CNN

This is how it works.. The construction road crews need uniforms.. well then uniform production increases, they need equipment.. well catepillar will be calling back their workers, They need road paint.. that company is back in business. they need dump trucks and trucks they get back on the road.. they then can buy food, clothing, goods... cars trucks and yelp making their house payments Schools need painting.. painters are back to work, down in Texas where Ike almost killed us all, school need roofs replaced, paint factories back to work... roofing materials demands go up.. Census.. hires young college kids and adults to go house to house.. Summer jobs.. Jolt in the economy.. yeah Young kids buy cars and shop at the mall like crazy people.,..cable needs installers, repairs, representatives...all this sounds like work to me.. and only from one phase too.. think people think...

I TRUST MY PRESIDENT. It has been about 10 years since I have been able to say that and it feels good. I do not care what anyone says, I am happy with out choice.

Barack is intelligent about the Middle East and the economy, honest to the public and willing to be morally upright. He won't cater to the Big Money that has controlled the power politicians for about 100 years.

I support my President. Let's get em Barack!

Gosh is he ever handsome..finally a President who is easy on the eyes

Wow, how nice to have a smart president!

All of you who think about this in terms of government vs. no government need to remember: the issue with George Bush's spending wasn't necessarily that he spent, but WHAT he spent it ON. Bush financed war and destruction, and tax cuts for the guys on Wall Street. Had he spent the money on things like education, health care (not just giveaways to drug companies) and infrastructure, those would have been good investments. Also, the belief that government should do nothing is what led to the financial crisis – the government MUST regulate and enforce laws or you have anarchy.

At this point consumers and business are too scared to invest so the government needs to pick up the slack. I guarantee you that within his 8 year term Obama WILL balance the budget and leave America in a much better shape than he found it.

Hey Mark, I get it. And when a person wants to start a business....they BORROW (spelled correctly for your benefit) the money. Then they BUILD the money over and pay back their debt and keep the profit. Again...that is how business is run.

Get it?

Whoa.......not too many economists on this blog....or even people who try to express their opinions in a reasonable, well thought out manner. For you all who fail to understand the very crux of our current problem, let me just make it very clear and easy for you. There is not enough economic activity occuring at present. (spending, trading, investing, whatever term you want to use) Without the active exchange of monetary units (money), the economy comes (came) to a standstill. How do we get the units of exchange (money) to begin moving again?
Think people, THINK!!........be pragmatic, NOT DOGMATIC!. Drop the partisan 'philosophy' and THINK. Who or what person or entity is in a position to SPEND and get the ball roliing again???????
When one lets emotion and vile bias effect the logical conclusion, one validates the belief of many that we descended from apes.

Im speechless,guess I have to wait till tomorrow and see what my Messiah,Rush Limbaugh,wants me to think and say on here to counter those evil socialists.Rush will lead us to the promised land of richs and wealth,free drugs and hookers,and an offshore bank acct.filled with cash that cant be taxed.

Logic time folks. Jobs that last 2 years while the private sector builds up enough to hire back or jobs just going away period. Finis. The end. Which is the better path? Cut taxes for who? The big companies who've HAD their taxes cut for years and pocketed the profits of the war contracts and said cuts and sent jobs overseas? You really think they'll change their stripes and suddenly get all patriotic? You really think that will work? Or how about those who suggest do nothing and let everything "shake itself out". Yeah, there is a real good suggestion. This is not a "shake yourself out" situation. I've heard some of you say "pull yourself up by your bootstraps". I'm guessing those people have plenty of cushion. Do you really think that this is some plot by Obama to get into a position to spend for the fun of it? My God the failure of the conservative right to see what's in front of their faces just so they can hold on to useless ideology is staggering.

I can see the president's smart move. The congress is playing old-school politics, staling the progress by putting their own ideological leanins above the people. Obama's move is speaking to the American people - he want to ELKHART, Indiana and told people 'We can't afford to wait'. He will go to Florida, another town with double digital of unemployment rate, and speak to the people directly. People is watching what the president is doing, and is also watching what the congress is doing. The Republicans play the politics and try to gain something for the next election and don't care much else. I am confident the people will recognize why the Republicans don't want the bill to success. The people will speak out. The republicans will eventually know the old-school politics will hurt them self too.

If you want 7 million jobs, deport all those in the country illegally and make people do those jobs or they get no unemployment and no help with social welfare programs. Also revoke H1B Visas for jobs that here are Americans who are qualified to do those same jobs, that could be 1.5 million jobs a year.

It is "disingenous" of the President to try to claim that the GOP is merely proposing tax cuts. Pretty much everyone is accepting of a stimulus package. But the problem is with THIS stimulus package, put together by the hyper-partisan, leftist side of the aisle, headed by Pelosi & Reid & Co, without any effort to craft bi-partisan legislation that the country can rally behind. The GOP continues to be locked out, after 2 years of Democratic control of Congress, and look how fast our country has started to sink ever since.

"Honost Obe" did a decent job but he stammered and stumbled weakly throught the middle east.

"Let those who have ears, hear"

He has done more in the time he has been president than BUSHCO could do in a year. And is explaining to us with honesty and the unvarnished truth.

I know that that is what the GOP can't stomach, but if there are any Repubs that want to get their head out of the sand and they will be welcomed. Hopefully more will see the light.

What is wrong with you people? Did you honestly expect that all the problems brought about over the past 8 years could be solved in a matter of 3 weeks? Let's give this new president a chance. I can't imagine anyone being worse for our country than Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield was. How quick we are to forget the facts!!!!!

