found the new strong arm tool to jam his policies through – public shame via media tools – the internet, email, publication of what amounts to an enemies list – by listing all those in congress who voted against his stimulus package. He said he was going to bring transparency to the White House – yeah, by outing his opponents.

Americans cannot support the existing stimulus bill......it is full of wasteful spending. Until Congress can present something that is actually going to work, we need to say NO.....and ask our senators to say NO.

$2 billion on the National Parks, $335 million for STD prevention, $600 million on new energy-efficient cars for the gov't, and the list goes on.......this is NOT going to stimulate the economy. This is wasteful spending that appears to be money for compaign supporters.

Americans do NOT want government spending for government friends. When will politicians realize this? We need to help the unemployed and this means generating as many jobs as possible There have been other alternative bills presented to House Speaker Pelosi, but she refuses to vote on them or even allow any ideas to be incorporated in the House bill.

I think Obama needs to talk with her and not ask Americans to support this partisan bill that will ruin our economy.

It's NOT a stimulus bill. It is a PORK-LADEN, SPENDING BILL THAT IS MEANT TO PAYBACK ALL OF OBAMA'S CONTRIBUTORS. IT WILL DO VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY. It makes sense that the Obama people would resort to their SUCKER LIST for help. These people are the most uniformed of the uninformed, the most gullible of the gullible. Obama knows the KOOL-AID DRINKERS on this list would follow him off a cliff......and they probably will.

I agree with Ray Fisher. This bill needs to be cleaned up. Democrat congressional leaders should be ashamed of themselves for trying to use the economic stimulus bill to forward their pork agendas. Unlike President Obama's bipartisan tendencies, the Dems in congress have a "my way or the highway" additude.

We didn't trade one party total control for another. We need TRUE bipartisanship from the Dems that control the congress.

Sorry. We cannot support your stimulus bill. It is actually a spending bill. Barack has no idea and no experience on how to cope with this. He is surrounded by the cheats who want to keep cheating our treasury. There is no oversight.

So BO is looking to his mindless drones the Obmamaniacs to push for the Democrats agenda? Hey Obamamaniacs, BO just let the Democrats come up with a plan (it would appear he himself did nothing, not even look at the stimulus bill) and then expects the republicans to rubberstamp it and he believes he can email his supporters and get their kneejerk support. The stimulus bill is not so much about Obama but about the democrats but apparently Obamamaniacs do not care; Obama expects to say jump and the Obamaniacs simply say how high?
Anyway, a little thought tells me the problem is the support of the democrats, not the republicans.

Aren't politicians mostly lawyers? Do you know what a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean is............... a good start!

If this bill was actually worth two hoots in hell, he wouldn't have to push so hard. As it is, I've contacted my congressman (to no avail) and both my senators. I will continue to do so until this pathetic, self-serving, greedy, and lazily crafted monstrosity is redrawn. When they concentrate on actions that will directly aid in lifting the economy out of the mire and drop all the rewards, favors and totally looney provisions, then I'll be satisfied. Simply rushing a bad bill through just to "get something done now" is as stupid as everthing else they've done so far.

Can't we all just get along for our children future's sake?
Repub need to stop being selfish . They want all the goods for themselves.
Dems are the one always willing to negotiate, always willing to come to mutual agreement that helps everyone.
Where is the R-E-S-P-E-C-T Repubs?

What we need out here is an explenation/justification for the items/line items on the bill. We want to do the right thing but we don't want our money wasted and we don't want to be swayed by talking points. We need data. And we need to track this money so that we can gather data to determine what really works and what does not. This will put an end to the partisan bickering because the people will see the data/facts and decide from there, regardles of party.

What you call, a, " A One Side Communication".... How stupid can you be Mr Obama? You're Talking to yourself again.... "A Very Bad Habit", they can put you away for that...

Whether it"s the lemmings following eachother over the cliffs into the sea or the lockstep of brainwashed followers of a dictator the result is always the same.

THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SPEND BILLIONS TO BUILD SCHOOLS IN IRAQ UNDER BUSH'S FAILED POLICIES BUT OBSTRUCTIONIST WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THINK ABOUT IT, JOHN MCCAIN VOTED 90% OF THE TIME WITH GWB AND VOTES NO ON THE STIMULOUS PACKAGE. THIS OLD MAN NEEDS TO PUT OUT TO PASTURE, HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ECONOMICS WHEN HE SAID OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG AND DOING FINE. I WOULDN'T TRUST A REPUBLICAN TO SEND ME A LIFE SAVER ON A SINKING SHIP.

Give the bill to President Obama and let him see what is Pork and What is not. People we are talking about the bill and even the President haven't seen it yet because the Repubs want vote on it.

What does "calling them action behind his agenda." mean?

obama have to give a stimulus check at least of 50,000.00 to each individual in united states and every body coul pay de debit or the mortgage and the money go to come back to the goverment and even do not go to spend 500 billions and every body coud be happy.

Any attempt to allocate the labor and capital of the nation by force of law will make a disaster of a kind not seen in this country from its first days.

Prez Obama,

The Republicans are so uncooperative. Do not fall into their traps. Their plans on huge tax cuts will not help the economy much. Tax xuts is only useful to relief people from high cost of leaving and it is not enough to solve problems.

The only solution to current economic crisis is JOB as what you said in your campaign. With jobs, people can afford more and pay mortgages.