Anyone with a good grasp of economics understands that in a downturn such as the one we're facing, it takes demand to get things back on track. I'm not a big fan of deficit spending. I think the previous Administration's fiscal policy record is an absolute abomination–doubling the deficit in eight years and turning what was looking like a pretty healthy situation into the worst economy since the Depression. However, when there is a recession, it's a good time for the government to spend. The harder part is reigning in spending when the economy is doing well. After all, if you're going to deficit spend during the bad times, you need to run surpluses during the good. Another way of saying that is you need to pay off your debt when you can. Politically, this is difficult, but not impossible, especially with a pragmatic President and Republicans who will seek to win back their image as fiscally responsible.

@TjayeInLA said...

"Anyone who doesn't know that you have to spend money to make money is an idiot."

When you spend more then you make...your an idiot. Especially when you don't have it to begin with.

We don't have the money to spend....We are barrowing it......From the Chinese....Get it?

I see a lot of Rush Limbaugh's posse is on the site tonight. Our President is a very bright man and it does take intelligence to follow him, but he is very clear. Its one of the most in depth news conferences I have ever seen. i have full confidence in his ability to get us out of the mess that George Bush and his Republican cohorts got us into.

People need to recognize that the Republicans have a lot to gain with the failure of this bill none of which has to do with the American people but more with their lust for gains in the next election.

Honest, Open-minded and willing to be fair to the American People. Can he guarantee this package is going to work. No.....but he is trying to help the American People, by leading them to the best solutions, that he has derived from the many experts that he has talked to.

American People call your congressmen and women, Rep or Democrat, we want change and we want it NOW, Help our President with your support for this endeavor, give him the opportunity to direct this country and in the meantime, do your part, be a responsible citizen and quit thinking of only yourselves and help one another, this day, not tomorrow or next week.

Be a Living Example, to the Solution......Act today.

I don't like this new format. It's too hard to read. Please return it to the previous format.

I am very heartened to finally have a president who bases decisions on evidence and analysis, and who demonstrates an understanding of the issues and the ability to communicate. To the extent that some people are determined to find fault in anything a Democratic president supports, even after the last eight years, I guess we just have to find hope in the fact that the American people elected Obama president.

When all of these so called new government jobs are created the taxpayer will be the one who continues to pay for it in the end. More bloated government is a lose/lose situation for everyone. This truly is Jimmy Carter re-incarnate.

What.... some bozo said Obama stammered? Holy Cow... just what did Bush do for 8 years? Consistently stick his foot in his mouth and then bite it off! *LOL*

Erika, this is not about the government deficient! This is about the economy and people being out of jobs. No jobs, no taxes to cut. Get it?

Matt, did you expect the President to stand to stand there and smile??? Your comment makes no sense.

I cannot put too much trust in companies that are going to layoff people just because Obama is in office, thank about. If sounds lame, but thank about it. Why should they lay off this many people in an economy the way it is right now is no reason, look at it, three months of this many people being laid-off. We did not enforce a layoff when Bush was in office. The Powell companies is a example
2. Education, some people are afraid of education, they would get left behind. Now we are facing Japan with a high education in scientific engineering, India are leading us in medical science. Tell me if it's not true.
3. All due respect I cannot even see why some Republican senators don't understand that some of the own people are suffering too. This is what's gone on Louisiana, our love to see, the porno queen go to the Senate and then we can six pack our way to Alaska.
4. We involve the president comments about steroids, we have to take drug tests us at lease wants every three months or a new contract, I do not feel sorry for anyone that does drugs. This is a weakness of America.
5. Attacking banks CEOs home, seen that coming people who are not use the doing without are gone to go through larger economic depressions then someone that are used to not having.
6. Drive the bus.

Oh-PS, the governments that do not want this money, let them do it doubt, I wonder what you would see?

And what a joy to listen to a President sound like a President! Makes Bush's tragic press conferences seem like some kind of comedy act!

And what would repubs have us do? Wow... continue the policies that got us here... or do NOTHING! Surprised? NO! And to hear them say that this is a one party plan.... Hel... I mean, heck ya! That is what they did for 8 years! So it is one thing for them... and another for the Dems!

Thank goodness for some intelligence coming out of Washington! President Obama is right about a significant stimulus package being rolled out. Ask any good, thoughtful, intelligent economist. Enough of the blah, blah, blah rhetoric that is so infused in American (and Canadian) politics. Kudos to the President who actually CARES about the state of your nation.

Carolyn White, could you please for the sake of Pete explain where your facts come from? I mean, they're funny to read...but you can't be serious! If so, do you believe there are a boogie men under the bed also? & that the world is flat?

From the cheap sets, it looks like Obama is trying to work with everyone. It appears (again from the cheap seats in America), that the republicans have their heads stuck in the sand or other places and they just don't get what the problem is! For many of the republicans in congress, they don't have to worry about buying a loaf of bread, a gallon of gas or turning their furnace on when it is cold. In the cheap seats of America, those are our daily priorities.

To Carolyn White: You are an example of exactly what is becoming of the Republican party. 'White' is a suitable last name since you are clearly racist, aside from being a low-information voter.

Tjaylyn is right. Anyone with a grain of business sense knows that you have to spend money to make it.

I'm not thrilled with our country having to take these steps, but we must try it. We cannot keep going downhill they way we've done the past year or two. Bush's 3 trillion dollar illegal war and laissez-faire attitude about deregulation are two of the villains in the creation of this mess, so it's time for Republicans to stop being obstructionists and let the other side give it a go. President Obama is trying – does anyone think he wants to be in this position? He should be enjoying a post-election honeymoon and he's been working tirelessly for this country since before the votes were counted.

All I have to say is poor Ex-President Bush(GOP) did not do a thing to help us americans, I would rather have someone attempt to help us americans then to sit back relax and give us a bogus handout ie.... Tax stimulus refund president bush. When you go to the Dr.'s office because your sick he doesnt tell you to sleep it off because if he or she doesnt help and you happen to loose your life they are going to be critisized for not doing anything and can possibly be sued for doing nothing.

That was a strong news conference. I thought there would be missteps because this was his first, but he was on point, in control and pretty much sent a message to Congress that they need to put the needs of the people above their own ideological leanings or suffer the consequences.

Congress needs to understand that the American people are watching and people feel empowered to participate in the process like never before. Elected officials who fail to put the people first, will not win seats back to Congress. This will be true of both Republicans and Democrats. Right now the favored Republicans in this country would be Collins, Snow and Spector.

Gobama.

I pray for Obama and this country. Anyone who has forgotten the past eight years has suffered a severe blackout. Jobs, healthcare, education, decreasing unemployment, protecting this county from terrorists are what I thought most Americans wanted, among other things. I really would like to know what is important to the Republican Party. The answer is what got us into this mess in the first place, greed and self serving.

This is for "Hey You Idoits".

I have relocated (twice) – I send out an average of 20 – 30 resumes a day to companies all up and down the east coast. I have an MPA and a Masters of Arts. Companies simply aren't hiring. And while my backup plan was always to become a teacher if I could not find work (after being laid off from Microsoft in June), that didn't work out so well because school districts have freezes all across the country.

And if your suggesting that going to college and getting an education shouldn't get you a job then we should stop telling kids to go.

My point is it is hard out there for everyone now – and if someone like me who is having the worst time finding any work (temporary or permanent) then I know how hard it must be for everyone else.

How bout you quit your job – and I'll come work in your position. You idiot.

Onnly point he made was that he is utterly lacking of knowledge of the issues. He made Bush look like a great thinker on his feet. I cant believe we elected this tomatoe can. He looked like a friggin moron.

Would the republican tax greedy hear him?

Republicans need to listen to americans if they hope to ever come back to significance.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You all are so stupid. Here's your great Messiah. Going to add another trillion to "The deficit I inherited" What a schmuk... along with you all that thought he was going to pay your mortgages and car payments and gas bills. Bush might have messed up a word now and then. This fool can't even put out a full sentence without taking ten minutes. Wow. This is too great. Can't wait to watch him destroy the country. Hello communism.

Those who are praising, not blaming Bush have their heads in the sand and the rest of their body in a vulnerable position! You Can Not simply rewrite history to make yourself comfortable.

Clinton left with a balanced budget & surplus: Bush left with 2 wars, highest deficit, highest unemployment, deep recession, housing and financial crises ...

Before we give out any more money we should have something in WRITING that ensures this won't be a repeat of the bank bail out." And whose administration didn't do this? BUSH! He was President! The buck should stop there but Bush supporters now "don't recall."

President Obama was meeting with economists, of both political persuasions, even before he was elected. I bet he knows what's going on!

He'd get more done if the GOP would realize that they are only offering failed policies – as usual. Their 8 years are up!

CNN should start keeping a running tally of how much money is being spent.

First Bank Bail Out – $700 Billion
This Stimulus Plan – $800 Billion and climbing
Next Bank Bail Out – to be announced tomorrow

How much money are AMERICANS really going to owe?

Obama is the front man with Pelosi and Reid calling the shots. Thge deck is stacked towards bigger govt and moving towards a socialist America. Letting off the USS Cole bomber. What's up with that? Socializing our medical system? I'm sorry but this is not how I was brought up. Shame on you mister president and the rest of your democratic buddies.

Pres. Obama hs spoken very clearly, something has to be or it is going to get worse. There are a lot of people without jobs and there are going to be many more if something is not done.

Why to the repugs criticize so much??? This is the result of the last 8 yrs that we had a Republican administration, so if they (Repugs) do not have solutions to the problem, they should shut up and let Dems do what they have to do. This is all your doing Republicans, so let Dems work it our way. You had 8 yrs and did nothing but create chaos in the US and the world!!!!

God bless Pres. Obama

I see a recurring theme here from some posters : "US economy in a crisis, could become a catastrophy- is a lie", 'he's a fearmonger", "let the economy fix itself"...hm,ok...great, let's all just sit back and relax, book some nice trips to Vegas or Europe this summer, and tell Obama to stop worrying and do the same. Peachy!
Foreclosure notices must be the works of some highschoolers trying to get a laugh...naughty pranksters!

TjayeInLA February 9th, 2009 8:54 pm ET
Anyone who doesn't know that you have to spend money to make money is an idiot.
---------
Anyone who doesn't know that you can't spend money you don't have is the idiot!

Thank the lord a president who wants to jump in and rollup his sleeves and do some work and do something for for the American people.

WAH WAH WAH TOO MUCH PORK, TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT, OBAMA THE SOCIALIST, NEGATIVE COMMENT NEGATIVE COMMENT NEGATIVE COMMENT!!!!

I thought Obama did a good job explaining things. But if this country is a republic and promoting democracy, when will Obama STOP the "ballout/stimulus" ideas and open the discussion of when does this country become a socialist country from all the ballout and stimulus's.

In other words, we citizens hold some responsibilty in getting things off the ground....take that money out of your mattress and put some of it in the bank, buy a outfit or two, go out to eat with the Mrs., and give some spending money to the teens. Stop fearing.

People who are saying the bill is garbage should, suggest something better or just keep quiet.. Just picture Bush in Obama's shoes on that stage and advice your selfs...

And don't forget, these jobs he wants to create, are government contract jobs, which means they EXPIRE after a period of time. They are not permanent.

Man, I miss Bush! Now all of you liberal Obama followers, continue with your comments about how I am not American because I do not worship our current president. I did not agree with everything Bush did but at least he stood up for what he felt was right no matter who he was dealing with at the moment. I wonder if Obama has any individual thought on anything. As for me, I am looking up for guidance. God has never let me down.

That was just horrible. And to compare his performance to any of Bush's is laughable now, after watching that conference. At least Bush "answered" the questions. Nothing about the stimulus (which stinks), just shaky schools I guess...... OMG. And I voted for this?