Perhaps, your economic plan has rooms for improvement. You could do something to make it appeal to both parties and focus on areas where some Republicans will agree.

It is more important to get some parts of the package going ASAP.

Obama's says the recovery will be hard; we all have to be willing to sacrifice and do the hard work necessary. I guess he excludes his own "do as I say- not as I do crew", that aren't even responsible enough to pay their own taxes. What a bunch of HYPOCRITS!

There is no doubt the bill needs to have some items removed but I am sick of the republicans posturing and trying to block every move. It's time people like McCain retired. And by the way senator how about forgoing your public funded pension and live of your millions of personal wealth. Now that would be truly patriotic.

The republicans want tax cuts for their wealthy friends so they can buy into the depressed market they wrecked and make a killing later.

Watch my lips...tax cuts for 8 years did nothing but helped sink the economy. The wealthy who got them didn't need the extra cash so the money never saw the light of day in the local economy. By all means give some but nothing to those earning over $250,000

Maybe if all the politicians just pay the taxes they owe like everyone else has to do, we can use that money for the stimulus

I don't care who he e-mails, until the pork and sacred cows are removed, few Americans will support his plan. It is truly low how the Dems have become as opportunistic as the GOP pushing their agendas on the woes of the American people. The Senate is working to strip ancilllary non-stimulus items from the bill that shouldn't have been included in the first place. This is a failure of party leadership and must be recitified or we will be doomed yet again under a repressive self-centered agenda oriented regime while America founders!!! I have supported the President from the start but cannot support this bill as I agree it is top-heavy with agendas!!!

Who needs the Republicans? Obama has reached out to them and they turned their backs on him, now the Senate has to decide, if Republicans don't support this bill then to heck with them, Dem's better get on the Obama wagon and support it or you will find out that next election Republicans will be replacing you.......Democrat's if you are slipping in some of these programs that are not going to help the economy then you better scrub them fast and get with the program. This is your President and you have heard him say "NO PORK" so cut it out and get on with this bill...........we need this bill yesterday, for all the people out here with out jobs and unemployment has run out, next week or next month is eternity...........so come on people in DC stop thinking out yourselves and think about the suffering people in this country

Im helping by getting his supporters new and used computors,so we will the be the most powerful base ever and never again have a republican in office.

The question that must be answered is, how do we get republicans to reconsider their economic policies? Another one would be, do you think they can acknowledge that tax cuts don't stimulate the economy as much as government spending?

The first thing Obama can do to initiate action on the stimulus plan is to withdraw the nomination of Daschle. This would signal that integrity is foremost in his administration and prove to republicans that noone is above reproach.

AND, have Daschle prosecuted for tax evasion as any ordinary citizen would be charged.

So much for his promise to veto any bill that came to his desk filled with pork.

Guess it's OK, and not pork but "ham" when it's your party doing it instead of the other party...

"Change" we can "believe" in....

And the content of that email is probably along the lines of "No, you don't have to read the bill. Just trust me. I know what the country needs–I know what you need better than you do. So just sign the blank check, okay?"

They are going to support this pork crap or is this just a misprint?

I got the email and I am already acting on it.

we will so you can do your job

Ah yes because this stimulus bill is so full of things that might actually stimulate the economy. Thank god the $200 million for contraceptives was pulled, maybe they should do the same with all the other pork spending the Dems added. Here is a little history lesson. Back in '90-'92 when Clinton took office the economy was in a recession as well with unemployment that was higher–what was the resulting stimulus bill? It was only $16 billion. How have we reached the point where we need $800 billion more? Or if we are actually going to spend on infrastructure lets make it a larger part of the bill instead of just $31 billion that is directly for infrastructure. It should scare everyone to know that this bill is almost as big as the discretionary spending that Congress has each year. I am worried that any programs that come out of this will never be dropped and our debt will further explode. It is impossible to spend your way out of this; that would be like me continuing to spend on my credit card and telling myself that I will soon get out of debt and turn it around if I keep spending.

I received my email this morning and President Obama can count on me.

The first lesson Obama will learn is their is no such thing as bipartisanship in DC ,at least not with republicans.After some concessions they gave you zero votes.They voted to get us in this mess but the republicans wont give the new leaders a chance.The Republicans most be taught a lesson,as to why they are a dead party.

Reach out and touch them---any and every way you can.

This "porker" must be revised significantly/; $500 billion ought to be sliced from this bill and the pork subjected to the regular legislative process.

Any of these people elected officials? No? Then that means they have no say other than to contact their elected officials. It appears to me these supporets will call their democratic officials who are (with the exception of the 11 who stood against this pork filled bill) i favor for the bill anyways. The president's supporters are not going to call any republicans. My point is this rallying cry will change nothing!

Your article forgot to say 11 Democrats were, also, against the stimulus bill.

This administration is technologically advanced. I believe the PEOPLE will be the backbone of this administration.

THANK YOU Mr. President.

You've got my support.

President Obama, has our support! We, the People, elected Obama by a LARGE margin, Obama has a mandate to work to FIX the BUSH DISASTER!

What the far-right-haters-and-obstructionists do not get ....... is that we, the People, are watching carefully to see which side the GOP is on.

Are they on the side of ego and obstruction? Or are they on the side of our Nation?

The far-right-haters can continue to spew their complaints, vile and lies all they want....... but they WILL FIND THEMSELVES ON THE LOSING SIDE.......EACH & EVERY TIME.