Is anyone familiar with Chapter 11 which is under the bankrupcy court? Well simply a company has to have a plan to get out of the hole it is in. You have to present your case to the court. IF approved you then will be able to freeze all your debts, this freezes late charges. Goal is to increase sales and reduce expense and turn a profit. The profit pays off your bills. You cannot charge anything. If you do not have the money you cannot buy it. This is what the gov has to do.

Why doesn't the President take contol over the other $350B given to the banks. Banks received Millions... Billions with no direct responsibilites with that money. They should have given credit 25 times the money they received... Why not place the new restrictions on the old money given back in November?

Gosh. These republican deadbeats come out in force to criticize and demean the president. These are very creepy people ... CNN should look in to these people. I see them every where on these blogs spewing hate and nonsense rhetoric.

President Obama Rocks....Take it to street! Keep pressing the issue to get the encomy back on track, people back to work and homes saved. That's all that's important. Thanks for staying course with the same message!

Ok I'm with the idiots and the repubs, lets do nothing and see where this country goes. I may not agree with everything he has to say but doing nothing will get you nothing.

We gave the banks 350 billion dollars and we got nothing out of it, people are still being kicked out of their homes and losing jobs.

Who's going to fix it? How many times do you need to hear him say if you have a better plan lets hear it?

The problems we face are much greater than we would like to think. I have a job and I can tell you that times are tough for me, how do you think the man or woman with out a job feel?

I have a feeling that some people will never get over him being black or a dem and they will hate for that reason alone.

It's time to act, this is what the Government is for to help the people of it's country when they can't help themselves and we have proven that we can't fix this on our own.

Give the man a chance and if it does not work then you can say I told you so.

I have a feeling that in the end we will be the ones say YES WE DID...

I have been saying for YEARS that besides public safety, government should be tasked with one other thing: generating jobs. Jobs are the grease of humming economies. People without jobs must go on the dole to survive. People with jobs pay taxes. Good for government – good for us all. The President said the "bottom line" is to generate and keep 4 million jobs. Sounds like a plan to me!

Hey Matt i guess you could better then huh!!! tell you what why dont you run for office and take a crack at it and see how much of a communicator you are....good luck

rebublican mess of 8yrs,so shut up and let obama fix it.

TO YouIdiots – considering that the office staff in a construction company is typically two to five people, and they do not typically lay them off first, not sure why you think it is a valid point.....Let's create 50 specialized jobs and 2 or 3 other types of jobs, see my most recent post for a better solution....

Some of the critics on this blog need to get together and form their own country where they are sooooooo good at being right! Gosh...Mr. Obama is trying to absolutely reasonable and intelligent in addressing a serious problem. Mr. Bush never used thoughtfulness and intelligence in addressing our nation. Republicans who don't like this stimulus just need to own up for the past 8 years of doubling our national debt and not holding banks, Wall Street, and Republicans responsible for doing the right things for America! I can't wait until most of the Republican voters actually start losing jobs and foreclosing on their homes, then I am sure they will be crying out the loudest for help! Get real! Quick!

All the naysayers writing here never say what they would do to improve the economy. What do you think would happen to the country if we did nothing? Once the phone company became many companies, do you think the public ever got a bargain. Some are so afraid of controls and don't observe that without controls things never seem to work in our favor.

Tjaye, honey (well, since you called me sweety ) –

Maybe if you weren't one of the millions that drank the Kool-Aid that Obama and the liberal MSM has been serving, you'd realize that he has no point. If he TRULY believed in transparency, he would publicly state what was in this bill and not try to hide behind the fact that there is more pork in this bill than Oscar Mayer serves in 5 years.

The President is obviously in his element in these press conferences, he shows his intelligence as he jumps from subject to subject. He did an excellent job of explaining his plan for the bill.

And he repeatedly handed the obstructionist repubs their collective heads on a platter.

He is correct, why should he accept any advice on the economy from the repubs, we KNOW where that has gotten us.

to A120 > it's only pork when it doesn't benefit YOU!!

Are you haters even listening? LISTEN...

Then talk.

soulstar....sorry I forgot that the republicans controlled the house and senate all 8 years and the top committees = not (just ask Dodd and Frank about the housing crisis. That is right, thet testified there was no such issue on multiple occasions). Yes the repub's spent lots of $. What we have here is another spendathon and everyone is screaming to let them do it and pointing to the last 8 years. If the last 8 years were so bad then you should be against more of the same. If all the $ in the bill was going to infrastructure and tax incentives for creating jobs it would be one thing but we are spending $ on growing government further which equates to a future need for even more $ to keep the treasury afloat. Is a stimulus needed? Yes. Is a pork bill needed? No.

I suggest you go and read the bill and where the $ is going before you just group everyone together that is against the bill as evil republicans.

He is very good at this. I am very proud of our President.

poor dougie and other repukes...don't realize that a JOB regardless to whether it's public or private sector, is a JOB!!!!!

Sorry I am so ignorant.
At least he wore a jacket for a change.

Matt, have you considered how W butchered the King's English? At least Pres. Obama hasn't tried to "put food on your family."

ELAR – the office worker gets a job when the contractor gets a new contract and can afford to hire office staff again. Think about it.

he knows what hes doing...by far....such more more eloquent and intelligent then that moron...im glad texas found its moron.

You are complaining about hiim stammering?! Oh my...now THAT is really important!

UUUGGGGGGHHHHH! Somebody tell me this is a dream, this is just to painful to watch. My Hope is gone.

Well, 52 percent of America voted for this man. You get what you pay for (all $820 Billion worth). Good Luck.

You people don't get it! You will never be satisfied. If we as a people had take Bush 43 to task like you all want to do with the President then we would be a little further ahead. We did not do our job as well as at this point we all will suffer for not holding the elected officials accountable. Go help us all! We have not a clue of what we are doing or what we want.

Before we give out any more money we should have something in WRITING that ensures this won't be a repeat of the bank bail out.

This is OUR MONEY and since WE will be paying for it we deserve ALL the details before any more of out money is committed to any Stimulus Bill.

By the way all this complaining by President Obama about the Bush Administration is starting to make him sound like he is only President of the Democrats and not the Republicans and Independents.!

Additionally the OBAMA administration is making the same mistakes the BUSH administration made by spending like a bunch of impulsive teenagers.

So get a grip, get a plan, provide us with the details and stop THROWING OUR MONEY OUT THE WINDOW.

We will support a stimulus if it is the right one!

No ear marks in the plan. Has the President read the bill. When is he going to answer the questions being asked rather than blaming the past 8 years that have put us in this situation and talk of other topics. When is he going to lead instead still campaigning ? Stop blaming the Republicans. It was the Democratics too that put us in this situation with the economy. The President needs to more pro-active instead of blaming the situation.

Elar....the specialized construction, engineering jobs, etc will still need people to run the offices that manage these projects, employees, finances, payroll, maintenance, etc.

Some of you guys need to think bigger and look at larger pictures. Broaden your thinking and this will make sense to you.

Not a big fan of the stimulus, bailout, or looking for banks to extend credit. Debt is not good. Period. However, I have a complete understanding of why a stimulus is needed and the President has a clear plan and an organized strategy to move forward on this. Thank goodness I'm not the president, because I would say forget the bank loans and credit companies, let them die. They're part of the problem, with the high interest and all. Let's start from scratch. Do over! And another thing, who said Yes We Can to the 30 year mortgage where you end up paying almost double the value of your home, anyway? Hoodwinked I tell ya!

Hi Douglas,

An FYI, "recklace" is spelled reckless. You might want to look into that.

President Obama is sharing an open honest conversation with all Americans – he is all about doing what is best for America. I know this is something that no one is used to! I am inspired by his approach and his positive presidency thus far. You need to be positive & have hope. Those of you who only share negative views will only attract negativity! Sooooo – chilax &

This bill is garbage, plain and simple.

Doing nothing is not an option.

Doing this bill WILL be WORSE.

This is idiocy. We're racking up $1T in this mans first month in office. That's gonna come back out of our skins, in the form of inflation, interest on debt obligations, and taxes. And the money is going to sectors of the "economy" that don't produce a thing.

There will be no long term gain from this, only severe pain.

"We hear resolve, that to tax ourselves into prosperity is like someone standing in a bucket and trying to lift themselves by the handle" Winston Churchill

As a political strategy this conference is backfiring horribly. The only skill Mr. Obama had during the campaign – his speaking ability – he has completely lost....

Certainly tax cuts for the wealthy have not helped. Maybe Obama's plan won't help either, but at least it is taking aim at the problem. My Republican Party leaders need to spell out what they are offering other than a repeat of the Bush years.

this bill is ALL PORK. Nothing for the people losing their jobs, Nothing for the people who have and will lose their homes. Its all PORK. I guess this is the SPEND part of TAX AND SPEND, just wait until we have to pay for all this waste, and their is NO MONEY left for Schools, or anything else.

How about putting a cap on credit card interest rates so that we can actually pay down balances and begin spending again.

Funding education is not pork. The school districts cannot afford to pay for infrastructure upkeep. They cannot afford enough books to go around. They cannot afford to pay for the teachers they already have.

Sorry pal...two masters degrees..doesnt mean you are entitled to work. What are they in..basket weaving???
7 months unemployed?? Take matters into your own hands..pull yourself up..relocate if you have to..take a pay cut..afterall..all the wall streeters have those dual masters..and they got us in this mess..did you???

This press conference is a disappointment. It is clear that with out a teleprompter he reverts to the same old same old blame Bush talking points. It is time to step up Mr. President start leading, its your show now.
He was not able to articulate a case for the stimulus. If the private sector is the sector that is shedding jobs what is the plan. All I heard was couple of pet projects. I am very disappointed in his ability to handle the foreign policy questions; his answer on his position on Iran was ambiguous. I am sure that leaders of Pakistan thanks to Mr. President now will feel enlightened with his thoughtful answer that they need to be aware that the terrorist are threat to them.

How could American people be so ignorant, it is clear as daylight that obama is an opportunist, he is a liar, he is an illegal alien, he is corrupted, and god knows what else, Michelle is a radical, mean hateful witch, who hate this country, and Obama is a puppett on a string, he listen to Mean Michelle, but covers it up with his lies, AMERICA WAKE UP AND USE THE KNOWLEDGE AND FIVE SENSE GOD GAVE YOU. THIS MAN WAS BORN IN KENYA AND IS A FULL FLEDGE MUSLIM AND IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY WILL DRIVE THIS COUNTRY INTO A DITCH. SEND HIM BACK TO KENYA NOW.

Anyone who doesn't know that you have to spend money to make money is an idiot.

Folks, looks like you hve very short memories. For all the cynics out there, how does George Bush compare to Obama? Give our President a chance and don't behave like were-wolves!

This is what we have to do. Pay our mortgages on time, pay off our credit cards in full (they are bank owned) pay off our auto loans and save the rest in the bank for a rainy day. This way the banks wil be stronger and be willing to begin lending again. We have got to stop fighting amongst ourselves. We are not Rep or dem or ind. We are AMERICANS FIRST. Our representatives are Senators or Congressmen. They represent all of us. Not one party. So make them aware of your wishes. Or fire them next election.

This guy stammers and 'um's' and 'ah's' more than Caroline Kennedy. And that says a lot. He's not the great communicator, that is for sure.

Why don't you be the president and fix things up yourself instead of just sitting in front of your desktop/laptop and complaining

I witnessed the fall of the communism in the USSR, the country of my birth. The speech therapy offered first by Bush & Polson and now by the new administration resembles the efforts of Gorbachev & Co., to talk the communist economy out of bankruptcy after 10 years of Afgan war. They tried to by their way out by turning on the printing press (same as the current bill) and restricting sales of alcohol which was one of the main sources of revenue for the budget (see tax relief provisions). The Soviet economy collapsed in to galloping inflation, 20% unemployment and enormous loss of GDP. The prescribed medicine was the "shock therapy".

Will in Carson....sweety, you might need to just confess that you have no intention of hearing the real points being made by OUR PRESIDENT. He is very clearly making points and those who care about the fate of this country are listening and get it. Those of you who only wished your candidate had won and couldn't care less what happens to this country will pretend to not hear and insult those who do.

Hmmm...I'm not hearing "circles" here. I'm hearing a man trying to lead by addressing a very complex situation as transparently as possible.

Frozen banks creates depressed investments ... creates job loss ... creates declining school enrollment ... creates foreclosures ... creates overloadig of state resources ... creates state credit scores tanking ... creates frozen banks...etc., etc., etc. This IS a circle, and I'm so glad our new leader is trying to address the entirety of it, not just saying "throw tax cuts at it and it'll go away."

Transparency helps us all learn about how this government works – so WE can make it more efficient too! – but transparency also can make the messenger a target.

Maybe we could stop shooting at the guy and give him a chance to inform the debate.

STOP WASTING OUR MONEY!!!!

I'm an independent who can't stand all of these uneducated posts. Have you sad souls who claim there isn't any pork in the "stimulus" bill, looked at what is in the bill?! Educate yourselves and read through the billions of pork, waste, and social engineering garbage. I'm guessing that those of you who continue to deny the waste are the ones most likely to benefit from it.

God does this guy love to hear his own voice. This isn't the change I was looking for. I hope he doesn't have too many of these hour long press conferences so he can answer 5 questions. Like being in a boring lecture.

shannon February 9th, 2009 8:30 pm ET

His language reminds me of George Bush, we don't need fear mongering, so they can get their own way. Every time he uses words like catastrophe, people spend even less than they were.

Reality check, losing 600,000 jobs a month is a castastrophe. This is not fear mongering it is truth. I guess you agree with McCain that the fundamentals of the economy are sound.

i always knew that community organizers were socialist welfare supporters.

The jobs being created in this bill are almost exclusively specialized jobs, including specialized technologies and building/contracting jobs. If you are an office worker that just got laid off, how does that help you get a job? And the contracting jobs, what guarantee is in this bill that will ensure the jobs are given to AMERICANS and not ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? And it is his PLAN that I disagree with. This bill makes me no more likely to spend my money than before. And if you want an RV but cannot get credit for it, then maybe you should not buy one. Get away from using credit, pay cash or go without.

Some people fail to realize that President Obama cannot simply wave a magic wand and have everything his way. I am definitely behind my President–and wish to see him succeed. But Congress is exemplary of old-school politics-slowing everything down. Executive orders can only go so far.

oh my god, what is wrong with our press corp.

PLEASE – somebody tell the president to please look into the camera next time!. I want to know that that he is talking to ME. The beginning of this press conference was very distracting when his head kept moving from side to side. I could not concentrate on his words.

When are people finally going to realize we have a serious, brilliant man as The President of the United States. He can articulate thoughts and at least he is trying to put plans into action that may actually help people instead of hiding from the problems and finding excuses to not support anything.

Doesn't Obama realize that tax cuts for the wealthiest 50 residents of Westport, The Hamptons and Marin County will cure everything from the common cold to the Israel/Palestine conflict. Good grief, people, tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts, so saith the venal and their acolytes, the tiny brained.

Thank God I have lived to see a President like Obama.

Support the Stimulus plan. Call your GOP reps and senators and tell them enough of their posturing and get on board with the USA. You're either with us or your against America.

Yes after months of Fear Mongering on the campaign people have bought into the lie that the economy is failing and now guess what the economy is actually failing because people believed whatever Barack said.

Now he wishes to convince you that the only way to get out of this debt is to get more into debt. Kind of like an addicted gambler saying just one more bet will get them out of the hole.

Now before the simple minded Obama zealot thought police moan in this blog that Bush got us into this mess please check your stupidity at the door. One I never said I supported Bush and two if I did please explain how the economy was tanked after 9/11 and then rose steadily since then for the next 5-6 years till the Democrats took over the congress and then it went back down hill?

Since anyone that knows anything about government knows that the president has little to do with the economy and the Congress has a greater control over the economy by enacting laws and controlling spending. I am more likely to blaim Congress when the economy tanks then I am the President. No matter who they are nor what color their skin.

No pork in this bill? Are you serious??? The main purpose of this is to create jobs. How does money for digital TV converter boxes create jobs? How does money for condoms create jobs? No pork, huh?

Also, do you notice how all of the "questions" have been asked by liberal news sources? He's trying to control everything, and you all are drinking the kool-aid (wait... FOX is getting a question right now). And, obviously, Nobama has no idea.

Just like Chavez, Castro and Stalin. Our first communist president can't speak or keep a single tought. He is showing how weak he is. I hope the terrorist are not watching.

This is what we can all do. The Banks need our money. Pay your mortgage on time, pay off your credit cards (most banks own the cards) pay off your car loans and save the rest in the bank. The banks will then be in a strong position to loan again. Easy. We also have got to stop fighting amoung ourselves. We are not Dem or Rep or Ind. WE ARE AMERICANS.

WoW!!! there are allot of negative people on this blog....I'm an independent and one thing for sure i appreciate the president trying to do something about this situation we find our self in. He is telling it how it is were not perfect i mean anyone that has a better idea of what to do about this situation well you should have ran for office instead of criticizing what is trying to be done to help this problem...

History has shown our economy does better when the Democrats are in power instead of Republicans. THESE NEEDED TO BE REPEATED.

You know, it's easy to stand on the outside and throw rocks at the guy, but he's been in office for three weeks and he's standing up there during prime time, taking questions freely, talking with insight and knowlege, using words that have more that two syllables. I know that this is something new for you haters, but turn off Rush and Sean and give the guy a chance.

There are exactly TWO ways to stimulate the economy:

1) CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

2) REDUCE/ELIMINATE GOVERNMENT REGULATION.

You cannot get yourself out of bankruptcy by spending!!!!
WHY IN THE WORLD is that so difficult to understand???

Gloria continues to gush and fawn over Obama. Quite the journalist isn't she?

Obama can do no wrong.

Only government is big enough to solve this eh? Gosh, what is going to happen if government screws this up? kind of like everything else they screw up. Guess no one will be able to solve the problem and we'll all be toast huh?

Goodness, the dumbing down of the media has been accomplished.

Hmm...I seem to be following him just fine. I wonder if it sounds like he's talking in circles because this economic crisis is complex and each piece is connected to each other ... jrozen banks create loss of investment, creates job loss, which creates housing loss, which creates students withdrawing from schools, creates more foreclosures, which freezes the banks ... etc. Just trying to say "just give everbody $1000 tax cut and it'll be all fine" seems a little oversimplified, doesn't it? Don't you have to follow the circular logic (hence sounding, well, "circular") to address each part of the economy?

I appreciate that as our President he is attempting to address the complexity in a transparent way. This is how we all can learn about our government.

But Transparency is messy. And it also creates a target for people to shoot at. Sounds like he's your target.

Everyone should ask themselves one question, "In the same position WWWD or What would W do?" Answer - Go to Crawford! Remember his famous quote after Katrina - "You're doing a heck of a job Brownie." Pres. Obama stands head and shoulders over what just left the White House! Let's give him a chance!

Okay, people. I'm a teacher and I see daily what is happening to families and children with the downward spiral of our economy. We can't do nothing. If you spent any time in schools, you'd be ashamed to do nothing; especially when you talk to kids who have become homeless overnight. This is on a daily basis! This man is smart, honest, and sincere. That in and of itself is CHANGE WE NEEDED and CHANGE WE RECEIVED. Thank God!

Stop Obama now! Friend of the enemy. Neo marxist dictator.

THIS BILL STINKS!!!!

Why isn't there more focus on helping the people who are losing their homes?

Don – and the rest of you haters get of this site with you negative comments. Aleast he is trying do more than just tax cuts that didn't help. I bet you negative people are the ones that think the economy is fine.

Give OUR President a chance! A trillion dollars in debt and all most of you can do is continue to be negative. Many of you pessimists have nothing better to do than spew negative comments...no proof, no concrete facts...just being negative. LET THE PRESIDENT DO HIS JOB! Unless we already know FOR CERTAIN what the PLAN will do, then shut up and GIVE THIS PRESIDENT and his ADMINISTRATION the OPPORTUNITY to CLEAN up this GIGANTIC MESS....cheezzz. . I can't imagine that any of you in your right mind, who seems to know everything, would want to walk IN HIS SHOES...or would you! Enough already. Get over yourselves...before YOU SELF DESTRUCT!!! God help our President and his Administration.

Don February 9th, 2009 8:37 pm ET

I agree with the direction most of these posts seem to be going.
President Barry is spewing the same ole stuff that got us where we are now.

It is ignorant people like you that gave us Bush for 8 years. When you are ready to have an intelligent conversation rejoin the blog.

Don..What change do you know happens less than a month after a person becomes president. It doesnt take much common sense to know that he has been president for less than a month and you guys are looking for results. Obama even told you himself that everything may not get done in a few years but you expect it in a month. Puh-lease!

Obama is making sense? The whole 4 million jobs are nothing more than more goverment related jobs. How does that help. It will not, making america more of an industrial nation again will help us. We are a country of consumers, thanks to Bill pushing first our farms out of the US, followed by our industries, he created this mess by forcing more and more goverment regulations against them. Wake up babydoll! please

republicans caused the lion's share of this mess so they need to FALL BACK and let the dems try fixing it....

screw all this bipartisan crap...where was the republican's bipartisan spirit during the last 8 years??????? they practically sidelined the dems...and now they are crying foul??? scr*w 'em!!! FALL BACK!

Ah HAA! I now understand!! You doubters are confused because we have an intelligent man as president and not the blithering idiot y'all got use to over the last eight years. If he said, nuculear, would it make sense to ya?

LOL...Obama’s payoff, I mean stimulus package, went from creating 1.3 to 4 million jobs to save or create 4 million jobs. Which is it? Sounds like the same old same old… I will get our troops out of Iraq immediately, I mean in 16 months, well I really meant in 23 months now that I know what is really going on around the world. Talk about on the job training. And we thought this was not going to be another Bush administration. Look at Obama's staff...Tax cheats and lobbyists. I guess he couldn’t toss aside all his campaign donors.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO CRITIZE HIS PLAN AND AND HAVE NO SOLUTION, THEN SHUT THE HELL UP. HE DID NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, YOUR STUPID REPUGS ADMINS. CAUSED IT. GO HIDE UNDER A ROCK YOU MORONS. WHERE YOU ALL BELONG. AND STAY THERE.

He's making things easy to understand for people like me you know the avg. Joe work 6 to 2:30 everyday. He put where the goats can get it.

Wow some one speaking from the white house that doesnt sound like a bum. Finally after Eight long years. good bye republicans.

how can anyone say that President Obama is talking in circles?? He is totally clear in his goals, objectives, and benchmarks. You may not agree with his approach, but you can't say he doesn't know what he's doing! That is just ridiculous. I believe he has a firm understanding of what's going on here and has a plan to respond.

I agree with the direction most of these posts seem to be going.
President Barry is spewing the same ole stuff that got us where we are now. When/where is the CHANGE this man ran on?
He is talking in circles pushing pet projects that won't help the average Joe. Ridiculous is right.

Uhm do most of your people on here criticizing the president have jobs? Because as a person with two Master degrees who has been unemployed for 7 months now, i am certainly hoping our government does something.

This man is our President? OMG!

Best. President. Ever.

What I'm so thankful for is how Pres. Obama takes the time to explain, or "teach" about, what has happened and what needs to be done in our economy. Best of all, I have a sense of pride that our president finally sounds intelligent. He's got my support and my faith in him that he can get this right. Okay, congress time to step up to the plate.

When is Obama going to stop campaigning? Hate to break it to you Mr. President but the election is over! Time to start initiating the change that you promised (and stop mentioning the previous administation – we know they were not good so lets get past it). Great campaigner but not off to the glorious start that we all hoped for.

Are you people nuts? Have you not learned anything? The failed policies of the past eight years have wrecked the world's economy and here you are, spewing out the venom that the majority of Americans have tossed into the trash. You can't see the truth for the garbage you wallow in.

This man is a genius. Anyone not understanding the points of the stimulus and how it is going to get us out of this mess has been watching too much Fox News. Economists agree that a bill of this magnitude has to be put in place. It is time for change, we voted for it and we better darn well get it. Republicans have held us down in the dirt too long, haven't invested in the future of our country and it's citizens. History has shown our economy does better when the Democrats are in power instead of Republicans.

Bless our President, he truly wants to help our country.

At least he takes ownership of this bill. Not like the Repbulicans over the last 8 years who blame everything and everybody else but their own stupid policies or lack of them. It's a start and I trust that he and his advisors are making the right decisions in this critical time. He was elected to do something and he definitely is taking charge.

Just say NO to this ridiculos stimulas. Everyone call youe Senator and tell them to vote NO on this horse dung!!!!

What he says makes sense. I dont like the idea of a stimulus package but i wouldnt know what else to do to fix our mess. i DO know one thing– staying the course is not an option!!!

I like what President Obama is saying. It makes sense to me that if people are working and getting paid they will also be paying taxes, which the country needs in order to get back on its feet. It is a cycle that has to balance in order for everyone to benefit. I just wish the Repubs would stop crying over spilled milk and get on with it.

David, are you listening to what he is saying or just repeating what you think? He's talking about how some of these projects are going to put people back to work now and the effect long term. The facts are not BS. You can argue about the money, but don't talk nonsense about what these projects will do.

This guy is going to run us right under ther ground. He talks about letting go of foriegn oil but won't do offshore drilling. He keeps talking about creating jobs, but theonly jobs he is talking about are goverment related jobs, making the US people closer to slaves to the goverment. He has no suggestions about how to help the US Industry. we will not leave this economic crisis until we become a stronger Industrial nation. Wake up America! Democrats told banks it's is against the law to be denied loans, now it is the banks fault for giving out recklace loans, and by openning the loans regulations more we can get out of this crisis..... THIS DOESN"T MAKE SENSE AT ALL!

Wow...the number of posts that think Obama is spouting ridiculous claims and the same talking points. I guess you all must be the ones that have secure jobs. Wait...you must be part of that group that just thinks whatever Obama does is wrong. Well, he is trying to fix a problem given to him and I think that we need to at least give some support. Remember that the people in need are your neighbors, friends, and families...

President Obama is really cares about this country. WE ALL need to support him during these hard times. We are ALL in this together.

His language reminds me of George Bush, we don't need fear mongering, so they can get their own way. Every time he uses words like catastrophe, people spend even less than they were. It's a self fufilling prophecy, and it's inappopriate for him to do. We all know thing are bad, let's not make it worse. I like that a reporter asked him about his language and the impact it has on the economy. I wish he wouldn't talke so long on one question, he gives the impression he's trying to take as few questions as possible.

There is no pork in the bill. Get it right.

There is no pork 'will in carson city.' Get it right.

He so much more serious than he was during the campaign. He's in charge.

You are the WORST KIND OF PEOPLE, to bring into a Business... "I am right every body else is wrong"... "But we built this Business Mr Obama.... "So? This is the Year of Change...

Government CAUSED the problem, now we're supposed to trust it to solve it. When government starts micro-managing and manipulating the economy, bad things happen–like great depressions. Obama is repeating the same mistakes that Franklin Roosevelt made. FDR took a two-year recession and turned it into a ten-year depression. You know what they say about people who refuse to learn from history.

This Stimulus Bill is a JOKE!

It's more about political agendas and pet projects than it is about helping Americans with the Housing Crisis.

The Obama administration is making the same mistake the Bush administration made by SPENDING like their was no end and taking us on a TRILLION dollar shopping spree.

I might be a Democrat but I am American first and I want a Stimulus Bill that is best for Americans and this one is not it.

If you had to survive in the wild, who would you rather have as a guide, Palin or Judd?

Who do you think Larry King wanted on his show, Judd or the Alaskan

warrior?

Thank you it was a very good run for SarahPAC.

Are you watching the same press conference, Gloria? Or is the president of the Westminster Dog Show speaking as well? He hasn't made any points. It's the same rhetoric he's been spewing. He needs to concede that this plan will do NOTHING as long as the pork remains.

also made the point of saying that this plan is suppose turn the tide not solve it.

Hey Gloria a little butt kissing. Obama is just talking in circles. Go watch the hounds at Westminster its more intersting.

Somebody please, take the mic away from this man.......he is killing the GOP!

A catastrophe is the approach this administration is taking.

This is nothing but a bunch of BS. Does he have a clue what he is doing, or is he just throwing a dart at the wall and hoping it hits? Ridiculous.